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Bates is set to become the first woman to play 350 internationals and she will share the moment with Devine, who will feature in her 300th international

Deivarayan Muthu05-Oct-20251:55

Bates: Not having to travel an advantage right now

Suzie Bates is set to become the first woman to play 350 international games on Monday, when she faces South Africa in Indore in the 2025 women’s ODI World Cup.She has the chance to celebrate the landmark with fellow New Zealand stalwart and captain Sophie Devine, who will feature in her 300th international match on Monday.Bates had made her debut in an ODI against India in 2006 aged 19, just a few months before a 17-year-old Devine made her first appearance for the White Ferns on their tour of Australia. At the time, Bates was also an elite basketball player – she even represented New Zealand at the 2008 Beijing Olympics before switching her focus to cricket.Related

• Spin-heavy Bangladesh eye first win against New Zealand in ODIs

• Age is just a number – the women's World Cup XI of seniors

• Devine lauds NZ's fighting spirit

• Bates: 'I feel like there's no milestones on my list anymore'

• Devine to retire from ODIs after the World Cup

Bates said that she and Devine will put those milestones on the back burner for now, and that the focus is on their crucial World Cup fixture against South Africa after they had lost their opening game to Australia on October 1.”Yeah, there’s probably a little bit of embarrassment from both of us,” Bates said at her press conference on the eve of New Zealand’s clash against South Africa. “We just feel that when we celebrate these milestones, it’s just because we’re getting old. But yeah, it’s one of those things that maybe in the moment, you probably take for granted, and it’s a World Cup game, and we don’t want to get too carried away with that milestone.”But I know after the game, Sophie and I will sit and reminisce on how far we’ve come, not only as players together throughout this career, but as a team. I just think there’s been so much growth in New Zealand women’s cricket and those younger players coming through. So, yeah, we’ll be really proud. But in the morning, I think we’ll just be trying to get on with the cricket. And it’s something [in] ten years’ time when we’re both not playing, we might have a cup of coffee and think how cool it was to do it in Indore in India.”Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates – New Zealand’s two superstars•ICC/Getty Images

Devine had kicked off New Zealand’s campaign with a run-a-ball 112 – her ninth ODI hundred – but it was not enough to stop the Australia juggernaut on Wednesday. Despite the opening defeat, Craig McMillan, New Zealand’s assistant coach, was pleased with Devine’s form.”Well, I think the thing about whenever Sophie Devine’s at the crease, the game is never over,” McMillan said on Friday. “I think Australia felt that as well because she’s so powerful, can hit boundaries, and even though we were needing to go at nine or ten an over… for quite a while we were actually doing that, and she was the key to that. It was a class, a great way to start the tournament, really. She’s really put a stamp on this tournament right from the start, and that’s what you want from your captain, from your leader, and the other girls will follow her.”Devine will retire from ODI cricket at the conclusion of the ongoing World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, but will remain available for T20Is under a casual playing agreement with New Zealand Cricket [NZC]. Bates, who has had a front-row seat to Devine’s rise, delivered a glowing appraisal of her all-around ability and suggested that Devine is irreplaceable.”You’re not ever going to be able to replace Sophie Devine,” Bates said. “I think she’s changed the game through her power with the bat. I know every opposition fears the way she plays the game, and we haven’t had many players like that from New Zealand who can take the game away from an opposition.”And then with the ball, everyone talks about her batting, but the way she competes with the ball and the fact that she’s captain, it’s just going to be impossible to replace her. And I’m really glad that it’s just 50-over cricket that she’s talked about stepping away from. It probably feels right with the World Cup being four years away, but there’s plenty of 20-over cricket for her to contribute. And there’s going to be no other Sophie Devine that New Zealand cricket [will] produce. It’s going to be hard to find an allrounder as explosive as her in world cricket”Rosemary Mair bowled and batted on the eve of the match against South Africa•ICC via Getty Images

‘Still a little bit of work to do for Mair’

Seamer Rosemary Mair, who had missed New Zealand’s first match of the competition against Australia, with a side strain, is recovering well, according to McMillan. Bates also suggested that Mair is “getting close to full fitness,” but she is unlikely to be rushed back into action against South Africa on Monday.”She’s going well,” McMillan said on Friday. “Would have been nice for her to get a few more overs in tonight, that was the plan, but she’ll probably bowl tomorrow. She’s coming along nicely. There’s still a little bit of work to do, so not sure how she’ll be for the next match, but she’s not far off, and she’s certainly progressed a lot over the last week, which is encouraging to see.”

Northern Districts had given themselves a chance of pushing for victory but rain ended their hopes

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Mar-2024Wellington have been crowned Plunket Shield champions after the final day against Northern Districts in Hamilton was washed out.The match at Seddon Park was effectively a final with Wellington and Northern Districts the only two sides in with a chance of claiming the title in the final round.Wellington had entered the game with a small lead at the top of the table and were able to accrue enough bonus points over the first two innings to stay ahead.Northern Districts had given themselves a chance of claiming the title after Tim Seifert’s century had earned them a small lead of 88 then they had Wellington 127 for 4 in their second innings but they were unable to get into the field on the final day.Wellington’s Nathan Smith was the leading wicket-taker of the season•Getty Images

“Ideally, you want to see the game go the distance, but it’s a competition [where] you work hard throughout the season, we’re unbeaten the whole season, so I think for me, we are the deserving winners,” Wellington captain Tom Blundell said.”It’s a pretty special day. For me the Plunket Shield is probably the most rewarding trophy in domestic cricket, you play a whole season, and to come away with the Plunket Shield is pretty special memory.”Blundell had earlier played a key role with a century in Wellington’s first innings to lift them 323 in a final-wicket stand of 77 with Ben Sears which earned vital bonus points.Otago’s Dale Phillips ended as the leading run-scorer for the season with 686 at 49.00 having hit two centuries in the final two rounds.Central Districts’ Greg Hay, who finished third with 643 runs at 49.46, announced his retirement from the game at the end of the season. He signed off with 179 off 434 balls against Otago.Wellington’s Nathan Smith was the top wicket-taker with 33 at 17.18 including two five-wicket hauls.

Lara will work with the men’s international teams and with the board’s academy, while also serving as head coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jan-2023Cricket West Indies (CWI) has roped in Brian Lara as a performance mentor to work with the West Indies international teams across formats and with the board’s academy.Lara will be supporting the various head coaches “in providing players with tactical advice and improving their game sense, as well as working closely with the Director of Cricket [Jimmy Adams] on ICC World Cup Tournament strategic planning,” a CWI press statement said.”Having spent time with the players and coaches in Australia and in discussions with CWI, I really believe that I can help the players with their mental approach to the game and with their tactics to be more successful,” Lara said. His first assignment will be with the West Indies Test squad, which he has already joined in Zimbabwe. He will help in the preparations ahead of the first Test starting February 4 in Bulawayo. Before the Test, West Indies will also play a four-day warm-up game, starting Saturday in Bulawayo.”I am really looking forward to Brian making a significant contribution to our cricket system by providing invaluable guidance and advice to our players and coaches,” Adams said. “We are confident that Brian will help to improve our high-performance mindset and strategic culture that will bring us more success on the field across all formats. Everyone is excited to have Brian involved in supporting our players.”West Indies’ last Test series was in Australia last month, where they were swept 2-0, not long after they had crashed out in the first round of the T20 World Cup. Nicholas Pooran stepped down as the white-ball captain later, in November.Lara was also on the review panel which CWI had appointed to look into West Indies’ poor performance at the T20 World Cup.Even though CWI did not specify for how long Lara would work with the various teams going forward, he came in with under ten months to go for the ODI World Cup in India and around 18 months before the T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean next year.In between, of course, Lara will also be engaged with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2023 IPL as their head coach, having taken over from Tom Moody in September last year.

Kurtis Patterson made 112 while James Pattinson took 5 for 71 as NSW set Victoria 248 to win in 53 overs, but rain and early wickets saw Victoria bat the day out for a draw

AAP23-Nov-2021The Sheffield Shield match between NSW and Victoria at the SCG petered out to a draw despite a captain’s century and final-day declaration from Kurtis Patterson.Patterson celebrated his first hundred of the Shield season then ended the Blues’ second innings at 7 for 285, setting Victoria a target of 248 late in Tuesday’s post-lunch session.Victoria slipped to 3 for 54 when teenage legspinner Tanveer Sangha bowled Matt Short, extending a promising start to his first-class career. But captain Peter Handscomb’s steadying 39 and a determined Jonathan Merlo, who finished 7 not out from 82 balls, ensured their side held on for 43 overs.Victoria originally had approximately 53 overs, weather permitting, to complete the chase. Rain, a near-constant presence in the contest that started a day late because of Will Sutherland’s positive Covid-19 test, returned in the shadows of tea.Handscomb clipped his 73rd delivery straight to Jason Sangha at leg slip, but there was no chaotic collapse under darkening skies. Patterson, who replaced Peter Nevill as NSW captain for 2021-22, started the season with knocks of 48, 4, 2 and 24 during losses to Victoria at the MCG and Drummoyne Oval. The left-hander, who played two Tests in 2019 but was not invited to Australia’s upcoming pre-Ashes boot camp in Queensland, showcased his talent on Tuesday in front of national selector Tony Dodemaide.Patterson eventually fell unselfishly chasing quick runs as he became one of James Pattinson’s five victims in the innings. Pattinson, who last month announced his retirement from international cricket, finished with impressive match figures of 7 for 103.He made up for lost time after the start of Tuesday’s play was briefly delayed because of showers, removing Moises Henriques with the first ball of the day. It proved the only wicket to fall before lunch as Jason Sangha and Patterson shifted momentum in a 151-run stand, withstanding a testing examination from Pattinson.Sangha hammered two sixes off Wil Parker in the 49th over, signalling his team’s intent to try to make a game of the clash. Hayden Kerr and Chris Tremain each cleared the rope before Patterson called the unbeaten batters in, but the hosts failed to conjure 10 wickets.

The state is seeking more clarity on the situation before agreeing to a funding reduction

Daniel Brettig26-May-2020Queensland’s chairman Chris Simpson has confirmed the state association remains allied with New South Wales and the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) in questioning Cricket Australia’s chosen remedy for the financial effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, as all three organisations continue to push the governing body for more information.While Queensland Cricket announced on Monday that it would be cutting 32 staff from its books in anticipation of a 25% funding cut from CA, Simpson said this move was necessary largely because his state was in a far weaker position than NSW, the other dissenter. Queensland’s most recent annual report listed reserves of A$7.6 million among total assets worth A$18.3 million, far less than NSW or Victoria, to name two states, can call upon.At the same time, Simpson outlined that, as reported by ESPNcricinfo, Queensland’s board was trying to ensure that its agreement would see any reduction in distribution for 2020-21 revised back upwards if the summer produced a more favourable financial result than CA is currently forecasting.ALSO READ: Players’ association casts doubt on Cricket Australia’s financial warnings“We have not signed the agreement,” Simpson told . “We are trying to learn how long their proposed cuts run for. It is a bit ambiguous how they have presented it. We want clarity on the term and we also want to make sure 25% is the ceiling.”We also want to make sure that should things be better than what they are modelling – and every day we are getting more positive about the prospect of serious cricket content this season – we don’t want to lock into something that is to the detriment of the states.”Simpson’s words are similar to those conveyed by the NSW chairman John Knox and his chief executive Lee Germon to staff and stakeholders earlier this month. “As a result of the Cricket Australia proposal, some states have already reduced their commitment to community cricket, potentially impacting the long-term future of the game,” they said in an email. “We believe that any decision to reduce the agreed state distributions should be delayed until there is a better understanding of whether international cricket will be played next season.”The ACA has contacted states and indicated a willingness to preserve community staffing and programs via financial assistance from the “grassroots fund” carved out of MoU cash and overseen by both the ACA and CA. The fund has dished out almost A$4.5 million in funding for equipment and facilities since 2017, and is expected to have about A$3 million available this year. CA is due to give its latest indicative forecast of Australian Cricket Revenue – from which the players’ fixed percentage of revenue is derived – by Friday.Queensland’s cuts have included a major downsizing of the Brisbane Heat’s operation and the exit of the long-serving selector, coach and manager Justin Sternes. They have also seen community cricket programs significantly affected, but Simpson said the state had been left with little option.”We have been told for a long time how big a deal the Indian tour is, so to hear that optimism brings the depth of the cuts into focus,” Simpson said. “Eighty percent of our funding comes from one source [CA] and they have said they potentially have solvency issues, so it is our duty to act on that information. We disagree with a lot of the information provided but we still had to act. NSW have a very big book and they can ride it out. We can’t.”The Australia and NSW fast bowler Mitchell Starc, meanwhile, has given his strong support to the state’s own decision to push back against CA. “In terms of NSW they’ve been pretty strong in holding their position and I think from the little updates I’ve read from NSW, it’s a big part of their plan – to be part of growing the game in the state,” he said”That’s obviously where we have all come from, as international and elite cricketers, we’ve come from the junior clubs to grade clubs all the way to international cricket. Full credit to the NSW board in trying to, at this stage, hang onto all of their staff and their grass roots at the moment.”Cricket hasn’t lost any games yet in this country, obviously the Bangladesh [tour] has been postponed but there hasn’t been any cricket lost yet. So it’s going to be an interesting few weeks with state contracting then us all returning to training – I guess we’re going to see what staff we’ve got.”

Cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan had put the matches in Lahore and Karachi in doubt

Umar Farooq28-Feb-2019Following a resumption in political tensions between India and Pakistan, the PCB has assured fans that the Pakistan leg of the PSL will take place as scheduled, with Lahore and Karachi hosting a total of eight games. Ehsan Mani, the PCB chairman, made the announcement after a meeting with all six franchises and other stakeholders at Dubai Cricket Stadium.Over the last few days, in the aftermath of the militant attack in Pulwama in the northern Indian state of Kashmir, India and Pakistan have exchanged hostilities. These events had thrown a question mark over the PSL’s Pakistan leg. The UAE leg of the tournament is set to finish on March 5, after which the action will move to Pakistan, with Lahore set to host three games and Karachi five, including the final on March 17.”We want to reconfirm that the PSL matches will all be played in Pakistan as scheduled,” Mani told a press conference with five of the six franchise owners by his sid. “I would like to thank my colleagues sitting alongside me for their support. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that PSL will continue with business as usual as we planned and this is a unanimous decision from all of us.”I am also very grateful to our overseas players who are ready to come to Pakistan. All those who had given their commitment from the start are still with us. I am also grateful to all support staff who are working at the ground. We have a few challenges as you know on the production side, with one of our production partners pulling out overnight. But then the team we got together, they made sure that we had seamless transition and now I am absolutely confident that we will be in Pakistan as we had planned.”In the immediate wake of the Pulwama attack, the Indian company IMG-Reliance opted out of its deal to produce television coverage of the PSL worldwide. Techfront, owners of the Cricketgateway website, had also pulled out of its deal to stream matches in India, and , the television channel showing the PSL in India, also stopped its coverage.A consortium of Blitz and Trans Group have since stepped in to fill the void.The new production company, however, is comprised largely of the same staff, including Indian nationals working as freelancers based in Dubai. There is still uncertainty over who will travel to Pakistan from the production team in case of problems with logistics for Indian nationals.PCB chairman Ehsan Mani speaks at the PSL 2019 draft•Getty Images/AFP

“We are monitoring the logistics very closely and we are in contact with our appropriate authorities on a day-by-day, minute-by-minute basis,” Mani said. “By the time we are ready to move out there won’t be any hiccups, and even if it comes through, we will adapt.”At the most we have to readjust a bit but we have a solid commitment that it will be played in Pakistan. There are logistical challenges but we will deal with them and unless anything significant happens there is nothing changing. At a working level, we are in contact with all agencies, but as per our policy, it is our commitment to go back to Pakistan.”If we decide to change it for some reason then I could speak about it. But for now, we are going on with business as usual. There are one or two players who we know had already said no [to going to Pakistan] for other reasons, but those who had confirmed with all franchises have reassured us about their commitments being intact.”A few of the overseas players are understood to have raised concerns over growing tensions in Pakistan, but all franchises have said they have the consent of their players. ESPNcrininfo understands the Quetta Gladiators opener Shane Watson didn’t make a commitment to go to Pakistan at the very start. Karachi Kings’ Aaron Summers, another Australian player, is mostly likely to travel, while one of the biggest names in the tournament, former South Africa batsman AB de Villiers, will play two matches in Lahore for Lahore Qalandars.”Whatever is happening in Pakistan it’s the same in India as well,” Mani said. “But we have no doubt on our side that we cannot do this. So far we don’t see anything that will make us change our decision. Cricket is happening all over the subcontinent and it will go on as usual. Also, I don’t think I will need to talk to the [PCB] patron (Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan) about taking this decision because whatever was in our plan, we are just abiding by it. (The) Patron just has a wish that we should get as many matches as quickly as possible, in Pakistan.”

Now Tigers – capital T – in home ODIs, Bangladesh have not just won their first three matches, they have preyed ruthlessly on their oppositions taking a bonus point from each game

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando24-Jan-2018

Big Picture

Bangladesh have rocked this tournament. Now Tigers – capital T – in home ODIs, they have not just won their first three matches, they have flexed new muscles, deployed fresh skills, and preyed ruthlessly on their oppositions, taking a bonus point from each game. Occasionally, the batting is a little wobbly. So what? Mashrafe Mortaza and co. will scythe through your top order anyway. Occasionally, a Bangladesh bowler goes for runs. No big deal. Nothing compared to what Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan will do to the opposition attack.One or two players in the Sri Lanka side – Upul Tharanga and Dinesh Chandimal perhaps – will remember when they were the team that romped through games against lower-ranked opposition. As recently as 2014, Bangladesh could not win one match against Sri Lanka, in a home tour. This Sri Lanka team, however, is very much in danger of spiraling out of a tournament they would have fancied winning with a second-string team in decades past.The permutation is almost very simple. Sri Lanka are definitely through if they win. They can also qualify by losing narrowly, but cannot afford another huge deficit like the 163-run to Bangladesh earlier in the tournament.There is a personal subplot at play too. Before Sri Lanka left their island, new coach Chandika Hathurusingha brushed off suggestions that there would be added pressure upon him in this first assignment, in which he is coaching in (and against) the team he had so recently been with. Despite those remarks, there is surely a little pride at stake here. With his departure from Bangladesh having been spiky, Hathurusingha will be desperate for his team to make the final of this tournament, at the very least.

Form guide

Sri Lanka: WLLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh: WWWLL

In the spotlight

Thisara Perera is enjoying a hot streak. From time to time – the last occasion was in 2014 – this is what he does. Once his bowling clicks, his batting rapidly falls into place, and he is suddenly incandescent. No longer is he the player who skies the first bouncer that comes his way. No longer does he spray the ball short and wide to collect an economy rate of well over six. In this series, he has been Sri Lanka’s ace, busting up batting orders, and bruising opposition attacks. The challenge as ever, however, is for Thisara to maintain this temperature.Thisara Perera carves one over the off side•Associated Press

More consistent than Thisara, and just as effective in this series, has been Shakib Al Hasan who tops the tournament wicket-takers’ list, and has the third-best aggregate of runs to boot. Not often has he batted at No. 3 for Bangladesh – coming in at first drop in only five of his 173 innings – but in this tournament, he has struck two half-centuries in that position. With the Mirpur square now showing signs of wear, his bowling may be even more potent in the last two matches.

Team news

With Kusal Perera almost certainly unavailable with a side strain, Danushka Gunathilaka is likely to come into the the XI. Asela Gunaratne’s spot also looks a little shaky, though perhaps he will stave away a challenge from the newly-arrived Dhananjaya de Silva for at least one more match. A slight niggle for Nuwan Pradeep means Dushmantha Chameera also stands a chance of playing.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Danushka Gunathilaka, 2 Upul Tharanga, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 5 Dinesh Chandimal (capt.) 6 Asela Gunaratne, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Akila Dananjaya, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Nuwan PradeepBangladesh are unlikely to make any changes to the XI that trounced Zimbabwe on Tuesday.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Anamul Haque, 3 Shakib Al Hasan, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Sabbir Rahman, 7 Nasir Hossain, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 9 Sunzamul Islam, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Rubel Hossain.

Pitch and conditions

The weather in Mirpur is expected to be fine on Thursday, with temperatures only reaching the low 20-degree Celsius range. With pitches having become slower, lower and trickier to bat on through the tournament, batting first may be the preferred option.

Stats and trivia

• Mustafizur Rahman needs one more dismissal to complete 50 wickets in ODIs. If he gets it in this match, he will be the sixth fastest bowler to the milestone (alongside Shane Warne and Matt Henry), and by a distance the fastest Bangladesh bowler.
• Sri Lanka have never previously lost two successive matches to Bangladesh.
• Thisara Perera has nine wickets at 15.11 in this tournament, but in the previous two years, he had taken only 18 wickets at 46.94 over 21 innings. His batting had not fared much better during that time, when he averaged merely 12.46. In this tournament he has struck 132 runs at a strike rate of 171, however.

Quotes

“In this kind of tournament if you lose the first two games its always tough, but sometimes it gives you more confidence and morale to come back strong. As a team, we’re looking at it that way. We will have something up our sleeves.”Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal