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Allardice says it’s “a balance between the risk of catching the virus versus the freedom that young people are going to be looking for”

Sreshth Shah13-Jan-2022Despite Covid-19 causing disruptions in international cricket as recently as this week – with the T20I series between West Indies and Ireland in Jamaica being called off and two ODIs being rescheduled – ICC CEO Geoff Allardice has said that the bio-bubble at the Under-19 World Cup starting January 14 in the West Indies will work in such a way that players can enjoy what is probably their very first international competition in the environment.Allardice instead used the phrase “managed-event environment” to describe the robust precautions in place from the ICC for the smooth conduct of the event after considering the young age of the participating players and from lessons learnt from the Men’s T20 World Cup in the UAE and Oman last year.Related

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He said that the ICC’s main challenge will be to juggle keeping players safe while also providing them with an experience to cherish. Given the lengthy nature of the tournament – 23 days of competition in addition to the pre-tournament quarantine requirements and warm-up games – Allardice said that it was important for ICC to make the tournament “memorable” for players from all 16 countries.One strategic decision to mitigate the concerns of Covid-19 infections possibly ravaging the tournament is the ICC’s choice to host the event across four islands in the West Indies, namely Antigua, Guyana, St Kitts, and Trinidad and Tobago. This strategy is vastly different from the main competition of the T20 World Cup last year, which was held between three cities that were close to each other in the UAE.This plan will allow the ICC to move games to one of the other three venues and complete the tournament in case infection cases rise in any one location. “It’s a balance between the risk of catching and passing on the virus versus the freedom that young people are going to be looking for and allow them to enjoy the experience of being involved in an Under-19 World Cup as well,” Allardice said on Thursday. “I think the management of that environment over the next few weeks is probably the challenge and being able to react to whatever gets thrown our way.”Another way the ICC has looked to protect their players is to ensure they play their group-stage games in quick succession rather than over a long period.”We are following a similar model to the Men’s T20 World Cup in the way that we manage the type of accommodation that we are using and the [Covid] testing frequency,” Allardice said. “They play their matches at a reasonable frequency. So you go to the cricket ground, you play your match, you go back to the hotel accommodation, recover, and then a day or two later, you are back again.”At the Men’s T20 World Cup last year, the ICC had kept a 24×7 mental-health and wellness service around for the players to use to deal with the complications of staying in a strict bio-bubble. As part of ICC’s “managed-event environment” plans, the same processes will be in place for the teenagers taking part in the West Indies too.With the majority of players vaccinated, Allardice said that the risk of illness is going to be low, but said that the ICC remained committed to completing the 14th edition of the Under-19 World Cup while making sure that the players compete in a “positive environment.”The tournament will kick off in Guyana with hosts West Indies taking on Australia in Providence on Friday, with a concurrent second game between Sri Lanka and Scotland taking place in Georgetown.

A number of big-name players are currently off contract ahead of a season of huge challenges

Andrew McGlashan01-Sep-2020The Big Bash contract embargo has been lifted with clubs now set for a hectic period of completing their lists ahead of a season full of uncertainty and with the league facing significant pressure from broadcasters amid concerns over a lack of star names.There had been plans to hold a first BBL player draft this year but that has been shelved due to the complexities created by Covid-19 meaning that squads will be completed in the traditional way of individual signings.However, a report in Nine Newspapers has said that consideration is being given to a central pool of funds to help clubs attract big-name overseas players in an attempt to balance the likely absence of more Australian players due to the need for larger international squads in hubs.That was one of the major issues at the centre of heated remarks by Channel 7 CEO James Warburton last week when he threatened to walk away from the broadcast deal if the BBL was stripped of a large number of big-name players.CA has occasionally helped bulk up the pay of major names in the league previously with a marketing element to their contracts, as was the case with AB de Villiers at Brisbane Heat last season and Kevin Pietersen in the past. However, this latest plan would be for the benefit of the all the clubs. Last month, CA brought onboard T20 specialist Trent Woodhill to work alongside BBL boss Alistair Dobson on reshaping the league and attracting players from around the world as the tournament prepares for its 10th edition and attempts to regain its sweet spot which came prior to expanding into a full home-and-away season.This year’s tournament is currently scheduled to be longest in terms of duration, penciled in to start on December 3 and finish on February 6, although changes are expected to the schedule with the likelihood that it will be played in hubs.”In terms of players wanting to play in it and its standing in the world game I think it does just sit behind the IPL,” Woodhill said from the Australia camp in Southampton where he is an assistant coach on the tour. “Every tournament has got to have an aspect of wanting to improve and I saw that in 10 years of IPL.”Being around the international stage and being all over the world, people love the Big Bash. People love the colour, love the entertainment, they want to tune in and watch it and overseas players want to come play in it, domestic players love it. It’s a great sense of fun but we also find it’s a stepping stone for others as well to push for IPL, push for [the] Hundred and international call-ups.”Adam Zampa was pumped after removing Steven Smith•Getty Images

Although there remains significant uncertainty over the international schedule later in the year as countries continue to map out a return to action amid the pandemic, it could be that there is less cricket – and competing T20 leagues – being played than would traditionally be the case meaning more players available for the Big Bash.The league is confident overseas players will be able to take a full part in the tournament – they are also expected to feature in the WBBL which is due to start in mid-October – despite the various travel restrictions around the world and quarantine requirements in Australia.”There’s constant dialogue,” Woodhill said. “We are really excited for the tournament and I’m really excited about overseas players wanting to participate.”Various in-play tweaks are also expected to be introduced for the new season which could include free hits for wides, bonus points and substitutions although Woodhill declined to go into any detail about changes while on Australia duty in England. “I think this season you will see some great innovation,” he said.While the lack of a player draft reduces the chance of a major overhaul of which teams players are based at, there are a number of high-profile names currently out of contract including Alex Carey, Rashid Khan, Peter Handscomb, James Pattinson, Sandeep Lamichhane and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

A loss won’t finish off Sunrisers Hyderabad’s playoff chances, while a win will almost certainly give them the final spot in the last four

The Preview by Saurabh Somani03-May-20193:26

Murali Kartik: Kane Williamson’s form is a big worry

Big picture

One team has everything on the line. The other team has nothing to aim at.If Sunrisers Hyderabad had won their Super Over against Mumbai Indians, they would have been sitting pretty on 14 points and a net run-rate far in excess of what any of the teams that can get to 14 points could realistically get. That would have pretty much guaranteed them a playoff spot, but Jasprit Bumrah proved too difficult to handle, leaving Sunrisers in a must-win position against Royal Challengers Bangalore in what is the last league game for both sides.

Form guide

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Lost to Mumbai Indians in the one-over eliminator, beat Kings XI Punjab by 45 runs, lost to Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets
Royal Challengers Bangalore: No result against Rajasthan Royals, lost to Delhi Capitals by 16 runs, beat Kings XI Punjab by 17 runs

Royal Challengers were the first side to be knocked out of the running for the playoffs, hardly surprising given that they have spent the majority of IPL 2019 at the bottom of the points table. Virat Kohli has reiterated for the past few matches that his side has nothing to lose and will only ‘enjoy themselves’ in the game, and he was right for all practical purposes. This time, he will be right mathematically too, with Royal Challengers truly having nothing to lose, or gain, for that matter.This will once again be a contest between the Sunrisers bowling and the Royal Challengers batting. The departures of David Warner and Jonny Bairstow, coupled with Vijay Shankar’s tapering off, has meant Sunrisers’ batting wears a thin look – only Manish Pandey is carrying it at the moment. For Royal Challengers, losing Dale Steyn was a big blow, and now they’ll be without Marcus Stoinis too. Navdeep Saini has been impressive in patches, but even with the last game here, they still seem unsure of what their best pace attack is. In contrast, Sunrisers’ bowling has looked in fairly good shape, while Royal Challengers’ batting has been spearheaded, as ever, by Kohli and AB de Villiers.

In the news

• Stoinis has left Royal Challengers to link up with the Australian team for their World Cup camp. With him in the XI, Royal Challengers were playing only three overseas players. Without him, they have the option of bringing back Shimron Hetmyer, or giving another go to Colin de Grandhomme or Tim Southee.
• Billy Stanlake hasn’t got a game yet for Sunrisers, but his pace and bounce could be useful on a batting-friendly venue. But including him will mean dropping Martin Guptill and an Indian pacer, and probably bringing back Yusuf Pathan to the middle order.

Virat Kohli reacts after dropping a catch•BCCI

Previous meeting

Centuries by Bairstow and Warner were followed by Mohammad Nabi’s 4 for 11 as Sunrisers trumped Royal Challengers in style. Both Bairstow and Warner are no longer there, but Royal Challengers will no doubt remember that exchange, and will want to exact revenge – for pride, if nothing else.

Likely XIs

Sunrisers Hyderabad: 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 3 Manish Pandey, 4 Kane Williamson (capt), 5 Vijay Shankar, 6 Mohammad Nabi, 7 Abhishek Sharma, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Basil Thampi, 11 Khaleel Ahmed Royal Challengers Bangalore: 1 Parthiv Patel (wk), 2 Virat Kohli (capt), 3 AB de Villiers, 4 Shimron Hetmyer, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 Shivam Dube, 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Umesh Yadav, 10 Navdeep Saini, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal

Strategy punt

• Given Royal Challengers’ opening combination of Kohli and Parthiv Patel, it might be a good idea for Nabi to take the new ball for Sunrisers. This year, Nabi has bowled ten overs in the Powerplay for an economy rate of 4.5 – the best in IPL 2019 (with a minimum of ten overs). His numbers against left-handers are also striking, with an average of 11.5 and an economy rate of 4.5. With Parthiv taking on the aggressor’s role for Royal Challengers and Kohli preferring to play himself in, the introduction of Nabi could stifle Royal Challengers in the Powerplay. Parthiv’s own numbers against offspinners are among his weakest – his strike rate is just 73.7 and he averages only 7.
• Royal Challengers’ run rate in the middle overs since IPL 2018 is 7.6, the lowest among the eight teams. They are particularly vulnerable against spinners, scoring at just 6.6 against them in the middle overs. Can Hetmyer provide the middle-overs thrust they need? Hetmyer’s returns against spin in this IPL haven’t been encouraging but, on the flip side, he’s not had too many opportunities either. If he comes off, he could provide the cushion that Kohli and de Villiers seem to perennially lack.

Stats that matter

• This will be Parthiv’s 200th T20 match.
• Kohli is six runs away from completing 4,000 runs as a captain in the IPL.
• Sunrisers have won four of the last five meetings between the two sides, and hold an 8-5 edge overall.
  

Sophie Devine’s 3 for 12, Amy Satterthwaite’s unbeaten 71, and Katey Martin’s 65 gave New Zealand a 2-0 lead in the T20I series against West Indies in Mount Maunganui

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Mar-2018Sophie Devine’s three-wicket haul – including contributions from the rest of the bowling unit – handed New Zealand a mammoth 106-run victory and a 2-0 lead over West Indies in Mount Maunganui. Earlier, half centuries from Katey Martin and Amy Satterthwaite had propelled the hosts to 185 for 3.Devine picked Deandra Dottin and Reniece Boyce in a space of three balls to reduce the visitors to 30 for 4, before accounting for top-scorer Kyshona Knight (20 off 35 balls) in the 17th over.Devine, who was instrumental in New Zealand’s ODI series win, posted a 33-run partnership with captain Suzie Bates before the latter was bowled by Shamilia Connell in the fifth over. Devine gave away her wicket to Akeira Peters two overs later after scoring a 21-ball 27. Martin then struck a 42-ball 65, while Satterthwaite notched up 71 off 42, and together put on a 124-run stand.In reply, West Indies fell flat in their chase as they slipped from 30 for 2 to 69 for 7, with none of the batsmen scoring over 20. Offspinner Leigh Kasperek contributed with 2 for 13, while Kate Heffernan, Anna Peterson and Lea Tahuhu picked one each to restrict them to 79 for 8 at the end of 20 overs.

The debutant said it was important for him to grab the chances he got, like he did in the third ODI when he made use of two reprieves to share in a match-winning stand for Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jan-2017Three balls into his ODI debut innings, with Australia chasing 264 against Pakistan in Perth, Peter Handscomb wafted at a fuller delivery from Junaid Khan in search of his first runs. He was caught at slip and began walking off until he heard the crowd cheering, and saw the replay of the bowler over-stepping on the big screen. Four overs later, off Junaid’s bowling again, a chance to point was put down with Handscomb on 10.The reprieves he got on his way to an important 82 in Australia’s win prompted him to joke about trying his luck elsewhere.”Yeah, 100%,” Handscomb said, when asked if this was the luckiest innings he played. “I think I need to buy a lottery ticket tonight and go from there.”In his debut Test in Adelaide, Handscomb narrowly missed edging a delivery from Vernon Philander before he had made a run, and went on to score 54. He then went on to make a fifty-plus score in each of his next three Tests, equaling an Australian record set by Herbie Collins in 1920-21.Handscomb was picked as Chris Lynn’s replacement on the back of those Test runs – “a good reward for a good summer,” according to coach Darren Lehmann – and he made it count, propping up one end of a 183-run partnership with captain Steven Smith to give Australia a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Handscomb stated how important it was for him to capitalize on the chances he had, given the conditions around his selection.”I’ve been working really hard to get everything going up to this point, so that when I do get the opportunity, I try and grab it with both hands,” he said. “Obviously, today was very lucky: initially being caught off a no-ball and then dropped at backward point, although it showed on the replays that that was a no-ball as well. I missed out on a free hit there, which was a bit disappointing. From there I was able to play my own game and go about it the way I normally do, which was good. Put my head down and bat with Steve and obviously, it’s awesome batting with him.Peter Handscomb admitted he needed to find ways to score quicker in ODI cricket•Getty Images

“There are quality players in the country and I am only in this position because a couple of them got injured. If they had been fitter, I wouldn’t have been here and this opportunity wouldn’t have occurred. So in that sense I have been really lucky as well but Australian cricket has got an amazing talent pool. If I keep getting an opportunity in the middle order in the one-day team then it will be great and I’ll do everything I can to make sure the team wins but if I don’t, I understand because there are quality players out there.”When asked if he felt he had something to prove given his domestic 50-over record, Handscomb said he was only focused on the role the team needed him to do. The batsman averages 32.75 in List A cricket, with 1212 runs in 52 matches and six fifties. He admitted, however, that he needed to find a way to score off more balls to keep up with the demands of the format.”I felt good throughout the entire summer and I knew that if I just came out today and tried to play the way the team wanted me to play, then that’s what I would do. And I wasn’t too worried about what had happened in previous years,” he said. “I understand my one-day record in domestic cricket isn’t great but to come out here and do everything the team needs was my only job today and it was great to be able to do it.”I guess I need to be able to find a way to score off more balls. In the longer format, you can let a lot go, you can wait until the ball is in your zone to hit whereas here you need to start fabricating a few shots and making a few things up, which I am working on and obviously trying to score quicker but I have to let my game develop in my own way to let that happen. And I watch guys like Steven Smith and David Warner and Glenn Maxwell who can get out there and score fast so I try and learn from them and see how they go about it.”

The chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association has admitted he is “seriously concerned” about the threat of terrorism to professional cricketers

George Dobell08-Dec-2015The chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association has admitted he is “seriously concerned” about the threat of terrorism to professional cricketers.Angus Porter, who runs the players’ union in England and Wales, described terrorism as “the greatest risk to players” and said he considers it a greater threat than impact injuries caused by the ball.”We have worked hard in minimising the chances of serious injury to players from impact injuries from the ball, and quite rightly,” Porter told ESPNcricinfo. “But history would suggest that such incidents, thankfully, are few and far between.”The greatest risk to players lies in terrorist attacks. I am very worried about it.”Of particular concern to Porter at present is the welfare of players taking part in the Bangladesh Premier League. With the UK Foreign Office currently warning of a “high threat from terrorism” in Bangladesh and advising British citizens to maintain “a low profile in all public spaces”, the ECB and PCA made each England-qualified player sign a disclaimer before they were provided the No Objection Certificate required to participate. Australia also recently withdrew from their tour of Bangladesh due to security fears.”I am worried right now about those players who have gone to play in the Bangladesh Premier League,” Porter said. “In light of the global situation and Foreign Office advice, we informed all players about the situation and asked them to confirm in writing that they understood the situation and the risks.”We will always err on the side of letting players make their own decisions, but we are very uneasy about their involvement at this time.”Attacks on sporting teams are nothing new. The 1972 Olympics was overshadowed by the murder of Israeli athletes while eight were killed when the Sri Lanka team bus was attacked in Lahore in 2009. But recent events in Paris, where a football match between France and Germany was one of the targets, has heightened concerns and provided a reminder of the need for tight security. ESPNcricinfo understands that the ICC’s security assessment of World T20 venues will take place this week.”Am I concerned about the World T20? Yes, absolutely,” Porter said. “I don’t know whether Pakistan will take part, but I can see that there is a realistic chance that they won’t.”

Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan, two of the three Rajasthan Royals players arrested on charges of alleged spot-fixing, have been granted bail by a trial court in Delhi on Monday

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jun-2013Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan, two of the three Rajasthan Royals players arrested on charges of alleged spot-fixing, have been granted bail by a trial court in Delhi on Monday. Seventeen others arrested in relation to the case were also given bail.The 19 accused will be released from Tihar Jail on Wednesday, but have been asked to surrender their passports.Ajit Chandila, the third Royals player under arrest, has not applied for bail yet.The judge said the Delhi Police had not produced enough evidence to charge the players under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), a special law passed by the Maharashtra state government to tackle organised crime syndicates and terrorism which contains far stricter provisions relating to bail and admissibility of confessions compared to the Indian Penal Code.Sreesanth, Chavan and Ajit Chandila were arrested on May 16, following which they were suspended by the BCCI pending an inquiry. They were charged under the Indian Penal Code sections 420 and 120B, which deal with fraud, cheating, and criminal conspiracy. Royals also suspended the contracts of all three players, who were allegedly promised money ranging from US$36,000 to 109,000 by bookies for under-performing.

Ravi Bopara batted at No. 8 with a runner in a bid to prove his England fitness as Essex and Kent failed to contrive a positive result

Charles Randall at Chelmsford12-May-2012
ScorecardMark Pettini was the only Essex batsman to master the conditions•Getty Images

It would have been funny if it had not been so serious for Ravi Bopara, a man with almost-certainly dashed England hopes. He batted today with a runner for just over an hour and a half, ran himself out in classic village green style and did not appear in the field for the fag end of this Division Two stalemate.Although Essex were optimistic about Bopara’s ability to be fit for the first Test against West Indies, starting at Lord’s on Thursday, the evidence of his innings suggested England would be unwise to take the gamble. He suffered a “slight tear” to his right thigh in the field on Friday and though he batted for his team, at No. 8, in pursuit of bonus points, his discomfort was clear.During an over in the morning Essex had four batsmen on the square while Bopara and Alviro Petersen used runners, a rare occurrence for a partnership at first-class level, perhaps in any cricket. Bopara looked far from sprightly when he instinctively moved into a run with a midwicket stroke off Ivan Thomas and pulled up with a ghastly stagger. After some scurried runs seemingly in all directions, and five balls without any real mishap, both batsmen sent off their assistants – though Bopara was publicly persuaded to change his mind by the Essex physio Chris Clarke-Irons. So Greg Smith trotted back on, while Petersen, hobbling on a sore ankle, did his best without Tom Westley.With no sign of declarations or targets, Essex’s innings creaked along, owing just about all momentum to Mark Pettini. The last three wickets fell for no runs when Charlie Shreck picked up two in two and Bopara ran himself out, finally forgetting his runner. Bopara pushed a Mark Davies delivery into the covers and set off for the single, reaching ‘safety’ at the other end along with his runner before realising he should have stayed at the crease. Kent did not spot their opportunity until Shreck screamed at his colleagues to get the ball back to wicketkeeper Geraint Jones, who removed the bails at leisure.Pettini, seeking his first Championship hundred for three seasons, batted exceptionally well, though he struggled to score against the constant probing by Davies, the pick of the Kent attack. Resuming on 61, Pettini cut effectively, concentrated well and look set for his much-needed century when Thomas seamed one back into him to win an lbw shout and the innings tailed off after that.Thomas, 20, impressed as a Championship rookie with more whip in his action than one might think. He has had first-class experience with Leeds-Bradford University this season, including the destruction of a callow Sussex side, when he took 6 for 21 in the second innings in Leeds. A memorable maiden wicket for Kent came courtesy of a flying goalkeeper catch in the covers by Brendon Nash, clinging to a full-blooded cut by Essex’s captain James Foster.Both counties harbour expectations of climbing out of this division, but it was a shame that some sort of arrangement could not be reached. Kent, 131 ahead overnight, might have persuaded Essex to chase something as they held some aces in Davies, Shreck and the England offspinner James Tredwell. Thomas could also have been added to the mix on an easing, but still helpful, Chelmsford strip.With Bopara and Petersen unfit, Essex’s batting looked depleted. “The problem with declaring overnight would have been forfeiting batting points, though as it turned out we didn’t get any,” Foster said. “We weren’t expecting to get only 181; we were hoping to get 350. A chase would have been quite a risk as the ball was nibbling about.”Rob Key felt he lost “a horror” of a toss and was elated that his Kent side had gained a first innings lead after their collapse to 9 for 5, thanks mainly to a superb century by Darren Stevens. As so often in county cricket, the effort of fighting back seemed to inflate the fear of defeat. “It was so wet on the first day and by the end it was so dry,” Key said. “We thought it was going to be hard work trying to set up a game. I felt we would have to throw up so many and we would only have two sessions, if that, to bowl. The pitch didn’t deteriorate enough to make it interesting. Essex would have been able to block out, so that the result was either a win for them or a draw.”

Sri Lanka will step up their preparations for the first Test against England when they face a strong Lions side at Derby

Andrew McGlashan18-May-2011Sri Lanka will step up their preparations for the first Test against England when they face a strong Lions side at Derby. It’s a sign of the depth in English cricket that a formidable second team can be drawn up and they should give the tourists a good idea of their readiness for Cardiff.Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, along with the other three players who spent an extra week at the IPL, have arrived so the visitors are now at full strength. Facing the likes of Steven Finn, Ajmal Shahzad and Graham Onions, who has made an impressive return to action after a career-threatening back injury, will be a good test of adjustment for them on a Derby pitch that often offers help to the pace bowlers.Regardless of their form, however, Jayawardene and Sangakkara will line up in the Test side alongside Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranavitana and Thilan Samaraweera. This match will help Stuart Law, Sri Lanka’s interim coach, and the selectors decide who will be the final specialist batsman – presuming that is the balance they opt for.Against Middlesex, at Uxbridge, they went for two spinners on a flat surface but the Test attack may only include one slow bowler. Suraj Randiv, the tall offspinner, will be given a chance to press his claim after Rangana Herath and Ajantha Mendis did the job in the opening match. Herath’s useful batting could edge the stakes in his favour.That leaves the quick bowling. Dilhara Fernando is pencilled in with the new ball and Chandaka Welegedara took five wickets in the match against Middlesex. The one to watch, after a hint from Law, is Nuwan Pradeep who has been called a slightly less slingy Lasith Malinga. England’s analysts, one of who was at Uxbridge, will no doubt be compiling a library of footage ahead of the Test series.The England selectors will also be watching closely. There is a long season ahead and a pool of reserve talent will come in handy. At least one of the Lions will be appearing in Cardiff with a replacement needed for Paul Collingwood at No. 6, while there is also a pace-bowling vacancy due to Tim Bresnan’s torn calf.The contest between Ravi Bopara and Eoin Morgan has been billed as a shootout for the batting slot, ahead of the squad announcement on Sunday morning, but this England set-up doesn’t operate in that way. They’ll know who they want in the Test team. The smart money is on Bopara and plenty of things favour him. He has overcome a tricky start to the season to score 408 Championship runs with two hundreds and chip in with nine wickets for Essex, while twice turning down IPL advances.Morgan has spent the last six weeks in India with limited success for Kolkata Knight Riders, hitting one fifty in 12 innings. He returned to the UK on Saturday and was at Uxbridge the following day netting against his Middlesex team-mates (and Angus Fraser). He’ll cling to the knowledge that he was England’s most recent stand-by batsman in Australia, but it’s more than four months since their last Test match in Sydney and things change.Meanwhile, a replacement for Bresnan is tough to call, but the selectors are likely to want a like-for-like option who can swing the ball so Shahzad, who played one Test against Bangladesh last year, is a strong candidate. Finn played three Ashes games but with Stuart Broad and Chris Tremlett there are already two tall quicks available.Beyond the immediate battles there is further interest from the Lions line up. James Taylor, the Leicestershire batsman, has another chance to impress, as does James Hildreth who will captain the side. One of those is likely to be in contention when England’s one-day squad is selected in late June. That might also apply to Samit Patel, who has been given another chance after some harsh reminders about his fitness requirements during the winter.

James Tomlinson took three wickets as Hampshire seized the upper hand in their County Championship Division One clash with Essex at the Rose Bowl

05-Jun-2010

ScorecardJames Tomlinson took three wickets as Hampshire seized the upper hand in their County Championship Division One clash with Essex at the Rose Bowl. The hosts added only two runs to their overnight 298 for 7 as Maurice Chambers snared the last three wickets, including veteran Dominic Cork for 55, to finish with figures of 5 for 49. But Essex slipped to 209 for 7 in reply as Matt Walker was left to lead the resistance with an unbeaten 60.Cork made the initial breakthroughs, removing Jaik Mickleburgh for 21 with the help of wicketkeeper Nic Pothas to leave the visitors 51 for 1 at lunch. Tom Westley had been Mickleburgh’s partner in an opening stand of 48, but became Cork’s second victim via a sharp return catch at knee height.There followed a stand of 62 between Ravi Bopara and Walker, the latter taking the stand beyond 50 with a six off Danny Briggs. But Tomlinson then stepped up to make an impact, with Bopara cover-driving loosely to provide Pothas with his second routine catch of the innings.The in-form Ryan ten Doeschate quickly followed, trapped lbw for just six to leave his side 135 for 5 by tea. A rash swing by Walker off the bowling of Briggs sent the ball looping just out of Jimmy Adams’ reach, but the miss did not prove costly as Briggs soon got his reward with the wicket of keeper James Foster, clean bowled for a painstaking 14 by a ball that kept low.Mark Pettini lasted just two balls before tamely prodding into the hands of Neil McKenzie to help Briggs towards figures of 2 for 33. Walker reached his half-century from 126 balls but saw David Masters nick a second catch to McKenzie in the slips after making 15, leaving Tomlinson with 3 for 51.Graham Napier took his side to their first batting point with a cover drive for four but otherwise reined in his attacking inclinations to reach an unbeaten nine by the close. With only Chambers and Danish Kaneria to come, much depends on Napier and Walker as Essex look to cut the deficit tomorrow.