We’re lucky to have him: Marsh lauds Starc for defending 11 off the final over against Russell

ENG vs PAK | 1st T20I: Pakistan look to reconstruct as auditions for World T20 begin

"I don't know why the team was totally off-colour in this series and lost its momentum but it is a very worrying sign for me as head coach,” said a disappointed Misbah-Ul-Haq in the virtual press conference after Pakistan’s 0-3 thumping defeat in the ODIs against a makeshift England team. Well, the touring side looked totally off colour in all the three ODIs barring some two-three players who chipped in with some runs and picked wickets but that didn’t really help the cause. The problem with the Pakistan team on this tour has been that the three departments (Bowling, batting and fielding) haven’t complimented each other. When the bowlers chipped in with some good spells or created chances to scalp wickets, the fielders dropped catches while the batsmen didn’t put sufficient score on the board. On the other side, when the batting attack and especially captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan finally got among some runs in the last over to help their side post a big total, the bowling line up terribly failed to capitalise on it resulting in a whitewash series loss. But as they say, you can still take away some positives from the series and so can Pakistan team management. The first and foremost and probably the most important one is Babar’s form with the bat. The right-handed batsman ended his run drought with a fine hundred and went on to score his career best ODI score of 158. Apart from the skipper, wicket-keeper batsman Rizwan who was having a bit of a lean patch on the tour also notched up a fifty in the last match to get back into the groove. In the bowling department, Hasan Ali scalped a fifer in the second match and picked up a total of 6 wickets in the series while Haris Rauf ferocious bowling in the last encounter handed him a four-wicket haul which is a good sign for the visitors. On the other hand, England who had to change the team for the ODI series at the last moment following a Covid-19 outbreak within the side where seven members of the contingent had tested positive while the others were kept into isolation immediately considering they were in the close proximity have got some big guns back in the T20I squad. The likes of regular white-ball captain Eoin Morgan, Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali, Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler are back in the team for the T20Is. While there have been a few changes in the squad from the ODIs, the home side would still be riding high on confidence after the way the Ben Stokes-led team fared against Pakistan in 50-over format. While the team made headlines with that emphatic win, two of the players grabbed the limelight and eventually made a place for themselves in the T20Is squad. Fast bowler Saqib Mahmood was on song ODI series and ended it with a total tally of 9 wickets in three games. Lewis Gregory who made his ODI debut for England in this series came handy with both bat and ball. While he scored an important 77 in the final match to help his side etch a win, the right-handed player also had 44 to his name that he struck in the second clash. Gregory also bagged four wickets in the series. With the experienced lads back in the team, England would be looking to give their fans another moment of joy and delight while Pakistan’s think tank has a lot of work left at their disposal. But they can only move forward from here on and turn things around in the shorter format. The first T20I of the three-match series takes place in Nottingham on Friday (July 16). Match Details Date – Friday, July 16, 2021 Time – 11:00 PM IST Venue – Trent Bridge, Nottingham Pitch Report The track at Trent Bridge might have something on offer for the batsmen. The ball would come nicely on to the bat and a high-scoring encounter is expected to take place when the two sides meet in Nottingham. So, if you win the toss, bat first and try to put up a big total. Team News England: The experienced and senior members are back in the side and the team would be led by Eoin Morgan. While England have some aggressive batsmen in Dawid Malan, Roy, Morgan himself, Moeen Ali, Bairstow and Buttler, the bowling department too looks a steady one. Left-arm pacer David Willer might trouble the batsmen with the movement, Saqib is in some terrific form and can pepper the opposition with some short and quick deliveries. Adil Rashid’s leg-spin is another boon for the team and his wrong-un can unsettle any batting order. In all, the return of the mainstays has only strengthened the side and they would look to replicate what the ODI squad did. Pakistan: As we talked above, Pakistan has a lot of work to do. The good and positive part is that captain Babar Azam, wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan are back in form while Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi are in decent knick at the moment. If the trio plays together, they can make a lethal force. Hasan can trouble the batsmen with the kind of line he maintains around the off-stump channel, Rauf has the ability to create problems with his quick and short deliveries while Shaheen’s toe-crushing yorkers has fetched him a lot of wickets in quite some time. Apart from these three, Pakistan have Shadab Khan in the spin bowling attack who can make life difficult for the batsmen with his spin web especially with his wrong-un. The visitors also have some experienced players in the ranks like Mohammad Hafeez whose inputs would be pretty important in the middle. The one major issue that Pakistan might still face especially if they are asked to chase a target is Babar Azam’s scoring rate. The right-handed batsman’s needs to certainly fine-tune this problem as it does create a lot of pressure on other batsmen which results in fall of wickets at regular intervals. Well, for now, the Pakistan team can just rely upon the strengths and take the field on Friday. Probable XI England : Jonny Bairstow (wk), Dawid Malan, Jason Roy, Eoin Morgan (c), Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Lewis Gregory, Saqib Mahmood, David Willey, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam (c), Sharjeel Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Azam Khan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Usman Qadir, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi Fantasy XI Mohammad Rizwan, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Babar Azam, Azam Khan, Dawid Malan (C), Lewis Gregory, Moeen Ali (VC), Hasan Ali, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid

Deepak Hooda leaves Baroda; to play for Rajasthan

All-rounder Deepak Hooda has decided to leave Baroda and has sought NOC from the Baroda Cricket Association and the board will subsequently oblige with it. He in fact will be moving to Rajasthan. “He had applied for a ‘No Objection Certificate’ and the association has given him,” BCA secretary Ajit Lele told The Indian Express. The right-handed player was suspended by the BCA for the domestic season ahead of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy earlier this year after he was involved in a spat with Krunal Pandya. “The apex council decided that Hooda won’t be considered to represent the Baroda team for the current domestic season. The decision was taken after considering reports from team manager and coach about the incident as well as communication with Hooda,” said Satyajit Gaekwad, chairman, BCA had said then. Hooda had also complained about Krunal’s misconduct. “At this moment, I am demoralised, depressed and under pressure. As from last some days, my team captain Mr Krunal Pandya is using abusing language to me in front of my teammates and also other state teams who have come for participation at Reliance Stadium Vadodara,” Hooda wrote in the letter to BCA. Former India player Irfan Pathan has reacted to the controversy and said that losing a player like Hooda who is an India probable is a huge loss for Baroda Cricket.

WATCH: Tammy Beaumont's innovative stroke from behind the stumps

The fans and spectators have witnessed some innovative strokes in the past and England women’s team batter Tammy Beaumont did something similar against India in the third and deciding T20I of the series. In the starting of the fourth over of the innings that was being bowled by left-arm spinner Radha Yadav, the right-handed batter hit a boundary towards the deep fine leg. Beaumont pulled a back of the length delivery from Yadav while she almost went behind the line of the stumps after moving across. Beaumont’s stay at the crease in the 154-run chase was a brief one as she departed soon after being trapped in front of the stumps by Deepti Sharma for 11 off 15. But her opening partner Danielle Wyatt who was looking in some good form while batting steadied the ship for the side and stitched a stand of 112 runs for the second wicket with Natalie Sciver who had joined her in the middle at number three . Wyatt remained unbeaten at 89 off 56 while Sciver eventually departed for a 36-ball 42. The home side won the match by 8 wickets and as many balls to spare to clinch the series 2-1. Later, Wyatt talked about getting back in form and the contribution she made in the side’s win. “It was about time (to get back to form). It was my night today. Glad to contribute to a series win,” she said. England had also won the three-match ODI series 2-1 earlier.

BCB increases salary of contracted women's cricketers

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has decided to increase the salary and match fees of the contracted players of the women’s team. BCB women's wing chairman Nadel Chowdhury has said that the board has agreed to increase the salary of the women’s players by 20 percent during the last board meeting that was held on June 15 according to a Cricbuzz report. ''We have increased the salary of the women cricketers by 20 percent and they will receive their salary in the new pay scale from this month (July),'' said Shafiul. "Earlier they (women cricketers) used to get 100 USD and 75 USD as match fees respectively for ODIs and T20Is,'' he added. The BCB was thinking of increasing the salaries of the women’s cricketers earlier. ''I agree the amount they what they receive as international match fees [100 USD] is very minimal in the present context and so we have proposed to increase that to USD 400,'' Nadel said earlier. As many 22 cricketers received the national contracts which have been divided into four categories. After the hike in the salaries, the players in A category will receive BDT 60000, B category will get BDT 48000, category C will get BDT 36000 and D category will receive BDT 25000 respectively.