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The opener remains unsure how comfortable fielding will be but has no concerns about his place in the Boxing Day Test

Daniel Brettig23-Dec-20182:12

‘Finger has improved a lot in the last few days’ – Finch

Australia’s opening batsman Aaron Finch has rarely felt more pain on the cricket field than in the moments after his battered right index finger was jammed by Mohammed Shami in Perth, to the point that it felt like the digit was “going to explode” from a blow that left bone visible from a deep cut.However, Finch is adamant he will be fit to play on Boxing Day for his first Test in front of an MCG home crowd, for what looms as the pivotal match of the entire Border-Gavaskar series.Given the captain Tim Paine’s lengthy history of breaks, surgeries and problems with his right index finger, Finch’s own saga of finger troubles seems minor, but is typical of the many issues that batsmen tend to have to manage over the course of summers and careers. He first broke it in Sri Lanka in 2016, and this summer had it twice struck by Mitchell Starc in the nets in Perth and Adelaide before Shami dealt the most painful blow during the second Test, forcing Finch to retire hurt.”It was a bit of a shock, just the initial pain was the thing that got me. It felt like it was going to explode, which was quite funny,” Finch said in Melbourne. “I think just being hit a few times in the last month, a couple times by Starcy at training then Shami out in the game, but it’s also an old break.”I broke the same finger in Sri Lanka a couple of years ago, so I’ve got to start either catching them or use my bat instead of my gloves. It was up there [as the most painful]. I think snapping my hamstring tendon [in April 2015] was probably the most over the last few years.”For all of Finch’s considerable discomfort and the disruption to Australia’s batting order, he was able to feel considerable improvement even within the Perth Test, though he did not really get much opportunity to assess his own batting after falling first ball, glancing down the leg side into Rishabh Pant’s gloves, when he resumed his second innings.”Even batting in the warm-up before the second innings in Perth I still felt pretty good. Catching might be a bit of a different issue, at training I always tape my finger up anyway, but this’ll just be a bit of extra padding,” Finch said. “With a Boxing Day Test and being from Victoria it’s going to have to be cut off I think.”I’m going to catch in slips at training and do my normal preparation. If anything changes in the next couple days I’m sure we’ll have to sit down and chat about that, but at this stage it’s still business as usual and I plan to field at slip and whatever else is needed. It feels like it’s improved 100% over the last couple of days.”Asked whether Paine had any advice in the area of managing a problematic finger, Finch remarked admiringly of the captain’s ability to withstand obvious discomfort. “He’s got about 15 screws and a couple metal plates in his so a little bit different, he’s carried that for a lot longer than what I have,” Finch said. “He’s got a high pain threshold.”At the end of a year in which he has gone from being a white ball-only cricketer for Australia to now having a critical role in the Test team and a vastly expanded international workload, Finch was happy to have spent several days at home after Perth – even if he and his wife Amy used the rare time in Melbourne to move house.”I do feel refreshed, but at the same time I had to move house during that period so my wife had to do a bit of extra heavy lifting which is unfortunate for her, but it’s just great to be home,” Finch said. “Whether going for a coffee at the local cafe or going out for breakfast or lunch or whatever it is, just a bit of familiarity with being home is always nice.”Nevertheless, Finch did find time to grip a cricket bat in between national team duties, giving him some sense of how the finger may feel on Boxing Day. “I got sent some new bats,” he said, “so I’ve been walking around the loungeroom waving them around and it feels okay.”

Recognition for Rhodes at England level comes after he guided Worcestershire to their fifth promotion in 11 years, an achievement with player development at its core

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Oct-2017Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes will take over as head coach of the Young Lions – the England developmental squad – on an interim basis until the end of the ICC Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand early in 2018.Rhodes, who has been director of cricket at Worcestershire since 2006, stands in for Andy Hurry following his appointment as director of cricket at Somerset.Recognition for Rhodes at England level comes after he guided Worcestershire to their fifth promotion in 11 years, an achievement with player development at its core.David Parsons, the ECB’s performance director, said: “Losing Andy at the start of a busy and challenging winter left us needing to find a high-quality replacement, and we believe that appointing Steve Rhodes on an interim basis is an excellent solution.”Obviously he is a highly experienced and respected coach as a result of his success with Worcestershire. He has already made a significant contribution to our International Pathway through his work with the England Lions in their training camp in Dubai and white-ball series against Pakistan A in the winter of 2015-16.”He has also spent time with the senior England set-up over the last two summers. And Worcestershire have an outstanding record of contributing players to all levels of the Pathway in recent years, with five involved again this winter – including Adam Finch and Dillon Pennington in the Young Lions squad.”Rhodes will work alongside Hurry in the early stages of the Young Lions winter programme, before taking over ahead of the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand before returning to Worcestershire after the tournament in early February.The ECB will appoint a permanent successor to Hurry in early spring and it would be a surprise if Rhodes, who has been highly committed to the county game since he made his Yorkshire playing debut 36 years ago, became a candidate for a full-time post.Rhodes said: “It is an honour to be asked to work for your country at any level, and I’m really excited about this chance to work with the Young Lions this winter. I’m grateful to everyone at Worcestershire for allowing me to take this opportunity.”I really enjoyed my time with the Lions in Dubai, and learned a lot from working in an international environment which I’ve been able to take back to Worcester for the last couple of seasons.”I’m grateful to everyone at Worcestershire for allowing me to take this opportunity – and I’m lucky to have such high-quality staff who will relish the extra responsibility with me being away.”Rhodes will join the Young Lions at a warm-weather training camp at the Desert Springs Resort in southern Spain from November 11-14.He will then take charge when the squad head for South Africa from November 22 to December 11, for a tri-series which also includes Namibia, before departing for the World Cup in New Zealand on January 2. The first of three group games is against Namibia in Queenstown on January 15 and the final is in Tauranga on February 3.

Gary Wilson, the Ireland wicketkeeper-batsman, has agreed to join Derbyshire on a three-year contract

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Sep-2016Gary Wilson, the Ireland wicketkeeper-batsman, has agreed to join Derbyshire on a three-year contract. Wilson made his Surrey debut in 2008 and captained the club in 2014 but lost the gloves this season to Ben Foakes.Wilson, 30, was a regular in Surrey’s four-day side between 2013 and 2015, scoring more than 2000 runs and averaging 42.90. He took over as wicketkeeper in early 2014, with Steven Davies looking to focus on his batting, and was then handed the captaincy after Graeme Smith’s injury-enforced departure.He went on to lead Surrey to a mid-table finish in Division Two, scoring a career-best 160 not out against Leicestershire, but was replaced as captain by Gareth Batty ahead of the 2015 season. Ireland commitments impacted on his availability this season and Foakes became first-choice behind the stumps, with Davies moving to Somerset for 2017.”Gary is a very talented cricketer who has performed consistently with the bat and behind the stumps for Surrey and Ireland. He will bring real experience to the side,” Derbyshire’s head coach, John Sadler, said. “He has enjoyed success, securing promotion in 2015 and reaching the Royal London Cup final in the same season, and knows how to win games.”Derbyshire have endured a difficult season, with Graeme Welch stepping down as coach in June. They are winless in the Championship with one game of the season to go and guaranteed to finish bottom of Division Two. In the limited-overs competitions they twice finish sixth in the North Group.Wilson’s arrival will provide heft to the middle-order, as well as wicketkeeping back-up to Harvey Hosein after the retirement of Tom Poynton earlier this year.”I know Derbyshire captain Billy Godleman really well and I’ve heard plenty about what he wants to achieve,” Wilson said. “I can’t wait to get started. There’s a lot of talent at the club and they are learning and improving all the time. I’m keen to play a part as a senior player in ensuring that the squad’s potential is turned into success on the field.”

Cricket South Africa has extended Haroon Lorgat’s contract as chief executive officer by three years, until July 31, 2019

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jul-2015Cricket South Africa has extended Haroon Lorgat’s contract as chief executive officer by three years, until July 31, 2019. Lorgat, the former ICC CEO, was appointed CSA’s chief executive in July 2013 for a period of three years.The board said it had decided to extend his tenure after the “exceptional progress” made since his appointment. The extension was recommended by a panel of directors at a board meeting in Johannesburg on Friday.”Haroon has more than delivered on our expectations and even though his first term will only end in twelve months’ time, the board had no hesitation to confirm the services of Lorgat for a second three-year term,” Chris Nenzani, CSA president, said.”He took over at a time of great uncertainty and under very difficult circumstances, but his experience and astute leadership has stabilized our cricket and set us on the path of achieving our goal to be the best run sports federation on the continent.”Lorgat has extensive experience as a cricket administrator. He was previously a treasurer of CSA and convenor of selectors, and spent four years -between 2008 ad 2012 – as CEO of the ICC. His stint so far with CSA has not been without its share of controversy.In his stint with the ICC, he had clashed with the BCCI on a number of issues, such as the Future Tours Programme, the DRS and an ICC independent governance review, and the Indian board had expressed reservations over his appointment as CSA’s CEO.Shortly after Lorgat assumed the role, both boards clashed over India’s curtailed tour to South Africa in December 2013, which deviated from the schedule put down in ICC’s FTP.Lorgat faced further trouble when the ICC began investigating his role in the statement made by its former legal head, David Becker, who said that BCCI’s flouting of the future tours programme could have legal implications.CSA withdrew Lorgat from dealing with the BCCI or the ICC until he was cleared in March 2014.

A round-up of the HRV Cup matches on January 6, 2013

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jan-2013
ScorecardAn aggressive knock of 74 from Tamim Iqbal and a spell of 4 for 18 from seamer Ili Tugaga led Wellington to a comfortable 57-run win over Canterbury in Rangiora, and took them to second in the points table.In 7.1 overs, their openers Jesse Ryder and Tamim put on 71 runs to establish a platform for domination. Spinner Ronnie Hira ended the stand by getting Ryder out for 37, but another one, worth 77, ensued, till Iqbal was dismissed in the 16th over. By then, they were cruising at 148 for 2, and to boost the rate Michael Papps scored 32 off 17 deliveries towards the end to get his team to 190.Canterbury lost wickets in a hurry. Tugaga destroyed the top order as the first four batsmen in their line-up scored 18 runs together. After 10.3 overs, they were reduced to 60 for 5. Middle-order batsman Andrew Ellis scored 48, but when he got out in the 15th over, the contest was virtually over. Thirty-year old left-arm spinner Luke Woodcock was the other bowler to prove effective, claiming three wickets.
ScorecardA 95-run stand between Ryan ten Doeschate and Nathan McCullum, both of whom scored half-centuries, and a combined bowling effort helped Otago inflict a 93-run win over Central Districts at the University Oval in Dunedin. The win, Otago’s sixth this season, consolidates their position at the top of the table, while Central Districts’ sixth loss kept them at the bottom.Chasing a stiff 195, Central Districts lacked a steadying hand to halt the collapse. Only four batsmen scored in double-figures, with opener Jeet Raval, who made his Twenty20 debut, top scoring with 20. By the 17th over, they were bowled out for 101. The wickets were shared around, with seamers James Fuller and Jimmy Neesham, and spinners Nathan McCullum and Nick Beard, all taking two wickets each.The win was set up by a commanding batting performance from Otago. At the halfway mark in their innings, they were scoring at a run rate of 7.5 per over, but ten Doeschate, who scored an unbeaten 59, and McCullum struck eight sixes and six fours between them to boost the rate. The final total of 194 for 4 proved enough to defend.
ScorecardA blistering knock from Colin de Grandhomme and restrictive bowling from Michael Bates and Kyle Mills carved a 28-run win for Auckland over Northern Districts in Mount Maunganui.Set a target of 181, Northern Districts managed 152 in their 20 overs led by Steven Croft and Brad Wilson (39). Michael Bates and Kyle Mills, both gave only 19 runs each in their four overs and picked up five wickets together. They were ably supported by Bhupinder Singh (1-22) who also gave less than six runs per over and picked up the wicket of Wilson.Earlier, when Auckland were put in to bat, they lost their openers within six overs for 37. Captain Gareth Hopkins led the side from there, first with Anaru Kitchen and then with Grandhomme. Grandhomme smashed an unbeaten 30-ball 66 which included eight fours and two sixes and pushed the run-rate from under seven to nine when their innings ended.Auckland picked up four points from the match and moved to fourth place in the points table.

Daniel Christian’s chances of making his Test debut on Boxing Day could be boosted by Australia’s desire to have five bowling options against a powerful India batting line-up

Brydon Coverdale20-Dec-2011Daniel Christian’s chances of making his Test debut on Boxing Day could be boosted by Australia’s desire to have five bowling options against a powerful India batting line-up. Australia’s selectors will name the squad for the Melbourne Test on Wednesday and it could be a larger-than-usual group as they wait on the fitness of key players, including Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh.The possible permutations to be considered by the selectors were complicated on Tuesday when opener Ed Cowan made his case with 109 against the Indians for Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI in Canberra. In the same match, the incumbent opener Phillip Hughes, certain to be axed for Boxing Day, scored 20 batting at No.4, Usman Khawaja made 25 and David Warner scored 2.The rest of Australia’s Test batsmen converged on Melbourne for a batting camp after their struggles in the series against New Zealand. The allrounder Christian, who was 12th man in the loss to New Zealand in Hobart, will join the group on Wednesday after he plays for the Brisbane Heat in Tuesday night’s T20 match against the Melbourne Stars at the Gabba.Christian has been one of the leading Sheffield Shield run scorers this summer but it is his bowling that will appeal the most to the selectors, with Watson unlikely to bowl if he plays at all in Melbourne as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. The Australians did not play an allrounder against New Zealand, whose top order struggled, but the coach Mickey Arthur said the team’s needs might change against India on flatter pitches.”We played on two pretty helpful wickets against New Zealand to be honest, so we didn’t need a huge amount from that fifth bowler, we got through that easily,” Arthur said. “But when you’re playing at the MCG and at the SCG and there’s back-to-back Test matches, it does become hard when you’ve got four bowlers.”I see the spinner bowling a huge amount more, though. We need to be able to fiddle some overs from some of our batters. That’s how we’ll look at it. If we think our allrounder is in our best six batters at the present time then he’ll get a game.”Asked if Christian had done enough to be considered a top-six Test batsman for the India series, Arthur pointed to his first-class form this summer. In five Shield games, Christian has made 475 runs at 59.37, including two centuries.”He’s got an unbelievable record this year,” Arthur said. “He’s done superbly well for South Australia. Stats will tell you that he could possibly be in our top six batters. The fitness of our other players will also possibly determine that down the line. We’ll have a squad and work out the certain permutations in terms of fitness and then settle on an 11 closer to the time.”The national selector, John Inverarity, will announce the squad at 1pm Melbourne time on Wednesday, but the size of the group remains to be seen. Watson is expected to be named after missing the New Zealand series due to a hamstring problem he picked up in South Africa, but his chances took a blow when he did not bat on the first day of the batting camp.Marsh has less of a chance to make the starting line-up but could be named with a view to giving him as much time as possible before the Test to prove his fitness. He has battled a back problem since the first Test in South Africa and while he was at the Melbourne batting camp on Tuesday, Arthur said it was an issue that Marsh had not played a match in more than a month.”It is a concern,” he said. “Ideally you want guys to be playing. Whenever you’re playing a game your intensity goes up 20% from a practice session, the competitive juices kick in and the guys are put through a lot more in a game. We would have liked him to play more cricket but it hasn’t been possible. He is a class act. We’ve got to give him every opportunity. Time will tell.”Guys like Watson and Marsh, if ultimately selected, we’ll probably give them as much time as they need to get themselves ready to play. So it might be a slightly enlarged squad for this one but our preference is always to be decisive and name a 12. I guess we’ll know tonight once we put the finishing touches to our squad.”There is less uncertainty surrounding Australia’s attack, with Arthur declaring there were “no concerns whatsoever” about the fitness of the fast men James Pattinson and Peter Siddle. Both men had minor niggles after the New Zealand series but were in the MCG nets on Tuesday to bowl to Australia’s batsmen, and neither is considered in doubt for Boxing Day.Mitchell Starc, who was adequate without really grabbing his opportunity against New Zealand appears likely to retain his place, with Ryan Harris facing a near impossible ask to prove his fitness for Boxing Day. Harris has had a hip problem since the first Test in South Africa and was named to play for the Brisbane Heat on Tuesday night. However, the injury-prone Harris will struggle to prove to the selectors that he can last through a Test match with no first-class cricket in which to test himself.Possible squad: David Warner, Shane Watson, Ed Cowan, Usman Khawaja, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (capt), Michael Hussey, Daniel Christian, Brad Haddin (wk), Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon

England’s women managed a consolatory victory in the third one-day international against Australia at the WACA, chasing down 213 with two overs to spare for a seven-wicket win

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jan-2011
Scorecard
Lydia Greenway top-scored for England with 59•Getty Images

England’s women managed a consolatory victory in the third one-day international against Australia at the WACA, chasing down 213 with two overs to spare for a seven-wicket win. Lydia Greenway passed fifty before she was dismissed and captain Charlotte Edwards continued her sparkling form, finishing unbeaten on 48 and striking the winning runs to ensure a measure of honour in the 2-1 series scoreline.Danielle Wyatt led an early charge with the bat as England’s openers put on 47 in under 10 overs. She struck six boundaries in a rapid 30 – her highest score for the national side – and had few problems against the new ball before she was sent back attempting a quick single in the 10th over and run out by a distance.Greenway was soon into her groove to keep the runs flowing, greeting the introduction of Shelley Nitschke’s left-arm spin by jumping out of her crease to loft a boundary. She also found the middle of the bat with a pair of perfectly executed reverse sweeps and was soon outscoring the more circumspect Heather Knight.They had put on 66 for the second wicket – the highest partnership in either innings – when Knight attempted to crack Lisa Sthalekar’s offspin over the top but picked out Rene Farrell to depart for 33. Greenway enjoyed some good fortune as she was dropped by Sarah Coyte at long leg and chopped a no-ball from Ellyse Perry onto her own stumps, but took advantage of the let-offs to register a sixth ODI half-century.After she was caught at long-off by Leah Poulton, Edwards was joined by Jenny Gunn – who was batting with a runner – and together they sealed the result with an unbeaten 53-run stand. Edwards took her series run-tally to 188, easily the highest on either side, and hit the winning run off the final ball of the 48th over. Edwards, who scored 50 in the first match and 90 in Friday’s nine-wicket defeat was named Player of the Series, while Greenway’s fifty made her Player of the Match.England’s bowlers were on a hiding to nothing in the midst of Nitschke and Meg Lanning’s 151-run opening stand two days ago, but were far more incisive this time around as Australia experimented with their top order. Alyssa Healy, opening for the first time in national colours with Lanning rested, cut Isa Guha in the air to gully where Gunn held a sharp catch in the third over and soon afterwards Poulton swiped across the line to be caught by Holly Colvin at mid-on and give Guha a second wicket.Australia had stumbled to 5 for 75 in the 26th over before the experienced Sthalekar and Jess Cameron prompted a recovery with a 65-run partnership. Sthalekar batted particularly fluently before she was dismissed for a 75-ball 60 in the 45th over, while Coyte ensured her team passed 200 with a tenacious 30, but a spate of run-outs pegged back the Australian innings and they were bowled out for 212 off the final ball of the innings.”We obviously wanted to get the series whitewash and finish the one-day series on a positive note, but England came out and played very well today and we will look to bounce back,” said Australian captain Alex Blackwell. “We lost early wickets and didn’t quite post the total we would have liked and we didn’t quite get it right with the ball either but we’re not far away and we’ll take the confidence of a series win into the Twenty20s.””It’s a nice feeling to come away with the one-day series win; last time we were in England we were soundly beaten so it’s nice to come back and play well at home. We head to Adelaide tomorrow for the first of the Twenty20s on Wednesday and we can’t wait.”We were in a bit of trouble when we lost five wickets fairly early and needed a couple of players to stand-up and build a partnership,” she added. “Lisa is a very experienced player and a key member of our middle-order and it was great to see her make a good score, especially during a very important part of the innings when we needed someone to rebuild.”She played very well and scored quickly, working well with two of the younger players in Jess and Sarah who also played well to help get our score over 200. We didn’t quite execute how we would have liked to and things didn’t quite go our way early with a few near misses. We’re really looking forward to the Twenty20 series; after the Twenty20 World Cup win last year we are really happy with how we’ve been going in that form of the game.””I’m really proud of the team’s performance today,” added England captain Edwards. “We all dug deep to beat a very good Australian side. We weren’t at full strength but the team have responded well to overcome setbacks and we will be looking to carry some momentum forward into the Twenty20 series.”I feel in really good touch at the moment and the wickets out here have been excellent to bat on. I’m looking forward getting out on the park at Adelaide on Wednesday. It’s always a great atmosphere to play in a double header with the men.”There will be an unavoidable change to England’s squad for the Twenty20s, with Caroline Atkins coming in for Beth Morgan, who will return to England for treatment after sustaining a shoulder subluxation during the second ODI.”This is a great opportunity for me, I can’t wait to get out to Australia and join the squad,” said Atkins. “I have some good memories of playing out there in 2008 and am very much looking forward to playing out there again. It’s a great shame for Beth, I wish her a speedy recovery.”

Cameron White finally showed he could be a potent force at home as his muscular century pushed Australia to a five-wicket win in the opening ODI against Pakistan

The Bulletin by Peter English at the Gabba22-Jan-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Cameron White passed fifty for the first time in one-dayers in Australia•Getty Images

Cameron White finally showed he could be a potent force at home as his muscular century pushed Australia to a five-wicket win in the opening ODI against Pakistan. Over the past six months White has starred in England and India to confirm himself as a key batting figure and he powered the hosts as they over-hauled the target of 275 with nine balls to spare.It was the first time White, playing his 48th ODI, had passed fifty in Australia and he almost made it to the end before falling for 105 off 88 balls. Australia were uncomfortable after slipping to 3 for 84 with Ricky Ponting’s exit, but White joined with Michael Clarke in settling the nerves and then took on the major responsibility with the vice-captain’s departure.White is a hulky figure and he peaked with three consecutive sixes off Shahid Afridi between long-on and midwicket in the 41st over that downgraded Australia’s assignment from difficult to comfortable. Afridi is used to dishing out that sort of sequence and did his best to provide the memorable moment of the day with a 26-ball 48, but White made sure it was his fireworks that will be recalled first.He picked up four sixes and eight fours, including an unorthodox cross-bat down the ground off Rana Naved-ul-Hasan followed by a textbook cover drive in the same over, and added his second century to follow the 105 against England in Southampton in September. He was bowled by Rana trying for another boundary and left to a standing ovation. Michael Hussey, who was unbeaten on 35, finished off the match to earn a 1-0 lead in the five-match seriesThe result continued Australia’s successful summer and stopped Pakistan, who had been heavily reinforced after the 3-0 Test loss, from gaining any momentum ahead of Sunday’s second game in Sydney. They had chances to contain Australia further in the field following their useful start, but a few run-outs or catches will always be missed by this outfit.Both Australian openers departed by the ninth over to leave Ponting and Clarke trying to consolidate during a 47-run partnership, but that ended when the battling Ponting (27) drove at Afridi and was taken behind point. Clarke was in much better touch and accumulated cleverly, hitting 40 singles on the way to 58, and put on 102 with White. However, Clarke departed when attempting a quick single only to be beaten at the striker’s end by Rana’s underarm.Mohammad Aamer was slippery in his opening spell and Shane Watson was so behind in a defensive push on 5 that the ball hit the end of his handle and flew to Saeed Ajmal at mid-on. Aamer followed up by hitting Ponting on the hip and in his second spell stung Clarke’s ribs with a lifter. By the end of the match it was the only lasting pain inflicted on the hosts.Salman Butt’s 72 put Pakistan on track for a sizeable total and Afridi made sure it happened with a powerful late surge that took them to 274. After winning the toss, the visitors had a series of useful stands over most of the innings but none that dominated the game until Afridi arrived at No. 7.Australia had fought back from Butt’s display through Watson and Clint McKay, but after the visitors wobbled to 7 for 227 in the 44th over Afridi quickly steadied them. Afridi forced a six to long-off from Nathan Hauritz before pulling Peter Siddle into the stands at midwicket to provide a much-needed boost during the batting Powerplay. He also found three boundaries in a row off McKay before the final delivery of the over went for four legbyes.After swatting Watson for six to long-on, he was caught at midwicket trying for another clearance and the innings soon ended with Mohammad Asif’s run-out with two balls remaining. Watson finished with a career-best 4 for 36 off 10 while McKay returned 3 for 61 in a mixed bowling display for the Australians, who had less support than usual with the crowd of 19,758 the smallest for an ODI at the ground in 11 years.Butt added 62 with the recalled Kamran Akmal (34) before joining forces with Younis Khan. He dominated the partnership with Younis, who scored 8 of the 55 for the second wicket, but fell to his 81st ball when he top edged a pull off Doug Bollinger to become one of Haddin’s four catches. Yousuf (2) quickly followed when he played on to a steepling delivery from Bollinger and Pakistan were on the brink of trouble at 3 for 123.Younis came in for his first match since giving up the captaincy and was struggling with the added intensity on the way to 46. He knew he would get better with time and hung in to be the support partner in stands with Butt, Umar Akmal (23) and Shoaib Malik (28). When he departed pulling McKay to deep square leg the tourists were in trouble. Afridi dug them out briefly before White came of age at home.

Third win of the season keeps Surrey firmly in line for a fourth straight Division One title

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 24-Jun-2025Nathan Smith’s exceptional six-wicket haul inspired Surrey to a dominant Rothesay County Championship win inside three days, as the reigning champions made light work of lowly Worcestershire.Surrey dismantled Worcestershire for just 125 in their second innings, taking the home side’s final five-wickets for just thirteen runs, as Matt Fisher continued to impress with 4 for 47.Requiring just 49 to win at Visit Worcestershire New Road, Surrey just needed 15 overs to secure an emphatic nine-wicket victory.A third win of the season keeps the Kia-Oval based outfit firmly in the hunt for a fourth straight Division One title, as Worcestershire’s relegation woes deepen.After surviving the late Surrey barrage on day two, Worcestershire pair Adam Hose and Ben Allison started the morning in buoyant fashion, adding 66 for the fifth wicket.Smith continued his memorable return to New Road, picking up the wickets of both Allison, 27, and Hose, 40, in consecutive overs, as Surrey strengthened their grip on the match.When Matt Fisher feathered the top of Ethan Brookes’ off-stump and trapped Tom Taylor lbw 11 balls later, Worcestershire were floundering at 133 for 7 with a lead of just 36.Smith made light work of the final two Worcestershire wickets, as his ruthless performance saw him finish with exceptional figures of 11-2-38-6.Ably supported by Fisher, who helped himself to seven wickets in the match, Surrey’s seam duo swept aside Worcestershire.Surrey lost Dom Sibley during the chase, but Ryan Patel and Rory Burns led their side to a dominant win, collecting 20 points in the process.

On the day, Chris Lynn became the first batter to hit 200 BBL career sixes, but his 34-ball 56 ended in a losing cause

AAP29-Dec-2023Jake Fraser-McGurk grabbed the headlines off record six-hitter Chris Lynn to help Melbourne Renegades to their first BBL win of the season. Chasing Adelaide Strikers’ 177 for 6, in which Lynn belted 56 off 34 balls, Renegades reached their target at Marvel Stadium with four wickets and eight balls to spare, with Fraser-McGurk blasting 70 off 37.Fraser-McGurk added 75 with Shaun Marsh (54 in 33 balls), with Renegades racing to 123 for 1 in the 12th over, before a late clutter of wickets. Joe Clarke (28* in 19) was there at the end after earlier retiring hurt with a quadriceps issue.Starting the match on 196 sixes, 33-year-old Lynn brought up No. 200 and also reached his fifty with a massive straight six off Renegades’ captain for the night, Will Sutherland. Lynn also became the first BBL player to reach 3500 runs before skying a delivery from Mujeeb Ur Rahman (3 for 20) to deep extra-cover in the first of the Power Surge overs.Lynn has moved an incredible 82 sixes ahead of the next in the list, Aaron Finch, but couldn’t prevent Strikers from suffering an eighth consecutive loss.But Fraser-McGurk, 21, continued his breakout campaign, which has included efforts of 55 in 23 balls against Brisbane Heat and 48 in 24 balls versus Sydney Sixers.Chris Lynn became the first batter to hit 200 sixes in the Big Bash League•Getty Images

He produced his biggest BBL score on the day, savaging the Strikers attack with his powerful hitting before being yorked by James Bazley.Marsh, who scored 59 in 36 balls in his only previous innings in the tournament, joined in the fun, taking 16 off the last three balls of Cameron Boyce’s second over.Renegades’ chase got off to a terrible start with Quinton de Kock out to his first ball and the second of the innings.All of Lynn’s sixes on Friday came off the quicks, with spinners Mujeeb and Adam Zampa proving harder to hit than their quicker colleagues.Opener D’Arcy Short (54 in 47) picked up the pace after struggling in the first half of the innings, though he benefited from two dropped return catches from Zampa on 12 and Sutherland on 40. Jamie Overton (29 in 15) and Harry Nielsen (17 in five) added more substance with brisk cameos in an unbroken seventh-wicket stand in the closing overs.Renegades made a big selection decision before the game, with regular captain and out-of-form batter Nic Maddinson left out of the side.