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Offspinner Mark Craig has echoed the words of his team-mate BJ Watling, saying the pink ball behaves more like the white ball than the red

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Oct-2015As New Zealand’s pink ball preparations continued in Hamilton in the lead up to the first day-night Test, offspinner Mark Craig has echoed the words of his team-mate BJ Watling, saying this ball behaves more like the white ball than the red. With regards to spin, he said only time would tell if it helps spinners or not, but he found it was easy to grip when new.”I find it’s very similar to the white ball. Once it’s nice and new it’s quite easy to grip and then it’s just like any other ball once it gets a little bit older,” Craig said.Twilight has proved to be one of trickiest times to see the ball, but that was mostly only the case with fielders square of the wicket, Craig said. “I think the side-on guys, guys at point and cover and things like that, for them with the sun setting it was tricky. Behind the wicket wasn’t too much different. Just there the boys on the square… The batsmen, by all accounts they found it not too bad, there weren’t too many complaints in terms of not being able to see it.”New Zealand were training with the pink ball in Hamilton, late in the evening and transitioning into night, trying to replicate the conditions that they will face in Adelaide come November 27. Craig agreed that the conditions are not quite the same as Hamilton is colder than what they would experience in Adelaide, but he said the training was still “crucial”.”I think being the first of its kind, everyone is on an even playing field, so these two days here are crucial building up to what should be an awesome series,” he said. “I think we’ve got some pink-ball practice in Perth, which is also going to be different to Adelaide. But I think any time you get to play with the pink ball and mimic playing under lights and things like that, it’s going to be good for you.”I think this is what these two days are about, about finding out different ways of using it and finding out how it reacts under the lights, changes in the twilight and things like that. So it’s a learning curve for us.”

ESPNcricinfo previews the Champions League match between Mumbai Indians and Cape Cobras in Bangalore

The Preview by Nitin Sundar29-Sep-2011

Match facts

September 30, Bangalore
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)Will Harbhajan Singh feel he has a point to prove after being dropped for the upcoming one-day series against England?•Associated Press

Big Picture

The race for semi-final spots from Group A intensifies as Mumbai Indians and Cape Cobras clash in Bangalore. MI are on top of the table with two scarcely believable wins, while the Cobras are stuck in mid-table traffic after suffering an unlikely defeat at the hands of Dwayne Bravo and Chennai Super Kings. Another win for MI will confirm their passage to the semi-finals with a game to play. A Cobras victory, on the other hand, will open up the group and leave statistics experts fiddling with calculators to figure out the permutations.

The Cobras will have to recover quickly from the defeat but can take heart from their fluent victory against New South Wales in their first game. They won’t mind the true bounce and the quick outfield at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, but will first have to shake off the slow-and-low hangover from Chepauk. Dale Steyn, who got clobbered by Bravo in his final over in Chennai, will look forward to a fresh start at his erstwhile IPL home venue, too.Mumbai Indians have already played a game in Bangalore, the madcap low-scoring thriller against Trinidad & Tobago, and would have picked up valuable lessons from that outing. They will be hard-pressed to explain their position in the points table, given how abysmal their batting has been. In the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma and now Davy Jacobs, the top order is bereft of quality and confidence. Their bowling has been incisive, though, with Lasith Malinga and Harbhajan Singh doing the damage, with the support cast doing an adequate job.

Watch out for …

The doosra remains elusive but the floater is back, and there are fleeting signs of the trademark loop too. Harbhajan Singh has bowled well, and has also been proactive with his field placements. This time, however, he will be taking the field on the back of a personal reversal, having been dropped from the Indian team for the first time in years. Can he put the setback behind him and help continue his side’s unbeaten run?

Twenty20 is the most fickle form of the game. Ask JP Duminy who batted attractively and bowled a crafty spell of offspin to derail CSK’s chase, before shelling a sitter from MS Dhoni in the end overs. The drop did not cost Cobras much – Dhoni exited soon after without doing much damage – but it was the first sign of panic in their camp. Bravo sensed the opening and bulldozed his way through to victory. Duminy will want to shut out all escape routes against Mumbai Indians, coincidentally his one-time IPL side.

Team news

With the exception of Ambati Rayudu, the MI top-order contributed a handsome 21 in the game against T&T, including two ducks. They can only pray for a revival on Friday. T Suman might be shunted down the order, in which case Rayudu could open the innings. The team management hasn’t yet named a replacement for Jacobs, which means Rayudu will continue to keep wicket.

The Cobras didn’t do much wrong against the Super Kings, and will want to stick with their combination. Steyn may not be too keen to bowl in the slog overs, though.

Stats and trivia

• With four wickets apiece, JP Duminy and Vernon Philander are currently Cobras’ highest wicket-takers in the tournament
• Lasith Malinga has been Mumbai Indians’ best bowler with three wickets at 17.00. He has also been their highest run-getter with 52

Quotes

“We hope Malinga doesn’t have to do it with the bat again.”

“I guess it was just my day. I pitched the ball in the right areas and they hit it to the fielders. I’ll take the credit for that.”

Daniel Vettori, the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain, has flown back to New Zealand to see a doctor about his ongoing knee problem

ESPNcricinfo staff14-May-2011Daniel Vettori, the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain, has flown back to New Zealand to see a doctor about his ongoing knee problem. As a result, he will not be playing in Saturday’s game against Kolkata Knight Riders and could be in danger of missing future games as well. Vettori also sat out Bangalore’s last game against Rajasthan Royals on May 11. Virat Kohli, who led the side in that game, will take over as captain in Vettori’s absence.”He’s [Vettori] gone back home to see his surgeon, someone he generally consults,” Kohli told reporters on Thursday. “He will try to get back and be fit for the upcoming games. We will just have to wait and watch what happens with that.”Vettori first hurt his right knee during New Zealand’s World Cup league game against Pakistan back in March. He missed the rest of his side’s league games, before returning to play in the quarter- and semi-final matches. According to the , Vettori had said during the IPL that he was just about able to get through his four overs and hobble around in the field.”Obviously, it’s a loss for us and it’s unfortunate,” Kohli said. “It’s been happening to us for the last two years as well. We have lost important players at important times due to injuries, it’s never a good thing for the team. But we have got reserves in the side who are willing to do well and who are willing to go out there, who are really talented and thinking cricketers. We just need to set a strong combination now and go with that combination throughout the tournament and we will see if Dan comes back, nothing like it [if he does].”If he doesn’t, then we need to form a different combination and be confident going into the game with that combination.”

The first phase of tickets for the 2011 World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have been put on sale following a meeting of the tournament’s Central Organising Committee in Mumbai

Cricinfo staff01-Jun-2010The first phase of tickets for the 2011 World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have been put on sale following a meeting of the tournament’s Central Organising Committee in Mumbai. The tickets have been priced affordably, with the cheapest costing 20 cents US in Sri Lanka, the committee said. The tickets are available on the ICC’s website from June 1.”The prices confirm the promise we made that the tickets would be affordable and accessible,” Sharad Pawar, the ICC vice president, said. The committee said that in excess of 100,000 tickets were being released for the first phase of online ticket sales. The move to make tickets cheaper comes after the debacle of the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, where tickets were expensive and the grounds largely empty as a result.Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, was happy with the progress of preparations for the competition. “While there is a lot of important operational detail ahead of us, I am pleased at the progress we have made to date,” he said. “For example, in the next few months, safety and security aspects will be dealt with in detail by the security directorate headed by BCCI President Shashank Manohar.”

We run the rule over all the teams featuring in the inaugural Women’s Hundred

Matt Roller20-Jul-2021

Birmingham Phoenix

Coach: Ben Sawyer
Captain: Amy Jones
Overseas players: Shafali Verma (India), Erin Burns, Katie Mack (both Australia)Significantly weakened by withdrawals of Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine and Ashleigh Gardner but the signing of Shafali Verma is perhaps the most exciting of the whole competition, on the back of her top-order pyrotechnics against England. Exciting young seam-bowling attack with Central Sparks’ new-ball combination, Issy Wong and Emily Arlott – likely to open the bowling together, while Kirstie Gordon has a point to prove after losing her England central contract.Verdict: Verma can win them games on her own but will need support from the middle order.Possible XI: Shafali Verma, Katie Mack, Amy Jones (capt/wk), Erin Burns, Georgia Elwiss, Evelyn Jones, Marie Kelly, Ria Fackrell/Abtaha Maqsood, Issy Wong, Emily Arlott, Kirstie Gordon

London Spirit

Coach: Trevor Griffin
Captain: Heather Knight
Overseas players: Deandra Dottin (West Indies), Deepti Sharma (India), Chloe Tryon (South Africa)The Knight-Griffin combination that has enjoyed success in both the KSL and the WBBL takes on the Hundred, with a strong top order that should see them score consistent runs throughout. Their bowling attack is a little lighter, with Freya Davies the spearhead, but Knight and overseas players Deepti Sharma and Chloe Tryon offer useful spin options, particularly on slower surfaces, while Charlie Dean is the leading wicket-taker in this season’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.Verdict: Strong squad which should be eyeing a top-three finish, especially if the batting line-up clicks.Possible XI: Tammy Beaumont, Deandra Dottin, Heather Knight (capt), Deepti Sharma, Chloe Tryon, Naomi Dattani, Amara Carr (wk), Grace Scrivens/Dani Gibson, Charlie Dean, Freya Davies, Sophie Munro

Manchester Originals

Coach: Paul Shaw
Captain: Kate Cross
Overseas players: Harmanpreet Kaur (India), Mignon du Preez, Lizelle Lee (both South Africa)Emma Lamb is the in-form allrounder in the country, leading both the runs and wickets charts in the early rounds of the Charlotte Edwards Cup, and could form a powerful opening partnership with Lizelle Lee, while Harmanpreet Kaur and Mignon du Preez add quality to the middle order. The spin attack of Sophie Ecclestone, Alex Hartley and Hannah Jones is strong but Kate Cross carries a heavy burden in the seam department.Verdict: Emirates Old Trafford’s spinning pitches and big boundaries should boost their chances.Possible XI: Lizelle Lee, Emma Lamb, Harmanpreet Kaur, Mignon du Preez, Georgie Boyce, Cordelia Griffith, Ellie Threlkeld (wk), Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross (capt), Alex Hartley, Hannah JonesKate Cross will lead Manchester Originals after a successful ODI series against India•Getty Images for ECB

Northern Superchargers

Coach: Dani Hazell
Captain: Lauren Winfield-Hill
Overseas players: Laura Kimmince (Australia), Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa), Jemimah Rodrigues (India)Strong, deep batting line-up but bowling attack looks light on paper and will need either plenty of runs to play with or an unheralded domestic player to step up. Tough calls to make over batting order: should the silky Laura Wolvaardt open or continue at No. 4, where she has batted for South Africa, and will the specialist finisher Laura Kimmince face enough balls to make an impact?Verdict: Batting strength offset by bowling attack’s lack of international quality.Possible XI: Lauren Winfield-Hill (capt), Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues, Holly Armitage/Sterre Kalis, Laura Kimmince, Alice Davidson-Richards, Beth Langston, Bess Heath (wk), Linsey Smith, Phoebe Graham, Katie Levick

Oval Invincibles

Coach: Jon Batty
Captain: TBC
Overseas players: Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp, Dane van Niekerk (all South Africa)Different squad composition to the majority of the tournament, with all three overseas players – all South Africans – offering bowling options. Lacking a star-name England player but Tash Farrant, Mady Villiers and Fran Wilson are all regular squad members and Georgia Adams is pressing for inclusion. New-ball attack of Farrant’s left-arm swing and Shabnim Ismail’s genuine pace should be potent.Verdict: Competitive squad that can challenge for a top-three finish, especially if South African core performs.Possible XI: Georgia Adams, Sarah Bryce (wk), Marizanne Kapp, Dane van Niekerk, Fran Wilson, Alice Capsey, Grace Gibbs, Mady Villiers, Tash Farrant, Shabnim Ismail, Dani Gregory

Southern Brave

Coach: Charlotte Edwards
Captain: TBC
Overseas players: Stafanie Taylor (West Indies), Smriti Mandhana (India), Amanda-Jade Wellington (Australia)Destructive opening combination between Smriti Mandhana and Danni Wyatt, and head coach Charlotte Edwards was particularly pleased to secure Sophia Dunkley’s services before her England breakthrough this summer. Versatile seam attack with Lauren Bell’s height, Anya Shrubsole’s swing and Tara Norris’ left-arm angle while Amanda-Jade Wellington’s legbreaks and Charlotte and Stafanie Taylor’s darts are all useful spin options.Verdict: Top three should be the minimum expectation.Possible XI: Smriti Mandhana, Danni Wyatt, Stafanie Taylor, Sophia Dunkley, Maia Bouchier, Carla Rudd (wk), Anya Shrubsole, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Tara Norris, Charlotte Taylor/Fi Morris, Lauren BellSmriti Mandhana forms half of an imposing opening duo with Danni Wyatt•Getty Images

Trent Rockets

Coach: Salliann Beams
Captain: Nat Sciver
Overseas players: Rachel Priest (New Zealand), Sammy-Jo Johnson, Heather Graham (both Australia)Ellyse Villani, Annabel Sutherland and Sophie Molineux’s withdrawals have hit the Rockets hard: veteran keeper-batter Rachel Priest starred in the KSL for Western Storm but Sammy-Jo Johnson and Heather Graham have a single Australia cap between them. But with three of England’s best T20 players in Nat Sciver, Katherine Brunt and Sarah Glenn, they have more than enough talent to overcome those losses and compete for a top-three spot. Expect a fluid batting line-up, with Glenn an option as a pinch-hitting opener.Verdict: Remarkable batting depth and all-round quality of England stars means they should be in contention.Possible XI: Rachel Priest (wk), Nat Sciver (capt), Michaela Kirk, Heather Graham, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Katherine Brunt, Abi Freeborn, Sarah Glenn, Kathryn Bryce, Teresa Graves, Lucy Higham

Welsh Fire

Coach: Mark O’Leary
Captain: TBC
Overseas players: Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Piepa Cleary, Georgia Redmayne (both Australia)Perhaps the weakest squad in the competition on paper but with enough talent to cause a few upsets: Georgia Redmayne had a dominant 50-over season in Australia, Hayley Matthews comes into the competition on the back of an ODI hundred, and Sophie Luff and Bryony Smith have been dominant in domestic cricket. Sarah Taylor’s return adds intrigue while Piepa Clearly will lead the seam attack with Katie George’s injury meaning she has played as a specialist batter for most of the summer.Verdict: Bowling attack lacks international quality of other sides, while batting isn’t strong enough to compensate.Possible XI: Georgia Redmayne, Bryony Smith, Hayley Matthews, Sophie Luff, Sarah Taylor (wk), Katie George, Georgia Hennessy, Piepa Cleary, Lissy Macleod, Alex Griffiths, Nicole Harvey

Wade, Tim Paine and Jackson Bird have given Tasmania a chance to pull off a remarkable come-from-behind win over Victoria

Alex Malcolm19-Nov-2018Matthew Wade plays a flick during his half-century•Getty Images

A magnificent 137 from Matthew Wade has given Tasmania a chance to pull off a remarkable come-from-behind win over Victoria at Bellerive Oval in Hobart.Tasmania began the third day five runs behind Victoria with eight wickets in hand after a 170-run opening stand from Jordan Silk and Alex Doolan had all but erased the 201 first innings deficit.Silk moved to 90 but he and Jake Doran both fell with the score at 229 with a lead of just 28. Skipper George Bailey was out just three runs later with Peter Siddle nabbing two of the three.It left Wade and Test skipper Tim Paine to try and build some sort of lead for Tasmania to defend.Paine was the more fluent of the pair in their vital 73-run stand. Wade was 16 runs off 50 balls at one stage while Paine cruised to 40 off 76 with five boundaries. Paine edged the part-time off-spin of Matthew Short to slip. Gurinder Sandhu fell cheaply but Wade and Jackson Bird found another gear adding 88 for the eighth wicket.Bird made his maiden first-class half-century in his 100th innings. He also fell to Short with Wade stuck on 87.Wade farmed the strike to get to 99 before Gabe Bell was trapped infront by Holland to leave Tasmania nine down. But Riley Meredith did not need to face a ball before Wade got to his 13th first-class hundred.Victoria then had men on the fence to try and entice Wade to hand over the strike early in an over but he controlled the situation expertly and was able to add another 43 runs to the total with Meredith, before becoming Siddle’s fourth scalp.It left Victoria needing 276 to win and a tricky six-over period to negotiate before stumps on day three. Travis Dean and Marcus Harris got through without loss to set up a final day chase.

Rene Farrell claimed only the second five-wicket haul in one-and-a-half seasons of Kia Super League cricket as Surrey Stars beat Lancashire to maintain their winning start

ECB Reporters Network16-Aug-2017Rene Farrell gets a hug from Tammy Beaumont after sealing victory•Getty Images

Australian seamer Rene Farrell claimed only the second five-wicket haul in one-and-a-half seasons of Kia Super League cricket as Surrey Stars beat Lancashire to maintain their winning start to the competition.The Thunder lost four wickets in 13 balls at a crucial stage of their pursuit of 134 as Surrey hit back strongly to win by 33 runs, with Farrell finishing with 5 for 26 from four overs.On an Emirates Old Trafford surface which gripped, the hosts were on course to hit back from Friday’s opening day defeat to Yorkshire at 86 for 3 with debutant Sarah Taylor leading the way. England star Taylor had made 34 but she was the first of the dismissals as the score fell to 91 for 7 in the 16th.Farrell struck twice in two balls in the 14th, getting Taylor caught at short fine-leg as she tried to ramp and Ellie Threlkeld smartly stumped by Tammy Beaumont off a leg-side wide. From then, the innings subsided to 100 all out in 18 overs.Pace off the ball was most effective in both innings. Five of Surrey’s six wickets fell to spin in their 133 for 6, including two apiece for home captain Danielle Hazell and Aussie Jess Jonassen.Surrey slipped from 52 for 1 in the seventh over to 79 for 5 in the 15th before sixth-wicket pair Nat Sciver and Sophia Dunkley-Brown reinvigorated the innings. They shared a crucial 54 in the last 5.5 overs, with Sciver finishing 40 not out off 36 balls and Dunkley-Brown added a breezy 24. Earlier, Beaumont gave the Stars a fine start with 36 off 25.Lancashire lost Emma Lamb early in their chase before Taylor, batting at No. 3, shared partnerships of 33 and 28 for the second and third wickets with Eve Jones and Amy Satterthwaite. Taylor reverse-swept her first boundary and later hit left-arm spinner Alex Hartley for six over long-on.Farrell’s first wicket was that of Satterthwaite, bowled off her pad in the 12th over as the score fell to 75 for 3. She later bowled Kate Cross and had Lea Tahuhu caught and bowled one-handed diving to her right to complete a loss of the last seven wickets in 27 balls.Surrey, who beat Yorkshire on Sunday, face Southern Vipers at Southampton on Sunday, while Lancashire host Loughborough at Blackpool in a must win game.

The WICB’s decision came after the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations warned that the risk level in Pakistan remains “at an extremely elevated state”

Umar Farooq12-Jan-2017West Indies’ proposed tour to Pakistan for two T20Is in mid-March is off the table, multiple sources have confirmed to ESPNcricinfo. The WICB rejected the PCB’s proposal for the tour after receiving advice on security from the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations. The WICB has also cancelled an expected security recce, which was planned for later this month. The two boards, however, continue to discuss the possibility of two T20 internationals in Florida on March 19 and 20.It is understood that earlier this week the West Indies Players Association wrote to FICA, seeking advice on the current security situation in Pakistan. FICA reportedly gave WIPA the latest security advisory from its security consultants, Eastern Star International, who provide security for various international boards including the ECB, Cricket Australia, New Zealand Cricket and the ICC.In the report, FICA warned that the risk level in Pakistan remains “at an extremely elevated state” and that “an acceptable level of participant security and safety cannot be expected or guaranteed”. Earlier this month, FICA’s report on player safety and security strongly discouraged players from traveling to Lahore for the Pakistan Super League final, scheduled for March 5.According to the proposal, Lahore was likely to host the two matches on March 18 and 19, followed by two matches in Florida, which are still being discussed and are likely to go ahead.On Wednesday, the WICB released the schedule of Pakistan’s seven-week tour of the Caribbean, beginning from March, which comprises two T20Is, three ODIs and three Tests across five venues. As per the ICC’s Future Tours Programme (FTP), four Tests had been originally slated for this series, but one Test was dropped from the itinerary to accommodate the proposed tour of Pakistan and the T20Is in the USA.West Indies are the third team – after Ireland and Sri Lanka – to reject travelling to Pakistan in the last two years.In 2015, Zimbabwe became the first the first Test-playing nation to tour Pakistan since 2009, when an attack on the Sri Lankan team bus resulted in the suspension of international cricket from Pakistan. The ICC, however, had refused to send its match officials for the series. The PCB appointed its own match officials, and hoped the Zimbabwe series would serve as a stepping stone to reviving international cricket in the country. That ambition, however, suffered a setback when a suicide attack took place near the Gaddafi Stadium during the second ODI. Zimbabwe, though, played the third and final ODI two days later and completed the tour.The PCB remains firm in its plan to host the Pakistan Super League final in Lahore on March 5, and has drawn up contingency plans to replace those overseas players unwilling to travel to the country due to security reasons. The board has decided to hold a new draft in the last week of February to bring in foreign players who will be willing to travel to Pakistan in place of those who will opt out.

New Zealand slipped into London almost unnoticed on Tuesday, minus their captain and senior batsman, but are determined to leave their mark on an English season where the main attraction is their trans-Tasman rivals.

Andrew McGlashan01-May-2013New Zealand slipped into London almost unnoticed on Tuesday, minus their captain Brendon McCullum and senior batsman Ross Taylor who are at the IPL, but are determined to leave their mark on an English season where the main attraction is their trans-Tasman rivals.”We don’t really have anything to do with the Ashes,” Kane Williamson, the captain in McCullum’s absence, said. It helps, no end, that the series played during March between these two teams was very competitive. Talk about flat pitches killing the game was off the mark – weather was the bigger factor in the first two Tests – and New Zealand came within one wicket of a famous victory in Auckland. That is enough for this return contest to be given the respect it deserves.Mike Hesson, the New Zealand coach, hopes his team can provide more than a footnote to the summer. “I can guarantee from our perspective these two Tests are massive for us. We are making progress as a side and we certainly wouldn’t like to be the entrée for the main course later on.”He was even keen to see the benefits in having two key players arrive late for the tour. McCullum and Taylor are due on May 7 or 8, ahead of the second warm-up match against England Lions at Grace Road. McCullum will still have a role to play in the early days of tour, albeit from thousands of miles away, and is in regular contact with Hesson.”I’m actually quite happy with it because with a squad of 15 it’s quite hard to get everyone a game,” he said. “Those guys, although they haven’t been playing a lot, they have been training a lot. To get our whole squad involved in those two warm-up games is critical for us. In previous tours we haven’t even had any warm-up matches so two is huge. There will be no complaints from us about being underdone.”It is nothing new for a touring side to arrive in England for the May Tests in dribs and drabs – Sri Lanka and West Indies have faced similar situations in recent years – and is unlikely to be the last time it happens. Perhaps there should be a sense of gratefulness, and relief, that McCullum and Taylor will be here in time for the Test series. They are both fascinating sub-plots to the series; McCullum’s leadership was a key part of the contest in New Zealand, while Taylor’s return to the set-up has been far from smooth.The abiding memory of the previous series was the dramatic final day where England survived nine wickets down through defiance from Matt Prior, Ian Bell and Stuart Broad – plus Monty Panesar’s desperate dive – and the feeling of a fantastic opportunity missed by New Zealand still lingers.”I’ve tried to forget about that game to be honest, especially the end of it,” Hesson admitted. “We felt we dominated but that’s the game. These two Tests will be tough in very different conditions. We gained a lot of confidence, but it was a series in isolation and we can’t get carried away.”After the upturn in their fortunes during March, there are unlikely to be many major selection headaches leading into the Test series. Hesson confirmed that Hamish Rutherford and Peter Fulton will continue their opening pairing even though Martin Guptill is in the squad again after injury, so the key decision may come down to whether they retain a spinner – Bruce Martin – in their XI or go with four quick bowlers. Doug Bracewell, who missed the home series after injuring his foot on a piece of glass, and Mark Gillespie are the extra pacemen in the squad.

The World Cricket League Championship resumes this week with a crucial round five of matches for Associate nations that will go a long way to deciding who qualifies for the 2015 World Cup.

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Mar-2013The World Cricket League Championship resumes this week with a crucial round five of matches for Associate nations that will go a long way to deciding who qualifies for the 2015 World Cup.Two automatic places are available at the World Cup for the top-two finishers in the Championship table and with six matches to play, Ireland and Scotland are currently leading the race.Just four points separate the top four teams in the table and teams will be eager to add to their tally with 12 points available from the remaining matches.Leaders Ireland currently top the table with 13 points and will hope to extend their two-point advantage over second-placed Scotland. Ireland and Scotland both take on Asian countries in conditions more familiar to their opposition.Ireland face the UAE without fast-bowler Boyd Rankin for the first time. Rankin has ended his Ireland career to concentrate on playing county cricket and has ambitions to play Test cricket for England.Scotland have more changes to their squad with several current county players, and Neil Carter who ended his Warwickshire career last season, included for the first time. They play Afghanistan, whose strong showing in recent years has made them the fairytale story of Associate cricket. But they have never appeared at a World Cup before.Netherlands could be the big winners of round five. They play Namibia and are firm favorites for maximum points. They will be looking for Afghanistan to beat Scotland and hope UAE can take at least one victory from Ireland. That would put Netherlands into a strong position in the final two rounds of matches.Four games from round five will be streamed live by the ICC with both matches between Afghanistan and Scotland, and Ireland and UAE forming part of up to 18 matches that the ICC will stream live before the end of the World Cricket League Championship.Teams that don’t make it through to the world cup automatically can still qualify for the 2015 World Cup through the qualifying tournament next year.Alongside the World Cricket League, nations will be back in Intercontinental Cup action hoping to climb the table with the top two teams reaching the final at the end of the season.Fixtures
March 6, Afghanistan v Scotland, World Cricket League, Sharjah, *Streamed Live
March 8, Afghanistan v Scotland, World Cricket League, Sharjah, *Streamed Live
March 11, Kenya v Canada, World Cricket League, Dubai
March 12-15, Afghanistan v Scotland, Intercontinental Cup, Abu Dhabi
March 12-15, UAE v Ireland, Intercontinental Cup, Sharjah
March 13, Kenya v Canada, World Cricket League, Dubai
March 18-21 Kenya v Canada, Intercontinental Cup, Dubai
March 18, UAE v Ireland, World Cricket League, Sharjah, *Streamed Live
March 20, UAE v Ireland, World Cricket League, Sharjah, *Streamed Live
April 11-14, Namibia v Netherlands, Intercontinental Cup, Windhoek
April 16, Namibia v Netherlands, World Cricket League, Windhoek
April 18, Namibia v Netherlands, World Cricket League, Windhoek