Ranji Trophy makes a comeback to India’s domestic season as BCCI announces 2021-22 calendar

Ollie Robinson free to resume career immediately

A Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) Panel on Saturday announced the decision on the charges brought against England’s Ollie Robinson. The fast bowler had posted sexist and racist tweets when he was a teenager and the posts had resurfaced on social media during the series against New Zealand. “Following a hearing on 30 June, the Panel decided that Robinson should be suspended from playing cricket for eight matches, five of which will be suspended for two years,” a release from the England and Wales Cricket Board said. “As regards the three matches which are the subject of immediate suspension, the Panel has taken into account the suspension imposed by the England Team from the secondTest against New Zealand, together with two of the Vitality Blast T20 matches from which Robinson voluntarily withdrew himself from selection for Sussex CCC due to the impact of these proceedings,” it added. The fast bowler who was also fined £3,200 is now free to play the game with immediate effect. Robinson had an impressive start to his Test career after he scalped 7 wickets in two innings against the Blackcaps but was then suspended from the side following the controversy. ECB Chief Executive Officer Tom Harrison said that the board has accepted the decision made by the panel. “We accept the decisions made by the Cricket Discipline Commission and the sanctions they have imposed,”he said. Robinson himself admitted that he was ashamed about the tweets and apologised for the same. “I fully accept the CDC’s decision. As I have said previously, I am incredibly embarrassed and ashamed about the tweets I posted many years ago and apologise unreservedly for their contents,” the bowler said,

T20 Blast: Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, Blake Cullen scalp hattricks

It was a bowlers day out in the T20 Blast on Friday after three players, Adam Milne, Lockie Ferguson and Blake Cullen picked up hat-tricks for their respective teams. Kent’s Milne vs Surrey Kent were up against Surrey when Adam Milne achieved the feat in Canterbury. Batting first, Kent rode on some fine batting from Jack Leaning and Jordon Cox as both the batsmen struck individual fifties during the course to take the total to 191/4 in 20 overs. Surrey in reply started off well as opener Will Jacks and Jamie Smith put 43 on the board for the first wicket in 4.1 overs before Smith departed for 9. Jacks then had stitched a 92-run stand for the second wicket but the opener’s departure for 87 off 54 pushed Surrey on the backfoot as they were reduced to 148/3. But Laurie Evans tried to steady the ship from one end as he notched up 57 off 42. Surrey needed 18 off the last over and it was Milne who had the ball in his hands. He scalped the wickets of Ollie Pope, Kyle Jamieson and Evans on the last three deliveries of the innings to claim the hat trick as Kent won by 11 runs. Yorkshire’s Lockie Ferguson vs Lancashire Yorkshire who batted first posted 180/4 in 20 overs against Lancashire, courtesy an unbeaten 91 off 50 deliveries from Harry Brook. Lancashire had a disappointing start to the chase and lost wickets at regular intervals to get reduced to 70/4 before Rob Jones and Steven Croft showed some resistance and put up a partnership of 85 runs for the fifth wicket before Croft was undone for 41 off 23. The equation was down to 32 off 12 and eventually came to 20 off 6. Ferguson got the ball to bowl the last over and the fast bowler bagged a hat trick on the last three deliveries of the innings. He first dismissed Luke Wells who took the aerial route but miscued his stroke to give a catch to Lyth in the deep and then cleaned up Luke Wood. Wood’s wicket was followed by Tom Hartley’s scalp who also mistimed a shot and Lyth completed a nice running catch as Ferguson completed his hat trick. Middlesex’s Blake Cullen vs Somerset Blake Cullen scalped a hat trick against Somerset in Taunton after dismissing Lewis Goldsworthy on the last ball of the 14th over and then returned in the 18th over to complete the hat trick. Cullen picked up the wickets of Ben Green and Marchant de Lange on consecutive deliveries at the start of the 18th over. Somerset were bundled out for 152 after Cullen returned with figures of 4/32 in 4 overs. Middlesex were then restricted to 114/6 in 16 overs and Somerset won the match by 5 runs (DLS method). Craig Overton picked up three wickets during the course.

Steve Smith ready to give up on playing World T20 to be fit for Ashes

Former Australia captain Steve Smith who is recovering from an elbow injury has said that playing Test cricket is his priority and could skip the World T20 which is now scheduled to take place in UAE and Oman later this year. “There’s still a bit of time between now and (the World Cup), and I’m tracking okay at the moment – it’s slow, but I’m going okay,” Smith told cricket.com.au on Friday. Australia will host England for Ashes later this year and Smith is focusing on playing the series. “I’d love to be part of the World Cup, for sure. But from my point of view, Test cricket, that’s my main goal – to be right for the Ashes and try to emulate what I’ve done in the last few Ashes series I’ve been involved in,” Smith said. “I want to put myself in a position where I can have that kind of impact,” he further said. “If that does mean not partaking in the World Cup, then we’ll have to go down that path, but hopefully we don’t have to go there,” Smith added. The right-handed batsman had earlier opted out of the West Indies tour where the Aussie team will play five T20Is and three ODIs against the Caribbean side.

WI W vs PAK W | 2nd T20I: Chinelle Henry, Chedean Nation taken to hospital after collapsing

Two of the West Indies women’s players Chinelle Henry and Chedean Nation collapsed on the field during their second T20I match against Pakistan in Antigua. Both the cricketers were taken to hospital where they were "conscious and stable", according to a CWI spokesperson. "Chinelle Henry and Chedean Nation were taken to hospital for medical attention," said CWI in a statement. "Both Henry and Nation are conscious and stable at hospital and are being assessed." Head coach Courtney Walsh said that the conditions weren’t easy but also appreciated the team’s efforts after clinching a win in difficult situations. "It isn't very easy in those conditions and situations. I'm just happy that the team was able to go over the line for those two ladies who weren't with us, and we're just waiting on all the information that we can get," Courtney Walsh said. "They have our full support and we'll be riding with them as well." The home side who batted first scored 125/6 in 20 overs and then restricted Pakistan to 103/6 in 18 overs to win a rain-curtailed match by 7 runs (DLS method). West Indies took a 2-0 unassailable lead in the three-match series with the final T20I to take place on Sunday at the same venue.