The ECB hierarchy might take a dim view of an alleged late-night celebration which ended with them urinating on The Oval pitch on which they had completed their triumph only hours before

David Hopps26-Aug-2013Officialdom beamed down on England after their third successive Ashes victory but the ECB hierarchy might feel obliged to take a more dim view of an alleged late-night celebration which ended with them urinating on The Oval pitch on which they had completed their triumph only hours before.Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket, has had matters of rather more import to deal with, but it will invite a troubled shrug nonetheless on a day when it has been confirmed that he is resigning to take up the vacant chief executive’s role at Glamorgan.It will be dismissed as a supreme irrelevance by many – it is quite a trek from the Oval square to the nearest toilets – but it is bound to be viewed as distasteful in other quarters and presented as an example of the laddish culture which pervades English society.Australian cricket journalists were still at The Oval, completing dead-of-night tour pieces with the help of free beer and sandwiches from the ECB, when they reported seeing several England players take it turns to relieve themselves on the pitch. It is not known how much they relieved themselves but reportedly there was more than enough to fill an Ashes urn.It was enough for Ben Horne of AAP to term it a “distasteful finale” and report that “cleaning staff and other game day workers were still present at the ground.”Malcolm Conn, chief cricket writer for , described the ground as “quite dark” and said that players were “gathered near the pitch celebrating and yahooing”.England’s celebrations had begun in a more carefully choreographed manner, with the obligatory fireworks and champagne at the awards ceremony and players holding their children in their arms as they strolled around the outfield shaking hands with the crowd.They then returned to the dressing room with a quiet celebration with their families before the players themselves moved to the centre of the Oval to continue what their captain, Alastair Cook, had described as a deserved few beers, chatting among themselves and cherishing privately what they had achieved.Uninhibited post-series celebrations are regarded as part and parcel of professional team sport in England, a final restatement of team morale and a release from the strict professionalism, with few opportunities for downtime, which is now the lot of an England cricketer.But judging by reports from Australian journalists, who arguably represent more dangerous opponents to England than their team, England’s players, who are well practiced in zipping up their mouths in an era of cautious media comments, may now have to receive training in zipping up their trousers.Morris’ first task will be to ascertain whether England’s behaviour carried any deeper significance other than the urge to relieve themselves. Certainly England’s weak bladders provided final justification for all those toilet breaks, but were there other more worrying explanations?Was it an indication of what England’s players think of the dry surfaces on which they have won the Ashes series – surfaces which suited them but which often demanded laborious cricket? Australians scoffed that this was the first watering England’s Test pitches had had for months.Were they paying homage in a strange fashion to the antics of Monty Panesar, whose place in England’s Ashes squad for the return series is in jeopardy because he urinated from on high on a Brighton nightclub bouncer?Or were they simply marking out their territory after dismissing Australia 3-0 in the five-Test series? It is common in cats, especially male cats. Neutering is often proposed as a solution.

A lot of expectations were heaped on Zimbabwe as they sat on the threshold of a rare series win against a top side, but they couldn’t summon the temperament to beat Pakistan

The Report by Kanishkaa Balachandran31-Aug-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMisbah-ul-Haq guided Pakistan to a competitive total with a half-century•AFP

A lot of expectations were heaped on Zimbabwe as they sat on the threshold of a rare series win against a top side, but they couldn’t summon the temperament to beat Pakistan, who came from behind to win the series 2-1. While Zimbabwe’s bowlers did well to restrict Pakistan to a par score of 260, the batsmen failed to put up a fight. Pakistan, in the process got a bogey off their backs by winning their first bilateral series in ten years after the series was leveled (either 1-1 or 2-2) going in to the decider.The match took place on the backdrop of a payments dispute that threatened a Zimbabwe boycott. The players put the distraction aside to take the field, but the batsmen were nowhere close to competitive despite encouraging signs even in Thursday’s defeat.Brendan Taylor stuck by his faith that his side was better at chasing by putting Pakistan in to bat. The Pakistan openers, Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad, put on their best stand of the series – 66 – to set the platform for another big score. Pakistan suffered a blow when their in-form batsman, Mohammad Hafeez, hobbled off with a hamstring pull on 12. Hafeez had been Pakistan’s attacking option at the top, but with him unavailable, it was down to Misbah-ul-Haq to shoulder the responsibility.Shehzad couldn’t replicate the fluency from the two T20s but rather than hit his way into form, chose to play a steady knock. Jamshed’s dismissal impacted the run-rate as Pakistan struggled to find momentum in the middle overs. The boundaries had dried up and in the 32nd over, Shehzad broke a drought that lasted close to ten overs when he cut Sean Williams past the keeper. Shehzad consumed 81 balls for his fifty, showing the control the bowlers had over him. He perished trying to push on, lofting the part-timer Hamilton Masakadza straight to long-off.Umar Amin batted positively in the batting Powerplay, taken after 35 overs, cutting and flicking Tendai Chatara for two boundaries in an over. He used his feet to Prosper Utseya, flicking him stylishly against the turn to deep midwicket and then over extra cover before the bowler struck back with a sharp return catch. Amin’s 25-ball 33 infused some life into the innings that was craving for acceleration.Misbah had plodded to 8 off 35 balls when he finally opened up, slogging Williams to deep midwicket to pick up his first boundary. He started to find the boundary regularly after the 43rd over, shuffling across his crease and punishing the length deliveries. With Sarfraz Ahmed showing some urgency, Pakistan scored their last fifty in just 28 balls. Misbah fell to a skier to deep midwicket after scoring his 11th half-century of the year. Hafeez returned in the penultimate over to salvage as many runs as possible and, fortunately for Pakistan, was swift between the wickets after resting his hamstring.A total of 261 was competitive but Pakistan couldn’t afford to relax, having failed to defend 245 in the first ODI. They introduced spin as early as the second over and Hafeez struck when Vusi Sibanda slogged him to deep midwicket where Amin took a running catch. Masakadza, like he did in the second ODI, showed a lot of promise with a couple of jaw-dropping boundaries off the seamers. Using the crease, he effortlessly lofted Junaid Khan over his head and the following ball pulled a six over deep square leg.Seeing Mazakadza’s confidence against pace, Misbah brought on Abdur Rehman’s spin the next over and he had immediate success, beating Masakadza in both flight and turn, and having him stumped. Zimbabwe struggled to get back the momentum gained via the Masakadza-Taylor stand. Taylor had his moments where he swept the spinners and found the gaps, and had it not been for the calling, Zimbabwe would have had a mainstay at the crease to put up a fight.Sikandar Raza dropped the ball towards cover and set off, hesitated on seeing Misbah attack the ball but carried on. Taylor was struggling amid the confusion and was dismissed via a direct hit. Misbah was in action once again when he underarmed the ball to the keeper Sarfraz who broke the bails before Williams – who was ball-watching – could make his ground. It was a close call but nevertheless, a single that should never have been attempted. It was a period in which Zimbabwe lost four wickets for 21 runs and by the halfway mark, lost six. Malcolm Waller, the only specialist batsman around, played the lone hand with 48 as Pakistan wrapped it up with ten overs to spare.

An accomplished century by Sean Ervine has given Hampshire a scent of their first victory of the season. The Zimbabwean allrounder struck a near-flawless 102 to first steer his side out of trouble and then turn the pressure on to the home team.

Press Association21-Apr-2015
ScorecardMichael Carberry set up Hampshire’s second innings•Getty Images

An accomplished century by Sean Ervine has given Hampshire a scent of their first victory of the season, against Warwickshire at Edgbaston. The Zimbabwean allrounder struck a near-flawless 102, his 17th first-class century, to first steer his side out of trouble and then turn the pressure on to the home team.Hampshire were all out for 339 in their second innings, leaving Warwickshire a target of 379, which would be the biggest score of the match, in a day and 11 overs. The Bears negotiated those 11 overs without loss and will begin the last day with all results remain possible on a pitch which is flattening out, but on which wickets have fallen in flurries.The third day followed the pattern of an enthralling tussle which has ebbed and flowed throughout. In the morning, the home side were well on top after Hampshire slumped to 108 for 5, only 147 ahead. Rikki Clarke removed Liam Dawson and James Vince with successive balls and Jeetan Patel had Will Smith stumped and Adam Wheater brilliantly caught at slip by Clarke when the ball looped up off an inside-edged reverse-sweep.Hampshire were in trouble but Michael Carberry stayed firm and found an equally resilient partner in Ervine. Batting positively against Patel, they each hit the New Zealander for six and added 86 in 29 overs before Carberry, having completed his tenth score of 50-plus against Warwickshire in first-class cricket, played on to Clarke for 81.Ervine continued to play with power and purpose and found further productive partners in Gareth Berg and Danny Briggs with whom he added 60 and 61. Berg struck a forceful 36 before slicing Keith Barker’s first ball after tea to William Porterfield at gully. Briggs added a breezy 33 to his first-innings 48 before skying Chris Wright to mid-off.Ervine perished next ball to a fine tumbling catch by Tim Ambrose, but even then Hampshire’s last pair Andre Adams and James Tomlinson added 24 – a frustrating little stand for Warwickshire which might just have lifted the target out of their reach.Warwickshire’s openers weathered a testing burst from Tomlinson to survive intact and trim the target by 47, Ian Westwood moving sweetly to 37 from 39 balls, and send a fine match into its final day wide open.Rikki Clarke was pleased with his early-season rhythm with the ball as his 3 for 63 pegged Hampshire back at Edgbaston. But the Warwickshire allrounder knows his team will have to bat well tomorrow to win the game.”It’s evenly poised,” he said. “We will have to bat well. It will be a tough chase, but Division One cricket is tough. It is good that we came through unscathed tonight and now we have just got to bat well tomorrow and get the job done.”Batting has been tricky at times but less so at others on a slowish pitch. The new ball has a bit of carry but after about 25 overs it becomes quite a difficult wicket to get people out on. There are a few little cracks there that may produce a bit of a problem but we just have to bat well on it.”Clarke was the pick of the Warwickshire attack, dismissing Hampshire’s top three – Liam Dawson and James Vince with successive balls and then Michael Carberry. “I felt in both innings that I bowled well and on a different day could bowl a lot worse and get more wickets,” he said. “I am happy with how it is coming out at the minute and hopefully that rhythm and consistency will stick with me throughout the season.”

The ECB are getting behind the “This Girl Can” campaign, encouraging cricket clubs to get more women and girls across the country to play cricket. Taster sessions will be staged along with four new cricket festivals aimed at women of all abilities.

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jun-2015The ECB are getting behind the “This Girl Can” campaign, encouraging cricket clubs to get more women and girls across the country to play cricket. Taster sessions will be staged along with four new cricket festivals aimed at women of all abilities.The festivals, staged in Birmingham and St Albans on June 14, followed by Bristol and Tadcaster on June 21, will involve eight and six-a-side matches. The England Women’s team will also be delivering a masterclass at Hampstead CC on June 7 from 12pm-1pm, followed by a 25-over match against a Hampstead Select XI.”The number of clubs offering cricket to women and girls has increased from 93 to more than 565 over the last decade,” ECB’s director of England Women’s cricket, Clare Connor, said “But our research has demonstrated that the traditional longer versions of the game, played in whites and with a hardball, is not always appealing to women who are new to the sport.”The ECB is therefore working really hard to counter this by engaging with our recreational club network and sharing our learnings. By giving cricket clubs the tools and resources to ensure that they are delivering the most attractive sort of cricket activity to appeal to women and girls, we hope we will see increased participation levels.”We need to use the positive momentum of the ‘This Girl Can’ campaign to promote cricket as a fun, sociable game that women and girls can play with friends in welcoming environments. We have a fantastic opportunity this summer when we host the Women’s Ashes to continue to build the profile of women’s cricket, and to inspire even more women and girls to get involved in the game.”

The ICC has urged Sri Lanka’s sports ministry to hold Sri Lanka Cricket elections before the next ICC board meeting in October, suggesting “further action” may be taken against SLC “in the event of further non-compliance”

Andrew Fidel Fernando27-Jun-2015The ICC has urged Sri Lanka’s sports ministry to hold Sri Lanka Cricket elections before the next ICC board meeting in October, suggesting “further action” may be taken against SLC “in the event of further non-compliance”.SLC, whose ICC voting rights remain suspended while the government-appointed interim committee is in charge, has played down the threat of further sanctions. The ICC also still holds payments due to SLC in escrow, but has been periodically releasing funds as SLC requests them.”The ICC Board received an update on Sri Lanka Cricket and reiterated its earlier position that the appointment of an Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) by the Government of Sri Lanka was a breach of the ICC’s constitution,” an ICC release said. “The ICC Board urged the Sports Minister of Sri Lanka to hold free and fair elections before the next ICC Board meeting in October, adding that the ICC reserved the right to take further action against the SLC in the event of further non-compliance.”However, SLC elections appear unlikely to be held in the next four months with sports minister Navin Dissanayake having announced that they were scheduled for January 2016. Interim committee chairman Sidath Wettimuny suggested the ICC would be satisfied with this time frame.”The ICC board said they would like us to hold elections by October, but by latest – January,” Wettimuny said. “The meeting went off O.K. We explained our situation and the ICC explained their technicality.”SLC’s interim committee is in the midst of designing a domestic structure that aims to take cricket into the provinces more effectively, and an election before October would put much of this work at risk. The board is also looking at inviting ICC chairman N Srinivasan to Sri Lanka during the forthcoming Test series with India, in August and September, as a means of maintaining cordial relations with the ICC.

Steven Finn took 4 for 41 to spearhead a second-day Middlesex thrust with the ball as Somerset slipped to 185 for 8 in their Championship Division One match

ECB/PA12-Jul-2015
ScorecardSteven Finn, who will rejoin England’s squad for the second Test at Lord’s, took four wickets•Getty Images

Steven Finn took 4 for 41 to spearhead a second-day Middlesex thrust with the ball as Somerset slipped to 185 for 8 in their Championship Division One match at Merchant Taylors’ School in Northwood.Marcus Trescothick and Tom Abell had put on a battling 76 for the first wicket in reply to Middlesex’s 283, but Finn took two of four wickets to fall for 41 runs as Somerset suddenly found themselves struggling at 117 for 4. Peter Trego was then leg-before to Ollie Rayner for 15, just before heavy rain arrived to drive the players from the field at 3.33pm for an early tea.Jim Allenby, hit under the throat by a short ball from Toby Roland-Jones when 28, fought hard to score 43 before becoming Finn’s fourth victim as he edged low to Rayner at second slip.Finn is due to be replaced in this match by James Harris when he joins up with England’s squad ahead of the second Ashes Test, but he clearly wanted to make a mark before his departure. His third wicket was that of Lewis Gregory, caught at the wicket for 11 soon after a restart at 5.05pm, and he also had Michael Bates dropped on nought by James Franklin at first slip.There was another break of half an hour from 5.37pm as more rain arrived and only 20 minutes of further play was possible before bad light brought a close to proceedings with Middlesex firmly on top despite the loss of 25.3 overs in the day.Running down the slope from the Benham End, Finn first forced Abell to feather a catch behind on 26 and, after Tim Murtagh had induced a thick edge to the keeper by Johann Myburgh, on 1, the England fast bowler produced another beauty to bowl James Hildreth for 4.Trescothick’s determined three-hour 52, from 124 balls, was finally ended by Roland-Jones, who swung one into the left-hander’s pads to have him leg-before.Finn had been a handful for Somerset’s openers in the morning session, striking both Trescothick and Abell on the arm and hand respectively during a fierce new ball spell. Somerset had started their reply this morning, after taking the final Middlesex first innings wicket in the closing overs last night, and Finn hit Abell early on and Trescothick when he was on 16.The cricket was so attritional that Abell’s first boundary did not come until the last over of the morning session, the 29th, when he cut off spinner Rayner’s first ball to the third man ropes. It was the 77th ball he had faced.

Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann has insisted that Shane Watson’s Test career is not over after he was replaced by Mitchell Marsh for the second Ashes Test

Daniel Brettig at Lord's16-Jul-2015Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann has insisted that Shane Watson’s Test career is not over despite being replaced by Mitchell Marsh for the critical Lord’s Test.Lehmann stated that Watson had only narrowly won selection for the first Test at Cardiff, and after a poor match in which he was twice out cheaply lbw and was unable to take a wicket, the selectors decided the younger Marsh deserved a chance having made two centuries in the warm-up matches.”Obviously Shane has been a little bit disappointing with his runs and it’s a tight call,” Lehmann said before play on day one. “He’s been an experienced player for us. Mitch Marsh has done everything we could ask for behind scenes and first two tour games he’s in good form.”Tight call first Test, we went with experience, this Test we’ve gone with Mitch Marsh. Tough call on Shane but I’m sure he’s got plenty of cricket left in him.”Many have concluded this decision marks the end of Watson’s time in the Test side, but Lehmann said the allrounder could still win his way back into the XI on this tour if he presses a hard enough case in the remaining tour matches. Lehmann drew parallels with the World Cup earlier this year, when Watson was dropped for Marsh midway through the tournament and then reinstated.”I think it’s a case of him getting back and obviously got a county game next week he’ll play in and try find some form back and keep putting his name in front of selectors,” Lehmann said. “A chance very much like the World Cup where he got dropped and came back into side, so really form will dictate what Shane does.”Whatever happens in Watson’s Test match future, he remains a central player in the ODI and Twenty20 teams, meaning he is likely to be around the national squads for some time yet.With Mitchell Starc passed fit, the Australians made two changes to the team for Lord’s, also bringing in wicketkeeper Peter Nevill for his Test debut in place of the unavailable Brad Haddin. Nevill’s cap was presented to him by a fellow New South Welshman in Steve Waugh.”Player 443 for us and gets his cap presented by Steve Waugh, one of the greats of the game,” Lehmann said. “We wish him a great and long career.”

Heavy rain on the final day at Wantage Road ruined Leicestershire’s pursuit of back-to-back LV= County Championship victories for the first time since 2010

ECB/PA24-Aug-2015
ScorecardClint McKay enjoyed a fine all-round match for Leicestershire•Getty Images

Heavy rain on the final day at Wantage Road ruined Leicestershire’s pursuit of back-to-back LV= County Championship victories for the first time since 2010.The visitors, having been set a victory target of 116 after bowling Northamptonshire out for 162, were left stranded on 30 for 1 as only 45 minutes of play was possible on the final day due to the weather.Leicestershire’s hopes were raised when play began on time and, needing one more wicket to end the Northamptonshire second innings with Steven Crook unable to bat, Clint McKay struck second ball to have Ben Sanderson lbw.It left Leicestershire within sight of victory and they got off to the perfect start in their run chase with a boundary first ball.They lost Angus Robson lbw to Rory Kleinveldt for 10 but Niall O’Brien was promoted to No. 3 and struck a glorious back foot drive for four.However, he had only made 5 and Lewis Hill 11 when the rain arrived after just 6.4 overs of the chase, and that proved to be the last action of the match as play was abandoned at 4pm.Leicestershire take 12 points from the game and remain bottom of Division Two, while Northamptonshire’s 11 points moves them up to fourth in the table.Northamptonshire now turn their attention to NatWest Blast T20 Finals Day on Saturday and have several injury concerns.Crook is top of that list and he went for a scan on Monday morning on his right ankle, with the club awaiting news of potential ligament or tendon damage. If the scan comes back clear, he may yet be able to line up against Warwickshire this coming weekend.There was a further worry on the fourth morning when Richard Levi left the field nursing the ring finger on his left hand having dropped a catch at second slip. He only appeared in a little discomfort but will go for a precautionary.

Shashank Manohar, in a press conference soon after being elected BCCI president, listed a number of issues that he wants to address during his first “two months” in charge

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Oct-2015AFP

Regulating conflict of interest issues
“As regards the conflict of interest issues, the board would frame regulations with regards to conflict of interest of administrators, players and their staff. That would be done within a month’s time, and the board would also appoint and ombudsman or an ethics officer who would be independent of this board and who would look into the complaints as with regards to conflict of interest of the administrators, players or the staff.”

Manohar on DRS

“I have a consistent stand on DRS even today. As far as DRS is concerned I am agreeable to everything except the leg-before decisions because you are substituting the opinion of the third umpire in place of the main umpire; even the camera angle can make a difference with regards to the angle of the delivery. I had stated this at the ICC meeting and since 2010 I have been saying it.”

Preventing on-field corruption
“The board would lay down the norms and would take forward the measures to prevent corruption in this game, for which the board would make programmes to educate players. As also with the help of my secretary [Anurag Thakur], who is a sitting member of parliament, we would like to meet the government officials to see and work out if we can get certain investigative agency, because the board people do not have any investigative powers and therefore our hands are tied. And that thing can also be worked out to curb corruption in this game, so that we can restore faith of cricketing fans that the game is clean.”
Getting member associations’ accounts in order
“A lot of debate goes on that the associations are paid huge money by the board and nobody knows what happens to that money. Whether it is spent on cricketing activities or otherwise. Now, the accounts of all associations are audited by their auditors. However, we would build a system by which the accounts of the affiliated units would be audited by an independent auditor appointed by the board, where after [thereafter] the further money would be released to the state associations. The board would also be empowered to take action in case the board finds that the money which has been given to the state association is not being properly utilised.”
Making the BCCI’s financial records public
“There is another grievance that the board is not transparent and everything is kept under the wraps. I feel that this problem could be sorted out by putting on the website of the board the constitution of the board, all the rules of the board, any expenditure made by the board over and above an amount of [Rs] 25 lakhs (approx. US$ 38,000), so that people are aware on what activities the board spends their money. And at the end of the year we can put the balance sheet of the board on the website, with the result it is available to the entire public at large so that there is transparency in the activities of the board. As I told you that nothing wrong is being done in the board, however it is a perception that is being created in the minds of people that because the information does not come out, there is definitely something wrong in this board. Therefore to clear that myth and change the perception we would do this immediately… I would also like to see that as regards to the records of the board which are lying in different places, the records of the board would be made available at the board headquarters, so that any member association or a representative of an association can inspect the records at any time.”
Developing the bench strength of the Indian team
“The board would also look into starting of National Cricket Academy (NCA) again, whose activities are not up to the mark as on date. And we would see to it that NCA functions round the year so that cricketing talent is developed in this country. Today we are short of the second line. There are no spinners in this country. So it is also our duty to see to it that we have an available lot as a replacement for the current players.”
Women’s cricket
“The board would also like to develop women’s cricket and we would enter into contracts with women cricketers as we enter into contracts with men’s team. That would promote the game and more and more women players would love to play this game.”
Hosting the 2016 World T20
“I would like to say, there is a World Cup event [World T20 2016] which is coming up in March-April, and our priority would be to conduct that event in the best possible manner.”
Curbing the president’s arbitrary powers
“To show that we want to function in a transparent manner and not in an arbitrary manner, there are two powers which are vested with me under the constitution. One, at the AGM, there is a chairman’s vote [as board president, Manohar will chair the AGM] and a casting vote to which I do not agree that the chairman should have a vote because the person should not be equated with the association. The casting vote is fine. Therefore I would assure you all that I would not exercise the right of the chairman’s vote at the AGM till the constitution is amended. Secondly, there is a right given to the chairman to decide on a dispute with regards to the vote. By which we have seen in earlier days since many years that minorities are converted into majorities, because it again an arbitrary power that is given to the chairman. I would not exercise that power also. I would put the dispute to the house, and whatever is the majority view of the house, I would decide accordingly, that would be my decision.”
10:02

Bal: Accountability the significant difference this time

Ben Dunk struck his maiden first-class century as Tasmania dominated the opening day of their Sheffield Shield game against Queensland in Hobart

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Nov-2015
ScorecardFile photo – Ben Dunk struck 15 fours in his 129•Getty Images

Ben Dunk struck his maiden first-class century as Tasmania dominated the opening day of their Sheffield Shield game against Queensland in Hobart. Dunk hit 15 fours in his innings and remained unbeaten with a solid 129 off 288 balls. Alex Doolan and George Bailey also contributed with fifties to help Tasmamia end the day at 3 for 278.After electing to bat, Tasmania lost Dom Michael for a duck in the second over off the bowling of Peter George before Doolan and Dunk combined with a patient 182-run stand.Mark Steketee then brought Queensland back into the game with wickets in successive overs, first having Doolan caught behind for 90 and then removing Jake Doran as Tasmania lost their ascendancy to slip to 3 for 183.Bailey, however, produced a counter-attacking 53* – that included eight fours and a six – to ensure that Tasmania ended the day with no further losses.