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Kurtis Patterson became the youngest batsman to score a century in Sheffield Shield as New South Wales took an overwhelming lead of 291 against Western Australia at the SCG.

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Nov-2011
ScorecardKurtis Patterson became the youngest batsman to score a century in Sheffield Shield as New South Wales took an overwhelming lead of 291 against Western Australia at the SCG. Patterson smashed 157 and had the experienced Simon Katich for company as NSW ended the day at 4 for 441.At 18 years and 206 days, Patterson broke the earlier record set by Barry Shepherd, the former Australian Test batsman, who made a century on debut for Western Australia aged 18 years and 241 days in 1955-56. The left-hander came to the crease after NSW lost Ben Rohrer. Patterson and Katich battered the Western Australia bowlers to add 221 for the fifth wicket.Patterson survived two close calls before getting off the mark. He reached his century with his 16th boundary shortly before tea. He accelerated after tea, hitting his last 55 runs off just 25 balls, before getting out caught at backward point by Mitchell Marsh. Katich was lbw to Nathan Rimmington, hitting ten fours in his 125 before Rohrer declared.In reply, Western Australia lost Marcus Harris early.

Sri Lanka have reached their second successive World Cup final, and though they were blown away in the last one, their vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene said they had done really well since that setback

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Mar-2011Sri Lanka have reached their second successive World Cup final, and though they were blown away by Adam Gilchrist’s whirlwind century in the previous one, in 2007, their vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene said they had done really well since that setback. “Gilly did play that brilliant knock and we never had the opportunity to get into the game. It was an unfortunate episode. We have put it behind us and moved on.”We are really motivated to be consistent and, to be right here in the final, speaks volumes about our character.”Going in to the final, Jayawardene said Sri Lanka were confident, especially after they overcame a late batting stutter to win against New Zealand in the semi-final. “The guys are really excited. We batted brilliantly and were positive in our approach (in the semi-final), but we had wobbled in a couple of overs where they put some pressure on us,” Jayawardene said. “The guys came out very well, but you need those kinds of games under your belt going into the best part of the tournament.”Sri Lanka lost only to Pakistan in the group stage, and then beat England and New Zealand in the knockout rounds en route to the final. Jayawardene said they were quite satisfied with how they had progressed so far. “We have handled situations very well. The bowlers, batsmen and everyone has risen to the occasion.Mahela Jayawardene says Sri Lanka are satisfied by their progress so far in the World Cup•AFP

“We had a very good chat about how we are going to approach the final. For a lot of players it was a dream to play for Sri Lanka and now they are on the verge of winning the World Cup.”Muttiah Muralitharan might be retiring from international cricket after the World Cup final, but Jayawardene said that Sri Lanka want to win the tournament not for any individual, but for the country. “We started the World Cup thinking we would win it for Sri Lanka,” Jayawardene said. “I don’t think we want to change that.”Elements in the Indian media have been exhorting the Indian team to win the trophy for Sachin Tendulkar in what could be his last World Cup, but Jayawardene said that Muralitharan – who is battling to get himself fit for the final – himself wanted to win it for Sri Lanka.

A battling unbeaten 62 from Jonathan Bairstow rescued Yorkshire and earned them a
valuable batting bonus point against Kent at Headingley as they aimed to clinch
the County Championship title in their final match of the season

13-Sep-2010

ScorecardA battling unbeaten 62 from Jonathan Bairstow rescued Yorkshire and earned them a
valuable batting bonus point against Kent at Headingley as they aimed to clinch
the County Championship title in their final match of the season.Bad light and drizzle restricted the opening day’s play to 58 overs but
Yorkshire managed to reach 205 for 7 and pick up a batting bonus point after
they had been 93 for 5 at one stage.Kent, who also need a victory in order to avoid relegation, were happy to win
the toss and insert Yorkshire on a green pitch which offered plenty of
assistance to the seam bowlers. Adam Lyth and Jacques Rudolph survived together until the ninth over when Simon Cook found the edge of Lyth’s bat and he was caught at first slip by James Tredwell for 17.Anthony McGrath (one) drove loosely outside off-stump in the next over from
James Coles and was caught by Martin van Jaarsveld at second slip to leave
Yorkshire struggling on 31 for 2, but skipper Andrew Gale came to the crease
in a positive frame of mind and made good progress while Rudolph continued
cautiously at the other end. The ball before lunch, however, brought about the downfall of Gale who moved in front of his stumps and was lbw to Dewald Nel for 39 off 63 balls with seven
boundaries.That made Yorkshire 81 for 3 at the interval and not long afterwards they
dipped to 93 for 5. Rudolph, who had occupied the crease for two hours for his 25, was bowled by Nel and in the following over Gerard Brophy played Coles into his stumps for one.Bairstow and Adil Rashid responded by taking the attack to Kent with Bairstow
moving the score along smartly by helping himself to three boundaries in an over
off Nel before twice finding the rope against Coles.Two short stoppages for the thinnest of drizzle which barely wet the ground
drew some barracking from Yorkshire fans, but when play did resume Rashid drove
Cook gloriously through the covers for four. Further light rain brought forward the tea interval and, when play finally re-started 70 minutes later, 14 overs had been lost. The sixth-wicket stand moved on to 65 in 13 overs before Rashid drove wildly at Nel and was caught behind by Geraint Jones for 29 off 37 balls with five fours.Another useful stand began to develop between Bairstow and Ajmal Shahzad as
Yorkshire closed in on a valuable batting bonus point and Shahzad gained in
confidence with a couple of fine cover drives. Bairstow pulled Coles for four to reach a sparkling 50 – his eighth half-century of the season. It contained nine boundaries and came off 81 balls.Although time had earlier been lost when it was virtually dry, play was now
able to continue while rain fell in the near distance and a cheer went up when
Shahzad found the square-leg boundary off Nel to secure a batting point at 200
for six. The same over saw Ajmal dismissed for 21 as he moved into his stumps and was
lbw to bring Nel his fourth wicket, but soon afterwards bad light ended play for
the day.

Ross Taylor, the Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman, has said he’s happy playing the floater’s role in the line-up

Siddarth Ravindran06-Apr-2010Ross Taylor, the Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman, has said he’s happy playing the floater’s role in the line-up. He usually slots in at No. 4 spot in New Zealand’s Twenty20 batting order, but has been used in every position between No. 3 and No. 6 by Bangalore.”My job is to adjust to different slots. My role with the New Zealand team is a bit different from what I have with Bangalore. I am enjoying it,” Taylor said at the team hotel in Bangalore. “Depending on where I bat – either top three or four, five or six – my role changes. Whether you need 120 runs or 220 runs, you need to know your role and play accordingly.”Barely four days after completing a Test series against Australia, Taylor turned out for his first IPL match of the season on Sunday. He said the amount of cricket being played eased the switch between formats. “We play all formats each year and there is more of chop and change and you get used to it and you adjust with the transition period.”He was also unperturbed by the short gap between the end of the IPL and the start of the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies – the IPL finals are on April 25, and New Zealand take on Sri Lanka five days later. “The only issue would be jetlag I guess. You can’t get any better preparation than playing Twenty20 cricket. Maybe you could have some warm-up games in the Caribbean but the quality you get at the IPL is good.”Taylor’s six-hitting has made him something of a cult hero to Bangalore fans. During the Champions League last year, crowds at the Chinnaswamy were frequently clamouring for him to come out to bat. “I got a good reception here in the first year but I wasn’t expecting the reception I got (for the Champions League),” he said. “It was an amazing
feeling to hear people chant your name.”That popularity should translate into big money at the next IPL auction, but the future of New Zealand’s players will decided by the new central contracts that will come in place once the existing ones end in July. Negotiations are currently on between New Zealand players’ association and the board, with worries that the higher financial incentive offered by the IPL could lead to more freelance cricketers.”We have always had central contracts. Obviously the time our New Zealand season finishes in March, early April, it sort of clashes with the IPL. I guess in international cricket we will find the space and I hope we get to play in the IPL.” Taylor said. “New Zealand Cricket are trying their best to retain their players. We don’t get paid as well as other players and the money we get in IPL far outweighs what we get in New Zealand.”

He became just the third bowler to claim six wickets in a BBL innings as Brisbane Heat lost 8 for 28

Andrew McGlashan12-Jan-2022Rashid Khan signed off from his BBL stint with career-best figures of 6 for 17 to lift Adelaide Strikers off the bottom of the table with a thumping win at the Gabba as Brisbane Heat produced another of their eye-watering collapses.Rashid’s figures, coming in his 300th T20 game, were the third best ever in the BBL behind Lasith Malinga’s 6 for 7 and Ish Sodhi’s 6 for 11. He will now depart for international duty with Afghanistan in a major loss for Strikers, but on his last night sparkled briefly with the bat then halted a promising Heat position with two wickets in two balls as part of a team hat-trick.From 2 for 62 Heat, welcoming back a host of their players who had been hit by Covid, lost for 8 for 28 in seven overs with five batters collecting ducks – equaling the most in a BBL innings – as they fell out of the fifth finals position with three games to play.Strikers had laboured with the bat after Matt Short fell for a brisk 27 but a late cameo from Thomas Kelly (24 off 16) balls lifted them over the 160 mark.Thornton’s BBL restartAnother player given an unexpected opportunity in the tournament, pace bowler Henry Thornton made his second BBL appearance four years after a debut for Sydney Sixers. With his second legal ball, clocked at 143kph, he removed Chris Lynn from a bottom edge into the stumps. There was also some eye-catching late movement as he pitched the ball with an interesting, slingy action. Overall he went for just 12 in his three overs including eight dot balls.Run out, Rashid derail HeatFrom 2 for 17, Heat had recovered nicely through Lachlan Pfeffer and Ben Duckett before the wheels came off. Out of nowhere, Pfeffer set off for a non-existent single to midwicket and had no chance of getting back. Next ball, Sam Heazlett edged a Rashid googly to the keeper and then Jake Lehmann went for a big sweep off his opening delivery and was cleaned up. Xavier Bartlett survived the hat-trick but the damage had been done leaving Rashid to slice through the lower order. If Strikers are to make a run to the finals, they have a big hole to fill.Do Strikers have enough power?They got the win they desperately needed, but it was not a batting performance to inspire confidence. Short was promising after copping a painful blow to the arm from a wild throw by Nathan McSweeney to dominate the powerplay worth 1 for 33. However, the trio of Henry Hunt – who only faced seven balls in the first five overs – Jake Weatherald and Jonathan Wells had a combined tally of 83 off 81 balls. Overs 11-14 brought just 22 runs when Weatherald briefly broke the shackles with a hooked six before finding deep square leg next ball.Mujeeb vs RashidIt is often a surprise that the various T20 sides Rashid plays for don’t make more use of him up the order. At last Strikers made that move, Rashid walking out at No. 5 – just the 12th time in 170 T20 innings he had batted so high – to try and give the innings some impetus. He couldn’t have started much better, top edging his first ball off Bartlett for six before depositing him straight down the ground for another. However, the stay came to end in unfortunate fashion against his Afghanistan team-mate Mujeeb ur Rahman when, moving well outside leg, the ball cannoned off the pads into leg stump. Mujeeb knew he had got lucky and directed a little smile Rashid’s way. However, when Mujeeb later became Rashid’s fifth wicket the smiles had swapped.

Former allrounder cites ‘direct discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race’

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Dec-2020Azeem Rafiq has filed a legal complaint against Yorkshire County Cricket Club, citing “direct discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race”, as well as “victimisation and detriment as a result of his efforts to address racism at the club”.Rafiq told ESPNcricinfo in August that he had been left “on the brink of suicide” by the club’s failure to respond adequately to his allegations of institutional racism, and says he has taken this action, under the Equality Act, in a bid to seek “closure”.”Those who have, like me, been on the receiving end of racism and discrimination will understand how hard it is to open up about the pain and suffering it causes,” said Rafiq.”I feel a sense of relief to finally speak about it and that my healing process can now begin. I hope this claim will give me the closure I need and that the recommendations from the Tribunal will help bring about change for our future generations in cricket.”Rafiq’s claim against the club alleges that he was given a racist nickname by his team-mates, as were other Yorkshire players with an ethnic minority background, with the term “P***” and the phrase “go back where you came from” frequently heard within the dressing-room.The claim further alleges that Yorkshire failed to respect ethnic beliefs of Pakistani players and players of Pakistani descent, “including the non-provision of Halal food facilities and attempts to enforce the drinking culture of the club on them”.Yorkshire is also accused of failing to provide Rafiq with pastoral care after his son was still-born in 2018, shortly before he left the club for a second time, and Rafiq claims that he was denied the same professional opportunities as his white British team-mates, including an opportunity to play T20 franchise cricket in the off-season.Rafiq’s original allegations, which were laid out in the course of three separate interviews in the course of the English season, led to Yorkshire commissioning an investigation, which is still ongoing.”Racism has no place in our society or in our sport,” Yorkshire told ESPNcricinfo in a statement. “We have taken the allegations made extremely seriously, launching a thorough, independent investigation and now await the results and recommendations from this early next year.”This is an important investigation for the club and a distressing time for all involved but with this process underway and the investigation team currently conducting interviews, it would be inappropriate for us to go into further detail on any ongoing legal matters at this stage.”Rafiq’s lawyer, Asma Iqbal, added: “Azeem is a victim of institutional racism who has taken a brave step to whistle blow on an institution which now accepts it needs to embrace change; if only they had recognised this in 2018 when Azeem was crying out for help and support.”Crucially, the YCCC can do the right thing and accept this claim, which will allow the action to go ahead. If YCCC is serious about tackling racism, it will do just that.”

Protocol required, says Tony Irish, to prevent host broadcasters from exploiting players’ comments

Nagraj Gollapudi14-Feb-2019The head of FICA, the international cricketers’ association, says that a protocol for the use of stump microphones must be introduced to avoid the “selective use” of incriminating audio by broadcasters.Tony Irish’s comments come after the West Indies fast bowler, Shannon Gabriel, and the Pakistan captain, Sarfaraz Ahmed, were both handed four-match bans by the ICC after being overheard making derogatory comments in separate on-field incidents.On Wednesday, Gabriel admitted to making homophobic comments in an altercation with the England captain, Joe Root, during last week’s third Test in St Lucia, while Sarfaraz was caught making a racist comment to the South Africa allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo during an ODI in Durban in January.The incidents are the first to cause controversy since the decision was taken, at the ICC annual conference in July, to broadcast stump microphone audio “at any time, including when the ball is dead”. That move came as part of the ICC’s drive to fight player misbehaviour, with new offences introduced such as personal abuse and audible obscenity.The ICC also factored in fan engagement as a big part of live sport, and the fact that cricket needs to embrace that. During the discussions involving the ICC and the various member boards’ chief executives, it was agreed that turning up the stump mic turns the focus not just on spirit of the game, but also allows for greater engagement for the fan watching at home. It brings them into the middle with the players.*While Irish, the executive chairman of FICA, believes that players will be willing to buy into the usage of stump mic audio, he says it is vital that broadcasters are consistent and universal in how they apply the technology.”The issue to be discussed is how they are used, including when they are turned up and when they are turned down,” Irish told ESPNcricinfo. “What I can say is that, when it comes to a matter such as this, players are generally in favour of consistency, which suggests to me that a protocol on how they are used is necessary.”Asked about the potential for a host broadcaster to exploit the feed captured on the stump mic, Irish said that was the players’ biggest fear. “When there is inconsistent use of the stump mic, then there is potential for selective use, which I think players naturally fear. That is not to say all broadcasters do that but the potential and opportunity is there.”The prospect of increased stump-microphone usage has already divided opinions among international teams. England’s head coach, Trevor Bayliss, is not in favour, arguing that “sometimes in the heat of battle things are said”, whereas Moeen Ali, the England allrounder, believes that the volume should be turned up at all times because “it’s time for people to behave themselves”.Irish recognised that there was a danger that some players could seek to use the stump mic to their advantage by setting up an opponent, but added that it remained the players’ responsibilities to ensure the line was never crossed.”Players have an obligation to play within the spirit and rules of the game, much of which relates to the way players treat each other on the field,” said Irish, “and I think a consistent protocol shouldn’t present opportunity for players to disregard that.”In a cricket match, and particularly a Test match, long periods are spent in the field, there are intense contests between bat and ball and a lot goes on. On-field characters have been a hallmark of cricket over the years and most of what goes on is within the rules and spirit of the game. It should stay that way.”

The T20I series to begin Pakistan’s tour of West Indies has been extended from two to four matches, beginning in Barbados on March 26

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Mar-2017Pakistan’s tour of West Indies has been extended by two T20Is with a total of four now scheduled between Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago to kick off the start of Pakistan’s seven-week tour of the Caribbean. The additional fixtures have also caused a shift in dates for the first of the originally scheduled pair of T20Is.The tour itinerary originally comprised two T20Is, three ODIs and three Tests starting with a T20I in Trinidad & Tobago on March 31. The tour will now begin in Barbados on March 26 with the first of the now four T20Is. The other additional T20I will then take place on March 30 in Trinidad while the third T20I is pushed back to April 1.The WICB had looked into possibly staging both of the additional T20Is in Lauderhill, Florida on March 25 and 26 and according to an ESPNcricinfo source, a deposit was placed with stadium officials at the Central Broward Regional Park to reserve the facility for those two dates. However, the source indicated that there were concerns over the ability of Pakistan’s squad to get US visas processed on short notice and the decision was made to schedule the additional T20Is inside the Caribbean.This is only the second time a four-match T20I series has been scheduled between Full Members. The first took place between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe at Khulna in January 2016.

Alviro Petersen hit a match-winning half-century as Somerset made it maximum points from their first two Friends Life t20 games with a six-wicket victory over Northamptonshire at Taunton.

07-Jul-2013Somerset 155-4 (Petersen 64*, Trego 41, Willey 2-19) beat Northamptonshire 152-7 (Willey 47, Thomas 3-33) by three runs
ScorecardMarcus Trescothick has suffered two successive first-ballers for Somerset but he could celebrate victory all the same•Getty Images

Alviro Petersen hit a match-winning half-century as Somerset made it maximum points from their first two Friends Life t20 games with a six-wicket victory over Northamptonshire at Taunton.The hosts reached a target of 153 with seven balls to spare with Petersen finishing unbeaten on 64 off 35 balls having struck seven fours and two sixes.Peter Trego contributed 41 for the victors, while David Willey was the pick of the Northamptonshire attack with two for 19 from four overs.Willey was also the mainstay of his side’s batting after they had won the toss in glorious sunshine. He made 47, but the visitors found it difficult to gain momentum as Alfonso Thomas claimed 3 for 33.Yasir Arafat had set the tone for a tight Somerset bowling effort by making the first over of the Northants innings a maiden to Richard Levi. By the end of the six powerplay overs the visitors were 29 for one as Steve Kirby and Thomas maintained a grip.Former Somerset player Cameron White and skipper Alex Wakely both carelessly gifted catches to cover and it was left to Willey, who announced his intentions by pulling his first ball for Kirby over mid-wicket for six, to bolster the Northamptonshire total. He faced only 29 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes, but lacked support.Northamptonshire’s total looked 30 below par in such ideal batting conditions and Somerset paced their reply perfectly, despite losing skipper Marcus Trescothick for his second duck in as many games, caught at slip off a Willey lifter.It was 50 for two when Craig Kieswetter was caught at long-on to give Willey another wicket, but Trego and Petersen then added 40 in less than five overs while taking few risks.Trego was never at his most fluent and eventually fell lbw to the left-arm spin of Graeme White, having faced 42 balls and hit four boundaries and a six.Petersen scored off virtually every ball he faced and accelerated just when the situation demanded. Jos Buttler helped supply the finishing touch after James
Hildreth had been run out.

David Masters carried his Championship haul of wickets to 71 for the season as
Essex gained the upper hand against Gloucestershire on the second day of the
County Championship match at Colchester’s Castle Park

18-Aug-2011
Scorecard
David Masters carried his Championship haul of wickets to 71 for the season as
Essex gained the upper hand against Gloucestershire on the second day of the
County Championship match at Colchester’s Castle Park.The 33-year-old paceman, the leading wicket-taker in the country, took four
wickets for 50 runs as the visitors finished on 176 for 6 in reply to their
opponents’ total of 363 all out.Masters’ nagging accuracy and ability to extract lift made him a difficult
proposition and he was on course to register his sixth haul of five wickets or
more in an innings until rain arrived to end play at 3pm.It came with Gloucestershire still requiring a further 38 runs to avoid the
follow-on – far from a straightforward task on a lively pitch. Masters struck in his second over by getting rid of Hamish Marshall with the help of Tom Westley at second slip.Then, after lunch, he had Chris Taylor caught behind before removing brothers
Alex and Will Gidman with successive deliveries. The dismissal of Alex Gidman was not without incident. After the visiting skipper was given out lbw when he had scored 29 – which included two sixes in one over from off-spinner Tom Westley – he moved forward to remonstrate with
umpire Steve Gale for a few seconds before turning and heading back to the
pavilion.Gale had yesterday reversed his decision after giving Essex century maker Ryan
ten Doeschate out caught behind. It was an unsavoury incident and no doubt one which will be reported to the appropriate authorities. Certainly it took some of the gloss off a fine effort
from Kane Williamson.The New Zealander batted with an assurance his colleagues failed to match and
was within sight of a century when Graham Napier trapped him on the back foot
for 83. It was an effort which spanned 107 balls and included 10 fours.Napier had earlier got rid of opener Chris Dent – with Westley again accepting
a slip catch – but it was the evergreen Masters who claimed the day’s honours.Earlier in the day, Jon Lewis claimed the final Essex wicket after the home
side had resumed on 359 for 9. Tom Craddock was bowled to give the fast bowler figures of four for 46 from 15.5 overs and his dismissal left ten Doeschate unbeaten with 124, which
contained 10 fours and one six and spread over 182 deliveries.