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The ICC has confirmed that Pakistan Women and the rest of Group B will play their Women’s World Cup matches in Cuttack

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jan-2013The ICC has confirmed that Pakistan Women and the rest of Group B will play their Women’s World Cup matches in Cuttack. Originally the entire tournament had been due to be staged in Mumbai but threats by political activists against the Pakistan team’s presence in the city lead to the change, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.All of Pakistan’s matches will be held at the Barabati Stadium, while Australia, New Zealand and South Africa will play their other group matches at the DRIEMS Ground. Both stadiums are in Cuttack, which is situated in the eastern state of Odisha. Some Super Six matches will also be played in Cuttack but the final remains scheduled for the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.ICC chief executive, David Richardson, said: “I am grateful for all the support ICC has received from the Board of Control for Cricket in India during a difficult situation, which was not of cricket’s making. We are also indebted to the Odisha Cricket Association for making excellent grounds available at such short notice.”We also wish to thank the competing teams and member boards for their cooperation in allowing both the ICC and BCCI the opportunity to explore the complicated logistics so that we can ensure that this event takes place on the dates scheduled in India.”Protests by the Shiv Sena, a right-wing political party, had lead to negotiations to move Pakistan’s matches from Mumbai. Similarly minded political groups such as the Bajrang Dal and Kalinga Sena have opposed Pakistan’s presence in Odisha but Asirbad Behera, the Odisha Cricket Association secretary, did not envisage any problems. “Odisha is a peaceful state with strong brotherhood bonds, so we hope that there will be no trouble for any team to play in Odisha,” he said last week. “Still, we are taking all sorts of precautions and are in touch with the state government who have offered their support to us.”The Women’s World Cup, which begins on January 31, will now be played across two cities and five stadiums. The venues in Mumbai will be the Brabourne Stadium, the MIG Club and MCA’s Bandra-Kurla Complex, after the Wankhede Stadium was confirmed as the venue for the Ranji Trophy final.

Former Australia batsman Darren Lehmann has been appointed the new coach of the IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jan-2013Former Australia batsman Darren Lehmann has been appointed the new coach of the IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab. Lehmann has previously coached the now defunct franchise Deccan Chargers, and had played for Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural edition in 2008. He replaces Adam Gilchrist, who was the coach and captain of the Punjab side in the 2012 season.”I’m geared up for the challenges it brings and will always encourage our team to be an entertaining and aggressive brand that people love to watch and associate with,” Lehmann said. “I’m also looking forward to working with Adam Gilchrist again and help all the players grow on and off the field.”Lehmann also coaches Australia’s state side Queensland, and the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League.

Adam Wheater has bought himself out of his contract with Essex and will move to Hampshire with immediate effect.

George Dobell01-Mar-2013Adam Wheater, the highly-rated wicketkeeper batsman, has bought himself out of the final year of his contract with Essex and will move to Hampshire with immediate effect on a two-year deal.Wheater, 23, has been looking for other opportunities for some time. ESPNcricinfo revealed in September that he was in talks with Hampshire, among other clubs, but Essex were refusing to let him leave before the end of the 2013 season.He was expected to start the season in Essex’s side as a batsman but had become the county’s third choice wicketkeeper behind long-standing James Foster and England Lions’ keeper Ben Foakes.Wheater feels he will have a much greater opportunity to take the gloves at Hampshire and is expected to displace Michael Bates.If that is the case, Bates, 22, may consider himself unfortunate. While the 22-year-old is a batsman of modest ability – first-class average of 19.66 – he is an exceptional wicketkeeper. He played a pivotal part in Hampshire’s CB40 success last season, taking the final ball stood up to the stumps against the pace of Kabir Ali. He has taken 102 catches in 33 first-class games.But Hampshire manager Giles White insisted Wheater would have to earn his place: “No assurances or promises have been made to Adam but we are delighted that he has chosen to pursue his career at Hampshire.”He will add competition with the gloves and comes with an impressive first-class batting average. We have experienced, first-hand, that he is a young player with great ability and we hope that he is able to fulfil his potential and build on what has been a bright start to his career.”Wheater, who attended Millfield School in Somerset, scored 462 first-class runs from the middle order at 35.35 in 2012.”Over the winter months, Adam made it very clear that he would like to progress his wicketkeeping,” Essex head coach, Paul Grayson, said. “It is always sad to lose a player you have nurtured from a young age but we understand that to progress his career in his preferred role in the team he will need to change club.”

AB de Villiers racked up his third half-century in the series, in which he also scored a hundred, to guide South Africa to victory in their chase in Benoni with six overs to spare, sealing a 3-2 win for the hosts

The Report by Firdose Moonda in Benoni24-Mar-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details AB de Villiers was the hero, but Ryan McLaren, too, played a significant role by dismissing Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, and Misbah-ul Haq•AFP

AB de Villiers racked up his third half-century of the series, in which he also scored a hundred, to guide South Africa to victory in their chase in Benoni with six overs to spare, sealing a 3-2 win for the hosts. De Villiers put in his best all-round performance in the decider, as he manned his chargers well and anchored the chase, albeit a modest one.South Africa closed out the series largely due to Pakistan’s inability to do the same, rather than being dominant. Apart from de Villiers’ knock, the game changed in the space of four balls in the Pakistan innings when Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi both succumbed softly in the 35th over bowled by Ryan McLaren and abandoned the captain and lower order to nothing more than hope.Malik and Afridi were guilty of poor shot-selection, they undid the work done by the batsmen before and left the lower order too much to do. They also did little justice to Pakistan’s initial recovery after they found themselves in early trouble at 31 for 2 inside the first 10 overs.Dale Steyn delivered a classic delivery to remove Mohammad Hafeez for the sixth time on this tour and take his 100th ODI wicket. Hafeez was forced to play at one that angled into him and then straightened and was caught at second slip. Imran Farhat followed shortly afterwards. After being worked over by Morne Morkel’s awkward bounce, he edged a standard Lonwabo Tsotsobe delivery through to de Villiers.An under-pressure Younis Khan had Kamran Akmal to thank for buying him some time and the pair built the best stand of the innings. Kamran peppered the area through point frequently to keep the score moving. Younis eventually settled and also brought up his 7000 ODI runs. The pair put Pakistan in a good position, but could not build on it.Having slog-swept Robin Peterson for six successfully and with his half-century looming, Kamran tried it again but top-edged to hand a catch to McLaren. Two overs later, Younis mowed part-timer Farhaan Behardien to midwicket where Hashim Amla timed his jump to end what has been a lean series for Younis.Shoaib Malik and Misbah combined to a produce a similar recovery in which they targeted Peterson and tried to be more conservative against the seamers. They stand grew to 47 when Malik did the inexplicable. He chipped a McLaren offcutter to midwicket to give Behardien catching practice. What Afridi did was even worse. He saw off two balls before picking the right one to pull but he singled out the fielder at deep square leg as well. With that, Pakistan’s aims of reaching a competitive target ended.

Smart stats

• South Africa’s 3-2 win is their fourth ODI series triumph at home since the start of 2010. They have won three series by a margin of 3-2 and lost one each against Australia and New Zealand.

• AB de Villiers’ series aggregate of 367 runs is the highest ever in a five-match series in South Africa and the third-highest overall in South Africa.

• De Villiers’ tally in the series (367 runs) is his highest ever in a bilateral series and the second-highest overall behind the aggregate in the 2007 World Cup (372 runs in ten matches).

• De Villiers’ average of 50.38 is the third-highest among batsmen with 5000-plus ODI runs. He is one of the two batsmen (Viv Richards the other) in the group to boast an average greater than 40 and a strike rate (93.12) greater than 90.

• Ryan McLaren’s 3 for 32 is his second-best bowling performance against Pakistan and the fourth-best overall. Since the start of 2013, he has picked up 18 wickets at an average of 19.00.

• South Africa’s win is seventh in eight ODIs in Benoni. Their only loss at the venue came against Sri Lanka in 2002 when the visitors won by seven wickets.

McLaren scooped a third wicket for two runs when Misbah edged a slower ball, and Morkel pitched one up to have Saeed Ajmal playing on. Pakistan lost four wickets in 30 balls for 11 runs and it was left to the tail to get them to just over 200.If they had any ambitions of defending that, they needed to make early inroads. In the first 11 overs, both Quinton de Kock and Colin Ingram played on to put the match back in the balance. Pakistan could have tipped the scale their way when Junaid Khan drew a thick outside edge from de Villiers, who was on 1, but Younis spilled a regulation chance.De Villiers did not need a second invitation. He outplayed an uncertain looking Hashim Amla, who struggled against Ajmal and Afridi to underline the difficulties of the surface. Amla’s scratchy 22 off 65 balls ended when he skied Mohammed Irfan while going for the pull.As if to bellow out his intent not to give up, de Villiers hit the Afridi for six over long-on in the next over and there was little to stop him from there. He did not rely on too many big shots but ushered Behardien, and later David Miller, through tricky periods to seize control.De Villiers’ only jaw-dropping stroke was the deft guiding of an Irfan delivery between gully and backward point with an open-faced bat. The rest of innings was about grind, as expected on a pitch with inconsistent bounce. Even though runs were not free-flowing, his half-century came off 53 deliveries, he maintained a strike rate of over 80 and he took his average above 50 in ODIs.Importantly, de Villiers seemed to settle in his treble role as captain, senior batsman and permanent wicket-keeper and that may be the most valuable thing South Africa take from their series win. They will also take heart from being able to triumph in a must-win situation. Pakistan cannot say the same. Since 2002, they have not won a deciding match in an ODI series and have never beaten South Africa in a bilateral ODI series.

The New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum is set to launch defamation proceedings against John Parker over a document concerning the way Ross Taylor’s removal as captain was handled

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Apr-2013The New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum is set to launch defamation proceedings against John Parker over a document concerning the way Ross Taylor’s removal as captain was handled. The law firm Chapman Tripp is expected to file proceedings in the High Court in Hamilton next week over the document titled “The Taylor Affair”, which they claim was written by Parker.McCullum said in a statement released by his lawyers that he had “no option but to take legal action”. “Mr Parker’s paper makes some very serious attacks on my integrity, my honesty and my ethics as a professional sportsman,” McCullum said. “I have endeavoured to resolve these issues with Mr Parker but have been unable to do so. He has left me with no choice but to defend myself and my reputation this way.”McCullum said he was not seeking monetary damages but wanted Parker’s “acknowledgment that the claims he makes are completely false”.Mike Hesson, the New Zealand coach, is also believed to be considering legal action against Parker and issued a statement on Friday that said he was aware of McCullum’s comments. “I have similar concerns to him regarding the comments made by John Parker about me,” Hesson said. “I have taken legal advice and the matter is currently being dealt with by my lawyers. I have nothing further to say regarding the matter.”Parker, who once captained New Zealand, has been critical not only of Taylor’s removal as captain but also the wider governance of New Zealand Cricket.

Windward Islands put in an all-round showing to beat Combined Campuses and Colleges by nine wickets via the Duckworth-Lewis method and secure the Regional Super50 title in Bridgetown

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Apr-2013
ScorecardDevon Smith, the tournament’s leading run-scorer, ensured Windward Islands stayed on top in a small chase•WICB Media Photo/Randy Brooks

Windward Islands put in an all-round showing to beat Combined Campuses and Colleges by nine wickets via the Duckworth-Lewis method and secure the Regional Super50 title in Bridgetown. This is the first one-day championship Windwards have won since the 2000-2001 season.CCC lost the toss and were put in to bat. Keon Peters’ opening spell proved decisive as he removed the top three batsmen within eight overs. At one point, CCC were wobbling at 31 for 4, but were able to recover to 121 for 5 through the efforts of captain Kyle Corbin (46) and Nekoli Parris (34).Once Corbin fell, however, CCC began to struggle even more, and they eventually were dismissed for 174 in the final over of the innings. Peters led the way with 4 for 32, while Shillingford’s impressive tournament continued with his haul of 3 for 29 to remove the middle-lower order. Shillingford finished as the tournament’s highest wicket taker, with 17 wickets in six matches at an economy of 2.86.Rain intervened during the innings break, caused a two-hour delay, and subsequently Windward’s target was reduced from to 134 in 29 overs. Devon Smith and Johnson Charles led the way with an opening stand of 100 at over a run-a-ball to effectively end CCC’s chances. Once Charles fell to the bowling of Keswick Williams, Smith and Tyrone Theophile closed out the game in the 23rd over.Smith ended on an unbeaten 67, and finished the tournament as the highest run scorer with 348 runs in eight matches at an average of 58. Man-of-the-Match honours went to Peters and Smith for their vital contributions.Speaking after the game, Liam Sebastien, the Windwards captain, said: “This is very pleasing. It is a long time [since] we won something, and it is just wonderful that we have won this championship.”

Dirk Nannes, the former Australia fast bowler, has pulled out of a planned spell as one of Glamorgan’s overseas players for the Friends Life t20

ESPNcricinfo staff29-May-2013Dirk Nannes, the former Australia fast bowler, has pulled out of a planned spell as one of Glamorgan’s overseas players for the Friends Life t20 after suffering a stress fracture in his back while playing in the IPL.Nannes, 37 and a T20 specialist these days, is second only to Alfonso Thomas as one of the leading wicket-takers in the format. He was set to join Marcus North, also a former Australia international and Glamorgan’s limited-overs captain, at the Welsh county but was injured during his stint at the IPL with Chennai Super Kings, for whom he took four wickets in five appearances.”We were disappointed to hear that Dirk will not be able to join us this season – he is a quality bowler and would have been a valuable addition to our squad,” Glamorgan’s head of elite performance, Matthew Mott, said. “We are now considering different replacement options and have already spoken to a number of players.”Glamorgan would have been Nannes’ fourth county, after previously appearing in the T20 tournament for Middlesex, Nottinghamshire and Surrey.

Joe Root will open the batting alongside Alastair Cook during England’s Ashes warm-up against Essex

George Dobell24-Jun-2013England have given the clearest indication yet that Joe Root, rather than Nick Compton, will open the batting with Alastair Cook during the Ashes. Root will move up the order for the warm-up match against Essex beginning on Sunday, with Compton omitted from the squad and Geoff Miller, the national selector, describing Root as “currently the best opening partner” for Cook.Compton has paid the price for a disappointing series against New Zealand in May. He looked devoid of confidence in scoring 39 runs in four innings while, in the second Test at Headingley, Root and Jonny Bairstow batted with admirable freedom in posting a partnership of 124 for the fifth wicket.Root has continued to impress in almost every scenario with which he has been confronted. He has shown a welcome adaptability in limited-overs and Test cricket and, while it might be considered something of a risk to promote him to the top of the order for the first time in an Ashes Test, he has played most of his county cricket as an opening batsman at Yorkshire. The England management have recognised his calm temperament and skill and see him as a big part of the team’s future in all formats.”We believe Joe Root is currently the best opening partner for Alastair Cook and he will open the batting against Essex,” Miller said. “Joe has performed well for Yorkshire at the top of the order earlier this season and during his international career so far has proven to be very adaptable in all three formats and relished the challenge of international cricket.”The ECB have announced a 14-man squad to play Essex, including Graeme Swann, who suffered a calf problem during the ICC Champions Trophy, and Kevin Pietersen for what will be only his second first-class appearance since England’s tour of New Zealand in March. Boyd Rankin, the former Ireland fast bowler, has also been called up ahead of Chris Tremlett, after being added to both of England’s limited-overs squads in the last month.Compton might consider himself unfortunate to miss out. It is only four Tests since he was celebrating back-to-back centuries in the first two Tests in New Zealand in March while he responded to the challenge ‘go back to county cricket and score some runs’ by making 166 in his first innings back in Championship cricket against a strong Durham attack. The next highest score in the innings was 42.He remains available for Somerset’s tourist game against Australia from Wednesday – his 30th birthday – but it is now highly unlikely that he will feature in the first Investec Ashes Test which starts on July 10. England will use the Essex game not just for match practice, but to discuss plans and merge as a team. Compton’s omission is a clear indication that the selectors have decided to move on. While continuity of selection has been a feature of England’s success in recent years, the England management can still be ruthless when they deem it necessary.The emergence of Bairstow is just as relevant to Compton’s demotion as Root’s elevation. Bairstow has been on the fringes of the side for some time and has impressed in his limited opportunities. He scored 149 in the final Test against South Africa in 2012 (95 in the first innings and 54 in the second) as well the impressive innings of 64 against New Zealand in Leeds. While Compton is admired for his fortitude and determination, Bairstow is seen as having the greater potential and the wider range of strokes with which to accelerate and hurt opposition bowling attacks. Aged 23, he also has greater scope for the future.”This match is a vital part of our preparations for the Investec Ashes after a period of limited overs cricket for a large number of the squad,” Miller said. “We have a very exciting two months of Test cricket coming up and it is important that we start well at Chelmsford next week. Kevin Pietersen has had no complications following his recent return to cricket after a knee injury which is pleasing and Graeme Swann is recovering well from a calf injury.”An England spokesman confirmed that the match against Essex will be a first-class encounter and so feature just 11 players on each team. The spokesman also confirmed that there are no plans to boost the Essex side with reinforcements. Essex, who currently occupy a mid-table position in Division Two of the County Championship, were recently bowled out for just 20 by Lancashire.England squad: Alastair Cook (capt), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, Graham Onions, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Boyd Rankin, Joe Root, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott

Yorkshire went back to the top of the County Championship by wrapping up an innings and 113-run victory over Derbyshire on the third day at Chesterfield despite a brilliant century from Wayne Madsen.

Jon Culley at Chesterfield19-Jul-2013
ScorecardWayne Madsen fought alone in making 141•Getty Images

This match will be most remembered for the extraordinary performance of Alex Lees, the 20-year-old opening batsman who is exciting Yorkshire as much as Joe Root did a couple of years ago. Yet what should not be underplayed is the herculean efforts of their bowlers, not all of them in the first flush of youth, to take 15 wickets in a day of 30-degree heat, which is why they were able to leave Queen’s Park with their lead in the Championship restored and a day off ahead to recover from their labours.Ryan Sidebottom, Liam Plunkett, Jack Brooks and Steve Patterson – a seam attack with an average of 30 – sent down 77.2 overs between them. Yet they were collectively so focussed on completing the job that the extra half-hour that loomed ominously as Derbyshire, following on, lost their seventh second-innings wicket with 40 minutes or so of scheduled time left would simply have been the cue to carry on running in.In the event, three wickets in the space of six deliveries in the 93rd and 94th overs of the day made it unnecessary. Sidebottom and Plunkett, 35 and 28 respectively, matched each other for primal roars as they shared the last pickings and Yorkshire were able to line up the celebration beers.The 24 points Yorkshire take from this week lifts them back above Sussex to the top of Division One and on the evidence so far there does not look a stronger candidate for the title, although Warwickshire’s improved form carries a degree of threat. The two meet at Headingley at the beginning of next month, following another break in the fixture list. It may be argued that Derbyshire, who have found the step up to Division One a little too much, are not much of an opponent, but they were not, in the end, a complete pushover.Other than Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who has missed this match with a hamstring injury, only Wayne Madsen, their 29-year-old South African captain, has looked consistently as if he should be facing Division One attacks and it came as no surprise that it was he who should stand head and shoulders above his woebegone crew to keep Yorkshire waiting.Wickets fell around him relentlessly as Derbyshire, their first innings ended on the stroke of lunch with a deficit of 382, offered a succession of poor shots and errant judgements, but Madsen batted superbly, giving a masterclass in how not to protect your wicket against the better balls while at the same time demonstrating that, with a good technique, self-belief and decisive shot selection, it is possible for even Derbyshire batsmen to score big runs. After four and a quarter hours he had made 141 and that his innings – and the match – should end with a weak return catch patted back to Plunkett did not do him justice.He would have been applauded off by the umpires, if etiquette had allowed it. They had noted Madsen’s honesty on Thursday evening, when he had walked during Derbyshire’s first innings, after Andrew Hodd, the Yorkshire wicketkeeper, claimed a catch off Steve Patterson’s bowling. Jeff Evans was unsure he could give it from the bowler’s end but Madsen signalled he had gloved it and headed for the pavilion. He had made only 17.Had he been of a different inclination, Derbyshire might not have been all out for 235, in which only Richard Johnson’s gritty 46 and a bold unbeaten 63 by Tom Poynton provided any substance. In the second innings, after Madsen, Poynton’s 29 was Derbyshire’s best score.An injury to Phil Jaques, who suffered a torn muscle in the field and will be out for four to five weeks, took a little shine off Yorkshire’s performance, although given the sadness in the background following the sudden death last weekend of Neil Gillespie, the father of their coach, an injury setback must have seemed like a minor matter.Gillespie, who missed the first two days, fulfilled his duties yesterday and was able to enjoy the victory. He is to return to Australia for the funeral in the next few days. Neil Gillespie, who had travelled to England last week with Jason’s mother, Vicki, suffered a heart attack in Leeds last weekend.

Ben Stokes boosted Durham’s Friend’s Life t20 hopes with 46 from 24 balls as they recovered from a poor start to beat Derbyshire by four wickets with eight balls to spare at Chesterfield.

21-Jul-2013
ScorecardBen Stokes was the mainstay of the chase•Getty Images

Ben Stokes boosted Durham’s Friend’s Life t20 hopes with 46 from 24 balls as they recovered from a poor start to beat Derbyshire by four wickets with eight balls to spare at Chesterfield.Durham looked to be heading for defeat at 36 for 4 in the eighth over chasing Derbyshire’s 136 for 7, but Stokes smashed five sixes and carried his side to the brink of victory with Gordon Muchall, who scored 37 from 27 balls, in a stand of 77 in eight overs.Although both fell to Wes Durston in the 16th over, it was too late for a Derbyshire side who have now lost their last four matches in the North Division.Derbyshire also recovered from a shaky start with Durston needlessly run out in the first over followed by Dan Redfern, who chopped Will Smith into his stumps in the fifth. Skipper Wayne Madsen straight-drove Gareth Breese for six in an over which cost 11 and Chesney Hughes dispatched Scott Borthwick over wide long on for his second six as the Falcons reached 66 for 2 after 10 overs.But Hughes was bowled swinging wildly at Chris Rushworth in the next over, and although Albie Morkel lifted the crowd by twice pulling Ryan Pringle for six, the offspinner responded well by striking twice in the 15th over. Morkel’s attempts at another big hit ended in a skied catch to cover and Madsen was bowled for 32 trying to pull to leave Derbyshire on 100 for 5 after 15
overs.Tom Poynton drilled Pringle for a straight six but Derbyshire could not break free in the closing overs, although Durham’s target looked much steeper when they lost four wickets cheaply. Mark Stoneman was lbw sweeping at Peter Burgoyne for two, and although Phil Mustard pulled Morkel for successive fours, he was bowled for 18 trying to drive the next ball.Durham’s batsmen were struggling to get the ball away on a slow, turning pitch and after Borthwick was stumped off a wide ball from Tom Knight, Smith was lbw to Redfern to leave Durham spinning.It needed something special to get Durham back in the contest and Stokes delivered by twice pulling Burgoyne for six, carving Mark Turner over the deep cover boundary and heaving Tim Groenewald high over midwicket for another maximum.Muchall drove Turner for six over long on, and although Stokes holed out after driving Durston for his fifth six and Muchall also fell going for another big hit two balls later, Gareth Breese and Michael Richardson steered Durham to a victory that takes them above Derbyshire in the table.