CA CEO supports Justin Langer to continue till Ashes 2021 for 'incredibe job' of raising 'values'

Smith, Warner, Maxwell, Cummins return to Aaron Finch-led Australian side for World T20

Australia have announced the 15-man squad for the upcoming World T20 scheduled to take place in October-November in the UAE and Oman. The side would be led by Aaron Finch who is presently recovering from a knee injury while Pat Cummins has been named his deputy. Former captain Steve Smith has also been included. Smith had missed out Australia’s recent fixtures against West Indies and Bangladesh as he is also recovering from an elbow injury. The likes of Pat Cummins, David Warner, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell and Kane Richardson have made a return to the side after the players had missed out the tours to Caribbean islands and Bangladesh. "We have some of the best players in the world in their respective roles combined with the collective experience to succeed against the very best T20 sides in the world," chairman of selectors George Bailey said. Australia have had some disappointing run in the T20I format after suffering defeats in the recent series against West Indies and Bangladesh away from home. Apart from this, Nathan Ellis who bagged a hat trick on his T20I debut against Bangladesh, Dan Christian and Daniel Sams have been named as the reserve players. The Aaron Finch-led side will begin the campaign on October 23 against South Africa. Squad: Aaron Finch (C), Pat Cummins (VC), Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Swepson

David Gower blames Joe Root for 'emotional tactics' during Lord's Test

When arguably the most stylish left-hander to have graced the game, David Gower says that the world has gone mad after the partnership between Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah in the Lord’s Test, most of us are bound to feel the same way. The reaction of Gower was abridging of every single person who had watched the final day’s play of the Lord’s Test. “The world has gone mad. The world has gone completely mad when you’ve got Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah sharing a partnership of 89 on the fifth morning. No one, not even their parents, or their close family, would have predicted that one,” Gower said. When the final day started, England was on the cusp of a victory with India just leading by 154 runs with just Rishabh Pant and the bowlers to follow. When they got Pant early in the day, things looked quite gloomy for India until a bizarre tactical move by Joe Root turned the game on its head. When Jasprit Bumrah came out to the crease, the English bowlers allowed their emotions to take control as they kept firing a barrage of short deliveries at Bumrah reminding him of the similar medicine which he had given to James Anderson at the fag end of Day 2. “How often do we say to people in one-day cricket, when the ball is flying everywhere, ‘how bout the yorker?’ How often when the yorker works, do we see the stumps rearranged. That’s the sort of delivery I think should be bowled in these circumstances more often. Aim at the stumps, full and straight, if you get it right, the tail-enders sometimes struggle with that,” Gower said. After getting hit on the head twice and dealing with the verbal volleys, both Shami and Bumrah became resilient and started to defy the English attack with their sensible style of play. With most of the fielders being pushed as boundaries riders, singles became as easy to get as getting newspapers by a roadside stall. Both Bumrah and Shami cashed in and started piling on the agony on the English bowlers. Their unbeaten partnership of 89 runs made sure that only two results were possible in the match, an Indian win or a draw. Taking nothing away from the efforts of the two tail-enders, Gower blamed Root for the ‘emotional tactics’ which eventually played into the hands of both Bumrah and Shami. “What was interesting about the final hour was that the passion and emotions got too much for England. Yes they’d been stirred up with the Bumrah and Anderson stuff, but it’s amazing how when your emotions take control, your carefully laid plans could become mislaid plans. Every Root had to admit that he got his tactics wrong,” Gower said speaking exclusively to Cricket.com, reviewing the Lord’s Test. “Captaincy is one of those things where sometimes you think you’re getting a hang of it. But then you have days like the final morning, and you realize that you’re still learning. In truth, you’re always learning - every day you’re captain of any national team. “But this is not the first time he’s been in such a situation. Those are the situations that can make or break a game. As we can now see very very vividly. That’s where a captain has to be able to say to himself and his players, ‘Look, this is our plan. Let’s not lose control.’ and that’s what I’m sure he regrets most,” Gower said.

BCB optimistic of hosting the Kiwis despite hard lockdown announced by New Zealand govt.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is optimistic about hosting New Zealand for a five-match T20I series despite the lockdown imposed by the New Zealand government. The measure was taken after the country reported 10 new cases on Tuesday which is their first reported case in as many as six months. New Zealand is slated to play all their five T20Is at the Sher-e Bangla National Stadium from 1-10 September. BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury clarified that he had a word with the CEO of New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and the tour is well on track. "The series is very much on,'' BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury was quoted as saying by the Cricbuzz. "I just spoke with the CEO of NZC and there is no kind of uncertainty regarding the upcoming home series against them,” he added. Meanwhile NZC’s public affairs manager, Richard Brook confirmed that the level four COVID-19 alert in the country won’t hamper their travel plans in any way or the other. "We still have some matters to work through but we're confident we'll be able to arrange for the players to depart as scheduled," Boock was quoted as saying by stuff.co.nz. "Regarding COVID-19, our players will be vaccinated and adhering to best-practice health protocols, including mask-wearing, social distancing and operating within bio-secure bubbles. Once in Bangladesh, they will be flying into, and out of Pakistan on charter flights," he further added. The advance team of the New Zealand Cricket Board (NZC) is already in Dhaka to inspect on the arrangements of bio-bubble. The personnel who introspect the condition before givong a green signal is currently undergoing three-day isolation in Dhaka. The New Zealand team is expected to arrive in Dhaka on August 24 once he sends the report back from Dhaka. Nizamuddin further stated that the traveling protocols of the New Zealand team will be a bit different from the Australian team which played a five match T20I series in Bangladesh not long ago. "They will be travelling in a commercial flight so their airport procedure won't be exactly like Australia's arrangements. But we will try to minimize public contact on their way to the hotel," the BCB chief said. "They have requested us to give them the same bio-bubble environment that we ensured for Australia keeping everything in mind, we will do as much as practically possible to put together a complete bio-bubble environment to have a successful series,” he added. New Zealand however won’t be able to get a practice match ahead of the actual series. For that to materialise, one more bio-bubble had to be formed in another venue which was discouraged by NZC. "They were offered [a practice match] but since it means an additional bio-bubble in another venue, they have discouraged it. They also want minimum movement during the series," he pointed out. "Our players have been instructed to keep their movements restricted and told to be within the family environment. They have been discouraged from attending public functions. They will enter the bio-bubble when it is ready,” Nizamuddin signed off.

Azeem Rafiq wants ECB to push Yorkshire for publishing racism enquiry report

It has been reported that an enquiry committee, that was set up by Yorkshire County Cricket Club after allegations of institutionalised racism at the club by its former captain Azeem Rafiq, has finally given a 100-page report to the club. But Rafeeq alleged that even after the report submitted on August 14, the Club has been sitting on it and not making it public, nullifying any use of the enquiry. "It's a sham. We've waited a year for this report and they are still trying to bury it. Surely now is the time for the ECB to become involved?’ the 29-year-old was quoted as asking by ESPNCricinfo. Rafiq, who also led the England U-19 side during an Under-19 World Cup, was furious at the non-action by the England and Wales Cricket Board. "The ECB's own anti-discrimination code states that any alleged breach must be investigated and dealt with in a 'timely' fashion,” he said. “Well, it's been more than a year and no one has been held accountable and nothing has changed. At some stage, the ECB need to act or, by passively accepting the situation, they are part of the problem,” Rafiq attacked the PCB after being frustrated by its non-involvement. Although born in Karachi, Pakistan, Rafiq represented England at all age group stages except the senior level. The man who was once touted to lead England in future asked if the politicians were going to do something for the players getting racially abused every year at different places. "Why are our politicians not stepping in to ensure this issue is investigated with the transparency it deserves? There's a Test between England and India in Leeds next week. Do they want the issue of race hanging over it?” he asked. Rafiq opened about racism last year post the Black Lives Matter gained momentum in England and all over the world. It has come to light that Yorkshire offered Rafiq a large financial settlement - believed to be in excess of £100,000 - some months ago, but Rafiq refused it, saying that it was never about money. "This has never been about money for me and it never will be. I want change. I want the next generation to be able to able to play cricket without the abuse I have suffered,” said the player who played 40 First-Class games between 2009 and 2018 for the club that he is fighting against. Rafiq said that the club has had its chance to show that they have changed. But not being able to convince people, he thinks ECB and politicians must step in now. "Nothing will get done if we leave it to the club. They wouldn't have had an enquiry if the media hadn't forced them into it. Now they'll try to cover up the conclusions. They've had their chance. It's time for the ECB and politicians to step in,” Rafiq said. The next England-India Test is in Yorkshire at their home ground of Headingley in Leeds.