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Trent Boult holds spot; Kyle Jamieson (back) and Adam Milne (achilles) weren’t considered due to injury

Alagappan Muthu24-Aug-2022New Zealand have packed their squad with plenty of pace as they attempt to wrest the Chappell-Hadlee trophy out of Australia’s hands next month. In addition to the more established Lockie Ferguson, they have also brought in the 23-year old Ben Sears, who may well make his ODI debut in the three-match series starting on September 6.Trent Boult has kept his place in the squad, the first time the New Zealand selectors have had to make a decision on whether to include him since he withdrew from his central contract earlier this month. NZC said that his future selection would be made on a case-by-case basis, with preference given to contracted players, although he will be part of the T20 World Cup in October.

Chappell-Hadlee Trophy schedule

1st ODI, Cairns: September 6
2nd ODI, Cairns: September 8
3rd ODI, Cairns: September 11

The conditions on offer across the Tasman have prompted New Zealand to further bolster their pace reserves with Matt Henry, who missed their most recent assignment in the West Indies with a rib injury. Sears had been his replacement in the squad and he now keeps his place, building on a career that began in 2018 with Wellington. He made his New Zealand debut in September 2021 and has plenty of admirers within the national set-up, including one of the OG Kiwi speedsters Shane Bond.”The inclusion of Ben Sears is a nod to the future, and we also think his pace and bounce could be a good option in Australian conditions,” head coach Gary Stead said. “It’s great to welcome back Matt as well. He’s been one of our front line one-day bowlers for the past few years and his ICC ODI bowling ranking of six is testament to that.”Kane Williamson captains the squad of 15 as he too makes a comeback after missing the last two matches on a successful tour of the Caribbean. He has only played three ODIs since the end of the 2019 World Cup due to a combination of injury and rotation, but, two weeks out from rekindling their biggest rivalry, he seemed upbeat and ready for action.”It’s always a huge occasion for the fans, and the team really look forward to it,” Williamson said. “You grow up watching the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series and remembering the great battles, so to be part of another chapter is pretty special. We know how tough Australia are to beat in their own conditions and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”Kyle Jamieson (back) and Adam Milne (achilles) weren’t considered due to injury. Ish Sodhi, Henry Nicholls and Will Young were left out. Glenn Phillips, who has made three fifty-plus scores in 12 innings, across formats keeps his place. With a 360-degree game and a batting style very similar to Steven Smith, he has become something of an enforcer in New Zealand’s middle order.”The fact we’re having to leave out players of the calibre of Ish, Henry, and Will shows the increased depth we currently have at our disposal,” Stead said. “Glenn’s a versatile player who can cover most places in the batting order for us – as well as providing a bowling option if needed.”Australia have a 6-4 win-loss record in 12 Chappell-Hadlee series so far and hold a considerable edge over New Zealand when playing at home. In fact, the Black Caps have go back seven completed matches, and 13 full years, to mark their last ODI victory over Australia in Australia.New Zealand ODI squad: Kane Williamson (capt), Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Tim Southee

He is believed to have gone for an MRI scan, with Shaheen Afridi already ruled out due to a knee injury

Shashank Kishore25-Aug-2022After Shaheen Shah Afridi’s withdrawal due to a knee injury, Pakistan have been dealt another scare ahead of their Asia Cup opener against India on August 28, with fast bowler Mohammad Wasim pulling up with back pain during training in Dubai.Wasim, who turned 21 on Thursday, complained of pain in his lower back during a bowling session at the ICC Academy. He is believed to have undergone an MRI scan. Wasim has been part of each of the team’s three training sessions since arriving in Dubai on Tuesday.ESPNcricinfo understands the scan is precautionary, with the PCB not wanting to risk a potential long-term injury, given the amount of cricket they are set to play leading into the T20 World Cup in Australia this October-November.Related

• Shaheen Afridi ruled out of Asia Cup with knee injury

• Asia Cup battles: Babar takes on Rashid, Kohli against Hasaranga

• Akram: Pakistan can 'compete against India day-in and day-out'

After the Asia Cup, Pakistan are set to play England in seven T20Is at home, followed by a tri-series in New Zealand before they head to Australia. At the Asia Cup, they could possibly play five games in 12 days should they make the Super Four stage.Wasim has so far featured in 11 T20Is since his debut last July against West Indies. He has picked up 17 wickets at an average of 15.88 and an economy of 8.10. Wasim was particularly impressive in the home series against Australia this March, where he picked up five wickets in three ODIs as Pakistan overturned a 1-0 deficit to clinch the series.The injury scare could be a concern, given the team management is already grappling with Afridi’s absence from the tournament. Despite the injury, Afridi has been part of the travelling squad for four weeks, and is currently undergoing on-tour rehabilitation in the UAE as Pakistan look to have him fit for the T20 World Cup.Afridi has been working with fast-bowling consultant Shaun Tait. His absence had earlier led to Mohammad Hasnain getting a late call-up to join the Asia Cup squad. Haris Rauf, Shahnawaz Dahani and Naseem Shah are the other fast bowlers in the tour party.PCB strengthens support staff group for Asia Cup
Pakistan have added Umar Rashid as assistant to fast-bowling coach Tait for the Asia Cup following a recommendation from head coach Saqlain Mushtaq.Rashid, who has an impressive body of work at the National High Performance Centre, has worked with all the current crop of fast bowlers around the national set-up at the age-group levels.More recently, Rashid is credited to have helped Hasnain return to competitive cricket after being reported for a suspect action during the BBL in January. The flex in Hasnain’s elbow was found to be around 17-24 degrees, well above permissible levels.

Three matches this late aren’t likely to have much of a bearing on T20 World Cup plans, beyond the usual dotting of the i’s and crossing of the t’s

Alagappan Muthu27-Sep-20226:58

Jaffer: India would like to sort out their death bowling in this series

Big picture

You know those awesome rocket launch sequences where amid various shots of the vehicle looking all epic and the crew looking all steely there’s a disembodied voice that goes “T-minus…” Picture that… except instead of the wonders of space exploration, we’re talking about a bunch of people doing a bunch of things to get their hands on a cup that doesn’t even look like a cup… which they’ll only be able to hold onto for like a year. Two tops.It’s time for the T20 World Cup countdown, baby!India and South Africa are at T-minus three matches to the big party down under. So a lot of the focus will be on things like, is our death bowling doing alright? Oh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s not? But didn’t he – it sounds preposterous to even say it out loud but didn’t he – bowl a in the 19th over to stop Mumbai Indians from winning a game where they only needed 19 more runs? At least he’s off resting now, away from all the noise.And, what about the batting? Of course that’s doing fine. Anyone can wave a piece of wood around, can’t they? Plus there’s the AB de Villiersisation of it all. Twenty-two year old kids think they can now walk into the park and hit every ball for six. Thirty-two year old veterans, brought up in the mean streets maidans of Mumbai, no longer care about showing that straight bat. They be scoopin’, rampin’ and ballin’.That said, three matches, this late, aren’t going to offer a whole lot of clarity on what to do and what not to. The good only reinforces what they already know and the bad, well, that gets thrown in the bin because there’s no time for that. So in a way, this series could be a bit of a free hit for both India and South Africa. One last chance to go out and have utter, almost no-consequence fun. And it starts in T-minus…

Form guide

India WWLWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa WWWWL2:03

Shamsi: My focus is on the T20 WC but SA20 will be exciting

In the spotlight

Of all the gin joints in all the world, David Miller had to walk into one called Gujarat Titans. People had given up on him. That century he made against Royal Challengers Bangalore. That night where the words “in the arc, out of the park” were embossed into the cricketing dictionary had already become a punchline to beat him with every time he failed, especially at the IPL; he’s always gone alright for South Africa. But now, having been the single biggest influencer of a title-winning campaign, Miller is a boss wherever he goes. It’s even come to the point that the franchise that let him go – Rajasthan Royals – has chased him down and made him captain of not one but two of their other teams around the world.Failure is the likeliest outcome for a death bowler. It’s like playing Russian roulette with five bullets. And yet somehow Arshdeep Singh keeps beating the odds. So what’s his secret? How has he – at 23 years old – become one of the best at one of the worst jobs in cricket? “Lots of repetitions of length ball and yorker. After doing it so many times in practice, you start understanding where your ball will land if you run at this particular speed with this particular angle.” There is a chance that, if India make the final of the T20 World Cup, he will be fronting up to bowl their final over.

Team news

With Hardik rested and Deepak Hooda injured, India will have a job balancing their XI. Shahbaz Ahmed is the allrounder they’ve called up but he only bowls spin and that area is covered with Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal. So perhaps the team management will bring back Rishabh Pant and roll the dice with five bowlers. It limits flexibility but hey, at least the frontliners will get even more experience of those pressure situations they’ll be put under at the World Cup.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 KL Rahul, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Rishabh Pant, 6 Axar Patel, 7 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 8 Deepak Chahar, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Yuzvendra ChahalThe return of Temba Bavuma could see Reeza Hendricks miss out from the XI•AFP/Getty Images

What does Temba Bavuma’s return from injury mean for Reeza Hendricks, who has hit four half-centuries in his last five innings as opener? Will he drop to No. 3, which sounds easy enough, except it’ll mean no place for Rilee Rossouw and that doesn’t make sense given his exploits in franchise cricket.South Africa (probable): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Temba Bavuma (capt), 3 Rilee Rossouw, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 David Miller, 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Andile Phehlukwayo/Dwaine Pretorius, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Anrich Nortje, 11 Tabraiz Shamsi

Pitch and conditions

Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram has only hosted two T20Is so far — and one of them was rain-hit and reduced to eight overs. So it’s still a bit of an unknown. The forecast suggests there is a possibility for showers on Wednesday night.

Stats and trivia

• Only two South Africans have played over 100 T20s while maintaining an average above 30 and a strike rate above 140. One of them is de Villiers. The other is Rossouw.
• One more indication of India’s new batting template: they have hit 62 sixes in the powerplay this year. That puts them on top. Then there’s daylight, eventually followed by Ireland in second place with 37 sixes.

Quotes

I remember we played here, the A side. To be honest with you, I can’t remember too much about the wicket – generally a good wicket, as it always is here in India. I think this field is a little bit bigger than the other fields, so probably a lot more running, a lot more gaps being available, but I think all basics stay the same when batting in India. You want to get through the new ball and then try and get that momentum going into the innings.

Zampa tried to run out Tom Rogers backing up at the non-striker’s end, only for replays to show his bowling arm was past vertical

Tristan Lavalette03-Jan-2023Fired-up quick Tom Rogers shrugged off an attempted run-out by Adam Zampa at the non-striker’s end, to then take five wickets as Melbourne Renegades claimed the bragging rights over crosstown rivals Melbourne Stars in a fiery clash at the MCGThe ‘Melbourne derby’ descended into controversy when Zampa tried to run out non-striker Rogers in the last over of Renegades’ innings. But it was given not out and Rogers then ripped through Stars’ batting order as Renegades snapped a four-game losing streak.A marquee fixture in the BBL, which famously attracted a crowd of over 80,000 in 2016, Renegades tasted victory for just the eighth time from 23 games against Stars in front of 38,500 fans.

Controversy at the MCG

Zampa bowled superbly to finish with 1 for 18 from four overs. He captained well marked by an aggressive approach against opposite number Aaron Finch, who fell second ball after Trent Boult returned to the attack in the 10th over.But it was overshadowed by his attempt to run out Rogers at the non-striker’s end in the final over. Frustrated after a missed catch earlier in the over, Zampa on the second last delivery tried to run out Rogers at the non-striker’s end after the batter had left his crease early.He quickly whipped off the bails and appealed for the wicket after there was initial confusion over whether Zampa was merely warning Rogers. But it was given not out after replays showed that Zampa’s bowling arm was past vertical.Rogers and Zampa exchanged words, although the batter was laughing as he walked off the ground at the end of the innings. Some fans did not share Rogers’ sentiments as jeering rang around the MCG and Zampa ensured another night of endless debate ensued.On the broadcast, Stars coach David Hussey said Zampa would have withdrawn his appeal if it had been given out and that “it’s not the right way to play cricket”.Tom Rogers picked up four of the first five wickets to fall•Getty Images

Rogers has the last laugh

Rogers was clearly pumped-up when he opened the bowling. With his first legal delivery, Rogers bowled in-form Joe Clarke with a cracker then dismissed Beau Webster caught and bowled.Conjuring menacing movement, he was almost unplayable and claimed his third wicket by bowling his namesake Tom Rogers to leave Stars reeling at 12 for 3 in the third over.He returned in the 11th over to snare Hilton Cartwright, who had started a rescue job alongside Nick Larkin, and then removed Luke Wood to finish with 5 for 16 in the best figures in Renegades’ history.

Stoinis might need to move up the order

Still chasing an elusive title, Stars are headed for familiar disappointment at a record of 2-5 and stuck near the bottom of the ladder.Stars’ only win in their last five games was against Adelaide Strikers when Marcus Stoinis smashed 74 off 35 balls in his first knock of substance this season, which was initially derailed after he contracted Covid-19.With skipper Glenn Maxwell still on the sidelines, a lot of burden has fallen on Stoinis who could not deliver on this occasion as he fell for six. Chasing a supposed modest total, Stars crashed to 18 for 4 and they never recovered.Having batted at No.4 or No.5 this season, similarly to his middle-order role with Australia, Stoinis might need to move back to the top of the order – where he had enjoyed success over the years for Stars.

Marsh injured again

Heading into the BBL, Shaun Marsh hadn’t played at any level since captaining Western Australia to a drought-breaking Sheffield Shield triumph last season.After knee surgery in the off-season, Marsh suffered a setback in his recovery with a calf injury in October. There were fears over whether Marsh, who turns 40 in July, had played his last professional match but he overcame his woes to return last week against Sydney Sixers.Mustering his wealth of experience, Marsh looked good in two previous games without converting strong starts. Against Stars, Marsh again played himself in amid a sedate partnership with an out-of form Martin Guptill.But Marsh’s woes resurfaced when he suffered a leg injury and was clearly hobbled. He decided to throw the bat, quite literally too, with his bat flying metres into the air after an attempt at a big hit.With Marsh struggling to run between the wickets, Renegades took the power surge in the 12th over. It didn’t provide a tonic for Marsh, who fell for 32 off 35 balls and he trudged off amid fresh uncertainty over his future.It’s another injury blow for Renegades with regular skipper Nic Maddinson sidelined with a long-term knee injury.

Australian take charge after two disappointing seasons for Cardiff-based side

Vithushan Ehantharajah01-Feb-2023Former Australia batter Mike Hussey has been confirmed as new head coach of Welsh Fire men in the Hundred.It was confirmed in December that Gary Kirsten would not be returning to lead the side for a third year after two dire campaigns. They finished seventh out of eight in 2021, the Hundred’s inaugural season, before finishing bottom in 2022 without winning a single game.Hussey, who is understood to have beaten compatriots David Saker and Adam Voges to the role, has franchise experience including at the IPL, playing for Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians before returning to Chennai as a coach. Most notably for English cricket, he was in charge of the batting as part of Matthew Mott’s backroom staff for the successful T20 World Cup campaign in Australia.Related

• Hussey, Saker appointed to England's World Cup coaching staff

• Kirsten leaves Welsh Fire after winless 2022 season

The ECB hopes the acquisition of Hussey’s – affectionately known as “Mr Cricket” – will boost the ailing Fire. The women’s team have also underperformed, with two eighth-place finishes on the bounce.Hussey will begin his duties ahead of Deadline Day (when the 10 men’s players retained from the 2021 squad need to be decided) and will oversee the men’s draft, in which Fire have the first pick.”I’m really looking forward to getting started at Welsh Fire and being part of the Hundred,” Hussey said. “From a distance it looks a fantastic competition to be involved in, one that’s attracting big crowds and getting lots of kids interested in the game.”For my part, hopefully I can get help get things moving in the right direction on the pitch in Cardiff and give all of those fans who’ve been coming to watch something to really get excited about.”Mark Wallace, cricket manager of Welsh Fire, said: “We’re thrilled to be able to appoint someone of the calibre of Mike. There are few better people around the world with the relevant expertise and knowledge of white-ball cricket to help take us forward.”It’s really exciting to have him on board, and we look forward to working together to hopefully bring some on-field success to the team and our fans.”

WPL player auction expected to take place in first week of February

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jan-2023The 2023 IPL final is likely to be played on May 28, with the start date likely to be March 31 or April 1. ESPNcricinfo has also learnt that the inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) is likely to be played from March 4 to 24.The window for the WPL has to be squeezed into the gap between the women’s T20 World Cup, which will be played in South Africa from February 10 to 26, and the start of the men’s IPL, which will be played on some of the grounds that will host WPL games too. The idea is to finish the WPL around a week before the men’s IPL starts, to allow the grounds to be fresh.On Wednesday, the BCCI sold the five WPL teams at an auction in Mumbai, with the owners of Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore, as well as the Adani Group and Capri Holdings winning the bids.Related

• USA to host additional 2023 FairBreak Global Invitational T20 in September

• Women's IPL – All you need to know about the bidding process and auction

• Healy – 'Women's IPL is going to change women's cricket for the better'

The schedule and itinerary for the tournament, as well as a decision on how many grounds would be used, are a “work in progress”, Arun Dhumal, the IPL’s chairman, said after the Wednesday auction. Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, said that the player auction would most likely be held in the first week of February.”With regard to [the venues for the] first season, we are still talking,” Dhumal said. “That is work in progress. We will have to see logistical challenges involved in case it [WPL] has to be multi-city value or single-city value.”The WPL team owners will have an auction purse of INR 12 crore (USD 1.47 million approx.) each to build their squads, which will have between 15 and 18 players.

New South Wales, after putting up 320, had reduced the home side to 102 for 6 before they fought back

AAP22-Feb-2023Jimmy Peirson, the captain, turned around a poor run of form with a defiant unbeaten century to keep Queensland in touch with New South Wales in their Sheffield Shield match at the Gabba.Queensland ended the second day on 281 for 8, just 39 runs shy of New South Wales’ 320.Thanks to Peirson’s 115 not out, Queensland recovered from a precarious 102 for 6 to prevent New South Wales collecting a potentially match-winning lead in the first innings.Peirson, who had failed to reach double-figures in his past six innings across all forms of the game, struck 13 boundaries in reaching his sixth first-class century.He found a valuable ally in Xavier Bartlett (32), as the pair adding 91 for the eighth wicket. Mark Steketee added further lower-order resistance to end the day on 27 not out.Sean Abbott did the early damage for New South Wales with two wickets in the first session as Queensland limped to 51 for 4 at the conclusion of a rain-impacted opening session.Max Bryant (40) offered the strongest resistance from Queensland’s top order with a quick 40, but his dismissal – bowled shouldering arms – was emblematic of Queensland’s early fortunes.Abbott knocked over Jack Wildermuth after the break for seven and ended the day with 3 for 63.Earlier, New South Wales, who were nine wickets down overnight, added nine runs to their overnight tally to post 320 in their first innings. New South Wales, who haven’t won a game yet, need a victory at the Gabba to avoid a record winless streak, while Queensland started the match in a four-way share of second.

Marcus Harris’ dismissal leads to unexpected Gloucestershire chaos

ECB Reporters Network29-Apr-2023Substitute fielder Tom Clark’s direct-hit run out of Marcus Harris unlocked Sussex’s bid to push for victory in their LV= Insurance County Championship match at Gloucestershire.Australian opener Harris’ dismissal, as his despairing dive failed to beat Clark’s throw from midwicket, began a chaotic 10-minute period for the hosts in which Nathan McAndrew claimed the key wickets of James Bracey and Graeme van Buuren from successive balls on his way to a five-wicket haul.Gloucestershire were suddenly four down at tea – after Cheteshwar Pujara’s 58th first-class century had underpinned Sussex’s 455 for five declared – as a rain-affected match came to life.Sussex claimed a further five wickets in the final session, McAndrew finishing the day with figures of five for 53, as Gloucestershire slumped from 99 for one to 198 for nine at the close, still 257 runs behind.Pujara ticked off the single run he needed his morning to reach his century before Sussex set about pushing for quick runs ahead of a pre-lunch declaration.The visitors added 153 in the morning session with wicketkeeper Oli Carter contributing an unbeaten 59 off 78 balls, while Pujara reached 151 before he slapped Marchant de Lange to mid-off.The skipper’s next act was the call his batters in – after Fynn Hudson-Prentice also added a brisk unbeaten 29 from 19 balls – after reaching maximum batting bonus points to leave Gloucestershire’s opener with a tricky period to negotiate before lunch.Chris Dent and Harris managed that without concern and, while Dent played on attempting a square drive at Henry Crocombe in the afternoon session, the home side had looked set to reach tea without further alarm.That all changed in the space of 13 balls before the break as first Harris, who had reached 37, turned the ball to midwicket and set off for a single he never made thanks to Clark’s arrow shot.McAndrew then pinned left-hander Bracey lbw from around the wicket, before van Buuren was snapped up at second slip from the very next ball to cue Sussex celebrations as they headed off for tea.Sussex have won just once in each of the previous two County Championship seasons and, after an opening-round win over Durham, the then still-distant prospect of a second win in three games to start this summer appeared to galvanise their efforts in the evening session.
McAndrew struck three more times during the session – Oliver Price and Zafar Gohar both edging behind to wicketkeeper Carter – before the Australian had De Lange bowled pressing forward in defence to complete his five-wicket haul.In between time Crocombe’s pace and bounce caught the defensive edge of Jack Taylor, Tom Alsop holding on at second slip. Crocombe then turned catcher as he held on at point when Tom Price slashed at Hudson-Prentice.Gloucestershire’s number four, Miles Hammond, remained steadfast while the wickets tumbled around him to finish the day unbeaten on 42, from 123 balls, to showcase the resolve his team-mates will require on the final day if they are to secure a draw.

“Hopefully he doesn’t give too many secrets away to the Aussies,” Stuart Broad jokes

Matt Roller06-Jun-2023Australia hope to become the first team since England in 2010-11 to win an away Ashes series this summer, and have ramped up their attempts to do so by adding Andy Flower – the mastermind of that success – to their backroom staff.Flower, a three-time Ashes-winning coach with England, has joined the Australia squad on a consultancy basis ahead of this week’s World Test Championship final at The Oval.He is not expected to be involved in the build-up to the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston on June 16, but ESPNcricinfo understands that he will return to the set-up during the latter stages of the Ashes – most likely before the third Test at Headingley starts from July 6.”It’s great to see Andy sharing his experiences of Test match cricket and playing in England,” Stuart Broad, the England seamer, told ESPNcricinfo. “He was a fantastic coach for England for many years and someone who taught me a huge amount about the game in his years as head coach.”I was very lucky to win Ashes series under him and become the best team in the world under him… I owe a lot of the traits I have as a cricketer to Andy Flower. Hopefully he doesn’t give too many secrets away to the Aussies…”Broad: Flower was “a fantastic coach for England for many years”•PA Images via Getty Images

Pat Cummins, Australia’s captain, said that Australia were “lucky to have someone as experienced as Andy” in their camp heading into a busy two-month period in the UK, which will see them play six Tests in eight weeks.”[He brings] experience over here, first of all,” Cummins said, “and knows these conditions really well. Hopefully he knows the opposition, so if he can give us one little bit of insight into playing in England that we haven’t thought about then it’s worth it.”I think Andrew [McDonald] has worked with him quite a bit, and you’ve seen us over the years bring in different people at different times. We’re pretty lucky to have someone as experienced as Andy.”Related

• Flower power fuels Rockets success

• Pat Cummins happy to be 'underdone than overdone'

• Travis Head could play decisive hand for Australia in England

Flower coached England from 2009-14, a stint which included four Ashes series. He emerged victorious in his first three of those – in 2009, 2010-11 and 2013 – before stepping down after his side was whitewashed in Australia in 2013-14.He spent the following five years working in the ECB’s pathways, overseeing the England Lions set-up, and has since launched a successful career as a head coach in various franchise leagues around the world.That has included the Hundred, where Flower coached Trent Rockets to the title last summer. Intriguingly, since teams in the Hundred are run centrally rather than by private investors, Flower’s Rockets contract means he is still on the ECB’s payroll.

Kent still need seven wickets to inflict first defeat of the season on league leaders

ECB Reporters Network13-Jun-2023A brilliant century by Jamie Smith has given Surrey stand a chance of making history in the LV= Insurance County Championship: they need another 238 for victory against Kent and what would be their highest-ever run chase.The Division One leaders were 263 for 3 at stumps and more than halfway to their target, with Dom Sibley on 61 not out and Ben Foakes unbeaten on 22, after Smith made 114 and Tom Latham 58.Kent were all out for 344 just before lunch, a lead of exactly 500. Jordan Clark took 5 for 79, but only after Hamid Qadri had hit a highly entertaining 72 and put on 117 in a crucial stand with Joey Evison that looked to have batted Surrey out of the game.However, having lost just two wickets in the last two sessions Surrey stand an excellent chance of overhauling their previous highest run chase, which was against Kent at this venue in 2002 when they finished on 410 for 8.Surrey began a pulsating third day with hopes of getting Kent’s final four wickets cheaply, but Qadri, who had looked like he might get out with every delivery on Monday evening, was enjoying what’s known on the circuit as a “day out”. He survived a dicey early spell, smacked Sean Abbott for six over cow corner and brought up his fifty with a heave past the bowler, Gus Atkinson, for four.By the time Clark took three wickets for no runs in the space of five balls, Kent’s lead was already 445 and the seventh-wicket stand that exasperated Surrey only came to an end when Evison was caught by Smith off Clark for 42.Clark then bowled Wes Agar, promoted up the order, for a second-ball duck and Qadri’s fun finally ended when he hit the same bowler to Jacks on the boundary, but the last-wicket pair of Arshdeep Singh and Matt Quinn then put on a further 53. Arshdeep hit fours off his first two balls and Quinn then hit 37 from 22 balls, including three sixes before Clark bowled him.Just as it looked like Surrey’s morning couldn’t get any worse, in the two over mini-session before lunch Rory Burns managed to hit the first ball for four before edging the second to Jack Leaning at second slip and Latham was nearly run out. He survived by an inch and the let off seemed to remind Surrey of the discipline they’d need as he and Sibley batted through the entire afternoon.They only looked vulnerable when Qadri came on, but his earlier luck deserted him as he had Latham dropped twice, by Ben Compton and Agar, in the space of two overs.He finally got his man when Daniel Bell-Drummond took a diving catch at mid-on shortly after tea but while Sibley continued to score steadily Smith then started flaying the bowlers. He was on 77 when he cut Quinn and Compton couldn’t hold a difficult catch and he reached three figures from 70 balls when he smashed Joe Denly’s first ball for six over long-on.A wave of relief went round the ground when Arshdeep sent his off stump flying to end a stand of 138 but with Ben Foakes joining Sibley and taking eight off the final over it left Kent members with long memories fearing something even worse than their defeat 21 years ago, when Ian Ward and Jimmy Ormond put on 97 for the eighth wicket to steer Surrey home by two wickets.