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Former West Indies captain Floyd Reifer will retire from regional cricket at the end of the season, the Combined Campuses and Colleges management announced on Wednesday

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Feb-2014Former West Indies captain Floyd Reifer will retire from regional cricket at the end of the season, the Combined Campuses and Colleges management announced on Wednesday. Reifer will, however, continue on as the team’s coach, working alongside former fast bowler Curtly Ambrose.”Floyd was asked to build out the CCC within the model established by Sir Frank Worrell; having a senior motivational player on the field, teaching tactics and strategies as the game evolves,” Professor Sir Hilary Beckles said. “This development and learning approach was fully realised by Reifer, and has so far produced many quality players for national teams as well as the West Indies.”A left-handed middle-order batsman, Reifer took up the role of player-coach for the CCC in 2007 after retiring from the Barbados national team. He also featured in 15 international matches for West Indies, and captained the side in 2009 following a boycott by the original squad.He led CCC to two finals in five years and helped establish them as a formidable force in regional competitions. Reifer also made a huge impact with the bat in the 2009 WICB four-day competition, scoring 1002 runs with three centuries and five fifties. During that year, CCC defeated all of the traditional regional teams except Jamaica.

Munaf Patel, the India fast bowler, has expressed his surprise at not being picked by an franchise in the IPL auctions

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Feb-2014Munaf Patel, the India fast bowler, has expressed his surprise at not being picked by any franchise in the IPL auctions. He has been dogged with injury problems in recent years, and has only played four Ranji matches since last year’s IPL.In 2011, Munaf had been bought for $700,000 by Mumbai Indians but he played progressively fewer matches over the three seasons, picked for only four matches in 2013.”I am surprised too,” he told the about the lack of bids at the IPL auction. “But really I can’t say with any conviction why none of the eight franchisees picked me. I played four Ranji matches this season and picked a ten-wicket haul against Services. I recently played an institutional tournament in Mumbai and picked a few wickets. I am fit and bowling at decent pace.”Besides the IPL and the CLT20, Munaf has been restricted by injuries to a light workload in 2012, and a moderately busier one in 2013. “I am fit. I have played Ranji, office tournaments. I am going to play one-dayers and T20 for Baroda in coming months.”Munaf, who is 12th in the list of IPL wicket-takers, had set his base price at Rs 50 lakh (around $83,000). His most successful season was 2011 when, soon after being called the ‘unsung hero of India’s World Cup win’, he bagged 22 wickets.He hasn’t represented India in nearly three years, but he remains hopeful of making a comeback. “That’s what I am aiming and trying for. My point is that cricket is the only thing I know and so why will I not take it seriously? This is my passion, bread and butter.”

England’s fallen cricketers can finally breathe a sigh of relief – they are not the biggest cause for concern in Wisden 2014 who instead take aim at the new arrangements for the administration of the game

David Lloyd09-Apr-2014England’s fallen cricketers can finally breathe a sigh of relief – they are not the biggest cause for concern so far as one of the game’s most influential, and widely heard, voices is concerned.Normally, an Ashes whitewashing described as the worst result in England’s 137-year Test history would earn top billing in Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. And most editions of the Big Yellow Book, certainly those published during the past three or four decades, would have seen the editor devoting more than five paragraphs of his Notes to the sacking of a box office superstar like Kevin Pietersen.But while England – struggling captain, former coach, miscalculating selectors, one time golden boy-turned he-who-must-never-darker-our-door-again and all – are examined in turn, it is another subject entirely that first encourages Wisden onto its soapbox.”Cricket is appallingly administered and is vulnerable to economic exploitation by the one country powerful to exploit it and the two countries prepared to lend their plans credibility,” Lawrence Booth writes in Wisden’s leader column or Notes by the Editor.Step forward (and don’t take a bow) India, England and Australia. Yes, it was the “big three’s” 2014 masterplan for world cricket that bothered Wisden more than anything else as its 151st edition was being put to bed.”The boards of India, England and Australia had quietly crafted a document which claimed to safeguard the game’s future while more obviously safeguarding their own,” Booth writes.”In sum, the BCCI wanted an even larger slice of the ICC pie, and the ECB and Cricket Australia happily acquiesced, knowing their portion would grow too. The rest were assured they would be better off. And who could object to a world with more money for everyone?”Here was a colonial style divide and rule. Here was the realpolitik of modern cricket. It was hard to read this any other way: the rich would be getting a whole lot richer.”Elsewhere in Wisden, Giles Clarke, the ECB’s Chairman, is given two pages to state the case for the defence, although state the case for “our vision for a better game” is how he would put it.”Following much discussion, with two meetings in Dubai and a third in Singapore, agreement was reached and resolutions were passed on February 8,” Clarke writes. “As so often in cricket administration, these were widely – perhaps deliberately – misinterpreted. We had to harden ourselves against uninformed and biased comment to deliver our vision for a better and more financially secure cricketing world.”Clarke and co are no doubts still hardening themselves, so to speak – especially should they read comments like one in Booth’s notes that refers to India’s “English and Australian lapdogs.””The Test game needed to be nurtured as the primary format,” Clarke writes. And he adds: “The FTP has not been abolished but left to individual boards to arrange among themselves. It has been extended to 2023 with the top eight nations playing each other. And India do not get a veto.”Contrast that to what Booth reads into the Big Three’s original draft document (which was leaked to ESPNcricinfo) and which Wisden’s editor believes “may reveal the true motivation, before compromise reins it in.”Booth states: “At its heart lay the BCCI’s desire not merely to oust the ICC as the game’s governing body but to wean themselves, eventually, off all but the most lucrative international fixtures, and to create more space for domestic Twenty20.”So you pay your money (£50 in the case of both hardback and softcover versions of Wisden 2014) and you take your choice.

A round-up of the final round of the National Cricket League matches which ended on April 22, 2014

Mohammad Isam22-Apr-2014Dhaka Division became National Cricket League champions after seven years by securing a five-wicket win against last year’s winners Khulna Division in the final round. They finished with 132 points, 21 ahead of Rajshahi Division.Batting first, Khulna were bowled out for 243 runs, to which Dhaka replied with 252 in their first innings. Dhaka wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan scored his second first-class century, helping the team to a nine-run lead after they were in a spot of bother at 96 for 5.Anamul Haque struck a second-innings century, but three wickets apiece from Nazmul Islam, Shuvagata Hom and Taibur Rahman skittled out Khulna for 232. Dhaka needed 224 to win, and they achieved the target thanks to Rony Talukder’s 90 off 178 balls.Rajshahi Division beat Dhaka Metropolis by four wickets, to end a second successive unsuccessful campaign with something to cheer. Rajshahi had won four consecutive NCL titles from 2008-09 to 2011-12.Dhaka Metro were bowled out for 126 in this game, with the seamer Delwar Hossain taking five wickets. Rajshahi went on to take an 81-run lead after which Dhaka Metro mended themselves by scoring 352 in the second innings with four half-centuries from Shadman Islam, Saikat Ali, Asif Ahmed and Elias Sunny.In the ensuing chase, Sabbir Rahman and Farhad Reza took Rajshahi from a precarious 120 for 6 to 275 for 6 in an unbroken 155-run seventh-wicket stand.Chittagong Division crushed Sylhet Division by 258 runs at the BKSP-3 ground. Chittagong started off ordinarily, getting bundled out for 213 but Sylhet did not fare any better and were dismissed for 190.Mominul Haque then struck 168 as Chittagong declared at 415 for 9 in the second innings, setting up a huge chase for Sylhet, who were promptly bowled out for 180. Mohammad Younus was the pick of the bowlers, snaring five wickets.Rangpur Division also ended their campaign on the right note, beating Barisal Division by an innings and 25 runs.Batting first, Barisal were bowled out for 289, to which Rangpur replied by posting a mammoth 543 for 9 before declaring. Dhiman Ghosh and Tanveer Haider scored centuries for Rangpur.Barisal were then bowled out for 229 runs in 61.5 overs, with Suhrawardi Shuvo taking three wickets for Rangpur.

Full text of Supreme Court’s order regarding the panel that will probe alleged corruption in the IPL

ESPNcricinfo staff16-May-20145. We are of the considered opinion that the allegations against the 13 persons including Mr. N. Srinivasan mentioned in the report submitted in the sealed cover should be investigated into by the Justice Mudgal Committee and the team of investigators because if a new Probe Committee is entrusted to inquire into the allegations, there is likelihood of the allegations being leaked to the public and such leakage will damage the reputation of the 13 persons beyond repair.6. In the written note submitted by Mr. Gopal Subramanium appearing for the Justice Mudgal Committee, it is suggested that the Justice Mudgal Committee be assisted in the investigation by the following persons:(i) Shri M.L. Sharma, IPS (Retired);(ii) An officer from Mumbai Police (preferably not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police);(iii) An officer from Chennai Police (preferably not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police);(iv) An officer from Delhi Police (preferably not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police); and(v) A former cricketer of repute and integrity.In view of objections made on behalf of the BCCI and Mr. N. Srinivasan, we are of the view that instead of Shri M.L. Sharma, IPS (Retired), Shri B.B. Mishra, IPS of the 1983 batch of Assam-Meghalaya Cadre who has a vast experience in investigation including experience in the CBI and who is presently working as Deputy Director General, Narcotics Control Bureau, New Delhi, should head the investigation team. The other officers from Mumbai Police, Chennai Police and Delhi Police and a former cricketer of repute and integrity mentioned against serial Nos. (ii) to (iv) above will be chosen by the Justice Mudgal Committee in consultation with Shri B.B. Mishra.7. We further direct that the competent authority of Government of India will pass appropriate orders placing the services of Shri B.B. Mishra at the disposal of the Justice Mudgal Committee till completion of the investigation and submission of the report to this Court. Shri B.B. Mishra and the other officers of the investigating team will have the powers to investigate, require attendance of witnesses, the power to examine witnesses, the power to search and the power to seize and all other powers necessary for investigation except the power to arrest and the source of these powers of investigation will be this order passed by this Court. All concerned persons including the BCCI, Mr. N. Srinivasan and the cricket players will co- operate with the investigation in all respects. In case of any difficulty, the Justice Mudgal Committee may apply to this Court for necessary orders for the purpose of completing the investigation. After investigation, the report will be filed in this Court by the Justice Mudgal Committee by the end of August, 2014 in a sealed cover and the Members of the Committee and the investigation team will not reveal anything regarding the investigation to others and the media and will maintain absolute confidentiality.8. As directed in our earlier order dated 08.10.2013, the BCCI will bear all the expenses of travel, boarding and lodging of the Chairman and Members of the Justice Mudgal Committee as well as Shri B.B. Mishra and other officers of the investigation team. The Chairman and Members of the Committee will also be entitled to fees of Rupees One lakh per working day from the BCCI. The Central Government as well as the concerned State Governments will continue to pay the salary and other allowances to be paid to Shri B.B. Mishra and to all other officers of the team of investigation and the BCCI will reimburse the appropriate Government accordingly. The cricketer who is included in the team of investigation will also be entitled to fees of Rupees One lakh per working day from the BCCI apart from expenses of travel, boarding and lodging.9. The matters will be listed in first week of September, 2014 for further hearing before the appropriate Bench. In the meanwhile, Mr. Sunil Gavaskar and Mr. Shivlal Yadav will continue to exercise the powers of the President of the BCCI as per the order dated 28.03.2014 of this Court……………………………………………J. (A. K. Patnaik)…………………………………………..J. (Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla)New Delhi, May 16, 2014.

Alastair Cook was not taking much credit for the remarkable turnaround in the 3rd ODI after the 99 all out at Chester-le-Street, instead praising his team-mates for “putting their necks on the line for me”.

Andrew McGlashan29-May-2014Alastair Cook became England’s most successful ODI captain with the overwhelming victory over Sri Lanka at Old Trafford, but he was not taking much credit for the remarkable turnaround after the 99 all out at Chester-le-Street, instead praising his team-mates for “putting their necks on the line for me”.Cook missed the Durham match due to a groin injury – he admitted watching on “was not pretty” – and his return could not have heralded a more emphatic upturn in England’s fortunes as Sri Lanka crumbled to 67 all out, the second lowest completed ODI innings against England, and the runs were knocked off in 12.1 overs.At various points throughout Sri Lanka’s innings England’s fields looked more like those that will be on show during the Test series next month. Dinesh Chandimal was greeted with three slips and a short leg, and then Cook also added a leg gully for good measure as Chris Jordan targeted the lower order with hostile short deliveries.The lack of an attacking mind-set has been one of the criticisms levelled at Cook during his captaincy tenure, but no one could argue he did not take the match by the scruff of the neck once England had Sri Lanka struggling.There will be tougher scenarios to test Cook and to see whether he can become a gambling type of captain, but he sensed the moment to go for the “jugular” although put the praise on his bowlers for allowing him to do that.”I gambled a little bit, but luckily every time I was thinking about taking Jords off he took another wicket,” he said. “The overs were counting down and I was wondering how long I could keep him going but the decision was taken out of my hands.”At the time they were six or seven down I was going to go for the jugular and would have bowled out our seamers. If we didn’t get the wickets then Ravi and Tredders could have done the job, but luckily we didn’t get that far.””You’re only as good as your bowlers and we got backed up by some very good bowling. We had the chance to put Sri Lanka under some real pressure. We bowled with real intensity and Sri Lanka found it very hard and I could afford to set attacking fields.”But Cook said leadership was not just coming from him. The day before the Old Trafford match, James Anderson said senior players let Cook down in Australia but now the captain was seeing a renewed sense of kinship in the side.”Maybe this summer they are determined to help the youngsters,” he said. “I’m in a lucky position at the moment because the guys are putting their necks on the line for me and are helping me out on that side. You do need a strong group of players who are prepared to do that.”He also thought that his team had caught Sri Lanka “napping” on a day where the forecasts had not given much chance of any cricket. Instead, within a period of less than an hour the covers were off, the toss had happened and Anderson was threatening with the new ball.But given the nature of this one-day series so far it would be dangerous to presume that even though the victory was record-breaking (England had never had so many deliveries left in a run chase) it means they are now clear favourites. Durham will serve as a warning to that, as does the expectation of warmer, sunnier weather for Lord’s which should make Sri Lanka feel a little more confident.Cook admitted that inconsistency is likely to be a feature of a team being rebuilt, but hoped that the swings in performance would not be as dramatic as over the last week. “It was a realisation to the guys that after one good performance, you have to keep going at 100% or you get found out,” he said. “There will be some inconsistency with the less experienced guys, but that doesn’t mean you can pass off every poor performance on that.”

One-nil down in a home series, Angelo Mathews deflected suggestions that changes could improve his team’s chances

Andrew Fidel Fernando08-Jul-2014If there has been a theme to Angelo Mathews’ captaincy so far, it has been stability. Mathews has largely called on the same pool of players across the two formats he captains. He has been generous with young players, affording them time to bed in at the top level. Bowlers have adhered to proven formula. Batsmen have followed plans rigorously. If the past six months is anything to go by, it is an approach that has brought results.While South Africa have spoken, almost at every turn, about the World Cup in seven months, Mathews has ignored the future-focused chatter. “There’s a long time to go,” he said. “We are not thinking about the World Cup yet.” Mathews prefers to win now, and build his team up gradually. No frills. No experiments. Just every man doing his job.One-nil down in a home series, Mathews deflected suggestions that changes could improve his team’s chances. “We don’t need to panic,” he said. “It’s just one game and we played poorly. We can turn things around if we play better cricket than this. We don’t need to panic or make major changes. Making changes shows the opposition that we are panicking. We just need to pull our socks up and try and perform better.”But despite his reluctance to unsettle the XI, there are thematic concerns Sri Lanka could address. The first is the second openers’ position. Kusal Perera shone brightly, and briefly, as has been his way, at the Premadasa, without truly nailing down his place atop the order. He had played a match-turning innings in Sri Lanka’s World T20 opener against South Africa, but tailed away towards the end of that tournament. There is no doubting his ability and his potential, but there is also reason to question his consistency at present. He had been dropped in England, with Lahiru Thirimanne pushed up to open, only for Perera to return when Thirimanne made little headway.Mahela Jayawardene is a possible opening partner for Tillakaratne Dilshan. He averages 44.47 when opening – significantly higher than his career average of 32.94 – and he has meshed successfully with Dilshan in the past. A move up the order for Jayawardene may allow Perera to drop down to No. 4, where he often bats in domestic cricket, or even for Thirimanne to climb up the order to a position he prefers, but Mathews sees no sense in a batting reshuffle.”I don’t think we are that desperate to open with Mahela because his experience in the middle order counts a lot. We need someone like Mahela to try and control the middle order. Kusal has been doing pretty well up there, and he played a good knock on Sunday. Unfortunately he couldn’t carry on.”Mahela will play at No.4 but in an emergency, he might play as an opener or at No.3. We’ve got a set batting order and we’re not going to meddle with that.”For the moment, Sri Lanka are grooming at least three young batsmen in their XI. In addition to Perera and Thirimanne, Ashan Priyanjan has had a run in the side over the past months. He too has shone sporadically. But he has given enough glimpses of promise to extend his run, despite the poor dismissal in the first ODI, Mathews suggested.”Ashan plays very freely, no matter what the situation is,” Mathews said. “He always trusts his ability and trusts his instincts. I want him to do just that. But in the last game, he showed little bit of inexperience. That happens to everybody. At the start of your careers, you get a lot of nerves. I feel for the player but he still a very good player.”

New Zealand A’s batsmen crumbled against the spin of Seekkuge Prasanna in Cardiff and fell short of the Duckworth-Lewis target of 136 by 15 runs in their tour game against Sri Lanka A

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Aug-2014New Zealand A’s batsmen crumbled against the spin of Seekkuge Prasanna in Cardiff and fell short of the Duckworth-Lewis target of 136 by 14 runs in their tour game against Sri Lanka A.New Zealand A made a blazing start to the chase with a flurry of boundaries and were 61 for 1 in the seventh over but Prasanna struck in each of his four overs to reduce the team to 96 for 6 after 15 overs. The Sri Lanka A bowlers kept the pressure on the lower order and bowled New Zealand A out for 121 in the 20th over.New Zealand A had chosen to bowl after the match had been shortened to 40 overs-a-side. Sri Lanka A had batted for only one over before another spell of run came and the match was further reduced to 20 overs-a-side.Doug Bracewell struck early and picked up a couple of wickets but a timely half-century from Chaturanga de Silva helped Sri Lanka A post 133. The target was readjusted to 136, and the New Zealand A batsmen failed against the spinners who shared nine wickets between them.

England took the first honours in the Twenty20 series with a comfortable nine-wicket victory at Chelmsford having restricted South Africa to 89 for 4

Report by Andrew McGlashan01-Sep-2014
ScorecardKatherine Brunt made the first breakthrough•Getty ImagesEngland took the first honours in the Twenty20 series with a comfortable nine-wicket victory at Chelmsford having restricted South Africa to 89 for 4. The chase was dominated, as has so often been the case, by Charlotte Edwards who struck a 47-ball fifty which gave a sold out 5000-strong crowd plenty to cheer after an insipid effort by the visitors.For Edwards, it was a continuation of the form she showed in the one-day series against India where she made 57 and an unbeaten 108 to lead England to a 2-0 success after the dispiriting loss of the Test match at Wormsley. Her tenth boundary, clipped through the leg side, secured victory with a handsome 39 deliveries to spare.South Africa’s innings never found any significant tempo; their Powerplay score was 23 for 1 and throughout the 20 overs they managed just seven fours. Dane van Niekerk top-scored with 36 but it took her 54 deliveries although, especially early in the innings, it was less about the quality of stroke for South Africa but more about placement as they regularly picked out the tight off-side field.The boundary was out closer to the 65-metre limit – they can be in as far as 55 metres – which was perhaps a tactic from England who were out-powered at the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh this year when they did not hit a single six. Coupled with accurate bowling, South Africa’s batting was stymied.Katherine Brunt made the first breakthrough when she found the edge of Trisha Chetty and though the next wicket did not come for 12 overs England never lost control of the scoring. Arguably the biggest scare came when Sarah Taylor, attempting one of her premeditated grabs off a reverse sweep, almost took a ball in the face to suggest it would be wise for her to wear a helmet when standing up to the stumps even though she has previously found it uncomfortable.With the innings creeping along, van Niekerk was bowled attempting a reverse sweep, Lizelle Lee was run out and captain Mignon du Preez was well caught by Lydia Greenway.The only wicket to fall in England’s chase was Lauren Winfield who was run out in a dismissal that did not leave either her or Edwards overly impressed. Edwards had dabbed the ball into the off side and as Winfield reacted to the call, the bowler Moseline Daniels ran across from her follow-through towards the off side, cutting in front of Winfield. The momentary interruption meant Winfield could not make her ground to beat a direct hit. Daniels, however, was well within her rights to try and field the ball and Winfield had to accept her frustration.The rest of the match was a canter for Edwards and Taylor. South Africa tried eight bowlers with little impact as Edwards put on a skilful display of strokeplay – regularly picking the gaps through the leg side, both through and over the field – but even she may hope that her team are tested a little more in the remaining two outings.

George Bailey has endorsed Aaron Finch as a potential captain of Australia’s Twenty20 team and said that discovering a world-class T20 spinner should be Australia’s priority in the shortest form

Brydon Coverdale07-Sep-2014George Bailey has endorsed Aaron Finch as a potential captain of Australia’s Twenty20 team and said that discovering a world-class T20 spinner should be Australia’s priority in the shortest form. Bailey stood down from the captaincy on Sunday and may have played his last T20 international, although he hopes to win selection again in the future.He was installed as captain on debut in early 2012 and led Australia to a World T20 semi-final in Sri Lanka later that year, although they were unable to progress to that stage in Bangladesh earlier this year. Bailey said that with the next World T20 to be played in India in 2016, stepping down from the captaincy now would give his successor a chance to develop in the role.”I think there’s plenty of candidates,” Bailey said from Zimbabwe, where he led Australia in the ODI tri-series after Michael Clarke flew home with a hamstring injury. “It’s a bit speculative, but I think Aaron Finch would be really good. I think he’s someone who has done it really well domestically [for Melbourne Renegades] and I think he thrives on it.”I think he’s going to have a lot of opportunities to play. He’s someone who would do it really well. But whoever the selectors go with I’m sure will do it really well. They will know the challenges that come with it. But I think it will be someone of the age where they really embrace the T20 culture.”Bailey captained Australia in 28 T20s for 14 wins and has been the country’s longest-serving leader in the format. He said that regardless of who succeeded him, Australia’s biggest priority should be finding a spinner who can thrive in turning conditions. Australia’s spinners claimed only four wickets in this year’s World T20 despite the helpful pitches.”I think we did really well in Sri Lanka,” Bailey said. “I think we probably got further than perhaps we should’ve, on the back of some wonderful individual performances, which sums up T20 in some respects. Bangladesh was really interesting because I actually thought we played really good T20 cricket in the two games that knocked us out, and then we were out. That’s the nature of the game. That was difficult to swallow.”Given where the last two World Cups have been, given where the next World Cup is, from my conversations with Pat Howard, I honestly think our challenge as a T20 team is to find a world-class spinner. That is what’s going to take us to the next level.”