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Australia are scheduled to play eight Tests in the subcontinent, including four in India, next year

Daniel Brettig15-Feb-20212:48

Glenn Maxwell looks back at his first IPL auction experience

Glenn Maxwell believes that spinning conditions in Asia, a stratosphere away from anything in Australia, will give him a chance to return to the Test team even if schedule clashes and Covid-19 complexities conspire against his ambitions to play more Sheffield Shield games for Victoria over the coming year.Ahead of the T20I series in New Zealand, Maxwell could not have been clearer about his desire to return to the Test ranks, after having played the last of his seven matches in a baggy green back in 2017 in Bangladesh. He suggested that a looming glut of matches in Asia, and difficult surfaces like the one India and England have played on in Chennai this week, gave him a greater chance of returning to the thoughts of the national selectors.Related

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While there is a strong white-ball focus for Maxwell given that there are two T20 World Cups lined up for India (Covid-19 permitting) in 2021 and Australia in 2022, he admitted on Monday that he had discussed the possibility of a Test return with the selectors, as two Tests in Pakistan, two in Sri Lanka and four in India are all on the calendar for the next year. Australia have not played that many Tests in Asia in one year since 2004, when another spin specialist, Darren Lehmann, played some of the finest innings of his career in Sri Lanka and India, some years after it seemed he had been discarded.”I think even watching this current Test, you’re not facing these conditions in Australia, so you’re probably not learning a whole lot off Sheffield Shield cricket in Australia,” Maxwell said. “Not really getting a gauge on what guys are going to be like under that sort of pressure with the ball spinning square, keeping low, bouncing over your head. It’s just a different beast completely, so to be able to pick a Test side based on Sheffield Shield cricket it’s probably a little bit more difficult, I think you’ve got to go in with a lot more specialists, who can adapt to spinning conditions and find a way to score in those conditions as well.”I’m hoping that can put me in good stead even if I don’t have the time on field with the Sheffield Shield, I can find a way to play a few more series in the subcontinent over this year or however long and put my name forward, put up some good numbers, and show that I’m still a good player of spin.”Earlier this season, there had been some depiction of Maxwell and Aaron Finch as no longer being Shield players for Victoria, a view that the state coach Chris Rogers was quick to contradict. Maxwell was equally adamant that he wanted to see ways found to add to his tally of 67 first-class games and seven Tests.”I’m certainly keen to still play red-ball cricket and still push my case forward to still play Test cricket,” he said. “I feel like I’m still very much in the prime of my career, I’m only 32, there’s still a fair bit in me, I’m fit and young-feeling still, I feel like I’ve still got a lot to give in red-ball games. So certainly not done and dusted there.”I think with the schedule as well, next year there’s quite a few subcontinent tours that I feel like I could certainly add something to that Test squad if I was selected, and I’ll certainly be doing everything in my power to try and get on those tours and if I can somehow get some red-ball cricket at some stage or some time in Asia to work on my game over there, hopefully that can be enough to get myself back into the baggy green.Glenn Maxwell’s only Test century so far came on Australia’s 2016-17 tour of India•Associated Press

“If the schedule allows certainly and things with Covid haven’t been exactly clear all year, it’s been a changing landscape for us with the rules around hubs frequently changing with quarantine on the way back as well. So we’ll see, hopefully the schedule allows me to get out there and play another game of red-ball cricket, but we’ll see.”As for the current tour, Maxwell said that he and Finch were eager to see the squad’s bevy of younger players demonstrate their prowess under international pressure. At the same time, Maxwell said he had learned from painful experience that his own preparation needed to be balanced between focus on the task and keeping his mind fresh.”I think it’s more role-play for the players in our side,” Maxwell said. “There’s going to be a few debutants, they’re going to have an amazing opportunity to push their case for the T20 World Cup, I think there’s about 15 games before that starts, so plenty of opportunities for guys. And just to see how they go under pressure, New Zealand are a very good side, got some really good players and it’s going to be good to see how these players play under international pressure. We’ve seen them do it in the BBL, we’ve seen them play well, but international cricket’s a different beast, so hopefully our players can stand up and put up a good front and go well this series and put their names forward.”Learning from past mistakes is burning the candle too much and being flat come game day. In the past, I’ve trained really hard leading up to series and started well and then deteriorated as they go on. To give myself only a few days lead-in and hit the ground running still and keep that form continuous is probably pretty key for me going forward. It’s all well and good preparing for a period of time and trying to get used to conditions, but you’ve still got to be mentally and physically good to go through a whole series, not just the start.”

Hurricanes allrounder made an unbeaten 60 from 46 balls after claiming 2 for 27 to guide the visitors home from a precarious position

Alex Malcolm20-Oct-2019Nicola Carey proved why she has been become a key part of the Australian squad after guiding Hobart Hurricanes to victory over Melbourne Stars with a phenomenal all-round display at the Junction Oval.Carey took 2 for 27 with the ball including the key wickets of Lizelle Lee and Emma Inglis to help restrict the Stars to 7 for 136, before producing a clinical unbeaten 60 from 46 balls to guide the Hurricanes home after all looked lost when they fell to 5 for 73. The Hurricanes have won two from two to start the new WBBL season after winning just two games last season.Carey got support from South African Chloe Tryon who backed up her match-winning 46 not out from 18 balls against on Saturday with a 29 not out off 18 balls. The pair came together needing 64 from 46 balls and in the end made light work of the chase, getting home with nine balls to spare.Carey targeted Erin Osborne in the 15th over. Osborne had earlier claimed two wickets, but Carey twice lofted her over mid-off for boundaries. Tryon then launched Kristen Beams onto the hill at deep midwicket with a massive slog sweep.Stars’ youngster Tess Flintoff was thrown into the fire to bowl the 18th over and Carey thumped three more boundaries to all but seal the game.The Stars would have been concerned having posted just 7 for 136 from their 20 overs. They had three players reach 20 but none of Lee, Inglis or Mignon du Preez could pass 25. They were unable to get away against the Hurricanes attack. Inglis took 27 balls for her 20 while Lee struck five boundaries in her 25 but scored just five runs from the other 16 balls she faced. Carey forced mistakes from both of them, Inglis was bowled swiping across the line while Lee holed out to long on.The Stars then lost 3 for 8 in two overs to slump to 6 for 98 with 30 balls left in the innings. Annabel Sutherland and Flintoff showed composure in the late overs. They only found the boundary twice between them but some smart placement and running ensured the Stars posted something to chase but in the end, it wasn’t enough as the home side start the season with two straight losses.

Chief selector Minhajul Abedin says the panel were undecided about picking Soumya, but deferred to the team management’s insistence on getting the batsman

Mohammad Isam25-Jul-2018For the second T20I series in a row, Bangladesh’s selectors submitted to the team management’s demand to include Soumya Sarkar in the squad. On Wednesday, chief selector Minhajul Abedin said that their plans to keep Soumya in the Bangladesh A setup ahead of the Ireland tour next month had to be changed because of his inclusion in the senior team.Soumya, who along with Ariful Haque left Dhaka on Tuesday to join the Bangladesh squad in Guyana, scored only 129 runs in six innings, across both first-class and List A games, against Sri Lanka A during the recent home series. This was an attempt to bring him into contention for Tests and ODIs after he was being predominantly called up for T20Is this year. He has scored only 119 runs in nine T20Is since February, finishing with 18 runs in two matches against Afghanistan in June.When Soumya was selected for the T20I series against Afghanistan, Minhajul had also said that his selection was the team management’s choice. At the time, the management consisted of captain Shakib Al Hasan and interim coach Courtney Walsh. This time, the management includes new coach Steve Rhodes and manager Rabeed Imam.”We have already sent Soumya Sarkar and Ariful for the T20 series,” Minhajul said. “We, the selectors, had backed Ariful, but we were in two minds about Soumya because of his recent form. The team management really wanted Soumya, and since we allocate one spot for the team management’s choice, Soumya was picked. We had other plans for Soumya. Bangladesh A has plenty of matches. He played against Sri Lanka A. We are still hopeful that he will do well [in the T20Is against West Indies].”Minhajul, who didn’t confirm which players will return once the ODI series is over, said that the team management is of the view that Soumya does well on pitches that offer pace and bounce. He averages 31.58 in 11 international games in Australia and New Zealand, and also had a couple of fifties in Ireland last year. However, he managed only 34 runs in four Champions Trophy matches in England in 2017, and averaged 22.20 in five innings in South Africa later in the year.”He has played well abroad. He plays well square of the wicket on bouncy wickets. He hasn’t been among the runs in the last eight months, for which we have suffered a lot. But since the wickets in the West Indies and Florida are slightly quicker, the management wanted him.”Soumya has shown flair while attacking short balls, but too often, he has got himself out after a quick start. He hasn’t scored an international hundred since 2015, and hasn’t held a regular place in all three formats since 2016.

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed thinks his side’s No. 8 ranking means they’ve got nothing to lose in their quest to play positive and fearless cricket at the Champions Trophy

Melinda Farrell in Birmingham26-May-2017Pakistan could play hundred warm-up matches and fifty group games against every country other than their next door neighbours, and yet have the eyes of a huge swathe of the cricket world focused solely on their meeting with India at Edgbaston on June 4.Such is the anticipation for the rare clash – the two sides last met at the 2015 World Cup in Adelaide – that it was no surprise to hear Sarfraz Ahmed, the Pakistan captain, fielding questions about that fixture which is more than a week away, and not about their immediate warm-up game against Bangladesh.Sarfraz, who took over from Azhar Ali as captain after a disastrous tour of Australia in January, spoke about the need to balance the desire for victory over India – one that would please many fans more than Pakistan winning the entire tournament – with the danger of losing focus on other opponents.”We are very hopeful about the India match but our aim is to first perform well in our opening practice match as a team unit,” Sarfraz said at Edgbaston. “Obviously, performing against India is important because the whole nation is expecting us to win against them, so we will give our full 100 percent in the ground.”We will try our fullest to be seen fighting. All players [are] giving their heart out in each and every department of the game and when we’re together giving our best and keeping our focus, result will surely come good.”That game aside, Sarfraz believes his side has “nothing to lose” over the next few weeks and will use the underdog tag to encourage his teammates to play “positive cricket” and “freely” throughout the tournament. But he maintained that Pakistan, ranked lowest of the eight teams that qualified, had a chance to win the tournament for the first time.”Definitely we are very hopeful and really excited about this tournament,” he said. “We are No. 8, so we have nothing to lose. So that’s why I told the players just play your natural game.”This is Sarfraz’ first major tournament as captain and the challenge ahead is substantial. Pakistan have played just three ODIs against the West Indies in the interim and, while they won that series 2-1, it was over a side that failed to make the cut for this tournament.”Initially we played a good series in West Indies,” said Sarfraz of his first success as captain. “It was a very tough series for us. But a lot of our players performed really well in all forms, all departments, batting or bowling. So we’re really hopeful to perform this tournament and we’ll try to win this trophy as well.”The Champions Trophy hasn’t been a successful hunting ground for Pakistan. Thrice they have made the semi-finals only to be eliminated – twice by New Zealand and once by the West Indies. In the most recent tournament, held in England in 2013, Pakistan remained winless.Their opponents in Saturday’s warm-up are, in contrast, a side on the rise: now ranked sixth, they sit above both Sri Lanka and Pakistan heading into their first Champions Trophy since 2006 and expectations have grown. Sarfraz was particularly wary of a batting line-up featuring the likes of Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim.But Pakistan, under coach Mickey Arthur, have prepared as well as they possibly can, according to their captain. “We had a six-day camp here before the tournament and we used it as best we could for our practice in fielding, batting and bowling,” Sarfraz said. “These upcoming warm-up matches are very important and it will give us a fair idea about the pitch and the conditions. Our wish is to win the mini-World Cup and we are all in for it and we will try to give our nation a gift for “

Joe Root is set to stay at No. 4 in England’s Test line-up for the series against Sri Lanka, but Alastair Cook admitted there were some “tough decisions” to be made about other batting positions

Andrew McGlashan06-May-20160:42

Don’t apply the points system to the Ashes – Cook

Joe Root is set to stay at No. 4 in England’s Test line-up for the series against Sri Lanka, but Alastair Cook admitted there were some “tough decisions” to be made about other batting positions.Three of England’s top five slots are under scrutiny going into the international season – which begins with the first Test at Headingley on May 19 – and the selectors will meet next week after one more round of Championship matches.Trevor Bayliss, the England coach, returns from Australia to take in the next round of four-day games while Cook, who does not have an official vote on selection, will attend the meeting as England shape their squad for a resumption of Test action following their series win in South Africa.One enforced change will have to be made following the retirement of James Taylor which opens up a place at No. 5, but there will also be debate – again – about Cook’s opening partner and who bats at No. 3.It could be that both Alex Hales and Nick Compton – who filled those positions in South Africa – will be given another chance; the early suggestions are that Hales is the more secure of the two even though Compton had better numbers in the South Africa series.Root, the No.2-ranked Test batsman, has made it clear that he would prefer to remain at No. 4 – where he is averaging 54.62 – and while Cook confirmed that discussions had been about a move to three, the status quo is likely to be maintained.”Joe has made it perfectly clear where he wants to bat,” Cook said. “He’s been outstanding for us and probably at this time he’ll stick at four. I know Trevor has spoken about him going to three but maybe that will see that a bit later on. But when you’re scoring like him and averaging 60 from No. 4, I think it’s probably quite good to stick there.”Gary Ballance, who was the reserve batsman in South Africa, Ian Bell and James Vince appear to be jostling for a position in the side although there could yet be room for two of them if the selectors decide to make a change at No. 3 as well. Ballance has been the least convincing of that trio in the early weeks of the season, while both Bell – who was dropped for the South Africa tour – and Vince, uncapped at Test level, have centuries to their name.”The selectors have tough decisions to make,” Cook said at a Chance to Shine event. “The guys went to South Africa and won and that gives the guys a lot of credit in the bank, but then again we did not score the runs at the top order we would have liked. Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root and Ben Stokes scored a lot of our runs so the selectors have got big decisions to make.”‘It’s not as clear as I hoped it would be by this stage. But that’s probably because we could go two or three ways. It will be an interesting meeting. There might be some tough calls to make or it might be about giving the guys who went to South Africa another chance. I don’t know which way it is going to go.”Whatever decisions are made, though, Cook conceded England need a more consistent return from the top order as they aim to secure further Test success. “For this side to step forward, challenge India away, Australia away, get back up to No. 1 ranking, we need to score runs in the top three, more than we have done in the last couple of years. It’s an opportunity, whether it’s Alex, or someone else, to grab hold of.”

Durham clinched the LV= County Championship title by wrapping up a routine eight-wicket win over Nottinghamshire on a rain-delayed third day at Chester-le-Street

George Dobell at Chester-le-Street19-Sep-2013
ScorecardDurham captain Paul Collingwood and his team-mates celebrate with the Championship trophy•PA Photos

It is often stated that there are too many first-class counties. That, if a few were merged, the concentration of talent within the England domestic game would improve the overall standard.Durham prove the shallowness of that argument. They prove that the talent pool is not finite and that, if you take the time to nurture and develop young players, provide inspiration and opportunity, you will, in time, reap what you sow.Durham have just celebrated their 21st birthday as a first-class club with their third County Championship title in six seasons. What is more, they have done it with a team – and it really is a team rather than a collection of individuals – drawn from the community they represent. They have done it through years of identifying the best young players in the region and providing them with the best coaching and the most opportunities they can manage. In an age where it is common for teams in all sports to buy success, Durham have done it the old-fashioned way.But if Durham did not have first-class status, this could never have happened. At best, a few of their players would have found a home at other counties. Realistically, many of them would have been lost to the game. They have not only vindicated the decision to take first-class cricket to the northeast of England, but the decision to persist with 18 first-class counties. In a perfect world, there might even be more.There were some common themes in the words of the architects of Durham’s success as the champagne corks popped. One was the shared respect and affection everyone at this club has for the head coach, Geoff Cook, and the unifying effect the shock of his illness provided on the entire club. “I know every man in that dressing room wanted to do it for Geoff,” Paul Collingwood said as he clutched the trophy.Another was the spirit created by the shared background of so many of those involved. Not just the players, but many of the coaching staff and the administrative staff, too. Again and again, they spoke of the “spirit of people from the northeast” as a contributory factor in Durham’s ability to rise to the many challenges they faced.Collingwood put it like this: “We kept getting tested every, single game. Something happens that just keeps testing us and somehow we keep showing the resolve. I don’t know what it is. It seems to be inside the northeast people. They just want to fight. They keep fighting. And these youngsters have just fought all year, through adversity, whether it be financial situations or Geoff Cook’s illness. People have grown. Seeing the youngsters blossom has been absolutely wonderful.”David Harker, the Durham chief executive, agreed. “I don’t like to talk about it too much,” he said, of that fact so many people at the club hail from the northeast, “because it can seem arrogant or parochial, but I believe there is something special.”There is a sense of camaraderie; there is a sense of belonging to something that extends beyond the eleven guys in the dressing room. There is a sense of roots and pride. Culture is a consistent pattern of behaviour over time and these guys have grown up together, they know each other and they are comfortable with each other, they have similar background so there is a cohesion here that helps fuel team spirit.”None of this means there is anything inherently better about the spirit of people in the northeast to those in Sussex, or Somerset or Lancashire or Yorkshire. Indeed, several of those clubs have enjoyed success with a similar ethos to Durham. It is just that, while some teams sometimes struggle to maintain a shared vision or shared values, Durham have fashioned a team that have graduated through the same system and understand each other and the culture of the club. When times are hard, when players are forced to find that little extra, these things matter.Newcastle-born Mark Stoneman gets a hug from former captain Will Smith after hitting the winning runs•Getty Images

Times have been hard, too. While half-a-dozen other counties spent their pre-seasons in Barbados, Durham had only two days of grass nets before their first game. They could not even afford the marquees that were utilised by the likes of Essex and Middlesex.Instead, they climbed Beinn Dubh, a mountain in the Loch Lomond region. The entire playing and coaching team helped one another through snow and ice to reach the summit. Collingwood insists that, as a team building exercise it was invaluable. As a metaphor for their success, it also works neatly. They’ve been climbing mountains all season.Then there was the loss of Dale Benkenstein to injury, the heart attack suffered by Cook, the inability of the club to afford an overseas player or other new recruits and the loss, to various England squads, of key players. They lost two of their first three matches, too.It is in times of such adversity that team spirit is worth more than expensive overseas players or players from other counties seeking to advance their individual careers.Collingwood felt that the seven-wicket victory over Yorkshire at Scarborough at the end of August – a game he described “as close as you can get to Test cricket” – was the moment he knew his side could win this title. In it, Stokes scored a century and delivered 33 second-innings overs; a herculean effort.In truth, however, Durham had been building ever since July 29, 2012, when they won their first game of the previous season by 15 runs against Middlesex. The appointment of Collingwood as captain changed everything.In some ways, Durham have made a virtue of necessity. Had they had the finance, they would have signed several players ahead of this season: Jacques Rudolph, James Harris and Jack Brooks among them. Scott Borthwick, who requires 15 more for 1000 Championship runs, would probably not have batted at No. 3 and Mark Wood, a fast bowler in the Simon Jones mould, might never have played.But times have changed. Next year the club will spend around £1.2m on player salaries compared to a total of around £1.9m to the end of March 2012. The likes of Ian Blackwell, Liam Plunkett and Michael De Venuto have already gone. Steve Harmison will soon join them. There is a danger that, with Collingwood a year away from retirement, Ben Stokes on the verge of an England career and Graham Onions now 31 and carrying a huge burden, that the pace of change may need to slow. Youth is wonderful, but it requires leadership.Such issues can wait. With one game to play, Durham have the chance to win a record 11 games in a Division One season and extend their club record winning streak to six successive Championship games.They have produced, from boyhood to manhood, a side that not only deserves the greatest prize in English domestic cricket but that contains one or two players who could benefit the England team for a generation. They have done exactly what county cricket is supposed to do and emerged as a reminder to their rivals of the virtues of self-reliance and developing local players.

Kevin Pietersen’s management has issued a statement expressing his disappointment at his exclusion from the England squad for the Test tour of India

George Dobell18-Sep-2012Kevin Pietersen’s management has issued a statement expressing his disappointment at his exclusion from the England squad for the Test tour of India.Pietersen was not considered by the England selectors following the revelation that he had exchanged messages with members of the South Africa touring party that contained derogatory remarks about Andrew Strauss and after it became clear that Pietersen’s relationship with other members of the England side had deteriorated to an unhealthy level.While Pietersen and officials at the ECB have been in dialogue in recent times, the managing director of England cricket, Hugh Morris, said “as there are issues still to be resolved Kevin has not been considered for selection for the India tour.”The statement revealed that Pietersen had apologised in person to Strauss and officials at the ECB, while also reaffirming his commitment to playing international cricket for England.However Pietersen also insisted that, contrary to some reports, he had at no stage exchanged “tactical advice” with anyone in the South Africa camp about any colleagues in the England team.”Kevin Pietersen is very disappointed about today’s decision having gone to great lengths to reach a reconciliation with the ECB,” the statement read. “Pietersen has met with and apologised to Andrew Strauss.”He has also met with Alastair Cook to stress his commitment to England and he has met with ECB Board members including face to face meetings with Hugh Morris, David Collier and Andy Flower prior to his departure to Sri Lanka.”At all times Pietersen has wished his meetings with the ECB to remain private so as not to inflame an already difficult situation.”His recent silence was not an admission of any wrong doing. He wanted to explain and apologise to the ECB for the messages exchanged with members of the South Africa team.”He has also made it absolutely clear to the ECB and the England team that despite unsubstantiated allegations to the contrary and repeated media speculation he did not offer any tactical advice to the South Africans. Pietersen remains available for England.”

The team will be announced on Thursday but ESPNcricinfo understands that Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma and Yuvraj Singh are unlikely to be fit in time

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Sep-2011India will play its first ODI series at home after winning the World Cup in April when it takes on England next month in five ODIs starting in Hyderabad. Yet, rather than the series being a welcome return home for the current world champions, the squad is likely to look very different from the one that won the title as injury problems that stalked the team on its tour of England show no signs of abating. The team will be announced on Thursday but ESPNcricinfo understands that Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma and Yuvraj Singh are unlikely to be fit in time, while Ishant Sharma and Munaf Patel are also set to miss out.Tendulkar continues to struggle with his toe injury and his absence raises the question of how much more ODI cricket he will play, especially considering that outside of the World Cup, he has played only two ODIs this year.Rohit’s broken finger that ruled him out of the Champions League Twenty20 should also keep him out against England, while the ligament damage to Yuvraj’s finger is not healing fast enough. Meanwhile Ishant’s ankle is still ginger and he’s unlikely to be risked for the series. Ishant has said the ankle needs surgery but he is holding off until after the tour of Australia. Keeping him out of the series could be a precautionary measure to have him ready later in the year. Munaf injured his ankle during the ODIs against England and missed the Champions League.On the plus side, Gautam Gambhir has recovered from his concussion and is playing for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Champions League. With so many players out, Ajinkya Rahane, who impressed in England, should keep his place. It could also open the door for Yusuf Pathan to make a return to the side after he was not selected for the tour of England.Given that Zaheer Khan is already missing, the big question is the composition of India’s pace attack. Do the selectors fall back on Ashish Nehra, who has declared himself fit (no one from the board has spoken to him though) and has been bowling at full tilt in the nets over the last six weeks? Or do they plump for a completely new line-up fashioned around Praveen Kumar, with the likes of Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron, Jaydev Unadkat, Abhimanyu Mithun and Vinay Kumar in the reckoning? The choices the selectors make will indicate how they plan to restock India’s bowling resources and whether they are thinking about the future.The identity of the spinners is also open to question, though to lesser degree. Harbhajan Singh is fit again and is the conventional, safe choice, but the pair of R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha could be worth a gamble. Ashwin played in the 0-3 series loss to England and the selectors might want to see how effective he is in helpful conditions.India won the World Cup in April in grand style but have struggled somewhat since. They won the first three ODIs on the West Indies tour but lost the two dead rubbers, before going down 0-3 to England, though they did manage a tie in the fourth game of that series.

Hampshire vastly improved their chances of remaining in the top flight of the LV= County Championship by extending their lead over Kent to 294 with four wickets intact going into the final day of this clash against their fellow strugglers

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Sep-2010
ScorecardHampshire vastly improved their chances of remaining in the top flight of the LV= County Championship by extending their lead over Kent to 294 with four wickets intact going into the final day of this clash against their fellow strugglers.Half-centuries from Michael Carberry, Jimmy Adams and Liam Dawson helped the visitors to reach 272 for 6 when rain interrupted and stopped play just after 4.20pm. Match umpires Rob Bailey and Nigel Cowley inspected just after five o’clock and called the game off for the day.Resuming on their overnight score of 16 without loss, Hampshire’s openers Carberry and Adams showed great resolve throughout much of the opening session to churn out a first-wicket stand worth 92 in 47 overs. Though it made for dour fare for a small St Lawrence crowd the partnership may yet prove crucial in terms of Hampshire’s survival in division one.Adams lit up proceedings, albeit temporarily, by clubbing a brace of sixes off the bowling of England off-spinner James Tredwell on his way to a 138-ball 50, but soon after the left-hander missed a slog sweep against Malinga Bandara to go leg before.Australian Phillip Hughes did his utmost to accelerate the scoring rate with three boundaries in a cameo 38 until he also fell lbw to a Tredwell arm ball that appeared to shoot on to the left-hander’s front pad.As Kent’s weakened attack continued to toil, Dawson also caught the eye in reaching 50 from 71 balls. In search of inspiration Kent took the second new ball and that reaped immediate dividends when to the very next delivery, Dawson nudged an away-swinger to first slip against Kent’s golden arm seamer Darren Stevens.Sean Ervine feathered the next ball to slip where Tredwell initially juggled the chance only to catch it at the second attempt and send Ervine packing for a golden duck. As the storm clouds gathered, Stevens took his tally to three for 37 by having Michael Bates caught behind off an expansive drive by wicketkeeper Geraint Jones.With a 300-plus lead comfortably within their grasp Hampshire would now appear firm favourites to secure a last-day victory which would likely condemn Kent to life in division two.

The Queensland quick wasn’t expected to be in the Perth Test squad but could be needed during the series

Alex Malcolm07-Nov-2024Australia’s Test bowling depth has taken a blow with back-up seamer Michael Neser ruled out of the remainder of the Australia A game at the MCG with a hamstring injury after claiming four wickets on the opening day to rip through India A’s top order.Neser was bowling his 13th over, having already taken 4 for 27 with some stunning swing and seam bowling in the morning session, when he pulled up sharply following his second delivery of the over. He immediately began limping off the ground in a clear sign that he knew exactly what the issue was.A Cricket Australia spokesperson confirmed shortly after that Neser had injured his left hamstring and would not bowl again in the game. He will go for scans to assess the extent of the damage.Related

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• Boland eyes chance to keep pressure on KL Rahul

• Rahul and McSweeney miss out as bowlers dominate at the MCG

It is understood Neser had experienced some soreness in the same left hamstring after the last Sheffield Shield game he played on October 23 when he bowled 48.5 overs for Queensland against South Australia. That soreness saw him ruled out of the domestic One-Day Cup game against South Australia two days later.He returned to training without any issues after a short break and was fine in the lead-up to this game. But the fast bowlers have had issues with the outfield at the MCG this season as it has been top dressed with sand following the Australian Football League season.Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc suffered cramps in both the Shield and ODI games he has played here over the past two weeks and complained about how heavy the outfield was to run on. Australia and New South Wales team-mate Sean Abbott also noted how heavy his legs felt after the Shield game.Neser had also come into the summer off an injury in the winter. He suffered a calf injury while playing in England and was on bowling restrictions in the pre-season right up until the first Shield game of the summer in Perth.He was unlikely to be in Australia’s Test squad for the first Test in Perth against India with Scott Boland set to be the sole back-up quick in what is expected to be a 13-man group. But there was an expectation that Neser could be needed at some point during the series. There is a nine-day break between the first two Tests but Australia are wary that there is only a three-day gap between the second and third Test in Adelaide and Brisbane. There is a seven-day break between the third and fourth Test and then another three-day break between the fourth and fifth Test.Abbott and Nathan McAndrew would be among the contenders if Australia needed another fast bowler for a Test match beyond Boland.There is some positive news from Western Australia with Jhye Richardson getting through a WA Second XI game last week and bowling 25 overs in the match for the first time in 12 months. He might be able to make a Shield return before the BBL break but it would be a big ask for him to be ready for a Test match given his long build back off a raft of injury issues.Lance Morris has also not played a red-ball game this season coming off stress fractures in the winter and a quad strain. But he is in line to play an ODI on Sunday when Australia’s big three are rested. He was also a chance to play a Shield game before the BBL provided he could build his loads up adequately.