Chris Cairns taken off life support

Ireland name ODI and T20 squad for Zimbabwe series, Curtis Campher returns

Ireland have named their squads for the upcoming ODI and T20I tour of Zimbabwe starting from August 27. Cricket Ireland has named a 16-member squad and will name a fifteen-member squad ahead of each game. Curtis Campher has been named in the T20I squad for the five-match series. Meanwhile, Ireland will be playing the qualifying tournament for the Super 12 stage in the T20 World Cup and has been drawn with Sri Lanka, the Netherlands and Namibia in Group A for the qualifying event. All the fifteen members of the squad which played against South Africa has been retained by the selectors. Campher who has been named in the T20I squad is yet to make his international debut in this format, having played 10 ODIs. The newcomer has played only 8 T20 games scoring 136 runs and taking five wickets. "For the T20I series, we have selected a squad of 16 for the five-match T20I series, of which it will be narrowed down to 15 each match day. Given the T20 World Cup starting in two months we want to provide as much playing time for the players in this format as possible," chief selector Andrew White was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz on Thursday. (August 19) "While we have kept faith with the squad that played in the recent South Africa series, we have additionally brought Curtis Campher in for his first call-up for Ireland in the T20 format. Curtis is back bowling following his injury and will add a dynamic batting and bowling presence to the squad. His inclusion will provide Graham Ford and Andrew Balbirnie with increased flexibility as they look to finalise their plans ahead of the World Cup,” he added. The T20I series will be followed by three ODIs which will be part of the ODI World Cup Super League. Former skipper William Porterfield has recovered from his injury which he incurred during the series against South Africa. "As we are all aware, there are no longer any meaningless ODIs when it comes to the World Cup Super League, and we have selected a squad that recognises the good performances put in during the recent South Africa series. Again, we welcome the news that Curtis [Campher] is back bowling, having come through last week's training camp in Somerset with no concerns. "Uncapped Graham Kennedy continued to impress coaches in Somerset last week, and retains his place in the squad with his all-round ability,” White further added. T20I squad: Andrew Balbirnie (Captain), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Shane Getkate, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, William McClintock, Kevin O'Brien, Neil Rock, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young. ODI squad: Andrew Balbirnie (Captain), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Graham Kennedy, Josh Little, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, William Porterfield, Neil Rock, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.

Jos Inglis gets reward for his consistent performances, Ricky Ponting and George Bailey hails him

Young Australian batsman Jos Inglis has been in stupendous form off late and got rewarded for his consistency after being named in the Australian squad for the very first time in his career for the upcoming T20 World Cup slated to be in UAE and Oman. Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has lauded Inglis on his stupendous run off late and said he has been scoring runs for fun and deserved his place in the side. The mega event will also mark the return of skipper Aaron Finch and Steve Smith. Ponting feels that despite the battering they received at the hands of West Indies and Bangladesh, Australia stands a realistic chance of winning their first ever T20 World Cup. "Awesome to see Inglis get his opportunity in the squad, he's been scoring runs for fun and if Ellis is called on it's a great story for how far he's come since moving to Tassie. Overall, it's a brilliant squad of players that I think are capable of winning the World Cup," Ponting tweeted. Inglis who plied his trade for Leicestershire in the Vitality T20 Blast scored 531 runs in the tournament at a staggering strike rate of 175.82 and an impressive average of 48.27. Inglis is currently plying his trade in the Hundred and has already scored two half-centuries for the London Spirits. In the previous edition of the Big Bash League, Inglis scored 413 runs in 16 innings which included an unbeaten match-winning 72. Meanwhile recently appointed chairman of selectors George Bailey hailed Inglis for his talent and that he has been on the radar of the national team for quite some time now. "Josh has been on our radar for some time with his performances in white-ball cricket and more recently in the Vitality Blast where he topped the run charts. He offers the squad flexibility in the batting order with his adaptability, counterattacking ability and power striking. He is a player we are excited about for the future," Bailey had said.

Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine and Sean Williams return for Ireland and Scotland tour

Zimbabwe will be bolstered by the return of three of their experienced players in the form of Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams and Craig Ervine for the upcoming tour of Ireland and Scotland. Zimbabwe is slated to play five T20Is and three ODIs against England started from 27th August before they travel to Scotland for a three-match T20I series kicking off from 15th September. Taylor who is currently the best batsman in the team was rested for the home T20I series against Bangladesh. Meanwhile, the likes of Craig Ervine and Sean Williams was forced to miss the full series comprising of a one-off Test, three ODIs and three T20Is after coming in close contact with a person who contracted COVID-19. The selectors have decided to retain the rest of their fifteen members who played against Bangladesh. It must also be noted that the three ODIs against Ireland will be part of the ICC ODI Super League. Zimbabwe is currently languishing at the bottom of the points table with just a solitary win from six outings. Zimbabwe needs to start winning on a more consistent basis to harbour hopes of qualifying for the 2023 ODI World Cup. They will be highly reliant on the services of Wesley Madhevere who was the highest run-scorer for them in the Bangladesh series amassing 150 runs in three outings. His knock of 73 played a pivotal role in ensuring that Zimbabwe won their only match of the tour. Meanwhile, the bowling department looks sorted with the likes of Blessing Muzarabani leading the attack. Full Squad: Ryan Burl, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Craig Ervine, Luke Jongwe, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Wessely Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tarisai Musakanda, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, Donald Tiripano.

Lea Tahuhu named in New Zealand squad for England tour after surviving cancer scare

New Zealand women’s fast bowler Lea Tahuhu overcame a cancer scare to be named in the squad which is currently touring England. She had to remove the potentially dangerous mole via three-foot surgeries in order to make it to the squad. She had discovered the mole on her left foot when it was in a pre-cancerous stage. She shared an Instagram post where she mentioned her surgery and skin graft back in July. "It got me to some low places. It was such a shock, all of it," she told Newsroom on Thursday. "It [the mole] had been there for 18 months. It looked fine to start with and then it started growing slightly bigger and changed colour," Tahuhu said. "I had the mole taken off, and all went well at that point. There's not a lot of skin on the top of your foot that you can actually pull together, so it was left a bit open." Further tests revealed that the wound could have been more serious than expected. "That morning then changed drastically, because it's not often you get words such as 'melanoma' and 'skin cancer' thrown at you, that you certainly weren't expecting," Tahuhu said. "I sat there like a stunned mullet." "What was supposed to be one local surgery and two weeks recovery, ended up being three surgeries and eight weeks later," she said. Tahuhu motivated herself during her time in the hospital hoping to play in the England tour. "There were a few days where I thought, 'How am I going to put ten times my body weight through my foot when I bowl? When at the moment I've just got a hole on the side of it.' But then I thought, 'No, I'm determined to get on that plane', and I'm pretty diligent with what I have to get done to reach goals,” she said. She is currently trying to get back to full fitness with the national team in Derby. She stated that she is careful as she tries to make a return to international cricket after a scare. The tour comprising of three T20Is and five ODIs will be played from September 1-26. The White Ferns, who are without star all-rounder Amelia Kerr, will play begin their tour with three T20Is from September 1-9 followed by five ODIs from September 16-26.