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Flintoff to Lead England Lions Squad to South Africa for Training Camp and Unofficial Test

Flintoff to Lead England Lions Squad to South Africa for Training Camp and Unofficial Test

By October 3, 2024 0

Andrew Flintoff, the newly appointed England Lions head coach, will lead a 19-man squad to South Africa next month for a training camp and an unofficial four-day Test against South Africa A. The tour, scheduled from November 20 to December 14, aims to replicate the training methods of the senior men’s squad, who will be playing a Test series in New Zealand during the same period.

The squad includes six new inclusions, including Jafer Chohan, the Yorkshire legspinner who recently earned his first senior white-ball call-up. Chohan, the first graduate of the South Asian Cricket Academy to be named in an England squad, will have a limited role due to prior Big Bash League commitments.

Other notable inclusions are Josh Hull, who withdrew from the ongoing Test tour of Pakistan with a quad injury, and Matt Hurst, the Lancashire wicketkeeper-batter making his first Lions tour. The squad also features several recent graduates from England’s Under-19 set-up, such as Harry Moore, a highly-rated 17-year-old Derbyshire fast bowler, and Freddie McCann, the Nottinghamshire opener who played a crucial role in preserving his team’s top-flight status in the County Championship.

Flintoff expressed his excitement about the potential of the squad, stating, “We’re delighted to have such a high-potential group of players heading to South Africa. We have a mix of well-established performers who’ve been in the England setup and excelled in the domestic game, through to some of the most exciting young talent coming through.”

England Men’s performance director, Ed Barney, emphasized the alignment of the selection with England’s short and long-term needs across all formats, particularly in supporting pace bowlers. He added, “We are also excited about the competitive match opportunities, with a four-day fixture against South Africa A offering the opportunity for the squad to enjoy putting their skills on show against strong opposition.”

The full coaching and support staff for the tour will be announced shortly.

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Shakib Al Hasan Set to Return to Bangladesh for South Africa Tests

Shakib Al Hasan Set to Return to Bangladesh for South Africa Tests

By September 24, 2024 0

Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh’s star cricketer, is expected to return home for the upcoming Test series against South Africa despite being named in a murder case. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has expressed confidence that Shakib will not face any legal hurdles upon his arrival.

The case stems from the death of Mohammed Rubel, who was fatally wounded during anti-government protests in Dhaka on August 5. Shakib, who was a member of parliament at the time, was among 147 people named in the murder case.

However, the BCB’s cricket operations chief, Shahriar Nafees, stated that the caretaker government has clarified that Shakib will not be “harassed.” He cited statements from the chief adviser, law adviser, and sports adviser, who have emphasized that no one will be unfairly targeted in the cases filed.

“We believe the interim government has made its position very clear on Shakib,” Nafees said. “Unless there is an injury problem or a selection-related issue, I personally don’t see any reason as of now why Shakib Al Hasan should not play in Bangladesh in the home series.”

Shakib’s return to Bangladesh has been a topic of speculation since the murder case was filed. Last month, Bangladesh’s law adviser, Asif Nazrul, expressed hope that Shakib would not be arrested.

Despite the legal concerns, Shakib has received support from his Bangladesh teammates. However, his silence during the student-led protests has also drawn criticism.

Bangladesh is currently in India for a series of Tests and T20Is. They are scheduled to play two home Tests against South Africa in October. CSA’s security team has completed its evaluation of Dhaka and Chattogram, where the Tests will be played, and is expected to inform the BCB about its decision later this week.

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Ireland Drops Balbirnie from T20I Squad, Explores New Dynamic

Ireland Drops Balbirnie from T20I Squad, Explores New Dynamic

By September 12, 2024 0

Ireland’s cricket team is undergoing a strategic shift in its T20I squad, with the selectors opting to drop Test captain Andy Balbirnie in favor of a “new dynamic” at the top of the order. Balbirnie, Ireland’s second-highest T20I run-scorer, has struggled for form this year, averaging a modest 24.83 and striking at a rate of only 113.74.

National selector Andrew White explained the decision, stating that the team is exploring new options in the T20I format. Lorcan Tucker, who opened the batting in Balbirnie’s absence in Leinster Lightning’s recent T20 match, is a potential candidate to replace him as Paul Stirling’s opening partner.

While Balbirnie will sit out the T20Is, he remains a key figure in the ODI squad and will continue to open the batting alongside Stirling in that format. Josh Little, who is currently playing in the Caribbean Premier League, is not included in either squad.

The upcoming series against South Africa marks the start of a new cycle for Ireland’s white-ball teams, with the 2026 and 2027 T20 and 50-over World Cups on the horizon. The selectors are looking to deepen the pool of international cricketers and provide opportunities for players like Gavin Hoey, an uncapped legspinner, to gain experience.

Ireland will host South Africa’s tour in Abu Dhabi due to infrastructure constraints, but they hope to overcome these challenges with the development of a new national stadium. South Africa has already announced its squads for the series, with many of their first-choice players rested.

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England Women to Miss WBBL Latter Stages Due to South Africa Tour

England Women to Miss WBBL Latter Stages Due to South Africa Tour

By September 3, 2024 0

England’s women cricketers will miss the latter stages of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) due to a clash with their tour of South Africa. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has informed players that they are expected to join the national team in South Africa on specific dates, regardless of any overlap with WBBL games.

This decision aims to avoid a repeat of the situation earlier this year, when the end of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) overlapped with England’s arrival in New Zealand for a bilateral series. Players were forced to choose between club and country.

The ECB notified players and their agents of the requirements before the WBBL draft. England is scheduled to play three T20Is in South Africa starting November 24, followed by three ODIs from December 4 and a Test starting on December 15.

Seven England players were signed in the WBBL draft, including Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophie Ecclestone, and Heather Knight. The ECB took a similar stance last year, with Bess Heath and Danielle Gibson missing the WBBL final to join England’s squad in India.

The WPL announced its 2024 fixtures in January, with the final falling two days before England’s first T20I in New Zealand. New Zealand Cricket declined an ECB request to move the dates.

Jonathan Finch, Director of England Women’s Cricket, emphasized the need for better coordination between tournaments. He said the ECB is working on aligning the Women’s Future Tours Program to avoid future clashes.

Finch acknowledged the financial implications for players who may miss out on lucrative WPL contracts. However, he stressed that players signing central contracts with England are expected to prioritize international commitments.

The ECB is also considering introducing multi-year central contracts to provide players with greater security. Finch believes this will reduce the need for case-by-case discussions about player availability.

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Ireland to Host South Africa in Abu Dhabi, Stage Historic Test in Belfast

Ireland to Host South Africa in Abu Dhabi, Stage Historic Test in Belfast

By April 22, 2024 0

Ireland’s cricket landscape is set to witness a unique blend of home and away fixtures in 2024, as the Irish Cricket Board (ICB) navigates infrastructure challenges with innovative solutions.

In a bid to overcome the lack of a permanent home stadium and the high costs of temporary infrastructure, Ireland will host a “home” white-ball series against South Africa in Abu Dhabi later this year. This decision, described as “creative” by ICB chief executive Warren Deutrom, allows Ireland to fulfill its international commitments while addressing infrastructure constraints.

The South Africa series, initially scheduled for Ireland in July, will now comprise two ODIs and three T20Is in Abu Dhabi from late September. This marks the second consecutive away series against Ireland that South Africa will play on neutral ground, following the relocation of two T20Is to Bristol in England in 2022.

Despite the absence of a permanent home stadium, Ireland will host a historic men’s Test match for the second time in their history in July. The Civil Service ground in Stormont, Belfast, will host a one-off Test against Zimbabwe from July 25-29. However, financial and logistical obstacles have forced the cancellation of the six white-ball games in that tour.

Ireland’s home fixtures also include a highly anticipated series against England’s women’s team, marking England’s first tour of Ireland in the professional era. The series will feature three T20Is and three ICC Women’s Championship ODIs in August and September.

Deutrom acknowledged the challenges faced by Ireland in hosting international cricket, but emphasized the board’s commitment to finding creative solutions. He stated, “We know we’ll have to explore ways to creatively increase our capacity to host an ever-increasing schedule in the short term.”

Despite the challenges, Irish cricket fans can look forward to a packed schedule in 2024, with over 40 days of senior international cricket to enjoy. The season promises a diverse array of fixtures, including the historic Belfast Test, the possibility of Irish sides participating in two T20 World Cups, and visits from some of the world’s top teams.

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