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John Windows, Durham's long-standing academy director, steps down for health reasons

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John Windows, the long-standing director of Durham Men’s academy, is stepping down from his role for health reasons, after a 27-year stint in which he helped to develop the careers of a range of the club’s greatest players, including Ben Stokes, Mark Wood and Liam Plunkett.Windows, 49, started out as a batter in Durham’s second XI, but with the club still relatively new to the first-class scene, the focus on developing home-grown players became a means to fast-track the team’s long-term viability. He became an academy coach in 1999, under the leadership of Geoff Cook, and progressed to the role of academy Director in 2007.On his watch, the academy became one of the most prolific pathways for young talent in the country. Steve Harmison, Paul Collingwood and Graham Onions were among the first graduates to forge successful international careers, while more recent successes include Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts and Ben McKinney, the former England Under-19 captain.Windows himself was instrumental in recruiting Stokes as a raw 17-year-old, utilising the strong relationships that he had helped to build with neighbouring counties, including Cumbria, where Stokes’ family had lived after arriving from New Zealand in 2003.In a statement, however, he revealed that a recent medical diagnosis had left him needing to step away from his hands-on role at the academy. He will remain involved with the club in a mentorship capacity.”It is with great sadness and regret that I am having to stand down from my role as men’s academy director,” Windows said. “I have enjoyed every day of my coaching career at Durham, it has been a privilege to work with such a great club and contribute to its success.”Unfortunately, I no longer have the physical capacity to support our young talent. The role is multi-faceted but to do it successfully I have always felt you need to be active on the shop floor as well as working strategically behind the scenes.”Stepping back from a full-time role will give me more time to recharge my batteries and look after myself. I feel this is essential if I am going to maintain any sort of ‘normal life’.”Marcus North, Durham’s director of cricket, said: “John has decided that now is the right time to step away from his role as men’s academy director, due to his ongoing medical condition.”Over the course of nearly 30 years with the club, John has played an extraordinary role in shaping the journeys of hundreds of young cricketers, many of whom have become professional and international players.”His vision, passion, dedication, and care for developing players have left a lasting mark on our pathway and on the club as a whole.”Although he will no longer be leading the academy, we are delighted that John will continue to be part of the club and share the wisdom and experience that have inspired so many.”I would like to personally thank John for everything he has given to the club, and for the remarkable commitment and energy he has put into making our men’s academy the best in the country, a legacy that will live strong for future generations.”

Tribe's career-best 181* keeps Glamorgan promotion bid on track

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Asa Tribe hit a career-best unbeaten 181 to keep Glamorgan’s promotion hopes firmly alive and put his side in a dominant position on day one of this Rothesay County Championship match against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.Glamorgan were indebted to the 21-year-old Jersey international after losing four wickets before lunch after winning the toss, Luke Procter claiming two scalps. Opening the innings, Tribe never looked in real trouble, helping himself to 25 fours and two sixes in a fluent, confident innings and accounting for the bulk of the top-order runs.Sam Northeast (17) and Ben Kellaway (23) kept him company in half-century stands, but it was not until Chris Cooke’s arrival that Glamorgan mounted a substantial partnership, the keeper scoring 84 (12 fours, one six) while adding 162 for the sixth wicket with Tribe. Although Cooke fell before the close, Glamorgan were in a healthy position at 367 for six.Earlier Northamptonshire handed first-class debuts to left-arm pacer Ben Whitehouse and off-spinner Nirvan Ramesh, 17, who became the county’s third youngest debutant since the war.Zain ul Hassan was the first Glamorgan wicket to fall in the eighth over, driving outside off-stump to Procter and edging an easy catch behind.Tribe dealt almost exclusively in boundaries. He drove handsomely through midwicket against the seamers before a punch through cover point off Whitehouse brought up Glamorgan’s 50 at the end of the 15th over.Whitehouse meanwhile unsettled Northeast. After the Glamorgan skipper punched one to the boundary, Whitehouse struck him on the arm causing a short delay. Northeast recovered to slap a wide delivery from Justin Broad through extra cover to bring up the 50 partnership with Tribe off 58 balls, but the all-rounder found some late movement to draw the edge through to second slip.Tribe though looked imperious, reaching 50 off 63 deliveries. He pulled dismissively against Whitehouse who was guilty of bowling too short throughout both spells.Procter struck for the second time when he jagged one back sharply to Kiran Carlson who offered minimum foot movement and inside edged to the keeper. The impressive Ramesh then claimed his maiden first-class wicket when Colin Ingram (18) attempted to turn the ball to leg and was well caught off the leading edge by Procter in the covers, and while Tribe took consecutive boundaries off Calvin Harrison, Glamorgan went into lunch four down for 115.Tribe started positively after the interval, sweeping Ramesh over deep midwicket for six, while Kellaway eased into his work with a sumptuous cover drive off Liam Guthrie and a reverse sweep off Ramesh as Glamorgan moved past 150, Tribe bringing up the half-century partnership off 59 balls with a backfoot punch off Guthrie.With Ramesh bowling consecutive maidens at one end, Northamptonshire turned to Broad to try to force the breakthrough and he instantly troubled Tribe outside off-stump. But it was Harrison who bowled Kellaway round his legs as he went to sweep.New batter Cooke took the aggressive option against Broad but was almost undone by one that jagged back and kept low.Tribe reached three figures off 150 balls with his first false shot, under-edging an attempted sweep against Harrison, the ball running past the keeper for four. He endured a few nervous moments against Procter who beat him several times outside off-stump, but he duly moved past his previous highest score of 107 made against Leicestershire in June, despite suffering from flu at the time.After tea Cooke swung Harrison over the leg side for six to bring up the 100 partnership off 183 balls before reaching his own half-century. He continued to attack, clubbing spinners Harrison and Saif Zaib over midwicket, while Tribe hit Zaib straight for six, Glamorgan going on to pass 300 shortly before the new ball became due.Tribe steered Procter through midwicket to bring up the 150 stand off 246 balls while Cooke cut Guthrie powerfully for four. The bowler soon made the breakthrough when Cooke pulled and was well caught low down by Broad at deep backward square-leg.With Tribe still content to capitalise on anything loose and joined by Timm van der Gugten, Glamorgan secured a third batting bonus point shortly before the close.

Starc takes five as SRH fold for 163 despite Aniket's 74

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Aniket Verma, 23, is all of three T20s old. On Sunday, he showed why Sunrisers Hyderabad have so much faith in him. While his team collapsed for the second time in two games in IPL 2025, with their hard-hitting approach not coming off, Aniket’s incredible 41-ball 74 lifted them to 163 after Mitchell Starc’s three-wicket burst in the powerplay derailed them.Aniket hit five fours and six sixes in his innings, twinning with Heinrich Klaasen during the course of a 77-run stand off just 40 balls, after SRH were in tatters at 37 for 4 in the fifth over.After Abhishek Sharma was run out in the first over, guilty of strolling through for a single he was late to respond to, Starc had Ishan Kishan slash to deep third, local boy Nitish Reddy heave an off-cutter to mid-on, and Travis Head ramp a short ball to KL Rahul, who had the gloves in his first game for Delhi Capitals, his new franchise.Head’s wicket was timely; he began with two back-to-back fours off Starc – driving imperiously through the line first and then drilling him down the ground. Starc responded by targeting his rib cage from around the stumps. Eventually, Starc, who was given a third straight over, had his man.Aniket began with dollops of luck. In the fourth over, he survived a run-out chance when Tristan Stubbs missed a direct hit at the striker’s end with the batter having given up. In the sixth, Aniket’s leading edge off Axar Patel was put down by Abishek Porel running back from extra cover.Aniket took full toll and hit Axar for back-to-back sixes in his second over to get going. At the other end, Klaasen’s clarity and picking of lengths led to more runs bleeding. He first whipped Starc for six, and when the bowler corrected his length, he slapped it through the off side for a boundary.Klaasen looked set when he was deceived by Mohit Sharma’s change of pace and length as he sliced a catch to Vipraj Nigam, who took it sensationally after circling back from point to leave SRH 114 for 5 in 10.5 overs. The slide from there on was quick as Kuldeep Yadav got among the wickets and finished with 3 for 22.After Pat Cummins was been dismissed, Aniket threatened a jailbreak as he tore into Axar for a sequence of 4, 6, 6 before he was out courtesy of Jake Fraser-McGurk’s athleticism at deep midwicket. If that was a stunner, Axar throwing himself full stretch to his left to intercept a rocket hit off Harshal Patel at mid-off matched that as SRH were bundled out inside 20 overs with Starc finishing with five wickets.

Three quick fifties and Asitha's electric new-ball spell give Sri Lanka consolation win

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Rapid half-centuries from Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka and Janith Liyanage put Sri Lanka on course to a substantial total, before an electric new-ball spell from Asitha Fernando wrecked New Zealand’s chase.Asitha swung the ball prodigiously in his five-over opening spell, taking 3 for 17 in that period. By the end of over seven, and chasing 291 for victory, New Zealand were 22 for 5, their chances all but dashed. Mark Chapman battled bravely for a run-a-ball 81, but had no team-mates to go with him.New Zealand soon slipped to 48 for 6, then 77 for 7, and though the last rites took some time, Sri Lanka dismissed the opposition for 150, inside 30 overs. This was the third one-sided game in the series. New Zealand had won the other two.Asitha’s 3 for 26 wasn’t quite a swing-bowling masterclass, as he occasionally struggled with his lines. But it did feature some spectacular deliveries, as he gleaned substantially more swing than any other bowler in the game. The ball to take out Rachin Ravindra’s leg stump was magnificent; Asitha angled it across the left-hander, and got it to tail in very late to slip between bat and pad. All through that new-ball spell, he had that shape to his deliveries. He struck twice in the seventh over, removing Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips, both for ducks.Pathum Nissanka scored a half-century up top in a two-part innings•AFP/Getty Images

At the other end, Maheesh Theekshana and Eshan Malinga also contributed wickets, dismissing Will Young and Daryl Mitchell respectively. All three of these bowlers ended up taking three wickets apiece. Asitha’s was the best among their final figures.Malinga also swung the ball, though not as much as Asitha, and bowled probing lines. Theekshana got turn out of a pitch that the New Zealand spinners had also enjoyed earlier in the match, particularly when they picked their way through Sri Lanka’s middle order. Though it was still Matt Henry who was most penetrative, taking 4 for 55 from his ten overs. Three of those wickets came at the death, but Henry had been instrumental in building pressure through the middle overs too.The first ingredients of Sri Lanka’s 140-run victory, however, were the fifties to Nissanka and Kusal. Nissanka’s 66 off 42 was unusual. He got to 50 off the 31st delivery he played, but as he was completing that run, appeared to pull a hamstring, and left the field at the end of the tenth over. Kusal then replaced him at the crease and reeled off 54 off 48 to salvage what has otherwise been a modest tour for him.Nissanka, especially, reveled in taking on the short ball. He crashed five sixes and six fours in his innings, coming back to the middle in the 34th over to swing at a few though he was unable to run or reach particularly far outside off. Kusal hit two sixes and five fours, having made all his runs after the initial fielding restrictions had ended.Matt Henry took all of his four wickets in the back-half of Sri Lanka’s innings•AFP/Getty Images

Both batters were dismissed by wide, turning Mitchell Santner deliveries, that they were trying to drag over the deep-midwicket boundary.Santner had been among the primary architects of Sri Lanka’s middle-overs slowdown. They had been 155 for 1 (Nissanka was retired hurt also) after 27 overs, but in the following seven overs lost three wickets and made only 28. They recovered through a half-century to Liyanage, who constructed a clever innings that shepherded the lower-middle order and the tail. Liyanage made 53 off 52 balls before falling in the final over. He had hit five boundaries – two of them sixes – but largely sought to push the game deep and ensure Sri Lanka batted out their 50 overs.But New Zealand had no answers to Asitha bowling one of the white-ball spells of his career. Chapman saw out that new-ball spell, and then gained confidence once the powerplay was over, finding the boundary with the kind of ease that Nissanka and Kusal earlier had. He was especially strong through the off side, hitting all but two of his ten fours on that side of the ground.But thanks to that early collapse, they never looked like threatening the target.

BCCI objects to PCB's Champions Trophy tour to Muzaffarabad

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A fresh twist in the 2025 Champions Trophy has thrown the ICC’s trophy tour into confusion, a day before it was supposed to begin in Pakistan, after the BCCI objected to the PCB’s plan of taking the tour to Muzaffarabad, which is the capital of Pakistan Administered Kashmir, a territory disputed by India and Pakistan.ESPNcricinfo has learned that the BCCI notified the ICC about its objection on Friday, a day after the PCB put out a post on X (formerly Twitter) announcing the dates and venues for the tour would be heading to.It could not be confirmed if the BCCI lodged its objection in writing or verbally. It is understood that no approval or rejection has been made yet and that the ICC is still in discussions on the final plan of the trophy tour.Related

  • Hybrid model for Champions Trophy? ICC likely to take call on November 26

  • Champions Trophy saga: Blame lies with ICC leadership

  • The Champions Trophy is thrilling, unpredictable, edge-of the seat stuff (and that's just the negotiations)

  • Champions Trophy: PCB wants an explanation in writing from India for refusal to travel

  • India will not travel to Pakistan for 2025 Champions Trophy

The PCB’s post did catch the ICC by surprise given that it is an ICC event, and such communication is usually announced through its channels.According to the PCB’s post, the tour is scheduled to start from November 16 but given the BCCI’s objection, it wasn’t clear at the time of writing whether it will now go ahead on that day. On their X post, the PCB said the trophy tour would also take in other popular tourist destinations including Skardu, Murree and Hunza.There is a possibility that the tour may begin in an initial phase by taking the trophy – of which Pakistan are the defending champions – to the venues that are to be used in the tournament – Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi – and then take in the other venues during a second phase of the tour.

This latest development adds to growing uncertainty about the tournament itself, after it emerged last week that the BCCI wrote to ICC stating the Indian government had denied permission for India to travel to Pakistan for the tournament. The ICC conveyed that decision to the PCB. In response, the PCB, which is currently readying its three venues in preparation, has said it would not agree to a hybrid model, a solution BCCI prefers which will allow India to play their matches outside Pakistan.The PCB responded to the ICC earlier this week asking them several questions about the BCCI’s communication, including when exactly it was conveyed to the ICC and what the specific reasons are for India’s inability to travel. They have also asked the ICC to provide to them formal communication from the BCCI explaining the decision and the reasons behind it.Communication between the PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the ICC leadership is believed to have taken place since on the matter, in a bid to resolve the issue. But the PCB is insisting on responses to the queries it has put to the ICC.The PCB has pencilled in February 19-March 9 as dates for the eight-team Champions Trophy, but the ICC has still not formally released the tournament dates and schedule.

India, Australia look to iron out flaws to edge ahead in high-octane series

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Big Picture: Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the line

This is big. If India win at the MCG, they retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. If Australia win, they remain on track for a first series win over India in a decade. A defeat for the home side would trigger significant questions while if India lose, their World Test Championship (WTC) fate is out of their hands, although retaining the series trophy would remain possible. With a good forecast, a draw would appear an unlikely result, particularly given the ground’s recent history. And whatever unfolds on Boxing Day could take place in front of more than 90,000 spectators.It’s only been six days since the damp end to proceedings at the Gabba, but a lot has happened. If you weren’t aware of the scoreline, it may feel like India are ahead given Australia have been forced into a change at the top of the order to try and counterpunch against Jasprit Bumrah. It means 19-year-old Sam Konstas will make an extraordinary debut after just 11 first-class matches.But it’s also been a curious few days for the visitors. Virat Kohli had a run-in with a reporter at the Melbourne airport; Ravindra Jadeja only took questions in Hindi at a press conference which got some people annoyed; and there were suggestions of a conspiracy when India were given used pitches to train on at the MCG.Related

  • Rohit doesn't want to 'complicate too many things' for Gill and Jaiswal

  • MCG pitch to have 'pace, bounce and excitement', but what about runs?

  • Konstas' MCG debut confirmed, Head faces a fitness test

  • WTC final race – How can India, Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka qualify?

  • Should India opt for bowling depth over batting insurance?

Meanwhile, in terms of the important things, they are still trying to find enough support for Bumrah and more runs from a misfiring top order. There does not appear much India can do about the batting order in terms of personnel, instead they will hope someone can follow the lead of KL Rahul.There has not been a lot of actual cricket played in the last two Tests: Adelaide was over little more than an hour into the third day and rain was a constant menace in Brisbane. But since Perth, Australia have dominated. Yet it sits at 1-1 and there is not much wriggle room for them to have a bad day.Australia’s top order remains under scrutiny amid the call to drop Nathan McSweeney in favour of Konstas at such a crucial moment in the series while senior batters Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne remain low on runs. Travis Head, who picked up a quad niggle in Brisbane but is good to go, has been the game-changer while Steven Smith’s hundred was timely and by the end of it he was playing very fluently.The fact that Scott Boland can slot back in at a ground he has enjoyed so much success on (headlined by his 6 for 7 against England in 2021-22) shows the pace-bowling depth Australia have. It may just be what makes the difference, although don’t count out Bumrah being able to win it almost on his own for India, who have not lost a Test at the MCG since 2011.

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia DWLWW
India DLWLL

In the spotlight: Usman Khawaja and Virat Kohli

Usman Khawaja is coming towards the end of what is his leanest Test year since 2013 (when he averaged 19.00 from just three matches). In 2024 he has a return of 337 runs at 24.07 including just one fifty. However, the Australia camp is taking the view that he is out of runs rather than out of form, similar to Smith before his Gabba century. Khawaja has spoken about having next year’s Ashes on his radar with a potential finishing point of the SCG in just over 12 months’ time, but whether he gets there may depend on these next two Tests and the Sri Lanka series.There has been one India great retire in this series. And the rumours are bubbling about who might be next. Virat Kohli ended a century drought with his second innings in Perth but at the moment it is looking like an outlier with a pattern in his dismissals aside from that – pushing hard at the ball outside off stump. In Brisbane he was reaching out to drive a particularly wide delivery. In 2014 he enjoyed a spectacular Test at the MCG with 169 and 54, then in 2018 made a hardworking 82 as captain to help lay the foundation for a famous victory which ultimately decided that series. He missed 2020 when India won again. What will 2024 bring?

Team news: Konstas debut, Boland back; India’s balance question

Konstas’ debut was confirmed on Christmas Eve while Boland will return in place of the injured Josh Hazlewood. Head passed a fitness test on Christmas Day after coming out of the Gabba with a quad strain.Australia: 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Sam Konstas, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Scott BolandRohit Sharma’s batting position remains a hot topic and he did not confirm where he would slot in ahead of the game, but it seems unlikely India will break up the opening pair. The other key debate is what to do at No. 8: stick with Nitish Kumar Reddy, pick another specialist quick (which would lengthen the tail) or play Washington Sundar as an alternative allrounder and opt for a 3-2 balance of pace and spin?India (possible): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 KL Rahul, 3 Shubman Gill, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Rohit Sharma (capt), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Nitish Kumar Reddy/Washington Sundar, 9 Akash Deep, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Mohammed Siraj1:57

What’s the blueprint for winning a Test at the MCG?

Pitch and conditions: Sizzling temperatures on Boxing Day

The MCG pitch, which has become a goldmine for the quicks, has been in focus. Curator Matt Page said he will follow the formula which has been a success in recent seasons, leaving around 6mm of grass on the surface. Australia coach Andrew McDonald said it’s normally a surface where you bowl first, but things may be different this time. The forecast for a hot opening day, where temperatures could reach 40 degrees Celsius, may see the pitch quicken up earlier than normal. There is a chance of showers on the second day but otherwise the forecast is fine and a more pleasant temperature from day three onwards.

Stats and trivia

  • Bumrah needs six wickets for 200 in Tests. If he did it at the MCG, in his 44th Test, he would be the joint second-fastest for India behind R Ashwin
  • Since the 2018-19 season, there have been six Test centuries scored at the MCG – the lowest of all Australian venues to host more than a single match
  • Australia’s current average from their top three is their lowest ever for a home series of at least three Tests (note: includes Pat Cummins as nightwatcher in Perth)

Quotes

“Every game starts afresh…different teams, different structures. Think both teams have similar challenges at the moment. How do you find runs? Both bowling attacks have been on top. I’m not a big believer in history repeating itself.
“After three Test matches, if I had to look at it being one-all, it’s a fair reflection of how both teams have played. There has been solid cricket being played by both teams.”

Chad Bowes smashes record for fastest List A double-century

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Chad Bowes scored the fastest List A double-century on Wednesday for Canterbury against Otago in the Ford Trophy. Bowes brought up the milestone in 103 balls, before eventually falling for 205 off 110 deliveries.The record was previously held by Australia’s Travis Head and India’s N Jagadeesan, who both took 114 deliveries each to get to their respective double-centuries. Head achieved the feat for South Australia against Queensland in the 2021-22 Marsh Cup, while Tamil Nadu’s Jagadeesan did it during his record-breaking 277 against Arunachal Pradesh in the 2022 Vijay Hazare Trophy.Playing his 100th List A match, Bowes hit 27 fours and seven sixes as he helped Canterbury post 343 for 9 after they were put in to bat at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.”It might sink in over the next day or two, but obviously a great day here at Hagley and a good occasion to do something special,” Bowes said after his innings. “These things happen naturally, organically. You don’t plan for it or try to do it, so I’m glad it was my day. Probably not [hit he ball] consistently that well, so it was nice to get most of them out of the middle and hit it around the park. It started off really nicely so I just kept going and it was working so I didn’t try to rein it in too much and just kept the foot on the gas.”The 32-year-old got off to a quick start and continued to show his aggression despite losing his opening partner Henry Nicholls for a five-ball duck in the second over. He got to his half-century in 26 balls and brought up his century in 53 deliveries. He took another 50 deliveries to complete his double, before being trapped lbw in the 39th over by Matthew Bacon, who registered a five-for. This was Bowes’ best List A score, comfortably going past his previous high score of 126.Only two other batters in Canterbury’s top seven reached double-figures, with captain Cole McConchie’s 40-ball 27 the next highest score. However, No. 8 Zakary Foulkes gave them a late boost with a 46-ball 49 to take them close to 350.Canterbury bowled Otago out for 103 to complete a 240-run win.

Livingstone and Bethell star as England level T20I series

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Perhaps being dropped from England’s ODI squad was the wake-up call that Liam Livingstone needed. After flattering to deceive while battling a series of niggling injuries over the last three years, Livingstone marked his 50th T20I cap by clubbing 87 off 47 to square the series in Cardiff, having earlier helped to drag Australia back with 2 for 16 in his three overs.Chasing 194 to set up a decider in Manchester on Sunday, England slipped to 79 for 3 in the ninth over when Phil Salt miscued Matthew Short to long-on. But Livingstone combined with the precocious allrounder Jacob Bethell to add 90 in just 47 balls, and despite a major wobble against Short’s offbreaks, England got home with an over to spare.Related

  • Matthew Short makes his case to be Warner's successor

  • Liam Livingstone embraces veteran status and targets ODI comeback

  • Does England-Australia allrounder-fest point way to T20's future?

Bethell was handed his first England cap by Livingstone on Wednesday, having been mentored by him at Birmingham Phoenix in the Hundred. They fed off one another: as Livingstone laid into Australia’s under-strength seam attack, Bethell took down their spinners – including four consecutive boundaries off Adam Zampa, which broke the back of the chase.Bethell fell with 25 still needed, losing his off stump while reverse-sweeping, but Livingstone took England home. Given the responsibility of batting at No. 4 in a young side, Livingstone was playing for his England future this week but has delivered, twice top-scoring and taking five wickets in six overs.It meant Livingstone addressed a long-standing charge against him: that he has often shown glimpses of his talent in international cricket, but has rarely won England a game. While he could not quite deliver the decisive blow – he was bowled trying to hit Short for six with scores tied – this was still a match-winning innings, featuring five sixes.He sent a raucous, sold-out Cardiff crowd home happy. “I’ve struck the ball better, but in terms of situations, scenarios, I don’t really care about scoring runs in loses,” Livingstone said. “It’s all about winning games: I want to win games for England and today I feel like I’ve done that.”Australia’s total of 193 owed much to Jake Fraser-McGurk’s maiden international half-century, with Josh Inglis adding 42. They were pegged back after another fast start, but looked short on bowling quality with Xavier Bartlett missing due to a side strain and Josh Hazlewood rested – and so it proved.Liam Livingstone raced to a half-century in his 50th T20I•Getty Images

The Rooster crows

Fraser-McGurk missed out on selection at the Utilita Bowl after scoring 0, 16 and 0 in his first three T20I innings in Scotland last week, with Short preferred at the top of the order. But Mitchell Marsh’s illness – which saw Travis Head captain Australia for the first time in any format – gave Fraser-McGurk an opportunity at No. 3.He came in after another fast start by Australia’s new opening pair: Short crunched Reece Topley for a six and two fours in the first over before Head raced to 31 off 13 balls, including two towering straight sixes. Brydon Carse’s extra pace made the difference: Head slapped his second ball, clocked at 91.3mph, straight to short cover.Fraser-McGurk made a flying start of his own, hitting three consecutive boundaries off Sam Curran as Australia reached 67 for 1 off the Powerplay. After initially struggling to pick Adil Rashid, he then lofted a floaty legbreak back down the ground for a straight six – though Rashid then cleaned Short up for 28 with a trademark googly.Livingstone kept things tight through the middle and had both Fraser-McGurk and Marcus Stoinis caught at wide long-on by Jamie Overton – though not before Fraser-McGurk had audaciously launched the profligate Topley over deep point for six.Carse was hit for consecutive fours by Inglis – who made 42 – but had Tim David caught behind with his last ball. He finished with 2 for 26 in his first international match since serving a ban for breaching anti-gambling regulations, having replaced the rested Jofra Archer. But Overton shelled Cameron Green at deep midwicket, and Aaron Hardie punished Curran in the final over to lift Australia to 193.Jake Fraser-McGurk launches down the ground•PA Photos/Getty Images

England’s late wobble

After Salt crunched Hardie for three consecutive sixes to get England moving, Will Jacks fell cheaply in the chase, picking out long leg for the second game in a row to extend an underwhelming start to his T20I career. Sean Abbott was the bowler, and had two in his first three balls when Jordan Cox lost his leg stump to a nip-backer.Salt and Livingstone ticked over but Zampa briefly put the brakes on, and Head was rewarded for a bowling change which defied convention: using Short’s offspin against two right-handers. But Livingstone and Bethell combined to stunning effect, starting steadily before shifting gears to take Stoinis and Zampa down respectively.England did their best to mess things up, with Short taking his first five-for of a 233-match professional career: Bethell was bowled reversing, Curran picked out extra cover, Livingstone ran past a straight one and Carse picked out mid-on. With Short on a hat-trick, Rashid steered the winning single away through point.

VVS Laxman to continue as head of the National Cricket Academy

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VVS Laxman, the former India batter, will extend his term as head of the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru by at least a year. His initial three-year contract was until this September.Laxman was being pursued by an IPL franchise for a head coach position, a role that is now not possible because of his NCA duties. He is likely to be assisted by his team of coaches, including Shitanshu Kotak, Sairaj Bahutule and Hrishikesh Kanitkar, all stalwarts of Indian domestic cricket.The extension of Laxman’s contract comes ahead of the inauguration of a new state-of-the-art NCA campus in the outskirts of Bengaluru, the foundation for which was laid in January 2022, 14 years after the land was sanctioned by the Karnataka government on a 99-year lease.Believed to be equipped with at least 100 pitches, indoor facilities with 45 pitches, three international-sized grounds, a modern rehab centre, lodging facilities and Olympic-sized pools, apart from a host of other amenities, the NCA is in its final stages of construction. It is likely to be operational from early next year.One of Laxman’s challenges will be to build on an already comprehensive India A tour program that he has carried forward from Rahul Dravid’s tenure. It has, however, been hampered lately by a busy international calendar.During his first three-year term at the NCA, Laxman has built on the robust processes set for injury management, player rehabilitation, coaching programmes and preparing roadmaps for the senior teams, age-group and women’s cricket.

Atkinson upstages Anderson with seven-for as England dominate

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England 189 for 3 (Crawley 76, Pope 57) lead West Indies 121 (Atkinson 7-45) by 68 runsThey came for James Anderson, but they got Gus Atkinson. The first Test of England’s summer at Lord’s was meant to be a farewell for their greatest-ever seam bowler, but West Indies’ batters rolled out the red carpet for a debutant instead: they collapsed from 88 for 3 to 121 all out, with Atkinson taking remarkable figures of 7 for 45.Atkinson took two wickets in his first 14 balls on the first morning, but it was his second spell that sent West Indies into a tailspin. He took three wickets in four balls in his ninth over, ripping the heart out of West Indies’ middle order, then took two in three during his 11th. His figures were the second-best by an England bowler on their Test debut, behind only Dominic Cork.Anderson, playing his 188th and final Test, bowled nine wicketless overs before lunch and was brought back to take the final wicket of the innings, trapping Jayden Seales lbw to a loud ovation from the Lord’s crowd. But it was Atkinson, the Surrey fast bowler, who led England off the field midway through a remarkable first day as a Test cricketer.

On a slowish pitch, he was the quickest England bowler on show, repeatedly touching 90mph/145kph and maintaining an average speed around 86mph/138kph. He made subtle adjustments to his grip but generally used a scrambled seam, allowing him to move the ball both ways off the surface.England’s overnight lead owed primarily to Zak Crawley’s quickfire 76. He rode his luck at times during his innings but was vindicated for his attacking intent, scoring heavily either side of point and dragging through midwicket and square leg when West Indies dropped short. He fell 24 short of a fifth Test hundred, Seales knocking his leg stump back with an inswinging yorker.It was Seales who made the initial breakthrough for West Indies, angling one across Ben Duckett who edged through to Joshua Da Silva. Crawley and Pope combined to good effect after a bad-light stoppage, scoring at nearly five runs per over. Both men fell before the close but Joe Root and Harry Brook remained unbeaten.Atkinson was one of two players handed their England Test caps on the first morning along with his Surrey team-mate Jamie Smith, having made his white-ball international debuts last year. Atkinson struck with the second ball of his first spell as Kraigg Brathwaite chopped onto his own stumps while attempting a leaden-footed slap through the off side.Atkinson enjoys his dream first day in Test cricket with Ben Stokes•Getty Images

He struck again in his third over, angling a full ball across the left-handed Kirk McKenzie whose thick outside edge flew quickly to Zak Crawley at second slip. After his first five-over spell he had figures of 2 for 2, with four maidens and a single scoring shot.Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge, the Dominican batters, added 44 in a partnership that spanned the lunch interval. But when Athanaze steered a low catch to Root at first slip, it sparked a dramatic slide: Jason Holder, playing his first Test in a year, was squared up first-ball and caught in the slips, before Da Silva’s inside edge gave Smith his first Test dismissal.Hodge saw three wickets fall in four balls while standing at the non-striker’s end and decided it was up to him to drag West Indies to a respectable total, laying into a cut when Chris Woakes offered him some width. The ball flew straight off the middle of his bat, only for Ollie Pope to take a spectacular diving catch in tight at point. Hodge threw his head back in disbelief.Atkinson’s figures were briefly dented by Alzarri Joseph, who hit four boundaries in five balls: two wristy whips through square leg, a textbook straight drive and a sumptuous lofted extra-cover drive which had his fellow Antiguan Vivian Richards standing to applaud from the hospitality boxes.But he soon chipped one up in the air to mid-on to give Atkinson a sixth, and two balls later, Shamar Joseph was comically caught by Pope point, losing his footing while attempting to pull him through the leg side. Anderson wrapped up the innings with an inswinger which struck Seales straight in front.Anderson walks out to open the bowling in a Test for one last time•ECB/Getty Images

Anderson occasionally beat the bat but bowled a fraction too short, particularly in his first spell. He was applauded onto the pitch by the Lord’s crowd when leading England out for the national anthem with his close family present, and his daughters Ruby and Lola ringing the five-minute bell on the pavilion balcony.Ben Stokes, who opted to bowl under cloud cover, was able to send down eight overs after declaring himself fully fit having skipped the T20 World Cup to continue his rehabilitation from a knee injury. He removed Mikyle Louis, who played brightly on debut, thanks to an excellent diving catch from Brook at second slip.Louis, who became the first man from St Kitts to play Test cricket for West Indies, was handed his cap by Richards and played with a confidence that belied the fact this was only his eighth first-class appearance. He hit consecutive boundaries in Anderson’s first over, which cost nine runs, and his 27 made him West Indies’ top-scorer.Related

Both Crawley and Pope had surpassed him when the umpires took the players off for bad light in the evening session. Holder thought he had them trapped lbw but the Decision Review System saved both: Pope was given out but the inswinger was projected to miss leg, while Holder convinced Brathwaite into reviewing a not-out decision off Crawley which was upheld.He did eventually trap an overbalancing Pope in front for 57, ending a second-wicket partnership worth 94 runs shortly after England had nudged into the lead. It was Pope’s first 50-plus score in a Test since his 196 against India in Hyderabad and only his second against a red-ball in this English summer.Shamar Joseph, playing a first-class match for the first time since spearheading West Indies’ famous win at the Gabba, bowled nine wicketless overs and suffered from cramp. His namesake Alzarri, who has also spent the last six months playing T20, was short on rhythm and consistency: he bowled three no-balls and leaked 6.6 runs per over.

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