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The former South Africa batsman will link up with the team before their T20I series against Ireland in March

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jan-2020Afghanistan’s coaching staff, helmed by Lance Klusener, has been bolstered by the appointment of HD Ackerman, the former South Africa Test batsman, cricket commentator and columnist.The Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that Ackerman, 46, would start work with the team on March 1, ahead of the national team’s three-T20I series in India against Ireland, which will be followed by a one-off Test. His contract will run till the end of 2020. Ackerman played four Test matches for South Africa, two against Pakistan and two against Sri Lanka, all at home in 1998, scoring one half-century in aggregating 161 runs at an average of 20.12. He had a much more fruitful time in first-class cricket, though, playing the 1993-94 season all the way to mid-2009, in which he scored 14,625 runs, including a triple-century, at an average of 43.65 in 220 outings. He also played 230 List A matches and 55 T20s.The T20I series against Ireland will be played in Greater Noida, near the Indian capital of New Delhi, on March 6, 8 and 10.

D’Arcy Short is the only player with international experience, while only eight of the twelve named have played first-class cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Nov-2018Sam Whiteman, the Western Australia wicketkeeper-batsman, will lead the Cricket Australia XI that will take on India in a four-day tour match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.The match, scheduled from November 28 to December 1, will serve as a warm-up for the Indian team before the first Test in Adelaide that starts from December 6.D’Arcy Short is the only player with international experience in the twelve named, with the squad comprised mostly of younger players, including four members of the Under-19 team that finished runners up in the World Cup earlier this year. Only eight of the players selected have played first-class cricket previously.The team selected could also change, with Cricket Australia adding a rider that “The team is subject to players earning state selection for Round 5 of the JLT Sheffield Shield competition, commencing on 27 November.”Graeme Hick, the batting coach of the senior team, will be the head coach of this side with Sridharan Sriram, the national team’s spin consultant, appointed the assistant coach.Greg Chappell, the chairman of the Youth Selection Panel and the national talent manager, said the squad was one that offered plenty of options.”This is an excellent opportunity for these talented players to test themselves against India, the number one Test team in the world,” Chappell said. “It’s a versatile squad, with a number of players capable of contributing with bat and ball. D’Arcy Short and Param Uppal both offer valuable spin bowling, alongside their batting, with Aaron Hardie and Jonathan Merlo both capable middle-order batsmen who offer a seam-bowling option.”Many of the players in this squad have previously played in a Cricket Australia XI during their career, and eight have played Sheffield Shield cricket. We know this is a chance for our emerging players to display their skills against a world-class opponent, and we look forward to seeing what they can do against India.”Cricket Australia XI squad: Sam Whiteman (capt), Max Bryant, Jake Carder, Jackson Coleman, Harry Conway, Daniel Fallins, David Grant, Aaron Hardie, Jonathan Merlo, Harry Nielsen (wk), D’Arcy Short, Param Uppal

Michael Rippon bagged a three-for and put on 129 runs for the fifth wicket with the Netherlands captain, guiding the side to a six-wicket victory after restricting Kenya to 226 for 7

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Oct-2017Michael Rippon coupled his three-for with an unbeaten half-century•Peter Della Penna

An unbroken fifth-wicket century stand, set up by fifties from Peter Borren and Michael Rippon, helped Netherlands cruise to a six-wicket victory at Buffalo Park, with seven balls remaining, after Kenya were restricted to 226 for 7 in their 50 overs.While Borren, the Netherlands captain, had gone wicketless in the two economical overs he sent down, his returns with the bat were more impressive as he notched up his 12th List A half-century, clobbering eight fours en route to his 98-ball 86. Batting at No. 4, he took charge of the chase after the top three batsmen fell for scores in the twenties, with only 85 runs on the board. He put on 129 runs with Rippon, who added a 74-ball 56 not out to his bowling figures of 3 for 30.Kenya’s troubles with the bat started early as they lost both their openers within seven overs of their innings for only 18 runs. Batting at No. 3, 22-year old Dhiren Gondaria, who amassed 53 off 60 balls, subsequently led a part of restoration work through an 81-run stand with captain Rakep Patel (29) at a steady rate of 5.40. The latter’s dismissal in the 22nd over, however, led to Kenya losing 3 for 18 in nearly nine overs, all three wickets falling to Rippon. Collins Obuya and Nelson Odhiambo arrested the slump, adding 95 runs for the sixth wicket. Nelson’s 39 abetted Obuya’s 77-ball 72 – peppered with two fours and four sixes – and shepherded Kenya past 200. Kenya were also buoyed by a late surge that saw them amass 51 runs in the last four overs.Rippon’s left arm wristspin was ably complemented by medium-pacer Timm van der Gugten, whose two timely wickets – opener Alex Obanda and Nelson – further dented Kenya’s chances of posting a score in excess of 250.

South Africa A knocked over Australia A for 107 at the Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville, before breezing to the target with eight wickets in hand and 174 balls to spare

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Aug-2016
ScorecardSouth Africa A knocked over Australia A for 107 at the Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville, before breezing to the target with eight wickets in hand and 174 balls to spare. In doing so, they registered their first win of the quadrangular series and picked up a bonus point, much as Australia A had done against India A a week ago at the same venue.The toss was just about the only thing to go Australia’s way, and, after electing to bat, they lost opener Marcus Stoinis for a duck on the third ball of the innings. Captain Chris Lynn followed three overs later, with an inside edge to the keeper off Dane Paterson to leave the score at 2 for 5. After a 63-ball hiatus, during which the hosts added a laborious 29 runs, Peter Handscomb was run-out when opener Cameron Bancroft drove a ball straight back and the bowler Andile Phehlukwayo got his fingers to the ball which hit the stumps, catching Handscomb well outside his crease.Soon, Bancroft chopped a ball from medium-pacer Malusi Siboto onto his stumps for a 48-ball 16. Paterson then had two more batsmen caught behind – Glenn Maxwell with a short ball and Alex Ross with a stifling line outside off. Then it was Tabraiz Shamsi’s turn – he trapped Kurtis Patterson lbw and had John Mennie caught at midwicket, to leave Australia reeling at 8 for 68 in the 30th over.An unbeaten 43-ball 34 by No. 9 Kane Richardon helped Australia crawl into three figures, before they were bowled out in 37.2 overs. Australia could have been dimissed much earlier but Richardson was dropped twice – on 27 by wicketkeeper Dane Vilas and on 29 by Dwaine Pretorius at mid-off. Paterson and Shamsi bagged three wickets apiece, while Siboto chipped in with two.”We had a look at [their] videos and we had specific plans and they came out good today,” Paterson said after the match. “As a bowling unit we clicked well today. We have been clicking but there were play and misses and stuff like that. All in all, everything clicked today.”South Africa lost Reeza Hendricks for 1 in the second over of the chase when he edged Mennie to third slip. Captain Heino Kuhn departed for 15 in the tenth over, to give Mennie his second wicket and leave South Africa A at 2 for 43. But a target of 108 never seemed to challenge the tourists. Theunis de Bruyn, at No. 3, stroked an unbeaten 57 off 73, and he was kept company by David Miller who ended up unbeaten on 20. The two guided South Africa past the finish line in 21 overs without any further losses. Legspinner Cameron Boyce was the most expensive bowler as he leaked 30 runs in only three overs.”Obviously 107 is going to be a big task for the bowlers to defend. But I think they were too good from pretty much the starting,” Richarson reflected later.The win catapults South Africa from bottom to second in the points table, behind National Performance Squad.

India fast bowler Sreesanth broke down with relief after hearing of his acquittal, and vowed to get back to cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jul-2015On hearing of his acquittal in the IPL spot-fixing case by a trial court in Delhi, India fast bowler Sreesanth broke down with relief. He is still facing a BCCI life ban but has vowed to get back to cricket.”I was just thinking when I took the World Cup catch [that clinched the 2007 World T20], I never thought, ‘Why me’,” he said. “But today honestly I thought, ‘Why me, for two years’ but maybe there is a reason. I just couldn’t control my tears, now I’m really happy, I love this.”Sreesanth last played official cricket during the 2013 IPL before being arrested by the Delhi Police for the alleged fulfilling of promises made to bookmakers. “I will try to start training properly as soon as possible,” he said. “I wasn’t allowed anything… Hopefully I can get permission from BCCI to use their facilities so that I can get fit and come into the selection process.”But the BCCI said in a release that their decisions were “independent to any criminal proceeding” and “based on its independent disciplinary action, shall remain unaltered.”Sreesanth spoke of the pain of being sidelined for the last two years. “The worst thing to happen as a cricketer, living just behind international stadium, and you are not allowed there. Even an Under-14 kid who respects you goes to the stadium and I was not allowed. I went through a lot of things but that’s past…I would love to go tomorrow and run there.”With the charges against him dropped, Sreesanth said cricket would take centre stage in his life again. “I want to play cricket. I know I have been in the news for movies and all that, but everybody knows that I am a cricketer first. I was just waiting, I was just making sure I don’t get bogged down in life, I want to play cricket.”He promised that his trademark delivery will soon make an appearance: “I will make sure I am fully fit and bowl those outswingers.”

A stomach ailment has forced Dermot Reeve, the former England allrounder, to be replaced as Maharashtra’s senior coach for the rest of the season

Amol Karhadkar21-Dec-2012A stomach ailment has forced Dermot Reeve, the former England allrounder, to be replaced as Maharashtra’s senior coach for the rest of the season. Reeve, who was unable to make it to New Delhi for Maharashtra’s Ranji Trophy Group B tie against Delhi that ended on Tuesday, has been replaced by the former Maharashtra captain Surendra Bhave.The team has slumped since Reeve took over from the Australian Shaun Williams ahead of the season. With two rounds to go in the league stage, Maharashtra are at the bottom of Group B. With eight points from six games, Maharashtra are in danger of being relegated to Group C. As a result, Reeve’s tactics were being questioned not just by a section of the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA), but also those on the Ranji circuit. Suresh Raina, the Uttar Pradesh captain, criticised Reeve’s defensive tactics during UP’s tie in Pune.However, MCA president Ajay Shirke put the sacking theory to rest. “Dermot is unwell for a while. Since it has been clear that he will not be able to be with the squad all the time, we had to make a decision since it puts a lot of pressure on the captain,” Shirke told ESPNcricinfo. “As a result, we have appointed Surendra Bhave as the coach. He will take us through the rest of the season.”Bhave, the former Maharashtra opening batsman, served as a national selector for four years till last September. He had been appointed chairman of Maharashtra’s senior selection panel ahead of the 2011-12 season, thereby acquainting him with the players.”It is unfortunate to lose Dermot’s services but we are determined to make the most of the remaining two games. We will do everything we can to avoid relegation,” Bhave said after a long practice session at the Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium on Friday, on the eve of Maharashtra’s match against an in-form Baroda.

Daren Ganga has resigned as the captain of the Trinidad & Tobago national team with immediate effect after nine-years at the helm

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Nov-2011Daren Ganga has resigned as the captain of the Trinidad & Tobago national team with immediate effect after nine-years at the helm. He made the announcement in a press release issued on Saturday.”It is with great humility and a deep sense of gratitude that I announce my resignation from the post of captain of the Trinidad and Tobago team, a position I have held with pride, passion and commitment over the last nine seasons,” Ganga said. “One of the most fulfilling aspects of my captaincy was the opportunity to contribute to Trinidad and Tobago’s rise from the lower tiers of West Indian cricket to the regional powerhouse it is today.”Ganga steps down as the country’s most successful captain so far, leading the team to multiple championships during his tenure, including back-to-back WICB 50-Over Championship in 2008 and 2009, the Stanford 20/20 in 2008 and Caribbean T20 earlier this year. He also led the team to the finals of the first Champions League T20 in 2009. This season, in addition to winning the T20 tournament, T&T also reached the semi-finals of the Regional Four-Day Tournament and were beaten finalists in the Regional Super50.According to Ganga, “the emergence of a pool of potential leaders within the team” led him to conclude that now was the right time for him to give up the captaincy. However, he remains committed to the side and offered his support to whoever takes his place.”I wish to make it abundantly clear that I am not retiring from cricket and I continue to make myself available for selection on the national cricket team and pledge my support to the new captain.”

Contrasting hundreds from Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers pulled South
Africa out of strife and into a position of considerable comfort at the
Sheikh Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi

The Bulletin by Osman Samiuddin20-Nov-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Jacques Kallis’ counterattack turned the tables after South Africa had been reduced to 33 for 3•AFP

Contrasting hundreds from Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers pulled South
Africa out of strife and into a position of considerable comfort at the
Sheikh Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi. Debutant seamer Tanvir Ahmed had reduced
South Africa to 33 for 3 but Kallis and de Villiers punched back with
a 179-run stand that left South Africa handily placed on 311 for 5. For
Pakistan, only Tanvir could look back on the day with similar pride.The Kallis-de Villiers stand was the tenth century partnership in 32
innings between the pair and it was done with such aggression it suggested
were in trouble when they came together. Kallis’s fight
began the moment Graeme Smith became the third victim of a hectic morning
and though his mien remained as expressionless as usual, his game was
unusually expressive.He had hooked an uncontrolled six by the time a swish of fortune sashayed
in. Mohammad Sami’s first over captured an entire career: one unplayable
delivery, honest endeavour but batsman ultimately supreme. Having been
beaten by a beauty, Kallis coolly cover drove the next two balls for four
and the day’s mood changed.Sami was plundered repeatedly, everywhere and anywhere and even Umar Gul
wasn’t spared a fine pull and efficient drives. Either side of lunch two
towering sixes off Abdur Rehman brought one message: ‘I am Kallis, you
are nothing’. Not a particularly attacking spinner on his best days,
Rehman immediately retreated, the supremacy in the relationship
established. By then a swift fifty had been notched up as casually as
a snap of the fingers.de Villiers was twitchier, a more impish presence and not just because he
doesn’t have Kallis’ broad-chested appearance. Whereas Kallis imposed
himself on matters, de Villiers took advantage of Pakistan’s growing
flakiness. When they pitched short, he gladly cut; when they got too full
he happily drove; when they drifted to his pads, he politely clipped away.Five overs after lunch a century partnership was registered and by this
time, the surface had lost its early morning friskiness. Boundaries were
mostly controlled, though with Sami around control remained a relative
concept. In any case, runs were so readily available no risk needed to be
taken. One flick brought up a fifty for de Villiers. As an afterthought
Kallis brought up a fifth hundred in four Tests against Pakistan, in which
his lowest score is 59; in his first 11 against them, he had only one. It
was his fastest century as well.When Kallis fell, de Villiers carried on, though with the sadness and
restraint of someone who has lost a partner. He was comatose during the
nineties, only waking up once four freebie overthrows from Gul took him to
99. It would’ve been impolite to not take a single next ball. Essentially
the day ended there for him.Pakistan were fitful, not stringing together any sustained pressure. Tanvir
was responsible for the highs, further proof that whatever hole they find
themselves in, there’s always a fast bowler to get excited about.A month shy of his 32nd birthday, he was an unlikely hero and not just
because he is probably the best bowler ever born in Kuwait. The pitch at
Test cricket’s 103rd venue had enough moisture in it early on to tempt
Misbah-ul-Haq to bowl. It was a second gesture of positivity; the first
had been to revert back to Pakistan’s traditional strengths by selecting a
three-man pace attack.Tanvir has long been a steady hand at the domestic level; sharp enough, always tight
and if conditions are right, eminently capable of exploiting them. So in
he ran as Pakistan’s oldest debutant new-ball bowler, a heavy action and a
grunt at release and did precisely that. Immediately he became the sixth
Pakistani to take a wicket in the first over and a typical scalp too,
full, searching for swing, finding an edge. It was his 400th first-class
wicket. Five balls later he had another and Test cricket was looking an
easy game, though admittedly Asoka de Silva had a greater hand in Hashim
Amla returning to the pavilion.Later, through a long afternoon Tanvir maintained a pleasant discipline and
the wicket of Kallis after tea helped Pakistan slow down the scoring. But
after the first hour the bluff had gone from the rest and the attack
looked precisely what it was: quite weak. Gul looked good in patches, Sami
a man condemned and Rehman the wrong choice.The umpires, who got four decisions clearly wrong, had a worse day.

Jacques Kallis will line up for South Africa in the opening Test against England after the hosts confirmed his presence by releasing three players from their 15-man squad to play franchise cricket

Andrew McGlashan in Centurion14-Dec-2009Jacques Kallis will line up for South Africa in the opening Test against England after the hosts confirmed his presence by releasing three players from their 15-man squad to play franchise cricket. Friedel de Wet, the uncapped pace bowler, has been retained as cover for Dale Steyn following his hamstring problems but Alvrio Petersen, Ryan McLaren and Wayne Parnell have all been allowed to return to domestic action.”We are happy with the state of readiness of all squad members to play in the first Test on Wednesday,” said coach Mickey Arthur. “Both Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn should be fit to take their places.”Nevertheless we are keeping Friedel de Wet on standby as a like-for-like replacement for Dale. There is always the chance with bowlers that Dale could wake up on the morning of the match with a recurrence and we don’t want to have to scramble around for a last-minute replacement.”There has been much speculation over the fitness of Kallis as he recovers from the fractured rib that ruled him out of the Test series. However, he came through South Africa’s three-day training camp in Potchefstroom with no adverse effects although it is highly unlikely that he will resume bowling duties.That will leave South Africa with a four-man attack which is a calculated gamble given Steyn’s recent injury problems. He bowled at decent pace on Sunday but was restricted to indoor training at Centurion Park on Monday after heavy thunderstorms left the nets unusable. De Wet’s was the most surprising inclusion in the original squad but Mike Proctor, the convenor of selectors, has been impressed with what he has seen.”He had a good season last year and I’ve seen him bowl recently on some pretty flat tracks at East London and at Johannesburg so he’s a player worth looking at and we’ll see what comes out of it,” Procter said last week.The decision to release the three players also confirms that Morne Morkel will return to the Test line-up after missing South Africa’s previous match against Australia in March. With concerns over the potency of the attack Morkel is viewed as someone who can add a cutting edge with his height and bounce.Makhaya Ntini, who will play his 100th Test, will be the third quick bowler and he believes South Africa will start favourites. “Of course,” he said, “we are on our home grounds and will have a lot of support.”He also said that Andrew Flintoff’s absence from the England line-up will be a significant blow to the visitors. “They’ve lost one of their major players in Freddie Flintoff. He was the one who made a huge impact. Losing the pillar of the team means we have a better chance – because he was always the guy that intimidated us.”Revised South Africa squad Graeme Smith (capt), Ashwell Prince, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Mark Boucher (wk), Paul Harris, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini, Friedel de Wet

Capitals are already through to the playoffs, but will look to end the round-robin stage with a win

Srinidhi Ramanujam06-Mar-2025

Who’s playing

Delhi Capitals (DC) vs Gujarat Giants (GG)
Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, 7.30pm IST

Big picture: Capitals in action after six days

It is Meg Lanning vs Ashleigh Gardner again. But all eyes will be on Gujarat Giants, who have redeemed themselves with two successive wins, and are suddenly in contention for the playoffs. Having started with three losses in their first four matches, Giants would be keen to finish the Lucknow leg on a high before flying to Mumbai for their final group game. Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, were the first team to qualify for playoffs, and will be playing their final league game on Friday, after winning five out of seven matches that has kept them at the top of the points table.Giants took some time to find their feet, but they look like a settled unit now. They tried a few different combinations and handed different roles to playersm but towards the business end of the tournament, they seem to play with better clarity than before. Giants are not just dependent on Gardner and Deandra Dottin in the batting anymore, with the likes of Harleen Deol, Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield stepping up.That apart, bowling still remains their biggest strength. In the three games that they won in this WPL, Giants’ bowlers have taken 26 of the 30 possible wickets. Despite limited international experience, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwar and Priya Mishra have put their hands up to take 21 wickets between them – they have featured in all six matches so far – while allrounders Gardner and Dottin have supported them ably.Meanwhile, Capitals will be in action after six days, and will be playing their playoffs match only another six days later. Whether that will have an impact on their momentum is something to be seen. They have got many bases covered, and have almost always found a way to bounce back in a contest. Given the highly competitive nature of Lanning, her team will not take this match lightly, although they have advanced to the knockouts.When these sides met earlier in this WPL, Capitals crushed Giants by chasing down 128 with 29 balls remaining. With a playoffs spot on the line, then, will revenge be on Giants’ mind?Shafali Verma has accumulated 167 runs in the last three matches•BCCI

Form guide

Delhi Capitals: WWW (last three matches, most recent first)
Gujarat Giants: WWL

In the spotlight: Shafali Verma and Tanuja Kanwar

After three scores in the 40s, Shafali Verma converted her start and made it huge, scoring an unbeaten 80 in Capitals’ previous, game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. It was an innings where she showed control and composure in a tricky chase. Having accumulated 167 runs in the last three matches and heading into a match with no pressure of qualification, Shafali will be determined to continue her good touch ahead of the playoffs.Tanuja Kanwar started this WPL quietly, taking just a solitary wicket in her first three matches. But the left-arm spinner found her grip soon, and struck six times in the next three games. She has given Giants crucial breakthroughs, and against UP Warriorz, also picked up 3 for 17 in Lucknow. With Capitals loading themselves up with right-handers – Jonassen is the only left-hand batter in their top seven – Kanwar will be expected to have a vital role on Friday.

Team news: Capitals shouldn’t change winning combination

Capitals are unlikely to tinker with the winning combination which beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru comprehensively on March 1.Delhi Capitals (probable): 1 Meg Lanning (capt), 2 Shafali Verma, 3 Jess Jonassen, 4 Jemimah Rodrigues, 5 Annabel Sutherland, 6 Marizanne Kapp, 7 Sarah Bryce (wk), 8 Niki Prasad, 9 Shikha Pandey, 10 Minnu Manni, 11 Shree CharaniIt’s unlikely that Giants will promote Harleen Deol or Pheobe Litchfield to open with Beth Mooney•BCCI

Even though opening batter D Hemalatha has found little success in this tournament, Giants have persisted with her at the top of the order. It’s unlikely that they will promote Deol or Litchfield to open with Mooney.Gujarat Giants (probable): 1 Beth Mooney (wk), 2 D Hemalatha, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Ashleigh Gardner (capt), 5 Phoebe Litchfield, 6 Deandra Dottin, 7 Kashvee Gautam, 8 Bharti Fulmali, 9 Tanuja Kanwar, 10 Meghna Singh, 11 Priya Mishra

Key stats

• Gardner has hit 15 sixes in this edition, most by a Giants batter. The next best is Dottin’s four.
• With the ball, Capitals have been the second-best team in the death overs (17-20) this time, having conceded 8.72 runs an over in that phase. Only Mumbai Indians (8.31) have been better than them.
• Meanwhile, Giants have aced the powerplay with the ball this season. They have taken 13 wickets, and conceded at only 6.08 runs an over in the first six overs – both numbers being the best among all sides.