PSL 2021 | Ain’t just a lower order batter; Khushdil Shah sends strong message to Multan management

Jos Buttler defends England's rotation policy, reiterates all-format ambitions

England suffered a massive defeat against New Zealand to lose their first home series since 2014 and the first one against Kiwis at home since 1999 but for Jos Buttler the things in England cricket are not ‘as good as you think and not as bad as you think they are.’ He pointed out that England had to fight in tough conditions against India, who have been a ‘formidabe’ side in their home conditions while terming the series loss to New Zealand which was also skipper Joe Root’s first series loss at home, ‘disappointing.’ "Generally, things are never as good as you think they are and never as bad as you think they are. We played three fantastic games in the subcontinent and then hit some extremely tough conditions. India are a formidable force at home and went on to win that series. Any time you lose at home is disappointing - we're a proud nation with a proud record at home and it was Rooty's first series loss at home,” Buttler said. He added that England have improved as a side over the past 18 months and they have made significant progress in the right direction to keep things at a ‘good place’ which will help the side come back strongly against India in the upcoming series. "It's disappointing whenever you don't play cricket you know what you're capable of as a side. But in the past 18 months, two years, there have been some strides and I think the side is going in the right direction. Things are still in a good place. Any time you lose, there are question marks but I think some great things have been put in place and I'd still back everyone in that side to have a great summer against India,” he added. Buttler missed the two-match long series against New Zealand albeit he arrived in the country as England and Wales Cricket Board had decided to rest players coming back from the curtailed edition of the IPL a rest in order to try ‘new faces.’ He pointed out that England cricketers play cricket ‘more than the most’ players across the world play and hence rest periods are necessary to prevent players from getting burnt out. "It's always disappointing when you miss cricket," Buttler said. "I was feeling in good touch and things were going well but I will retain that confidence if I get another chance. At the same time, what has been helpful as a player are the open discussions you have with the coaches and captains. Those rest periods are there because it probably allows you to throw yourself into everything when you are involved. If it's an endless piece of string, then at some point you are going to burn out. "I don't think there's any perfect answers," he added. "In England we're playing a lot of cricket, more than most, so it's important for everyone to be looked after really well, and I think the ECB do a good job of that. We understand it's a short career and you want to be available and play as much as you can, but in the current climate, with all the complications of Covid etc, I do think we have to look after our people. Pointing out the difference the covid-19 has brought upon in the world of cricket, Buttler said the process of keeping families with players or going to and fro to their homes have become untenable. He said that it’s not a perfect world of management by the ECB but he emphasized that the board has been willing to take care of the players in these tough times. "Simple things like playing in England, it used to be very easy to bring your family in, and get out and go home, and do those normal things. But the stresses and strains of the environments at the moment are different to what it used to be. "I know there's been some criticism from outside, but I think it's a day and age where we've got to look after people and applaud the fact that the guys are trying to be forward-thinking and look after people. Is it perfect? No, of course it's not, but I'd rather we look after our guys." Buttler was rested from the last three Tests of the series against India before the New Zealand series but he reiterated his commitment and ambitions to all forms of the game for England. He also urged the need to regain focus on the upcoming two T20 World Cups after the triumphant ODI World Cup campaign. "That was something that helped us in the 50-over World Cup - going in confident, having played good cricket. So we need to focus hard on these next few T20s to make sure we put ourselves in as good a position as we can be when we get to the World T20,” Buttler added. "Naturally I am a better white-ball player than I am a red-ball player but I want to be the best cricketer I can be in all formats," he added. "In terms of my own ambitions, I want to be the best player I can, no matter what colour the ball is.” Jos Buttler has returned to action with Lancashire in the Vitality Blast and will walk back in the ODI team in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.

Javeria Khan named skipper for Pakistan Women’s historic West Indies tour

Top-order batter Javeria Khan would lead a 26 member Pakistan Women contingent to West Indies for a five-match ODI and three-match T20I series beginning June 30. The tour for the first time would also involve the ‘A’ sides of both countries fighting alongside at the same time as the senior members. While Rameen Shamim will lead the Pakistan Women ‘A’ side in the List A matches, wicketkeeper Sidra Nawaz will skipper the T20 side. "This is a historic occasion in the history of Pakistan women's cricket as for the first time national side and the 'A' team are travelling together," Urooj Mumtaz, National Women's Selection Committee Chairperson was quoted as saying to Cricbuzz. The contingent will fly to Antigua and Barbuda via London on June 23 from Lahore. The first T20I, as well as the T20 involving the A teams, would be held on June 30 and the next two on July 2 and 4 respectively. Both the A and senior games would be played at the same venue of Sir Vivian Richards Stadium and Coolidge Cricket Ground during the T20 leg of the tour. The ODIs will be played at the same venues as well. The first two ODIs would be played at Coolidge on July 7 and 9 respectively, while the next two will be played at SVR Stadium on July 12 and 15 before the teams moving back to Coolidge for the final ODI on July 18. The A teams will play three List A games with the first one at SVR and the next two at Coolidge. This will be only the third visit of the Pakistan Women to the West Indies. On the previous two occasions in 2011 and 2015-16, they lost the four-match ODI series 1-3. But in the most recent meeting between the two teams in 2018-19 in UAE, Pakistan Women managed to win their first-ever bilateral series against the women from the Caribbean by beating them 2-1 in the three-match series. Pakistan Women Squad Javeria Khan (captain, national team), Rameen Shamim (One-Day captain, 'A' team), Sidra Nawaz (T20 captain, 'A' team), Aliya Riaz, Aiman Anwar, Anam Amin, Ayesha Naseem, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Iram Javed, Jaweria Rauf, Kainat Imtiaz, Kaynat Hafeez, Maham Tariq, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Nahida Khan, Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Saba Nazir, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, and Syeda Aroob Shah.

WTC final | 4th Day: Persistent rain washes out 4th day's play to leave fans frustrated

Persistent rain in Southampton has washed out the entire day’s play on the fourth day of the World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand. New Zealand were to resume their first innings from 101/2 with the skipper Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor unbeaten batsmen at the end of the previous day’s play. Devon Conway has been the highest-run scorer in the match so far closely followed by Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli. The fourth day was the second completely washed out day of the WTC final after persistent rain had forced no play on the first day of the Test as well. Even though the plays took place on the second and third day, spells of bad light and rains kept on hampering the flow of the game. The final is nicely poised with New Zealand just 116 runs away from the first innings total of India (217) with eight wickets remaining in their hands. Now, with just two more days to go in the final including the reserve day, it would take a herculean task from one side to become triumphant. In case the match ends in a draw, both sides will share the ICC Mace and prize money worth USD 2.4 million between them. India were bowled out early on the third day on the back of dominating seam bowling Kyle Jamieson who picked up another five-wicket haul.

Shubman Gill admits batting failures against Kiwis, laments lack of 'luck' behind bowlers' struggle

Indian bowlers missed the opportunity to break into the New Zealand batting order but the wicket of Devon Conway at the critical juncture of the third day’s play before the rain came back to stop the game has given them a sight of hope in the views of the opener Shubman Gill. He lamented the lack of opportunity to attack the then-new batsman Ross Taylor as players were rushed back to the pavilion due to bad light. However, he said that bowlers would fancy their chances on the fourth day morning as both Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor have not spent long hours at the crease. “It (Conway) was a crucial wicket for us and I feel that if we would have been able to bowl a few overs to Ross Taylor, we might have been able to get a couple of more wickets. We would have a slight edge tomorrow as both batsmen (Taylor and Kane Williamson) are relatively new at the crease,” Gill said during the media conference. Indian batting for all the might it possess, they have not crossed 250 runs in the last five innings against New Zealand and the fact was not lost on Gill as well. He said that the Virat Kohli-led batting lineup was on their way to mending the course but wickets in quick succession halted the progress. “I think the Tests we played in New Zealand (in 2020), we didn’t have too much time to prepare as the focus was more on ODIs and T20s. As you said, we haven’t been able to cross 250 in the last five Tests. This Test also we were in a solid position but we lost couple of early wickets today. But hopefully, if we get some time, in next innings, we will cross 250,” Gill said. Gill also appreciated the impressive spell of seam bowling by Kyle Jamieson,w ho picked up a five-wicket haul to break the backbone of the Indian batting order on the third day. He said that although Indian bowlers were not able to extract too many wickets on the third day, it was more down to lack of luck than poor bowling and that they would buy their own luck on the fourth day. “He (Jamieson) was bowling well during the first spell but he didn’t get many wickets. But he got his reward today and I feel our bowlers also bowled well. However luck didn’t favour us and there were a couple of half chances which didnt go our way. Hopefully, tomorrow is a new day and it will bring us some luck,” Gill concluded. The fourth day of the World Test Championship final is once again under the dark clouds and the possibility of a result in favour of any side now hinges on the batting collapse of a side.