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Surrey have confirmed they are in talks with Brian Lara in a bid to lure him out of retirement to play Twenty20 for them this season

Cricinfo staff16-Apr-2010Surrey have confirmed they are in talks with Brian Lara in a bid to lure him out of retirement to play Twenty20 for them this season. Lara, who retired from international cricket after the 2007 World Cup, has not played competitively for two years.”We have been in discussion with Brian regarding his possible involvement with the club,” a Surrey spokesman told the BBC. “However we have no further comment to make at this stage.”Lara has already been in the nets at The Oval this week and has had talks with Surrey’s cricket manager Chris Adams and chief executive Paul Sheldon.The Indian press recently speculated Lara was planning a comeback there. A deal was said to be done with the Kochi franchise which joins the IPL next season, but nothing came of that.Retirement has not come easy to Lara, and he has hinted he could be lured back several times. Last year he said of Twenty20: “I believe that at some point in time people are going to understand that they are tactical ways of playing it and then you are going to see the true talent come out.”Lara had a stint with the unofficial ICL in 2007-08, where he had a forgettable tournament with the bat and as captain of Mumbai Champs.Surrey already have Andrew Symonds, the Australian all-rounder, registered for the domestic English Twenty20 competition, and – depending on his national commitments – Piyush Chawla, the Indian legspinner. The rules permit counties to enlist four overseas players in all for the tournament, with a maximum of two featuring in a single game.

The rule will first be applied at the Duleep Trophy in the event of major injuries to players mid-match

Shashank Kishore16-Aug-20252:14

Should injury substitutions be allowed in Test cricket?

The BCCI has introduced a “serious injury replacement substitute” rule for in domestic cricket to prevent injured players from risking themselves further in the match. This applies to games that take place over multiple days and will come into effect from the Duleep Trophy, which opens the 2025-26 season on August 28. It will be active in the Ranji trophy as well, India’s premier first-class cricket competition.This replacement can be any non-playing member of the squad, should be like-for-like, and will need an approval from the match referee after teams are able to medically produce a report that underlines the seriousness of the injury of the concerned player. The injury has to have happened during the game and needs to be external (like taking a blow resulting in a deep cut or fracture) rather than internal (like a hamstring strain).This addition was debated within the BCCI circles in the aftermath of Rishabh Pant batting with a broken foot against England in Manchester, and has been swiftly incorporated into the playing regulations.The regulation states, “under all circumstances, the serious injury replacement player shall be from nominated substitutes at the time of toss.”Only in the case where the wicketkeeper is seriously injured and needs a replacement then the match referee may allow a wicketkeeper from a player outside the nominated substitutes if there is no wicketkeeper in the nominated substitutes.”Both the player being replaced and the replaced player shall be considered to have played in the match for records and statistical purposes.At present, international cricket only allows substitutions in the event of a player suffering concussion or contracting the Covid-19 virus.During India’s tour of England earlier this year, Pant (foot) and Chris Woakes (shoulder) suffered dislocations, which left their respective teams in a 10 vs 11 battle. Both players braved further injury to come out and help their team’s cause, which added to the debate about whether there needs to be place in the rules for substitutions in case of serious injury.India coach Gautam Gambhir was for it. England captain Ben Stokes was less so, arguing that the system could be gamed.The ICC, in reviewing its own playing conditions earlier this year, was open to the idea of its member nations trialling injury substitutes in domestic cricket.BCCI adopts ICC’s ball change rule

The BCCI has also adopted ICC’s new rule change in ODIs that phased out two balls in the format after 34 overs. The rule will be in effect from the Vijay Hazare Trophy, BCCI’s 50-over competition for senior men.”Each fielding team shall have two new balls for its innings to be used in alternate overs, i.e. one from each end for overs 1 to 34,” the new guideline states.”At the end of over 34, the fielding team will choose one of the two balls from the innings to be used for all the remaining overs of the innings. The other ball will be added to the stock of replacement balls for the innings.”

New Zealand fast bowler joins club for three-month stint across formats

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Feb-2024Blair Tickner, the New Zealand fast bowler, has joined Derbyshire across formats for the first three months of the season.Tickner, 30, has almost 400 career wickets to his name, including 202 in first-class cricket with best figures of 5 for 23 for Central Districts against Canterbury in 2017-18.As a tall fast bowler capable of hitting 90mph, he made his Test debut against England at Mount Maunganui in 2023, where he picked up the wickets of Ben Duckett, Harry Brook and Ben Foakes on his way to figures of 3 for 55 in the second innings.He also impressed in the recent Ford Trophy List A competition in New Zealand, where he claimed 17 wickets at an average of 20.64, and will be available to Derbyshire for nine County Championship matches and eight in the Vitality Blast, until the end of his stint on July 4.”I’m really excited to be playing in county cricket for the first time,” Tickner said. “Derbyshire have a great coaching set-up and everyone I have spoken to in New Zealand says what a good club it is.”I’m a competitor, I want to win every game I play and I’m looking forward to linking up with the squad and hopefully getting good results.”Tickner’s signing continues a busy recruitment period for Derbyshire, with Samit Patel, Mohammad Amir and Ross Whiteley also joining the club for the 2024 season.Mickey Arthur, Derbyshire’s head of cricket, said: “Blair brings real pace and international quality to our bowling attack; he’s an experienced bowler across formats and he will be a great asset for us in the first half of the season.”We have a talented core of bowlers and have increased our depth by adding the international experience of Blair and Mohammad Amir, which should help us to take the wickets to win games and push for promotion.”

Finch still scratchy but took Australia over par before Australia tumbled Ireland

Firdose Moonda31-Oct-20222:32

Moody: Tucker really did stand up and shine

The margin of victory will suggest the defending champions have got their campaign back on track. But it was a less-than-perfect performance from Australia as they beat Ireland by 42 runs to join New Zealand on five points at the top of Group 1. Their net-run rate remains below England’s, which could come into play when semi-final spots are decided.After being asked to bat, Australia recovered from a slow start thanks to a half-century stand between Aaron Finch and Mitchell Marsh. But Ireland made regular incisions and Australia only brought up their 100 in the 14th over. It was then that Marcus Stoinis and Finch lashed out, against a hapless Mark Adair, whose third over cost 26 runs, to put Australia within sight of 200. The pair shared 70 runs for the fourth wicket before Ireland hauled them back at the death to keep them under 180.Importantly for Australia, Finch notched up his highest score in T20Is since March 2021 and highest in T20 World Cups since 2014. But he injured his hamstring in the process and was off the field from the seventh over of Ireland’s reply. Tim David and Stoinis also picked up niggles, and there will be concerns about how quickly they will heal up. Australia’s next match is in four days’ time, against Afghanistan.In Finch’s absence, Matthew Wade marshalled an attack which was outstanding upfront but took their foot off the gas later on. Ireland were 25 for 5 before Lorcan Tucker and Gareth Delany got together for a sixth-wicket stand of 43. Tucker ensured Ireland were not dismissed for any record-lows or bowled out for 104 or less (which would have put Australia’s net run-rate higher than England’s). He scored his fifth T20I half-century and was eventually stranded on 71*. Ireland’s semi-final hopes are slim. They have one match left to play, against New Zealand on Friday.Australia’s scratchy start
Australia were slow off the blocks against a disciplined effort from Ireland and took 14 balls before finding their first boundary. David Warner was tentative up front, followed a Josh Little delivery down leg but did not connect, slashed at an Adair full toss but only got it as far as cover and then pulled Barry McCarthy straight to short fine leg to depart for 3. He is yet to get going in this tournament, with 19 runs from three innings so far. Australia were 14 for 1 after three overs and added 24 runs in the next three overs to end the powerplay on 38 for 1 before Marsh smoked two sixes off Fionn Hand. Marsh was looking good but then didn’t move his feet when he tried to cut McCarthy and edged it behind. The Finch-Marsh partnership was worth 52 off six overs and laid a foundation for another strong stand later in the innings.Aaron Finch goes big•ICC via Getty Images

Adair’s awful over
Ireland had mostly kept a lid on Australia, with the run-rate below eight an over until the end of the 14th. And then things went awry. When Adair stepped up to bowl the 15th, Finch and Stoinis tucked in. Stoinis slammed a drive down the ground off Adair’s first ball, then lofted him to long-on – where McCarthy pulled off a great save – and then pulled Adair through short fine. Under pressure, Adair went on to deliver three successive wides before adjusting to back of a length, which Finch pulled for four. He finished with a full toss which Finch deposited over deep backward square to bring up his first T20I fifty of this tournament. In total, Adair bowled 11 balls in that over and conceded 26 runs. Little goes big
There’s plenty of hype around left-armer Little, who will play in the SA20 in the southern hemisphere. He put in another impressive showing against high-profile opposition. He started with two tight overs of mostly hard lengths in the powerplay and then struck in the middle and at the death to ensure Australia did not completely run away from Ireland. After his opening burst, Little was brought back for the 11th over where he set up Glenn Maxwell and removed him for 13. Australia were 84 for 3 and not progressing as smoothly as they may have hoped. He delivered the penultimate over, removing Stoinis and conceding only four runs to finish with 2 for 21 – Ireland’s most economical on the night.Australia on the attack
Ireland got away with one when Josh Hazlewood flicked Andy Balbirnie’s offstump but the bails did not fall. But that was as lucky as they got. In the next over, Balbirne shuffled across his stumps to flick Pat Cummins through fine leg only to be bowled. Two balls later, Paul Stirling toe-ended Glenn Maxwell to mid-off. At the end of that over, Maxwell got Tector to pull one straight to square leg. There was no let up at the other end, where Starc replaced Cummins and blew the Irish middle-order away. He bowled Curtis Campher and George Dockrell with almost identical deliveries that swung into them and beat the edge. Ireland were 25 for 5 inside four overs and chances of another upset had all but evaporated.Tucker shines alone
Throughout the tournament, Balbirnie has referred to Tucker as the batter who will lead Ireland’s line-up into the future and, with his team in disarray, he showed why. He hit Cummins over mid-on for four, two balls after the fifth wicket fell. He was similarly dismissive of Starc and picked up on any small errors in length. Overpitched on the pads? Tucker flicked. Back of a length? He pulled. He took 11 runs off Starc’s third over and 16 off this fourth and got more adventurous as his innings went on. Tucker scooped Starc over Wade, lofted him over the infield and then over mid-off and in total scored 35 runs off the 18 balls Starc bowled to him.

Essex’s hopes in balance after subsiding to below-par total despite Tom Westley half-century

ECB Reporters' Network09-Jul-2021An unbeaten 62 by Ravi Bopara guided Sussex Sharks to a crucial six-wicket win over his former club Essex Eagles in the Vitality Blast at Hove.The 36-year-old, who spent 17 years at Chelmsford before heading to Sussex last year, came in after skipper Luke Wright departed for a first-ball duck and supervised a successful chase of 147 with nine balls to spare. Victory lifted Sussex into second place in the South Group and one win from their two remaining games, away to Hampshire and Kent, will be enough to secure a place in the quarter-finals. Essex will need to win both their games to have a chance of making the last eight.Sussex were in trouble after two of their other experienced players, Travis Head and David Wiese, departed cheaply to leave them 67 for 4 at halfway. But after a skittish start Delray Rawlins gave Bopara impressive support in a stand of 85 in 8.4 overs which took the game away from Essex, despite miserly bowling by spinners Simon Harmer and Aron Nijjar, who had combined figures of 3 for 34 from 7.3 overs.Bopara’s 62 came off 46 balls with eight boundaries while Rawlins produced some fireworks at the end, winning the game with a straight six off Nijjar which took him to a 29-ball fifty, with four sixes and three fours.Earlier, Tom Westley made a half-century on his return after missing Essex’s six previous games but when he was brilliantly caught by Head running in from midwicket in the 16th over the Eagles nosedived, losing six wickets for 22 in 23 balls in a total of 146 for 9.Westley and Michael Pepper had put on 72 from 52 balls for the second wicket after Ollie Robinson had Adam Wheater caught at extra cover with his first ball. Pepper made 38 before he was beaten in the flight by 16-year-old legspinner Archie Lenham and Westley contributed 53 off 45 balls, with a six and four boundaries, but once he went a combination of tight bowling and excellent fielding put Sussex in control.Chris Jordan, back after recovering from a groin injury, took 3 for 30 and showed all his experience while Robinson, who had to self-isolate for ten days after a team-mate tested positive for Covid-19, picked up 2 for 15 in his first game back.Essex could only manage four boundaries and a six in the second half of their innings as well as Harrison Ward and Bopara also took outstanding catches in the deep to back up some accurate bowling.

An epic clash between two of world cricket’s bitterest rivals gave new life to the World Cup and knocked out the defending champions

The Retroreport by Andrew Miller05-Apr-2020 #RetroLive
Pakistan’s reign as World Champions has come to an end at the hands of their bitterest rivals, after the most richly anticipated clash of the 1996 World Cup served up a seething, bare-knuckle confrontation under the Chinnaswamy floodlights.The margin, 39 runs, looked substantial by the time the last rites of the contest had been played out, in front of a deliriously satisfied crowd of 35,000 partisan fans who – with whistles, hoots and bonfires in the stands – belied Bangalore’s previously staid reputation in an atmosphere that teetered at times towards anarchy.But the agonies that those fans endured in the course of the contest were real – as were those of countless millions from Karachi to Calcutta as the subcontinent came to a standstill for one pulsating evening. And never was the fate of the protagonists more on a knife-edge than during a thrilling opening stand of 84 in ten overs between Aamer Sohail and Saeed Anwar, one that appeared to have placed a daunting target of 288 well within Pakistan’s grasp.And yet, in the final analysis, India found the right men for the key moments, as they turned the tables in the middle overs and held their nerve at the death. Their basic team discipline was allied to top-notes of adrenalin-fuelled inspiration – not least a ballistic late onslaught from Ajay Jadeja – as they found the means to outlast a worthy opponent. Fittingly, and poignantly, it was Javed Miandad, 38 years old, and playing in his sixth World Cup after nearly three years of self-declared exile, who was on deck as Pakistan’s hopes faded to black. He bulwarked the closing overs before being run out for 38 from 64 balls, as the mounting asking-rate enveloped his dreams of one final glory.Pakistan will rue their fate in this contest for many years to come – rarely can they have had a contest more at their mercy. But rushes of blood littered their strokeplay as the game slipped from their grasp, not least the wild hack that Aamer, standing in as captain after the grievous pre-toss loss of Wasim Akram to a side strain, aimed at a pumped-up Venkatesh Prasad to eject himself from the contest at precisely the moment when consolidation was Pakistan’s watchword.Prasad’s send-off to Aamer was as feisty and uncomplicated as his subsequent command of the legcutter proved cool and calculating, and Pakistan’s middle order struggled to hit the ground running. Ijaz Ahmed opted to counter his threat with muscle but hoisted a leading edge to cover; Inzamam-ul-Haq attempted finesse, but steered a flat-footed poke to Nayan Mongia behind the stumps. And at 132 for 4, what embers remained of Pakistan’s fight were duly doused by the spinners, Anil Kumble and Venkatapathy Raju, who throttled the contest with four wickets between them, and ensured that India’s lack of a fifth specialist bowler would not prove costly.It has been a slow burn of a World Cup, with mismatches and cancellations dominating an over-long group stage, in which the only real jeopardy for the senior Test nations has been the identity and venue of these knock-outs. And after squandering their chance of a home tie in Karachi with last week’s untimely loss to South Africa, Pakistan’s plans took a further hit in the build-up, with Wasim’s absence compounded by the loss of an important toss which left them the unenviable task of chasing in Bangalore’s floodlit debut.That prospect perhaps informed the tempo of the game’s opening exchanges, as Pakistan shelved their habitual aggression with the new ball and veered very early towards containment. Navjot Sidhu responded with a maturely compiled 93 from 115 balls, an innings in which he outscored his more illustrious partner Sachin Tendulkar by almost 2 to 1 in an opening stand of 90. But at 237 for 6 after 47 overs, India’s innings was in danger of drifting towards mediocrity.Until, that is, an astonishing late onslaught from Jadeja, whose natural attributes of strength and timing surged to the fore to eviscerate Pakistan’s death bowlers. No-one suffered more gruesomely than Waqar Younis, whose first eight overs had yielded 27 runs, but whose final two were smashed for 22 and 18 respectively – or dis-respectfully, you might say.Up until that moment, Pakistan seemed to have been earning their rewards for perseverance. At 168 for 2, Mushtaq Ahmed – a key player in the 1992 triumph – dislodged Sidhu with the flipper when a century was there for the taking, then followed up with a masterfully disguised googly to bowl Vinod Kambli on the charge for 24. Mohammad Azharuddin had already gone by then, supremely snaffled by Rashid Latif to give Waqar the wicket that his endeavours had earned, and when Mongia was run out for 3, a total of 250 seemed the upper limit of their ambitions and the Chinnaswamy was taut with apprehension.And yet, Jadeja’s part in that run-out seemed to click him into instant overdrive. Having survived a screechingly close lbw appeal from his first ball against Waqar, he decided thereafter not to let his legs be a target as he carved repeatedly and violently through the line and across the ropes.From consecutive Waqar deliveries Jadeja creamed four, six, four, six – the best of the lot an insolent slog over wide long-off as he seized on a fractional erring in line with disdain, and when Aaqib Javed banged one in short in between whiles, he slapped a further four off his eyebrows to send the whole of his country into raptures.By the time he holed out to long-on to end Waqar’s torment, Jadeja had racked up 45 from 25 balls, and with Kumble chiming in as well, India helped themselves to 50 runs in three overs that seemed, surely, to have put the game beyond reach.But Pakistan weren’t to be beaten quite that easily, and in scenes as eerily silent as a Hitchcock thriller, Aamer and Anwar made it their business to tear chunks out of the target in an opening salvo so calm and calculating it seemed to pan out in slow motion.Javagal Srinath was bunted over midwicket by Aamer in his first over, before Anwar opened his night’s work with back-to-back boundaries off Prasad, including a cover drive so pre-meditated, he might as well have started playing it on the flight over the border.The hits just kept on coming, so much so that Azharuddin turned to Kumble as early as the fifth over, but even he found himself soaring into the stands at long-on as Anwar kept his foot to the floor. And when Srinath was plucked off the toes high over midwicket for Anwar’s second six of the night, there seemed no earthly means of pulling India’s bowling effort out of its nose-dive.But then Pakistan blinked fatefully, and their reign as World Champions began to unravel. RetroLive

‘When he plays, at least one of us in the unit can bank on getting wickets, because the batsmen have to constantly adjust to the angle, and it’s tough’

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Port Elizabeth19-Feb-2019Three of Sri Lanka’s four first-choice seamers are injured for the South Africa series, but through all those mishaps, the team might have unearthed a bowler who could potentially be a game-changer.Left-armer Vishwa Fernando’s unbeaten six runs off 27 balls have understandably cornered a lot of attention since the Kingsmead victory, but his 8 for 133 in the match was also instrumental to keeping South Africa in check.For Suranga Lakmal, by far the most senior bowler in Sri Lanka’s attack, Vishwa not only injects freshness to the bowling outfit, but also makes the remaining bowlers more menacing with his presence.”We had actually been desperately needing a left-armer in the team,” Lakmal told ESPNcricinfo, two days out from the second Test. “When you have a left-armer, your combination is very different. In the last little while, we played with three right-handers, and you’ve all got the same angle and pace. Lahiru Kumara was the only one who had a bit of extra speed.”Vishwa is massively important for the other bowlers in the unit as well, because of that angle he creates. When he plays, at least one of us in the unit can bank on getting wickets, because the batsmen have to constantly adjust to the angle, and it’s tough. He’s got the chance now, and I’m sure he’ll continue in the same way. His bowling in that Test was very special. If he can be as threatening as he was to the opposition, it’s because he’s got a lot of talent.”Suranga Lakmal celebrates a wicket•AFP

Sri Lanka were also buoyed in Kingsmead by two other young, inexperienced players. Left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya was playing his first Test, but took a vital 5 for 66 in the second innings to prevent South Africa from establishing an untouchable lead. Batsman Oshada Fernando, who came in at No. 3, also looked comfortable at the top level, making 19 and an important second-innings 37. The new players, Lakmal said, had brought a new energy to the team.”It’s these new players that made history. Oshada and Embuldeniya showed us their quality in the first match itself. It’s not easy to play in a country like this. Embuldeniya bowled really well, and batted well also. You wouldn’t have been able to tell it was his debut, looking at those performances. Oshada also played like an experienced hand.”No one thought until the winning run was hit that we could get there. But we didn’t let it go right until the last moment. What we should learn is that even if you’re eight down or nine down, one player can still change the game. Kusal [Perera] showed us that, and the young players helped us get to that stage.”As Sri Lanka look towards the second Test, with the chance to become the first team from Asia to win a Test series in South Africa, Lakmal is especially glad they are playing in Port Elizabeth. The first five-wicket haul of his career came at this venue, in the Boxing Day Test of 2016. That experience, he said, would prove vital when he leads an attack comprised of frontline bowlers playing their fifth (Vishwa), sixth (Kasun Rajitha) and second (Embuldeniya) Tests.”Compared to the first time I toured South Africa, I’ve got a lot more confidence now. If you put the ball in my hand, there are no nerves any more. I am probably better at thinking about what the team needs from me, rather than just about my own performance. I’m always in touch with the captain and the coach, and I have a lot of belief now that I can do whatever it is that is needed.”I know what the pitches are like as well, and it’s great to be able to pass that experience on to the younger bowlers, because they are a very young and inexperienced group.”What I have to do now is to get another five here. I’m feeling good. In the first Test Vishwa did well. I think this is my Test.”

Andrew Ingleton, an executive with Cricket Australia, will replace Tony Dodemaide, who stepped down in August, following controversy over the mooted changes to the state association’s constitution

Daniel Brettig13-Dec-2017Andrew Ingleton, a senior executive at Cricket Australia (CA), will make the short stroll down Jolimont Street to become the new chief executive of Cricket Victoria (CV), replacing Tony Dodemaide, after the former Test bowler spent a decade in the role.Dodemaide announced his resignation at the start of August, following a difficult period of infighting among Victorian Premier clubs over mooted changes to the state association’s constitution, with his own club Footscray among Cricket Victoria’s most vocal opponents.Ingleton, meanwhile, has been CA’s executive general manager of game and market development for five years, and will arrive at CV well-placed to oversee the state’s drive to build its playing talent base in sharp competition with Australian rules football, while also managing the move to the long-awaited AU $40 million cricket centre at St Kilda’s Junction Oval.”After a thorough and extensive process, we are delighted to have secured Andrew as the organisation’s next CEO. He brings a wealth of consumer and commercial expertise to our business,” CV’s chairman Russell Thomas said of Ingleton, who before CA had worked as an executive with Dulux and also for Orica Mining in Latin America.”In addition to being a proven business leader in both the sporting and commercial sectors, Andrew has an excellent strategic understanding of the challenges ahead of us from his time with Cricket Australia. We are confident Andrew is the right person to lead us through the next phase of our strategic plan and our settling into the Victorian Cricket and Community Centre in St Kilda.”Ahead of his commencement in March 2018, Ingleton said that building bridges with the wider Victorian cricket community would be a key part of his job. “This is a tremendous opportunity at a key point in Cricket Victoria’s history,” he said. “I look forward to building relationships with our local community at our exciting new headquarters and with the broader Victorian cricket community in general.”Cricket Victoria has a crucial role to play at every level of our game – from building our grassroots facilities, clubs and participation through to successful Big Bash franchises and producing more Australian cricketers. I’m looking forward to working with the dedicated Cricket Victoria team to deliver on our objectives in the years ahead.”The move to CV means Ingleton joins individuals like Mike McKenna and Kate Banozic in recent departures from CA’s executive team.

A round-up of the second round of matches from the Sunfoil Series 2016-17

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Oct-2016Robbie Frylinck broke the South African franchise record for best figures in a match when he took 14 for 62 to bowl the Dolphins to victory over the Lions in Potchefstroom. In February 2015, Kagiso Rabada, who took 14 for 105 for Lions against the Dolphins, surpassed Dale Steyn’s 14 for 110 for the Titans against the Eagles seven season’s earlier.Frylinck’s haul made Dolphins, who have two wins in as many matches, the early leaders in the first-class competition.Having played some of his cricket on the Highveld, Frylinck was fairly familiar with a surface that offered some pace, bounce and rewarded good lengths. Yet, he may have not expected to bowl the opposition out twice for under 150. The Dolphins won by 77 runs.The first innings proved batting would be tough. Only one of the Dolphins’ batsmen, Khaya Zondo, managed fifty plus, but 72-run seventh wicket stand from new Test call up Keshav Maharaj dragged the total past 250.If Maharaj wanted to celebrate his maiden international call up, he was left disappointed as Frylinck ripped through the Lions before he could be given a bowl. Frylinck took 8 for 30 in the first innings to blast the Lions out for 110, to give the Dolphins a 143 run lead.But the Lions had a ready response. Wiaan Mulder, their schoolboy protege, took seven for 25 to bowl the Dolphins out for 83 and keep the Lions in the game. Zondo was the standout, again, with 44, with only one other batsmen got into double figures.The Lions were set a gettable 227 for victory but Frylinck was at them again. He took three of the opening five wickets at the Lions were struggling on 115 for 5. They went into the third morning needing 107 to win but when top-scorer Kagiso Rapulana was dismissed for 42, the writing was on the wall. The last five wickets fell for 17 runs to end the match inside three days.The Cobras slipped to a second big defeat, as they lost to the Knights by 175 runs in Bloemfontein. In-form fast bowler Marchant de Lange topped up on his seven wickets in last week’s fixture against the Titans, with 6 for 61 in the second innings to dismiss the Cobras well off their target of 444. The loss adds further pressure on Paul Adams, whose job as coach has been under scrutiny ever since the season began.On what is usually a flat pitch in Bloemfontein, the Knights chose to bat first but were in early trouble. They lost both openers with only nine on the board, before Theunis de Bruyn and Pite van Biljon put on 109 for the third wicket, both scoring half-centuries. Fast bowler Dane Paterson broke the partnership, before Test discard Dane Piedt took two wickets off consecutive overs to engineer a collapse that saw the Knights lose 4 for 60 and slip to 178 for 6. Former Cobras player Robin Peterson led the second recovery, which saw batsmen from No.7 to No.10 all post scores in the forties to take the Knights to 342.If the Knights were anxious about whether they’d scored enough, the Cobras put any doubts to rest when they slipped to 96 for 4. Stiaan van Zyl, who was also left out of the Test squad, held them together with 83 and was supported by Aviwe Mgijima who scored 50. However, the Knights kept them in check. Left-arm fast bowler Mbulelo Budaza picked up 4 for 45, while Duanne Olivier and van Schalkwyk chipped in with two each to give the Knights a 101-run lead.The Cobras fought back to take the first three Knights wickets for 43, but van Biljon and Rudi Second scored 123 and 106 respectively to consolidate the Knights’ advantage. Although the rest of the Knights line-up didn’t contribute, they scored 342 and set up a 444-run target. Cobras captain Omphile Ramela was the surprise pick of the bowlers, taking a career-best 4 for 39 with his part-time left-arm spin.The Cobras started solidly and went into the final day needing 376 runs with nine wickets in hand. However, they collapsed from 114 for 1 to 164 for 6, as van Schalkwyk and de Lange shared the five wickets. Jason Smith had enough partners to see him through to his third first-class hundred – 100 not out off 88 balls – but not a run more. The Cobras were bowled out for 268 and now find themselves at the bottom of the table, having managed just 10.82 points from their first two fixtures.File photo – Morne Morkel returned to action with three wickets against Warriors•AFP

The Titans have not fared much better, with 12.28 points from their first two matches in the absence of new head coach Mark Boucher, who had a prior arrangement. His team, who have yet to post a total of more than 300, lost by six wickets to the Warriors in Port Elizabeth.Trouble began early for the Titans when they lost Dean Elgar in the second over after opting to bar. Heino Kuhn managed 52, but the rest of the Titans line-up could not come to terms with the Warriors bowlers, led by Basheer Walters and Simon Harmer who picked up three wickets each.With Morne Morkel in their ranks, the Titans might have been hopeful of defending their 227, especially after he had Michael Price caught behind with his first ball. However, Colin Ackermann scored his seventh first-class century as he put on 135 for the second wicket with Edward Moore (69), and 90 for the third with Lesiba Ngoepe (45). He took the Warriors comfortably past the Titans score, before being dismissed for 136. The tail then stretched the lead to 131. Morkel finished with 3 for 54.The Titans were looking at an innings defeat when they crashed to 108 for 8 in reply, and had to rely on a 100-run ninth-wicket stand between Heinrich Klaasen and Morkel to stay in the game. Harmer broke the stand with his fourth wicket of the innings, before Rowan Richards’ run-out left Klaasen stranded on 97, and the Warriors with only 105 to get. They lost four wickets in getting there, but Moore’s second fifty of the match, an unbeaten 58, saw them home comfortably.

Durham seamer Chris Rushworth has been named the Professional Cricketers’ Association Player of the Year and hopes further success can push him towards England honours

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Sep-20151:13

Rushworth’s pride at top award

Durham seamer Chris Rushworth has been named the Professional Cricketers’ Association Player of the Year, and hopes further success can push him towards England honours.Rushworth, 29, claimed 83 wickets at 20.61 in the County Championship, which set a new Durham record, and 100 across all formats. Significantly, 46 of his Championship wickets were taken away from the favourable home conditions of Chester-le-Street.His prolific season follows a 2014 campaign where he bagged 65 wickets in the Championship – during which he went teetotal for the year to raise money for charity – and he hopes that he still has the chance of forcing the selectors’ hand and earning an international call-up.”I am over the moon, it is a massive achievement,” Rushworth said. “To be voted for by fellow players and your peers is a very privileged moment and one I’m very proud of.”Personally this year couldn’t have gone any better, 83 wickets to go past a club record, it’s just a shame we didn’t win anything as a team. Personally, I couldn’t be more pleased and to finish off with this award wraps up a brilliant season.

PCA awards

Reg Hayter Cup for the PCA Player of the Year
Chris Rushworth (Durham)
Overall PCA County MVP
Chris Rushworth
John Arlott Cup for the PCA Young Player of the Year
Tom Curran (Surrey)
Investec Test Player of the Summer
Stuart Broad
Waitrose Women’s Player of the Summer
Anya Shrubsole
PCA Team of the Year
Alastair Cook (capt) (Essex and England)
Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire and England)
Joe Root (Yorkshire and England)
Sam Northeast (Kent)
Luke Wright (Sussex)
Ben Stokes (Durham and England)
Alex Davies (Lancashire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire and England)
Matt Coles (Kent)
Jeetan Patel (Warwickshire)
Chris Rushworth (Durham)

“For myself this award is massive and the biggest individual award in county cricket. You play against these guys quite a few times a year so to be voted to win this award is a huge achievement and I’m very grateful and proud.”Hopefully it’s the next step to progressing towards further honours. To receive this from guys who have also had fantastic seasons and to pip them to the post is fantastic moment.”The guys that have won it in recent years have gone on to play Test cricket like Adam Lyth, Moeen Ali and Nick Compton, so that is definitely in my sights. Hopefully I have another good season next year and I can put my name in the hat for Test selection.”The Young Player of the Year award went to Tom Curran who claimed 105 wickets across all formats, helping Surrey to promotion in the Championship and the to final of the Royal London Cup. Having been confirmed that his qualification period to become eligible for England is completed at the end of October, Curran has been added to the England Performance Programme Squad for the training camps in South Africa and Dubai.”We have had a great season as a side this year,” Curran said. “Losing in the Royal London Cup final was a huge disappointment but it was still a good achievement and we won the second division of the LV=County Championship which was a special day as well. I’m very pleased for our side and it’s great to be able to contribute to our success.”At the start of the season I was just trying to do the simple things well and then I started taking a few wickets and, as long as the summer is for us cricketers, it has actually gone really quickly and a little surreal if I’m honest.”He also paid tribute to his younger brother, Sam, after the 17-year-old made a considerable impact in his first season. He claimed 22 Championship wickets, 15 in the Royal London Cup and seven in the T20 Blast, while also showing his talent with the bat in almost carrying Surrey to victory in the final at Lord’s and then making an unbeaten 61 in the last Championship match against Northamptonshire.”It has been a very special summer for Sammy as well,” Tom said. “He came in half way through the season when we went down with a couple of injuries and he has shown everyone he has got what it takes. It’s great to be bowling with him and I am so pleased for him this year.”Playing for England would be the ultimate for any young cricketer and that is my goal but I am concentrating on Surrey first and hopefully the rest will take care of itself and I know that is how Sam feels too.”Stuart Broad won the Test Player award after his outstanding Ashes series including the iconic 8 for 15 at Trent Bridge, fellow opening bowler Anya Shrubsole won the Women’s Player of the Year award and Gloucestershire’s Michael Klinger took the double of NatWest T20 Blast and Royal London Player of the Year after his prolific white-ball season.Shrubsole said: “I am absolutely honoured to have won this award and it makes it more special that it is selected by your team-mates, so it is a nice end to what has been a difficult year. Despite not achieving what we wanted as a team, I am pleased with the way I bowled. A special mention must go to Katherine Brunt who was brilliant with bat and ball this summer, she received my vote. It’s nice to do well personally but it was just a shame we didn’t quite regain the Ashes.”Jim Cumbes, the former Lancashire, Surrey, Warwickshire and Worcestershire player and Lancashire chief executive, was given the Special Merit Award to mark his 50 years of service to the game. He was CEO at Old Trafford from 1998 and 2012 and oversaw the major redevelopment of the ground which involved extensive legal battles.