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The West Indies Cricket Board has offered professional support services to West Indies’ young captains Jason Holder and Stafanie Taylor

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Sep-20150:51

Holder has what it takes to be a good leader – Walsh

The West Indies Cricket Board has offered professional support services to West Indies’ young captains Jason Holder and Stafanie Taylor. The board made the offer as Holder, who was the ODI captain already, was also named Test captain and Taylor replaced Merissa Aguilleira as the women’s team captain.”The directors and the management of the WICB recognised that being captain of a West Indies team is a unique challenge and carries an enormous burden of responsibility,” WICB director of cricket Richard Pybus said. “We have written and offered them access to whatever support systems they believe is necessary for them to handle their responsibilities in a purposeful manner.”The men’s Test squad for the Sri Lanka tour is fairly inexperienced with only two members having played over 50 Tests and Holder, 23, is West Indies’ second-youngest Test captain. He replaced Denesh Ramdin and has led West Indies in 12 ODIs, including seven World Cup games. In Sri Lanka, the squad will play two Tests followed by three ODIs and two T20Is.Clive Lloyd, the chief selector who had said it was the “right time for a change” when Holder was named Test captain, has already been mentoring the new captain.”As a legend of the game, a successful international captain and in the role of Convenor of Selectors, Clive is uniquely placed to give valuable insight and we have encouraged Jason to lean on his wisdom, so he can manage the transition to the leadership position,” Pybus said.Earlier, Holder’s promotion to captaincy was also welcomed by former West Indies captains in Brian Lara and Viv Richards.Taylor, on the other hand, is only 24 but has played 84 ODIs and 62 T20Is since her international debut in 2008. Her first assignment as captain of the women’s team will be a home series against Pakistan Women, comprising four ODIs and three T20 internationals in October.”Clive is also available to Stafanie, but we will also work with her to identify a suitable mentor going forward,” Pybus said.The WICB has also offered both captains an option of employing an “executive coach” to help them with their personal development.”The WICB is committed to their long-term development and success in their new roles, and we believe this will help Jason and Stafanie to focus while they settle in,” Pybus said. “We have full confidence that Jason and Stafanie will lead with courage and conviction, and do a wonderful job of moving their respective teams forward, so we have taken steps to help them to plan and manage their time effectively.”

David Warner’s reinvention as a middle-order batsman received a tremendous boost as the left-hander amassed 193 runs against South Africa A in Pretoria

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jul-2013
ScorecardDavid Warner was in prime form, striking 29 fours and a six in an innings of 193•Getty Images

David Warner’s reinvention as a middle-order batsman received a tremendous boost as the left-hander amassed 193 against South Africa A in Pretoria. The visitors finished one run short of 400 on the opening day as Glenn Maxwell celebrated his maiden first-class century as well.Warner was suspended from the Australian side after an altercation with England batsman Joe Root during the Champions Trophy and could not participate in the warm-up matches for the Ashes. Subsequently he was not picked to play the first Test and with coach Darren Lehmann confirming Chris Rogers and Shane Watson as Australia’s openers, Warner’s future in the side demanded that he adjust to the role of a middle-order batsman. He was sent to Africa with the A side to prepare him for the role; a role he was keen to perform, expressing a wish to fill the shoes of Michael Hussey.Having failed in his only outing in Zimbabwe, Warner stepped into a delicate situation with Australia A two down, both wickets going to Kyle Abbott, by the 13th over. A 73-run partnership for the third wicket between Warner and captain Aaron Finch, who scored a half-century, revived Australia A. Marchant de Lange accounted for Finch, but Warner, having already surged to a run-a-ball, fifty spearheaded a 76-run stand with Moises Henriques to put Australia A in the driver’s seat.Henriques’ fall brought Maxwell to the crease and misery to South Africa A as the duo piled on 204 runs off 229 balls with Maxwell reaching his century with his 13th four. Warner’s wicket, bowled by de Lange, signalled the end of day one, but not before Warner had lasted 226 balls, and hit 30 boundaries, including one six.Maxwell was very pleased with his innings. “It’s always nice to get the century out of the way on the first day,” he said. “I’m very happy with my performance; this is probably the best I’ve batted in a long time. It was good to bat with Dave Warner. He was taking a lot of the pressure off me by scoring pretty quickly.”Justin Ontong, the South Africa A captain, was disappointed with his side’s performance. “It was quite a hard day for us. The wicket was good to bat on but we should have bowled a little better in the first hour,” he said. “We bowled on both sides of the wicket which made it very difficult for me to set fields. And if you bowl [like that] to good batsmen like Warner, they’ll punish you.”We need to pick up five more wickets. We are going to have a good chat now and come back strongly tomorrow. Still it will be hard work for our batters but they need to apply themselves and show patience and get themselves in a position like David Warner got.”

A round-up of the third match-day’s action from the ICC World Cricket League Division Five in Singapore

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Feb-2012Argentina slipped to their third straight defeat, going down by 29 runs to Guernsey in a rain-affected match at Padang, which was eventually reduced to 29 overs a side. The start was delayed by rain and the Argentina opening bowlers, led by Pablo Ryan, made early inroads, taking two top-order wickets to reduce Guernsey to 53 for 4. The complexion of the innings changed when Ross Kneller came out and blasted 86 off 54 balls, with six sixes. He took the score to 213 for 7 after rain reduced the game to 42 overs a side. It was reduced further to 29, following another rain interruption when Argentina were struggling at 54 for 3. Grant Dugmore top scored with 42 but lacked support as Guernsey, led by David Hooper, chipped away at the wickets.At the Indian Association Ground, Cayman Islands coasted to an eight-wicket win over Bahrain in another rain-affected encounter. Bahrain were put in to bat, and like Guernsey, were struggling at the start before they were revived by the middle order. Adil Hanif made a patient 56 off 86 balls to steady the innings, before Tahir Dar made an unbeaten 60 off 50 balls to take the score past 200. He hit six sixes in his knock. Rain intervened 17 overs into the chase, when Cayman Islands proceeded steadily to 50 for 1. However, Duckworth Lewis reduced the game to 21 overs, leaving Cayman Islands needing 30 off the last four. Ramon Sealy and Omar Willis ensured they reached the target with three balls to spare.Malaysia recorded their third-straight win, beating hosts and neighbours Singapore by 27 runs at the Kallang Ground. Malaysia’s opening duo, R Madhavan and Shafiq Sharif, made half-centuries but the rest of the batsmen failed to measure up, stumbling to a combined bowling effort. Sharif fell for 48, but Madhavan remained unbeaten on 77, off 141 balls. The next highest score was 13. Chasing 185, Singapore were in trouble at 117 for 5 in 30 overs when rain interrupted play. Their target was reduced to 161 from 39, and they eventually folded up for 133.

A round up of the sixth day of matches of the European Championship Division One Twenty20

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jul-2011Denmark won the European Division One Twenty20 final after beating Italy by six wickets in St Clement. Italy chose to bat and were left in tatters by the Danish bowlers, who skittled their opposition out for 83.Andy Northcote’s 38 (off 37 balls) was the only score over 20 in the Italy innings, and he was bowled while attempted a heave against legspinner Bobby Chawla, who took 3 for 26. Chawla was responsible for tearing through the top order and left-arm spinner Bashir Shah (3 for 14) crippled the middle order. Northcote had added 43 for the second wicket with Damian Crowley, who also perished while attempting a big shot, holing out to long-off. Italy were in a sound position at 67 for 2 in the 12th over, but in a dramatic collapse, lost the next eight wickets for 16 runs.Denmark stuttered in their chase and slipped to 16 for 3 in the fifth over. But Rizwan Mahmood’s patient 31 (off 47 balls) and Aftab Ahmed’s 24 (off 18 balls) saw them to victory with 11 balls to spare. Mahmood’s innings under pressure won him the Man-of-the-Match award. Both Denmark and Italy will participate in the World T20 qualifiers in the UAE next year.Jersey finished third in the tournament with a convincing eight-wicket win over Guernsey, also at St Clement. Guernsey’s innings began unsteadily when they were reduced to 20 for 2 but Ross Kneller’s 37 (off 32 balls) was the glue that held their innings together. With no sizeable partnerships and 19-year old left-arm spinner Ben Stevens (4 for 14) on fire, Guernsey made 158 for 8. Jersey had little trouble reaching the target. Edward Farley’s 90 (off 48 balls) was the mainstay of their innings; it also played a role in winning him the tournament’s Most-Valuable-Player Award. Jersey won in 17.2 overs.Norway took fifth place after a six-wicket demolition of France in St Martin. Norway chose to field and blasted France out for just 70. Forty-one year old Pakistan-born medium pacer Zaheer Ashiq’s 4 for 2 in 1.3 overs proved too much for France. Norway lost both their openers for ducks, No. 3 batsman Ashiq for 6 but Zeeshan Ali’s 33 not out (off 40 balls) took them to victory with 19 balls remaining.Gibraltar won the ninth place play-off, beating Germany by 23 runs in St Helier. Gibraltar recovered from 13 for 2 to 157 for 7. A third-wicket partnership of 65 between Mark Bacerese and Kieron Ferrary, which was the highest of the match, helped Gibraltar to a defendable total. Germany’s innings was punctuated by wickets and they were bowled out for 134. Iain Latin took 3 for 34.Croatia finished the tournament in last place, losing by 86 runs to Israel in St Brelade. Herschel Gutman scored 51 (off 37 balls) and small contributions from the rest of the batting line-up took Israel to 172 for 7, a target that was too stiff for Croatia. Eliezar Samson took 4 for 7 and nine of the Croat batsmen failed to get into double-figures. They were bowled out for 86.

Tahlia Wilson and Tahlia McGrath ensured a comfortable chase for the home side

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Aug-2024In a show of the player depth on offer, legspinner Grace Parsons and quick Nicola Hancock both starred on their Australia A debuts as the home side claimed the T20 series against India A with an eight-wicket victory.The pair had come into the Australia A side in place of Maitlan Brown and Tayla Vlaeminck and combined to finish with 7 for 44 from eight overs. Tahlia Wilson then made it back-to-back half-centuries to control the chase which was completed with ten deliveries to spareFor Parsons, the 20-year-old who is part of Brisbane Heat’s WBBL squad having missed out on a chance to play last season due to injury, it was her T20 debut having only previously featured for Queensland in the WNCL. She bagged four wickets, including the key scalp of Priya Punia who had played superbly in the opening match and top-scored in this innings with 29 off 26 balls. Parsons then closed out her spell with two more wickets in the space of three balls.”I’ve never actually played a T20 before, apart from at [my] club so today was very nerve wracking,” Parsons said. “But my plans don’t change too much.”It was pretty special. I’m always nervous at the start, especially when I haven’t played cricket for quite a few months, but it was nice to get the first game out of the way and take a few wickets. It was a pretty special thing to get the call up into the Aus A team and then to be playing today, it’s pretty awesome.”Hancock, who was a late addition to the squad when Courtney Sippel was ruled out through injury, had claimed the first wicket when she had Shweta Sehrawat taken off a top edge – Nicole Faltum taking an excellent running catch – and conceded just 14 from her three overs.The regular loss of wickets meant India A struggled for momentum and at one stage lost 3 for 10 between the 11th and 13th overs.The target didn’t stretch Australia A despite the early loss of Katie Mack as Wilson continued her impressive early-season form. Captain Tahlia McGrath, who had fallen first ball in the opening match, helped her side speed to target with a flurry of boundaries in an unbroken stand of 69.

Pat Cummins will captain his first one-day series against England while Australia’s Test squad remains stable

Andrew McGlashan08-Nov-2022Travis Head has returned to Australia’s ODI squad for the series against England and Marcus Harris has been included as the spare batter for the Test matches against West Indies.Following the early exit from the T20 World Cup, a full-strength squad has been named for the three games against England in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne which will be Pat Cummins’ first series as ODI captain.Head fills the vacancy created by Aaron Finch’s one-day retirement having been unavailable for selection for the early-season series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand due to paternity leave. He has had an excellent 2022 in ODIs with 310 runs at 62 and a strike-rate of 112.72 when he faced Pakistan in Sri Lanka.In the Pakistan series, where he made 101 and 89 in consecutive matches, Head played in place of David Warner but now will open alongside him.Related

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“Our focus is to continue to build a squad with an eye to next year’s World Cup under Pat as the new ODI captain, so it’s an important series,” national selector George Bailey said.”Travis Head…has demonstrated flexibility in the types of roles he can play in our ODI line-up. Our next opportunity in the ODI format will be in India next year which will allow us to experience similar conditions as for the World Cup in October.”Sean Abbott misses out from earlier in the season despite a couple of impressive performances against New Zealand as does Josh Inglis. The multi-format quicks have all been included, along with Cameron Green, and they will then back up into the Test summer which begins in Perth on November 30.The squad for the two matches against West Indies is very stable with perhaps the only talking point the retention of Harris. After losing his place during the Ashes when Usman Khawaja’s prolific form led to a reshuffle of the order, Harris was the reserve batter in Pakistan then part of the Australia A squad in Sri Lanka either side of playing county cricket for Gloucestershire where he made 726 runs at 42.70.He has made a solid start to the domestic season with 287 runs in three Sheffield Shield matches although it is Victoria team-mate Peter Handscomb who is well ahead at the top with 518 runs.Scott Boland, who has not yet been able to add to his three Ashes Tests where he took 18 wickets at 9.55, is the extra quick in the squad behind Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. None of that trio will play Shield cricket before the Tests, but that is a preparation that Australia have become comfortable with in recent seasons. Green’s inclusion in the ODI squad means he is unlikely to feature in any Shield cricket this year with the India Test tour due to start in early February.Australia ODI squad vs England Pat Cummins (capt), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam ZampaAustralia Test squad vs West Indies Pat Cummins (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner

“It does look sometimes like the top order doesn’t trust the middle order, but you can improve this”

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Oct-2022The top T20I teams are “one step ahead” of Pakistan in terms of their approach, particularly with the bat, according to chief selector Mohammad Wasim. He also feels that the top order, Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam specifically, needs to “show more faith” in the middle order for the team to achieve the sort of big totals they need at the upcoming men’s T20 World Cup.”We often talk about the brand of cricket we play, and how we eventually have to play the modern form of T20 cricket,” Wasim told . “Obviously, the sort of cricket England and a few others are playing, they are one step ahead of us in terms of their approach. For us, it will take time to be fully converted into this brand of cricket, because for it you need certain players to be fully ready.Related

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“But if you talk about a winning formula, we need our middle-order complementing the top order. We did get success from it as well. Our [2021 T20] World Cup went well, our home series have been good, and our success rate has been up. At the moment, the best policy for us is to mix and match [the batting approach].”One of the issues that has been most under scrutiny is the method of Pakistan’s top order, specifically when setting a total. The top three of Rizwan, Babar and Fakhar Zaman have often anchored their way through an innings, batting deep and leaving fewer balls for the more free-scoring middle-order batters. While chasing, the approach often comes off. While setting targets, though, Pakistan have usually been just around par, if not below it.”It reflects in my selection, but whatever the final strategy is, it is down to the captain and coach,” Wasim said. “The vision about my selection is based on the thought that if the low-value wickets in the lower-middle order are used, then we can get better results. We did see some valuable contributions from Asif [Ali], Khushdil [Shah] and Iftikhar [Ahmed], but I think we need to have more consistency from them.”Khushdil Shah and Iftikhar Ahmed, two of Pakistan’s lower-middle-order hitters•AFP/Getty Images

In the final, deciding, T20I against England, which Pakistan lost by 67 runs after conceding 209, they were 33 for 3 when Shan Masood and Khushdil got together. They added 53 runs together, but took up 7.1 overs to score those, leaving a huge asking rate for the batters to follow.”I think maybe there isn’t a clear message, or there is a problem in the lower-middle order as they are valuing their wicket a bit more than they should, which is a problem,” Wasim said. “The partnership between Shan and Khushdil wasn’t impressive, it was going nowhere. The big advantage while chasing is that they know the target and it’s easier to set a pattern and plan accordingly.”If you want to play like this, or want to play this sort of cricket, then we don’t need better-equipped players to get in. You will get such resources anyway. It all comes down to what is your game plan.”One of the possible ways in which the problem can be bypassed is to have spin-bowling allrounders Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz bat higher, at four or five, on a more regular basis.”Every team has its stronger links and weaker ones, and ours is bowling; our batting does need to improve for us to win games. As coach [and not as selector], I would love to see Shadab and Nawaz bat higher, and I had this discussion with the management, and you will see it happening going forward.”It might give some shape to the middle order and it’s not for the sake of change, but based on the skillsets they bring. Both can play spin well, bat at a high strike rate, rotate the strike, and accelerate the score.”Pakistan are contemplating making better use of allrounders like Shadab Khan•AFP/Getty Images

Wasim was also asked about the dependency on the opening pair in particular, and whether that has affected trust with the middle order.”It does look sometimes like the top order doesn’t trust the middle order, but you can improve this,” Wasim said. “As a batter, you get disappointed, but at the same time, you have to look up to the other group as well. I am sure coaches have spoken and this isn’t a good message that the top-two wickets falling result in the entire team getting out. So there is a need to show more faith on the others.”The England games are over, and now Pakistan play a triangular series in New Zealand, with Bangladesh as the third team, and then go to the World Cup in Australia. But there are murmurs that there could be a few changes to the squad before the marquee event. Like in 2021.”Last year, changes were made mainly because of injuries and we have encountered similar issues again,” Wasim said. “We are constantly monitoring. I would say that this is the same squad [that will go to the World Cup], but in light of injuries, we will definitely consider replacements if needed.”You can’t say anything about changes during a series, and if there is a plan, we won’t talk about it in public. Because the situation is fluid around the injuries. At the same time, we have backed these boys for a year now and we will still back them. But we are looking into who is expected to be fit and who will be unavailable and who can be a replacement.”

Phoenix make it two wins from two games after unbroken partnership worth 78

Charlie Peters15-Aug-2022Birmingham Phoenix cruised to an eight-wicket victory over Trent Rockets at Edgbaston after an astonishing collapse from the visitors saw them slip from 70 for 1 to a sub-par total of 116 for 9.Emily Arlott was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 for 19 including the key scalp of captain Nat Sciver, and was ably supported by Georgia Elwiss and Sophie Molineux, who picked up two wickets apiece for the home side.Rockets never really looked as if they had an answer for the Phoenix’s all-round bowling brilliance, with all bar three batters failing to post double-digit scores.Phoenix then cantered home with the bat in reply, Amy Jones and Ellyse Perry posting an unbeaten 44 and 39 respectively to secure an undefeated start to the season for Phoenix.Rockets initially struggled to find any form of momentum in their innings. Molineux’s first set of 10 deliveries cost her just six runs inside the powerplay, and included the wicket of Bryony Smith for 1, leaving the visitors teetering at 1 for 1.Sciver, making her first Hundred appearance of 2022, and Elyse Villani were then able to build a solid foundation, taking the Rockets up to 70 for 1 thanks to their half-century partnership. It was a partnership of stability rather than intent, however, and when Villani holed out to Perry at long on off the bowling of Elwiss, it signalled the start of a miserable collapse for the away side.Sciver departed not long after for an uncharacteristically quiet run-a-ball 31, before overseas star Mignon du Preez hooked an Issy Wong short ball straight into the hands of Gwen Davies for just 2. Only Kathryn Bryce, Rockets’ No. 10, could register double digits as the visitors crumbled to an under par 116 for 9.Phoenix didn’t exactly get off to a flyer in reply, but then they had no need to with such a low total to chase. Sophie Devine holed out attempting to line up Sciver and departed for 16, while Eve Jones went for 11 not long after, but from then on it was plain sailing. No real risks were required, and Perry and Amy Jones were able to manipulate the field and pick up singles for much of the middle of the innings.Amy Jones in particular looked in fine touch, as she racked up her 44 off 32 deliveries. A succession of glorious shots off England’s Sarah Glenn flew off the bat and over the boundary rope for four to bring her side within touching distance of victory. The second, a reverse-paddle past point, stood out as a moment of brilliance in a largely jeopardy-free chase, as she and Perry accelerated at the death to see them over the line with nine balls to spare.Not even last week’s hat-trick hero Alana King could provide enough magic stardust to successfully defend the total the Rockets had posted earlier. Glenn and Katherine Brunt, too, were unable to find that all important breakthrough, and both finished wicketless as the Phoenix simply proved too much to handle.

Rookie batsman seizes opportunity at top of order with brilliant innings-turning century

George Dobell08-Sep-2020Tom Lammonby’s unbeaten century has given Somerset an excellent chance of making the final of the Bob Willis Trophy.Lammonby, a 20-year-old who made his first-class debut in August, became the youngest man in Somerset’s first-class history* to carry his bat in making 107 of Somerset’s 193. Nobody else managed more than 21.It was the first time a Somerset opener had carried their bat since Dean Elgar did so in Manchester in 2017. Lammonby also becomes just the second man who might be considered locally developed – he was born, to an Australian father, in Exeter – to do it for Somerset this century; his captain, Tom Abell, has done so twice. It was Lammonby’s second century in successive first-class matches.More importantly, Lammonby’s chanceless innings shored up Somerset’s position just as it appeared to be crumbling. There were times on the third morning when it appeared Worcestershire had clawed their way back into this game. At 82 for 6, for example, Somerset were just 133 ahead and in danger of letting their advantage slip.But Lammonby’s impressively calm head, his ability to play to the situation and go through the gears when required, his ability to concentrate for five hours and wear down Worcestershire’s deserving attack left the hosts needing 245 to win. Against a Somerset attack which has not conceded more than 200 in the competition and on a surface that remains helpful to seamers, that is likely to prove a tall order.In normal circumstances, Lammonby may have struggled to win an opportunity this year. Somerset were due to welcome Matthew Wade as their overseas player at the start of the season and Vernon Philander as a Kolpak registration. James Hildreth and Tom Banton might also be considered first-choice options, while Lammonby, a former England U19 player, has very little experience at the top of the order. Instead, he sees himself as a middle-order batsman who can contribute with the ball as a left-arm medium-pacer. He reckons he has opened, at club level, just three or four times previously.But, the absence of most overseas and Kolpak players has provided opportunities for the likes of Lammonby. And in recording successive centuries, he may have gone some way towards filling the Marcus Trescothick-shaped void that has existed at the top of the Somerset order for a while.As a left-handed Somerset opener, the comparisons with Trescothick are probably inevitable. But Lammonby perhaps has more in common with the likes of Alastair Cook or even Peter Roebuck (a right-hander, but a Somerset opener) than Trescothick. He is patient, compact and well-organised. He was, in general, happy to accumulate rather than dominate. And while there were few of the booming drives or dismissive cuts and pulls that characterised a typical Trescothick century, there were arguably fewer nervous moments outside off stump, too. In carrying his bat in a first-class game, he has already achieved something for Somerset that Trescothick did not.Initially, he concentrated on survival. There were just four singles in the opening 45 minutes of the day and, after 104 balls of his innings, he had scored 23. But he had played straight, he had left well and he had still been able to put away anything overpitched or on his legs.He seized on the introduction of Brett D’Oliveira’s leg-spin as an opportunity for easier runs. The first two balls were taken for 10 – a sweep for four followed by a lofted drive over long-on for six – while an over in his second spell was plundered for 20. Lammonby brought up his century with his third six off D’Oliveira. In the context of this low-scoring match, it was agonisingly expensive for Worcestershire.Batting looked a far more tricky proposition at the other end. Abell fell in the first over of the day, a perfect outswinger taking his the edge of his forward defensive prod, before George Bartlett and Eddie Byrom were both punished for playing across straight balls. Steve Davies’ attempt to emulate Lammonby’s aggression against D’Oliveira saw him miss a bit of a heave while Craig Overton, back when he should have been forward, was beaten by a googly.But in Lewis Gregory and Josh Davey, Lammonby found some support. And with Josh Tongue only able to operate off a short run and at half pace due to a back injury, Worcestershire’s support bowlers, notably D’Oliveira and the rapid but raw Dillon Pennington, proved expensive. The hosts’ grip on the situation began to weaken as Lammonby’s final 84 runs occupied only 116 balls and Somerset’s last four wickets added 111 crucial runs. In the context of the match, it felt decisive.Worcestershire’s task looked no easier after the loss of both openers. Daryl Mitchell and Jake Libby are their side’s highest run-scorers in the competition but were both bowled by Lewis Gregory: Mitchell punished for leaving a gap between bat and pad by one that drifted into him; Libby playing on via the inside edge after a somewhat footless drive at one which left him a little. The mountain they have to climb on the final day looms above the Malverns.Lammonby has only visited Lord’s once before – as a spectator at Somerset’s Royal London Cup success last year – and has never played there. It will be a surprise if he is not making his maiden appearance there in a couple of weeks’ time.*The previous youngest was ADE ‘Dudley’ Rippon, in 1914.

The former India seamer has stepped down with immediate effect to avoid a potential conflict of interest as he is likely to take up a coaching role in the IPL

Nagraj Gollapudi02-Mar-2018Venkatesh Prasad, the chairman of India’s junior selection committee, has stepped down with immediate effect to avoid a potential conflict of interest. Prasad communicated his resignation to the BCCI on Friday morning.It is understood that Prasad is in the final stages of talks with an IPL franchise for the role of an assistant bowling coach. Had Prasad continued as chairman of the junior selection committee and taken up an IPL role, he would have been in violation of the conflict-of-interest rules laid out by the Lodha committee.Incidentally on Thursday, Prasad along with the other two junior selectors – Gyanendra Pandey and Rakesh Parekh – had picked the Under-16 and Under-19 squads for the national camp to be held at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, in the summer.Prasad had a successful tenure as the head of the junior selection panel. During his tenure India reached the Under-19 World Cup final twice, while winning the title last month. Prasad had worked closely with Rahul Dravid, the India A and Under-19 coach, to identify junior talent and hone their skills. The pair had also chalked out a plan where the junior players would get more exposure by playing overseas.Despite the success, Prasad was on the lookout for the next challenge. He had applied for the position of the senior selection panel and also was interviewed by the BCCI for the position of general manager, cricket. Saba Karim was eventually appointed to that position.Although it could not be confirmed, Kings XI Punjab is one of the franchises that Prasad is likely to join. Currently, Kings XI have only Brad Hodge as a head coach. Prasad was the bowling coach at Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2008 during the first season of the IPL. He then took the same role at Chennai Super Kings from 2009-10 before moving back to reclaim the same role with Royal Challengers between 2011-13.