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Phillip Hughes became the first Australian player to score a List A double-century, a six from the last ball of Australia A’s innings blasting him past the previous record set by David Warner

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jul-2014
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsPhillip Hughes went over the top plenty of times during his double-century (file photo)•Getty ImagesPhillip Hughes became the first Australian player to score a List A double-century, a six from the last ball of Australia A’s innings blasting him past the previous record set by David Warner. Hughes finished unbeaten on 202 and set up a crushing 148-run victory for Australia A over South Africa A in their quadrangular one-day series match in Darwin.For 12 years, the now national coach Darren Lehmann held the record for the best one-day score by a male Australian player, for his 191 for Yorkshire against Nottinghamshire in 2001. That record was bettered last summer by Warner, who crunched 197 for New South Wales against Victoria in a Ryobi Cup match at North Sydney Oval. Now, Hughes has lifted the mark again.He struck 18 fours and six sixes during his 151-ball innings, including several unconventional tennis-style slaps down the ground from slower-ball bouncers, as well as the off-side slashes that are typical of Hughes. His second hundred came from 47 deliveries and remarkably it took him only 18 balls to move from 149 to 202, his double-century coming with a hook for six off Beuran Hendricks.Hughes walked off with the 15th double-century ever scored in List A cricket, and the first in Australia. He also ensured that he will be firmly in the thoughts of the national selectors when they choose the squad for the upcoming triangular series in Zimbabwe, especially given that Warner will be rested for that trip. Hughes has not played an ODI since last November’s tour of India.He had combined with Moises Henriques (90) for a 220-run partnership that rescued Australia A from a slightly precarious 3 for 46, after Mthokozisi Shezi picked up a pair of early wickets, and their final total was an impressive 4 for 349.The target was always going to be a major challenge for the South Africans and regular wickets prevented them gaining any real momentum. Farhaan Behardien (67) was the only South African to manage a half-century and Kane Richardson’s 4 for 45 ensured Australia A were able to knock over the visitors for 201.

Suraj Randiv, the Sri Lanka offspinner, could end a three-year break from ODIs having been chosen in the 15-man squad to face Pakistan

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Aug-2014Offspinner Suraj Randiv has been recalled to the Sri Lanka squad three years after he last played an ODI, as part of a new-look spin attack for the three-match one-day series against Pakistan. Opener Upul Tharanga has also been named in the squad, thanks largely to his good returns in the Pakistan Test series, while Dinesh Chandimal returns to the ODI fray, following a successful one-day stint with Sri Lanka A.Legspinner Seekkuge Prasanna finds a place as well, alongside Dhammika Prasad. Allrounder Thisara Perera has also been included, after leaving the squad early during ODI series against South Africa, citing mental stress.Randiv and Prasanna have effectively been named in place of Sachithra Senanayake, who is currently undergoing remedial work on his action after being banned from international cricket, and Ajantha Mendis, who has been dropped. Rangana Herath is also in the squad, but given his extraordinary workload in Tests this year, he may be sparingly used.Randiv had for some time been pigeon-holed as a Test bowler, despite his 33 ODI wickets at 30.54, but a successful stretch in first-class cricket has paved way for his return. He dismissed 43 batsmen at 26.48 in the Premier League Tournament earlier this year, and had also taken eight wickets in an unofficial Test against England Lions in late February. His last ODI had been in August 2011. Prasanna’s performances with the A side have contributed to his comeback. He had last played for Sri Lanka in the World T20.Two hundreds and a fifty in five completed one-day innings with Sri Lanka A, has been Chandimal’s springboard back into the top team. He was axed and sent to England following a failure in the first Test against South Africa, but began to score heavily as soon as he had joined the A side. Lahiru Thirimanne has also been named in the ODI squad as vice-captain.Like Tharanga, Prasad also regains his ODI place because of his Test exploits. He was the leading quick bowler in the recent series against Pakistan, and had also been instrumental to Sri Lanka’s victory at Headingley, where he took five second-innings wickets. Suranga Lakmal was unavailable for selection thanks to the ankle injury he sustained during the South Africa Tests.A hamstring injury to opener Kusal Perera had forced him to return from the A team’s tour of England late last month and keeps him out of this series as well. He and Tharanga have been competing for the second opener’s position for the past 15 months, and Tharanga’s 92 and 45 in Colombo have been enough to see him return to ODIs. Middle order batsman Kithuruwan Vithanage has also been left out, but Ashan Priyanjan is in the squad.Vithanage, Priyanjan, Chandimal, Thirimanne, Randiv and Thisara are all also set to play in the tour match against Pakistan on Wednesday.Sri Lanka squad : Angelo Mathews (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardena, Dinesh Chandimal, Ashan Priyanjan, Lahiru Thirimanne, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dhammika Prasad, Rangana Herath, Seekuge Prasanna, Suraj Randiv, Thisara Perera

Despite struggling for form this season, Alastair Cook has been stood down for the remainder of the season by the ECB.

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Sep-2014Despite struggling for form this season, Alastair Cook has been stood down for the remainder of the season by the ECB.Cook has only made four half-centuries in international cricket in 2014 but with England’s packed schedule from November onwards in mind, the England management prescribed rest for Cook.He will therefore not take part in Essex’s three remaining County Championship matches this season but all other members of the England squad have been cleared to take part in the climax to the season.Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire are involved in a push for the Championship title and all three will have their England players available for at least one of their final matches.Gary Ballance and Joe Root are available for Yorkshire, who travel to Trent Bridge next week for a crucial fixture. Notts have Alex Hales, James Taylor and Harry Gurney free to play.Warwickshire have also reached the Royal London Cup final on September 20 and Ian Bell has been given permission to play, as has Chris Woakes who is also free to play in Warwickshire’s penultimate Championship match against Northamptonshire.But Woakes will miss the final round as the England management seek to give their bowlers a full six-week rest ahead of the tour to Sri Lanka.As such, James Anderson is free to play for Lancashire against Sussex only, starting on Tuesday; Steven Finn’s final county outing will also be next week and Chris Jordan will miss Sussex’s final Championship match with Northants.

Keith Barker maintained his stranglehold on Durham as Warwickshire got over their Royal London one-day cup final hangover by dismissing their Lord’s conquerors for 201 in the Championship at Edgbaston

Press Association23-Sep-2014
ScorecardWarwickshire were reminded of what might have been had Keith Barker been available all season•Getty ImagesKeith Barker maintained his stranglehold on Durham as Warwickshire got over their Royal London One-Day Cup final hangover by dismissing their Lord’s conquerors for 201 in the Championship at Edgbaston.Less than 72 hours after winning the domestic 50-over competition, Durham were the team with all the headaches after losing three wickets, all falling in the space of seven balls from Barker during the opening half-hour. With Barker taking 5 for 59, giving him 37 wickets in eight meetings between the counties, Durham lurched to 78 for 6 in the third over after lunch but salvaged a solitary batting point thanks to an impressive maiden half-century by Ryan Pringle.For Warwickshire, the maximum return by their bowlers chopped three points from the 10 they need to be sure of taking the £225,000 prize money on offer to the Division One runners-up. Varun Chopra pushed home their advantage in a final session twice curtailed by bad light. In his first championship match since being confirmed as county captain, he was unbeaten with 44 as the hosts closed at 77 for 1, 124 behind. Chopra hit four consecutive fours off Chris Rushworth to complete a half-century stand with Ian Westwood, who was caught behind off Varun Aaron for 30.On a bright but hazy morning, Chopra lost the toss but his team seized the initiative through a mixture of seam, swing and Durham’s hang-up with Barker. The left-armer has taken more than twice as many wickets against Durham as any other county. Of his nine career five-wicket returns, four have come against the north-east side, and one of his three first-class centuries was also at their expense. Lucky for them, perhaps, that he did not play in the 50-over final at the weekend, having missed the group stages through injury.Kept fresh for the Championship run-in, Barker was straight at the Durham batsmen, gaining just enough swing to make him a tricky proposition in the late-season conditions. Mark Stoneman was lbw in his third over and both Scott Borthwick and Gordon Muchall nibbled catches into the slips, all departing for single figure scores.Keaton Jennings ended his run of three consecutive ducks, but on 10, he pushed outside off stump at a ball from Oliver Hannon-Dalby and edged the Yorkshire-born seam bowler to wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose. Paul Collingwood never got going, quickly falling to a slip catch for Rikki Clarke, but Michael Richardson batted well through the crisis and hit seven fours in making 42 before he was snapped up behind the wicket for Barker’s fifth dismissal.Durham’s resistance grew with a stubborn knock by Lord’s matchwinner Gareth Breese after his unexpected call-up for a final Championship appearance for the county. Digging in for two-and-a-quarter hours, he made 26 before Boyd Rankin found some sharp bounce and had the allrounder taken by Clarke via a deflection from Ambrose. By then Pringle, in only his second Championship match, was shaping up with increasing confidence, punishing the bad ball for 10 boundaries in all, and with support down the order, the Sunderland-born prospect stayed to the end for an unbeaten 63 from 98 balls. The last three wickets added 80 before Clarke, Rankin and Jeetan Patel ended Warwickshire’s shift in the field on the stroke of tea.As Warwickshire move purposefully towards a top two position in all three formats this season, bowling coach Alan Richardson believes their success is down to hard work. “It has kind of reaffirmed my belief that hard work is what it is all about,” he said. “We are lucky at Warwickshire that we have some great players and even luckier that we have a group of players who are prepared to put in the hard yards.”

Naman Ojha scored his second double-century in three first-class matches to power Central Zone past 500 against North Zone in Mohali

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Oct-2014
ScorecardNaman Ojha’s last four first-innings scores are: 219*, 101*, 110, 217•Getty ImagesNaman Ojha scored his second double-century in three first-class matches to power Central Zone past 500 against North Zone in Mohali. Ojha’s last four first-class innings now read: 219*, 101*, 110, 217, as he kept up his campaign to secure a national spot.He put together a 72-run stand with Piyush Chawla for the sixth wicket, before the lower order chipped in with cameos as the score swelled to 536 for 7. The last three wickets though went down for two runs, with Ojha being the ninth to be dismissed.The attention then turned to the big names in the North top order. The young Jiwanjot Singh perished early bringing together the old firm of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. Sehwag made a typically rapid 32, hitting six fours in a 22-ball effort, before being bowled by Pankaj Singh.Gambhir went on to make his first first-class half-century of 2014, and Yuvraj Singh, who has hardly played major competitive cricket since the IPL, provided him company with an unbeaten 25. The pair put on 70 for the third wicket as North ended the day on 130 for 2, still a long way away from Central’s total in what is shaping up to be a first-innings shootout.

A round-up of the Ram Slam T20 matches that took place on November 21

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Nov-2014Richard Levi smashed 54 off 27 balls to lead Cape Cobras to a seven-wicket victory in a rain-shortened, ten-over match against Dolphins in Durban. Levi helped Cobras overhaul the target of 85 with four balls to spare.The Cobras attack had kept Dolphins to 84 for 8 after they chose to bowl. Jonathan Vandiar and Vaughn van Jaarsveld were the only Dolphins batsmen to make double-digit scores. George Linde took 3 for 15 for Cobras, while Ferisco Adams claimed 2 for 19.Henry Davids’ 75 off 42 balls was the starring performance in Titans’ 27-run, D/L victory against Lions in Benoni. Titans were steaming along at 131 for 4 in 13.5 overs when rain stopped play and forced the game to be curtailed to 16 overs a side. Though Davids fell soon after the resumption, Titans finished on 161 for 6 and the target was scaled up to 168.Ethy Mbhalati hurt the Lions chase by dismissing Alviro Petersen and Chris Gayle in his first two overs, reducing them to 16 for 2. Jean Symes made an unbeaten 57 but Lions finished on 140 for 5 in 16 overs.There was a full game in East London, where Warriors cruised to an eight-wicket win against Knights with three balls to spare. The Warriors attack restricted Knights to 146 despite taking only four wickets, with Simon Harmer, JJ Smuts and Basheeru-Dean Walters conceding six or fewer runs per over in four-over spells.Smuts powered the Warriors chase of 147, making an unbeaten 73 off 56 balls to secure victory. He was supported by Colin Ingram, who made 40, and Christiaan Jonker, who was not out on 22.

MS Dhoni has retired from Test cricket with immediate effect following the drawn Test against Australia at the MCG

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Dec-20145:40

Dravid: Dhoni would not have thought about 100 Tests

MS Dhoni has retired from Test cricket with immediate effect following the drawn Test against Australia in Melbourne. Virat Kohli will take over as India captain for the final Test of the series, which India have already lost, in Sydney.Dhoni was batting on 24 when the Test was called off early at the MCG – four overs were left and India had four wickets in hand – and he made no mention of his retirement during the customary captain’s press conference at the end of the match. The announcement was made via a BCCI press release shortly after and it cited “the strain of playing all formats” as the reason.”One of India’s greatest Test captains under whose leadership India became the No. 1 team in the test rankings, MS Dhoni, has decided to retire from Test cricket citing the strain of playing all formats of cricket,” the board said. “BCCI, while respecting the decision of MS Dhoni to retire from Test cricket, wishes to thank him for his enormous contribution to Test cricket and the laurels that he has brought to India. Virat Kohli will be the captain of the Indian team for the fourth and final Test against Australia to be played in Sydney.”In recent months Dhoni suffered from fitness issues, missing five ODIs against Sri Lanka in November because of a hand injury, which also sidelined him from the first Test against Australia in Adelaide. In addition to the pressure of leading India in all three formats, and the Chennai Super Kings franchise, for six years Dhoni has also had to play an extraordinary amount of matches. Since the start of 2008 – taking into account international matches across formats, IPL and Champions League T20 games – Dhoni has played 398 matches, the most for any cricket during this period. Suresh Raina is second with 369 games.Though Dhoni’s place in India’s Test side has not been under question, his batting form took a dip in 2014 and he averaged only 33 in 17 innings this year. His wicketkeeping has also deteriorated, in particular his ability to move laterally to take testing catches. India’s overseas results have also suffered under Dhoni’s leadership in recent years. Since 2011, they have won only two out of 22 away Tests and lost 13.Dhoni, however, is India’s most successful captain, having presided over 27 wins in his 60-Test tenure, which began in 2008. His first Test as captain was against South Africa in Kanpur in April that year, because of an injury to regular captain Anil Kumble, and he took over full time after Kumble retired following the Delhi Test against Australia in October. Dhoni led India to the No. 1 Test ranking in 2009, a position they enjoyed until the tour of England in 2011.Overall, Dhoni played 90 Tests in a career that began in 2005 and scored 4876 runs at an average of 38, with a high score of 224 against Australia in Chennai in 2013. As a wicketkeeper, he effected 294 dismissals, the fifth highest in Test cricket.

Whatever state West Indies cricket is in, there are some players from the islands who will never lose their aura. Curtly Ambrose is one of them, particularly for South Africans.

Firdose Moonda15-Dec-2014Whatever state West Indies cricket is in, there are some players from the islands who will never lose their aura. Curtly Ambrose is one of them, particularly for South Africans.The four wickets Ambrose took on the final day of South Africa’s comeback Test in 1992, which took his innings tally to six and his match haul to eight, derailed a South African chase which seemed certain to reach the station. Ambrose’s achievement that day was down to the same thing he said has contributed to the South African pace pack’s successes: “Consistency”.He admitted that ingredient alone will be required by the West Indian batsmen to bring out their “A game” if they hope to compete against South Africa but cautioned against writing the visitors off completely. “I feel very confident with where we are at the moment and I believe that we are going to do well, contrary to what others may believe,” Ambrose, who is West Indies bowling consultant said. “We all know South Africa is the No. 1 team in the world but we are prepared.”South Africa have already identified the West Indian bowlers as a bigger threat than their batsmen and the knowledge they are being mentored by Ambrose may only underline that. But Ambrose did not want to put too much emphasis on his coaching, describing it as much tougher than actually stepping on the field on match day. “It’s a lot different coaching than bowling,” he said. “It can be frustrating as a coach because as a bowler I have always believed I can work magic with the ball in my hand. As a coach you can take to the guys and if they are not doing what you ask, it can become frustrating. It was easier being a bowler than a coach.”But he current crop of West Indian quicks have not given Ambrose any “trouble” and he praised them for “working hard and showing improvement”. He did not want to compare them to the great packs of the past or to name individuals who he thought would make the biggest impact, instead preferring to preach the collective philosophy. “It’s a different era and we have to work with what we have. I don’t want to single out any one. Its all about the team,” he said. “No one bowler can win a game for you, it takes a team. As long we play together as a team, we will do well here.”His advice to them on South African wickets, which are among the spiciest they would have played on is “not to get too carried away” by the assistance. “The most important thing is to maintain your focus,” he said. “Even though the pitch is bouncy, you have to put the ball in the right areas consistently. You won’t see us doing anything out of the ordinary.”That may also mean West Indies will not opt for an all-pace attack even though that formula was how they won their only Test in South Africa in 2007. “It doesn’t mean because we won with four fast bowlers last time that we are going to win again,” Ambrose said “I’m a bit of a realist. It depends on the track you are going to play on and the conditions. That will determine your bowling line-up.”SuperSport Park’s healthy green covering was all but completely stripped off on Monday, two days before the match. Some regrowth may still be left on it for the Test match, which is why Ambrose said he “tries not to look at the wicket prior to the game. I wait for the morning of the game and make assessment then.”One thing he could confirm was that the West Indian bowlers will approach this series in the same way Ambrose approached bowling throughout his career. “We’re not going to bowl any lengths for them to drive,” he said. And as he did, some of the old snarl snuck back out and the South African batsmen may have had reason to shudder, even if only for a moment.

Mitchell Johnson is ready for his first match in more than a month after a much-needed rest period over January

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jan-20152:06

‘I’m prepared, I know what to expect’ – Johnson

Mitchell Johnson is ready for his first match in more than a month after a much-needed rest period over January. Johnson will play in the final of the one-day tri-series in Perth on Sunday and it will be his first outing since the Boxing Day Test draw against India, after which he rested with what was originally described as hamstring soreness.From the start of the 2013-14 Ashes until the end of the 2014 calendar year, Johnson had sent down 602 overs in all international cricket, the most of any fast bowlers during that period and fewer only than spinners Rangana Herath and Nathan Lyon. Given the demands of the upcoming World Cup and tours of West Indies and England, Johnson hopes he is better for the break.”I needed a fair bit of a rest,” Johnson told reporters in Perth on Friday. “I think it’d probably been a big 12 months personally, but for all the bowlers as well. The UAE was quite tough. We bowled a lot of overs there and then coming into Australia the wickets were a little bit flatter than we expected. There were a lot of runs scored through the Test series. The body now is fully recovered and ready to go.”I’m feeling pretty good. I’m feeling rested. I don’t have any soreness there anymore, so I’m feeling pretty good. It’ll be nice to play on a nice fast, bouncy wicket again. I’m looking forward to getting out there … I know the South African series we played there, the wicket just got quicker and quicker. I’m really looking forward to playing on a nice wicket.”In Johnson’s absence during the tri-series, Mitchell Starc has dominated the Australian attack and leads the tournament wicket tally with 12 victims at 13.00. The success of Starc, the importance of allrounder James Faulkner and the experience and speed of Johnson could mean that Australia play three left-arm fast men during the World Cup.”He’s been doing that for a while in the shorter forms,” Johnson said of Starc. “I’ve been really impressed with him. Earlier in the IPL he was doing it there and he’s just continued his form. He’s really comfortable with his bowling in one-day cricket. He swings the ball and bowls fast.”I’m really looking forward to getting out there again and bowling and working with him. I think we bowl well together in the short form and hopefully we can bowl well together at the WACA. There’s actually three left-armers but two opening bowlers.”It’s really exciting for me. You don’t often see it but it’s really nice to be able to work with him. He’s young, he’s aggressive and he loves bowling. I’m looking forward to that.”

A Hamilton Masakadza ton led Zimbabwe to an upset victory over Sri Lanka in both teams’ final warm-up before the World Cup, running down Sri Lanka’s 279 with seven wickets in hand and 4.4 overs to spare

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Lincoln11-Feb-2015
ScorecardHamilton Masakadza strung together substantial stands with Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams•AFPMasakadza lauds Zim bowlers

Wednesday’s centurion Hamilton Masakadza said Zimbabwe’s preparation had gone particularly well, having reduced New Zealand to 157 for 7 on Monday, before defeating Sri Lanka in the second warm-up. Although the top order had put on two century stands against Sri Lanka, it was the bowlers to whom Masakadza attributed the fine performances.
“Main improvement is the bowling, where the guys have really improved and worked on what each individual bowler needs to do,” Masakadza said. “They’ve found a way to work around their strengths, and we’ve developed different plans for different guys, which is really working. That’s something our bowling coach, Douglas Hondo, has been working with them on since the Bangladesh tour, and things are just coming together now. Our fielding has improved quite a lot, so that’s also helping.”
The victory was set-up by a 127-run third-wicket partnership with Brendan Taylor, which came at better than a run-a-ball. The 119-run stand with Sean Williams came at an even quicker rate – off 105 deliveries. “We just tried to play with a lot of positive intent, and tried to reverse the pressure quite a bit. When we got a few away it became easier for us.
“The main thing was to keep Lasith Malinga out and just work the other guys. It was a case of working hard against him and working out those variations.”

A Hamilton Masakadza ton led Zimbabwe to an upset victory over Sri Lanka in both teams’ final warm-up before the World Cup, running down Sri Lanka’s 279 with seven wickets in hand and 4.4 overs to spare. Masakadza remained unbeaten on 117 from 119 balls, having forged hundred-stands with both Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams, who hit fifties.The match, however, was a low-octane affair and, as such, only so much can be read into it. Tillakaratne Dilshan and Angelo Mathews had got a hundred and a fifty respectively in the last warm-up match, and did not bat at Lincoln. Both sides also chose to test the depth of their bowling resources instead of allocating full quotas to their frontline bowlers.But even given those allowances, Sri Lanka will be concerned at the lack of menace in their attack, despite Lasith Malinga’s return. Malinga himself was bowling off a full run up and regularly found the yorker length, but seemed some way from his quickest pace. The other bowlers were wayward toward the end of the innings, sending down hittable length balls when tighter lines and more considered lengths were required.Masakadza and Taylor were joined in the seventh over, and it was their 127-run stand from 126 balls that broke the back of the chase. Taylor struck six fours in his 68-ball 63, while Masakadza struck at close to a run-a-ball throughout his innings. Taylor was out flicking a legside Dilshan ball to short fine leg in the 28th over, but Williams was soon scoring briskly. He and Masakadza effectively took the match away from Sri Lanka in the batting Powerplay, which was taken in the 35th over.Masakadza reached his century off the 103rd ball he faced, with a single to deep cover off Rangana Herath. In all he hit eight fours and three sixes, the last of which was a straight hit into the sightscreen, off Herath. There was a buzz in the Zimbabwe dressing room during the second half of the chase, but when Williams drove through wide mid-off to bring up the winning runs, their joy were restrained. There were no ecstatic celebrations, just measured applause and congratulations.Nuwan Kulasekara was perhaps the best of Sri Lanka’s bowlers, taking 1 for 23 runs in his five overs. Malinga went at 6.57 runs in his seven overs, while Lakmal disappeared for eight an over in his seven. Herath was the most economical, conceding only 27 from his six.Earlier, Tinashe Panyangara made the first incision after Sri Lanka opted to bat, dismissing makeshift opener Kumar Sangakkara for 8. Lahiru Thirimanne and Mahela Jayawardene then launched a 62-run stand, but were both dismissed for 30, in quick succession.Dimuth Karunaratne hit 58 off 71 from No. 4 to raise his chances of playing in Sri Lanka’s middle order in the tournament curtain-raiser on Saturday, perhaps edging out Dinesh Chandimal, who made 29 from 46. Sri Lanka had modest contributions from elsewhere in their lower middle order, but stuttered through the second half of their innings, as Williams claimed 3 for 35 from his 10 overs of left-arm spin. It was Jeevan Mendis’ run-a-ball 51 that held the lower-order performance together, and he now goes into the tournament with some batting form behind him.