Amelia Kerr rises on all three ranking charts, breaks into top five among allrounders

Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma among Indians who move up in women’s rankings

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Mar-2022New Zealand allrounder Amelia Kerr rode on her impressive performances in the recently concluded ODI series against India, climbing five places up to No. 17 among batters, while also rising four spots to sit at the same position among bowlers. The 21-year-old also broke into the top five in the allrounders’ charts, where she is now placed at No. 4 after gaining two places.Kerr finished the five-match series with 353 runs – the highest among both sides – at an average of 117.66, including three half-centuries and a hundred. That apart, she took seven wickets, particularly dominating with an all-round show in the fourth ODI in Queenstown, where she first cracked an unbeaten 68 from 33 balls before grabbing 3 for 30 with the ball. All three of Kerr’s wickets in the match had come in the 18th over of India’s chase.

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She followed it up with 66 in the fifth ODI, although in a losing cause – New Zealand’s only defeat in the series.India’s Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma were among the others who made notable gains. While Harmanpreet got back in form with 63 in the final match and thus climbed up a place to be ranked No. 20 among batters, Deepti’s ten wickets – the most by a bowler in the series – helped her up one place to No. 12 among bowlers.All three rankings continue to be led by the Australian trio of Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen and Ellyse Perry, who sit atop among batters, bowlers and allrounders, respectively.

Smith best, Napier gives Essex control

Greg Smith finished with a career-best 177 as Essex clinched maximum batting points for the first time this season and took a firm grip at Bristol.

29-Aug-2013
ScorecardGraham Napier removed four Gloucestershire wickets•Getty Images

Greg Smith finished with a career-best 177 as Essex clinched maximum batting points for the first time this season and took a firm grip at Bristol.After rain had washed out 25 overs, the visitors extended their first innings total from an overnight 333 for 7 to exactly 400, Smith being last man out having batted for nearly seven hours, facing 303 balls and hitting 21 fours and a six.Gloucestershire slipped to 41 for 3 in reply before a century stand between Alex Gidman and Hamish Marshall. But Graham Napier and Reece Topley ensured the hosts were reduced to 211 for 9 by the close, requiring a further 40 to avoid following-on.Rain delayed the start until 1.25pm and then interrupted play after just 10 balls, but the clouds got higher and a resumption was made at 1.50pm. Monty Panesar hit a breezy 22 to add 42 with Smith, who went past his previous best first-class score of 165 not out, made for Derbyshire against Glamorgan at Derby in 2010.After Panesar had top-edged a catch to fine leg off David Payne, Tymal Mills ensured Essex of a fifth batting point with 17, including three fours, before falling to the left-arm spin of Tom Smith, who was finally bowled by Craig Miles to end the innings. But Gloucestershire skipper Michael Klinger’s fear that his bowlers had under-performed proved well founded.Chris Dent, Klinger and Gareth Roderick all fell in the first 11 overs of the home side’s reply, Napier taking two of the wickets and Topley one. Gidman became the first Gloucestershire player to pass 1,000 first-class runs for the season shortly after reaching a half-century off 72 balls, but both he and Marshall had to ride their luck in adding 101 in 24 overs.Their partnership ended on 142 when Gidman had his middle stump uprooted by Ryan ten Doeschate, having hit 11 fours. Benny Howell was then run out for 11 by Topley’s sharp throw from midwicket after calling Marshall for a quick single.Marshall was dropped twice in the slips by Owais Shah and Gautam Gambhir on 44 and reached his half-century off 86 balls, with eight fours, before getting a sharp delivery from Topley and edging a catch to wicketkeeper James Foster. Smith followed, edging to Shah at first slip off Napier, and Gloucestershire were 172 for 7, still 79 runs away from avoiding the follow-on.Four runs later Will Gidman was caught behind off a lifting delivery from Topley and Payne was yorked by Napier for a duck before a flurry of boundaries from Craig Miles brought the home side a welcome batting point.

Jason Roy clicks as Surrey maintain winning start despite Marnus Labuschagne 74

Opener’s 64 off 35 renders chase a formality despite mid-innings wobble

Matt Roller14-Jun-2021Surrey 167 for 5 (Roy 64) beat Glamorgan 166 for 8 (Labuschagne 74, Moriarty 3-26) by five wicketsBowlers, beware: Jason Roy has got his mojo back. Surrey’s margin of victory at the Kia Oval should have been much bigger than five wickets as they won their third game out of three in the Vitality Blast, but a middle-order wobble obscured the fact Roy had killed the game as a contest inside four overs of the chase; Glamorgan, who once boasted a proud record of six T20 wins in a row at this ground, had Marnus Labuschagne’s third consecutive fifty to thank for sparing their blushes.Roy’s personality does not lend itself to bio-bubbles and “secure team environments” and his form has suffered at times over the last 12 months, with a rare lean patch in ODIs and scratchy form in both the Big Bash and England’s T20I series in India and South Africa. Last week, he started the Blast with an ugly innings of 45 off 42 at Lord’s, swinging rustily and being outscored by a ratio of five-to-two by Will Jacks, then thrashed a cameo of 30 off 14 at Taunton.But here, in front of 4000 or so supporters, he scoffed at Glamorgan’s plan to start with spin against him in the Powerplay, racing to 41 off 18 balls. “I always look for small progressions,” he said afterwards. “Lord’s was very scratchy and I didn’t have that rhythm, hitting a lot of fielders and just getting a bit frustrated. At Taunton I had a bit of fun after a four-and-a-half-hour journey – I thought ‘why not?’ But tonight, it was a lot better.”Roy had dumped the first ball he faced straight back over Prem Sisodiya’s head for four and the second over of the chase demonstrated his dominance over bowlers at this level. Andrew Salter, the offspinner, went full and straight to start with, so Roy cleared his front leg and smeared him over mid-off. Roy realised the second would be shorter, so rocked back and slapped a cut through point with a powerful snap of the wrists. Salter had nowhere to go, and went full again; Roy lined him up, and hammered him straight back over his head.He was quieter against Glamorgan’s seamers, but still brought up a 28-ball half-century off the final ball of the Powerplay. When Labuschagne was introduced, Roy swept his first ball hard for four, and belted his third over midwicket; the only surprise came in Labuschagne’s second over, when he miscued a skier to backward point via a thick top-edge.Marnus Labuschagne made his third consecutive fifty•Getty Images

“Someone has to get you out at some stage, don’t they?” Roy said of Glamorgan’s ploy to bowl spin at him up front, which has become a consistent plan against England in T20Is. “Sometimes it happens to be a left-arm spinner. A leggie got me out tonight eventually, didn’t they? So I’m sure someone will have something to write about. As a player, it gives you something to work on, which is always nice.”Roy’s innings took the equation from 167 off 120 balls to 79 off 71 by the time he was dismissed, effectively sealing the game despite their minor stumble. Sam Curran and Jamie Overton fell in successive overs after Roy’s dismissal before Laurie Evans drilled Sisodiya straight to long-off, but Jamie Smith’s cool-headed 35 not out saw them across the line with 10 balls to spare.Roy will play two more games for Surrey, at home against Sussex and Hampshire on Thursday and Friday, before he links up with England on Saturday ahead of their white-ball summer, which comprises six ODIs and six T20Is, three each against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.”You always go back to square one, no matter how many runs you’ve scored,” he said. “Before every series you go back to the drawing board and get yourself back to basics and go from there – you certainly don’t want to think that you’re going to score runs every game, because unfortunately that’s not the way the game works. But it’s obviously very nice to have these runs behind me – it makes it a lot easier.”[Last year] was a huge experience and a massive learning curve. I’ve come through the other side a lot better for it. It was a very tough year on and off the field so it was about keeping my head down and making sure I stay consistent with my training and back myself, knowing that eventually it would come right. Am I in a good headspace now? Absolutely.”For Glamorgan, Labuschagne had been the glue holding the innings together for the third game in a row after Nick Selman’s leg-side pick-ups had got them to 55 for 1 inside six overs. Surrey exploited match-ups to their advantage, with Gareth Batty and Dan Moriarty encouraging batters to hit towards the long boundary and Glamorgan duly obliging.Labuschagne had stated his desire to use the Blast as a chance to pitch his case for inclusion in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad at the start of the season and his early efforts have been persuasive: 93 not out, 59 and 74 tonight, giving him 226 runs for twice out at a strike rate of 146.75 and four cheap wickets to boot.One of his biggest assets in T20 is his willingness to use his position on the crease to throw bowlers off their line, and his ability to adjust. There was no better demonstration than the fifth ball of the 17th over, when he jumped outside leg stump to encourage Tom Curran to bowl wide outside off, despite having point and third man up inside the ring. Curran landed a perfect wide yorker, but Labuschagne stretched out and deflected it away through the gap, like a centre-forward in hockey deflecting the ball in at the back post.He had started slowly, eking out 17 off the first 22 balls he faced with Curran putting down a caught-and-bowled chance, but once Labuschagne had adjusted to the slowness of the pitch he was away, hitting 57 off the next 29. His slow start was put into perspective by Roy’s fireworks, but with Surrey applying the squeeze, there had been no other option.

Bowlers, Dhawan extend Sunrisers home run

The Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers kept their home run going, stopping Mumbai Indians just short of 130 on a slow pitch which the visiting batsmen could never get going on, despite losing only four wickets

The Report by Abhishek Purohit01-May-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsIshant Sharma’s spell of 2 for 15 kept Mumbai Indians to a low score•BCCI

This was a clash between the IPL’s most powerful line-up and its most effective attack. Here was a line-up that had had just one failure in nine games. Here was an attack that was still to concede more than 130 at home. The Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers kept their home run going, stopping Mumbai Indians just short of 130 on a slow pitch which the visiting batsmen could never get going on, despite losing only four wickets. Shikhar Dhawan guided the chase single-handedly, peppering both square boundaries as he motored to his second fifty in three innings.Apart from the pitch and the home attack, what went against Mumbai Indians was that they lost their four wickets in groups of two each, sucking out whatever momentum they had managed to build on both occasions. The first time it happened, a start of 32 in 4.2 overs was squandered. The second time, two batsmen, Dwayne Smith and Rohit Sharma, who had spent enough time in the middle to have assessed the wicket, fell in the same over.It was Ishant Sharma who began Sunrisers’ dominance. Sachin Tendulkar had whipped and lofted Dale Steyn for successive fours but Ishant’s short of a good length stuff was to prove difficult to time. Tendulkar backed away and missed one that nipped in from that length. Two balls later, the in-form Dinesh Karthik reached for one that wasn’t quite there for the drive, and sliced it to backward point.As he usually does, Dwayne Smith took his time in the Powerplay but unlike normally, he found the runs weren’t coming even during the middle overs. Ishant was bowling a superb line and length, and the two legspinners, Amit Mishra and Karan Sharma, were getting grip and turn.Smith was dropped by Ishant at long-off in Mishra’s second over but got a poor decision in the bowler’s next, given out lbw after gloving an attempted sweep onto the pads. Four balls later, Rohit mishit in front of long-off and this time, Ishant made no mistake.Ambati Rayudu and Kieron Pollard had seven overs to go, and managed to last till the end, but as evidence of how accurate the Sunrisers bowlers were, the partnership went over run a ball only twice in those overs.Steyn came back well after an expensive opening over, signing off with six full and low balls in his last over. Thisara Perera wasn’t far behind apart from the 20th over that went for 16, finding swing on his full deliveries.Mumbai Indians don’t have a bad attack at all, but Dhawan is not in bad form either after Test debut against Australia. A chase of 130 could easily have got close – Sunrisers defended 126 here against Pune Warriors – but Dhawan was in a different mood.Pragyan Ojha created some pressure, giving just 18 in four overs, but Sunrisers broke away in the 12th over as Rohit tried Smith. Dhawan and Hanuma Vihari took 15 off Smith’s mediums. Dhawan bossed the attack after that, cutting, pulling and lofting over extra cover at will to end the game with a couple of overs left.

CSA dismisses former acting CEO Kugandrie Govender

The new board has advertised the CEO’s position, with applications due to close on July 31

Firdose Moonda31-Jul-2021Cricket South Africa’s former acting CEO Kugandrie Govender has been dismissed with immediate effect, bringing an end to the disciplinary matters that have stretched back to December 2019. Govender was suspended in December 2020, four months after former CEO Thabang Moroe was fired over allegations of misconduct.Specifically, Govender was under scrutiny for the role she played in revoking the accreditation of journalists in December 2019, for breaches of the Companies’ Act, and her part in the dismissal of the former head of sales and sponsorships Clive Eksteen, whose sacking was ruled unfair. She was found guilty after a lengthy process which has lasted more than seven months.”The Chairperson of the Disciplinary Tribunal, Advocate Terry Motau SC, imposed a sanction of immediate dismissal, having regard inter alia to the seriousness of Ms Govender’s misconduct, the breach of trust and including the fact that a continued working relationship between Ms Govender and CSA would no longer be possible,” a CSA statement read.Related

  • CSA appoints new majority independent board, reports Rand 250 million loss

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Since Govender’s suspension, CSA has also parted ways with former chief operating officer Naasei Appiah and former finance manager Ziyanda Nkuta after previously ending their relationship with Moroe and Eksteen. Govender’s immediate predecessor, Jacques Faul, resigned from the acting CEO role to return to his post as CEO of the Titans franchise. She was succeeded by Pholetsi Moseki, who remains CSA’s acting CEO to date.However, CSA is in the process of finalising a new governance structure after a new, majority-independent board was ushered in in June. The new board has advertised the CEO’s position, with applications due to close on July 31, though no date has been set for confirming the new candidate.

Guptill savours 'special' innings

Martin Guptill was savouring the “special” feeling of becoming New Zealand’s highest scorer in a one-day international after scorching his way to an unbeaten 189 at the Ageas Bowl

Andrew McGlashan at the Ageas Bowl02-Jun-2013Martin Guptill was savouring the “special” feeling of becoming New Zealand’s highest scorer in a one-day international after scorching his way to an unbeaten 189 at the Ageas Bowl – his second hundred in three days – and is looking forward to getting in touch with the man whose record he broke.Guptill often played alongside Lou Vincent, who scored 172 against Zimbabwe in 2005, and is planning on contacting his former team-mate to talk him through how his landmark was taken.”It’s a pretty special feeling,” Guptill said. “I played a lot of cricket with Lou so I’ll have to give him a bit of stick later on tonight. It’s not been the worst few days. I’m pretty happy with the way I’m batting and long may it continue.”His back-to-back hundreds mark a triumphant return to the one-day side following the hamstring injury which curtailed his series against England in New Zealand, although he still managed to produce a matchwinning performance in Hamilton to steer his team to victory. “I’d had a bit of a lean patch before I got injured so to be able to come back and score back-to-back hundreds is pretty special,” he said.”I think it was the batsmanship through the middle stages I found the most impressive,” he said. “Martin’s batsmanship the other day at Lord’s was great but I think today it went up a notch. We all know about his striking ability so when you put the two aspects together it’s probably as a good an innings as you’ll see for New Zealand.”Alastair Cook was also gracious in his assessment of the display that condemned his team to their first home one-day series loss under his captaincy. “It was a very special innings. He made us pay,” Cook said. “What was impressive is that he always managed to find the right option at the right time so if we did build a couple of dots he’d always get the release with a four without taking too big a risk.”Despite wrapping up the series with a game to spare, McCullum was not giving any thoughts to using the final match, at Trent Bridge on Wednesday, as a glorified net session ahead of the Champions Trophy. New Zealand were 2-0 up in South Africa earlier this before seeing the home side steal a one-wicket in the final game and does not want a repeat. “Three-nil would be as good as it gets,” he said. “So we’ll be doing whatever we can to continue the momentum we have.”

Australians at IPL 2021 – the teams, the stats, and the form guide

Get up to speed with where the large contingent will be over the next two months

Andrew McGlashan05-Apr-2021

Dan Christian (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

“Old blokes win stuff,” is Christian’s mantra, and he has become a T20 title machine. The BBL title with the Sydney Sixers was the ninth of his career, but he doesn’t have one from the IPL, where he returns after three years. Christian has turned himself into a superb finisher with the bat and there is a belief in some quarters that Australia should consider him again for their troublesome middle order. That seems unlikely now, but if he impresses at the IPL, the conversation will continue.Price tag INR 4.4 crore (approx A$850,000)
IPL history Deccan Chargers (2011, 2012); Royal Challenges Bangalore (2013, 2021); Rising Pune Supergiant (2017); Delhi Daredevils (2018)
T20 stats Matches 347; Inns: 298; Runs: 5171; Avg: 23.93; SR: 140.05 | Wickets: 259; Avg: 28.56; Econ: 8.44
IPL stats Matches: 40; Inns: 34; Runs: 446; Avg: 17.84; SR: 119.25 | Wickets: 34; Avg: 30.50; Econ: 7.94
Recent form Had a superb all-round BBL with the Sixers where he scored 272 runs at a strike-rate of 182.55 – excelling in the new Power Surge period – and coupled that with 15 wickets, often bowling at tough times. He had chipped in with bat and ball for the Karachi Kings at the PSL before the tournament was called off too.

Nathan Coulter-Nile (Mumbai Indians)

No longer in the frame for Australia selection and without a state contract, Coulter-Nile is heading towards a team-by-team T20 lifestyle in the latter stage of his career. Having been bought for A$1.63 million in the 2020 auction, he was released by champions Mumbai Indians ahead of the 2021 season after having claimed five wickets in seven games last season, But then he was bought back at a still-not-insignificant price.Price tag INR 5 crore (approx A$885,000)
IPL history Mumbai Indians (2013, 2020, 2021); Delhi Daredevils (2014-2016); Kolkata Knight Riders (2017)
T20 stats Matches 133; Inns: 75; Runs: 663; Avg: 14.41; SR: 134.21 | Wickets: 156; Avg: 23.41; Econ: 7.77
IPL stats Matches: 33; Inns: 14; Runs: 77; Avg: 8.55; SR: 118.46 | Wickets: 41; Avg: 22.56; Econ: 7.71
Recent form He had an injury-disrupted BBL where he played six games for the Melbourne Stars. It started well with a career-best 4 for 10 against the Brisbane Heat, but while he took wickets on his return at the back-end of the group stage, he was also expensive.Ben Cutting will turn out for Kolkata Knight Riders, his fourth IPL team•Getty Images

Ben Cutting (Kolkata Knight Riders)

The allrounder is back in the IPL after missing last season, this time with his fourth franchise. A strong middle-order hitter (another player who made use of the BBL Power Surge rule well) and a bowler who can still get it through at decent pace – although it’s certainly his second-string these days. Like Christian, there is sometimes a thought that he wasn’t given enough chances for Australia, but that ship has sailed.Price tag INR 75 lakh (approx A$132,000)
IPL history Rajasthan Royals (2014), Sunrisers Hyderabad (2016, 2017), Mumbai Indians (2018, 2019)
T20 stats Matches: 171; Inns: 143; Runs: 2368; Avg: 22.76; SR: 149.02 | Wickets: 128; Avg: 31.82; Econ: 8.99
IPL stats Matches: 21; Inns: 17; Runs: 238; Avg: 21.63; SR: 168.79 | Wickets: 10; Avg: 42.90; Econ: 9.16
Recent form Had a decent impact for the Sydney Thunder, his new team, in the BBL where he scored 280 runs at a strike rate of 156.42, his best return with the bat in a BBL season. Produced limited returns in five outings for the Quetta Gladiators in the PSL.

Pat Cummins (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Among the premier fast bowlers of the current generation, after his record-breaking IPL deal in 2020, Cummins had a slow tournament with three wickets in ten matches before claiming nine in the last four, including a haul of 4 for 34 in the last group match, but it was enough for the Knight Riders to reach the playoffs.Price tag INR 15.5 crore (approx A$2,900,000)
IPL history Kolkata Knight Riders (2014, 2015, 2020, 2021); Delhi Daredevils (2017), Mumbai Indians (2018)
T20 stats Matches: 96; Wickets: 109; Avg: 25.49; Econ: 7.75
IPL stats Matches: 30; Wickets: 29; Avg: 31.31; Econ 8.09
Recent form Hasn’t played a T20 since the last IPL after being rested for India’s series in Australia and not playing in the BBL. Has bowled well for New South Wales in the one-day competition where he has been captain.

Moises Henriques (Punjab Kings)

The allrounder is back in the IPL for the first time in four years (with his fifth team) after being a consistent performer for the Sydney Sixers in the BBL. He earned a recall to the Australia side this season and played the three T20Is against India.Price tag INR 4.2 crore (approx A$740,000)
IPL history Kolkata Knight Riders (2009), Delhi Daredevils (2010), Royal Challengers Bangalore (2013), Sunrisers Hyderabad (2014-2017)
T20 stats Matches: 213; Inns: 191; Runs: 3991; Avg: 26.96; SR: 128.65 | Wickets: 111; Avg: 29.98; Econ: 8.29
IPL stats Matches: 57; Inns: 50; Runs: 969; Avg: 28.50; SR: 128.17 | Wickets: 38; Avg: 32.73; Econ: 8.38
Recent form He was a part of the Test squad, and could only play five BBL matches for the Sixers, but Henriques scored 155 runs in four innings and captained them to back-to-back titles. Bowls much less these days but showed he could still be effective with 3 for 22 against India in Canberra.Chris Lynn didn’t get a game for Mumbai Indians last season but they retained him anyway•Getty Images

Chris Lynn (Mumbai Indians)

Remains one of the most destructive players around, although it sometimes feels he doesn’t give himself the best chance to make the most of it. Didn’t make an appearance for the Mumbai Indians last season but was retained before the latest auction.Price tag INR 2 crore (approx A$370,000)
IPL history Deccan Chargers (2011, 2012), Sunrisers Hyderabad (2013), Kolkata Knight Riders (2014-2019), Mumbai Indians (2020)
T20 stats Matches: 210; Inns: 203; Runs: 5726; Avg: 31.63; SR: 143.72
IPL stats Matches: 41; Inns: 41; Runs: 1280; Avg 33.68; SR: 140.65
Recent form Was comfortably Brisbane Heat’s leading run-scorer in the BBL with 458 at 35.23 and a strike rate of 154.72 despite missing a handful of games due to injury. Started the PSL with scores of 1, 1 and 0.

Glenn Maxwell (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

The curious world of the IPL! Maxwell was released by the Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) after a poor 2020 tournament where he scored just 108 runs in 11 innings and did not hit a six, but was then bought for an even more eye-watering sum by the Royal Challengers, which sees him join forces with Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. If it comes off, it will be spectacular.Price tag INR 14.25 crore (approx A$2,500,000)
IPL history Delhi Daredevils (2012, 2018), Mumbai Indians (2013), Kings XI Punjab (2014-2017, 2020)
T20 stats Matches: 306; Inns: 286; Runs: 6674; Avg: 27.02; SR: 152.37 | Wickets: 110; Avg: 31.41; Econ: 7.70
IPL stats Matches: 82; Inns: 79; Runs: 1505; Avg: 22.13; SR: 154.67 | Wickets: 19; Avg: 41.05; Econ: 8.57
Recent form Had a solid BBL with the Stars were he struck three half-centuries – one of them in a brutal stand alongside Nicholas Pooran – alongside three ducks. Made one decisive contribution in the series against New Zealand with a powerful 70 off 37 balls in Wellington.

Riley Meredith (Punjab Kings)

One of this season’s new faces in the IPL, Meredith is a bowler capable of high speed – an asset clearly in demand in the competition – although his price tag, as he become a millionaire, was still something of a surprise.Price tag INR 8 crore (approx A$1,400,000)
T20 stats Matches: 37; Wickets: 47; Avg: 23.38; Econ: 8.02
Recent form Had a decent BBL for the Hobart Hurricanes with 16 wickets in 13 matches, and then made his Australia debut in New Zealand where he twice pinned Kane Williamson lbw.

Jhye Richardson (Punjab Kings)

Like Meredith, this is Richardson’s first appearance in the IPL after an injury-disrupted couple of years, which began with a dislocated shoulder ahead of the 2019 World Cup. He came with some hectic bidding, which eventually went the way of the Punjab Kings. Capable of skiddy pace and late swing, he could be valuable in the powerplay.Price tag INR 14 crore (approx A$2,500,00)
T20 stats Matches: 67; Wickets: 82; Avg: 23.43; Econ: 7.92
Recent form Was the leading wicket-taker in the BBL with 29 scalps for the Perth Scorchers, although he faded a little late in the tournament. But then he took four wickets in five matches against New Zealand on his return to international cricket.14:30

We were thrilled to get Steven Smith just above his base price – Parth Jindal

Kane Richardson (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Richardson withdrew from his deal last year, so he could be at home for the birth of his child, but was retained by the Royal Challengers. This will be his first appearance in the IPL since 2016. His three previous campaigns only amounted to 14 matches, but he is a better-rounded bowler now than when he last played.Price tag INR 4 crore (approx A$720,000)
IPL history Pune Warriors India (2013), Rajasthan Royals (2014), Royal Challengers Bangalore (2016)
T20 stats Matches: 126; Wickets: 152; Avg: 23.42; Econ: 7.93
IPL stats Matches: 14; Wickets: 18; Avg: 24.61; Econ: 8.38
Recent form Took 15 wickets in 11 matches for bottom club the Melbourne Renegades in the BBL before his tournament ended early with injury. Took seven wickets in the series against New Zealand including two three-wicket hauls.

Daniel Sams (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Sams was a late addition last season when he replaced Jason Roy at the Delhi Capitals, but they released him after three wicketless outings and he has been picked up by the Royal Challengers. He has enjoyed a batting revival of late with some powerful displays for the Sydney Thunder and Australia, although he probably remains a 50-50 shout to make the World Cup squad.Price tag INR 30 lakh (approx A$54,000)
IPL history Delhi Capitals (2020)
T20 stats Matches: 54; Inns: 44; Runs: 485; Avg: 13.85; SR: 148.31 | Wickets: 67; Avg: 22.17; Econ: 8.55
Recent form Had a superb strike rate of 188.67 for the Thunder (scoring 200 runs) and picked up 11 wickets in a season where he twice missed games due to injury. Hammered 41 off 15 balls in the second T20I against New Zealand in Dunedin, but was then left out.

Steven Smith (Delhi Capitals)

It has been a major pay cut for Smith after he was released by the Rajasthan Royals following a disappointing 2020 (311 runs at 25.91) and then bought by Ricky Ponting’s Capitals. He has been hampered by an elbow problem in the lead-up, which has led to him being sidelined for New South Wales. But he returned to action the day before flying to India.Price tag INR 2.2 crore (approx A$390,000)
IPL history Pune Warriors India (2012, 2013), Rising Pune Supergiant (2016, 2017), Rajasthan Royals (2014-2015, 2019, 2020)
T20 stats Matches: 209; Inns: 185; Runs: 4438; Avg: 30.60; SR: 126.40 | Wickets: 54; Avg: 19.55; Econ: 7.68
IPL stats Matches: 95; Inns: 86; Runs: 2333; Avg: 35.34; SR: 129.25
Recent form His only T20s since the last IPL were in the three-match series against India in December, since he did not take part in the Sydney Sixers’ BBL campaign. Made 213 runs in two one-day innings for New South Wales either side of his layoff.Marcus Stoinis is one of the key men in the Delhi Capitals line-up•BCCI

Marcus Stoinis (Delhi Capitals)

The allrounder had a solid 2020 tournament with 352 runs and 13 wickets, taking on a middle-order role that appears the position he will need to occupy for Australia, whereas in the BBL he opens the innings.Price tag INR 4.8 crore (approx A$900,000)
IPL history Delhi Daredevils (2015); Kings XI Punjab (2016-2018), Royal Challengers Bangalore (2019), Delhi Capitals (2020)
T20 stats Matches: 153; 140: 185; Runs: 3418; Avg: 32.24; SR: 132.84 | Wickets: 78; Avg: 26.71; Econ: 8.83
IPL stats Matches: 46; Inns: 42; Runs: 825; Avg: 28.44; SR: 137.27 | Wickets: 28; Avg: 30.42; Econ: 9.37
Recent form Was a solid performer for the Stars, if short of his spectacular returns in the 2019-2020 season. For the second Australian season in a row, injury limited Stoinis’ bowling. In New Zealand, he played a thrilling innings in Dunedin, hitting 78 off 47 balls.

Andrew Tye (Rajasthan Royals)

Only made one appearance for the Royals last season but was on their retained list. Made his name with an array of slower balls, but bowled faster than ever in the recent Australian season following work on his action. Made his comeback for Australia against India last yearPrice tag INR 1 crore (approx A$190,000)
IPL history Chennai Super Kings (2015-16); Gujarat Lions (2017); Kings XI Punjab (2018-19), Rajasthan Royals (2020)
T20 stats Matches: 162 Wickets: 218; Avg: 21.68; Econ 8.06
IPL stats Matches: 27; Wickets: 40; Avg: 21.80; Econ 8.46
Recent form Took 21 wickets for the Perth Scorchers, second behind Jhye Richardson, as they reached the BBL final. Was part of the Australia squad in New Zealand but did not get a game.

David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Last season’s IPL was not as prolific as some for Warner (although 548 runs at 39.14 isn’t too shabby) and he has since had an injury-disrupted Australia season because of the groin strain he suffered against India. He has admitted he came back too soon for the Test series and would likely be feeling the effects of it for much of the year.Price tag INR 12.5 crore (approx A$2,300,000)
IPL history Delhi Daredevils (2009-2013); Sunrisers Hyderabad (2014-2020)
T20 stats Matches: 298; Inns: 297; Runs: 9824; Avg 37.93; SR: 141.57
IPL stats Matches: 142; Inns: 142; Runs: 5254; Avg 42.71; SR: 141.54
Recent form Hasn’t played any T20s since the IPL. Has been in good form for New South Wales with scores of 87 and 108 in one-day matches.

Adam Zampa (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

The legspinner had a bit-part role to play for the Royal Challengers after being a late replacement for Kane Richardson, making just three appearances and taking two wickets but the franchise retained him for this season. He will miss at least the first match because of his marriage.Price tag INR 1.5 crore (approx A$270,000)
IPL history Rising Pune Supergiant (2016-17), Royal Challengers Bangalore (2020)
T20 stats Matches: 173 Wickets: 200; Avg: 22.01; Econ 7.36
IPL stats Matches: 14 Wickets: 21; Avg: 17.61; Econ 7.73
Recent form Was the Melbourne Stars’ leading wicket-taker at the BBL with 19 wickets at 17.47, and then picked up four wickets on the tour of New Zealand, although his economy rate was high at 9.48.

Players to have withdrawn

Josh Hazlewood (Chennai Super Kings)
Mitchell Marsh (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Josh Philippe (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Belligerent Shahzad ton propels Afghanistan to series win

Mohammad Shahzad displayed trademark brute force and timing to make a record-breaking ton and lead Afghanistan to an 81-run win against Zimbabwe in the second T20I in Sharjah

The Report by Nikhil Kalro10-Jan-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMohammad Shahzad’s 118 was the highest individual T20I score from an Associate nation and fourth overall•Chris Whiteoak

Mohammad Shahzad displayed trademark brute force and timing to make a record-breaking ton and lead Afghanistan to an 81-run win against Zimbabwe in the second T20I in Sharjah. Shahzad clobbered a 67-ball 118, the highest individual score from an Associate nation in T20Is and fourth overall. By the time he was done, Zimbabwe had conceded 215 and were deflated.That the next highest contribution after Shahzad’s blitzkrieg was Mohammad Nabi’s brisk 22, was symbolic of the ascendancy he had over Zimbabwe’s helpless bowling attack. He got stuck into the medium-pacers as well as the spinners after a slow start, peppering the midwicket region with pulls and slog-sweeps. Within 14 overs, he reached his century and had batted Zimbabwe out of the series.The Afghanistan innings had begun in amateurish fashion – a lot of shots but few runs. Both Shahzad and Usman Ghani looked to hit the cover off the ball, and thereby lost their shape and failed to find any timing. The first five overs produced 30.Spin was introduced after the Powerplay and Shahzad used his technique with success – dancing down the pitch, going deep in the crease or down on one knee after a premeditated shuffle. Afghanistan had 59, and Shahzad 50. He connected with most of his sweeps and swipes, using his muscle to clear the boundary with ease.Zimbabwe’s bowlers repeatedly landed deliveries in Shahzad’s hitting arc. Under duress, yorkers were attempted but were dispatched after ending up as low full-tosses. Legspinner Graeme Cremer went around the wicket to try and take the ball away from the right-hander. Shahzad shuffled across, bent down on one knee and slog-swept him to the midwicket boundary. When he got to his hundred, his joy was evident in his celebration as he removed his helmet and did the .When Zimbabwe’s bowlers created a rare opportunity, their fielders let them down. At least three chances were spilled, including two off Shahzad – a hard running catch at long-on was parried to the boundary, and wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami, failed to get much glove on a skier. Shahzad was given another reprieve in the 16th over, on 101. Nabi had called him for a quick single but Shahzad failed to make his ground at the striker’s end when the bails were whipped off. The third umpire, however, was not called upon.Shahzad had laid the platform for the other batsmen to launch from the get-go. Despite struggling for timing, all the batsmen barring Ghani had strike-rates over 130 and at least one boundary.Zimbabwe, who had never won a T20I series comprising more than one game, were never in the chase. Save Hamilton Masakadza, the rest of the top six contributed a total of five runs, as they slumped to 34 for 5 in the sixth over. Mutumbami and Sikandar Raza were comfortably stumped off deliveries that slid in with the arm and sneaked past the inside edge. Malcolm Waller misjudged a skidder and captain Elton Chigumbura was run out after looking for a run during an lbw appeal. The chase was done.Masakadza and Peter Moor displayed a range of strokes and found a boundary almost every over, but the required run rate had touched 20. Masakadza, Zimbabwe’s best batsman on the tour, looked comfortable for the duration of his stay. He lofted a Dawlat Zadran delivery with such splendid timing that it cleared the midwicket boundary and took him past Chigumbura as the Zimbabwe batsman with the most T20I sixes.Masakadza struck his eighth fifty but it barely had any impact on the game. By the time he was bowled for 63, an innings that featured two fours and five sixes, Zimbabwe required 102 from 26 balls. The lower order could not achieve much, and slogged catches to fielders. Zimbabwe’s misery ended when a casual Tendai Chisoro was run out after failing to ground his bat.

Sibanda leads Rhinos to big win

A round-up of Zimbabwe Domestic Twenty20 matches played on December 13, 2012

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Dec-2012
ScorecardAn unbeaten half-century by Vusi Sibanda led Mid West Rhinos to a comfortable 10-wicket win against Southern Rocks at the Kwekwe Sports Club. Sibanda’s 70 came off 44 balls and included seven boundaries and three sixes and helped his team finish the chase in the 14th over. The other opener, Jaik Mickleburgh, remained unbeaten on 47 and the win gave the team five crucial points to take them to the third position in the points table.Southern Rocks, who chose to bat, got off to a sluggish start even though opener Ben
Slater (42) kept things stable on one end till the 16th over. They scored at under
six runs per over initially but some late hitting by Tendai Chisoro and Prince
Masvaure took their score to 122.
ScorecardFifties from both the openers and a four-wicket spell from Tinotenda Mutombodzi set
up a 53-run victory for Mashonaland Eagles over Mountaineers at the Harare Sports
Club.Being put in to bat, Eagles were given a swift start by openers Sikandar Raza and
Chamu Chibhabha with a 94-run stand in 11.3 overs. The team got to 150 for 3 at the
end of 16 overs, but they lost six wickets for 16 runs to end up with 180 on the
board.Mountaineers lost opener Hamilton Masakadza in the second over but the other opener,
Mark Pettini, went on to score 49. However, he didn’t receive much support at the
other end as only two other batsmen reached double figures. The lower-order
collapsed with last seven wickets going down for 28 runs. Mutombodzi did most of the
damage and was supported well by Kyle Jarvis and Ray Price, who picked a couple of
wickets each.

Bushrangers sprint to bonus point

Jayde Herrick and John Hastings rumbled Western Austraia for 181 then Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell sprinted with the bat to deliver a bonus point for Victoria at the MCG

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Nov-2012
ScorecardJayde Herrick and John Hastings rumbled Western Austraia for 181 then Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell sprinted with the bat to deliver a bonus point for Victoria in the domestic limited overs match at the MCG.The Bushrangers prevailed with 16.4 overs to spare, adding to the Warriors’ difficulties on the day they lost their coach Lachlan Stevens and little more than a week after their captain Marcus North also resigned.Winning the toss and batting first in his first match as WA’s interim captain, Adam Voges made only 18 as all of the WA top four passed 15 but failed to go past 27.The only innings of any substance was 51 from Mitch Marsh, having come to the wicket at 4 for 70. Herrick bowled with his usual vigour, and earned his best limited overs figures.WA’s bowlers charged in at the start of the defence, none more so than Mitchell Johnson, who had one bouncer fly over the ‘keeper Tom Triffitt’s head and into the fence on the first bounce.But Finch and Chris Rogers weathered the early storm, and Maxwell helped ensure that the Bushrangers would register a most comfortable victory over their bedraggled opposition.