There is only a 10% chance of rain on Monday, which should mean a match of some sort will be possible between Pakistan and Sri Lanka

The preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando29-Sep-2019

Big Picture

It had rained pretty much constantly for two weeks in Colombo before Sri Lanka had left to Pakistan. After arriving in Karachi early last week, it had rained pretty much constantly for the first few days, forcing the abandonment of the first ODI. In a fortnight in which climate change has been in the news globally, perhaps it has been fitting that unstinting, unseasonal rains in both cities have also left their mark on the game.Whether the rains are a result of a changing climate or not, they certainly have made Sri Lanka’s unenviable position even worse. Already weakened by a slew of withdrawals, Sri Lanka have also been unable to train as they would like, both before they left for the tour, as well as since arriving in Pakistan. What’s more, if there is extra moisture in the Karachi surface to aid seam bowling, this too, may play into the hands of their hosts, who have the superior seam attack.ALSO READ: Ian Chappell on why cricket needs to take climate change seriouslyPakistan may be stepping out into a new era, under Misbah-ul-Haq. But they were always strong favourites in this series, against a team that still does not have a permanent coach. The rains have only made Sri Lanka’s challenge more difficult.

Form guide

Pakistan WWWWL (completed matches, most recent first)
Sri LankaWWWLWShadab Khan celebrates after taking a wicket•Getty Images

In the spotlight

There is no doubt Danushka Gunathilaka is a talented batsman. But he has, in the past three years, been on the end of too many disciplinary indiscretions, the most-recent of which was a broken curfew in the middle of a Test match last year. Gunathilaka was not picked for Sri Lanka’s World Cup squad, partly because of that history. He needs more runs most to convince the selectors that he should be part of Sri Lanka’s best starting XI when all players are available.ALSO READ: This tour a precursor to December Test series, says SL coach RatnayakeThe days when Sri Lanka’s batsmen could consider themselves among the best players of spin are long gone. As the likes of Imran Tahir have repeatedly proved, this generation of Sri Lanka batsmen have a particular weakness against legspin. In the five games he has played against them so far, Shadab Khan has excellently exploited this weakness, taking 10 wickets at an average of 16.3 – his best against any major nation. With the current Sri Lanka top-order batsmen being essentially the second string, perhaps Shadab has an opportunity to improve on those numbers.

Team news

It is difficult to predict Sri Lanka’s XI, but Nuwan Pradeep may get a game owing to his experience. Lakshan Sandakan is the only specialist spinner in the squad, but with the likes of Shehan Jayasuriya and Wanindu Hasaranga (both spin-bowling allrounders) around, perhaps he will not be required, especially if seam movement is expected.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Lahiru Thirimanne (capt.), 2 Danushka Gunathilaka, 3 Avishka Fernando, 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), 5 Oshada Fernando, 6 Shehan Jayasuriya, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Isuru Udana, 9 Wanindu Hasaranga, 10 Kasun Rajitha, 11 Nuwan PradeepDanushka Gunathilaka takes off for a run•Associated Press

Batsman Asif Ali played only two World Cup matches, but may get an opportunity here. Left-arm seamer Usman Shinwari, who last played an ODI in March, could also get a game.Pakistan (possible): 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Haris Sohail, 5 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt.) (wk), 6 Asif Ali, 7 Imad Wasim, 8 Shadab Khan, 9 Wahab Riaz, 10 Mohammad Amir, 11 Usman Shinwari

Pitch and conditions

There is only a 10% chance of rain on Monday, which should mean a match of some sort will be possible. Bright sunshine over the weekend has also helped dry the ground, which had been seriously waterlogged on Friday.

Stats and trivia

• Pakistan have won their six most-recent (completed) matches against Sri Lanka – a streak that goes back to 2017
  
• Gunathilaka has played only five ODIs since the start of 2018, but averages 46.50 through that period
  
• Shadab has never gone wicketless against Sri Lanka. All five of his matches against them were in the UAE
  
• Babar Azam is ranked third on the ICC rankings for ODI batting, while Imam-ul-Haq is joint 11th with Australia’s Aaron Finch. To find the best-ranking Sri Lanka batsman involved in this series, you have to go all the way down to No. 80: Avishka Fernando

The selectors have named five fast bowlers in the squad to face Pakistan but there is some genuine uncertainty among them as to who will play

Alex Malcolm15-Nov-2019Strength in depth is something the Australian selectors would dearly love with their batting options. They have in it in spades with the fast bowling, however, and that creates a different problem.The selection of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Michael Neser in the Test squad to face Pakistan looks like a luxury teams the world over would love to have.Now it’s about which three to pick for the Gabba. The selectors rotated their fast bowlers with mixed success in England. Heading into the final Test at The Oval they seemed genuinely unsure of their best trio, with Peter Siddle playing ahead of Starc and Pattinson who were both fully fit.Pattinson, perhaps to his own detriment given his desire to play his first Test on home soil since January 2016, thinks the New South Wales trio of Cummins, Hazlewood, and Starc will line-up in Brisbane.ALSO READ: James Pattinson wants to play back-to-back Tests“I think those three are probably going to get the first look in, realistically,” Pattinson said on Thursday. When probed as to whether the selectors had indicated that to him he responded, “Not really, that’s just my personal opinion.”The New South Wales trio tuned up for Brisbane by dismantling Western Australia on a slow dry SCG track, the antithesis of what will be presented at the Gabba. The trio took 13 wickets between them on a spin-friendly surface to bowl WA out for 191 and 128. All three were outstanding with a reverse-swinging ball.They were the trio that secured the Ashes for Australia at Old Trafford, in Starc’s only Test of the campaign, but he was unsure whether they would get the nod together in Brisbane.”We’ve all said we are here to win games for New South Wales and the rest of it will take care of itself,” Starc said. “For this week it was nice to have everyone back in blue, Patty’s [Cummins] first game and was nice seeing him bowl fast as well. We’ve played a lot of cricket together for New South Wales and Australia and if that’s the way they go in the first Test then great, if not keep pushing for the next one.”Starc’s form probably makes him the favourite to be named alongside Cummins and Hazlewood, who appear certain starters. After a lean match at the Gabba against Queensland, where he claimed 1 for 129, some remedial work with NSW bowling coach Andre Adams propelled him to a man of the match display against Tasmania at Drummoyne Oval where he took 10 for 60 from 43.2 overs.He then took eight wickets in six T20Is but stepped back into Shield cricket without missing a beat, claiming 4 for 57 in the second innings against Western Australia with some vicious reverse swing and six wickets in the matchJosh Hazlewood and James Pattinson bowl in the nets•Getty Images

“I’ve just been happy with the rhythm and things I’ve worked on, just to get into a clearer mindset,” Starc said. “The things I worked on coming out of the Gabba Shield game and into Drummoyne I’ve been pretty focused and clear since the Gabba – in the T20s as well – so that’s pretty pleasing. Hopefully having that mindset can carry on through the summer.”Pattinson’s form in the Sheffield Shield should not be overlooked. He consistently troubled opponents with pace and hostility on three very flat surfaces at the Junction Oval, the WACA and the MCG. He was rested for the game against Tasmania on a bowler-friendly surface in Hobart. He has 11 wickets in four innings thus far this season with two four-wicket hauls but has bowled without luck at times.The squad mentality has been spoken about at length, with Australia’s hierarchy keen to sell the idea to the fast bowlers to both keep them fresh and extend their careers.Pattinson spoke last Friday of his desire to play back-to-back Test matches and his envy of the batsmen being able to find form through continuity of playing.But it seems the bowlers, begrudgingly or not, have accepted their fate that they may not play every game.”We spoke about the squad mentality during the Ashes and having five fast bowlers again it will be the same thing,” Starc said. “Whether that’s conditions-based, Nes [Neser] bowled really well in that A game from what I’ve heard and Patto has been bowling really nicely. Joshy, Patty and myself are pretty happy with how we’ve been progressing.”While Pattinson believed he would not play in the first Test he did believe that his opportunity would come depending on conditions.”I think it’s just a game to game basis, however, they pull up. If I’m just there staying fit and bowling well and putting my name forward, hopefully at some stage I’ll get the nod.”

Allrounder Chinelle Henry, who was ruled out of the second and third ODIs with a concussion, is also back

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Nov-2019Fast bowler Shakera Selman is back in West Indies’ squad for the five-match women’s T20I series against India, which begins on Saturday in St Lucia. Selman, according to a CWI release, sat out the ODI series as an injury precaution, “to ensure her full fitness and availability for the T20I series.Allrounder Chinelle Henry, who suffered a concussion during the first ODI in North Sound and was ruled out of the second and third ODIs, is also back in the squad. Hayley Matthews, who came into the squad for the second and third ODIs as a replacement for Henry, keeps her place for the T20Is.”Following the Colonial Medical Insurance ODI Series, the majority of the squad has been retained,” Ann Browne-John, lead selector of the women’s and girls’ panel, said. “Chinelle Henry will hopefully be fit and ready to go again after being sidelined through concussion after the first ODI. Shakera Selman will bring her experience to this team to add more fire power to the bowling attack.”The team has always had good performances in T20 matches and this series is vital preparation for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.”West Indies T20I squad: Stafanie Taylor (capt), Anisa Mohammed, Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, Shakera Selman, Hayley Matthews, Chedean Nation, Chinelle Henry, Stacey-Ann King, Kyshona Knight, Natasha McLean, Shabika Gajnabi, Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneta Grimmond

Victoria batsman one of three players with Australia domestic cricket experience in 15-member squad

Alex Malcolm13-Dec-2019Victoria batsman Jake Fraser-McGurk is one of three players with domestic experience to be named in Australia’s 15-member Under-19 World Cup squad.

Squad

Cooper Connolly, Oliver Davies, Sam Fanning, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mackenzie Harvey, Lachlan Hearne, Corey Kelly, Liam Marshall, Todd Murphy, Patrick Rowe, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Bradley Simpson, Connor Sully, Matthew Willans

Fraser-McGurk, 17, made half-centuries on Sheffield Shield and List A debut for Victoria earlier this season, and has been named alongside fellow Victorian batsman Mackenzie Harvey, who played in the Melbourne Renegades’ BBL triumph last season, and allrounder Liam Scott, who made his Shield debut for South Australia against Western Australia recently.The squad also features New South Wales batsman Oliver Davies, who made headlines last summer after hitting six sixes in an over while scoring the first double-century in the history of Australia’s boys’ Under-19 championships.Australia’s squad will be coached by former Test opener Chris Rogers, with former Australia fast bowler Ryan Harris as his assistant.Australia face West Indies, Nigeria, and England in their pool at the World Cup in South Africa. Australia have not won the Under-19 World Cup since 2010, which was their third triumph after the inaugural edition in 1988 and 2002.

Hafeez marked his comeback at the age of 39 with an unbeaten 67 off 49 balls against Bangladesh

Umar Farooq26-Jan-2020Mohammad Hafeez, who marked his comeback at the age of 39, was excited with his match-winning contribution against Bangladesh in the second T20I and emphasized on the importance of carrying experience with the team. He also suggested that he has learnt over the years that ‘survival’ in the team isn’t possible without performance.Hafeez, alongside Shoaib Malik, returned to the side after a lengthy gap – during which Pakistan have had a string of poor results. Since January 2018, they hadn’t won a T20I for nearly a year, with their last win before this series coming in February 2019 against South Africa. They lost eight of their nine completed games in the format last year. Their remarkable record – that kept them sitting tightly on top of the rankings – was drawn between January and November 2018, in which they won 17 out of their 18 T20Is.Hafeez and Malik have both played match-winning knocks this series, and their experience was evident in Pakistan’s balance in batting. There was a severe lack of consensus about bringing back both players, as there was apparently a directive to move on from seniors and invest in younger players.”It was a superb opportunity for me to represent Pakistan again and contribute in getting Pakistan a winning momentum,” said Hafeez after his unbeaten 67 off 49 balls in the second T20I. “There was one required missing part in the team and that is exactly what I am trying to cover. I am really happy the way Shoaib Malik played a magnificent inning on a difficult situation and pitch and won a game for Pakistan, and that was something to learn from. So today with my innings, I am more than happy to be able to help Pakistan win a game.”When you make a come back there is a pressure of expectations,” he said. “[…] for 8-9 months I didn’t play international cricket and I didn’t play domestic, because I wanted to let youngsters to play. I quit Test cricket, so there was no point playing four-day cricket. I was focusing more on white-ball cricket. There was a lot going in mind but I kept on backing my experience and my preparations and waiting for the opportunity. I was positive all the way and during the time never let my thought process go negative.”Before this series, Hafeez last played T20Is in November 2018. Since then, he has featured in various T20 competitions at home and abroad, and his record in that period has been modest: 509 runs in 26 matches at an average of 21.20 and a strike rate of 107.38, and 16 wickets at 33.75, and an economy rate of 7.28. He was left out but he refused to fade away and kept his hope alive for another comeback. He didn’t make a perfect start in the first game, scoring 17 off 16 balls, but his second innings not only gave him the confidence but also gave captain Babar Azam enough to justify his faith in the senior players.Hafeez suggested that there should be a policy to communicate with the players about their future rather than leaving them out in the wilderness.”If there is any policy then it should be talked about. I had tried speaking to the higher officials directly, asking if they need me or otherwise,” he said. “I told them that I am happy with my career and satisfied from my services for Pakistan. But if they think that I am no longer required or there isn’t a place for me, then I should distance myself from international circuit and focus on international leagues. But I never got a reply so I was being patient and open and was happy to serve Pakistan again when required.”My return is being painted as a comeback, which for me was an opportunity to come with a more focused mindset. To me, performances are what help your team to win and I am more excited than ever that my contribution has played a key part, as a match-winning innings similar to Malik the other day. I think communication is very important and if a player is communicated in time then it’s a lot easier [for player to plan his future].”Banking on his experience, Hafeez talked about the importance of having a player with 17 years in the circuit. His T20 international average 25.21, however, isn’t something Pakistan can rely on. But he is the second leading run-scorer for Pakistan in T20s with 1992 runs.When asked if this opportunity was easier for him, playing at home, Hafeez responded sternly: “It’s important to look at the stats. In the last 10 years, I haven’t played in Pakistan. Out of 12,000 International runs, 11,000 were scored outside Pakistan so I never got Pakistani conditions. So I am happy that I have scored in very difficult situations for Pakistan and had a winning contribution, which is nothing less than a proud moment or memory for me.””You always take experience alongside. Even when I got out in the first innings with a mistake, sitting outside watching Malik’s innings with the youngsters, I was telling them to observe the winning process, how Malik is playing and his control. You have to learn it and apply it. We have great talent in our country, but there is there is a need for more work on the development of the game. Making players learn that performance for the winning cause is so important – the finishing touch and how to absorb the pressure at international level.”It does take time. Even we took time to learn. I had shared a dressing room with an example in front of me in Inzamam ul Haq – who scored over 10,000 runs, [Mohammed[ Yousuf, who was scoring a hundred every second or third innings, and Shoaib Akhtar. So we learnt from them and understood that you won’t survive in the team if you don’t produce match-winning contributions.”

India are looking for a record fifth Under-19 World Cup title, while Bangladesh have never come this far before

The Preview by Sreshth Shah in Potchefstroom08-Feb-2020

Big picture

This is about as big as it gets for the Under-19 cricketers from Bangladesh and India. For India, it’s an opportunity to defend their title and claim a record fifth World Cup crown [Australia are next with three]. For Bangladesh, it’s a chance to win their first World Cup, any World Cup.Both sides are unbeaten so far and there’s not much to separate them. If India have Kartik Tyagi and Sushant Mishra with the searing pace upfront, Bangladesh have the rapid Tanzim Hasan Sakib and the accurate Shoriful Islam to counter that. For a Ravi Bishnoi, there’s a Rakibul Hasan, for a Yashasvi Jaiswal there’s a Tanzid Hasan. They are evenly matched all right.ALSO READ: Where the Under-19 World Cup final will be won and lostThe last time the two sides played each other at an Under-19 World Cup was in 2018, in the quarter-final, and India finished victorious. But they have faced off seven times since then in other competitions, two of those games abandoned because of the weather. India do hold a 4-1 edge in the completed games, but they have been close encounters. At the 2018 Asia Cup semi-final, India sneaked through with a two-run win, while in the 2019 Asia Cup final, India won by five runs. The last time Bangladesh beat India – in England last July – they won by two wickets. If nerves don’t get in the way of skills, expect another nail-biter in the final here.Heavy rain is expected at some point on both Sunday, and Monday’s reserve day. Tournament rules say that if both days are washed out, the World Cup will be shared. How the two sides navigate their way while taking the conditions into consideration will be an interesting subplot. Fans of both countries will throng the JB Marks Oval to support their team, emotions will run high, and it’s up to the youngsters to make the occasion a memorable one, become heroes, if they can.

Form guide

India WWWWW Bangladesh WWWWW

In the spotlight

Kartik Tyagi, the India bowler who consistently bowls at 135 kph, can be the difference. Bangladesh’s top order has been consistent, barring the rain-hit game against Pakistan, and if India are to win, his ten overs – both with the new ball and the older one – will hold massive importance. His 11 wickets in the tournament have come at an economy rate of less than 3.50 and he has taken a wicket every 18.7 deliveries.Mahmudul Hasan Joy sweeps one fine•ICC via Getty

Bangladesh’s No. 3 Mahmudul Hasan Joy has paid his team back for backing him through the tournament. Despite a poor start to the World Cup, he has grown in confidence as it has progressed, and it was on show during the semi-final, when he struck a match-winning 100 against New Zealand. He’s Bangladesh’s highest run-scorer here and if he can produce an innings that matches his tournament average of 58.66, Bangladesh will be well placed to win their first World Cup.

Team news

Both sides are likely to stay unchanged for the final. There are no injury concerns for either team.India (possible): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Divyaansh Saxena, 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 5 Priyam Garg (capt), 6 Siddhesh Veer, 7 Atharva Ankolekar, 8 Ravi Bishnoi, 9 Sushant Mishra, 10 Kartik Tyagi, 11 Aakash SinghBangladesh (possible): 1 Parvez Hossain Emon, 2 Tanzid Hasan, 3 Mahmudul Hasan Joy, 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Shahadat Hossain, 6 Shamim Hossain, 7 Akbar Ali (capt, wk), 8 Rakibul Hasan, 9 Shoriful Islam, 10 Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 11 Hasan Murad

Pitch and conditions

They will be playing on the same surface as the first semi-final, when India beat Pakistan. There were no demons in the surface; although Pakistan were all out for a sub-200 total, India chased it down with ten wickets in hand. Thunderstorms are expected on Sunday (and Monday) afternoon, although the morning will offer a window of uninterrupted play.

Stats and trivia

• With 312 runs in five games, Jaiswal is almost certain to finish the tournament as the highest run-scorer. Mahmudul, the second-highest run-scorer featuring in the game, is 124 behind him.
• The average first-innings score at the ground this World Cup has been 201.5.
• India have bowled their opponents out in every World Cup game.
• The team batting second has won four of the last five Under-19 World Cup finals.

The competition, featuring seven matches, will be held in Jaipur like last year

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Feb-2020This year’s four-team Women’s T20 Challenge will be played on the sidelines of the IPL playoffs at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, which had also hosted last year’s competition.The BCCI confirmed via a release on Saturday that the expanded tournament – seven matches as against four last time and just one the year before – would be played “during the IPL Playoff and Finals week”, which will be after the league stage of the competition ends on May 17.ALSO READ: The case for a bigger, better Women’s T20 Challenge next yearThe first edition in 2018, had a one-off game between Harmanpreet Kaur’s Supernovas and Smriti Mandhana’s Trailblazers at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, while a third team – Velocity, led by Mithali Raj – was added in 2019, where the matches were played in a single round-robin format followed by a final, where Supernovas beat Velocity. They had won the inaugural edition too.Last year, 39 players including several top overseas stars, were divided among the three teams.

Precocious allrounder has future in her own hands ahead of another big showdown against Australia

Annesha Ghosh in Melbourne01-Mar-20202:31

Short takes: New Zealand’s Kerr sisters on idolising Brendon McCullum and Jacob Oram

Barely months into her international career, New Zealand teen allrounder Amelia Kerr was billed as “a star of the future” by Australia captain Meg Lanning. On the eve of New Zealand’s virtual quarter-final clash against hosts Australia at the T20 World Cup, former New Zealand men’s allrounder Jacob Oram, who has been working with the women’s national team as bowling coach since 2018, described her as a “future captain”. The prediction from Oram came only days after Katey Martin, a senior team-mate, identified Kerr, who now has 60-plus international appearances, as a “once-in-a-generation type player for New Zealand”.So swift has Kerr’s growth been as a legspin-bowling allrounder that, at just 19, and only into the fourth year of her career with New Zealand, Kerr is often mentioned in the same breath as the world’s best or the most experienced. And there’s evidence enough why she’s rated so highly by colleagues and opponents alike.Kerr’s unbeaten 232, a record for the highest individual score in women’s ODIs, and a five-for in the same match against Ireland two years ago became testament to her appetite for all-round excellence – if against an error-prone side wanting in experience. Last week, in the penultimate over of New Zealand’s bungled chase against India at the T20 World Cup, her jaw-dropping onslaught against the highly regarded India wristspinner Poonam Yadav was further proof of her ability to soak up pressure.”It was nice to prove I could play like that at the international level,” Kerr told ESPNcricinfo on the sidelines of a training session at the Albert Cricket Ground in Victoria, Melbourne. “It was nice to give us that chance to getting close to winning it, but it was obviously very disappointing to not be able to get the last ball away for a four and turn it into a Super Over.”I looked at the field, and made sure I made my decision as early as I saw the ball leaving her hand as to whether I go backward or I come out of my crease. For me, it was about keeping it simple and not overthinking too much, and just having a couple of options, so I could make those decisions.”Kerr, though, has been no stranger to pressure or handling with maturity the expectations that come with thriving in challenging situations. Much of it is down to her pedigree and the conditioning she’s had in the years preceding her New Zealand career. A native of Wellington’s northernmost suburb Tawa, Kerr, born to former Wellington cricketers Robbie and Jo, inherited her cricketing genes from maternal grandfather Bruce Murray, the former New Zealand Test cricketer.Having grown up looking up to Kane Williamson and fellow Tawa native Sophie Devine, her precocity found early expression under coach Ivan Tissera as she ditched her dreams of becoming a “scary fast bowler” to realise her natural gift for being able to spin the bowl.Amelia Kerr got the important wicket of Shafali Verma•Getty Images

Barely a month past her 16th birthday, she would graduate from playing boys’ grade cricket in school to making her international debut, in a home ODI against Pakistan. By the time she turned 17, she had already played in an ODI World Cup and had become the youngest female cricketer to bag a central contract with New Zealand Cricket.”She debuted later [in 2016], so she wasn’t in the side when I was with them,” Oram recalled of his previous coaching role with New Zealand women in 2015-16. “But I remember hearing about this Amelia Kerr and I knew her dad, Robbie [a former Wellington cricketer], and also played against him. So, I would hear about Amelia Kerr, you know, she’s this little guru.”But since her debut, she hasn’t turned back … I see Amelia captaining within the next few years, maybe even before she is 25. Because she’s been playing since she was a teenager, she has a wealth of knowledge and experience to call upon, and because of the skill she has, she’s already earned the respect of her team-mates.Oram, who’s been working closely on Kerr along with spin-bowling coach Rob Nicol, believes the teenager’s “batting at the moment is probably a level lower than her bowling, but she’s got the skills to be a genuine allrounder”.”I know she got a double-hundred against Ireland in a one-dayer, but [she still has a long way to go] in terms of getting more consistent with those performances, especially against the top sides in the world,” Oram said. “It will come with age because batting seems to be more of an experience-gathering thing.ALSO READ: ‘Spin bowling is one of the strongest skills I’ve seen in the women’s game’ – Jacob Oram“But she’s an amazing talent and we’ve got to manage her well with everything she’s doing overseas – WBBL, and even with the IPL [Women’s T20 Challenge] thing. You let her do those things but you need to make sure she’s fit and firing for New Zealand as well because that’s the No. 1 priority.”A sought-after name in domestic franchise leagues, Kerr, who plays for Wellington Blaze alongside her older sister and New Zealand quick Jess in the home domestic T20 Super Smash competition, has plied her trade across several countries. Her first taste of an overseas league came in the UK, where she represented the Southern Vipers at the 2018 Kia Super League, followed by a runners-up finish with the Mithali Raj-led Velocity in the Women’s T20 Challenge in May last year. Most recently, she enjoyed a memorable title-winning campaign with Brisbane Heat at the 2019-2020 WBBL in Australia.”Playing overseas for Brisbane Heat and winning the title – that was pretty special,” Kerr said. “These leagues are awesome and it’s great development for the women’s game. It helps us learn to adapt to different conditions.”The 13,000-odd crowd we had there [at the Women’s T20 Challenge final in Jaipur] as amazing as well. I love being put in such situations and put under pressure. That’s what you train and work hard for – to be put into those situations. Kind of every game I have played in overseas leagues has gone down to the wire, and these games are like international cricket: you share the dressing room with the world’s best, the training is top quality and you keep improving your skills so much.”Among the other “most fulfilling learning experiences” in her career, Kerr counts the 2017 ODI World Cup, a confluence for many firsts for the then 16-year-old. “At that age, you’re definitely not in your full potential, so you end up learning a lot that can shape your perspective towards cricket and life,” said Kerr of the first of her three world tournaments across formats so far, one in which she became the youngest New Zealander to represent the country in a World Cup.”That tournament did something similar to me,” she added. “For me, getting fitter was a big thing, watching how the consistency of my bowling, batting and athleticism in the field could be better, that was important. A part of it was already there, but I have worked on it and also on the power and just getting older and stronger has really helped me with my game. Also, learning to have access to different areas of the ground with different field-sets has been another important thing.”Aside from her growing understanding of street-smart batting, Oram said a stand-out feature in Kerr’s repertoire of all-round skills remains her potent wrong’un. “It is a huge, huge weapon,” said Oram, explaining how her pace through the air gives extra bite to her googly, compared to India’s Poonam Yadav, another hugely acclaimed exponent. “Amelia is a lot quicker”, he added, “which creates a lack of time for batters to respond to it.””The googly is something I’ve had since a young age,” Kerr said. “I naturally started bowling it by accident and then my coach Ivan Tissera kind of taught me how to get it consistent. It took a few years of practice to start bowling it in games consistently and Poonam Yadav is one of the best bowlers in the world. It’s cool getting to watch her play as I developed. She is a quality bowler, but with her height and her pace she is a completely different bowler, and much slower through the air than I am.”Many of New Zealand’s most experienced players, including veteran allrounder Suzie Bates, captain Sophie Devine, and Martin believe that it is this versatility in Kerr’s batting and bowling as well as her temperament that have so far defined the might in her fight against the most formidable opponents. Add to that her precocity and enterprise, it’s a combination that only augurs well for New Zealand and the women’s game at large.”Melie [Kerr] is probably once-in-a-generation type player for New Zealand,” Martin said after the India game where Kerr carted Poonam for 18 in the penultimate over but failed to avert a three-run loss. “She works really hard at her game. She has a lot of support outside of cricket.”And she’s someone that takes her responsibility – she feels pressure like we all do but she really takes it with a mature outlook. And you don’t expect someone 18, 19 to have the cricket knowledge that she does…She’s an exceptional young talent and someone that I think will have a long successful career.”

Pool of money for professional and recreational game follows initial bail-out of £61 million

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jun-2020The ECB has committed a further £35.7million to support professional and recreational cricket during the Covid-19 pandemic.The support package, agreed by the ECB board in a bid to mitigate the financial issues caused by the suspension of the 2020 season, follows on from the initial sum of £61 million that was announced back in March.The bulk of the figure, £30.22million, will be released to the first-class counties and MCC on August 1, and will comprise the early release of six months of core payments from the County Partnership, as well as the remainder of the annual payments of £1.3million that were promised to the counties with the establishment of the Hundred.The remainder of the sum, £5.5 million, will be made available to the county boards on August 1, again from core payments from the County Partnership distributions.In addition, recreational clubs will continue to have access to an interest-free pot of £20million through the ECB’s ‘Return to Cricket” scheme, and will also be given a 12-month holiday on loan repayments.”It is the ECB’s responsibility to protect the whole game’s future during the financial uncertainty we face as a sport,” said Tom Harrison, the chief executive.”We continue to work closely with all levels of the game to understand the challenges that are being presented and to map out a plan for the future. While I am pleased the ECB Board has been able to approve this financial support package for the remainder of this year we are still only at the beginning of addressing the impact of this crisis on cricket.”We still should not underestimate the significant financial burden that is ahead of us across all levels of the game. We must seek to reduce the cost base across the game, as we face up to the sobering reality of what lies ahead of us.”The response we have seen within the game has been reassuring and I know how much a return to the field of play would mean to clubs and players of all ages across England and Wales.”It remains our priority to get cricket started again this summer, from the grassroots to the elite level, and we will continue to work with Government to try and do that in a way that keeps people safe but that limits the ongoing impact of this crisis on our game.”

The 21-year-old impressed at the T20 World Cup earlier this year

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Aug-2020The Adelaide Strikers have moved swiftly to fill the void left by Sophie Devine’s departure by signing South Africa batter Laura Wolvaardt for the Women’s Big Bash.Wolvaardt, 21, was one of the stars of the Women’s T20 World Cup earlier this year despite only batting twice in the competition as she made unbeaten scores of 53 and 41 against Pakistan and Australia.ALSO READ: Sophie Devine joins Perth Scorchers in major WBBL signingShe has previously had two seasons with the Brisbane Heat although struggled to make an impact with 99 runs in 15 innings, but having had more success in one-day than T20 cricket her game in the shortest format has developed significantly of late.”We’re extremely pleased to have secured the signing of Laura who we think is an exceptional young talent and will fit into our group nicely,” head coach Luke Williams said. “We were very impressed by her standout performances on the biggest stage of them all, the T20 World Cup, and we’re excited for what she will bring to the Strikers batting order, and her versatility in that order.”Cricket Australia remains hopeful that overseas players will be able to feature in the WBBL season despite the travel restrictions imposed by Covid-19.There is another potential clash for Wolvaardt, and other South African players, with the BCCI having recently said they are looking at staging a series against South Africa in October although no dates are yet confirmed. The WBBL is set to begin on October 17.