The win helps Royal Challengers Bangalore consolidate fourth position on the points table

Deivarayan Muthu08-May-20223:38

Vettori: Malik must study batters like they might study him

Virat Kohli bagged his third golden duck this IPL, but strong hands from Faf du Plessis, Rajat Patidar and Dinesh Karthik propelled Royal Challengers Bangalore to 192 for 3. In reply, Sunrisers Hyderabad lost both their openers, Kane Williamson and Abhishek Sharma, for ducks and eventually careened to their fourth successive defeat after having won five in a row.It was Patidar, promoted to No. 3, who began the repair job before du Plessis cranked up the tempo during their 105-run partnership off 73 balls. Karthik then shellacked 30 off a mere eight balls, including a sequence of 6, 6, 6, 4 off the last four balls, to give the innings a rousing finish.The momentum seamlessly shifted towards Royal Challengers in the middle and end overs as a depleted Sunrisers attack, which was missing T Natarajan and Washington Sundar, was left scrambling for an extra option. Umran Malik bowled only two overs for 25, with Abhishek pitching in for the other two.Rahul Tripathi battled with a 37-ball 58 but the regular fall of wickets at the other end and the rapidly rising asking rate was too much to overcome. Legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga benefited from that scoreboard pressure and came away with 5 for 18 to seal a net-run-rate boosting victory for Royal Challengers.Patidar, du Plessis step up after Kohli wicket
The first ball of the match, from J Suchith, was just short of a leg-stump half-volley and Kohli simply chipped it into the hands of Williamson at short midwicket. Just like that, Williamson snuck in a two-run first over from the left-arm fingerspinner.Rajat Patidar and Faf du Plessis took care of the powerplay after Virat Kohli’s early fall•BCCI

Royal Challengers’ response was to bump up Patidar. After quietly knocking the ball into the gaps, he made everyone sit up and take notice when he swatted a Bhuvneshwar Kumar legcutter off the front foot over wide long-on for six in the fourth over. Patidar was responsible for 23 of the 47 runs Royal Challengers put together in the powerplay.Malik has been Sunrisers’ enforcer in the middle overs, but du Plessis tucked into him in his first over, hitting him for two fours and six off successive deliveries. The second four could’ve instead been a wicket had Tripathi held on to a fairly tough chance at midwicket.du Plessis also took a liking to the extra pace of Kartik Tyagi and raised a 34-ball half-century after being on 9 off 13 balls at one stage. The first two overs of Mailk and Tyagi produced a combined 37 runs. Patidar fell two short of his fifty when he dragged Suchith straight to deep midwicket.Maxwell, Karthik play sparkling cameos
Glenn Maxwell announced himself with a switch-hit six second ball, off Suchith, and then belted Malik through the covers for four. When Bhuvneshwar marginally missed his yorker, Maxwell got underneath the length and walloped him for six. When Tyagi put one on a similar length, Maxwell swung for the hills, but this time he picked out Aiden Markram in the outfield.Karthik came to the crease in the 19th over, and the options Sunrisers had for the last over were Malik and Fazalhaq Farooqi, the Afghanistan left-arm seamer who was playing his first IPL game.Wanindu Hasaranga struck with his second ball when he sent back Aiden Markram•BCCI

Williamson sided with Farooqi but under pressure, he ditched the slower balls for the on-pace deliveries, which were right up Karthik’s alley. Farooqi could’ve cut short Karthik’s knock at 8 had Tripathi held on to a more straightforward chance at deep midwicket. However, Tripathi let the ball burst through his hands and land on the boundary cushions. Karthik pounded two more sixes and a four on the next three balls to ensure Royal Challengers got an above-par total.The start
Sunrisers had a terrible start to their chase, losing both Williamson and Abhishek for ducks. While Williamson was run out without facing a ball, Abhishek was castled by a slider from Maxwell. The double blow left Sunrisers at 1 for 2 in the first over. Markram struggled to 17 off 19 balls in the powerplay, which brought 39 for Sunrisers overall.The endgame

Tripathi showed his range by helping Josh Hazlewood over short fine leg for four, scoop-sweeping Shahbaz Ahmed for another four in the same region and launching Mohammed Siraj over extra-cover for six. However, Hasaranga picked off one batter after another at the other end to offset Tripathi’s blows.When Tripathi fell to Hazlewood in the 16th over, Sunrisers needed 79 off 26 balls. They were bundled out for 125 with four balls unused in their innings.

First-class players will now get INR 30,000 while former Test players will receive INR 60,000

Edited PTI copy14-Jun-2022The BCCI has announced a hike in the monthly pensions of former cricketers – both men and women – and also former umpires, effective June 1, 2022.Among men, former first-class players, who earlier got INR 15,000 per month, will get INR 30,000, while former Test players, who got INR 37,500, will now receive INR 60,000. Those with INR 50,000 pension will get INR 70,000. Women international players, who got INR 30,000, will receive INR 52,500 from now, while first-class cricketers who retired before 2003 and were getting INR 22,500 will now get INR 45,000.Related

• BCCI disburses longstanding Covid compensation for domestic players

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said in a statement, “It is extremely important that the financial well-being of our former cricketers is taken care of. The players remain the lifeline and as a board, it is our duty to be by their side once their playing days are over. The umpires have been unsung heroes and the BCCI truly values their contribution.”The Indian Cricketers’ Association (ICA) welcomed the development, and expressed its “immense gratitude” to the BCCI.”The announcement by the BCCI yesterday has been very well received by our members, many of whom have benefitted with this move in these days of rising prices and falling interest income, all of which has become a world-wide phenomenon,” an ICA statement said. “That this 75 to 100 percent rise in pension comes on the back of the increase in medical reimbursement from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh for those who have played 10 and more First-Class matches makes it even more welcome.”

Unbroken century stand with Nick Welch reels in target as Foxes bowlers share the spoils

ECB Reporters Network17-Jun-2022Leicestershire Foxes at last gave their supporters something to cheer as an eight-wicket win over bottom-of-the-table Worcestershire Rapids ended a run of four consecutive home defeats in the Vitality Blast North Group.Ben Mike, Naveen-ul-Haq and Callum Parkinson shared the wickets with three apiece as the Rapids were restricted to a paltry 116 for 9 after electing to bat first, Kashif Ali’s 24 in his fourth appearance a modest top score.It was a total the Rapids, without Moeen Ali on England duty and Ben Cox ruled out by illness, were never likely to be able to defend and the Foxes cruised home with almost eight overs to spare with Arron Lilley smashing 12 fours and a six in an unbeaten 68 from 39 balls. His unbroken third-wicket stand of 101 with Nick Welch (41 not out) came off just 59 balls.The night had begun with what Rapids fans hoped was a show of intent as Brett D’Oliveira slog-swept and cut Parkinson for six and four in the opening over but that was as good as it got in a dire batting show.The left-arm spinner pushed one through to bowl the Rapids skipper next ball, before Naveen had Ed Pollock brilliantly caught at short third man off a thick edge with his first ball. Jack Haynes heaved Wiaan Mulder over midwicket for six but he holed out to mid-off, the third casualty of a powerplay that saw them 44 for 3.Two more wickets for Parkinson, who bowled Colin Munro and had Ed Barnard stumped off a wide delivery, added to the visitors’ woes and when Gareth Roderick found the fielder at wide long-on the Rapids were 61 for 6 in the 11th.Dwayne Bravo and Kashif stopped the procession of wickets, but while they added 40 for the seventh wicket it took them 38 balls – a snail’s pace in this format. Bravo clumped one six over midwicket off Rehan Ahmed but when he lofted Naveen over the long-off boundary the Afghan bowler gained revenge next ball with his 19th wicket of the campaign, finding the edge as the former West Indies captain drove.Kashif fell victim to a fine, diving catch by Swindells behind the stumps off Mike, whose two overs at the death cost only eight runs and earned him a third wicket when Josh Baker chopped on.Mitchell Stanley, a 21-year-old fast bowler making his debut, yorked Harry Swindells to claim a wicket with his first ball in senior cricket and Rishi Patel swung ambitiously at a ball from Pat Brown that bowled him as the Foxes lost two wickets in the first 14 balls of the powerplay.But Welch – making his first appearance of the season as one of two changes in the Foxes’ line-up – and Lilley made short work of the target, reaching 49 without further loss in the powerplay before getting after a disheartened Rapids attack with a flurry of boundaries, Lilley lofting Bravo over the straight boundary, taking three fours in one over off Stanley, whose evening ended with Lilley cracking the winning boundary over extra cover.

Teams batting first have made 290-plus totals in six of the last nine ODIs at the venue

Hemant Brar16-Jul-20224:50

Jaffer: Shikhar Dhawan needs to come good

Big picture

The last time India came away from a multi-format tour of Australia, England, New Zealand or South Africa without a series loss in any format was in 2018-19 in Australia. To find the next-most-recent instance, one will have to go all the way back to 1986, when India drew their ODI series in England 1-1, and won the Test series 2-0.On Sunday, India will have an opportunity to add to that list. Yes, they lost the Edgbaston Test on this trip but the Test series, which began last year, ended at 2-2. Then they clinched the T20I series 2-1 with their new, attacking approach. Can they produce the same result in the ODIs as well?Related

• Shikhar Dhawan to lead India in West Indies ODIs

• Rohit Sharma bats for Virat Kohli again amid 'slump' talk

• Rohit Sharma wants India to be more positive in tricky chases

• Harry Brook, Phil Salt, Matt Parkinson released for Finals Day by England

While England may not be aware of India’s touring record, they, and their captain Jos Buttler, will not want to start the post-Eoin-Morgan era with defeats in both white-ball series, that too at home.Both teams, however, need to do better with the bat. In the first ODI, England were bundled out for 110. In the second, India only managed 146 in a chase of 247. One strategy could be to see out the new ball – in both games, the eventual losing team all but lost the match in the first ten overs of their innings. Another thing that should provide some relief to the batters is the fact that Old Trafford, the venue for the third ODI, has seen some high totals in the recent past.

Form guide

England WLWWW (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
India LWWWWJason Roy’s form will be a concern for England•AFP/Getty Images

In the spotlight

Jason Roy epitomised England’s aggressive approach under Morgan. But in his last five outings, the first three in T20Is and the next two in ODIs, he has scored 4, 0, 27 (off 26 balls), 0, 23 (off 33 balls). While he has continued to show the intent to go hard from the get-go, the results have been missing. With England’s white-ball bench strength arguably at its all-time peak, Roy will know he needs an impactful knock sooner rather than later.Virat Kohli will always be in the spotlight – whether he is scoring runs, not scoring runs, or replying to Babar Azam on Twitter. But the focus will also be on Shikhar Dhawan, who scored an unbeaten 31 at The Oval but consumed 54 balls while doing so and looked less than convincing. In the second ODI at Lord’s, he was out for 9 off 26 balls. He was been named the ODI captain for the upcoming tour of the West Indies, but at 36, his long-term place in the side could be in danger if his form doesn’t improve.

Team news

England have released Harry Brook, Phil Salt and Matt Parkinson for the T20 Blast Finals Day. While the trio will be back in Manchester for the ODI, they are unlikely to play. England didn’t make any changes after a ten-wicket drubbing in the first ODI, so it’s unlikely they’ll tinker with the side that gave them a 100-run win in the second.England (probable): 1 Jason Roy, 2 Jonny Bairstow, 3 Joe Root, 4 Ben Stokes, 5 Jos Buttler (capt & wk), 6 Liam Livingstone, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 David Willey, 9 Craig Everton, 10 Brydon Carse, 11 Reece Topley.Despite Dhawan’s struggles, India may still persist with him. They could, though, bring in Shardul Thakur for Prasidh Krishna to extend their batting because No. 8 feels at least one slot too high for Mohammed Shami. Thakur may also be better-suited than hit-the-deck Prasidh to exploit the swing that the new Kookaburra has offered so far on the tour.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Mohammed Shami, 9 Jasprit Bumrah, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Prasidh Krishna/Shardul Thakur.Prasidh Krishna could make way for Shardul Thakur if India want to lengthen their batting•PA Photos/Getty Images

Pitch and conditions

Given its big boundaries and a dry square, Old Trafford is generally the best pitch for spin in the country. The UK’s weather office has issued a warning for “extreme heat”, but one would assume a peak temperature of 30°C would not affect India too much. That, though, could mean the pitch assists the spinners even more.

Stats and trivia

• In the last nine ODIs played at Old Trafford, teams batting first have posted 290-plus totals on six occasions.
• Teams batting first have won eight of those last nine ODIs at this venue.
• Moeen Ali is 20 short of 2000 ODI runs. He also has 91 wickets to his name.

Quote

“I’m expecting a pretty good atmosphere in Manchester – almost like an away game really. But that’s the thing you want to practise, especially with a World Cup in October [in Australia] – you want those win-or-you-are-out-of-it sort of games.”

England summon fightback through Ben Stokes but face significant first-innings deficit

Alan Gardner18-Aug-2022South Africa had refused to believe the hype around England in the build-up to this Test, and they found contributors from all quarters while maintaining the ascendency on day two at Lord’s – defying a typically talismanic display from Ben Stokes as the home side attempted to Baz-brawl their way back into contention.The tourists had assumed the dominant position as Sarel Erwee’s composed half-century built on the efforts of the visiting attack. Kagiso Rabada claimed a spot on the Lord’s honours board while wrapping up England’s innings inside the first hour, and South Africa were just two wickets down and approaching parity when play resumed after tea.But Stokes orchestrated a response during the evening session, taking three of the five wickets to fall and once again leading from the front with a display of physical intensity. Erwee was dislodged by a ferocious bouncer, and Rassie van der Dussen pinned in front hanging back in expectation of the short ball; Stokes then returned at the end of the day with England flagging to break a 72-run stand for the seventh wicket.Related

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South Africa had gone from 160 for 2 to 210 for 6, just 45 runs in front, before the late counterpunch from Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj consolidated their advantage. Maharaj was caught hooking at Stokes but Jansen showed his all-round ability with a volley of boundaries as the shadows lengthened at Lord’s.The England fightback began with Jack Leach, whose first ball following the tea interval found Aiden Markram’s outside edge. Stokes then brought himself on for a spell of short-pitched bowling, a tactic England have employed with increasing regularity, and it did not take long to produce the desired result as Erwee, who had been unflappable for much of the day, was on the receiving end of a head-hunting bouncer that he could only glove through to the keeper.The threat of the short ball did for van der Dussen, who was trapped on the crease by a fuller delivery and wasted a review in confirming it would have crashed into leg stump. A few overs later, Stuart Broad found Kyle Verreyne’s outside edge to record his 100th dismissal at Lord’s.Responding to an England total that looked meagre even when placed in the context of being asked to bat in the toughest conditions of the match so far, South Africa set about their innings with a discipline that was in keeping with captain Dean Elgar’s preferred method. That did not necessarily mean playing attritionally, though, their scoring rate of 3.75 an over comfortably quicker than England’s far-flightier batting effort.Elgar is a character with little time for frippery and there was a business-like air to his 85-run opening stand with Erwee. The pair set about blunting England’s new-ball attack before lunch, with Elgar successfully reviewing after being given out caught behind off Broad, and then became more expansive during the afternoon session. So comfortable was their progress, as early morning cloud gave way to bright sunshine, that it was a surprise when a stroke of bad luck contributed to Elgar’s downfall just shy of fifty.James Anderson had begun his second spell with an unplayable delivery on off stump that left Elgar groping blindly. But it was a much less-threatening line of attack that brought the breakthrough for England, as Elgar attempted to work away a leg-side delivery, which deflected off his thigh pad and then into his top arm before spinning back to bowl him behind his legs – a dismissal as unusual as any in the career of Anderson, who claimed his 658th Test wicket, and first as a 40-year-old.Kagiso Rabada booked his place on the honours board with five first-innings wickets•Getty Images

Erwee continued in unruffled fashion, picking off drives and whips through midwicket on the way to his second 50-plus score in Tests. The most dramatic incident before his dismissal came when Keegan Petersen went looking for a single that wasn’t there and had to be sent back, only for Broad to hurl wide of the stumps at the non-striker’s end just as Stokes raced in to try and pull off a run-out.Petersen looked far less comfortable, barely surviving Anderson’s spell, but he lasted long enough to notch South Africa’s second successive fifty stand before being lured into flashing an edge to the cordon by Matthew Potts.Watching England this summer had seeded the expectation that they would attempt to “Bazball” their way out of trouble on the second morning, but there was little in the way of lower-order fightback to derail South Africa.Rabada capped a consummate display with three of the last four wickets to fall, claiming his 12th five-for in Tests and enhancing his status as one of the most-penetrative fast bowlers of all time. Jansen was also in business, as the quicks carried out Elgar’s bidding with alacrity after England had been inserted in favourable conditions on Wednesday.The home side’s best hope of getting to a score above 200 lay with Ollie Pope, resuming on 61 not out overnight. He received another let-off in the first over of the morning, as Erwee unsuccessfully juggled a straightforward chance at first slip off the bowling of Rabada. But with Broad setting his stall out to swing at every other ball, South Africa gained the breakthrough they were after at the other end, Pope venturing a drive against Rabada only to see the ball cannon flush into leg stump. His 73 from 102 balls was 53 runs clear of England’s next-best.The tail eked out a few more, with Broad crashing Anrich Nortje through the covers before miscuing a Rabada slower ball gently to point. Leach then played all around a full one from Jansen to lose his off stump, and Anderson was pinned lbw first ball as Rabada finished England off.

Symonds’ kids, Billy and Chloe, ran drinks during Australia’s fielding stint, and spent the innings in the team dugout

Andrew McGlashan28-Aug-2022Andrew Symonds’ children were at the centre of tributes to him during the opening ODI between Australia and Zimbabwe in Townsville.The outfield was emblazoned with Roy 388 – Symonds’ nickname and Test cap number – in memory of the former allrounder who died in a car accident west of Townsville in May.Related

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Symonds’ children, Billy and Chloe, were part of the pre-match ceremony, standing alongside Aaron Finch and Steven Smith for the anthems where there was a moment’s silence for Symonds. They then helped run the drinks during Australia’s fielding stint, and spent the innings in the team dugout.At the interval, Symonds’ family members Laura Vidmar, sister Louise and mother Barbara – along with his children and close friend Jimmy Maher – walked to the pitch to lay his baggy green, his bat, his Akubra hat, a fishing rod and a crab pot at the wickets. Symonds’ two dogs, Buzz and Woody, also walked to the centre.”What he did as a player was remarkable,” Finch said ahead of Australia’s match against Zimbabwe. “He was someone who put bums on seats, he was box office with bat and in the field. [It’s been] a really sad time obviously for Australian cricket over the last little while. It’ll be nice to have some tributes and his family here.The late Andrew Symonds’ kids, Chloe and Billy, run drinks during the game•AFP/Getty Images

“For someone who was so laidback, his depth of knowledge of cricket and players was second to none. I think the larrikin tag was there, but the deep knowledge of the game was outstanding as well.”Earlier in the week, Australia coach Andrew McDonald had said Symonds was a cricketer who had changed the game.”Roy was an amazingly talented, natural cricketer and a brilliant team-mate. He loved playing for his country and his mates,” McDonald told the . “He had a significant impact on the game, particularly here in Queensland as well as across Australia and the world.”Roy also had a huge influence on inspiring the new generation of cricketers. He changed white-ball cricket just as Dean Jones did in his time. They were two of the true legends of Australian cricket. It is a great tragedy he is gone, but it is fitting we get the opportunity to honour him here in Townsville, and the local fans will be able to pay their respects to a true great.”It is expected that the grandstand at the Riverway Stadium will be renamed after Symonds in the near future.Symonds played 26 Tests, 198 ODIs and 14 T20Is for Australia, which included his central role in winning the 2003 World Cup in South Africa and a maiden Test century against England in the 2006-07 Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

Willis Trophy given to England’s player of the year – male or female – after vote of Cricket Writers’ Club

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Oct-2022Jonny Bairstow’s prolific Test comeback has been recognised after he was named as the inaugural winner of the Bob Willis Trophy. Bairstow, who is expected to be out until the new year after fracturing his leg and dislocating his ankle while playing golf last month, was presented with the award at the Cricket Writers’ Club’s annual end-of-season lunch.The Bob Willis Trophy, named after the former England fast bowler and broadcaster and sponsored by Smile Group Travel, was twice contested by the counties but is now given to England’s player of the year – male or female – after a vote by the CWC’s membership.Jordan Cox was voted NV Play Young Cricketer of the Year after a strong season across formats for Kent and Oval Invincibles, while Nat Sciver won the Women’s Cricket Award. Freya Kemp, the 17-year-old allrounder, was named Greater than Gin Emerging Cricketer of the Year, while Hampshire’s Keith Barker won the LV= Insurance County Championship Player of the Year award. Josh Price was named Lord’s Taverners Disability Cricketer of the Year.Bairstow was enjoying career-best form, scoring six Test centuries during the October-September judging period, before suffering a freak leg break ahead of the third Test against South Africa. Speaking to the , he elaborated on the extent of the injury, which included multiple fractures and ligament damage and required surgery to insert a metal plate, as well as the circumstances of the incident at Pannal Golf Club.Related

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“There’s a fairly steep slope that goes down to the tee box,” he said. “I’ve played that course many times and because we were playing early morning, whether the course had been watered or it was dew, it was slippy.”Normally when you slip you fall on your bum, which would have been fine as there’s plenty of cushion in there. Except this time I tried to regain my balance, my left ankle turned right, dislocated and my weight went through my left lower leg. I heard it snap straight away.”I took a couple of steps down then slipped. By the time I crumpled into a heap, I was three-quarters of the way down. It’s all a blur, it happened so quickly.”I yelped. Uncontrollable screams, the sort you hear on a rugby field. The adrenaline kicked in, and I knew I needed an ambulance. We rang the head physio at England straight away and asked where I needed to go and what I needed to do. The next three hours without painkillers were not too fun.”The injury ruled Bairstow out of England’s T20 World Cup campaign and the Test tour of Pakistan in December. No return date has been set but he could miss the entire winter programme, which includes trips to South Africa, New Zealand and Bangladesh.”Everything should heal, but it will take time,” he said. “Naturally I am desperately disappointed. I have been quite upbeat for the last month, because it is such a freakish thing that’s happened, it’s difficult to get angry about. It’s such a freakish thing that’s occurred.”None of the other CWC award-winners required crutches. Cox claimed the prestigious Young Cricketer award, first presented in 1950, following his maiden call-up for the T20I squad that toured Pakistan. Although Cox has yet to win his first cap, he is keen to push for England selection across the formats.”I would love to play all three formats,” Cox said. “I feel like my game’s very adaptable. Obviously Test cricket’s the pinnacle, so to play for England in a Test match would be the pinnacle of my career if I do end up doing that.”Kemp, who was unable to attend due to the demands of school, became the second successive teenager to win the Emerging Cricketer award – after Alice Capsey – on the back of a summer in which she made international debuts in both limited-overs formats, as well as becoming the second-youngest woman to score a half-century for England.Sciver was selected by the Women’s Cricket Award panel after scoring two hundreds during England’s run to the 50-over World Cup final, as well as a maiden Test century against South Africa in June. There was also an accolade for veteran seamer Katherine Brunt, who won the Peter Smith Award for “outstanding contribution to the presentation of cricket to the public”.Among those present for the CWC lunch at the London Marriott hotel were Price, of the England Deaf Squad, and author David Woodcock, whose book “Who Only Cricket Know”, on the 1953-54 tour of the West Indies, was named Derek Hodgson Book of the Year.

Glenn Maxwell also misses opening game against England while Cameron Green stays with the squad

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Oct-2022Australia’s frontline attack have all been rested for the first T20I against England in Perth on Sunday as the selectors continue to juggle their resources ahead of the World Cup.Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa, along with Glenn Maxwell, will not make the cross-country trip to Perth and instead remain in the east and rejoin the squad the two games in Canberra.Marcus Stoinis, Kane Richardson and Ashton Agar officially return to the squad for the England series having been managed through side injuries over the last few weeks.Related

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Cameron Green has been retained for the England matches while Mitchell Swepson and Nathan Ellis have been added for the first game.”We have a World Cup to win and that is what we have got to peak for,” Cummins said after the opening game against West Indies. “There is no point in burning out in these five games. We’ve been over in India for three games as well.”You might see some people having a rest and in some different roles to make sure we give ourselves the best chance not only for the start of the tournament but the back end if we are there.”Richardson and Mitchell Marsh, who played as a batter only in the first T20I against West Indies as he returns from an ankle injury, have travelled to Perth on Thursday so will therefore miss the second match in Brisbane on Friday.The selectors have taken a cautious approach with players ahead of the World Cup, particularly around flying them to and from Perth in quick succession. Stoinis was left in Perth rather than heading to Queensland while Australia’s main bowlers have avoided two lengthy journeys either side of a match day.”The high-performance team and selectors have planned these matches to ensure our squad get to the World Cup fresh and ready to perform,” national selector George Bailey said.”Some squad members travelled to Perth early to begin preparations slightly earlier than the main squad and a handful of others will not make the trip to Perth. With some players remaining on the east coast, it provides further opportunity for Nathan Ellis and Daniel Sams who both performed well in India.”Likewise Mitchell Swepson was a part of last year’s World Cup squad and continues to provide good depth in our T20 spin bowling department.”After the opening game against West Indies, captain Aaron Finch said they would be using the upcoming matches to try out players in various positions and combinations ahead of the World Cup”We’re going to keep tinkering with things just to try and make sure that we’ve got all bases covered.”Australia squad for England in Perth Aaron Finch, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, Steven Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Josh Inglis, Matthew Wade, Daniel Sams, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Swepson, Nathan Ellis, Kane RichardsonAustralia squad for England in Canberra Aaron Finch, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Josh Inglis, Matthew Wade, Daniel Sams, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson