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New South Wales completed a 10-wicket win early on day four after Doug Bollinger blasted out Tasmania’s last four wickets in 14 overs at the Bankstown Oval

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Mar-2015
ScorecardFile photo: Doug Bollinger took all the four wickets to fall on the day•Getty ImagesNew South Wales completed a 10-wicket win early on day four after Doug Bollinger blasted out Tasmania’s last four wickets to dismiss them for 183 at the Bankstown Oval. Bollinger’s burst left New South Wales with 27 to chase, which they did in 11 overs.Resuming on 6 for 147, Tasmania lost a wicket in the sixth over of the day when Clive Rose was caught behind off Bollinger. Sam Rainbird was bowled a few overs later, with the team’s score on 159.Beau Webster scored his second first-class fifty before he was dismissed for 83 – his highest first-class score – and there was not much resistance from the last pair either, as Andrew Fekete was caught and bowled by Bollinger.”The way we played and won this game, if we can do that again for the rest of the season we should be fine,” Bollinger told after the game. He felt New South Wales, third on the points table, were capable of beating second-placed Western Australia when the two teams meet later this week in Perth. “We don’t have to do much differently, just those one percenters that we missed out on in Newcastle.”

Richie Benaud has been described by his contemporary Garry Sobers as “a wonderful cricketer and captain”, as well as a brilliant commentator and good friend

Tony Cozier10-Apr-2015Richie Benaud has been described by his contemporary Garry Sobers as “a wonderful cricketer and captain”, as well as a brilliant commentator and “good friend”. Benaud, a legend of the game who captained Australia and went on to become one of cricket’s most loved and respected voices, died in Sydney on Friday, aged 84.Sobers, widely acknowledged as the finest allrounder the game has known, was on the opposite side to Benaud in the famous tied Test in Brisbane in 1960.”I’d first played against Richie when Australia were in the West Indies in 1955 but it was in the 1960-61 series in Australia that I got to really appreciate what a wonderful cricketer and captain he was,” Sobers said from his home in Barbados on Friday.Through his forthright batting and legspin bowling, Benaud was the first player to complete the double of 2000 runs and 200 wickets in Tests. He led Australia in 28 of his 63 Tests; Australia were unbeaten in all seven series under him. In a Test career from 1952 to 1964, he scored 2201 runs and claimed 248 wickets.Sobers said he had “never seen cricket played like it was” in the 1960-61 series, which featured Test cricket’s first tie. He credited Benaud, along with Donald Bradman, then chairman of the Australian board, and West Indies captain, Frank Worrell, for creating it.”The relationship between the teams was magnificent, on and off the field, and we were loved by the Australian people wherever we went,” Sobers said. “From then on, Richie became a good friend. We would get in a round of golf whenever we met. He was someone you got to like as he always the same, always easily approachable and helpful.”Sobers and Benaud played against each other not only in the 1960-61 Tests, but also when Sobers subsequently returned for two seasons for South Australia.”Our matches against New South Wales were always the highlight of the Sheffield Shield season,” he said.Sobers felt Benaud became a brilliant television commentator in his second career in the game mainly because of his deep knowledge of the game. “You listened to Richie because you knew what he said was gospel. And he never criticised the players,” he said.”I have only happy memories of our times together. Five of us from that 1960-61 tour, along with Sir Everton Weekes, had lunch with him and [his wife] Daphne when they were in Barbados a couple of years back. He seemed to relish the company. It was the last time we met.”Sobers extended his “deepest sympathies” to Daphne, who Benaud married in 1967, his family and friends.

William Porterfield, the Ireland captain, has questioned “the point in keeping going” for Associate nations if the ICC does not reverse its decision to cut the next World Cup to 10 teams

George Dobell in Adelaide15-Mar-2015William Porterfield, the Ireland captain, has questioned “the point in keeping going” for Associate nations if the ICC does not reverse its decision to cut the next World Cup to 10 teams.Ireland left the Adelaide Oval defeated but proud after losing by seven wickets to Pakistan in the final Group B match. But their real concern was not that they had been knocked out of the World Cup, but eliminated from all future World Cups.In this tournament, Ireland were eventually exposed by the paucity of their own attack and a Pakistan seam unit that provided a masterclass in death bowling.But, in the longer term, they face a far more substantial foe: the governing body that seems determined to keep them weak; the governing body that is run for the self interest of the few richest members and offers no more than lip service towards the rest.Certainly that is the view of Porterfield. Fresh from scoring a century against Pakistan, Porterfield renewed his attack on the ICC’s decision to limit the next World Cup – scheduled to be staged in England in 2019 – to just 10 teams.While Porterfield feels there has been growing criticism of the ICC’s stance – Steve Waugh, Martin Crowe and Sachin Tendulkar are the latest former players to recommend the inclusion of more teams – he fears the issue will fade in the public consciousness once the World Cup is over.William Porterfield signed off Ireland’s campaign with a century – but will they be back at future World Cups?•Getty ImagesIn particular, Porterfield highlighted the irony of the scheduling of the next tournament. Despite featuring fewer teams, it will actually be longer than the current event. And, as he sees it, if the ICC is insistent on limiting the showpiece ODI event, then all the countries outside the 10 Full Members might as well not bother to play.”I’m sure the ICC are hoping everything blows over in the next few weeks and they don’t hear much from us,” Porterfield said. “And then it’s just as easy to brush it under the carpet.”But I think something has to be done if they want to grow the game. Everyone wants to know what their vision for the game is, because if they cut the teams in world competitions, why not just have 10 teams playing cricket and every other country in the world doesn’t bother?”The next World Cup is two or three days longer than this World Cup. So if you’ve got four fewer teams and your competition drags out longer, that’s not an excuse for cutting the number of teams.”It’ll be interesting to see what their vision is and what their thoughts are behind the 10-team competition and what value there is for other teams playing outside of the top 10.”The frustration for Porterfield is that Ireland have continued to improve and develop but appear to have future opportunities blocked. Even in this World Cup, despite not reaching the quarter-final stages, they have beaten two Full Member sides – West Indies and Zimbabwe – which is two more than England managed.”The ICC is the International Cricket Council,” Porterfield said. “That’s global. They’ve got to develop the game. There’s a lot of countries out there that have done a lot of work over the last number of years. We’ve shown what we can do when we get to these competitions with the minimal fixtures that we’ve had.”I think when we do get more fixtures then we’re only going to keep improving, and it’s going to be the same with every other country. You’ve got to keep growing the game.”If you cut World Cups from the agenda, then what’s the point really in us keeping going? I think it’s the wrong move. I think a lot of people have spoken out and said that it is the wrong move. And not just from Associate countries, from Test-playing nations and a lot of influential people, too.”So I don’t think the ICC can just ignore that. I don’t think it’s right. It needs to change.”

USA opener Fahad Babar was named Best Batsman and Tournament MVP as USA collected all of the hardware handed out to individual players at the ICC Americas Division One T20 awards

Peter Della Penna in Indianapolis10-May-2015USA opening batsman Fahad Babar was named Best Batsman and Tournament MVP as USA collected all of the hardware handed out to individual players at the ICC Americas Division One T20 post-tournament awards presentation in Indianapolis.Babar, 23, was the tournament’s leading scorer with 242 runs in six games at an average of 121. The only two times he was dismissed were against Canada, for 31 and 33, and he made a high score of 78 not out leading USA to a tense five-wicket win on the first day of the tournament chasing Bermuda’s 123.”I think the key to my success was the team,” Babar said. “The management, the staff, the captain, the coach, they have faith in me. They always give me confidence and all the guys were supporting me throughout, which was nice to see. That really helped me and really motivated me.”Legspinner Timil Patel received the tournament’s Best Bowler award after finishing with 15 wickets at an average of 7.66, both the best marks for any bowler in the tournament. His best haul came in Friday’s win over Suriname with 4 for 13. Most batsmen had trouble picking him as evidenced by four of his dismissals effected through stumpings.Steven Taylor rounded off the honors list after being named the Best Wicketkeeper at the tournament. Taylor finished third overall in runs with 167 at an average of 27.83. His best score was 60 off 39 balls against Bermuda on Thursday. Behind the stumps, Taylor took two catches and completed three stumpings.Canada’s Hamza Tariq actually had the most total dismissals of any keeper with three catches and four stumpings for the undefeated tournament champions. However, he managed just 44 runs at 11.00 with the bat. Taylor was rewarded for both his batting and glovework while playing for the 4-2 runner-up squad.

Stephen Peters hit his fourth half century of the Championship season for Northants and Luke Fletcher made a solid start for Surrey on his month’s loan before a hailstorm intervened at Wantage Road

ECB/PA19-May-2015Northamptonshire 107 for 2 (Peters 64*) v Surrey
ScorecardLuke Fletcher held Surrey’s attack together on his first loan outing•Getty ImagesStephen Peters hit his fourth half century of the Championship season but after an opening day washout, only 28 overs were possible on the second day of the Division Two match at Wantage Road. Peters made 64 not out before a hail storm during the tea interval ended proceedings for the day.With Kevin Pietersen unavailable, Chris Tremlett injured and Matt Dunn rested, Surrey gave a debut to on- loan bowler Luke Fletcher when play began in mid-afternoon, with Stuart Meaker coming in for his first Championship game of the season.Fletcher struck in his fourth over in Surrey colours, trapping Coetzer lbw for three. Peters made it through the tough opening and soon found his stride, taking nine off Meaker’s first over, and another three boundaries followed off Fletcher to bring up the Northants 50 in the 15th over.It was more testing for Northants captain Alex Wakely and having survived a loud lbw appeal off Fletcher and edging the same bowler through the slips, he eventually fell for eight, caught at second slip after Tom Curran had switched to the Turner Stand End.Despite fifties in both innings against Leicestershire at Grace Road, Rob Newton had only scored 28 in four innings at Wantage Road this season, but would double that tally by the premature close. He began positively as he hit Meaker for four boundaries in two overs, the last narrowly wide of the man in the gully.Peters viciously cut Curran for four to bring up his half century in 63 balls, but bad light closed in and saw the players leave the field five minutes before the scheduled tea break, followed by a hail storm which left the outfield covered in a white dusting. With no further play possible, 164 overs have now been lost in the opening two days.Northamptonshire captain Alex Wakely was content with his sides batting display and praised Peters and Newton’s positive approach. “It’s been a frustrating couple of days with the rain, but it’s one of the things we have to deal with in English conditions. We know it’s dodgy sometimes, but I think we actually ended up in quite a decent position as it was a tricky session,” he said.Surrey assistant coach Stuart Barnes admitted his side could have bowled better but was happy with the contribution of debutant Fletcher. “He has been looking forward to getting a red ball in his hand which he hasn’t had much opportunity to do. It’s great to have him in the changing room and he gave us a lot of control. Luke set the tone for us.”

Chris Gayle struck nine sixes on his way to an unbeaten 90 off 36 deliveries as Jamaica Tallawahs crushed St Lucia Zouks by ten wickets in Gros Islet for their first win of the tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jun-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsChris Gayle hit six fours and nine sixes in 36 deliveries•Caribbean Premier LeagueChris Gayle struck nine sixes on his way to an unbeaten 90 off 36 deliveries as Jamaica Tallawahs crushed St Lucia Zouks by ten wickets in Gros Islet for their first win of the tournament. Gayle’s blitz came after Tallawahs’ bowlers had restricted Zouks to 118 for 9 despite a decent start.The Zouks openers Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher put on 39 after being asked to bat before Jerome Taylor broke through in the sixth over. Rusty Theron then stepped up with a return of 3 for 19 from three overs as Zouks failed to get going despite being reasonably placed at 94 for 3 after 15. Theron’s strikes included those of Ross Taylor and Kevin Pietersen – who made 26 off 25 – in the 16th over.Zouks continued to slip as Krishmar Santokie bowled Darren Sammy and Liam Sebastien for ducks in the 17th. Zouks managed 6 for 24 in the last five overs, with Santokie taking 3 for 24 from four overs.Gayle took ten overs to run down the target. His opening partner Chadwick Walton contributed 25 off 25 even as Gayle blew Zouks away, hitting six fours in addition to his nine sixes. He ended the match with four successive boundaries off Sebastien.

With conditions in their favour, Warwickshire valiantly fought their way back into the match at Chester-le-Street. On a gradually improving day they had the full evening session to begin their pursuit of 265 to beat Durham and reached 125 for 3

Jon Culley14-Jul-2015
ScorecardRikki Clarke got Warwickshire back into the match•Getty ImagesThis match is so intriguingly set with a day remaining that is hard to decide who has the upper hand. The 265 needed by Warwickshire to retain an outside chance of staying in contention for the Championship looked a tall order but a composed half-century by Laurie Evans has given them an opportunity. Scoring a further 140 with seven wickets still intact looks much less daunting.Success may depend on how long the partnership with Sam Hain survives in the morning session but Hain batted exceptionally well in the first innings and there is a depth of batting to come, with the possibility that Chris Woakes might complete a highly satisfactory comeback by scoring the winning runs.Woakes, in his first competitive action since suffering a foot injury during the World Cup and subsequently damaging his left knee during his rehab, has already shown that he is in good order with ball in hand. Having spoken of his hunger to play a part in England’s Ashes summer, he took three wickets in the space of 10 balls as Warwickshire scythed through Durham’s top order. It was only the enterprise of another bowler who clearly knows what to do with a bat that kept Durham in the match at all.Durham had earlier appeared to be well in control, claiming the last three of Warwickshire’s first-innings wickets in the first 45 minutes for a lead of 116.But then came carnage. In a muggy atmosphere with a threat of showers, they lost their own first four second innings wickets for just nine runs. Conditions were ideal for Woakes, who posed a threat from his first ball and drew first blood with the second ball of his third over, finding the edge of Mark Stoneman’s bat with a delivery the first-innings century-maker was obliged to play.In his next over he struck twice, the first ball clipping Paul Collingwood’s back pad and persuading umpire Graham Lloyd to raise the finger. For the second time in the match, the Durham captain, already facing a dissent charge for his reaction to his first-innings dismissal, appeared to react with incredulity. Four balls later, Scott Borthwick, Durham’s other in-form left-hander, was drawn into a tentative push and was caught behind.Meanwhile, Rikki Clarke, impressive as the senior bowler in the first innings as Woakes eased his way back in, was giving staunch support, running in with purpose at the other end. He flattened two of Keaton Jennings’ stumps and struck again when Michael Richardson, who had pulled Woakes for six as he counter-attacked vigorously, flashed hard and fell to an excellent catch by Evans at third slip. Durham went to lunch, teeteringly, on 34 for five.The mayhem continued into the afternoon as Gordon Muchall, with a wild an injudicious swing, became Clarke’s eighth wicket of the match. Surprisingly, this was new territory for the former England all-rounder, a reliable chipper-in for much of his Warwickshire career but seldom the main man. His biggest match haul previously was seven.When a fine ball from Oliver Hannon-Dalby had John Hastings caught at slip, Durham were 55 for 7, desperately hoping they could at least finish 200 in front. In fact, they exceeded that handsomely. The ball began to lose its venom and runs began to come less hazardously and they did manage a recovery of sorts. Jamie Harrison, the left-arm seamer, completed his second first-class half-century, adding 40 in company with Ryan Pringle and 48 for the ninth wicket with Chris Rushworth.Varun Chopra and Ian Westwood made a decent start to the chase, scoring at five an over, but then both were out. Chopra, with no end in sight to his wretched run, was strangled down the leg side, then Jonathan Webb was out without scoring for the second time in the match, his middle stump plucked out as Rushworth, another five-wicket haul under his belt from the first innings, claimed his 52nd victim of the season.Another glut of wickets might have followed, but Warwickshire applied themselves doggedly. Evans had gone first ball in the first innings but by now the surface was offering Rushworth fewer favours. He and Ian Westwood were determined to keep mistakes to a minimum but nonetheless kept the scoreboard moving. They added 65 for the third wicket before Westwood edged a decent ball from John Hastings and raised the possibility of a win.Woakes was pleased with his comeback. “I’m still feeling a little bit sore of an evening,” he said, with reference to the aftermath of surgery to repair a torn meniscus. “But I’ll take that. Pulling up in the morning is fine.”I’ve never been out for a significant amount of time before so it has been frustrating. It’s been one thing after another starting with the ankle at the World Cup and leading on to my knee.”In terms of timing, it was a bad moment to pick up an injury being in the England squad for all formats. It’s great to see the boys doing well but I want to be part of it.”I’ve got to get myself back to my best fight my way back in. It is not going to be easy but I’m looking forward to it. It is great to see the Ashes summer start so well for and I want to be back in it.”

Fans travelling to India for the World T20 have expressed anger and disappointment over the delay in announcing the fixtures and the ambiguity surrounding the ticketing process

Arun Venugopal26-Feb-2016Fans travelling from abroad for the World T20 in India have expressed anger and disappointment over the delay in announcing the tournament’s schedule and the ambiguity surrounding the ticketing process. While the fixtures were announced on December 11 – about three months before the event – the first phase of ticket sales, for matches in Bangalore, Chennai, Dharamsala, Kolkata and Mohali, began only on February 24. The second phase of ticket sales, for matches in Mumbai, Delhi and Nagpur, had begun at 12 pm IST on February 26, less than two weeks before the tournament. Tickets for seven “high-priority” games – four India matches, the semi-finals and final – have been put up online through a lottery system, though the results of that process won’t be known for a while yet.There were sharp reactions from overseas fans on social media; for many, the uncertainty over the fixtures was the starting point of a series of problems. “The fixtures were announced on December 11 but there was no lead in,” Paul Smith, 58, from Weymouth in England, wrote in an email to ESPNcricinfo. “We didn’t know when the fixtures would be announced so right back in September we were checking daily. [For] six months we have had to check if there have been updates or changes, our plans all in limbo.”For fans like Smith, the lack of clarity in the ticketing process has hampered plans for the semi-finals and finals. “Now we know that tickets are going to be in high demand for the big seven [games], but because we didn’t know what the system was going to be some have booked [flight tickets] to go to semi[finals] and final.”Obviously we have to get some kind of assurances that we can get to see the games after spending two-three thousand pounds on flights and hotels. But no one can understand why Delhi was chosen when issues [in DDCA] go back months, even years. To put such a large travelling country such as England there [England play two games], and even worse a semi-final was hard to comprehend.”It wasn’t until February 9 that the decks were cleared for Delhi to host matches in the World T20; the BCCI had earlier given DDCA a deadline of January 31 to get its affairs in order before it was extended to February 8. The organising committee official admitted the uncertainty over Delhi’s status as a host had resulted in “considerable time” being lost, and that it could have been avoided. A top BCCI official had earlier told ESPNcricinfo that matches had to be staged in Delhi because it “is our national capital.”Shamim Syed, a Pakistani citizen, said his plans to watch the India- Pakistan match in Dharamsala were upset as much by the issues in procuring a visa as the delayed announcement. “Watching a cricket match between India and Pakistan at the most picturesque ground in the world would have been dream come true,” he wrote in an email. “But, with this late availability of tickets even if I applied for the visa, by the time it’s processed the World Cup will be long done and dusted.”What complicated matters further is that the ICC website’s FAQ guide on the ticketing process initially stated that the lottery system for the high-priority games would not be open to overseas customers and that a portion of tickets would be allocated to them on a first-come, first-serve basis. But, a member of the tournament organising committee admitted it was a mistake on the ICC site, and that fans from overseas could access the lottery system. He also said there was no specific number of tickets allocated for them for the high-priority games.”The lottery system is open for both Indian and overseas fans,” the official told ESPNcricinfo on Thursday. “The confusion was in the initial one hour. When it was corrected we put out in the [FAQ] PDF also. There was a small mistake in the document ICC put up but that has been corrected and put up. So there is access for everyone, and if the foreign fans have registered they also stand to win the random lottery.”However, when ESPNcricinfo verified the PDF on the ICC site on February 25 the mistake had not been rectified. When contacted the ICC’s response was that the FAQ on the website “clarifies the sales process.” It was subsequently corrected only on February 26, two days after the sale of tickets had begun. The ICC refused to be drawn into any discussion on the ticketing process, and said it was under the purview of the BCCI.Chirag Thakkar, a London-based fan, said the registration window for the lottery was too long, and that tickets could have been sold in batches. “Why there is no transparency in terms of number of tickets available for each match under this draw?” he asked.”You can always release tickets in phases: if 5000 tickets are available for a match then release 2000 in phase one of sale, then another 2000 and 1000 in last phase. If this practice was started in November 2015 with the last phase in January 16 then overseas fans and Indian public both would have got a fair chance to buy.”While BCCI and ICC have policies and code of conduct, isn’t there a policy of ticket timelines for any international event. I have never seen such delays, lack of transparency [and] huge chunk of tickets reserved for sponsors.”Are you facing difficulties in planning your travel for the World T20 in India?
Tell us about your experience at [email protected] or WhatsApp us on +919900590636.

ESPNcricinfo previews the opening match of Group 1 between England and West Indies

The Preview by Andrew Miller15-Mar-2016Match factsWednesday, March 16, 2016
Start time 1930 local (1400 GMT)3:01

Agarkar: Wankhede pitch suits England

Big pictureTwo of the three most recent winners of the World T20 go head to head in a tantalising showdown at the Wankhede, and picking a winner is rather like guessing which side of bed either team plans on getting up. The fact that no side has yet won any of the five tournaments on more than one occasion points to the unknowable nature of the format itself, but in the case of these two teams, the turmoil they have endured in the intervening years has rather precluded any sort of coherent challenge.England have been to the brink and back, their credentials stripped bare in a brace of ignominious campaigns in 2012 and 2014, over which the banishment of Kevin Pietersen loomed uncomfortably large. West Indies, by contrast, would be delighted to have had their own troubles so concentrated on a single character. Contractual disputes have been a constant companion in recent years – the squad came close to a full-blown strike on the eve of this competition – and yet, here they are, both sides on the starting line with their engines running and opportunity knocking.Of the two, West Indies look the likeliest to go the distance, simply because of their greater experience, both of Asian conditions and of previous victory in the World T20. Whereas Eoin Morgan is the last man standing from England’s 2010 campaign, no fewer than eight survivors from West Indies’ triumph over Sri Lanka four years ago are back for more.With eight squad members over the age of 30, West Indies are longer in the tooth and in many cases facing the final curtain – a legend though Chris Gayle remains, it is hard to imagine him turning out for the 2020 event at the age of 40 – which merely reinforces that sense of now or never.England, by contrast, are at the start of their own journey. They’ve had several aborted rebuilds in one-day cricket in recent years, but there’s a strategy and coherence to this particular regeneration that augurs very well for the future. Of their 15, only Liam Plunkett has so far reached the big 3-0. Nine of the squad have yet to turn 26.Morgan spent much of his pre-match press conference playing down his team’s chances and keeping his cards tucked tightly to his chest. Darren Sammy, by contrast, wasn’t afraid to big up his big men, and why would he hide their lights under a bushel given the fear factor they can bring to any contest? Gayle, he declared, is “one of the most destructive T20 batsman”, but it wasn’t anything other than a stone-cold fact. On Wednesday night, under the lights, we shall witness a battle of reputation versus potential. And there can be only one winner.West Indies will have many of the big guns that helped them win the title in 2012•Getty/ICCForm guideEngland: LLWWW (last five completed matches)
West Indies: WLLWWWatch out forChris Gayle. Who else? Everything about this contest screams for a from the man who epitomises above all others the hopes, the talents and the frustrations of West Indies cricket in the 21st century. This contest will be Gayle’s first full international appearance since the 50-over World Cup 12 months ago, and his first T20 outing since he spanked South Africa for 90 in 41 balls at Johannesburg in January 2015. But the prodigal son is back for more, and back in a country where his legend precedes him. Gayle has been the heart and soul of the IPL since its inception, and assuming the local population have found a means to secure any tickets, you can be sure who they will be rooting for when the first ball is sent his way.Gayle may be an established local hero but Jos Buttler could yet be the coming man and, if that is the case, then the Wankhede will soon feel like his second home, following his signing for Mumbai Indians in the recent IPL auction. His casual ability to ally supreme power to outlandish shot selection has turned him into the flagbearer for England’s new free-spirited attitude to one-day cricket, and though he was scuppered in the end by Chris Jordan’s yorkers during England’s practice match at the Brabourne on Monday, his 25 from 16 balls while guesting for Mumbai was a hint that he has found his range. “Everyone’s worried by Jos when he gets going,” said Joe Root after that innings.Team newsEngland’s XI is more or less straightforward. Ben Stokes provides the all-round flexibility to factor in four seamers and both spinners, Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali. With Chris Jordan’s death bowling and outstanding fielding securing him a berth, the only real debate is whether the extra grunt of Liam Plunkett is preferable to the left-arm attack of David Willey. Morgan refused to be drawn, but Willey’s hat-trick at the death in Monday’s warm-up may have tilted the scales in his favour.England (probable) 1 Jason Roy, 2 Alex Hales, 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Jos Buttler, 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Adil Rashid, 9 David Willey, 10 Chris Jordan, 11 Reece TopleyWest Indies have all-round options pouring out of their squad, and any batsman from No. 4 to No. 9 could prove to be interchangeable depending on the match situation. The likelihood is that all eight of West Indies’ previous World T20 winners will be given the chance to start the campaign, although with only one spinner likely to make the cut, Samuel Badree could conceivably make way for Sulieman Benn, having failed to play in either of West Indies’ warm-ups.West Indies (probable) 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Johnson Charles, 3 Marlon Samuels, 4 Dwayne Bravo, 5 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 6 Andre Russell, 7 Carlos Brathwaite, 8 Darren Sammy (capt), 9 Jason Holder, 10 Samuel Badree/Sulieman Benn, 11 Jerome Taylor.Pitch and conditionsThe wicket is one of the seamier in the subcontinent, and both teams look set to respond in kind with pace options. A day out from the contest, there was still plenty grass in situ, although the baking 37C degree heat may put paid to some of that by game time.Stats and trivia England have not played West Indies in T20 cricket since a three-match series in Barbados on the eve of the last tournament in March 2014. England lost 2-1 but they did win the last of the three encounters, by five runs, thanks to Chris Jordan’s haul of 3 for 39. That contest, however, is now better remembered for Ben Stokes’ reaction to his first-ball duck. He was bowled by Krishmar Santokie to complete a dismal sequence of scores – 5, 4, 0, 4 and 0 – and on returning to the dressing room, Stokes punched his locker, broke his wrist, and ruled himself out of the World T20 in Bangladesh.Quotes”I look at our lower order and it always makes me smile.”
“We’ve played a lot more positive cricket, we haven’t been afraid to go out and play with no consequences.”

ICC Americas regional office will be relocating later this year from Toronto to Colorado Springs

Peter Della Penna09-Apr-2016In another move signifying the ICC’s intent to speed up the growth of cricket in the United States of America, ICC head of global development Tim Anderson announced on Friday that the ICC Americas regional office will be relocating later this year from Toronto to Colorado Springs, Colorado.”The ICC Americas Office has been based in Toronto, Canada for many years. The historic reasons for this have largely been based around convenience as opposed to strategy, with previous regional development managers being from Toronto,” Anderson wrote in a letter to US stakeholders.The ICC office was shared with Cricket Canada until 2015. When Cricket Canada moved out of their shared Toronto facility, the ICC office rented out a temporary space at the Rogers Centre, home of baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays. “These circumstances, together with the strong strategic desire for the ICC to see cricket develop more rapidly in the USA, resulted in the ICC Executive Committee and Board agreeing in October 2015 that the ICC Americas office should be moved to the USA,” Anderson said.”Excluding the big American professional sports (i.e. NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS), Colorado Springs is the centre of sports administration in the USA, hosting close to 30 governing bodies, as well as the United States Olympic Committee. The Colorado Springs Sports Corp has demonstrated a strong desire to host the ICC Americas office and, as part of their support package, we are in discussions about the possibility of developing a new cricket facility in Colorado Springs.”Currently there is one artificial-wicket cricket facility at the city’s Memorial Park athletic complex, just four blocks from the USOC training complex. It is unclear if the proposed new facility referred to by Anderson would include plans to redevelop the ground at Memorial Park into a turf wicket or if it would mean adding a new ground elsewhere in the city.According to multiple sources, several other cities were also considered for the new home of the ICC Americas office, with Indianapolis a particularly strong contender. ICC Americas officials held multiple events in Indianapolis in 2015, including the ICC Americas Division One T20 championship and inaugural ICC Americas Combine at the newly opened turf ground at Indianapolis World Sports Park.While Indianapolis is also home to the headquarters for the NCAA, USA Track & Field, USA Diving and USA Gymnastics, there are many more national sports governing body offices located in Colorado Springs. These include the USOC, USA Hockey, USA Basketball, USA Boxing, USA Swimming, USA Cycling and USA Wrestling.It is for these reasons that Colorado Springs turned into an increasingly appealing strategic option in late 2015. USOC chief external affairs officer Patrick Sandusky was named to the seven-man local advisory group appointed by the ICC to oversee US cricket’s regrowth strategy following USACA’s suspension in June. It is also worth noting that Colorado Springs hosted an ICC youth cricket development seminar in February.Colorado Springs is the second largest city in the state of Colorado with an approximate population of 500,000 people. It is located 70 miles south of the state capital and largest city Denver. Although it is a relatively remote outpost in the US cricket scene, it is equidistant from several major cricket hubs, sitting approximately 1000 miles, or a two and a half hour flight away, from Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco.