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Australia will be keen to quieten the noise in what is an Ashes year, so for Sam Konstas (and Cameron Green to a slightly lesser extent), the next couple of weeks are hugely important

Andrew McGlashan29-Jun-2025Ahead of the opening Test against West Indies, Sam Konstas was enjoying what Barbados had to offer: the food, the beaches, the lifestyle. Then things got real.Two innings of 3 and 5, the latter an especially difficult 38-ball stay, where he twice fell to in-duckers from Shamar Joseph, means the spotlight will remain squarely on him as the series moves to Grenada.On the one hand, this is very tough on a 19-year-old playing just his third Test. He was confronted with extremely difficult conditions. It was just his 18th first-class match. But Australia have set themselves, and Konstas, on this course amid the trouble they have had trying to replace David Warner.Related

• Hard work done but no pay day for Green as questions linger

• Smith set to play but won't field in the slips because of injured finger

• Khawaja eyes more Ashes glory and mentoring role for Konstas

• However you get 'em – Head, Carey, Webster show the way

Konstas’ debut knock against India at the MCG – which included four plays and misses in the first over of the match against Jasprit Bumrah before the pyrotechnics began – helped change the mood of the series, but currently it feels more like a millstone than a milestone.An interesting titbit from an interview Konstas gave to ahead of the Barbados Test was that he had been advised by his batting coach Tahmid Islam to remove from his phone the highlights of the century he scored against the Indians for the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra, full of scoops and ramps, in what effectively became a one-day game.Konstas is still trying to work out the type of batter he needs, and wants, to be – that is hardly surprising for someone yet to turn 20 – or at the very least reconnect with the tempo that was evident in the back-to-back Sheffield Shield centuries that initially got everyone talking last season and drew comparisons with Ricky Ponting.”The players are the harshest critics really when all is said and done,” head coach Andrew McDonald told reporters the day after Australia’s 159-run victory. “We’ve had some conversations around potentially if you’re in that situation again what does that look like and that’s what experience is. It’s learning from previous events and trying to implement a way through that.”It felt like he was stuck at times and he was over-aggressive and then [he] underplayed. It’s really that balance and tempo. He’s got that there and that’s a step up to Test cricket. He’s got a really good partner down the other end [in Usman Khawaja] that over time, I think, will play out. That’s all we ask for – a bit of patience and time with a young player coming into Test cricket.”Australia are committed to Konstas for this series at least. He will, barring injury, play the next two matches. A substantial score would go some way to settling things ahead of the Ashes, and if the pitches remain as spicy as Barbados, it would not need to be a hundred. But otherwise, it will likely be another open season heading into the summer.Unsurprisingly in an Ashes year, Konstas’ performances have not gone unnoticed in England – and not in a flattering way. None of that has to matter, of course, it’s all part of the phoney Ashes war, which is an undercurrent to this series and the England vs India contest which began in such epic fashion at Headingley. But, from Australia’s perspective, they will be keen to quieten the noise, so for Konstas (and a slightly less extent Cameron Green), the next couple of weeks are hugely important.1:12

Cummins lauds middle order: ‘Those three were brilliant’

The technical challenges Konstas faces from the delivery coming in also pose an interesting question. Is it something so significant that it should have been ironed out in domestic cricket first? It was evident at the Under-19 World Cup last year and for New South Wales. Bumrah then delivered a repost at the MCG by dismissing him in that manner in the second innings.”I think on that type of surface [in Barbados] it’s an issue for everyone,” McDonald said. “He’s been on the record around working on his technique in the winter and some small adjustments and how they play out in training versus under extreme pressure is always a different sort of pattern.”He knows his deficiencies but, from a batting perspective, I encourage all players to learn to play with their deficiencies. I don’t think there’s such a thing as a perfect technique. If that’s what you’re looking for then I think you’re looking in the wrong place.Beau Webster is an example of a player who has made the step-up to Test cricket after years of domestic toil and appears to have the tools to make the most of it•Randy Brooks/Associated Press

“He’ll learn to play with what he’s got. We’re a team that encourages run-scoring. Did he lose his intent at certain times in that innings? Was he looking at his defensive layers rather than potentially putting some pressure back on? I think that’s really the balance he needs to strike. I think he’s good enough. It’ll just take some time for him to adapt.”There is a significant contrast in the Australia side between two of its recent newcomers: Konstas and Beau Webster, who made their debuts in consecutive Tests. The latter, with years of domestic experience behind him, has scored three half-centuries in five outings – two on incredibly tricky pitches plus another against a very good South Africa attack – and the step up has looked less daunting, notwithstanding what Konstas did in his first Test innings.”We’re always going to have varying degrees of experience within that order and we like to have a balance of that,” McDonald said. “In one basket, you’ve got Beau Webster, who’s played a lot of first-class cricket, and you say that’s the way to go. And then, in the other one, you’ve got Sam Konstas and Cameron Green, who learn on the job.”I don’t think there’s any perfect lead-in to Test cricket and I don’t think we should look for that. But what I will say around [Webster] is that he knows his game. He’s enjoying the problems at hand and he’s solving them with great intent and temperament. At times he looks technically compromised and we saw that at Lord’s. He’s going to be challenged with that, but he’s a run-scorer. He’s made an art of it.”

Debutant Sebastian Morgan shines as home side win battle of South Group stragglers

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay11-Jul-2025Half-centuries for Kane Williamson and skipper Leus du Plooy helped Middlesex to a 23-run win over Gloucestershire at Merchant Taylors’ School – only their fifth ever victory over the west country men in the Vitality Blast.Williamson’s 50 came in 28 balls with two sixes and six fours while du Plooy produced two maximums of his own, the pair sharing a stand of 92 as the hosts totaled 189 for 5.Australian left-hander D’Arcy Short hit 64 in 46 in reply, supported by Jack Taylor’s 41, but two wickets for debutant Sebastian Morgan and Noah Cornwell’s 1 for 20 meant they finished on 166-7.Two bowlers on the night, Marchant de Lange and Luke Hollman, found themselves on hat-tricks but neither managed to complete the feat.The hosts found early impetus as Stephen Eskinazi and Ben Geddes cleared the ropes in the powerplay, but both departed in quick succession. Du Plooy picked up the mantle, but Williamson was strangely subdued until badly dropped on 13 at deep mid-off by Graeme van Buuren, Oliver Price the unlucky bowler.The reprieve released the shackles with the former New Zealand skipper scoring 39 from his next 15 deliveries, van Buuren left to rue his spill as Williamson struck him for a glorious straight six. He departed immediately afterwards caught at short fine from the spin of Short, to end the stand of 92.Du Plooy would also make it to 50 from 35 balls, but was one of two wickets in successive balls in a fabulously hostile spell from de Lange and it needed some long handle from Ryan Higgins to get the Seaxes to 189.Morgan made a dream start ball in hand with the wicket of Miles Hammond in his opening over courtesy of a wonderful over the shoulder catch by du Plooy.Short initially struggled for rhythm but a sumptuous straight six off Higgins got the reply up and running and an uppercut over the wicketkeeper raised the 50 from the last ball of the powerplay. The 50-partnership came in 29 balls, but Cameron Bancroft spooned a catch to Williamson at deep square off Hollman and the legspinner became the second bowler in the match to take two in two when Tom Helm held another good catch at short fine to dismiss Price first ball.Short though remained and lofted Hollman for six in his next over to emphasise the point and Taylor caught the mood with successive fours from the otherwise frugal Cornwell. Short’s seventh four took him to 50 and with Taylor clearing the ropes the 50 partnership rattled up in 31 balls.Even so, a tight over from Higgins meant 52 were needed from the last four overs and that task got tougher when Short gloved one from Cornwell through to wicketkeeper Joe Cracknell. And when Taylor became Morgan’s second victim in the next over, the task became too much.

The Local Organising Committee will be tasked with the roll-out of the flagship tournament being co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Aug-2025Experienced former South African cabinet minister Trevor Manuel has been named chair of the 2027 Cricket World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) board, unveiled by Cricket South Africa on Thursday. The 15-member board also has two provincial presidents, a CSA board member, seven independent directors, two appointees made by the South African sports ministry and three CSA executives, including CEO Pholetsi Moseki. The LOC will be tasked with the roll-out of the flagship tournament being co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.Among the independent directors are South Africa’s former deputy president Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and industry leaders in banking and business, such as Nomfanelo Magwentshu who was the chief operating officer of the 2010 Football World Cup hosted in South Africa.A familiar name to some cricket circles is that of Dr Stavros Nicolaou, CSA’s former interim board chair, who was in office as the organisation made the move to a majority independent board. The 2027 LOC mirrors that. “We deliberately went with a lot of independents in order to bring in a variety of skills. The operational matters will be covered from within the CSA perspective,” Rihan Richards, CSA’s members council president said at a press conference in Johannesburg.Manuel, who was part of South Africa’s first democratically elected parliament, served as minister of trade and industry, minister of finance and minister in the presidency and has been involved in various business endeavours. This is his first foray into sport.”I’ve done many different things in my life. Sports administration is not one of them,” he said at a press conference in Johannesburg. “Trying to do this late in my life is not easy for me. We have seven independent non-executive directors, two of whom served on the LOC for 2010, very good legal people, strong financial people and representatives of the minister and the presidency. We must make that commitment to South Africa, to sport, to the durability of the exercise. This is a nation-building exercise.”Unathi Matthew Tshotwana, one of the non-independent directors appointed, was named in the Fundudzi report which resulted in the sacking of former CSA CEO Thabang Moroe in 2019, as the director of a company that CSA paid R3 million (approx US$170,000) to without evidence of service provided. CSA have clarified that Tshotwana’s appointment, which was recomended by the ministry, was cleared by their legal team.The two provincial presidents are Johannes Adams from Western Province and Yunus Bobat from Kwa-Zulu Natal. Adams is a curious choice given that he already has his plate full with attending to issues at his own union, which faces a severe financial crisis. In September last year, it was revealed that the Western Province Cricket Association, which is based at Newlands, suffered losses in excess of R15 million (approx US$850,000) and the venue is in a concerning state of disrepair, some of which is being attended to.Newlands is among the grounds receiving new floodlights as part of the 2027 World Cup upgrades project. Along with the Wanderers, SuperSport Park and Kingsmead, Newlands will also make use of drop-in pitches, which are already in development. CSA opted for drop-in surfaces as a more cost-effective solution to full relaying of the squares at the venues. These are expected to be ready to be played on next season – 2026-27 – a full year ahead of the World Cup.2027 World Cup LOC: Trevor Manuel, Independent Chair
CSA members’ council and board appointments
Johannes Adams, President of Western Province (non-independent)
Yunus Bobat, President of Kwa-Zulu Natal (non-independent)
Vuyani Jarana, (CSA Board member – non-independent)
Ministry Appointments:
Advocate Philip October, Non-Independent Director
Unathi Matthew Tshotwana, Non-Independent Director
Independent Directors:
Herman Bosman, Independent Non-Executive Director
Nomfanelo Magwentshu, Independent Non-Executive Director
Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Independent Non-Executive Director
Ravi Naidoo, Independent Non-Executive Director
Dr Stavros Nicolaou, Independent Non-Executive Director
Advocate Karrisha Pillay SC, Independent Non-Executive Director
CSA staff:
Pholetsi Moseki CSA CEO
Refentse Shinners, CSA Public Affairs Executive
Tjaart van der Walt, CSA COO

It will host six games of a pre-season red-ball tournament, but fans will not be allowed inside

Shashank Kishore04-Sep-2025The M Chinnaswamy Stadium will host cricket matches for the first time since a stampede outside its premises on June 4 claimed 11 lives during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebrations.The venue is one of the hosts for Karnataka State Cricket Association’s (KSCA) K Thimmappiah Memorial Trophy, a red-ball multi-day pre-season tournament comprising 16 teams. The Chinnaswamy Stadium will host six matches in the competition, including one semi-final and the final from September 26. However, fans will not be allowed in the stadium.Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Vijay Shankar, Shashank Singh are among the top Indian stars in participation. The tournament features teams from Mumbai, Vidarbha, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal, Chhattisgarh among others.Related

• Deaths and injuries to fans mar RCB's homecoming in Bengaluru

• Probe panel deems Chinnaswamy 'unsafe' for large-scale events

Chinnaswamy’s return to the cricket calendar also coincides with RCB having broken their social media silence over the tragic stampede. Last week, the franchise communicated to have extended a sum of INR 25 lakh to the families of those who died, while also committing long-term action towards better crowd safety and management.The venue has been at the centre of an ongoing tussle between the KSCA, Karnataka government and the state police – all of whom have been under investigation, along with the franchise, by a one-man tribunal following the June 4 incident.Additionally, KSCA have also run into issues with the local regulatory bodies, including the electricity supply department (BESCOM) that has cut-off power to the venue due to non-compliance of fire safety regulations. An NOC hadn’t yet been received as of Wednesday (September 3). The venue uses generators and solar power for its needs.As a result, the KSCA was denied permission by the police to host the Women’s World Cup, with Chinnaswamy losing out on five possible games, including the tournament opener, a semi-final and the final on November 2.The Maharaja Trophy, the state’s franchise-based T20 competition, had to also be moved out of Bengaluru for the same reason, after the police rejected KSCA’s proposal to stage the tournament behind closed doors. The tournament was eventually staged in Mysore under a similar closed-door arrangement.Late last month, a committee tasked by the state government to investigate the stampede deemed the Chinnaswamy “unsafe” for large-scale events. The commission “strongly recommended” that large-scale events be relocated to venues that were “better suited” to handle significant crowds.Subsequently, Karnataka’s deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar unveiled the government’s grand plans of building a cricket stadium capable of housing 60,000 fans inside a massive 75-acre sports complex in the city’s industrial suburbs.

He was involved in a 91-run partnership for the last wicket before claiming a four-wicket haul to help Australia A take a 226-run lead in the first innings

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Sep-2025Fast bowler Henry Thornton proved to be the proverbial thorn in India A’s flesh as he put Australia in control of the second unofficial Test in Lucknow.Batting at No. 11, he scored an unbeaten 32 in a 91-run partnership for the tenth wicket with Todd Murphy, who made 76, before taking a four-wicket haul that helped Australia A take a 226-run lead in the first innings.”We were just having a fair bit of fun up there and it’s a good challenge against some really good bowlers to see kind of where your skills are at,” Thornton said after the second day’s play. “It was a pretty simple game plan. If they missed, we were just kind of trying to hit the ball for four and it came off today.”After toiling for 13.2 overs on the second morning to separate Australia A’s last pair, India A lost KL Rahul cheaply – caught behind off Will Sutherland. Thornton struck three blows after lunch, dismissing N Jagadeesan (38), Devdutt Padikkal (1) and India A captain Dhruv Jurel (1) in successive overs. Murphy, who scored his maiden first-class fifty earlier in the day, accounted for Nitish Kumar Reddy with his offspin as India A slid to 75 for 5.B Sai Sudharsan offered resistance with a steady half-century at No. 3 and added 51 with Ayush Badoni (21) for the sixth wicket. But two more wickets in five balls left India A reeling at 127 for 7.B Sai Sudharsan scored a steady half-century•Tanuj/ Ekana Cricket Stadium

Prasidh Krishna joined Sai Sudharsan and hit a four and a six before he was struck on the helmet by Thornton’s bouncer in the 39th over. He was in the middle for three more overs before walking off with a suspected concussion. He was replaced in the XI by Yash Thakur as the concussion substitute. Sai Sudharsan helped India A inch closer to 200 before Murphy trapped him lbw. Two balls later, Gurnoor Brar was run-out to end India A’s innings.”We had a simple plan, put energy on the ball, bash the top of the stumps,” Thornton said. “I felt like I was in the game bowling that length. So it would be interesting to see what happens in the second innings. Hopefully it starts to spin and it brings Murph (Murphy) and Rock (Corey Rocchiccioli) into the game.With over two days left in the game, Australia A opted to bat again instead of enforcing the follow-on. But they lost three batters before stumps, with Mohammed Siraj, Brar and Manav Suthar picking up a wicket each. Sam Konstas fell for his first single-digit score in the series, following his century in the opening game and 49 in the first innings. His opening partner Campbell Kellaway did not last long either. Suthar, who picked up a five-for in the first innings, struck with his fifth ball to dismiss Oliver Peake. Captain Nathan McSweeney offered resistance to end the day with Australia A ahead by 242 runs.

India had just too much quality and depth to end their second straight ICC tournament unbeaten

Sidharth Monga09-Mar-20255:26

Santner: ‘Rohit puts fear in bowlers’

New Zealand defended with all their might against heavy favourites India. But, in the end, India had just too much quality and depth for them, and ended their second straight ICC tournament unbeaten. They now hold two of the four ICC trophies, having lost in the final of the other two. In the last three ICC tournaments alone, India have won 22 of their 23 completed matches.On a tired pitch, run-scoring followed a similar pattern to earlier games. Having won a crucial toss – India have lost their last 15 ODI tosses – New Zealand raced away to 69 for 1 in the powerplay, but the high-quality spin from India dragged them back. On a pitch offering them the least turn of all matches in Dubai this tournament, the four India spinners bowled 38 overs between them to concede just 144 runs and take five wickets. Again, as New Zealand got pace on ball at the death, Michael Bracewell scored 53 off 40 to give himself and his bowling colleagues a target.Related

• BCCI announces INR 58 crore award for Champions Trophy winners India

• Why Axar Patel at No. 5 has been a good idea for India

• Rohit time is right on time for India – and it's not over yet

• India's spin quartet pulls the strings in dominant display

• Shubman Gill: 'This is the best batting line-up that I have been a part of'

India made a similarly breezy start of 64 for 0 in the powerplay, but New Zealand kept clawing their way back despite a 105-run opening stand between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Lacking the mystery of Varun Chakravarthy or the rare left-arm wristspin art of Kuldeep Yadav, New Zealand capitalised on the increased turn – average of 2 degrees in the first innings, 3.4 in the second – and tested India thoroughly. Their spinners bowled 35 overs for 152 runs and five wickets.Every batter other than Virat Kohli got a start – scores ranged between Rohit’s 76 and Hardik Pandya’s run-a-ball 18 – but none of them completed the job. Their incredible depth, though, prevailed as KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja saw them through with one over to spare and four wickets in hand.It was a final to rescue the tournament that has been short on close contests. India came in with much more ammunition for the conditions than New Zealand, but the toss proved to be a bit of an equaliser. Rachin Ravindra, leading run-getter of the tournament, batted like a dream against the new ball, the best conditions all day long. He scored 37 off 29 in a start that stunned the crowd, helped along by two spilled chances.Under the pump, India went to their likeliest wicket-takers as opposed to the usual formula of bowling Axar Patel with the new ball. Varun beat Will Young with drift on a legbreak, but the natural variation provided the telling blow to trap him lbw. Kuldeep, just five wickets so far, announced himself on the final with two of the biggest wickets: Ravindra to a wrong’un first ball, and Kane Williamson beaten in the air with big dip and offering a return catch.1:31

Kumble: ‘Kuldeep doesn’t look for the surface to help him’

Three wickets had fallen to reduce New Zealand to 75 for 3, and it was now up to Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell to keep wickets in hand for the final push. Mitchell struggled to score fluidly, which meant Latham – a stalwart in the middle overs of ODI cricket – had to take a risk. And when you take a risk against the metronomic Jadeja – 10-0-30-1 – you better not miss because he will get you lbw.For the second time in this tournament, India bowled just spin through the middle overs. It was a slow track but offered minimal turn. It is a testament to the quality and the accuracy of India’s spinners that New Zealand were choked through the period. It took them 21 overs to double their ten-over score of 69. Varun came back to get Glenn Phillips in the 38th over, again pushing back their charge.Bracewell brought back memories of how fluidly Ravindra batted as India went back to pace on ball at the back end. Mitchell, who followed Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill into scoring his slowest fifty, now tried an assault but a slower ball from Mohammed Shami got the better of him. Bracewell, though, hit three fours and two sixes to give New Zealand what only looked like respectability at that time.Even that respectability looked dodgy the way Rohit started the chase. Some sensational hitting off the fast bowlers – including Nathan Smith, the replacement for Matt Henry, the leading wicket-taker of the tournament who injured his shoulder – pushed Santner’s hand. He brought himself on in the ninth over, but the best he and Ravindra could manage was a few relatively quiet overs.2:11

Manjrekar: Rahul looked relaxed during chase

In the first over after the drinks break, Phillips produced his third unbelievable catch of the tournament, leaping high at extra cover and plucking a one-hander to send Gill back. With his first ball, Bracewell trapped Kohli lbw for one. Now the easy runs stopped. Rohit slowed down, looking like he was setting himself up for an old-fashioned Rohit knock. Then, though, after a spell of eight overs for 19 runs and two wickets, he charged at Ravindra, looking to hit his fourth six of the night, missed, and was stumped.Iyer, two half-centuries to his name already, and Axar then repaired the damage with a 61-run partnership from 122 for 3. Iyer was the edgier of the two. Young caught him at the deep midwicket fence but touched the boundary skirting, Jamieson dropped him as he tried two consecutive sixes off Phillips, the sixth dropped catch between the two teams.When Iyer fell in the 39th over, caught off Santner at short fine leg, India needed 67 off 68. The asking rate only hovered around a run a ball – the biggest difference between the balls and runs was four with six overs left. Confident in their depth, India kept taking the odd risk and kept hitting sixes. When pace finally came back on, the calm Rahul took India ahead. Jamieson provided one final stumbling block with Hardik’s wicket off a nasty bouncer in the 48th over, but India still had Jadeja in the bank.

Liverpool missed the chance to move seven points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League standings against Leicester.

The Reds took the lead after just two minutes thanks to a wonderful goal from Sadio Mane but their efforts fell flat not long after. Liverpool struggled on the snowy surface and Leicester squandered a number of chances to equalise. They levelled the scoreline on the stroke of half-time when Harry Maguire was left unmarked at the back post. Jurgen Klopp’s men were unable to find a winner to extend their lead at the top of the table further.

Injuries and suspensions forced Klopp to use captain Jordan Henderson at right-back and the England international struggled to cope with Demarai Gray. With Trent Alexander-Arnold still out for a number of weeks, Klopp should seriously consider signing a new right-back to add much-needed cover.

One man he should be targeting is Nice wonderkid – Youcef Atal. Valued at £4.5m by Transfermarkt, the 22-year-old swapped Belgium for France in the summer and has made an instant impact at his new side. Atal has been ever-present in Ligue 1, making 17 appearances thus far.

Atal is extremely versatile and can occupy various positions on the right flank making him a useful option for Klopp to have at his disposal. The youngster loves to get stuck in and reads the game brilliantly, averaging 2.4 tackles and 2.1 interceptions per game this season. Atal also loves to contribute to the attack, completing an incredible 3.5 successful dribbles per game this season (WhoScored).

There has been suggestions that Alexander-Arnold’s future lies in central midfield meaning Atal could prove to be much more than a rotation option.

Liverpool fans, thoughts?

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Manchester United thumped Fulham 3-0 on Saturday as they step up preparations for next week’s Champions League encounter against PSG.

A brace from Paul Pogba and a fine solo strike from Anthony Martial gave Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side another win following the appointment of the Norwegian.

Solskjaer has yet to see his side lose since stepping as caretaker boss following the sacking of Jose Mourinho.

The match against PSG perhaps represents the acid test, with the French club well clear at the top of Ligue 1.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

However, Thomas Tuchel’s men will certainly be without Neymar, who has sustained a serious foot injury.

And Edinson Cavani, who scored the winning goal from the penalty spot in Saturday’s clash with Bordeaux, appeared to hurt his thigh as he converted from 12 yards.

He was subsequently replaced by Kylian Mbappe, and his participation in the encounter with United has now been thrown into some doubt.

And United fans on Twitter have expressed their delight that they may be facing a weakened PSG side this week…