Hampshire opener Michael Carberry marked his return to first-class cricket after being diagnosed with cancer by scoring a century against Cardiff MCCU at the Ageas Bowl
ESPNcricinfo staff02-Apr-2017
Michael Carberry was given a standing ovation as he left the crease•Getty Images
Hampshire opener Michael Carberry marked his return to first-class cricket after being diagnosed with cancer by scoring a century against Cardiff MCCU at the Ageas Bowl.Carberry was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour last July and missed the second half of the season. He returned to training shortly before Christmas and was part of Hampshire’s pre-season tour to Barbados last month where he showed good form.On the first day against Cardiff he opened the batting, scoring 100 off 121 balls before falling to David O’Sullivan and was given a standing ovation as he walked off.Last week, Carberry issued a statement thanking people for their support and looking ahead to the season.”I would like to thank my family, the club, the supporters and my team-mates worldwide for all the kind messages of support and love through another very tough time in my career and life,” he said.”There is still a long way to go to being ‘recovered’ fully, but the outpour of support from the cricket family has helped massively in getting me back playing, and I’m looking forward to another great summer with Hampshire.”Carberry has played six Tests for England including all five on the 2013-14 Ashes tour where he was England’s second-highest run-scorer behind Kevin Pietersen.
Hampshire believe they are on the verge of securing the services of Kyle Abbott on a long-term deal as a Kolpak registration, despite his recent success at international level with South Africa.Abbott, a member of South Africa’s Test team currently playing Sri Lanka in Cape Town and a key performer in the series victory over Australia, is understood by ESPNcricinfo to have agreed to a three or four-year deal with Hampshire that will realistically end his international career.While Abbott is believed to have agonised over the move for some time – Hampshire remain fearful he could change his mind over a deal agreed some weeks ago having belatedly enjoyed a run in the Test team – he is expected to announce his international retirement later this month. Cricket South Africa are not understood to be aware of the deal.With Simon Harmer and Hardus Viljoen also having agreed similar deals with Essex and Derbyshire respectively, Abbott’s decision might be interpreted as part of a new wave of Kolpak registrations. The UK’s decision to vote for Brexit threatens to close the loophole that permits such signings in the coming months though it is anticipated that all deals made ahead of that time will be honoured. Hampshire are also understood to be in talks with Rilee Rossouw.As recently as last week, during the first Test against Sri Lanka, Abbott spoke about finally earning a run in the South Africa Test team.”Being out of the side and sitting on the sidelines for so long and now getting the opportunity and doing well, is a great feeling. It’s a long period of hard work that is starting to pay off and now I am getting opportunity at this level to showcase my skills,” he said. “The team is in a great space and so am I, and it’s exciting to see what’s going to come. There’s only around 90 of us or so that have played so I count myself incredibly lucky.”The temptation for a player like Abbott is not hard to understand. Aged 29 and only recently established in the South Africa side – he is currently playing his 11th Test – his decision to embrace a long-term county deal offers something approaching financial security. He can expect to earn more than £100,000 a year from the deal, with insurance cover built into the deal, and should still be free to play in some of the T20 leagues around the world.It may be relevant, too, that Abbott was the man to make way for Vernon Philander in the World Cup semi-final a year ago. Whatever the merits and reasons for that decision, it has left some South African cricketers uncertain of their futures.The news will not be entirely welcome in England, either. The ECB has been trying to crack down on Kolpak loopholes for several years in an attempt to provide more opportunities for home-grown players and is understood to have prevented at least one such signing in recent months. The player involved agreed a deal as an overseas registration instead.But the attraction for Hampshire is obvious. They avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth last season (having finished in the bottom two of Division One, they won a reprieve when Durham were punished for their financial problems by relegation) with a key problem their lack of potency with the ball.Ryan McLaren, who has subsequently left for Lancashire, was their top wicket-taker in the Championship with 32 at a cost of 38.81. The addition of Abbott, a bowler of pace, skill and persistence, with recent international experience in all three formats of the game, should be quite an asset. He first played for the county in 2014, helping them win promotion by claiming 36 Championship wickets at a cost of 20.33.
The ICC’s technical committee has awarded full points to Pakistan women for the three-match series against India women that was not played in October
ESPNcricinfo staff23-Nov-2016The ICC’s technical committee has awarded full points to Pakistan women for the three-match series against India women that was not played in October. The series and points counted towards the ICC Women’s Championship, and was scheduled to be played by the end of October. This means both India and Pakistan will have to qualify for the 2017 Women’s World Cup, with both teams falling into the bottom four of the championship’s points table.The technical committee felt the BCCI had not been able to establish “acceptable reasons” for not participating in the series, awarding two points to Pakistan for each of the forfeited ODIs. Pakistan was due to host India for this series, and the PCB said it was open to holding the series in the UAE. But cricketing ties between India and Pakistan are currently stalled, given the political tensions between the neighbours. The BCCI had not responded to the PCB’s queries on the series since May with either a confirmation or rejection, and in mid-October a BCCI official said it was up to the Indian government to decide on whether the series would go ahead.Eight teams are part of the ICC Women’s Championship; the top four gain automatic entry into the 2017 Women’s World Cup in England. The bottom four will have to qualify via a ten-team qualification tournament in Colombo in February 2017. A series win against Pakistan would have helped India earn a direct entry to the tournament.”The Technical Committee has ruled that Pakistan will be awarded two points for each of the three games and, in accordance with the ICC Women’s Championship playing conditions, India shall be considered to have scored zero runs in each of the 50 overs in each of the three matches and that its net run rate shall be adjusted accordingly,” an ICC release said.That meant West Indies, who weren’t assured of a direct entry after being whitewashed by India in the recently-concluded ODI series, will join Australia, England and New Zealand as the automatic qualifiers for the World Cup.Even with the six points, Pakistan finish seventh. They and India will be joined by South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ireland, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Thailand and Zimbabwe in the qualifying tournament.India and Pakistan, who last played each other at the Women’s World T20 earlier this year, are scheduled to play the Asia Cup in Thailand between November 25 and December 5.
By Monday, when there was no cricket played again, eight of the 12 sessions had been lost to rain and a wet outfield at Kingsmead
ESPNcricinfo staff22-Aug-2016 Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsBy Monday, when there was no cricket played again, eight of 12 sessions in the Kingsmead Test had been lost to rain and an outfield that had become quite soft underfoot. Conditions should brighten up for the final day of the first Test between South Africa and New Zealand, but considering the match is barely into its second innings, the likelihood of a result appears quite bleak.There has been no rain over the past 48 hours. But the damage caused by a substantial downpour after the second day’s play when a recently relaid outfield took on 65 mm of water could not be overcome. Considering it was winter in Durban, the prospect of the outfield drying out under the sun was also relatively low.The existing facilities at Kingsmead allow only the square to be covered in case of rain. When the umpires inspected the ground prior to the start of play – 10 am – on Monday, they found patches of the unprotected outfield still gave way to pressure sparking concern for the safety of the players.A second inspection was scheduled for 12 pm, the only outcome of which was the time of the next inspection at 2pm. The match officials conferred together again and called play off at 2.18 pm.Two days ago, when last there was cricket at Kingsmead, New Zealand were 15 for 2, with Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor at the crease, trailing South Africa’s 263 by 248 runs.
The uncapped Auckland batsman Jeet Raval was named in New Zealand’s squad for their Test tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa
ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jun-20161:59
Hope to continue white-ball form in Tests – Sodhi
The uncapped Auckland batsman Jeet Raval was named in New Zealand’s squad for their Test tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa. There was also a recall for legspinner Ish Sodhi, but allrounder Corey Anderson missed out because of a back injury he picked up at the World T20 in India.Raval, a 27-year-old left-hander, jumped ahead of Hamish Rutherford in the pecking order after he averaged 55.71 in last year’s Plunket Shield. He is the third opener in the squad, behind Tom Latham and Martin Guptill.The middle-order batting position created by the retirement of Brendon McCullum will be filled by Ross Taylor’s return after he missed the Australia series in February due to injury. Henry Nicholls, who replaced Taylor against Australia, retained his place in the squad.New Zealand Test squad
Kane Williamson (capt), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling.
Sodhi, meanwhile, is one of three spinners alongside Mark Craig and Mitchell Santner. He played the most recent of his 11 Tests in November 2014 against Pakistan in Sharjah. This year he was part of New Zealand’s limited-overs squads and was especially impressive at the World T20 where he collected 10 wickets in five matches.”Jeet has been impressive in the Plunket Shield for a number of years now and in the last 12 months we’ve seen his maturity and decision-making continue to improve,” Mike Hesson, the New Zealand coach, said.”He’s learnt to adapt to conditions and has performed well for New Zealand A, so we believe he’s more than ready to make the step up to the international arena.”Ish was outstanding in all formats during the second half of last season, beginning with his performances in the Plunket Shield for Northern Districts. He was also exceptional for us with the white ball last summer and that’s seen him gain valuable confidence on the international stage.”Hesson added that the balance of the squad had been selected to cover the variety of conditions expected across the four Test matches in Harare, Durban and Centurion.”Having played in both Zimbabwe and South Africa last year, we have some insight into what the pitches could be like this time around and we’ve selected our squad accordingly.”Playing two Tests in Harare, we need to be prepared for dry turning surfaces, but we also know that Durban often has a good covering of grass.”The squad will depart on July 11 for an eight-day training camp in Johannesburg before heading to Harare where the first Test begins on July 29.
Rain restricted play to only 13.2 overs on the third day of Yorkshire’s Specsavers County Championship match against Surrey at Headingley yesterday
ECB Reporters Network10-May-2016
ScorecardJoe Root reached his double century•Getty Images
Rain restricted play to only 13.2 overs on the third day of Yorkshire’s Specsavers County Championship match against Surrey at Headingley yesterday, so lessening the time available for the title-holders to complete their first win of the season.Given fair weather tomorrow, however, they are still in a good position to force a victory for they lead by 227 on the first innings with four wickets still in hand if they decide to bat on a little longer.And Yorkshire coach, Jason Gillespie, said after the call-off that he was confident Yorkshire could go on and win the match.”We are already over 220 in front and will probably have to bowl pretty soon but it will be up to the captain whether to declare straight away or bat for a bit longer but there is a fair chance to get a few runs as soon as we can.”Gillespie added that he was very pleased with Yorkshire’s form in general and was encouraged with what he had seen so far this season. Although they had yet to win a match they had worked very hard against quality team and he was pleased with the progress. “We have to make sure we keep standards up and stay focussed,” he said.Gillespie also revealed that young fast bowler, Matthew Fisher, had suffered a second hamstring injury following the one he sustained in Dubai and that he would miss the start of the T20 campaign.Surrey wicketkeeper, Ben Foakes, said he thought his side had bowled quite well and had picked up three early wickets but Root and Bairstow were a couple of England players and one just had to accept that they both played a very good innings.”It became a bit easier once the effects of the new ball had worn off but they still made batting look pretty easy.”Foakes felt there was still every chance of Surrey managing to draw the game. “The rain has helped us so far and if we can get over the new ball we have a good chance of getting a draw,” he said.Play began on time in the morning and in just under an hour before the rain came they added 71 to their overnight score of 486 for 5 to leave them on 557 for 6 off 111.2 overs.Joe Root started out on 190 and immediately 500 had been posted he completed his double-century off 232 balls with 20 fours and a six and he moved on comfortably to 213 before the industrious Ravi Rampaul had him aiming to leg only to get a leading edge which sailed straight to Gareth Batty at mid-off.Root finished up with 22 fours and a six off the 242 deliveries he received and he departed to a generous ovation, well satisfied with his dress rehearsal ahead of the Headingley Test match next week.Yet it was Adil Rashid who played most of the stunning shots in the brief passage of play, three consecutive boundaries of vintage quality at Tom Curran’s expense hurrying him on to 55, two of the shots whistling through mid-off and the other being turned backward of square leg.Root’s dismissal made it 547 for 6 in the 108th over to bring the visitors a second bowling bonus point which they hardly merited although both Rampaul and Curran had carried the attack with discipline and control for most of the time.When Matthew Dunn replaced Curran, Rashid drove back his first ball but Dunn was unable to hold on and the rain quickly followed, leaving Rashid unbeaten on 60 from 85 balls with 11 boundaries.
Manchester United are set to return to Premier League action away to top-four rivals Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon, with Erik ten Hag's men gearing up for what will be yet another relentless run of fixtures over the coming weeks.
With the former Ajax boss set to see his squad depth tested to the extreme, the Dutchman will likely be anxious to see teenage sensation, Alejandro Garnacho return to the fold sooner rather than later, with the 18-year-old having sustained ankle ligament damage during the draw with Southampton in the club's last league game.
The expectation is that the Madrid-born speedster will be available for selection before the end of the campaign, although in the meantime, Ten Hag will have to make do without a player who has become something of a "game-changer" for the Red Devils, as per Manchester Evening News journalist, Samuel Luckhurst.
Despite his relative youth, the Argentine international has already contributed nine goal involvements in all competitions so far this term, having looked "unstoppable" at times prior to his recent injury setback, according to pundit Darren Bent.
Such has been the youngster's impact at senior level to date, it would appear that the Old Trafford outfit are already intent on handing out a new, bumper new deal to the former Atletico Madrid asset, with another La Liga giant, Real Madrid, having been circling in recent times.
A long-term extension would seemingly be just reward for a player who has truly exploded onto the scene this season, with United left to feel that they truly hit the jackpot with the signing of the wing wizard, following what has been a remarkable, meteoric rise.
How much is Alejandro Garnacho worth now?
While it is still early days in Garnacho's Red Devils career, it already looks as if the Premier League side pulled off a true bargain deal when bringing the teen starlet to England back in 2020, having prised the 5 foot 11 man from the Spanish capital for a fee of just £420k.
It is clear to see that the exciting showman is already a far more valuable asset, with CIES Football Observatory now valuing him at around £18m, with that roughly 42 times more (4,185%) than what United initially paid for his services.
Not that Ten Hag will be contemplating a sale any time soon, with Garnacho having quickly cemented his status as a vital part of the 53-year-old's squad, notably netting at Elland Road last month, while also providing an assist for Marcus Rashford's winner in the Manchester derby back in January.
Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho
Those two moments, in particular, have illustrated that the emerging superstar is a truly fearless and confident individual, having shown no sign of nerves despite the often pressurised nature of competing in the senior set-up.
While there have been concerns over his attitude at times this season, Garnacho has swiftly earned the adulation of those at the Theatre of Dreams due to his direct and dynamic nature, possessing the ability to get the crowd off their feet with a moment of trickery or a penetrating run in behind.
There are, of course, still issues to iron out – with Ten Hag stating earlier this month that the forward needs to begin making more of an "impact as a starter" – yet last season's FA Youth Cup final hero is fast becoming a cult figure among the United support.
Aston Villa centre-back Diego Carlos is still approximately three weeks away from returning to first-team action, according to journalist Ashley Preece.
The Lowdown: Carlos missing most of the season
The 29-year-old was an exciting signing from Sevilla during last summer’s transfer window, with the hope being that would become the mainstay of Villa’s defence.
Unfortunately, Carlos managed just two Premier League appearances before rupturing his achilles back in August, and he hasn’t returned to action since then.
The Brazilian is working hard in his recovery, though, and it looks as though his comeback will arrive in March.
The Latest: Three weeks away
Writing in a Q&A for The Birmingham Mail, Preece claimed that Carlos could be available in three weeks’ time:
“Carlos…I think he’s still 3 weeks away from putting himself in contention to start. He’ll need some training time and perhaps some behind-closed-doors games, possibly for the U21s.”
The Verdict: Big boost for Villa
This is great news for Villa, with Carlos someone with the potential to be an upgrade on the likes of Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa, being hailed as ‘amazing’ and ‘big’ by Kevin Campbell.
[freshpress-quiz id=“418895″]
He averaged 1.5 aerial duel wins per game in his two league appearances so far, while 136 appearances for Sevilla are a further testament to his pedigree.
Granted, Carlos will need time to get back into match practice and rhythm upon his return, meaning he likely won’t be at his best until next season, but Unai Emery will be delighted to have him back.
A wonderfully absorbing one-day international which ebbed and flowed throughout was eventually won by New Zealand as they squeezed home by three wickets with four balls to spare
The Report by Andrew McGlashan in Hamilton25-Feb-2018 Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsA wonderfully absorbing one-day international which ebbed and flowed throughout was eventually won by New Zealand as they squeezed home by three wickets with four balls to spare despite Ben Stokes’ intervention on his return to international cricket. Mitchell Santner was the hero at the end, hitting 45 off 27 balls, including consecutive sixes off Adil Rashid and finishing the match with another off Chris Woakes to ensure Ross Taylor’s 18th ODI century, and a 178-run stand with Tom Latham, did not go to waste.Stokes, playing for England for the first time since September 24, was brought back for a second spell in the 38th over, with New Zealand strongly placed, needing 98 off 13 overs with two well-set batsmen, and revived his team when Latham pulled to mid-on and Colin de Grandhomme edged a slower ball behind. Between those scalps Henry Nicholls also departed and when Taylor charged at Rashid, being stumped for superb 113, it appeared England would get home. New Zealand needed 41 off 25 balls with three wickets in hand.However, the move to keep going with Rashid backfired as Santner twice cleared the leg side and then after the first four balls of the penultimate over from Tom Curran had gone for just four he found a vital boundary over square leg leaving nine off the final over. Santner inside-edge the first ball to fine leg, Woakes sent down a wide, then Santner cleared deep midwicket. It was a thriller.England’s innings, in which Jos Buttler top-scored with 79 off 63 balls, was not one of their dynamic performances, yet a commendable effort on a slow pitch where few batsmen found fluency. New Zealand were impressive at the death with just 67 coming off the final 10 overs – and 25 of those off the last two – but 284 for 8 looked formidable when the chase was reduced to 27 for 3 by excellent new-ball spells from Woakes, who claimed his 100th ODI wicket when Colin Munro edged a charge, and David Willey.Ross Taylor marks his 18th ODI hundred•Getty ImagesTaylor and Latham played expertly. Taylor became the third New Zealand batsman to pass 7000 ODI runs, after Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle, while Latham responded to the scrutiny over his position with just his second fifty-plus score in 32 home ODI innings. Latham gave the innings momentum, moving into the 40s at better than a run-a-ball, although was given a life on 47 when Buttler couldn’t hold a thin edge down the leg side off Rashid. The pair nursed the innings into a far more stable position, ensuring the required rate didn’t rise much above the seven-an-over mark while they were together.Eoin Morgan returned to Stokes – whose first spell was four overs – and his first over back cost 11, but in his second Latham clubbed a pull to mid-on. In the next over, from Tom Curran, Nicholls drove a low catch to backward point and then Stokes struck again as England surged back into the favourites’ position.Taylor brought up his hundred off 107 balls then took two boundaries off Stokes as he showed signs of tiring and it proved his last over. It felt as though Taylor would need to do it all himself, but Santner proved otherwise.England will rue some sloppiness in the field – particularly the second half of New Zealand’s chase when dew may have been a factor – but they had managed a competitive total. It was hard especially at the beginning and the end against Tim Southee and Trent Boult, while Santner was also a challenge. Jason Roy and Joe Root had set a solid platform having realised gung-ho batting wasn’t the order of the day, adding 79 in 14 overs, before New Zealand’s spinners started to have their say.Roy was defeated by Santner’s arm ball, Morgan chipped Ish Sodhi’s googly to mid-off the ball after pulling a six and Stokes’ first innings back in the side ended on 12 when he became over-eager against Santner, top-edging to short third man. At 139 for 4, England needed to stabilise things.Root, returning to the side after his T20 tri-series break, played serenely with some lovely touches during a 53-ball fifty – his eighth in 11 matches since the start of the Australia tour – but another hundred went begging when he was defeated by Munro’s knuckle ball.Buttler had provided a kick to the innings with consecutive sixes off Sodhi, striking wonderfully down the ground, but even he struggled to get the death bowling of Southee and Boult away until a late six off each to take his tally to five. In the end that finish proved vital for New Zealand, who continued their strong recent record of chasing on this ground, but in such a compelling match it was difficult to pick out one defining moment.
Trent Boult and Tim Southee pillaged 61 runs together at the start of the day, then claimed two wickets apiece, and held one spectacular catch each, as they set off and then perpetuated West Indies’ dramatic decline on a rain-interrupted day.By stumps, New Zealand had a stranglehold on the Test. Their opposition, eight down, and still 158 runs short of the hosts’ 373, were facing a long climb back into contention. Only Kraigg Brathwaite made a substantial score, hitting 66 off 116 deliveries while several batsmen made promising starts and perished around him. Having ended the first day with so much momentum, and even begun day two with a wicket in the first over, West Indies were guilty of failing to apply themselves on a pitch that – while lively – was not the challenge their scoreline made it seem.It was in the eighth over of the day, with New Zealand’s score on 312 for 9, that Tim and Trent’s day-two adventure began. Getting off the mark with an enterprising uppercut for four over the slips off Shannon Gabriel, Boult tried the shot again next over, and this time fetched six for it. Before long he and Southee were in the middle of a full-scale blitz, Boult hitting five fours and two sixes in his 27-ball 37 not out, while Southee cracked 31 off 39, hitting two leg-side sixes and a four of his own. They were aided by Seddon Park’s modest dimensions, as even mis-hits proved a challenge to West Indies’ fielders. But there was spunk to go with the luck – Boult backing off awkwardly against Miguel Cummins at one stage, only to reach out and blast past point a ball that might have shaved the top of off stump.New Zealand had begun the day in danger of not making it to 300, but thanks largely to their No. 10 and No. 11, 87 runs were added to the overnight score. Kemar Roach, who dismissed Neil Wagner third ball of the day (thanks to a flying catch at gully by Shai Hope) claimed the final wicket to finish with figures of 3 for 58, while Gabriel, who also took a day-two wicket, ended with 4 for 119.It was in the field, and with the ball, however, that Boult and Southee really left their mark on this Test. Gaining more bounce and carry from the surface than West Indies had managed (though it is possible the pitch had quickened up), they began beating edges almost immediately. Southee took the wicket of Kieran Powell in the first over, having the batsman caught behind for zero. Boult took longer to make his breakthrough, dismissing the spirited Shimron Hetmyer with a sublime return catch, leaping to his left.Having tottered to 46 for 2, West Indies then seemed to be regaining their composure while Brathwaite and Hope were at the crease, but when play resumed after a rain delay of almost two hours, more wickets were in store. Hope nicked one to the slips off Southee soon after play re-started, then Roston Chase and Sunil Ambris both departed in quick succession – the latter treading on his stumps to the bowling of Boult, as he played a back-foot shot on the leg side. This was the second time in three innings that Ambris was out hit wicket.When Southee caught Brathwaite spectacularly on the juggle soon after – the ball hitting the tips of his outstretch hands at short cover, only to bounce out and then be re-taken just before it hit the turf behind him – West Indies had lost four wickets for 45 runs. Brathwaite had been the player holding the innings together, keeping out the good balls and finding boundaries behind the wicket – though he did have some luck when he was dropped off Boult in the slips, on 14. He left West Indies at 135 for 6 – in danger of not making 200. Thankfully, for the visitors, Shane Dowrich struck a belligerent 35 before top-edging a pull off Neil Wagner, and debutant Raymon Reifer moved to an unbeaten 22 by stumps.Southee returned New Zealand’s best figures of the day, his two wickets only costing him 34 runs. Colin de Grandhomme and Wagner also had two wickets to their name. Mitchell Santner’s left-arm spin was not required.