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Lancashire will look to Hartley and Lyon after succumbing to visitors’ spin pairing

Vithushan Ehantharajah06-Apr-2024The emergence of Tom Hartley on the Test tour of India months after the acquisition of Nathan Lyon gave us a new slant on a timeless conversation about the domestic game’s duty to English spin. As everyone had their go – while Hartley and Lyon maintained sensibility – all eyes were fixed on Lancashire’s teamsheet for the 2024 county season. Fingers on triggers, hot takes in the chamber.Just over 26 hours later than anticipated, an XI landed with Hartley and Lyon alongside one another, as head coach Dale Benkenstein had indicated on Tuesday, particularly with the Kookaburra ball in use. They ended the first day of County Championship cricket at Emirates Old Trafford bowling in tandem. See? Nothing to worry about.Unless, at this juncture, you are a Lancashire fan. That spell “in tandem” was merely an over each to close out a day’s play that began at 1.10 pm. Surrey had already dismissed Lancashire for 202, with skipper Rory Burns and Dom Sibley seeing out five overs to go in at 11 for no loss. Despite rain scuppering the opening day and first session of day two, the two-time defending champions have wrestled time back. And the irony of ironies was they did so with their own pair of complementary twirlers.Cameron Steel bagged a maiden five-wicket haul of 5 for 25, blazing through Lancashire’s lower order like legspinners are supposed to, but few would expect of him. Dan Lawrence’s offspin exposed the tail, marking his Surrey debut with career-best figures of 4 for 91 from 28 overs delivered at the James Anderson End. The unlikely duo was responsible for the cascade that saw the hosts’ last seven wickets fall for just 42, vindicating Burns’ decision to bowl first.Lawrence triggered that collapse with the vital wicket of Josh Bohannon, surprising the 2023 Division One top-scorer with a bit more turn and bounce than anticipated. The fend to short leg, as straightforward as it was, required two grasps from Jamie Smith under the helmet. Bohannon’s slow departure was of a man dismayed about falling 16 short of a 12th first-class century and irked at succumbing to a bowler who he had struck down the ground with ease for his two sixes.That irritation was compounded when Matthew Hurst was lbw without playing a shot off the next delivery, underestimating the turn to make it 150 for 6. Hartley had to face Lawrence’s hat-trick ball – which he defended soundly – and it was hard not to consider the peculiarity of their respective England careers as they faced off in that moment. They are both, in their own ways, embarking on similar journeys.You could argue Lawrence’s quest in India to add to the 11 caps amassed over the last three years was the collateral for Hartley’s performances. Once the left-arm spinner had shown enough aptitude with the bat while picking up 22 wickets, what compulsion Ben Stokes’ had to pick Lawrence, who has three Test dismissals, dulled.Surrey head coach Gareth Batty made a point of talking up Lawrence’s all-round skills, partly out of necessity with Will Jacks at the IPL. Lawrence’s introduction in the 10th over showed that was not an empty sentiment.With his 10th delivery, he had a maiden dismissal for the club since moving from Essex; a smart return catch diving to his left to remove Keaton Jennings, which got Surrey up and running. He was in the scorecard once more when Luke Wells flicked Tom Lawes lazily out to deep square leg. But it was only when Steel spun a beauty through the bat and pad of left-hander George Balderson from over the wicket that, at 150 for 3 in the 55th over, Surrey really turned the screw.A sharp delivery taking the inside edge of Kiwi Tom Bruce’s bat – cooly pouched by Ben Foakes – was Lawrence’s classiest dismissal of the day. It also paved the way for Steel to remove the final four, all caught by Jamie Overton at first slip except for Tom Bailey, who scuffed high to cover.Though Steel had the honour of leading the team off and keeping the ball, Lawrence would have been nourished by the quality and scale of his work. This was the most he has bowled in an innings, beating a previous high of 24.3 overs – the only other time he has bowled more than 20 – in April 2022 for Essex against Kent, which produced his previous best of 3 for 98. This was only the sixth time he has bowled in 42 red-ball innings since.Steel, while acknowledging “one of his best days”, reserved special praise for his partner’s workload “into a gale-force wind”. At times they seemed to exaggerate Lawrence’s windmilling action to resemble the chaotic flailing arms of those inflatable men found in front of American used car lots.A 15-minute delay when the makeshift tarpaulin sightscreen hung on the pavilion blew off and umpire Peter Hartley’s hat flying off most of the way to the boundary were reminders conditions might have the final say in this encounter. That being said, a tacky pitch has already shown enough for the spinners in its first 76 overs.At the very least, Hartley and Lyon should get the chance over the next two days to construct their own riposte to Steel and Lawrence, as well as the discourse.

Defending champions bested inside three days as Hampshire triumph by an innings and 278 runs

ECB Reporters Network26-May-2024Spinners Felix Organ and Liam Dawson tore through Surrey to hand the champions their largest-ever Vitality County Championship innings defeat and open up the title race.Off-spinner Organ claimed his third career five-for with leg-armer Dawson picking up 4 for 45 to give Hampshire an innings and 277 run victory, their first home win of the campaign, and their largest-ever victory.Surrey’s only heavier defeats in first-class cricket came in 1866 against England – a match in which WG Grace scored a double century – and in 1948 versus Don Bradman’s Australians – both an innings and 296 runs.It was Surrey’s fourth defeat since the start of 2022 – with two of those coming after they had already secured their back-to-back crowns – with Essex and Somerset hot on their heels at the summit of Division One.Surrey were given a minimum of 172 overs to avoid an innings defeat, and got through to the 17th over unscathed but from then on wickets fell regularly.For the spin-fest that followed, the first man to fall, Rory Burns, departed to pace as Keith Barker found the Surrey captain edging to first slip. From then on, it was Dawson piling in the pressure and Organ celebrating with his usual exuberance.Serial blocker Dom Sibley had navigated 85 deliveries before an inside edge onto his pad ballooned to silly mid-off, before Organ produced a wicked off-spinner to pin back Ollie Pope’s middle stump.Organ has history with Surrey. In 2019, on his fifth first-class appearance, he was forced into the attack due to unsuitable conditions for fast bowlers. The then-predominantly batter claimed 5 for 25 to secure a three-day victory.It began his mythologised bowling strike-rate for Hampshire, which currently stands at 46 and is the best of any other spinner in the club’s history – Shane Warne included.Jamie Smith was his next victim as a change-up delivery slid into middle and off stumps. Dan Lawrence took a different approach from his defence-minded team-mates as he reverse swept his first ball to the boundary before switching to the opposite rope with a conventional sweep next delivery.His attacking got him up to 42, but saw his downfall when he chopped Organ onto his stumps. Having spent the best part of two days laying on the physio’s table with back spasms, Ben Foakes’ innings was heroic in his resolve. The England wicket-keeper faced 107 balls for his unbeaten 19.But wickets continued to clatter, with Dawson now taking the limelight. Cam Steel was brilliantly caught at first slip by Vince after a deflection off Ben Brown’s gloves before Jordan Clark was yorked.Organ got his five-for when Sean Abbott chipped to mid on, before Dawson closed out Hampshire’s second win in a row by bowling Gus Atkinson around his legs and, after some slapping around, Dan Worrall skied for 48 – Surrey’s highest score of the match. The visitors bowled out for 127 and 203.Earlier, Ben Brown, on 99 overnight, carted the first ball of the day to the boundary to reach his 24th first-class century, and second since arriving from Sussex.It meant that Hampshire had three centurions in a single innings for the 14th time in their history, and first and Utilita Bowl.Hampshire were all-out attack to send their lead sky-high but it meant Liam Dawson tickled a ramp behind to end a 183-run stand with Brown – a county record for the fifth wicket against Surrey, to go alongside a record second wicket partnership earlier in the innings.Michael Neser hoicked to deep square but James Fuller joined up with Brown to put on 66 – the fifth 50-plus stand of the innings – with the pair dragging weary boundary riders at their will.Brown – who had played a number of outrageous short-arm jabs on the off and on sides, to and over the boundary – passed his highest first-class score to end 165 not out before James Vince declared with his side 481 runs ahead.Hampshire’s 608 for 6 declared was their 13th-largest total of all-time and the third-highest Championship score at the ground.

James Anderson draws a crowd at Canterbury, even as a side-show

ECB Reporters Network23-Jun-2024Lancashire were 38 for 1, trailing Kent by 206, after day one of their Vitality County Championship relegation showdown at Canterbury.Josh Bohannon and Luke Wells were unbeaten on 22 and 14 respectively at stumps, after Beyers Swanepoel had bowled Keaton Jennings for a duck.Earlier George Balderson and Nathan Lyon took three wickets apiece for second-from-bottom Lancashire, as they bowled out the division’s basement side for 244.Tawanda Muyeye was Kent’s highest scorer with 59, while Ben Compton made 55.Although both sides have struggled all season, the crowd for the first day of the 172nd Canterbury week was estimated at over 2,000. Cars were queueing for half a mile down the Old Dover Road and moving so slowly that they were overtaken by hundreds of pedestrians walking up the hill.If they’d come to see James Anderson they were disappointed. Despite making the trip south he was left out of the squad and, perhaps unable to believe his luck at having been asked to bat against an Anderson-free attack, Compton plundered 11 from Tom Bailey’s opening over.The scoring rate soon slowed however. Will Williams found Marcus O’Riordan’s edge in the fourth over and although George Bell dropped him, he’d moved on to just 16 when Balderson had him caught at third slip by George Lavelle.Bailey switched to the Nackington Road end and got Daniel Bell-Drummond for 4 but Joey Evison joined Compton and batted through to lunch, at which stage it was 102 for 2.It wasn’t a standard interval: the crowd realised Anderson was bowling at one stump on the outfield and around a hundred fans formed a circle to watch. When he’d finished it took him nearly five minutes to reach the pavilion as he stopped for dozens of selfies.When the outfield had finally cleared Kent suffered a mini-collapse. Evison went for 25, edging Bailey to Matty Hurst, before Balderson claimed two wickets in the space of 10 balls. Harry Finch drove him to Josh Bohannon at mid-off for one and Compton fell to an ankle-high catch by Jennings at second slip.That left Kent on 124 for 5 and it nearly got worse for the hosts as Muyeye was on 23 when he pulled Lyon to the midwicket boundary, only to be dropped by Jack Blatherwick.Having dropped into the middle order after struggling as an opener, Muyeye responded with his first half-century of the season.Debutant Charlie Stobo joined him and made an inventive 36 before he was bowled by Lyon, ending a stand of 82 and leaving Kent on 210 for 6 at tea.Swanepoel made 19 before he top-edged Lyon behind and Matt Parkinson went for a nine-ball duck against his former county, lbw to Luke Wells.Lyon then bowled George Garrett middle-stump for three and although Muyeye was dropped again, this time off Lyon by a sliding Williams, he was lbw to Wells in the next over, denying Kent a single batting point and leaving Lancs to face 14 overs before stumps.Swanepoel sent Jennings’ off stump flying for an eight-ball duck but he was the only victim, with Wells just surviving a dicey penultimate over from Stobo.

“Whenever you lose a game like this, it’s always going to hurt,” Trott said after Afghanistan’s semi-final exit

Sidharth Monga27-Jun-20243:15

Flower: Afghanistan have come so far in 20 years

There is a sweet video on Instagram from inside Afghanistan’s travel from St Vincent to Trinidad and then from the Port-of-Spain airport to their hotel. Bleary-eyed, hoarse of voice, sleepless Afghan cricketers shared their joy with the world and spoke about how all the phone calls from back home kept them awake all night. This was a day after Afghanistan had secured their maiden semi-final spot in a men’s World Cup with a thrilling win over Bangladesh. It made you wonder if it was possible to get down from that euphoric high and recover well enough for a big semi-final the next evening. And also if they were already satisfied with what they had achieved.The answer from the camp is that while it wasn’t ideal to be playing again so soon, they were not going to hide behind that. And no, they aren’t sated with semi-final participation alone in the T20 World Cup 2024, and are more hurt than proud in the immediate aftermath of the one-sided defeat to South Africa on a brutish track with excessively uneven bounce.Related

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“Obviously playing the last group game and then playing the first semi-final with travel yesterday and getting here and not really having a day off isn’t ideal,” Jonathan Trott, the Afghanistan head coach, said. “But we knew the schedule, so that’s not an excuse as such. When you go on in World Cups or tournaments, you can’t have everything your own way, and you’ve got to fight and play against the odds which you’ve done at times and very proud of that but no, it’s not the reason why we didn’t win today.”We only got back to hotel at 3am, and then we had to leave [for Trinidad] at 8am. We didn’t get much sleep, so the guys were obviously very tired and had a lot to process really emotionally and physically. So all new territory for the guys and it all plays its part in a way, but we were outplayed today. The guys hopefully learn from this experience. We’ve gone one better than the previous 50-over World Cup in November, and it’s just about taking it step by step, and hopefully we learn from today, the batters certainly [about] what it takes to play international cricket and play against a bowling side like South Africa on a pitch that’s perhaps not conducive to high scoring, finding ways of winning games. And we’ve found ways of winning games, we just couldn’t find a way today.”Afghanistan walk off after a heavy defeat in the T20 World Cup semi-final•Getty Images

Trott wasn’t taking any moral victories from having defied expectations and come this far in the tournament. “Maybe in a couple of weeks’ time, when everything’s sunk in and your emotions aren’t in it,” Trott said when asked if they were looking at the overall achievement more than this defeat. “Once you’re in it and part of a World Cup and you’ve been here for over five weeks preparing for a night like tonight, I think it’s sort of hard to think like that, but I’m sure we will in a couple of days or a week or so. So, it’s important that a match like this doesn’t overshadow all the good matches we had that got us to this situation or this position. But it’s nice if we can just find other ways of winning with the bat. That’s what I take and that’s what I’ll be working on from tomorrow.”Hurt was the overwhelming feeling in the camp at the moment. “Whenever you lose a game like this, it’s always going to hurt,” Trott said. “And it should hurt because we put so much into it. The sacrifices made by the players, coaching staff, management, officials all that sort of stuff. It hurts at the moment.”We arrived to the ground in high spirits ready to take on a strong South African side and make sure we gave a good account of ourselves, and I feel like we haven’t done that today. That’s the most disappointing thing. I’m very proud of the guys; this one performance doesn’t necessarily define the tournament. But it also gives us an indication of where we need to work on and what we need to get better at. If we’re going to be competitive more consistently, and who we can rely on with the bat and who’s going to get us over the line, certainly if we have to chase.”

Ian Holland battles with four wickets on unforgiving hybrid wicket at Cardiff

ECB Reporters Network30-Aug-2024Colin Ingram became the first batter this summer to reach 1,000 first-class runs as he plundered his fifth century of the season, and his highest score, to put Glamorgan into a commanding position at the end of the second day against Leicestershire as they led by 180 runs.It was the first time the South African had reached 1,000 first-class runs in a season and after more than six hours of batting he passed his highest score of 190. It had taken him a mere 13 innings to crack the 1,000 runs mark – the quickest by a Glamorgan batter since Majid Khan in 1972.Shortly afterwards, he celebrated reaching his double-hundred with a leap in the air as he took a single off the spin bowling of Louis Kimber in the 118th over. He had received 312 balls and hit 23 fours and one six.He eventually batted through the day to remain 205 not out and ensure the Welsh county picked up three batting points. On one of the nicer days of the summer at Sophia Gardens, he made hay to add to his previous Championship hundreds this year against Middlesex (132 not out), Yorkshire (113), Sussex (170) and Middlesex again (105).Leicestershire seamer Ian Holland was the most successful bowler on both the day and in the innings, as he ended with 4 for 88 from his 25 overs. Rehan Ahmed picked up two wickets.The South African resumed on 63 and helped Kiran Carlson take the overnight score of 114 for 2 up to 201 for 3 in a stand of 174 for the third wicket. Carlson reached his half-century in the sixth over of the morning and then punched England all-rounder Ahmed to the boundary to bring up the 150 partnership in the 47th over.Not to be outdone, Ingram hit Ahmed back over his head for six two balls later. Ingram’s century arrived three overs later (150 balls, 15 fours, 1 six) and it was another Ingram boundary that took Glamorgan past 200 runs a few overs later.Carlson departed in the 55th over thanks to a classy piece of glove work by Peter Handscomb as he stumped him off the bowling of Ahmed. Holland then returned to the attack after lunch to pick up two more wickets as he removed Chris Cooke (47) and Dan Douthwaite (7). His dismissal of Douthwaite at least brought up a second bowling point, but it was a real slog all day on a hybrid pitch that offered little or nothing to the bowlers.Earlier on, Ahmed trapped Billy Root (6) lbw. None of this deterred Ingram, who kept grinding out the runs. His 150 came up in the 82nd over with a tickle to leg and by tea he had steered his side to 318 for 5 at tea.He put on 86 for the fifth wicket with Cooke and then 39 with Timm van der Gugten for the seventh. Van der Gugten became Tom Scriven’s first victim in his 20th over when he was trapped lbw.That made it 370 for 7 and he partnered with Mason Crane to safely steer Glamorgan past the 400 mark in the 114th over of a slow paced innings that saw the home side score 87 in the morning session, 117 in the afternoon and then 113 after tea.

He has signed a three-year deal with the club to replace Cameron White who moved to Melbourne Renegades

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Sep-2024Matthew Mott has joined Sydney Sixers in the BBL on a three-year deal as assistant coach following his departure as head coach of the England Men’s white-ball team.Mott, who was in charge of Australia Women for eight years before shifting to England, will link up with Greg Shipperd at Sixers as a replacement for Cameron White, who was appointed head coach of Melbourne Renegades earlier this year.Related

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“I’m delighted to join back up with the Sydney Sixers,” Mott said. “Having started my coaching journey in Sydney many years ago, it’s a place that evokes both great memories and a comforting sense of familiarity, which I’m looking forward to.”The idea of being an assistant to Greg Shipperd, who I have a tremendous amount of respect for, really appealed to me.”Mott’s spell as England’s white-ball coach started brightly when they won the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, to unite both global white-ball trophies, but ended after their semi-final exit at the tournament earlier this year which followed a poor performance in the ODI edition in 2023.Mott started his coaching career with the New South Wales men’s side in 2007. His return to the state’s system will see him reunite with Rachael Haynes who was one of the key members of the Australia side he coached to extensive success.”We couldn’t be more pleased to have Motty committed for the next three years with the club,” Haynes, Sixers’ general manager, said.”When the opportunity arises to bring a coach of Motty’s calibre into your ranks, it’s a no-brainer. We know what a fantastic resource he will be for our playing group.”It goes without saying that his coaching resume speaks for itself. He has an incredible track-record of success around the world, and he’s proven he knows what it takes to build, and sustain, a winning culture.”Our club is in safe hands under the leadership of Greg Shipperd, and Charlotte Edwards in our women’s program, and we’re delighted to be able to add Motty’s experience to that group, taking us forward.”In the BBL draft last weekend, Sixers retained James Vince when Renegades attempted to sign him and later sprang a surprise by taking Yorkshire legspinner Jafer Chohan as their last pick. They have secured West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein before the draft.

Lions will now face Markhors in the second Eliminator on Friday

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Sep-2024An all-round show from Ahmed Daniyal and a three-wicket haul from Khushdil Shah helped Lions keep their campaign alive, as they held on for a 12-run victory in the Champions One-Day Cup Eliminator against Stallions in Faisalabad. Lions will now face Markhors in the second Eliminator on Friday, with the winner facing Panthers in Sunday’s final.Opting to bat, Lions were in a spot of bother at 43 for 3, before Sharoon Siraj (38) and Mohammad Taha revived the innings with a 77-run partnership. However, Stallions kept chipping away, resulting in another slide for Lions, who went from 120 for 3 to 140 for 7 in the space of five overs. With Lions staring at the possibility of a sub-200 total, Daniyal and Aamer Yamin launched a counterattack, their 81-run eighth-wicket stand eventually guiding the team to 263 for 9. While Yamin was run out for 46, Daniyal remained unbeaten on 65 off 59 balls, with two fours and five sixes. For Stallions, seamer Ubaid Shah was the pick of the bowlers, ending with 3 for 46.Stallions began their 264 chase well, courtesy an opening stand of 64 between Yasir Khan (39) and Maaz Sadaqat (27). However, three wickets in successive overs saw the team stumble to 68 for 3, with Khushil accounting for both Sadaqat and Adil Amin. Another threatening partnership – 69 for the fourth wicket between Tayyab Tahir and Hussain Talat – appeared to give Stallions a way back into the game, but Daniyal broke through to halt their momentum in the 30th over.Stallions captain Mohammad Haris and Jahanad Khan provided a late surge, but Lions stayed ahead with regular wickets. Stallions needed 23 off the last two overs, but they only had two wickets in hand, and Lions finally bundled them out for 251. Khushdil finished with 3 for 40 while Daniyal took 3 for 59.

The Test has had three almost full days of play despite forecasts before the game suggesting rain would have a much bigger say in it

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Oct-2024The promised rain has stayed away from Bengaluru long enough for the first India vs New Zealand Test to get into a position from where all results are possible – with New Zealand certainly better placed – but the weather could have the final say after all.The Indian met department’s forecast, not long after a downpour ended play early on the fourth day, said Bengaluru will have “generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers” on Sunday, while Accuweather’s forecast promised “thunderstorms in the area late Saturday night through Sunday evening”.That, looking at the match situation, where New Zealand will start the day in search of the 107 runs they need with all ten second-innings wickets in hand, will be useful for India, who can hope there isn’t enough time for those runs to be scored. New Zealand, fresh off a 2-0 Test series loss in Sri Lanka and widely considered underdogs for this Test series, will want the opposite: a clear spell of cricket, maybe for a session, where they can go for the target.The first day of the Bengaluru Test had no play at all, with persistent rain forcing the covers to stay in place right through the day. Play did begin the following morning, still overcast, and the New Zealand fast bowler ran amok after India opted to bat first, skittling the hosts for 46 in 31.2 overs. They then put up 402, and India responded with 462, setting New Zealand a seemingly modest target.As has been mentioned before, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium does have a world-class drainage facility and has in place a subsurface aeration system, which is designed to allow play to begin within minutes of the rain ceasing.

Players voice frustration at move that will largely benefit overseas signings in men’s competition

Matt Roller12-Dec-2024The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) has escalated its row with the ECB, accusing the board of showing players “a lack of respect” with changes to the Hundred’s pay structure.Salaries for the 2025 edition were announced on Thursday to the backdrop of existing discontent over a controversial new No-Objection Certificates (NOC) policy, and prompted frustration from both players and the union that represents them. Their objections include:

• The growing gender pay gap between men’s and women’s competitions
• An expectation that top salary increases will predominantly benefit overseas players
• Failure to reward the players that have grown the Hundred’s profile ahead of the sale of stakes in its teams
• A “severe lack” of communication between board and players
• Changes from plans pitched to players at a PCA summit in October

The PCA has been publicly critical of several recent ECB decisions, including piecemeal changes to the county schedule and new restrictions on NOCs. Neil Snowball, the ECB’s managing director of competitions and major events, denied last month that the two organisations were at loggerheads but the PCA’s frustration is abundantly clear.The response to the split of salary increases will further raise the prospect of some players refusing to engage in the Hundred’s retention process. The threat of a boycott was raised last week as a potential last resort by those disillusioned by the new clampdown on NOCs, which will affect the same group of players frustrated by Thursday’s announcement.”We have had a strong working relationship with the ECB on player matters for a significant period of time and there has been a feeling of genuine collaboration,” Daryl Mitchell, the PCA’s interim chief executive, said. “However, this has not been the case in the last few weeks, including the lack of player consultation and clarity on the NOC policy.”Mitchell said the PCA were “extremely concerned” at the management of salary increases, citing a growing gender pay gap and a sense that English players “will see little benefit” from the changes to the top wage bands in the men’s game, which are designed to attract leading overseas players.In the men’s Hundred, top salaries will rise by 60% from £125,000 to £200,000 next year, with a 20% rise from £100,000 to £120,000 for players in the second-highest salary band. The other four salary bands – covering 11 players in each squad – will only increase by 3-5%.Salary increases in the women’s Hundred are more evenly distributed, with a 30% hike for top earners and raises between 13 and 25% for the remaining wage bands. But the competition’s gender pay gap has grown overall, with the vast majority of the overall 25% increase in its salary pot to be distributed to the 16 highest-earning players in the men’s competition.”Due to a severe lack of communication and consultation, there is a feeling there has been a lack of respect to the players who have been incredibly supportive in growing the competition,” Mitchell said.Tymal Mills, who is the top wicket-taker across the four seasons of the men’s Hundred, wrote on X: “Players in bands three downwards have largely carried and made the competition what it is today, ready to be sold and profited on. Yet, after tax, [they] are essentially getting no salary improvement after four years. First world problems I know but worth pointing out.”Sam Billings, who has captained Oval Invincibles to back-to-back men’s titles, added: “Remarkable how a category gets a 60% increase yet most others get under 5%… Who has come up with this???”The ECB was represented at a PCA summit in Paris in October by Vikram Banerjee and Rob Hillman, director of business operations and director of major events respectively, who briefed players on planned Hundred salary changes. Mitchell said: “Unfortunately, what was presented to the players and the subsequent conversations that followed has changed significantly.”Hillman said on Thursday it was “imperative” that the ECB reviewed its salary offers “in the current landscape of global cricket”. He said: “We want the best players participating in the Hundred… We’re really excited about where the Hundred goes next.”The row has broken out at a time when the PCA’s leadership is in transition. Mitchell, the chief operating officer, has stood in as interim chief executive since Rob Lynch left for a role at MCC in July. James Harris will stand down as chair in February, with both roles recently advertised.

India have crushed all their opponents so far, while England faced a couple of must-win games in their run to the semi-finals

Raunak Kapoor30-Jan-2025

India

Story so far
India have played in a manner befitting their defending champions status. This team, under Niki Prasad, is perhaps stronger than the one that had two internationals – Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh – and won the inaugural Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup in 2023. They have demolished all their opponents, with wins over West Indies, hosts Malaysia and Sri Lanka in the group stage, and Bangladesh and Scotland in the Super 6s. Only Sri Lanka pushed them to a degree, and India still beat them by 60 runs. All their games have been at the Bayumeas Oval where none of the other three semi-finalists have played so far.What’s working
The bowling and fielding. VJ Joshitha and Shabnam Shakil have provided early breakthroughs in almost every game, resulting in India picking up 19 wickets in the powerplay, the most by any team this tournament. Joshitha’s ability to swing the ball both ways at just the right pace would make her role model Bhuvneshwar Kumar proud. There are shades of Bhuvneshwar in her action as well.After the new-ball bowlers create an opening, India’s three left-arm spinners haven’t given opponents a chance to fight back. Parunika Sisodia and Aayushi Shukla are unrelentingly accurate, and Vaishnavi Sharma spins the ball more than the other two with an action inspired by her idol Radha Yadav. With the most wickets (12) in the tournament, two player-of-the-match awards, a hat-trick, an average of 2.33 and an economy of 2, Sharma’s having a dream World Cup, just like G Trisha is with bat.Trisha became the tournament’s first centurion, smashing 110 not out off 59 balls with 13 fours and four sixes against Scotland, putting on 147 for the first wicket with wicketkeeper G Kamalini, who is part of Mumbai Indians in the upcoming WPL. While that innings has put her in pole position to finish as the tournament’s top-scorer, it was her first player-of-the-match effort of 49 from 44 when India were in trouble on a turning pitch against Sri Lanka that showed her quality. The next highest score in that game was 16 and Trisha helped India score a match-winning 118 for 9.What’s not working
Having bundled out West Indies for 44, Malaysia for 31 and restricted Bangladesh to 64 for 8, India completed their chases in 4.2, 2.5 and 7.1 overs respectively. Trisha and Kamalini also batted the bulk of the overs against Scotland and the rest of the batters did not do well in their only real test – against Sri Lanka. Vice-captain Sanika Chalke, who bats at No. 3, is the only other batter to face at least 20 deliveries in the tournament. If India’s middle order is called on in the semi-final, it will be a largely untested one.What to look out for
Prasad has led her team with maturity and calmness. Her field placements and bowling changes have been impressive. India are also one of the best fielding sides in Malaysia, led by Chalke who has already taken two blinders and makes things happen in the inner circle. They would believe that their bowling unit, backed by their fielders, is capable of defending almost anything.Davina Perrin has been explosive at the top for England•ICC/Getty Images

England

Story so far
England can consider themselves unlucky, having had no-results against Ireland and Nigeria and losing out on the top spot in their Super 6 Group, which would have avoided a semi-final against India. They didn’t carry forward points from their group-stage win against Pakistan either because Pakistan didn’t make it to the Super 6s. England were dominant with bat against USA and in a must-win game against New Zealand to secure their semi-final berth.What’s working
England like to smash it. That’s the mantra across all of England’s white-ball teams and their Under-19 side is no different. Opener Davina Perrin has already shown why Birmingham Phoenix signed her as a 15-year old in the Women’s Hundred in 2022. Her 131 runs in 4 innings at a strike rate of 145.55 includes five sixes, the joint most in the tournament. Her 74 off 45 against an impressive USA side helped England gun down 120 in just 14.2 overs, the highest successful chase in this tournament. With the ball, Tilly Corteen-Coleman is dead accurate with her left arm spin, with seven wickets at an average of 5.14 and an economy of 2.8. Prisha Thanawala provides able support with her offbreaks. Allrounder Trudy Johnson has shown batting prowess at No. 3 and is a genuine wicket-taking seamer. Wicketkeeper Katie Jones, who models herself on Sarah Taylor, looks like a world-class stumper already with nine dismissals in three games, including a record five against New Zealand.What’s not working
England are heavily reliant on Perrin with the bat. The middle order has been either untested or unconvincing. Perrin has had three different opening partners in four games, suggesting uncertainty about their combination – England have also played all 15 of of their squad members despite reduced game time in the competition due to rain.What to look out for
Against India, England will need to counter the challenge of facing three left-arm spinners, and Jemima Spence, who opened against New Zealand, could be crucial. She has the game to score against spin. With the ball, how the rest of the bowlers back up Corteen-Coleman could prove decisive if England are to get the better of India this time, having been outplayed in the final in 2023.