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Giles Clarke has been rubberstamped as ECB chairman for a third term after the completion of the election process where he was the only candidate for the role

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Mar-2012Giles Clarke has been rubber stamped as ECB chairman for a third term after the completion of the election process where he was the only candidate for the role.The 41 members of the ECB, which comprises the 18 first-class counties, 21 county boards, the MCC and the Minor Counties Cricket Association, returned Clarke as chairman for a third term which runs until the AGM in 2015.”I am honoured to be re-elected as Chairman of the ECB until 2015, and would like to thank the members for their continued confidence and support,” Clarke said. “We have a magnificent complement of players, fans, volunteers and staff representing our sport, from the grassroots structures to the top of the professional game. Their continued dedication and commitment to the sport is irreplaceable, and deeply appreciated by all those who love the game.”Before taking up the role of chairman, Clarke, as ECB chairman of marketing, was instrumental in the controversial deal that saw live television rights sold exclusively to Sky Sports in 2005. In January, he brokered an extended agreement, with Sky remaining the sole live broadcaster of cricket until 2017 after paying an estimated £260 million.Clarke recently settled his legal dispute with sports marketing company IMG out of court. IMG had brought a libel case against Clarke over an email he sent to the BCCI about meetings between the Indian board, IMG and several county representatives over what Clarke thought were discussions about forming an IPL-style competition in England.

ESPNcricinfo previews the Group B match between Ireland and West Indies in Mohali

The Preview by Siddhartha Talya10-Mar-2011

Match Facts

March 11, Mohali

Start time 09.30 (0400 GMT)Ed Joyce is yet to make an impact•Associated Press

The Big Picture

Their ability to compete with and challenge top teams apart, Ireland will bank on another factor ahead of a crucial clash against West Indies in Mohali on Friday. One bound to bring back sweet memories for the Irish and bitter ones for their opponents – history. What was expected to be a routine hammering for the minnows in 1969 turned out to be a shocking win as Ireland shot out the travelling West Indians for 25. Thirty-five years later, in another tour game, one that featured five West Indies players and four Irishmen who are part of the current squads, Ireland pulled off an upset again, chasing down 293 against Brian Lara’s side.With 13 professionals in their 15-man squad and a stunning win over England, things have looked up for Ireland this World Cup; a side determined for an encore. West Indies’ demolition of a Bangladesh side that was expected to challenge them at home, preceded by a dominating performance against Netherlands, has helped them put behind a dispiriting loss to South Africa. Can their present do the same to some unsavoury recollections with the Irish?In a keenly-contested Group where the fight for a berth in the quarter-finals is of greater intensity than the other, Friday’s fixture will have a significant bearing on who goes through to the knockouts from this half. A win for West Indies will be a consolidation – a preparation for bigger tests that await them against India and England. A win for Ireland will put them in an excellent position to realise their pre-tournament objective of making it to the next stage, with a game against Netherlands, whom they’ll expect to beat, in hand.

Form guide

(completed matches, most recent first)
West Indies: WWLLL
Ireland: LWLWL

Watch out for…

Ed Joyce: His return to Ireland ahead of the World Cup was a major boost, but the impact is yet to be felt. Forcing the pace has been a problem, two starts have been squandered and there’s been one out-and-out failure when batting first. A player reputed for his solidity in the top and middle orders, Joyce is relied on to drop anchor. For that, he needs to spend long enough at the crease.Kemar Roach: He’s been West Indies’ most promising pace prospect in years, and weaker teams that have come his way this tournament have been comfortably brushed aside. Ireland may be weaker on paper but their batting line-up is infused with plenty of grit and spunk, and is likely to offer more resistance against his fiery pace and accuracy. But on a track expected to favour seamers more than some others have this tournament, that ability to resist will be tested.

Pitch and conditions

“Being a non-India match, some grass has been left on the pitch, giving it a greenish tinge,” Daljit Singh, the curator at the PCA Stadium, has said. “The first hour will help fast bowlers, but the batsmen can prosper with time as South Africa showed (scoring 330 against Netherlands) in the previous match.” It was cloudy in Mohali even in the afternoon on Thursday, and if Friday’s no different, fast bowlers will be kept interested for much longer than the first hour.

Team news

West Indies went in with two spinners in their previous game against Bangladesh. The seemingly favourable conditions for seamers in Mohali may just tempt them to replace a spinner with a seamer. Ravi Rampaul may get a look-in.West Indies (possible): 1 Devon Smith, 2 Chris Gayle, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Devon Thomas (wk), 8 Darren Sammy (capt), 9 Sulieman Benn, 10 Ravi Rampaul, 11 Kemar Roach.Trent Johnston was the best of Ireland’s bowlers against India but picked up an injury after five overs and picking up two wickets. It will be a major blow for Ireland if he misses out on Friday, as it’ll deprive them an experienced player with all-round abilities. In the event of his absence, Nigel Jones, a medium-pacer and a lower-middle order batsman, could be picked.Ireland (possible): 1 William Porterfield, 2 Paul Stirling, 3 Ed Joyce, 4 Niall O’Brien (wk), 5 Andrew White, 6 Kevin O’Brien, 7 Alex Cusack, 8 John Mooney, 9 Nigel Jones/Trent Johnston, 10 George Dockrell, 11 Boyd Rankin.

Stats and trivia

• Those two surprise wins in tour games aside, Ireland have faced West Indies thrice in ODIs and lost twice, their latest defeat as recent as April 2010. One game as washed out.
• Left-arm spinners Sulieman Benn and George Dockrell have both picked up 25 wickets in ODIs, though the Irishman has done it in fewer games – 19 compared to 22 – at a better average and economy rate. Their opponents for the most part, though, have differed considerably in strength.

Quotes

“We have a lot of respect for them. They are a team that is improving constantly which shows their cricket is moving forward. We are definitely not taking them lightly. We have seen what they are capable of doing.”

Graham Napier is determined to use the IPL as a chance to prove the England selectors were wrong for overlooking him for the preliminary World Twenty20 squad

Cricinfo staff02-Mar-2010Graham Napier, the Essex allrounder, is determined to use the IPL as a chance to prove the England selectors were wrong for overlooking him for the preliminary 30-man World Twenty20 squad.Napier couldn’t find a place in the expanded group despite having been part of the squad for the previous tournament in England. He didn’t earn a start during that event and still hasn’t had a chance to show he can replicate his county form at the top level.Napier is the highest English Twenty20 wicket-taker with 88 scalps in 63 matches and helped Central Districts qualify for the Champions League Twenty20 when he was their overseas player this season. In 2008 he hit an astonishing 152 against Sussex in the Twenty20 Cup which included a world record 16 sixes.”I’m deeply disappointed not to be involved in the 30-man squad, having played well in Twenty20 cricket over the winter,” Napier told his website, grahamnapier.com, after arriving in India to link with Mumbai Indians. “I am currently the leading wicket-taker in Twenty20 cricket and have the ability to take the attack to the opposition with the bat if required. I feel Twenty20 is a form of the game that suits me well and the more experience I’ve gained in it the more effective I have become.”There is an opportunity for me over the next few weeks – as one of only eight English players involved in the IPL – to show the England selectors what they are missing out on,” he added. “But my job now is to focus on being as good a player I can be for Mumbai Indians, Essex and Central Districts. I have always been told that if you work hard you get your rewards so I need to keep doing that.”Napier, one of eight English players set to take part in the IPL, has travelled to India having received security assurances and is confident measures will be in place throughout the tournament.”I was always scheduled to come on this date and it was just a case of the PCA working hard to get assurances from the IPL in terms of security,” he said. “Having been involved with the Mumbai Indians last year I know the level of security they had out in South Africa. I felt comfortable the security would be at a high enough level to accommodate us here.”

All the runners and riders in Group A of the county 50-over competition, which returns this week

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay04-Aug-2025The Metro Bank One-Day Cup returns this week, with Glamorgan defending the title they won at Trent Bridge in 2025. Here are the runners and riders in Group A:

Derbyshire

Captain: Brooke Guest

2024 Position: Fourth (Group A)

2024 Most Runs: Harry Came (281)

2024 Most Wickets: Zak Chappell (17)
Why they can win the competition: Although Wayne Madsen, Aneurin Donald and Pat Brown are playing in The Hundred, Derbyshire could go deep into the competition if players like Chappell and Australian opener Caleb Jewell fire. The return from injury of all-rounder Luis Reece adds quality and experience while Ben Aitchison brings a cutting edge to the seam attack.Player to watch: Martin Andersson has played some significant innings in the Rothesay County Championship since he made the switch from Middlesex and with Madsen and Donald missing, this is a chance for him to play a leading role with the bat in the white-ball game. An outstanding fielder, his seam bowling will provide Guest with another option.Young gun: Joe Hawkins impressed on his step up to the first team in the County Championship at Northampton and the 18-year-old off-spinning all-rounder is expected to get further chances to show his potential in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. A recent call-up to the England Under-19 squad is a measure of his progress and this competition provides a platform for him to build on that.Final thought: The Falcons were expected to be a contender in the Vitality Blast but after a disappointing tournament, they now have another opportunity to show they are a better one-day side than those results suggest. On their day, they have the players to mount a strong challenge and the disappointment in the T20 format could be a motivating factor over the next few weeks.

Essex

Captain: Tom Westley

2024 finish: Seventh (Group B)

2024 most runs: Robin Das (309)

2024 most wickets: Jamal Richards (15)Why they can win the competition: With only four players seconded to The Hundred – compared with six last year – Essex will in theory have a larger pool of players to pick from. However, their plans were disrupted when Indian pace bowler Khaleel Ahmed belatedly pulled out of his all-formats contract; Essex are busily trying to sign an overseas replacement for at least part of the competition.Player to watch: Robin Das top-scored last year, topped by an unbeaten century in a rare win at Trent Bridge. He has not built on that this season with only a couple of disappointing outings in both the Rothesay County Championship and Vitality Blast. If he finally rediscovers his form, it could reignite his career and lead to a memorable few weeks.Young gun: Though still only 20, Luc Benkenstein has been a mainstay of Essex’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup team since his 2021 debut. He made his mark the following year with 6-42 against Glamorgan, though barely bowled last season because of injury. Now a Blast regular, the leggie will boost the spin options as well as adding big-hitting cameos down the order.Final thought: Essex have won just seven of 24 One-Day Cup fixtures since they reached the semi-finals in 2021 – and four of 16 in the past two seasons – with some heavy defeats along the way. It is going to take a massive improvement in performance from essentially the same group of players, allied to some astute tactical acumen from captain Tom Westley, to turn around their white-ball fortunes after a torrid Blast campaign.Carlson raises the Metro Bank One-Day Cup for Glamorgan•Getty Images

Glamorgan

Captain: Kiran Carlson

2024 Position: Champions

2024 Most Runs: Colin Ingram (297)

2024 Most Wickets: Andy Gorvin & Dan Douthwaite (19)Why they can win the competition: As defending champions, the Metro Bank One-Day Cup has felt like a homecoming for Glamorgan, reaping their most success in recent years, winning in 2021 also. David Harrison will lead the team (Richard Dawson away with Welsh Fire) after he was interim head coach and assistant for their previous two success and can lean on a new exciting support staff including Ian Harvey who supported Dawson to success in this competition with Gloucestershire.Player to watch: Billy Root in a crucial stage in his career could have a more senior, important role to play. The 32-year-old in his final year contracted at Glamorgan has spent most of the season in the 2ndXI, often captaining, however came into his own with 296 runs in this tournament in 2024. With Mason Crane and Ben Kellaway selected in The Hundred, Root could be turned to with ball in hand also.Young gun: Jersey international Asa Tribe has shown significant signs of improvement from last year where he top scored with just 26 across six matches. A first red-ball century followed by an ever-present status in the Vitality Blast middle-order, Tribe’s influence on the Glamorgan side has come from nowhere. The 21-year-old with an ODI century on his record will look to play a big role at the top of the order this time around.Final thought: Glamorgan will be missing a key part of their team’s success in this competition of recent years – Colin Ingram. The 40-year-old South African taking up a first assistant coach role is still eligible but is expected to step back from playing for this competition. Despite the lack of a frontline spinner, Andy Gorvin and Dan Douthwaite were joint top wicket takers (with Ed Barnard) in 2024. Douthwaite will be missing early as a short-term injury replacement in The Hundred, but if they can replicate that success with the step up from younger squad members, there’s no reason why this side can’t go back-to-back.

Gloucestershire

Captain: Jack Taylor

2024 Position: Fifth (Group B)

2024 Most Runs: Miles Hammond (363)

2024 Most Wickets: Ajeet Singh Dale (13)Why they can win the competition: Less affected than most rivals by call-ups to The Hundred (only four), Gloucestershire proved themselves a one-day force by winning last season’s Vitality Blast. Despite making a nightmare start to that competition this summer, they reeled off four successive group wins at one stage, beating the likes of Hampshire and Essex.Player to watch: At the age of 32, Gloucestershire’s red-ball captain Cameron Bancroft boasts more than 3,000 runs in List A cricket at an average of over 40, with five hundreds, and will provide a wealth of experience at the top of the batting order. The Australia Test player has already produced innings of 163 and 176 in the Rothesay County Championship this season.Young gun: Seam bowler Aman Rao signed for Gloucestershire just before the start of the Vitality Blast and played in the first two group matches against Kent and Sussex. The 21-year-old Loughborough University student is sure to be given more opportunities in the Metro Bank One Day Cup and his height combined with an ability to swing the ball could see him make a significant impact.Final thought: With head coach Mark Alleyne involved in The Hundred, bowling coach Mark Thorburn takes charge for the second successive year and will be determined to make a better start that last season when the team lost their first two group matches before winning four of the next five and just failing to reach the knock-out stage.Fletcha Middleton in action for Hampshire•Getty Images

Hampshire

Captain: Nick Gubbins

2024 Position: Quarter-finals

2024 Most Runs: Ben Brown (286)

2024 Most Wickets: Brad Wheal (13)Why they can win the competition: Hampshire have been a force in 50-over cricket for a couple of generations, having only failed to qualify for the knockouts in one of the last six editions of the One-Day Cup. With largely the same set of players to pick from as 2024, Hampshire have experience at all ages. Scotland international Brandon McMullen’s arrival from August 13 knits the team together with bat and ball, while Indian sensation Tilak Varma will be around for the opening three fixtures.Player to watch: Eddie Jack might still only be 19, but he has certainly graduated from simply being a “young gun”. The tall and very quick fast bowler put Test players KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal in his back pocket when playing for England Lions earlier in the summer, where Andrew Flintoff became a big fan. Expect him to be in the top wicket-taking reckoning.Young gun: Given his first professional deal to play in the competition, Ben Mayes comes with a gigantic reputation in age-group cricket. The 17-year-old batter is on England’s long-term radar with Under 19s and Professional County Club Select XI recognition this summer. Come for the wristy hockey-influenced boundaries, stay for the big scores. Fast bowler Manny Lumsden is also worth keeping an eye on.Final thought: Three successive progressions from the group stages, three heartbreaks in the knock-outs – with the last two inflicted by Leicestershire. Could this be the year they take the final leap to silverware? Former captain Jimmy Adams – a winner in two List A finals and now a highly-regarded coach – will step up to lead the side, with Adi Birrell leading Southern Brave Men in The Hundred. It may well be a good audition to taking the top job full-time when it next becomes vacant.

Leicestershire

Captain: Peter Handscomb

2024 Position: Semi-finals

2024 Most Runs: Peter Handscomb (539)

2024 Most Wickets: Tom Scriven (18)Why they can win the competition: Winners in 2023 and semi-finalists last year, Leicestershire are a side brimming with confidence and no shortage of quality. Current man-of-the-moment Rehan Ahmed will be otherwise engaged, but overseas batting stars Peter Handscomb and Shan Masood and explosive opener Sol Budinger will compete for the spotlight in his absence. Why would they not fancy themselves for more 50-over glory?Player to watch: After a relatively modest contribution to the Foxes’ Vitality Blast campaign, Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood will be keen to make his mark in this competition, playing a format in which he has enjoyed considerable success, averaging 52.48 with 15 hundreds. That could make the left-hander a dangerous opponent.Young gun: Josh Hull may be unavailable due to The Hundred, but Leicestershire can replace him with another 6ft 7ins fast bowler in Alex Green, who may still be growing at just 18 years old. Genuinely quick, Green took four wickets in three appearances in the competition last season and has further underlined his potential for England Under-19s against their India equivalents this summer.Final thought: The 2023 Metro Bank One-Day Cup Final will be forever remembered for wicketkeeper-batter Harry Swindells producing the match of his life, making a career-best 117 not out to rescue his side from 89 for six and set up an unlikely Foxes victory. It is a little poignant then, on the eve of this year’s tournament, that the Leicester-born player has had to announce his retirement from cricket at the age of just 26 because of a persistent finger injury.

Nottinghamshire

Captain: Haseeb Hameed

2024 Position: Fourth (Group B)

2024 Most Runs: Ben Slater (398)

2024 Most Wickets: Rob Lord (11)Why they can win the competition: The Outlaws lacked consistency last year but with confidence high after a good season with the red ball they have enough quality – especially in the batting – to mount a challenge, even if call-ups to The Hundred will test the depth of their bowling resources, with the likes of Rob Lord and James Hayes hoping for the opportunity to impress.Player to watch: Opener Ben Slater is a batter opponents always hope to see the back of early, given an apparent penchant for List A cricket. His 68 appearances in the format have yielded more than 3,000 runs at a remarkable average of 52.75. A career-best 164 in a win over Surrey at Guildford last year took his List A centuries tally to eight.Young gun: The outstanding batter in Nottinghamshire’s Second XI this season with close to 700 runs, 18-year-old right-hander Sam Seecharan is highly thought of at Trent Bridge and after making his senior debut in the last of the Outlaws’ Vitality Blast fixtures is likely to be given a chance to shine in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign.Final thought: The One-Day Cup sees Notts stalwart Paul Franks take on the role of head coach, with Peter Moores joining up with Trent Rockets for The Hundred. Franks – 20 years a Nottinghamshire player – has been assistant head coach since 2017, helping the county win the Blast (twice), the One-Day Cup and promotion to Division One in the Rothesay County Championship in that time. This is his first opportunity to lead the county to a senior title in his own right.Josh Blake struck a maiden List A century last season•Getty Images

Surrey

Captain: Rory Burns

2024 Position: Eighth (Group B)

2024 Most Runs: Ryan Patel (363)

2024 Most Wickets: Cameron Steel (17)Why they can win the competition: It will be a tough ask given the absence of 15 leading players at The Hundred, but as in previous seasons Surrey will be approaching the Metro Bank One-Day Cup with a positive vision of the competition giving precious first-team experience to a raft of youngsters. There is still a hard core of senior players, too.Player to watch: Cameron Steel will be looking at this year’s competition as the perfect opportunity to showcase his proven all-round talents as a middle-order stroke-maker and leg-spinner with a knack of taking important wickets. A comparative lack of game time in Surrey’s Rothesay County Championship side this summer will only add to that desire.Young gun: Ollie Sykes has already been blooded in all formats, including making 11 appearances to date in the Vitality Blast. But it was in last year’s One-Day Cup, when the big-hitting 20-year-old left-hander made his first three starts in the competition, that he initially gave notice of his huge promise with 87 not out against Essex at Chelmsford.Final thought: With no overseas player available, Surrey will be relying on the international experience of skipper Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Ben Foakes and fast bowler Matt Fisher – plus the know-how of Steel and Ryan Patel – to steer a predominantly youthful line-up in which the performances of the likes of Sykes, Josh Blake, James Taylor and Yousef Majid will be carefully monitored.

Worcestershire

Captain: Jake Libby

2024 Position: Quarter-final

2024 Most Runs: Jake Libby (526)

2024 Most Wickets: Jack Home (16)Why they can win: Worcestershire are blessed with the availability of many first-team regulars who are not affected by selection in The Hundred, meaning the majority of Alan Richardson’s first-choice eleven will be involved for the Rapids across the tournament. Skipper Jake Libby and mid-season signing Khurram Shahzad will look to show their quality and blend with some exciting youngsters to compete for silverware.Player to watch: Tom Taylor. Having registered the most wickets for Worcestershire so far this season, the right-arm seamer has been in stand-out form across all formats this summer for his side. The 30-year-old has made his name as a frugal opening bowler and will be looking to continue his consistent performances that have yielded him an impressive average of under 25 across both formats.Young gun: Henry Cullen. The exciting 22-year-old wicketkeeper featured during this year’s Vitality Blast having been on the radar for some time at Visit Worcestershire New Road. His eye-catching displays for the 2nd XI have forced an opening into the senior set-up, with this competition the perfect platform for the cultured and efficient young batter to show off his skills.Final thought: A promising end to the Vitality Blast campaign will offer supporters hope that the Rapids white-ball form can extend further into the summer, with the likes of Ethan Brookes central to any hopes of bettering last year’s encouraging quarter-final finish. Having lacked consistency throughout the summer, the exciting crop of youngsters will be looking to breakthrough and enjoy successful campaigns in a side more than capable of challenging deep into the tournament.

“I think it was just a little game awareness that we missed out,” Hardik says

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Apr-2024Four balls. Four singles. It’s this passage across two Axar Patel overs to Tilak Varma just before the halfway mark of Mumbai Indians’ mammoth chase of 258 that might have cost them two crucial points against Delhi Capitals, in Hardik Pandya’s opinion.Axar, the left-arm spinner, came on to bowl in the eighth over with MI 72 for 3.He bowled six of his twelve deliveries to Tilak, a left-hand batter and, therefore, with a favourable match-up with Axar. The first four balls Tilak faced, he got singles with shots that didn’t signal any attacking intent. Tilak then hit six and four off the last two to take MI to 115 for 3 at the ten-over mark. With Tilak batting till the last over in MI’s ten-run loss, Axar didn’t come back to bowl.Related

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“Axar bowling to a left-hander [Tilak], the better option could have been to go after him,” Hardik said on the official broadcast after the game. “I think it was just a little game awareness that we missed out. At the end of the day, that cost us the game.”Axar conceded 24 in his two overs. Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm wristspinner, went for 47 in his three overs. In his first two overs, he bowled four balls to Tilak and, again, there was no shot in anger as Tilak collected four singles. Tilak, however, took him on in his third, and last, over, the 15th of the innings, and sent him for two sixes and two fours.”The way the games are going and how the bowlers are under pressure throughout the competition, we backed ourselves to do it, the self-belief [was there],” Hardik said of MI’s hopes of pulling off the big chase. “But if I have to pinpoint, a couple overs in the middle, we could’ve taken some extra chances.”

Hardik: Fraser-McGurk was ‘quite amazing’

That MI had to chase such a steep target was primarily down to Jake Fraser-McGurk’s electric 27-ball 84. McGurk’s strike rate of 242 in his first ten balls is the highest among batters to have faced at least 50 deliveries in IPL 2024. In all, he hit 11 fours and six sixes. It was his third fifty of the season, which takes his overall runs tally to 247 in five innings at a strike rate of 237.50.”It was quite amazing the way he batted,” Hardik said. “He played very calculated shots. It was a smart innings. He uses the field very well; he was trying to chip the ball if it wasn’t in his arc.”He was fantastic, he showed the fearlessness of youth, coming in and enjoying the sport. Very exciting, though.”

L Balaji, the team’s bowling coach till last season, has taken a break, and will be involved with the Super Kings Academy

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Dec-2022Dwayne Bravo has retired from the IPL as a player, and taken over a position as the bowling coach at Chennai Super Kings. L Balaji, Super Kings’ bowling coach till last season, has taken a break for one year for what the franchise called “personal commitments”, but will be involved with the Super Kings Academy.”I’m looking forward to this new journey because it’s something I see myself doing after my playing days is fully over,” Bravo, 39, said in a franchise statement. “I enjoy working with bowlers, and it’s a role I’m excited about. From player to coach, I don’t think I have to adjust much, because while I’m playing, I always work with bowlers and try to come up with plans and ideas on how to have that one step ahead of the batsmen.Related

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“The only difference is I will no longer be standing at mid-on or mid-off! I never thought I would be the leading wicket taker in the history of IPL. But I’m just happy to be a part of IPL history!”Bravo has played the IPL every year since it started in 2008 except in 2017, when an injury prevented him from turning out for Gujarat Lions. He had first been signed up by Mumbai Indians in 2008, and was with the team for three seasons before being bought by Super Kings at the 2011 auction. When Super Kings were suspended for two seasons – 2016 and 2017 – Bravo was picked by Lions, before being retained by Super Kings in 2018.He finished with 183 wickets, the highest wicket-taker after 15 seasons of IPL, 13 more than the second-placed Lasith Malinga, and 17 more than the next active bowler with the most success: Yuzvendra Chahal. Bravo’s wickets came at an economy rate of 8.38 over 158 innings in 161 games, with a best of 4 for 22. He also scored 1560 runs at a strike rate of 129.57.One of the great death bowlers in the T20 game, Bravo bowled 1115 balls [36% of all his deliveries] between overs 17 and 20 and took 102 wickets in the phase. No-one else has bowled as many deliveries in the last four overs [Jasprit Bumrah is next with 1026] or taken as many wickets [Lasith Malinga is second on 90].A part of West Indies’ golden generation of T20 superstars, which won the T20 World Cup in 2012 and 2016, Bravo joins his long-time international team-mate into IPL retirement, while getting into coaching roles with their teams. Pollard announced his retirement as a player on November 15, and has joined Mumbai Indians, the team he was with throughout his career in the IPL, as a batting coach.Dwayne Bravo won the IPL thrice with Super Kings, in 2011, 2018 and 2021•BCCI

Like Pollard, Bravo hasn’t quit as a player altogether. He is currently playing in the Abu Dhabi T10 with Delhi Bulls and has also been signed up by MI Emirates for the inaugural ILT20 in the UAE next year, where Pollard will be his captain. He was one of eight players Super Kings released by the retention deadline last month. At the time, though, it seemed like they might buy him back at the next auction, scheduled for December 23, as they had in 2021.With Super Kings, the team he became an integral part of – synonymous almost – over the years, Bravo played 144 matches, picking up 168 wickets and scoring 1556 runs. He was involved in three of their four IPL triumphs – in 2011, 2018 and 2021; the only one he missed was in 2010, when he was still with Mumbai. While with Super Kings, he won the Purple Cap for the most wickets in 2013 (32 wickets) and 2015 (26 wickets). He remains one of two players – Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the other – to win the Purple Cap on two occasions.”He has been a crucial member of the Super Kings family for more than a decade, and we are excited to continue the association,” Kasi Viswanathan, the Super Kings chief executive, said. “Bravo’s vast experience will be of immense value to our players and support staff. We are confident that our bowling group will thrive under his guidance.”

Signings are boost to Hundred’s pulling power amid overseas withdrawals

George Dobell23-Jun-2021Devon Conway and Quinton de Kock have signed for Southern Brave as overseas replacements for Marcus Stoinis and David Warner for the inaugural season of the Hundred.The news sustains an incredible few months for Conway. The New Zealand batter only made his international debut in November but already has a double-century on Test debut at Lord’s to look back on. With an ODI average of 75 and a T20I average of 59, he also has the game for limited-overs cricket and looks set to become a regular feature on the franchise circuit. He has also signed to play two LV=Insurance County Championship matches and some T20 Blast games for Somerset, starting immediately after the World Test Championship final.But it is the addition of de Kock that is more significant. The South Africa keeper-batter is indisputably one of the world’s most exciting players at present and, at a time when the Hundred has been beset by withdrawals, his signing is a real boost to the pulling power of the competition. He will link up with Southern Brave men’s head coach Mahela Jayawardene again after working with him previously at Mumbai Indians in the IPL.”I can’t wait to get going with Southern Brave,” de Kock said. “I’m also really excited to be working with Mahela again. Hopefully we can have plenty of fans in to support us and we can give them something to cheer about.”Related

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• Hundred replacement slots add intrigue to start of Blast season

• Warner, Stoinis, Devine pull out of the Hundred

As revealed by ESPNcricinfo, Stoinis and Warner pulled out due to conflicting schedules and travel challenges due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.”While we are disappointed that David Warner and Marcus Stoinis will not be available for our men’s team, we are delighted to welcome both Devon and Quinton to the side,” Giles White, the general manager of Southern Brave, said. “They are both quality cricketers who will add power and excitement up the top of the order for us.””I’m gutted to have to pull out of The Hundred at this stage,” Warner said. “I was really excited to be a part of it. However, with current restrictions and playing schedules I need to stay in Australia and focus on my family.”The Hundred runs for a month and starts on July 21. While Conway is expected to be available throughout, de Kock is likely to miss at least the opening fixture due to South Africa’s T20I series in Ireland. Andre Russell, the men’s team’s third overseas player, is set to miss a handful of games while on international duty and the Brave are looking for a short-term replacement.

In all, the Haryana left-arm spinner bagged 750 wickets in 157 first-class matches from 1958-59 to 1984-85

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jun-2020Rajinder Goel, the highest wicket-taker in the history of the Ranji Trophy with 637 strikes, has passed away at the age of 77 after a prolonged illness. In all, the left-arm spinner took 750 wickets – most of them for Haryana – in 157 first-class matches from 1958-59 to 1984-85. He bagged an incredible 53 five-fors and 17 ten-wicket match hauls.ALSO READ – I was born at the wrong time, says GoelFormer India captain and current BCCI president Sourav Ganguly paid tribute to Goel. “The Indian cricketing community has lost a giant of domestic cricket today,” he said in a statement. “His staggering record tells you about his craft and the control he had over it. To have a career that lasts more than 25 years and still be able to perform consistently speaks about his dedication and commitment towards the game. To be able to pick 750 wickets needs years and years of hard work and I salute his efforts. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family.”In the mid-1960s, when Bishan Singh Bedi was making his mark, the question that was asked was, “is he as good as Goel?” Ironically, one reason Goel never played for India was because Bedi had cemented his spot in the India team. The closest Goel came to play for India was in the unofficial Test against Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1964-65. In September 1979, Goel picked up 6 for 102 for North Zone against a visiting Australian side led by Kim Hughes. He continued playing first-class cricket until he was 43, with fitness proving a crucial aspect of his long and storied domestic career. Even when he was in his last season in 1984-85, Goel trained hard; his practice sessions would involve 3500 skips of a rope and a long run, followed by bowling to at least 10 batsmen in the nets.Goel couldn’t win the Ranji Trophy as a player, but he was the chairman of the Haryana selection committee in 1991 when a Kapil Dev-led side shocked Bombay (now Mumbai) at the Wankhede Stadium.After his playing career, Goel also served as a match referee in both men’s and women’s cricket.In 2017, Goel received the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award. He is one of the four non-Test players to have got the BCCI’s Lifetime Achievement Award; the others being Padmakar Shivalkar, Bhausaheb Nimbalkar and journalist KN Prabhu.

Leading run-scorer and wicket-taker in this year’s Big Bash League will be plying their trade in England this summer

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Mar-2019D’Arcy Short and Kane Richardson, the leading run-scorer and wicket-taker in this year’s Big Bash League, will be plying their trade in the Vitality Blast this summer after signing T20 deals with Durham and Derbyshire respectively.Short, 28, who made his ODI debut against England at Cardiff last year, has featured prominently in Australia’s recent white-ball campaigns, including an innings of 76 from 44 balls to help his side to the highest T20I run-chase of 244 against New Zealand last year.He was named Player of the Tournament in the BBL for the second year running, after amassing 637 runs for Hobart Hurricanes, including six half centuries and a top score of 96 not out. He also chipped in with 10 wickets with his legspin.Richardson, meanwhile, contributed 24 wickets at an average of 17.70 and a strike rate of 13.70, to help Melbourne Renegades to the BBL title, beating their city rivals, Stars, in the final.He has also seen success in the Indian Premier League, taking 18 wickets across three campaigns, at a combined average of 24.60.”I’ve been lucky to play in T20 tournaments around the world, but this will be my first experience of the Vitality Blast and I’m looking forward to getting going,” said Richardson.”It’s a competitive tournament and I know a few of the guys who we’ll be facing and they all say how great the crowds are under the lights on the T20 nights in England.”Derbyshire are an ambitious club who have been progressing well in the last few seasons, so hopefully I can contribute towards some wins and get Derbyshire towards the knockout stages.”Up at the Riverside, Short will link up with his fellow Australian Cameron Bancroft, who has agreed a deal to join Durham for the entire 2019 season after serving a nine-month ban for ball-tampering last year.”I can’t wait to get over to Durham and play some cricket; playing in England is something that I have wanted to do for a while and I’m very excited to get started,” Short said.”It’s very much a new experience for me and a challenge to play on some different grounds, wickets, pitches and against some new bowlers.”It’s nice to have Bangers [Cameron Bancroft] who I already know from the Australia set-up and Northy [Marcus North] at Durham, as it’s always a help to have some extra support when you arrive at a new place. Both of them were a big factor in me choosing to join up with Durham Cricket this summer.”It didn’t take too much persuasion for me to decide to spend my summer in the North East and I’m looking forward to meeting the lads.”North, Durham Cricket’s Director of Cricket, added: “It’s exciting for everyone here at Durham to announce the arrival of D’Arcy Short for Vitality Blast this season.”He’s a great player to have around the dressing room and it offers the younger players a great opportunity to observe one of the finest T20 batsmen in world cricket.”

The side will be captained by Jason Sangha, who became Australia’s youngest first-class centurion against England last month in a tour game

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Dec-2017Australia’s squad for the Under-19 World Cup will be captained by batsman Jason Sangha, and include allrounder Austin Waugh – son of former captain Steve Waugh. Another allrounder, Will Sutherland, son of Cricket Australia’s (CA) chief executive James Sutherland, has been named vice-captain.Last month Sangha had become the youngest Australian to make a first-class century against England, scoring 133 for the CA XI in a tour game in Townsville in the lead up to the Ashes.In July, Sutherland, a powerful batsman and fast-medium bowler, had chosen cricket over football, accepting a multi-year rookie deal with Victoria rather than nominating himself for the AFL draft.In 2016, Waugh had hit an unbeaten hundred in the final of the Under-17 National Championships, and earlier this year represented Australia U-19s in a one-day series against Sri Lanka’s youth side.Former Australia pacer Ryan Harris will coach the U-19 side, while former batsman Chris Rogers will assist him.The U-19 World Cup will be played between January 13 and February 3 in New Zealand. Australia are slotted into Group B, and will open their campaign against India on January 14 in Mount Maunganui. The other teams in Group B are Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea.Australia U-19 squad: Jason Sangha (capt), Will Sutherland (vice-capt), Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Jack Edwards, Zak Evans, Jarrod Freeman, Ryan Hadley, Baxter Holt, Nathan McSweeney, Jonathan Merlo, Lloyd Pope, Jason Ralston, Param Uppal, Austin Waugh