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Yorkshire openers share century stand to help hosts make most of less than half a day’s play

ECB Reporters Network25-Jul-2023Runaway Division Two leaders Durham are under early pressure at Scarborough after Yorkshire openers Adam Lyth and Fin Bean shared a century stand to help the hosts make the most of just less than half a day’s play due to hail and heavy rain at Scarborough.Lyth and Bean shared 113 inside 31 overs after the visitors had elected to bowl at the start of this LV= Insurance County Championship fixture, contributing to a close of play 142 for two from 38 overs.Lyth led the way with 75 not out off 118 balls at the North Marine Road venue where he played his league cricket growing up. Fellow left-hander Bean made 46 but was the first of two wickets to fall – lbw to England Test quick Matthew Potts almost immediately after a 5.30pm resumption.Hail at lunch prevented an afternoon restart, and when umpires Steve O’Shaughnessy and Surendiran Shanmugam attempted to get going again at 2.30pm heavy rain returned as they and the players walked back onto the outfield.Puddles had formed all over the square within 30 minutes, and it took until 5.30pm for conditions to improve enough for nine more overs of play before bad light ended the day just after 6pm.Potts trapped Bean lbw with the seventh ball back – his first after the resumption – and later removed George Hill the same way for seven.Yorkshire have now lost a remarkable 1,308 overs to the weather this season, including the complete washout against Gloucestershire at Bristol in April when not a ball was bowled.Just short of 350 of those have come in the last three games, including at Worcestershire and against Sussex at Headingley earlier this month.New ball seamer Ben Raine will have counted himself unfortunate not to have removed Lyth with either of two confident lbw appeals in the opening over.But, aside from that, the visitors were unable to build pressure before lunch as they failed to hit a consistent line or length, allowing Lyth and Bean to continue their excellent recent form.The pair shared 177 for the first wicket in the draw against Worcestershire at New Road earlier this month, a game in which Bean scored a century.Lyth did likewise in last week’s draw against Sussex at Headingley, when the pair added 94.Yorkshire only batted once in each fixture, something which is not out of the question here unless Durham can continue to bowl with the quality and potency Potts displayed in the evening to oust Bean and then Hill.Lyth was particularly strong on the drive and Bean on the cut, with 17 runs coming from the morning’s penultimate over – bowled by the seam of Netherlands international Bas de Leede.

MP captain Patidar’s unbeaten 40-ball 81 wasn’t enough as Mumbai chased down 175 with 13 balls to spare

Himanshu Agrawal15-Dec-2024Mumbai have yet another star in the making, and yet another trophy in a cabinet which is fast running out of space. Even before the ball landed beyond the straight boundary to confirm victory in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final against Madhya Pradesh, Suryansh Shedge was leaping and punching the air. He now has three crucial contributions in his last four innings, the latest of which helped Mumbai seal a 175-run chase with 13 balls to spare.Shedge hit an unbeaten 36 off 15 balls while adding an unbroken stand of 51 from 19 deliveries with Atharva Ankolekar, who hit the winning six. Shedge smashed three fours and three sixes during his knock, none more impressive than a six which would have made Suryakumar Yadav proud. The 21-year-old got across to a length ball from Venkatesh Iyer in the 17th over, and nonchalantly swiped him over long leg to all but confirm Mumbai’s second Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title. He now has knocks of 30* (eight balls), 36* (12) and 36* (15) in three of his last four T20 games.Related

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The chase was set up by Suryakumar and Ajinkya Rahane, who finished as the tournament’s highest run-getter. They took some time to add 52 for the third wicket, but that helped steady Mumbai after they were 47 for 2 in the fifth over. Rahane even got lucky when, off the last ball of the powerplay, he got a leading edge which flew to mid-off, where Rajat Patidar dived to his left only for the ball to escape his grasp.Rahane and Suryakumar built steadily, but with another 110 runs required from 69 balls, Suryakumar accelerated. He scooped and lofted Rahul Batham for four and six. Rahane started the next over by reverse sweeping and pulling Kumar Kartikeya for four. Venkatesh got Rahane for 37 in the 12th over, but Suryakumar bashed Batham for two sixes in the 13th.Rajat Patidar smashed an unbeaten 81 off 40 balls•PTI

Shivam Shukla then had Suryakumar caught at short fine leg for 48. When Shedge and Ankolekar came together Mumbai needed 46 from 32 balls, and the match could have gone either way. But the two ensured the trophy came their way.Earlier, MP needed Patidar, their captain, to make a match out of it. He was only behind Rahane on the runs charts and continued to rake in the runs, cracking an unbeaten 81 off 40 balls with six fours and six sixes. MP were 86 for 5 at the start of the 13th over, but Patidar looked immovable, helping MP score 80 runs in the last seven overs.There was the pull, the loft, the upper cut, the slice, and the swipe to savour for a sizeable Chinnaswamy crowd, as Patidar picked up the pace after managing just nine from as many deliveries at the start. His shots had plenty of power, the ball crashed into the stands, and it made for a fearless display of T20 hitting. But, at the end of the day, Patidar’s heroics were not quite enough.

“It’s really difficult to prepare for a Test match. In my career, we were playing once every two years,” she says

AAP01-Feb-2024Former Australia captain Meg Lanning would prefer to see women’s Test matches scrapped altogether than continue to have them scheduled sporadically.The longest format of the game is much rarer in the women’s international arena than in the men’s; only 12 Tests have been played worldwide across the last decade.Each featured combinations of Australia, England, India and South Africa, with other nations reluctant to prioritise Tests over white-ball matches given the financial challenges of the former and rising popularity of the latter.New Zealand, West Indies and Pakistan have all been absent from the Test arena since 2004 but even the sides that have participated more recently have only done so in one-off matches.”It’s really difficult to prepare for a Test match,” Lanning said. “In my career, we were playing once every two years. It takes us two days to work out how to play it again, and then the Test is over.”If you really want the games to be a good contest and more nations to play and players to understand the game a little bit more, I think we probably need to play more. Or you go the other way and you don’t play any at all and you focus on the short-format stuff.”In December, the unfamiliarity of the format was laid bare for the all-conquering Australian women’s team, which was thrashed by eight wickets in a standalone match against India in Mumbai. Australia will host South Africa for a Test at the WACA Ground in mid-February to round out the multi-format tour.It will be Australia’s third Test in the past 12 months but Lanning still feels the product will suffer if Tests are only scheduled as an afterthought to white-ball series.Lanning retired from international cricket in November having made 241 appearances for her country but only six of those came in Test matches.Lanning’s comments came after new Australia captain Alyssa Healy called for three-match Test series to be introduced into the women’s game after the loss to India.Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley later said he was a “strong advocate” for more women’s Tests to be played. The last time any sides met for a Test series was when England hosted India for two matches in 2006, but not since 1998 has a three-Test series been played.All but one of Lanning’s Test matches were played against England but the 31-year-old has been heartened to see South Africa and India keener to participate in recent years.”That’s great if that means there can be more Tests in the calendar, I think that’ll happen over time,” she said. “But that’s where I sit on it. It’s either more or you sort of don’t go there at all because I think once every so often is pretty difficult as a player.”Cricket Australia will officially pay tribute to Lanning’s career during the ODI series opener against South Africa at the Adelaide Oval, where former vice-captain Rachael Haynes will also be honoured.Lanning continues to play cricket domestically and will line up for Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League that begins later this month. She said her international retirement had not yet hit home.”Until I probably stop completely, it probably won’t sink in,” she said. “It’s obviously been a different last couple of months, a little bit more time and little bit more quiet to spend with friends and family and sort of take stock a little bit. I’ve enjoyed that.”

Veteran batter takes charge after interim period; Andy Balbirnie retains Test captaincy

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Oct-2023Paul Stirling has been confirmed as Ireland’s new men’s white-ball captain, having done the job on an interim basis since Andy Balbirnie stepped down in the summer. Balbirnie will continue in his role as captain of the Test side.Stirling, 33, has led the side on 22 occasions previously, including steering Ireland through qualification for the 2024 T20 World Cup. His appointment comes at the start of the cycle for the next ODI World Cup, to be held in South Africa in 2027, with Ireland aiming to secure a return in the expanded, 14-team format after missing out in 2019 and 2023, and will also encompass the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.”Playing for Ireland has always been a source of pride for me and to be confirmed the permanent white-ball captain is a recognition I don’t take for granted,” Stirling said. “I have very much enjoyed working with Heinrich [Malan] and the coaching staff over the last few months as interim skipper, but we all know that we have potentially three World Cup campaigns over the next four years and the work starts now.Related

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“I said recently that ODI cricket was my favourite format, and to watch on as the 50-over World Cup has been underway is actually been a great motivator for me to ensure we are there at the next event in 2027. I know this desire is a common feeling throughout the squad, and so we’ll look to harness this drive into the next series scheduled for December.”We also recognise that there is only eight months now to the next T20 World Cup, so the clock has well-and-truly started on our preparations.”Balbirnie gave up the white-ball captaincy after Ireland’s failure to make it to the ongoing ODI World Cup in India, finishing seventh at the qualifier in Zimbabwe. Stirling subsequently took charge for the T20 World Cup Europe qualifiers, as well as series against India and England. Ireland are next in action on a tour to Zimbabwe in December.Andrew White, Ireland’s national selector, said that he expected both Stirling, who is closing in on Kevin O’Brien’s record for highest caps for Ireland, and Balbirnie to be available across all three formats, despite the split leadership.”I am pleased that we have now settled the captaincy matter and I know the planning between the coaching and senior leadership group has already begun,” White said. “We have an exciting four-year period coming up and I look forward to working closely with Paul and Andrew as we take this squad forward.”Heinrich Malan, Ireland men’s head coach, added: “The last few months of dealing so closely with Paul has confirmed that we have an asset of vast experience and knowledge within the playing group – experience and knowledge he has gained from his time with Ireland, in franchise cricket and formerly within county cricket.”While fans may appreciate Paul’s talent on the field, his leadership skills and ability to communicate within the squad is a much under-estimated attribute. He lives and breathes cricket and has a passion for Irish cricket that is plain for everyone to see. It’s incredible to think Paul has been playing international cricket for 15 years and still has more good years ahead to lead this team and help improve Irish cricket.”We know the challenges we have in Irish cricket, but we are very much a coaching and leadership unit that looks for solutions rather than finding excuses. Paul exemplifies this – he is an outright optimist and I know is driven to succeed. It is indeed welcoming to settle the leadership question, and we are very much looking forward to taking Irish cricket forward over coming years.”

Sam Konstas has left Sri Lanka ahead of Australia’s second Test in Galle to play Sheffield Shield for NSW

AAP and ESPNCricinfo staff04-Feb-2025Sam Konstas’ Sri Lanka tour is officially over with the teenage star returning to Australia to play Sheffield Shield cricket for New South Wales.Despite an impressive first two Tests, Konstas was replaced at the top of the batting order by the more experienced Travis Head in last week’s series opener in Galle.With Head making a speedy half-century to set the tone for Australia’s big win, Konstas was set to miss selection again for the second match beginning Thursday.Related

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Konstas trained with the team at their main session in Galle on Tuesday before packing his bags to fly back to Australia in the evening, Cricket Australia confirmed.Australia selectors determined the 19-year-old would be better served lining up for NSW against Queensland on Saturday at the Gabba – a Test venue at which he has never played – than watching from the sidelines in Galle. The selectors value players getting experience at home Test venues. It was part of the reason Nathan McSweeney got the nod at the start of the Border-Gavaskar series, as Konstas has not played at either the Gabba or Adelaide Oval.Australia will have adequate concussion substitutes in Konstas’ absence, with 15 remaining in the squad as well as development player Tanveer Sangha.The tour was Konstas’ first with the Australian squad to the subcontinent, but he previously attended development camps in Chennai and Sri Lanka.He may have an additional opportunity to hone his skills against spin with an Australia A tour of India in the works for later in 2025.After his famous start to life as a Test player, the Sri Lanka tour may have shaped as underwhelming for Konstas, who missed selection and was then struck down by a stomach bug.But Head said Konstas would have learnt from the touring experience.”Sam’s a big part of where we’re going, there’s no doubt about it,” Head said. “Disappointed that he missed out on the first Test but great for him to be here, great for him to be experiencing conditions.”Head expected Konstas would return to the top of the batting order when Australia travelled to England for the World Test Championship Final against South Africa in June.”Most likely I’ll go back in the middle order and Sam will open,” Head said.

CI chair Brian MacNeice met with players to address concerns about lack of fixtures

Matt Roller19-Sep-2025Cricket Ireland (CI) hopes that India’s men will tour for a white-ball series next summer on their way to England.India will travel to England for five T20Is and three ODIs from July 1-19 next year, and ESPNcricinfo understands that CI officials have held discussions with their BCCI counterparts over a potential visit before that tour begins. India’s men have toured Ireland three times for short T20I series in the past seven years (in 2018, 2022 and 2023) and attracted strong crowds at Malahide on the outskirts of Dublin.Paul Stirling, Ireland’s captain, said on Tuesday that he was “disappointed” that his side had played so little home international cricket this summer, and described them as “underprepared” to face England in their ongoing T20I series. Brian MacNeice, CI’s chair, said after Friday’s washout in Malahide that he had met players and staff to address their concerns.Related

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“I opened the meeting by saying, as far as I’m concerned, the quantum of cricket that we’re playing in ’25 isn’t good enough to prepare you guys to play international cricket and to be competitive at ICC tournaments,” MacNeice said. “I’m not hiding from that.”We mapped out our views and thoughts on what the schedule for ’26 and ’27 looks like, and I wanted to get their input not just on the international schedule, but also the domestic schedule… It was a really positive session yesterday. There’s more work to be done, honestly, but it was a good session.”Sunday’s third T20I against England will be Ireland’s ninth and final home men’s international of the 2025 summer, with four of the first eight lost to weather. Their slimline fixture list is, in essence, the result of the high costs they incur while converting club grounds into international venues and the relatively low value of their broadcast rights deals.”[The players] understand the challenges that we’re facing and some of the reasons why we had what we had, but they also are very clear about what we’re trying to achieve. I think they’re fully bought into that,” MacNeice said.Per the ICC’s Future Tours Programme, Ireland are due to host New Zealand (one Test), Bangladesh (three ODIs and three T20Is) and Afghanistan (one Test, three ODIs and three T20Is) next summer. “There’s still a couple of variables that have to be figured out before we lock in the final schedule, but we’ll be hosting Test cricket here next year,” MacNeice said.MacNeice also said that Ireland’s new stadium project at Abbotstown on the outskirts of Dublin is “very much on track”, and said that he has held positive meetings with senior ECB officials this week around the 2030 men’s T20 World Cup, which Ireland, England and Scotland will co-host.He confirmed that he would be “very supportive” of a proposal for a two-division World Test Championship featuring Ireland, and said that the process of hiring a new chief executive to replace Warren Deutrom is going “really well”, with the hope of making a recommendation for his successor to the board in late October.MacNeice was appointed chair of the board for the planned European T20 Premier League (ETPL) on Thursday, with Deutrom becoming the league’s director. The ETPL was due to launch in 2025, but its inaugural season was postponed to 2026 after it struggled to find buyers for franchises.

Jalal Yunus, BCB’s cricket operations chairman, non-committal about Tamim’s future as Bangladesh ODI captain

Mohammad Isam11-Jul-2023Tamim Iqbal will be travelling to Dubai and the United Kingdom later this month to have his back injury checked, BCB cricket operations chairman Jalal Yunus has confirmed. Tamim, whose retirement-unretirement drama hogged headlines in Bangladesh over the past few days, has been given a six-week break to recover from the injury. His back injury is now thought to be more of a serious concern, as he is seeking medical advice from overseas.”Tamim will be going to Dubai. He will then travel to the UK on July 25 or 26. He has two appointments in London. He will update me from there. We have to name the primary squad of 25-26 players [for the Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup] soon, so we need to know his situation. Everyone else will be resting till July 30. Some will go to play abroad. We will restart with a conditioning camp,” Yunus told reporters after the third ODI against Afghanistan in Chattogram on Tuesday.Yunus, however, was non-committal on the captaincy issue – Tamim was the ODI captain before the goings-on over the past few days. “Let him come back first. We will discuss it with him. There’s a matter of his fitness. He said he will talk to us after he returns to the country.”Related

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• Did BCB chief's comments precipitate Tamim's retirement?

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Some of the developments around Tamim were connected to BCB president Nazmul Hassan questioning Tamim’s professionalism in a newspaper interview on July 5, where Hassan had also said that head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe had been dissatisfied with the lack of clarity around Tamim’s injury.Did Hathurusinghe overstep his mark by going to Hassan?”I don’t think so,” Yunus said. “We all have discussions. We talk about a lot of things. In his capacity, he can speak to the president at any point. We discuss things regularly. He informs Shahriar Nafees, the cricket operations manager, and the board president and I are in the loop.”Yunus also said that the BCB is open to discussing Mashrafe Mortaza’s role as a team mentor during the 2023 men’s ODI World Cup, something Tamim reportedly suggested to prime minister Sheikh Hasina during their meeting on Friday. “The board will decide. He [Mashrafe] is a member of parliament. He is a former captain. He is a good leader. If he comes to us officially, we will discuss it,” Yunus said.

Dillon du Preez will take over in an interim capacity for South Africa’s tour of India with a new coach to be appointed after that

Firdose Moonda10-May-2024Long-serving South Africa Women head coach Hilton Moreeng’s tenure has ended after a period of 11 years and four months.Moreeng was originally appointed in the role in December 2012, and oversaw South Africa’s transition to professionalism in 2014 and their greatest successes in the decade since. He took them to two ODI World Cup semi-finals, two T20 World Cup semi-finals, and was in charge when they became the first national senior side to reach a World Cup final, at home in the 2023 T20 World Cup. He was South Africa’s first black African national coach.Dillon du Preez, Moreeng’s assistant since September 2020 and a former first-class cricketer, will take over from him in an interim capacity for South Africa’s tour of India in June-July with a permanent coach to be appointed after that.Moreeng’s departure came after a period of short-term extensions to his contract since 2020 – originally for three years until after the 2023 T20 World Cup, and then for periods of time in the months that followed.CSA have confirmed it was Moreeng’s decision to step away.”He opted not to continue. And the timing of it is not great, but we really respect and understand his position,” Enoch Nkwe, South Africa’s director of cricket, said at a press conference on Friday. “He’s invested a lot, you know, obviously into women’s cricket. He’s taken this team from basically nothing to great heights. He’s reached a point where, and he was completely honest, he needs to allow the next person to take the team to the next level.”In his latest extension, Moreeng was contracted for the 2023-24 season, initially until the end of 2023, and then until the end of the summer, after his contract expired last year. He was also retained in 2020 when CSA first appointed a director of cricket – Graeme Smith – who undertook a major overhaul of the organisation’s coaching structures.Most recently, Moreeng remained in the job despite senior players expressing unhappiness with the length of his tenure. In August last year, six months after South Africa reached the final of the T20 World Cup, a group of players wrote to CSA to express their desire for change, but ESPNcricinfo understands that the process to replace Moreeng was delayed, and he was allowed to continue. As it turned out, CSA changed the captain and replaced Sune Luus, who led at the T20 World Cup and prior to that in Dane van Niekerk’s injury-enforced absence, with Laura Wolvaardt.A process was then put in place to recruit Moreeng’s replacement, who was expected to take over after the home series against Bangladesh last December, but that never happened. In early November, Nkwe told reporters that CSA “had interviews last week and we are still finalising a couple of things”. “As soon as we are done with the post-interview process, we will be able to make an announcement,” he said, and indicated the new support staff would be in place for South Africa’s January-February tour to Australia. He has since said CSA was not satisfied with those who put their hands up for the job. “We did advertise the position and unfortunately we couldn’t find the fitting candidates to take the team forward,” Nkwe said. “We went into the process of headhunting as well and unfortunately we couldn’t find anyone.”Moreeng then took South Africa to Australia, where they beat Australia for the first time in both a T20I and an ODI (though they lost both series) and was in charge for the home series against Sri Lanka. South Africa lost a T20I series to Sri Lanka for the first time and shared the ODI spoils, as Sri Lanka successfully completed the highest chase in women’s ODIs. It was after the Sri Lanka series that Moreeng decided his time was up, Nkwe said.CSA had initially hoped that Moreeng would continue until the 2025 World Cup, during which time they could plan a transition phase for his successor but “the process didn’t work out as planned”. Du Preez will now take the team to India and it is possible a new coach will be in place ahead of the T20 World Cup. Asked if the players are comfortable with du Preez, who has been in his role since September 2020, Nkwe suggested it may take some time for things to settle.”They’re still a little bit shocked because they didn’t expect [Moreeng’s departure] so soon; immediately at the end of the season. A lot of them are still processing what just transpired,” Nkwe said. “We’re going to be engaging with them later in the month, at a camp, to try and gauge, obviously, where they’re feeling and where everybody’s at. We also want to see how we can help Dillion to make sure that the team can pull in one direction, which I have no doubt he’ll be able to do.”Under Hilton Moreeng, South Africa Women became the first national senior side to reach a World Cup final•ICC via Getty Images

Asked if he would consider putting himself up for the job full-time, du Preez stayed on the fence, for now. “I see myself as someone who has to do this at this stage of my life. Whether or not I try to do it going forward, this will allow me to grow. I see it as a positive move, even if it is for a month or two,” he said. “I think I will want to [have the job permanently] but it’s too early to give you a 100% answer. But that’s where you want to be, at the highest level. I would really want to coach there. I enjoy it a lot. But let’s talk after India.”Du Preez also indicated he would not change too much to begin with, having been mentored by Moreeng. “He’s been here for 11 years in this space and to learn from him, meant a lot to me. Whatever you know about cricket, the moment you move into the women’s space, you actually find out that you might know nothing,” du Preez said. “It’s been an emotional week. Hilton has left big shoes for me to fill. What he has done for women’s cricket, it feels like no one is going to match. I couldn’t pick a better guy to learn from.”There is no suggestion that CSA will continue to look for a women’s director of cricket, and that Moreeng could be considered for that. Nkwe said the former coach needs “time” to “continue reflecting and to see what his journey is going to look like moving forward”. But, Nkwe said, CSA would be open to engaging Moreeng in the future. “From our point of view, we would like to retain him in whichever way, because you don’t just let go of such experience, especially in women’s cricket.”In parting, Moreeng offered thanks to everyone he met along the way. “It has been an honour and a privilege to lead such a talented group of athletes over the years,” Moreeng said in a statement. “I want to express my sincere appreciation to all the players and team management who have been instrumental in this journey. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside each of you. I would also like to thank the South African fans and the media for their unwavering support throughout this journey. Your encouragement has been a constant source of motivation. Last but certainly not least, I am deeply grateful to my family and friends who have stood by me through the highs and lows along the way. Your love and support have been my rock.”CSA has also appointed a new batting coach in Baakier Adams, previously with the Warriors provincial team, and Bongani Ndaba as fielding coach alongside a new physiotherapist Neline Hoffman-Kellerman.

The four-day squad has Matthew Breetzke from the current Test tour to West Indies, while Dewald Brevis is in both squads

Firdose Moonda01-Aug-2024Discarded Test captain Neil Brand, who led a second-string South African side in New Zealand in February, has been tasked with leading a South Africa A side against Sri Lanka A next month. Brand will take charge of a home series that includes two four-day matches aimed at preparing players considered to be on the fringes of the national side to make the step up. The red-ball matches are preceded by three one-day games, with Test wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynne in charge of the white-ball squad.South Africa’s fifty-over playing group also includes David Bedingham, who scored a Test century in New Zealand under Brand, Tony de Zorzi, who made his ODI debut last year and Tristan Luus, who played at the Under-19 World Cup. The four-day squad also has Matthew Breetzke from the current Test tour to West Indies. Dewald Brevis, the breakout star from the 2022 under-19 World Cup, is in both squads.Interestingly, the number of black African players in the squads far exceeds the national target of two players per XI (on average over the course of a season) with six black African players in the one-day squad and four in the Test squad. Allrounder Mihlali Mpongwana, who is currently captaining a South African Emerging squad in Zimbabwe, is in both squads along with Lutho Sipamla, the bowler who has been capped 17 times across all formats internationally but has struggled with recent injuries. In the four-day squad, batters Tshepang Dithole and Sinethemba Qeshile are included while in the one-day squad batters Andile Mokgakane and Andile Simelane are joined by allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo.The selection indicates a clear focus on Cricket South Africa’s aims to develop more black African batting talent as they plan for the home ODI World Cup in 2027. There were no black African batters at the recent T20 World Cup and only Temba Bavuma plays regularly in ODIs. CSA’s recently concluded Diversity, Equality and Inclusion conference placed an emphasis on ensuring there is enough black African talent at provincial level for the national coaches to select, after white-ball coach Rob Walter asked for the domestic set-up to “up the ante,” when it comes to advancing transformation.The series is set to run from August 31 to September 18. Walter and Test coach Shukri Conrad selected the two squads. Conrad will oversee the entire tour, with Walter involved with the national team on trips to West Indies and the UAE. All three one-day games will be played in Potchefstroom and the four-day matches in Kimberley and Benoni. South Africa A one-day squad: Kyle Verreynne (capt), David Bedingham, Eathan Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Dayyaan Galiem, Tristan Luus, Mihlali Mpongwana, Andile Mogakane, Senuran Muthusamy , Andile Phehlukwayo, Andile Simelane, Lutho Sipamla, Codi Yusuf South Africa A four-day squad: Neil Brand (capt), Marques Ackerman, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Tshepang Dithole, Jean du Plessis, Patrick Kruger, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Mihlali Mpongwana, Migael Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile, Lutho Sipamla, Prenelan Subrayen, Beyers Swanepoel, Codi Yusuf

Compton, Muyeye notch half-centuries as Lancashire toil after inserting visitors at Blackpool

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 22-Jun-2025James Anderson’s first day as Lancashire’s interim skipper was spoiled by Ben Compton and the rain as Kent dominated the first day of the Rothesay County Championship match at BlackpoolHaving lost the toss, the visitors were 213 for 3 when heavy showers caused play to be abandoned shortly after the scheduled tea interval. At that point, Compton was 86 not out and his 126-run stand with Tawanda Muyeye, who made 63, had been the centrepiece of the day. Anderson, on the other hand, might have been regretting his decision to insert Kent on what looks a true pitch.Even in the first few overs of the day, the signs were not propitious for Lancashire. Opening in place of Zak Crawley, Jaydn Denly batted with pleasant ease to put on 55 with Compton in exactly an hour before he top-edged a sweep off the spinner, Chris Green, and was well caught at deep square leg by Mitchell Stanley for 34.Daniel Bell-Drummond then made 13 before he edged George Balderson behind, where Matty Hurst took a good catch standing up to the stumps. However, Compton and Muyeye took their side safely to lunch, when Kent were probably reasonably content to be 105 for 2 after 33 overs.Rain then prevented play for 90 minutes but Compton reached his half-century only four overs after the restart when he drove Anderson through mid-on for two. The Kent opener had faced 100 balls and had hit six fours to reach a landmark that also prompted a marked acceleration in the run rate.Compton and Muyeye extended their third-wicket partnership to a hundred in only 19.5 overs although Lancashire had only themselves to blame for dropping Compton on 54, Jennings putting down a straightforward slip catch off Green. Batting in a most enterprising fashion, Muyeye reached his own fifty off 66 balls and made light of the cloudy conditions that should have aided Anderson’s seam attack.But Lancashire got the breakthrough they needed in the penultimate over before tea, when Muyeye, having made 63, sought to hit Balderson down the ground but only skied the ball to cover, where Stanley took his second catch of the day.That ended Muyeye’s 126-run stand with Compton and as things turned out, the wicket fell ten balls before rain forced the players off a couple of deliveries before the scheduled tea interval. Umpires David Millns and Sue Redfern abandoned play at 5.20om with Compton 14 runs short of his fourth first-class century of the season and Jack Leaning unbeaten on 4.Balderson was the most successful Lancashire bowler with 2 for 37. Anderson bowled nine wicketless overs for 36 runs.Lancashire came into this match between the bottom two sides in Division Two four points ahead of their opponents and as the only first-class county yet to record a Championship win this season. If the weather forecast is anything like accurate, they will have done well to change that situation come Wednesday evening.