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Pradeep Sangwan, the Delhi and Kolkata Knight Riders seamer, has failed a random dope test conducted during the 2013 season of the IPL, PTI has reported

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jul-2013Pradeep Sangwan, the Delhi and Kolkata Knight Riders seamer, has failed a random dope test conducted during the 2013 season of the IPL, PTI has reported. Sangwan’s ‘A’ sample has reportedly shown traces of banned substances, the nature of which can only be confirmed after the ‘B’ tests are done.The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has been informed about the tests by the BCCI, but any decision about the offence can only be taken once the results of the ‘B’ tests are available. Sangwan, is reportedly in the UK, undergoing treatment for a shoulder injury.Random tests are conducted during the IPL, like in ICC tournaments. The BCCI, which doesn’t come under the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) or the NADA (National Anti-Doping Agency), follow their own anti-doping procedures.*AN Sharma, Sangwan’s first coach, said the problem could have arisen due to treatment Sangwan was receiving for a shoulder problem. “I immediately called him up and Pradeep explained to me what had happened. He had acute pain in his shoulder just before the IPL,” Sharma told . “Since he had no time to consult or visit the BCCI doctor, he saw a local doctor, who gave him an injection. There was instant relief from the pain thereafter and he also managed to play the IPL.”Sharma also said players needed to be more aware of the substances they take while injured. “We have to start stressing this point to the players to be very vigilant about what they are consuming and where they are getting treated,” Sharma said. “It is very important that they understand what substances are being injected into their body during a treatment.”Sangwan, 22, played only two matches for Knight Riders this season and failed to pick up a wicket. He made his first-class debut in 2007 and has played 38 matches for Delhi.* July 19, 6.30am GMT This story has been updated with AN Sharma’s quotes

Lizaad Williams has been added as part of the travelling reserves

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Oct-2022Left-arm quick Marco Jansen has been called up to replace the injured Dwaine Pretorius in South Africa’s 15-member 2022 T20 World Cup squad. In place of Jansen, who was initially part of the travelling reserves, fast bowler Lizaad Williams has been added.Pretorius had fractured his left thumb in the third T20I against India, which was South Africa’s only win in the three-match series. Jansen, 22, who was only part of the T20I squad for the tour, then replaced Pretorius for the ODI leg before being named for the T20 World Cup, which starts on October 16 in Australia.Jansen made his T20I debut in South Africa’s tour to India in June earlier this year. He trapped Shreyas Iyer lbw for his maiden wicket and was taken for 38 runs off his four overs. That’s the only T20I he has played so far. He has also played seven Tests and three ODIs for South Africa.Wayne Parnell, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi are the other seam-bowling options in the South Africa side for the tournament apart from Jansen.South Africa open their campaign on October 24 against one of the qualifying sides from the first round.Updated squad: Temba Bavuma (capt), Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs: Bjorn Fortuin, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lizaad Williams

The hosts will be comfortable favourites, but events recently at the MCG have shown that can matter for very little

Andrew McGlashan30-Oct-20222:32

Moody: Australia playing at a venue where everything’s in their favour

Big picture

While not yet certain, it feels as though this group is becoming a race for the second semi-final spot after New Zealand made a further statement with their big win over Sri Lanka. If that is indeed the case, then Australia and Ireland are firmly in that tussle. It may have felt unlikely that these two sides would have been equal on points ahead of this meeting but Ireland’s victory over England is one of the reasons things are so tight – Ireland go into this match marginally ahead of the hosts on net run-rate.It will be just the second time the two sides have met in T20 after a World Cup clash in 2012 where Australia came out winners by seven wickets. Although it was 10 years ago, Australia will likely have five players from that game. Despite the England result, Australia will start as comfortable favourites at the Gabba but there remains enough uncertainty around their form that nothing can be taken for granted. Marcus Stoinis hauled them over the line against Sri Lanka, but the washout against England left unanswered questions.Related

• Ireland's new 'golden generation' comes of age at the biggest stage of all

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The main one remains whether Steven Smith will find a spot to return to the side having been pushed out heading into this tournament. Australia have gone with a power-heavy line-up – captain Aaron Finch said on Sunday that the team had batters who can be adaptable – but in a tournament where the ball is holding sway, there is an argument for the skills that Smith brings.Ireland will probably feel more frustrated by the double-header washout at the MCG because, on a high after beating England, they would have been confident of pushing hard for another two points against Afghanistan. Captain Andy Balbirnie thought they may have been one ball away from defeat the way Moeen Ali was playing, but they were full value for the win. However, they will want to improve the middle-order batting after they lost 9 for 54.Given Australia close their group matches with games against Ireland and Afghanistan there has been a lot of talk about net run rate which could yet decide qualification, but Finch followed Glenn Maxwell’s comments from the previous day by saying such a focus can be dangerous and a position of strength has to be earned before taking advantage of it. In a group of narrow margins, though, it could be vital.

Recent form

Australia WLLLW (last five matches, most recent first)
Ireland WLWWLDavid Warner has started with two low scores, but things can change in an instant•AFP

In the spotlight

David Warner hasn’t quite got going yet in the tournament with scores of 5 of 11, but he has had a magnificent run in T20Is dating right back to 2019 since when he has averaged 56.52 with a strike-rate of 144.35. He played a crucial role in Australia’s progression in last year’s World Cup where his rapid 89 off 56 balls against West Indies helped lift their net run rate. Don’t rule out a similar impact this time.Josh Little had a big impact against England – coming out as ESPNcricinfo’s MVP – as he removed Jos Buttler and Alex Hales inside the powerplay. His left-arm angle could be vital again against Australia with the line of attack having often troubled Finch and also being a good option against Warner, whose lowest average against a style of bowling in T20Is comes against left-arm pace. And since 2020, the difference is even more stark with an average of just 14 against them and four dismissals, one every 13 deliveries faced.

Team news

It feels likely Australia will retain the same batting order, not least because of the net run rate factor, although Smith will be considered. Adam Zampa would have returned against England after Covid and Matthew Wade, who would have played with it, has now tested negative. Finch did not rule out a reshuffle with Cameron Green coming in as he largely kept every option open.Australia (probable) 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch (capt), 3 Mitchell Marsh, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Tim David, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh HazlewoodIt would be a surprise if Ireland changed the winning side from the England game, unless they wanted to strengthen the spin attack.Ireland (probable) 1 Paul Stirling, 2 Andy Balbirnie (capt), 3 Lorcan Tucker (wk), 4 Harry Tector, 5 Curtis Campher, 6 George Dockrell, 7 Gareth Delany, 8 Mark Adair, 9 Fionn Hand, 10 Barry McCarthy, 11 Josh Little

Pitch and conditions

You’ll get good pace and carry at the Gabba, but the bounce should be true and it can be a terrific place to bat although Bangladesh and Zimbabwe made it seem tricky. There is a small chance of a shower very late in the day.

Stats and trivia

• Ireland’s one previous international at the Gabba was at the 2015 ODI World Cup where they beat UAE by two wickets. From that game, Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirine and George Dockrell will likely be in this Ireland side.
• There is an argument to be made for Kane Richardson replacing Pat Cummins, particularly with a focus on the death: this year, Richardson has 11 wickets at economy of 7.84 in the last five overs compare to Cummins’ three wickets at an economy of 11.66
• Since moving to No. 3, Lorcan Tucker has been a revelation for Ireland. He averages 37.92 with a strike-rate of 135.06 compared to 11.46 and 104.19 in other positions

Quotes

“We have seen how damaging Ireland can be if you give them a sniff in a game. They have got some seriously talented players and some experience, especially at the top of the order. They are never a team you can take lightly. If the wicket has got anything in it they have got very good bowlers to maximise that as well.”
“I think we know if we play pretty much near our best that we’re going to be able to compete with anybody here.”

Two more centuries joined the count of six from the last match, but rain prevented any play on the second day resulting in a draw between West Indies A and Sri Lanka A in the second unofficial Test in St Vincent

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jun-2013
Scorecard
File photo: Narsingh Deonarine added 123 runs for the fourth wicket with Kraigg Brathwaite•DigicelCricket.com/Brooks LaTouche Photography

Two more centuries joined the count of six from the last match, but rain prevented any play on the second day, resulting in a draw between West Indies A and Sri Lanka A in the second unofficial Test in St Vincent.Seamers Miguel Cummins and Jonathan Carter struck early for West Indies A, reducing the visitors to 33 for 2 after they won the toss and batted. But wicketkeeper Kaushal Silva and Angelo Perera took advantage of their good starts and converted them into a century and half-century respectively. Silva’s 23rd first-class century, comprising 14 fours, propelled their 112-run partnership that guided Sri Lanka to safety.Sri Lanka were 275 for 7 when Cummins and Carter returned to sweep up the tail. They shared seven wickets between them as Sri Lanka finished at 314.Rain washed out the entire second day, and the probability of another draw loomed as large as the angry clouds above the Arnos Vale Ground.Still under grey skies on the third day, West Indies sunk to 11 for 2 as Suranga Lakmal claimed Kirk Edwards and Assad Fudadin for one run each. Opener Kraigg Brathwaite and Narsingh Deonarine came together at the fall of the third wicket and notched up a 123-run partnership, the highest of the match. Brathwaite fell for 77 on the fourth morning, also plagued by overcast skies, but Deonarine, with 13 fours, would not be denied his ninth first-class century.Malinda Pushpakumara’s left-arm spinners accounted for both Brathwaite and Deonarine and added three more to his tally to claim his 20th five-wicket haul which also ensured a lead of 30 for his side.Sheldon Cotterrell removed Sri Lanka’s in-form captain Dimuth Karunaratne in the third over. But a steady Udara Jayasundera, Kithuruwan Vithanage and Perera then climbed into the West Indian bowlers, especially Cotterrell who leaked over 8 runs an over. Vithanage smashed two sixes and four fours in 34 balls, falling eight short of a fifty while Perera beat his strike-rate with 34 off 25 balls with five fours.Carter claimed both batsmen and on the stroke of Jayasundera’s fifty, the match and the series ended in a tame draw.

“These are the performances that extend your career,” Shoaib Malik said after scoring his eighth ODI hundred. “I needed that and it came with a lot of backing from the team management.”

Umar Farooq27-May-2015A witty smile with a smart salute – this is how Shoaib Malik entered the press conference at Gaddafi Stadium after scoring a much-needed hundred. There were nearly two dozen journalists sitting in the room and Malik went to each, one-by-one, to shake their hand and acknowledge the presence of all those who had witnessed his eighth ODI hundred. With this utterly unprecedented gesture – instigated by Malik, not the journalists – he said a lot.Malik last played an ODI during the 2013 Champions Trophy and has been ignored over the past two years as he struggled for form. His name kept floating into discussions but he never made into the side. He was randomly selected for the 2014 World T20 but it was for him another international flop. His selection remained a dilemma as his last two comebacks had been accompanied by talk of political sway.His recent comeback was a surprising one; the Pakistan ODI team to play Zimbabwe was announced in the midnight hours, at a time when the mobile network around Gaddafi Stadium was jammed amid the security protocol of the Zimbabwe team, all set to return to the hotel after completing the second Twenty20 on Sunday. The PCB selectors offered no explanation why Malik was included – he had no extraordinary form to suggest he would be picked.In the past year, Malik was away from the cricketing limelight but continued to be in the spotlight for his commercial venture in India. Ahead of every team selection announcement he was mostly seen at the National Cricket Academy, training and warming up his Twitter account. Nothing made sense until he scored this match-winning 112 off 76 balls; it was difficult, though, to know the precise value of his innings.Over the years, Pakistan have spoken of blooding young players but it requires courage from the selectors. They made drastic changes to the ODI squad after the 2015 World Cup but lost 3-0 to Bangladesh, which forced them to back into their shell. Pakistan traditionally adheres to the nucleus of mainly senior players, with a few young players mixed in.Malik was initially handed an opportunity in his specialist format, Twenty20, where he failed to mark his international career revival. His technique looked poor and he played two of the uglier innings of his career. But coach Waqar Younis had faith in him, which proved a major difference according to Malik himself. He was meant to bat at No.5 in the ODI team but was suddenly asked to bat at No.3 with 23 overs left, allowing him to get settled with ample overs left.Malik has batted in every position except No.11 over the course of his ODI career. Here, he turned the tables and played a big hand to give Pakistan their highest total of 375 runs in Pakistan. The midas touch was back as his innings revived some old memories of his unbeaten 82 off 41 balls in 2003 at the same venue.Malik’s stroke-making and immense power with his sharp coordination makes him a shrewd batsman. He hit 12 boundaries and two sixes at a strike-rate of 147.36 to mark a valuable revival to his career. “These are the performances that extend your career,” Malik said after the match. “I needed that and it came with a lot of backing from the team management.”When Malik was out of contention he was still captaining his regional side, Sialkot Stallions, and led them to the T20 title this month. He himself finished as the third leading scorer at an average of 61.55 in five matches. “Before coming into the series I was playing in Faisalabad in domestic T20 where I played couple of good innings and that actually gave me the flow and confidence. Now I would like to keep it going and be consistent with my form.”Recalling his two years in the wilderness he said: “There has been an obvious disappointment but as a profession you always look for opportunity and you have to perform to get their attention. At the end of the day, it’s selectors’ prerogative to pick me or not as it’s up to them to pick whatever they require fitting in for their combination. Everyone set goals for themselves … I have some plans to contribute as a team and individually comes later.”The inclusion of Malik, 33, in the team might have discouraged one youngster waiting for a million-dollar opportunity, but after his century, his selection suddenly made sense, with a big vacuum to be filled following the retirements of Shahid Afridi and Misbah-ul-Haq from the format.

Broadcaster cites “multiple quality and standards breaches, CA “astonished” by the action

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jun-2022Cricket Australia’s free-to-air television broadcaster Channel Seven has filed proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia to terminate their A$82 million-a-year broadcasting agreement which has two years to run citing “multiple quality and standards breaches.”The move by the network continues a long-running battle between Seven and CA that began in 2020 following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.Seven West Media, the owner of Channel Seven, released a statement on Thursday confirming they had escalated their position against CA.”Seven West Media Limited through its subsidiary Seven Network (Operations) Limited (Seven) has filed court proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia against Cricket Australia (CA) in relation to multiple quality and standard breaches by CA of Seven’s Media Rights Agreement with CA (MRA),” the statement said.Related

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“The SWM proceedings will seek both: a court declaration that Seven is entitled to terminate the MRA on the basis of material
contract breaches by CA which were not remedied; and damages arising out of past breaches. Seven previously obtained preliminary discovery proceedings in the Federal Court relating to the claims.”Seven’s intention is to terminate the MRA, conditional on the Federal Court granting a declaration that Seven is entitled to do so. Seven has the right to waive this condition. The damages action is not conditional. Seven will continue to perform its obligations under the MRA (in terms of telecasting Tests and BBL etc.) until terminated.”Seven has pursued the informal dispute resolution procedure under the MRA but the procedure failed to resolve the dispute.”Cricket Australia responded saying they would fight the action, stating they were “astonished” by Seven’s position after two seasons were delivered amid the challenges of the pandemic.”Cricket Australia (CA) is aware of reports that our broadcast partner, the Seven Network, has commenced legal proceedings against CA in relation to recent COVID-impacted cricket seasons,” the statement said.”CA delivered two very successful cricket seasons in 2020-21 and 2021-22, including every WBBL and BBL game (a total of 240 games over two seasons) and highly acclaimed international schedules, despite the enormous challenges presented by the global pandemic.”In the circumstances, CA is astonished that Seven has brought this unwarranted action which will be strenuously defended.”Seven signed a six-year deal in 2018 to be the free-to-air broadcast partner of CA alongside subscription provider Foxtel, but have been keen to terminate the deal in recent years. In late 2020, Seven took CA to an independent arbitrator seeking massive cuts to their A$82 million-a-year share of the A$1.18 billion deal signed alongside Foxtel in April 2018.The arbitrator, Justin Jameson of Venture Consulting, concluded that Seven should get only a A$5 million discount of the A$70 million reduction the network had been chasing.The “quality and standards breaches” are believed to be surrounding the BBL which has declined in popularity since Seven began broadcasting it in 2018-19 although ratings have remained relatively good compared to other Australian sports leagues.Part of CA’s push to revive the BBL this year, via initiatives such as the overseas draft, is with the next TV rights cycle in mind when the current deal with Seven and Foxtel ends in 2024.

England were bowled out for 289, setting Australia 412 to win as the first Test of the Investec Ashes moved swiftly on

The Report by David Hopps10-Jul-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsWelcome to Wales, land of rain and anxiety. Cambridge scientists recently concluded that it is here where the United Kingdom is at its most neurotic. And it is here where Australia did their utmost to prey on those nerves and insist against all logic that even though they must embark upon a seemingly impossible pursuit of 412 on the fourth morning, and the pitch is both turning sharply and bouncing irregularly, they are not quite dead in the Cardiff Test. They are. They must be.Pessimism can cling to a side with recent memories of an Ashes whitewash. England initially made rapid headway as they sought to turn a formidable first-innings lead of 122 into a bridgehead for victory and a 1-0 lead in the Investec Ashes series. The impetus from bundling out Australia in their morning spread into the batting of Ian Bell and, less obviously, Joe Root in the afternoon. And even as the lead built, millions of England supporters looked on and spoke of “only”.The lead was only 200, 300, and 20 minutes from the close, with great relief, 400, as England’s No. 10, Mark Wood, swung the offspin of Nathan Lyon towards the River Taff for six and then reverse lapped him for four to applause from the England balcony. The wickets remaining slipped to only eight, four, two. But by the close of the third day, an awkward spell in which Bell, Root and Ben Stokes had their wicket struck in turn and Australia felt a glimmer of hope, Wood, a tail-ender with a sense of fun, had an unbeaten 32 from 18 balls and England were out of sight. Finally, there was not an “only” to be heard.Australia like to speak of the highest Test run chase ever pulled off in England, of Headingley 1948, of Don Bradman and of 404 for 3. Even that would not be enough now. The forecast for Sunday is indifferent, but as the Welsh have it, it is not expected to rain old women and sticks. This excellent game deserves a winner and logic suggests that it is England.Four wickets for Lyon were deserving of respect, if an expected reward on a dry pitch offering considerable turn. Australia’s bonus was Mitchell Starc. When he left the field for the last time, the clock had gone beyond six o’clock and a bowler whose first ball of the day had seen this lissom left-armer hop gingerly through the crease in mistrust of an ankle injury had got through 16 overs, logged Alastair Cook and Stokes in the wickets column and, at 92.8mph, had clocked the fastest ball of the match. Impressive stuff – but he might miss the Lord’s Test as a consequence.Australia were not averse to playing on England’s insecurity. New ICC regulations might make sledging a risky business, and not before time, but nobody said anything about mind games. Lyon and David Warner more than once held conversations at the point in the crease where Stokes, idiosyncratically, likes to sweep the crease in a semicircle. Brad Haddin had more appeals than the Salvation Army.It would be tempting to term the pitch treacherous, but considering its particular difficulty to Australia, whose batsmen are brought up with pace and bounce, perhaps it was actually suffering from excessive loyalty. It has also produced magnificent entertainment from the outset.It had taken England only 14.5 overs to polish off the last five Australian wickets, 44 runs added in the process, and although the stand-out performer was James Anderson, who provided a brief exhibition of new-ball bowling to log 3 for 43, every England bowler took a wicket in what had been a consistently focused display.The sense that batting might remain a taxing business was encouraged when Alastair Cook, England’s captain, failed for the second time in the match, driving at a gentle, wide outswinger from Starc which was well picked up by Lyon, low at backward point. He seems, perhaps temporarily, to have abandoned his habitual insistence of making bowlers bowl at him in a desire to buy into England’s much-vaunted commitment to enterprising batting.If Cook could rue a puff of dust from the footholes, Gary Ballance had more reason for frustration. Two excellent swinging deliveries from Starc left him fortunate to reach lunch unbeaten – but still on nought. Ballance might have reached the interval, but that first run never came as soon after the resumption he received a climbing delivery from Josh Hazlewood and gloved to the wicketkeeper.Bell’s three hundreds won him the Man of the Series award the last time the Ashes were contested in England, but who had been bereft of form with six scores of 0 or 1 in his last nine Test innings. It was a timely moment for him to regain form. He drove sublimely through the off side from the outset, two early boundaries against Starc setting the tone from a half-century of elegant ambition. There were 11 boundaries in his 60 before he became Mitchell Johnson’s first victim, expecting inswing but beaten by one that seamed away.Bell’s authority briefly rubbed off on Adam Lyth, whose slog-swept six against Lyon summed up his rising ambition. Lyon, though, gradually unravelled his game and outdid his defensive poke for Michael Clarke to hold a wonderful springing catch to his left at slip.At 207 for 4, England’s lead was already 329, but the loss of Root, bowled by a nip-backer from Hazlewood, was the start of an uncomfortable period in which four wickets fell for 38 in nine overs. Jos Buttler might have regretted this reverse sweep more than most as Lyon had him caught at the wicket; Stokes’ controlled 42 ended with a drag-on as Starc scudded one through; Broad flung his head skywards and reached deep mid-off, running in. Wood banished the nerves.Australia had begun the morning at 264 for 5 and might have shrugged off the loss the nightwatchman, Lyon, as he fell lbw to Wood, immaculate in line throughout, but the dismissal of Shane Watson that preceded it was drainingly familiar as he played across his front pad against Broad. For Watson, it was another Test match 30 and a striking record of 28 lbw dismissals in 108 innings, unmatched for a player of such longevity. He left with mournful, pursed lips, as if he could not believe that fate had conspired against him once more.Haddin was a danger, memories of his productive last series against England still fresh, but Anderson found prodigious movement both ways and it was not long before Haddin edged an outswinger to the wicketkeeper. Johnson clipped Broad to midwicket and Australia’s innings came to a close when Anderson had Starc expertly held by Root, diving to his left, one of five England slips stationed for a catch, an attacking flourish they clung to, refusing whatever the doubts around them to let the talk of “only” enter their thoughts.

Clint McKay claimed five wickets for Leicestershire as seam bowlers dominated the opening day at Cheltenham.

ECB/PA16-Jul-2015
ScorecardJames Fuller was on target to take 4 for 35•PA Photos

James Fuller produced his best return of the season to help Gloucestershire establish a narrow first-innings lead on the second day of the LV= County Championship match against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.Replying to Gloucestershire’s 218, Leicestershire were all out for 215 inside 88 overs with Fuller claiming 4 for 35 from 15.2 overs.But Charlie Shrek removed openers Will Tavare and Chris Dent in the final session to put the visitors on terms, Gloucestershire reaching the close on 54 for 2, a lead of 57.Mark Cosgrove proved the mainstay of the Leicestershire innings, registering a gritty 74 from 155 balls with 10 fours to usher his side clear of trouble.Forced to adopt an uncharacteristically cautious approach on a pitch that rendered batting problematic, Cosgrove required 94 deliveries to make his half-century and rode his luck on occasions.He dominated stands of 40 and 31 with nightwatchman Jigar Naik and loan signing Greg Smith for the fourth and fifth wickets respectively and proved the glue that held the innings together.Cosgrove’s disciplined three-hour vigil finally came to an end when he aimed an expansive drive at Kieran Noema-Barnett and edged a catch behind.But Leicestershire were 149 for 6 and within sight of parity by the time their captain departed in the 58th over.Noema-Barnett also weighed in with the wicket of Smith, caught and bowled for 20, while Benny Howell finished with 2 for 28, these two demonstrating the virtue of taking the pace off the ball.But Fuller was arguably the pick of the Gloucestershire bowlers. Used sparingly, his express pace caused Leicestershire problems throughout and, having removed top-order batsmen Angus Robson and Ned Eckersley the previous evening, he accounted for Aadil Ali and Clint McKay with the second new ball to finish with impressive figures.Leicestershire were threatening to establish a first-innings lead when Fuller took the new ball and clean bowled Ali, whose 40 from 119 balls represented an object lesson in patience.Craig Miles then served notice of his burgeoning talent, taking a sharp return catch to dismiss Ben Raine before closing the innings out with a brilliant diving catch on the long-off boundary to end McKay’s brief sojourn.Gloucestershire skipper Ian Cockbain will play no further part in the match after suffering a broken wrist in the nets prior to the start of play. He faces at least seven weeks on the side-lines and Michael Klinger will assume the captaincy for the foreseeable future.

leem Dar, the Pakistani umpire, has been drawn into a row involving one of Britain’s oldest cricket clubs, after his sons were persuaded by a rogue club official to pretend to be Scottish in order to play in a league fixture

Andrew Miller and Umar Farooq29-Apr-2016Aleem Dar, the Pakistani umpire who recently officiated in his 100th Test, has been left embarrassed by a row involving one of Britain’s oldest cricket clubs, after his sons were persuaded by a rogue club official to pretend to be Scottish in order to play in a league fixture.Kilmarnock Cricket Club was this week thrown out of the first division of the Western District Cricket Union in Scotland after it emerged that Ali and Hassan Dar, aged 18 and 16, had circumvented eligibility rules by falsely claiming to have been born in Glasgow.The pair were encouraged by Kilmarnock’s vice president, Muhammad Saleem – who has since resigned – to register under the pseudonyms Umer Mustafa and Saleh Mustafa to compete for Kilmarnock during the 2015 season, including one fixture, against Stenhousemuir in August, which was watched by Dar himself.The umpire’s trip to watch the contest in question arose after England’s three-day victory over Australia in the third Test at Edgbaston, which had left him with a free weekend to attend what he believed to be a friendly fixture at Stenhousemuir’s Tryst ground.”I do confirm that I, along with my wife, went to watch the game but it was a friendly game I thought,” Dar told ESPNcricinfo. “I went there to watch my sons and nephew Azeem, but I didn’t know that my sons were playing with different names.”My sons are too young to tamper with the personal details,” Dar added. “Both have Pakistani passports and they are proud to be Pakistanis. We have no doubt about that at any level. This entire story seems to be some kind of misunderstanding”Although no official documents were involved in the subterfuge, Kilmarnock have been punished with relegation to the second tier of the Western District Cricket Union, after it emerged that “Umer” and “Saleh” had actually been born in Pakistan and had not spent enough time in the UK in the preceding months to qualify as full-time residents.A Western Union official declared: “We received information regarding possible breaches of league rules and our investigation proved this to be the case.”It was found that two players were registered with improper details and one, or both, participated in a number of matches during the 2015 season.”The CMC [Cricket Management Committee] has decided to follow precedent by deducting all the points gained by Kilmarnock in the matches in which the two illegally registered players participated.”Kilmarnock have therefore been deducted 49 points and are now relegated.”In a statement posted to the club’s website, Kilmarnock accepted the punishment, but insisted it had been misled by “the fraudulent actions of a single committee member”.In his resignation letter, in which he also withdrew as a member of the club, Saleem apologised for the “distress and harm” he had caused to Kilmarnock CC and to the WDCU for bringing the game into disrepute.However, he claimed in mitigation that the practice had been rife among several teams during the preceding six years, and asked that the WDCU committee tighten its policy to avoid such controversies in the future.”The club denies in the strongest terms that we knowingly provided false and misleading information in the registration of the two players,” Kilmarnock’s statement continued.”Whilst this has been a hugely stressful and ultimately disappointing period in the history of the club, we have fought back from fire, flood and countless other setbacks since 1852.”The strength of any club is its members, and whilst it is galling that the fate of the club and its members has been influenced by the misguided efforts of a few, we as a club can push on again if everyone sticks together.”Kilmarnock, who won the league on seven occasions between 1949 and 1970, were replaced in the top flight by St Michael’s, who had previously been relegated at the end of the 2015 season.Dar, who is presently in Lahore, agreed that the fault for the controversy lay with the club officials.”They should be enquired about this,” he said. “If the club was relegated then that happened for a good reason. One son is 16 and the other is hardly 18. They did play the league matches there, but they had played many friendly games as well.”7.50pm BST: This story was updated with Aleem Dar’s response

9pm BST, May 1: Further updated to reflect Muhammad Saleem’s resignation

Rob Key and Mark Wood excited by prospect of Durham bowler making England debut

Matt Roller19-May-2022Midway through Matthew Potts’ nets session on Thursday morning, Eoin Morgan walked over to shake his hand to congratulate him on his first call-up to a full England squad. With England only picked 13 players to cover the first two Tests against New Zealand, Potts is almost certain to make his debut at some stage during the series and has a strong chance of playing at Lord’s in two weeks’ time.Sensibly, he decided to sit out this week’s Championship fixture against Middlesex, having bowled 233.5 overs in six back-to-back games at the start of the season – 20 more than any other seamer in the country this year. Instead, he was put through his paces by Neil Killeen, Durham’s bowling coach, before soaking up the atmosphere of a four-day game at Lord’s for the first time (his only career appearance there came in the Hundred last summer).Potts has been the beneficiary of an England injury crisis, with swathes of more-experienced seamers ruled out of the first Test, and has emerged from left field on the back of a stunning start to the Championship season: he took 35 wickets at 18.57 across the first half-dozen rounds, 11 more than the nearest contender.