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Chris Rogers has conceded that team doctor Peter Brukner was right to rule him out of both Tests in the West Indies after he suffered concussion when he was struck on the helmet at training

Brydon Coverdale12-Jun-2015Chris Rogers has conceded that team doctor Peter Brukner was right to rule him out of both Tests in the West Indies after he suffered concussion when he was struck on the helmet at training. Rogers said he had had “some pretty bad days” since the incident in the lead-up to the first Test, but he was hopeful that he was on the way to recovery after facing throwdowns in the nets on Thursday.Rogers initially thought the incident was innocuous but he has suffered from headaches and dizziness since then, and admitted he would not have been fit for the ongoing second Test in Jamaica. He said he had been surprised by how long his symptoms had persisted since being struck on May 31, and while it was a concern he had been assured by Brukner he would recover.”I got hit on the head when I was just a bit early on a pull shot,” Rogers said. “Then I was actually hit on the box and that’s when I walked away and was a little bit annoyed. To be honest, I didn’t think much of the hit on the head. I’ve been hit on the head quite a few times. I thought it was just another one.”But then I just didn’t start to feel great. I spoke to the doc and didn’t expect him to rule me out of the Test, but he did. I was a little bit surprised at the time but since then I still haven’t quite recovered. I’ve had some pretty bad days so I think the doc was right. He made the right call.”You never want to miss a Test, especially for something I thought was fairly insignificant. I guess nowadays any knock to the head can make a difference. I just didn’t really think I’d have the headaches and the dizziness that have come with it. It’s been surprising but that’s what has happened.”Rogers said at the time he had not worried about the hit from a bowler who “wasn’t even that quick”. He was not aware of having been concussed previously in his career, and said it was hard to watch on from the sidelines but having felt ill after attempting some training he knew that he needed to be ruled out of the Jamaica Test as well as the first in Dominica.”As an opening batsman and a small one, you tend to cop your fair share on the helmet,” Rogers said. “But I’ve never really had symptoms like this, I must admit. Even just running and taking a few catches and then feeling terrible for the rest of the day. It’s been a bit of a wake-up call.”Shaun Marsh has filled Rogers’ position at the top of the order in the West Indies and Adam Voges slotted in at No.5 and scored a hundred on debut in Dominica. That will mean a decision for the selectors ahead of the Ashes next month; Rogers’ experience in English conditions will make him a desired member of the side if he is fully fit.”I had a hit today and that was a good sign,” Rogers said on Thursday. “I haven’t felt any side-effects from that so I think I’m on the road to recovery now … After a while you want to be back in it and you feel a little bit left out when you’re not part of the team. But that’s natural and you just have to wait your turn.”

While the visiting Englishmen played their third warm-up game of the India tour in Ahmedabad, India’s Test side eased into its three-day preparatory camp in Mumbai ahead of the upcoming series

Abhishek Purohit in Mumbai09-Nov-2012While the visiting Englishmen played their third warm-up game of the India tour in Ahmedabad, India’s Test side eased into its three-day preparatory camp for the upcoming series with a short practice session at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) in south Mumbai. All members of the squad, barring Harbhajan Singh, whose flight was delayed, arrived at the CCI in the afternoon, along with coach Duncan Fletcher, and batted and bowled for a little more than an hour after a short game of football. With the World Twenty20 and Champions League T20 having consumed most of September and October, this was the first outing for India’s Test side in nine weeks, the first after the New Zealand series at home.The fitness of Zaheer Khan, who had lasted all of 13.3 overs on India’s tour of England last year, was again in focus. Zaheer had pulled up sore, pointing towards his groin, on the third day of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy opener against Railways last week, and had walked off the field. He didn’t bowl or field on the fourth and final day, but Mumbai captain Ajit Agarkar had said Zaheer’s problem was just cramp. Today, while the other quick bowlers in the India squad, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma, bowled through the mini-session, Zaheer spent the majority of his time on the massage table. He eventually did bowl for a while but was clearly not extending himself. On the other hand, Ishant and Umesh, especially, bowled with pace and rhythm.The batsmen took to the nets as per the batting order in batches of four, with Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Cheteshwar Pujara and Sachin Tendulkar starting off. Pujara looked in fine touch, defending and attacking confidently, though the bowling was below par at times. With various age-group matches going on in Mumbai at the moment, it was difficult to assemble decent young net bowlers. Two of those bowlers, though, managed to hit Tendulkar’s stumps once each with the batsman appearing a touch tentative. Tendulkar did loft R Ashwin crisply a few times and soon left the nets to receive a few throwdowns.Next in were Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Ajinkya Rahane and MS Dhoni. Gambhir and M Vijay, the reserve opener, continued to bat into the fading light after the rest were done. After Gambhir walked off eventually, Vijay hit a few more for a while against the local spinners and was the last player to leave the nets. The squad will have a full training session tomorrow.

Patrick Cummins, Australia’s 19-year-old fast bowler, was credited with putting his team in a winning position after their victory in the opening T20 against South Africa at Newlands

Firdose Moonda at Newlands13-Oct-2011Patrick Cummins, Australia’s 18-year-old fast bowler, was credited with putting his team in a winning position after their victory in the opening T20 against South Africa at Newlands. His captain, Cameron White, said Cummins’ three wickets on debut in the 19th over swung the advantage Australia’s way.”It was the difference between chasing 160 and what we did chase [147],” White said. “It doesn’t seem like much but when the game is getting close those few runs make a difference.” White added that Cummins, who was Australia’s second youngest debutant, bowled like “a seasoned pro” and his performance in his first match gave further evidence of a bright future.The Man of the Match, Shane Watson, who is also Cummins’ team-mate at New South Wales, was another full of praise. After talking Cummins up earlier in the week, Watson believed that he had lived up to his billing and that he will be careful to nurture his skills and not let any ego get it the way.”There’s no way he will let it get to his head,” Watson said. “Deep down he knows that it’s a really special gift that he’s got, to bowl that fast at such a young age.”While Cummins grabbed the biggest haul, Australia’s bowling was an all-round effort and White said the conditions had something to do with it. “They probably really appreciated the conditions. It was nice to see the ball swinging and bouncing.”One of the other debutants, Doug Bollinger, who was, somewhat surprisingly, playing in his first international T20 despite his success at the IPL, also impressed as he swung the new ball and was economical. “Doug has been doing well in Twenty20s for the last couple of years,” Watson said. “He has been consistent and bowled with good pace, bounce and swing. When he is bowling well, it’s hard to line him up more than anything,”He claimed the scalp of Graeme Smith, lending weight to the theory that Smith has not dealt with his technical issues against left-armers although Watson wasn’t reading too much into Smith’s duck. “I think it’s just luck. Whether you’re right-handed or left-handed batsmen, you don’t come across too many left handed bowlers,” he said. “Left-armers have given batsmen a lot of trouble, not just Graeme, but having two left-armers does give us an advantage.”Watson also played his part with the ball but it was his swashbuckling 52 that took the game away from South Africa. After a lean run in the Champions League, Watson felt he was due some runs. “I had been feeling good in the nets so I knew I was not far away,” he said. He was dropped on 2, by Smith in at first slip, and admitted that he needed a bit of luck but was pleased to capitalise on it.South Africa didn’t help themselves by the lapses in the field and had been put on the back foot early when Smith fell in the first over and Amla was run out coming back for a third. Colin Ingram and JP Duminy put them back on track with a third-wicket partnership of 58 and although it didn’t prove to be matchwinning stand, Amla said it was one of the biggest positives of their defeat.”That’s what the selectors were hoping for, that the young batsmen would perform,” he said. “JP’s innings was a serious highlight for us. Some of his shots were unbelievable.”With the pair at the crease, South Africa looked on track to reach an above-par total but White said he never felt as though the score was getting beyond his control. “I didn’t think it was drifting away from us,” he said. “They always had to push on towards the back end and then we got a breakthrough and were really able to restrict them. The run rate was always around six.”While White said winning was a good start he added “it will be better to win the next one.” Amla, meanwhile, was looking for aspects he can build on as South Africa attempt to level the series in Johannesburg. “In the batting department, we should look to score a bit more so that it gives the guys at the bottom a little more leeway,” he said. “And, in the field we did show signs of not being at 100%.”

Gloucestershire has lost the services of William Porterfield, the Ireland opening batsman

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Oct-2010William Porterfield, the Ireland opening batsman, has left Gloucestershire after signing a three-year deal with Warwickshire. Gloucester have also lost medium-pacer Gemaal Hussain who too is likely to move up to Division One if he joins county champions Nottinghamshire.Gloucester had a disappointing 2009 season, being placed fifth in Division Two after losing nine and winning only six of their matches. Porterfield and Hussain’s departures come in the wake of Steve Kirby and Anthony Ireland’s exits from the county.The county were unhappy with Hussain’s decision but the bowler said he had to make the move if he wanted to improve his chances of playing for England. “I feel I need to challenge myself by playing Division One cricket,” Hussain told the county’s website. Tom Richardson, Gloucestershire’s chief executive, said he didn’t agree with Hussain’s view. “It’s very disappointing as you’ve got this guy who came to us last year from nowhere,” Richardson told . Hussain was the division’s leading wicket-taker with 67 at 22.34 from 15 matches.Porterfield will join his Ireland team-mate Boyd Rankin at Warwickshire. Ashley Giles, Warwickshire’s director of cricket, was pleased with the season’s signings which include Pakistan batsman Younis Khan. “Will has proved his potential at international and domestic level and I believe he has a great deal more to offer.”

Imran Farhat, who contributed an obdurate 98-ball 32 to a solid start, did not entirely believe Pakistan had been shut out of the contest at 161 for 6

Cricinfo staff03-Dec-2009At the end of a truncated first day’s play, which began over two hours late due to a wet outfield and closed early owing to bad light, Pakistan were in an uncomfortable position. There were no hidden demons in the pitch, and a slow yet steady opening stand of 60 in 194 deliveries seemingly had Pakistan – who were put in to bat – on the route to stability.The opener Imran Farhat, who contributed an obdurate 98-ball 32 to that start, did not entirely believe Pakistan had been shut out of the contest at 161 for 6. “The score at the moment is not bad, if you look at the conditions. If we score another 100 runs it will be good, because our bowling is very good,” he said. “A score of 250 won’t be a bad score. We still believe and we’re still fighting. [Mohammad] Asif, Umar Gul and [Mohammed] Aamer are in form, we’ve got Danish Kaneria playing too, we expect a lot from him here.”Mohammad Yousuf, Pakistan’s captain, said he would have opted to field as well. The pitch did not appear to do too much, and Pakistan had four silly dismissals to blame for their predicament. Salman Butt took on a short ball, Farhat tried to run Vettori past slip, Shoaib Malik pushed uppishly to mid-off, and Misbah-ul-Haq, on his return to the side, fell slog-sweeping Vettori.Farhat credited New Zealand’s tidy attack for putting pressure on Pakistan. “We didn’t have any such plan, we were just looking to be positive, be it batting or bowling” he said. “We started well but suddenly we lost a wicket, and then a couple, and we came under pressure. We survived well, and on this pitch you’ve got to concentrate. The weather keeps changing a bit, it was windy and there was a bit of moisture in the track on the first day. They bowled very well, put the ball in the right areas, and at the end of the day we didn’t have many partnerships.”Umar Akmal had a memorable debut in Dunedin, following a century with a polished 75 in the second innings batting at No. 5, but here he was promoted to No. 3. There have been reports in claiming that no batsman was willing to bat at one-down, and that Umar was thrust into the position. The decision, said Farhat, was taken to accommodate Misbah two spots lower.”Misbah-ul-Haq came back, and he’s an experienced player who has batted at No. 5,” he said. “The management knows that Umar Akmal can play at No.3, so it’s a collective decision. It’s about who is comfortable. He played very well. It’s not a bad decision. He’s willing and in good touch.”

He is unlikely to play Sheffield Shield cricket until after Australia’s ODI and T20I series against Pakistan

Alex Malcolm11-Oct-2024Glenn Maxwell has been named to make his red-ball return in Cricket Australia’s Second XI four-day competition after being named in Victoria’s 12-man squad to play Queensland at the Junction Oval starting on Monday.Maxwell was named for his first four-day match in over 12 months as he begins a build towards potentially going on Australia’s Test tour of Sri Lanka early next year.It is unlikely Maxwell will play in Victoria’s next Sheffield Shield match which starts on October 20, just three days after the completion of the Second XI game. Some of Australia’s Test players including Steven Smith, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc are set for that match while Scott Boland is likely to make his Shield return in that game as well.Related

• Maxwell set for Shield return with Test hopes on the horizon

• Sheffield Shield preview: Western Australia chase history, Test stars to play early rounds

• CA schedule day-night Shield games to build pink-ball experience

The rules in CA’s Second XI competition allow for 12 players to play in the game, with 11 batting and 11 bowling, meaning rest and rotation is possible for players within the four days. Maxwell’s workloads are carefully monitored given the horrific leg injury he suffered two years ago. He turns 36 on the first day of the match and has played only two first-class matches in the last five years.Victoria coach Chris Rogers was very happy to have Maxwell playing with some of Victoria’s young Second XI players while being unsure when he will have him available for Shield cricket.”This is an opportunity for us,” Rogers said. “We’ve got a lot of young players who are playing, and anytime you get to throw in someone with that experience and talk about batting and fielding and strategy, that’s great for us as well.”Maxwell looks set to play the one-day domestic fixture against New South Wales on October 25, which could feature Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, but he is unlikely to be available for the third or fourth Shield rounds for Victoria which overlap with Australia’s ODI and T20I series against Pakistan.He would be available for Victoria’s fifth and sixth Shield games before the BBL begins and appears set to play at least one of those. Victoria play Queensland on November 24 at the Gabba in a pink-ball game under lights before hosting Queensland at the MCG on December 6.Australia’s selectors could also give him a run in a two-day pink-ball Prime Minister’s XI game against India in Canberra starting on November 30.Maxwell is a serious contender for Australia’s Test tour of Sri Lanka given his Test experience in the subcontinent. Maxwell was part of the Sri Lanka tour in 2022 and nearly played the first Test in Galle, with his ability as a spin-bowling allrounder seen as an asset in spinning conditions, especially if the Tests are set to be low-scoring and fast moving.All of his seven Test matches have been played on the subcontinent with his last coming in Bangladesh in 2017. The selectors have indicted previously that Shield cricket has no relevance to Test cricket in Sri Lanka given the conditions and style of cricket is vastly different but it is understood both Maxwell and Australia’s selectors are keen for him to play some red-ball cricket from a physical conditioning standpoint.Victoria have also named state captain Will Sutherland to play in the Second XI game after he was left out of the first Shield round as he continues to build his bowling following a serious back injury. He will bowl under restrictions.”He’s tracking well,” Rogers said. “This game was probably a bit too far where he was to bowl back-to-back days, and multiple spells. “But he’s ready to go for the Second XI and hopefully that’ll set him up well for the Shield game against New South Wales.”Rogers was unsure whether spin-bowling allrounder Matthew Short would be available for the next Shield game against New South Wales as he recovers from a minor adductor strain he suffered in the final ODI of Australia’s white-ball tour of the UK last month.Victorian Second XI squad: Will Sutherland (capt), Austin Anlezark, Liam Blackford, Dylan Brasher, Xavier Crone, Harry Dixon, Jai Lemire, Reilley Mark, Glenn Maxwell, Jon Merlo, David Moody, Doug Warren

There is the World Cup looming for the visitors, while the hosts will be aiming for their first ODI series win against India since 2006

Hemant Brar31-Jul-20235:25

“Hope India bring back Kohli and Rohit for the decider”

Big picture

After India’s loss in the second ODI, their head coach Rahul Dravid said: “With the Asia Cup and World Cup coming up, we have to look at the bigger picture. We cannot get worried about every single game and every single series. If we do that, it will be a mistake.”If India walk the talk, Tuesday’s series decider could be another rest day for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Even in the first ODI, Rohit batted at No. 7 and Kohli never came out.Ishan Kishan has made good use of these World Cup auditions, scoring a fifty in each ODI. However, two other candidates – Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson – have failed to impress. Suryakumar got starts in both games but couldn’t convert them into something substantial. Samson played only the second match and scored 9. But Tuesday could present them with another opportunity.Related

• Samson, Suryakumar squander best chance to push for WC spots

• Hit-the-deck Romario Shepherd makes a striking impression

• Dravid looking at 'bigger picture', not worried about ODI loss

• Hardik still 'turtle, not the rabbit' as he builds up bowling workload

West Indies will not be going to the World Cup, but they have a chance to register a rare ODI series win against India in recent times. Since 2006, the two teams have played 12 bilateral ODI series against each other with India winning every time.Batters from both sides – barring Kishan and Shai Hope – found it difficult to score in Bridgetown as the pitch helped fast bowlers and spinners alike. Hope said after the first ODI that a 9.30am start was the main reason behind that. It will be another 9.30am start in Tarouba, where the third ODI will be held, and while the pitch may not be as conducive for seamers, spinners could once again prove to be difficult to score off.

Form guide

West Indies WLLWL (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
India LWLLW1:25

“Forget about the past, look ahead to better days”

In the spotlight

Until the start of 2023, Shai Hope was primarily a top-order batter who doubled up as an anchor. He averaged 48.95 with a strike rate of 74.68. But since then, despite moving down to the order, he has struck at an average of 69.66 and a strike rate of 96.75. The main contributing factor towards that elevated strike rate is his improved six-hitting skills. He is now hitting a six every 33 balls as opposed to one every 93 balls prior to that. With scores of 43 and 63 not out so far in the series, he will once again be a key batter for West Indies.Few can do what Suryakumar Yadav does in T20 cricket, but he is finding it difficult to adjust to the rhythm of the 50-over game. While he has a strike rate of over 100 in ODIs, he has managed just 476 runs in 23 innings, at an average of 23.80. After the second ODI, coach Dravid said that the team management wanted to give him as many opportunities as they can. With the ODI World Cup roughly two months away, Suryakumar better grab these chances soon.

Team news

After a win in the second ODI, West Indies are unlikely to make any changes.West Indies (probable): 1 Brandon King, 2 Kyle Mayers, 3 Alick Athanaze, 4 Shai Hope (capt & wk), 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Keacy Carty, 7 Romario Shepherd, 8 Yannic Cariah, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Gudakesh Motie, 11 Jayden SealesIndia, too, could field an unchanged XI, resting Rohit and Kohli again.India (probable): 1 Ishan Kishan (wk), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Sanju Samson, 4 Hardik Pandya (capt), 5 Suryakumar Yadav, 6 Axar Patel, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Umran Malik, 11 Mukesh Kumar3:05

“Our last chance to try different combinations”

Pitch and conditions

This will be the first ODI at the Brian Lara Stadium. The venue has hosted only one men’s international game to date: a T20I between West Indies and India last year. In 23 List A matches there, teams batting first have breached 250 only seven times. On Tuesday, the weather is expected to be cloudy but the rain should stay away.

Stats and trivia

• Hope is 65 away from 5000 ODI runs. If he gets there on Tuesday, in his 113th innings, he will be the third fastest to the mark behind Babar Azam and Hashim Amla.
• If Kohli plays and scores 102, he will become the fifth batter to reach the 13,000 mark in ODIs.
• Ravindra Jadeja needs six wickets to become the seventh Indian to 200 ODI wickets, and the first Indian since Kapil Dev (3783 runs and 253 wickets) to complete the double of 2000 runs and 200 wickets.
• Kyle Mayers is only the third West Indies player to open both batting and bowling in the same ODI. Phil Simmons and Chris Gayle are the other two.

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.”

The draft is set to take place between the second and third India-England Tests

Matt Roller01-Feb-2021Teams in the Hundred will confirm this week which men’s players they have retained from the squads they picked in the competition’s initial draft in October 2019, with the ECB billing Thursday, February 4 as ‘deadline day’.Following the Hundred’s postponement last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, men’s players who had been selected in the draft have been negotiating with teams, who were given the option of retaining as many players as they wished at a mutually agreed salary band. A number of retentions have already been announced, headlined by Jonny Bairstow staying at Welsh Fire on a top-bracket deal after losing his red-ball central contract.After the retention window shuts, a mini-draft will be held towards the end of the month in which squads will be finalised – though each team will then add a ‘wildcard’ player to their squad following the T20 Blast’s group stages in July.It is understood that on account of the logistical challenges posed by Covid, the draft will not be screened live from a studio like it was in 2019 and will instead be held behind closed doors. The ECB have been in discussions with broadcasters about how best to present the draft, and at this stage, it is likely to be staged virtually on Sunday, February 21 – between England’s second and third Tests in India, and after the IPL auction – with the picks in each round expected to be revealed on February 22 or 23.Related

• The Hundred – full 2021 squad lists

• Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan among names in latest Hundred player retentions list

• ECB set to ramp up Hundred promotion in the new year

• ECB clarifies player retention plans for postponed Hundred

• Hundred faces salary cuts and partial re-draft – PCA chairman

Some teams, such as Trent Rockets, Southern Brave and Oval Invincibles, have retained the vast majority of their initial squads, while others, including Northern Superchargers, Manchester Originals and Welsh Fire, will have several picks to make. Around 30 spots will be free across the competition in the draft.ESPNcricinfo understands that the majority of English players who had been picked up on lucrative contracts have been retained, though a handful of consistent domestic performers including Richard Gleeson, Ben Foakes (both Superchargers), Danny Briggs (Fire) and Chris Wood (Invincibles) are set to be released into the draft pool, and Harry Gurney (Rockets) was yet to sign as the deadline approached. Salaries have been cut by 20% for 2021 but the banding remains the same, and some players have either negotiated a slot at a higher band – including Will Jacks (Invincibles) and Dawid Malan (Rockets) – or agreed to shift down.A number of overseas players including Marcus Stoinis (Brave), Chris Lynn (Superchargers), Qais Ahmed (Fire) and D’Arcy Short (Rockets) will be retained, while Shadab Khan (Brave), Fabian Allen (Invincibles), Mitchell Santner and Imran Tahir (both Originals) are among those set to be released. A full list will be revealed on ‘deadline day’, which is likely to include details of which salary band each player has agreed to.Availability of overseas players is posing a major headache for teams in their draft planning due to the uncertainty that Covid has introduced to the Future Tours Programme. West Indies are due to host Australia and Pakistan for multi-format tours which overlap with the start and end of the Hundred respectively, and teams are alert to the fact that other series could spring up at short notice, and that quarantine requirements both in England and overseas may further curtail availability.Some big names may be signed by teams planning for the long term, who would then sign short-term replacement players as cover but retain their stars in future seasons. Shaheen Shah Afridi, for example, is understood to have been retained by Birmingham Phoenix – despite his limited availability – as part of their long-term planning, while teams could go after players like Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer for the same reason.Jonny Bairstow was a top-bracket retention for Welsh Fire after he lost his Test central contract•Alex Davidson/Getty Images

That said, players without international contracts like Ben Cutting and Chris Morris may prove popular at the draft, and most teams will look to prioritise a strong core of domestic players. New Zealand and South Africa are not currently scheduled to play in the Hundred’s window from late July to late August, so their players may be attractive options, while depending on the dates for Bangladesh’s tour to Zimbabwe, Shakib Al Hasan may find a suitor.There is a long list of English players who were disappointed not to be picked up in 2019, many of whom will be anticipating deals this year after discussions between teams and agents in recent months. Olly Stone, Tom Lammonby, Samit Patel, Jamie Overton, Josh Cobb and Ian Cockbain are among those expected to attract interest after going unsold last time round.The end of the Kolpak era means that the players picked up as locals in the 2019 draft would now count towards a team’s overseas quota (three per squad, and per playing XI), and the majority will be released as a result. Dane Vilas, a surprise £125,000 pick by Manchester Originals in the first draft, is among those set to be released, though Welsh Fire and Oval Invincibles have considered retaining Colin Ingram and Rilee Rossouw respectively as overseas players.In the women’s competition, teams have until June to finalise their squads. There is no draft scheduled, with a less formal recruitment process in place, and eight further marquee signings are due to be announced later this month.

The combination of India’s ruthless attack and South Africa’s ordinary batting meant India cruised to a crushing win by an innings and 137 runs

The Report by Sidharth Monga13-Oct-20193:49

Agarkar: Glad Saha, Umesh getting applause for their hard work

The hallmark of Virat Kohli’s captaincy on the field in Test cricket has been the clinical execution. His field placements, his declarations, and his bowling changes have tended to err on the side of conservatism. On Sunday morning in Pune, he took a trip to the wild side by enforcing a follow-on on South Africa, and thus asking his bowlers to bowl a second day in a row.It turned out it wasn’t that wild a ride. The combination of India’s ruthless attack and South Africa’s ordinary batting meant India cruised to a crushing win by an innings and 137 runs, India’s biggest against this opposition. It also sealed their 11th consecutive series win at home. By agreeing to bowl for two days in a row, and doing it so well, the bowlers earned an extra day off between this and their third straight Test.ALSO READ: Stats – India break Australia’s record with 11th consecutive series win at homeModern cricket has shown that you enforce the follow-on only in extreme circumstances, unless you are certain the opposition is so far gone it is not capable of fighting back. There was no rain forecast so that took out one extreme circumstance. India probably felt the pitch was dying down, as was evident with the South Africa lower order’s ease with the old ball, so they needed to make use of it when it was still lively. What the follow-on had going for it was that India had five bowlers, and even if South Africa batted five sessions to save the Test, India couldn’t lose the Test.

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Despite all those circumstances, it is highly likely it all came down to the huge difference in class between the two sides. It has taken some miraculous batting in both the first innings of this series for South Africa to bat over 100 overs. India just didn’t expect South Africa to bat over 100 overs here. They lasted 67.2 overs.Damage began with Aiden Markram falling for a silver pair. So short is his confidence that he didn’t go for the review even though it seemed he wanted to. As was seen in the replays, this inswinger from Ishant Sharma was swinging too much. Theunis de Bruyn, whose series has been only marginally better than Markram’s, soon became a victim of some Wriddhiman Saha magic with a flying catch down the leg side off Umesh Yadav.India’s players celebrate their innings victory•BCCI

Dean Elgar and Faf du Plessis, promoting himself to No. 4 this time, provided some resistance but R Ashwin broke through that in the second hour of the day to go past Dennis Lillee’s tally of 355 Test wickets. It wasn’t without some help. Saha gladdened the hearts of those who facilitated his comeback after he sat out for 22 months, a hiatus that was not his own making. Ashwin drew an inside edge from du Plessis, on to his thigh pad, thus changing direction and heading towards Saha’s ribs. Saha’s gloves followed the ball, but didn’t quite keep up with it. He did get enough to keep the ball in the air, then in desperation he threw his left glove at the ball, lobbing it down the wicket. Now he was about to lunge for the ball, the lunge had started, and he realised there is time. So he took a mini step before lunging, getting enough distance on the dive to finish the catch where silly point would be.Just before lunch, Elgar made an argument for a long-off despite a big lead because batsmen these days can’t help hitting in the air. Because there was a long-off in place, Elgar tried to clear mid-on, and the ball turned to fly off the outside half of his bat for a catch to Yadav.Post lunch, it was the turn of Ravindra Jadeja to get among the wickets, beating a Quinton de Kock slog sweep and drawing an outside edge from Temba Bavuma. The latter was pretty significant because of the pressure Bavuma was under. He got a start, looked like their best player of spin in this innings, but after getting in and with the ball getting softer, he played a loose drive at Jadeja.Mohammed Shami produced an over from hell to almost blast the bat out of Vernon Philander’s hands and then get Senuran Muthusamy fending at a short ball. On day four on an Indian pitch. As has been the norm, there was resistance in the lower order against the softer ball with first-innings fighters Philander and Keshav Maharaj adding a half-century stand. However, once Philander tickled Yadav down the leg side, the end came swiftly.