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The MCC has announced that Derek Brewer will step down as chief execdutive in the winter of 2017-18

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Nov-2016Derek Brewer will retire as MCC chief executive during the winter of 2017-18. In a time of change in MCC administration, the deputy secretary Colin Maynard will also step down next winter, after more than 42 years with the club, leaving a new team to take charge ahead of the 2019 World Cup and an Ashes summer.Brewer took over at MCC in 2011 after seven years as chief executive of Nottinghamshire. His period of office has been characterised by impassioned debate over Lord’s development. The new Warner Stand, the first stage of the development, is nearing completion.Matthew Fleming, the MCC president, said: “It is a mark of the man that he is putting the club’s interests first by handing over at a time to allow his successor the opportunity to become accustomed to life at Lord’s prior to a crucial Ashes and World Cup year in 2019.”In his tenure, Lord’s has cemented its position firmly as the home of cricket, with unrivalled attendances for Test matches and a real focus on providing excellent experiences for members and all who visit the ground. In addition, he has overseen the successful first stage of the redevelopment of Lord’s and been the driving force in establishing the club as one with a real community focus, on a local, national and international level.”Brewer’s community commitment, also apparent in his time with Nottinghamshire, has been seen in the establishing of a Local-to-Lord’s community programme. Away from MCC, he also sits on the board of two organisations: Active Westminster and London Sport, a new strategic body that leads the delivery of grassroots sport in London.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided ‘not to involve’ Mohammad Ashraful in any form of cricket until the ICC’s ACSU submits its report on investigations into suspected match-fixing and spot-fixing in this year’s BPL

Mohammad Isam04-Jun-2013The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided ‘not to involve’ former captain Mohammad Ashraful in any form of cricket until the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) submits its report on investigations into alleged match-fixing and spot-fixing in this year’s Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The decision was taken at a BCB meeting on Tuesday after Ashraful admitted to his involvement in the activities.”[Mohammad] Ashraful has admitted to his guilt, so I feel he has no chance of staying with the game in the near future,” Nazmul Hassan, BCB president, said after the board’s executive committee meeting. “Ashraful himself told me about his confession. What he has confessed to, I don’t know because I want to read the full report first.”Later, a BCB statement confirmed that Ashraful would be kept out of the game: “The board decided not to involve Mohammad Ashraful in any cricketing activity under BCB’s jurisdiction until further notice. This decision was based on the player’s own confession of involvement in corrupt activities.”After Bangladesh’s admission into international cricket in 2000, Ashraful was its first recognised face and sometimes its only flag-bearer since his debut in 2001. His admission of guilt has had a major impact in the image of Bangladesh cricket, especially at a time when the cricket team has been faring quite well.Hassan said he will deal with the latest controversy in the right way, and take stringent action against those involved in corruption. He has also said that the ACSU report would be made public to clear any doubts about the BCB’s intent to tackle allegations of match-fixing and spot-fixing.”I am not going to let anyone off the hook. Everything has to be in a system, within rules. There will be hundreds of problems, but if we go about it the right way and solve them one by one, it will help us,” Hassan said. “We will make public whatever report we get from the ICC ACSU. They offered me bits and pieces of information on Sunday, when I met them. I said I want full details, and I can wait for it.”The BCB chief also explained how the ACSU, which was hired by the board to keep an eye on corrupt practices, went about their investigation during the BPL.”The day after BPL ended, they gave me a list of names [of people] who were suspected to have been involved in illegal activities. I immediately agreed to know the full details. This is the background of how all this started,” Hassan said. “They have taken interviews of a lot of people around the world. They have come to the end of their investigation, except for one last interview. It was supposed to have been taken yesterday, somewhere abroad. They told me that after that last interview, it would take them five to six days to submit the final report.”According to BCB’s anti-corruption laws, a 10-member tribunal is supposed to be formed to decide on the judgment of such cases. But Hassan is inclined to take the decision himself, since the investigation has been conducted by the ICC ACSU, on behalf of the BCB.”Since we couldn’t do the investigation ourselves, I think our decision, too, should be based on ACSU’s report on the matter,” Hassan said. “Whether we need a tribunal or not, we can consult BCB’s and ICC’s legal unit. But I think as a board president, I can take a decision and punish the guilty based on the ACSU report.”One of Bangladesh’s most experienced cricketers, Ashraful played 61 Tests and captained the national side in 13 Test matches, 38 ODIs and 11 T20Is between 2007 and 2009. During a career which extended from 2001 to 2013, he scored 2,737 runs in Test matches at an average of 24. He has also played 177 ODIs and scored 3,468 runs at an average of 22.23.

Australia and West Indies have changed much since their last meeting. Now they may discover how worthwhile those changes have been

The Preview by Daniel Brettig in Bridgetown06-Apr-2012

Match facts

Darren Bravo’s Indian dominance has given way to scratchy form at home•AFP

March April 7-11, Kensington Oval
Start time 1000 (1400 GMT)

Big Picture

When these sides last met, in Australia in 2009, they played out a series of drama, tension and bracing cricket – if the usual home hiding of an under-prepared opponent at the Gabba is taken out of the equation. At the centre of it all was Chris Gayle, then West Indies captain and the Man of the Series after a considered 165 in Adelaide was followed by the most blistering century in Perth. It is a neat summation of the changes wrought in both sides since that Gayle is no longer there, replaced as captain by the effervescent Darren Sammy, while Ricky Ponting has ceded his leadership to the extremely capable hands of Michael Clarke.Neither Australia or West Indies were destined for great things beyond their 2009 meeting, the hosts going on to be humbled during the next Ashes series, while the visitors spluttered through what has become a long-running cycle of defeats and political recriminations. Those results hastened the aforementioned changes in leadership, and also fostered new support staff and stronger cultures in each side. Australia’s performance has improved markedly since the day the Argus review into team performance was handed down, while under Sammy and the coach Ottis Gibson, West Indies are developing a side that may soon be capable of sustained presence.In Bridgetown they will stare each other down on a surface that will only have a modicum of the pace traditionally on offer. It will be a matter of whether Australia’s adjustment to foreign climes can provide enough of a window for a home side that has talent but is still developing the perseverance and consistency required to last five days. The top three batsmen on both sides will be sternly examined by sturdy bowling attacks: Ed Cowan, David Warner and Shane Watson seeking to establish themselves in much the same manner as Adrian Barath, Kraigg Brathwaite and Kirk Edwards.Australian eyes are also on the world rankings, as a strong series victory here will push them closer to the top of the ICC table, having dipped as low as fifth following the Ashes. West Indies by contrast are chasing history, a first Test win over Australia in nine years, a first series win in 19. The consistency and professionalism sought by both sides will either gather strength and vitality at Kensington Oval, or be cowed by a sobering reminder that there is still plenty of work to be done.

Form guide

(Most recent first)
West Indies DLLWD
Australia WWWWL

In the spotlight

Darren Bravo’s velvety strokeplay made him the talk of India and much of world cricket late in 2011, derived as it was from the example of his batting forebear Brian Lara. However those innings receded into the distance during the ODI and Twenty20 series against Australia, in which Bravo did not pass 25 in six innings before being dropped for the final T20. Returning to regional cricket, he made only 13 and 7 for Trinidad & Tobago against Barbados, and looked scratchy in the nets at Bridgetown. Much of West Indies’ hope for the series rests on the ability of this young batsman to assert himself, and he must find the confidence within to do so against well-drilled opponents.Shane Watson begins the third phase of his Test career as a No. 3 batsman, having previously played in the middle order then found some success as an opener. Since he was cut down by hamstring and calf injuries at the outset of the home summer, Watson has been usurped at the top of the order by David Warner and Ed Cowan, leaving him to replace Shaun Marsh at one down following the West Australian’s dire India series. How Watson’s shrewd bowling fits back into a bowling attack that operated happily enough with only four practitioners at home will be a source of fascination, as will his contribution to the guidance and leadership of Clarke’s team.

Team news

Fidel Edwards and Kemar Roach are duelling for the final pace bowling spot in what is expected to be a four-man bowling attack. Roach made his name with fiery spells to Ricky Ponting in the two teams’ last series in Australia in 2009, while in 2008 Edwards claimed eight wickets for the match against Ponting’s team in Bridgetown. The recalled Narsingh Deonarine replaces an IPL-tied Marlon Samuels at No. 6.West Indies (possible) 1 Adrian Barath, 2 Kraigg Brathwaite, 3 Kirk Edwards, 4 Darren Bravo, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Narsingh Deonarine, 7 Carlton Baugh (wk), 8 Darren Sammy (capt), 9 Ravi Rampaul, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Devendra Bishoo.A race between Ryan Harris and James Pattinson for the third pace bowler’s berth is the only major question for the Australian selectors on tour. Both bowled well in the warm-up against the WICB President’s XI, Pattinson having a little less cricket behind him following a buttock strain. Watson returns for his first Test since South Africa last November, while Matthew Wade will debut.Australia (possible) 1 Ed Cowan, 2 David Warner, 3 Shane Watson, 4 Ricky Ponting, 5 Michael Clarke (capt), 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Peter Siddle, 9 Ryan Harris/James Pattinson, 10 Ben Hilfenhaus, 11 Nathan Lyon.

Pitch and conditions

There is little grass on the wicket unveiled for the first Test, and its appearance is similar to that used for the second Twenty20 match. Kensington pitches always offer the promise of some pace and bounce, but as it deteriorates there should be useful spin for Devendra Bishoo, Nathan Lyon and their part-time counterparts.

Stats and trivia

• West Indies’ last Test victory over Australia was the record chase of 418 to beat Steve Waugh’s side in the fourth Test of the 2003 series in Antigua.
• Only three members of the Australia squad – Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey – have played Tests in the Caribbean before.
• West Indies have won four and Australia three of the 10 Tests the two teams have played at Kensington Oval, the last draw taking place in 1973.

Quotes

“In India, where teams don’t go there and win, we went out and played and dominated India in two out of three Test matches. Over the last 12 months the team has shown signs of improvement and they’ve been fighting. We’ve just got to continue that. We have a group that believes they don’t only compete but they could win games.”
“No doubt we can take some confidence out of beating India 4-0 in Australia. The expectation, particularly in Australia, is to win in your own backyard and it was really nice that we could do that during the summer. But the hardest part of playing international sport is beating teams away from home in conditions you’re not as used to … different environment, different temperature, different culture, completely different cricket wickets.”

Jason Krejza knows better than most that bowling spin for Australia can be a short-term vocation, so he’s determined to make the best of his unexpected second calling

Brydon Coverdale03-Feb-2011Jason Krejza knows better than most that bowling spin for Australia can be a short-term vocation, so he’s determined to make the best of his unexpected second calling. Two years after he took 12 wickets on his Test debut only to be dropped one match later, Krejza has the chance to show off his one-day skills, after being named in the squad for the final ODI against England.His opportunity has only arrived because Nathan Hauritz dislocated his shoulder and is in doubt for the World Cup, Xavier Doherty is suffering from back pain and Steven Smith has a hip injury. But however it has come, Krejza is thrilled at the chance to once again represent his country, which could yet turn into a World Cup dream if the injuries to the others persist.”It’s a complete surprise, full-stop,” Krejza told ESPNcricinfo of his call-up. “Hopefully I get the opportunity. Playing one-day cricket has been at the top of my list as the next thing to do, and it’s finally come around. I’m trying not to think about [the World Cup]. It might only come through injuries to other people, which is never good. There’s a slim chance but I’m not holding my breath.”For the time being, Krejza is focused solely on Sunday’s series finale at the WACA, where he last played for Australia in late 2008, taking match figures of 1 for 204 in a record defeat at the hands of South Africa. After that, the selectors preferred spinners who could tie up an end rather than overly attacking options, which meant Krejza had to go back to Tasmania and adjust his game to have any hope of an international return.”Waiting for the right moments to attack, that’s the thing that I’ve worked out,” Krejza said. “I was always attack, attack, attack, but now I’ve been bringing it back a notch and having a defensive mindset and being patient and being happy doing that for a while and waiting for that opportunity to attack again.”[The WACA] has become pretty good for spinners, although of course it could be a complete road again and not spin at all. But you’ve got the breeze there and it’s a big ground sideways. It’s a tough ground to bowl at but if you bowl well, you’ve got the bounce and you can pick up wickets.”Whatever happens in Perth, at least Krejza knows that the selectors hadn’t drawn a line through his name, as seems to be the case with some other players. And at 28, he still has plenty of years left to push for further chances in Australian colours, or whites.”If you play really good cricket, things can happen in quite a rush,” he said. “That’s happened for a few players, Doherty did the same thing, got a few wickets and it all came in a rush. It’s still my dream to put that baggy green back on but I just have to concentrate on this game and play each game as if it could be my last.”

Chris Taylor has parted ways with Yorkshire a year before his contract with the county was due to expire in order to focus on his business interests.

Cricinfo staff08-Jan-2010Chris Taylor has parted ways with Yorkshire a year before his contract with the county was due to expire in order to focus on his business interests. Taylor, 28, founded the Pro Cricket Coaching Academy in 2006 with Andrew Gale, his Yorkshire team-mate, to provide coaching across the Midlands and northern England. He came to the decision by mutual consent with the county after becoming frustrated by his lack of opportunities since rejoining the club after a two-year spell with Derbyshire.”Following my successful stint with Derbyshire I genuinely thought I could make a real impact back at Yorkshire,” said Taylor, who made his first-class debut for Yorkshire in 2001. “However, I have been somewhat disappointed not to have played more first-team cricket. That said, I do realise there are some very exciting young cricketers emerging at the club and, as such, it is unlikely I will get any first XI opportunities in 2010. The last thing I want is to block the development of talented young cricketers making their way in the game.”Stewart Regan, the Yorkshire chief executive, added: “Chris is a great guy and I am sorry that he has not had the breaks he needed to establish himself in our first team. I would like to thank him for his contribution over the last two years and wish him well in his new venture.”

Former umpire says the UDRS undermines the authority of on-field umpires

Cricinfo staff07-Dec-2009Former umpire Dickie Bird has criticised the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS), saying it undermines the authority of on-field umpires. The system is currently being used in the Test series between Australia and West Indies, and New Zealand and Pakistan.”I would never have brought them in,” Bird told the . “They are taking the authority away from the on-field umpires, and the whole thing is causing more problems than it’s worth.”Bird’s comments come in the aftermath of umpire Mark Benson’s sudden withdrawal from the Adelaide Test between Australia and West Indies, and reports stating he was heading towards retirement out of frustration with the UDRS. The reported yesterday that Benson was upset over several incidents involving the UDRS on day one of the Test, one of which led to his original decision being overturned.”In the old days, controversial decisions became talking points in the bars and clubs but everybody respected the umpire’s authority,” Bird said. “I am in agreement with Roger Federer, who wanted Hawk-Eye thrown out of Wimbledon, and [FIFA president] Sepp Blatter, who says that refereeing decisions are part of football.”Players should accept these things and move on, but all the money that has come into sport has turned their heads.”Jeremy Lloyds, the English umpire, who stepped down from umpiring at the highest level in 2006, spoke of the strains involved, given the nature of the job, and the effects of decisions coming under scrutiny on television. “I was working 230 days a year, of which 150 were spent in airports or hotels,” he said. “The time you actually spend on the field, you feel that you’re in a goldfish bowl, and you can’t be yourself with the players in case it doesn’t look right on TV.”

England’s No. 3 is still a teenager and has benefited from managing her schedule better

Valkerie Baynes12-Jul-2024The day Alice Capsey turned 18, she walked towards a pod of journalists, delighted that she no longer needed a chaperone during interviews.She’d been doing these – accompanied – for a while and her team, Oval Invincibles, had just pulled off the highest successful run chase in the Women’s Hundred to defeat Northern Superchargers at The Oval after the men’s teams had played the curtain raiser.As eager and comfortable as she was on that night almost two years ago, it’s easy to forget she is still a teenager now and to overlook how the sheer volume of cricket she has played since took a “toll” on her. Since July 2022, Capsey has played a staggering 93 top-level T20 matches. As a result, she hasn’t played regional cricket this season, opting to focus on playing for England and, when she’s not, taking a break from cricket.Related

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Speaking in Canterbury after her career-best 67 not out off 60 balls secured victory for England in a nervy third T20I against New Zealand, Capsey revealed that she felt in a much better place than she had over the past year and just how hard it had been to reach that point.”I’ve been kind of under the spotlight for the last three years and it’s taken its toll a little bit, especially over the last year,” Capsey said. “So I really have taken a step back this year and gone, ‘What’s going to be the best option for me to go onto the pitch and perform?’ Prioritising myself a little bit more… not listening to the outside noise as much and really focusing on what matters to me as a person and as a cricketer and what’s going to make me the best cricketer for this team.”Capsey enjoyed a breakout season during the inaugural Women’s Hundred and was part of the first England A squad to tour Australia during the Women’s Ashes at the start of 2022, earning her senior call-up for the Commonwealth Games later that year. Since then, she has become a fixture at No. 3 in T20Is and played in franchise tournaments around the world while floating round the middle order in 17 ODIs.But her half-century against the White Ferns to help England to a 3-0 lead in their five match T20 series on Thursday was her first fifty in the format since last August. Her highest score in the 11 innings she played in between was 31 – made against Pakistan in May – and sat alongside a string of scores either in the 20s, or in single figures. Her highest score in ODIs is 44, also reached during Pakistan’s recent visit. In her two other ODI innings this English summer, she was unbeaten on 39 and 35 against Pakistan and New Zealand respectively.All of these numbers serve as a reminder that Capsey is still a young player learning her craft, and suggest she is figuring out what works for her at the right time.”For someone of my age, I feel really experienced within T20 cricket and I feel really comfortable with my role at No. 3,” she said. “I know that it’s not going to come off every time and I know that there’s going to be critics about how I go about the game. But on nights like these, it is just about going big and really securing the win.Capsey has played a high volume of T20, including at the WPL•BCCI

“I missed the regional cricket this year. I have played so much cricket and I thought the best way to actually perform for England and get myself in the best positive space to be able to perform was to have a little break. We’ve obviously got huge winter and playing for England and performing for England is my main priority. Playing the amount of games I have, I’ve been exposed to a lot of different situations, which is just going to help me as a batter but as an allrounder. Then, obviously on the flip side, it’s a hell of a lot of cricket.”Taking time off between international series appears to be paying dividends, with a T20 World Cup in October, followed by an away Ashes series, then a 50-over World Cup in India in 2025.”As much as I probably haven’t played the amount of cricket that I have in the past couple of years, I feel the most calm and controlled I’ve felt in a very long time,” Capsey said. “I feel really calm, I know what my options are and yeah, I just feel really confident and it’s amazing that if you’re in a good head space that you then take it onto the pitch and feel a lot better about yourself.”Jon Lewis, England’s head coach, said recently that he’d like Capsey “to be one of our best top-five batters” in ODIs, while recognising that her schedule is currently focused on the shorter format. He has also been keen to deploy her part-time offspin, albeit in a side spoilt with spin-bowling riches in the form of left-armer and world No.1 Sophie Ecclestone, legspinner Sarah Glenn and offspinner Charlie Dean.But, as shown in fielding an experimental line-up missing captain Heather Knight, opening batter Danni Wyatt and seamer Lauren Bell, England are all about exploring their options ahead of the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.”We’ve been spoken to by the coaching staff before the series, saying that there will be a bit of chaos thrown in front of us, a few different situations about how we adapt to it,” Capsey said. “The performances are showing we are getting the results, but I think as a group we’re really calm with the different changes and we all feel like, especially from my point of view, I feel like it doesn’t matter who’s in the team, we can all just go out in there and play with freedom and play to our strengths.”I’d love to bowl, but I stand no chance with those three,” Capsey added. “They perform day in, day out and when I do get the opportunity, don’t get me wrong, I’m going to make the most of it, but if I’m not having to bowl, then they’re doing their job and we’re probably winning more games than we’re not.”

Labuschagne overcame back soreness to make patient 45 before Clayton’s unbeaten half-century and McDermott’s unbeaten 46 saw Queensland home against South Australia

AAP and ESPNCricinfo staff18-Feb-2024Assured innings from Marnus Labuschagne, Jack Clayton and Ben McDermott helped guide Queensland to a seven-wicket win over South Australia that keeps alive faint hopes of a berth in the Sheffield Shield final.The Bulls defied two days of play dominated by the ball – and some batting struggles of their own in recent matches – to ease to South Australia’s target of 206 with seven wickets to spare at the Adelaide Oval.Labuschagne (45), Jack Clayton (54 not out) and Ben McDermott (46 not out) played contrasting innings, McDermott’s a breezy cameo to see the visitors home after Labuschagne batted with supreme patience earlier in the day.It was only the second win from eight Shield matches for Queensland this season, but it was enough to mathematically keep them in the hunt for a top-two finish with two games still to play.The Redbacks had lost 5 for 18 on Saturday after putting themselves in a dominant position following paltry first-innings totals from both teams.Alex Carey’s 90 at least gave them 205 to defend, and when Matthew Renshaw popped his pull shot straight into the air early on day three the hosts were right in the mix.But second-gamer Angus Lovell (35) and Labuschagne steadied before the Test No.3 broke the shackles with three boundaries and a six over mid-off inside two overs. He did battle some back tightness, receiving treatment from Bulls physio Martin LoveHe, like Lovell, fell attempting a pull shot, but the Bulls still cruised to victory a dozen overs after the tea break.

India batter says Sachin Tendulkar’s message is ‘special’ after equalling his world record

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Nov-20231:29

‘Ridiculous!’ – Anil Kumble marvels at Virat Kohli’s ODI numbers

“I had this sense of ‘it’s going to be something more,’ today rather than ‘it’s just one more game in the World Cup.’ I did wake up with that excitement, yes,” Virat Kohli said after his match-winning 101 not out off 121 balls against South Africa in Kolkata, on his 35th birthday, an innings that brought him level with Sachin Tendulkar’s world record of 49 ODI hundreds.”It was a big game,” Kohli said after winning the Player of the Match award. “We were probably playing the toughest team in the tournament that we had played so far, to be honest. They played some amazing cricket. There was this motivation of wanting to do well for the team. Because it happened on my birthday, people made it a bit more special for me. I had this sense of ‘it’s going to be something more today’ rather than ‘it’s just one more game in the World Cup’. I did wake up with that excitement, yes.”Related

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After Kohli completed his 49th hundred, Tendulkar posted a congratulatory message on the social media platform X, saying: “Well played Virat. It took me 365 days to go from 49 to 50 earlier this year. I hope you go from 49 to 50 and break my record in the next few days. Congratulations!!”When asked about Tendulkar’s message and his achievement, an emotional Kohli said, “it’s all too much to take in right now.””Tendulkar’s message is quite special. For me, it’s all too much to take in right now, to be honest, to equal my hero’s record in one-day internationals is something that’s a huge honour for me. I know that people like comparisons, I am never going to be as good as him. There’s a reason why we all looked up to him. He’s perfection when it comes to batting. I am trying to do my best, trying to win games for my country. He’s always going to be my hero regardless of what happens. It’s a very emotional moment for me. I know where I come from, the days that I watched him play on TV. So to stand here and get this appreciation from someone like him means a lot to me.”