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Bridget Patterson played the key hand with the bat with her 70 lifting the home side to a competitive total

AAP29-Oct-2023A bizarre run out helped Adelaide Strikers hand Brisbane Heat their first defeat of the WBBL season, downing the visitors by 59 runs to go second on the ladder.On the same night that the Melbourne Stars got their season back on track with a seven-run over Perth Scorchers, Strikers did well to defend their total of 148 for 4 at Karen Rolton Oval.With Heat battling at 31 for 2 in reply, big hitter Mignon du Preez was run out for one at the non-striker’s end when a Georgia Voll drive was hit straight back at her.Related

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The ball rebounded off du Preez and onto the stumps, dislodging the bails, before bowler Amanda-Jade Wellington removed the stump from the ground and touched it with the ball with the South African still out of her crease.Players are able to remove the stump if the bails are already off to effect a run out, however it was questionable if Wellington had done so correctly with the ball in the opposite hand to that which pulled out the stump.The wicket proved a crucial moment in the game, as Wellington had Voll caught-and-bowled next ball for 15. The legspinner also claimed the key wicket of Jess Jonassen later in her spell, deceiving her in flight to have her stumped for 22. Heat were bowled out for 89 in 16 overs, ending their run of four straight wins to start the season.Wellington’s efforts with the ball came after Bridget Patterson hurt Heat with the bat for the second time in 12 months.The hero of Strikers’ finals win over Heat last summer, Patterson struck 70 off 53 to help rescue Strikers from 47 for 3 after 10 overs.Patterson hit seven boundaries and two sixes, including a massive hit off Sarah Glenn back over the spinner’s head.

The latest directive is a setback for the office-bearers of the board, who had received some relief after a clarification last week on the tenure limit in state associations and the BCCI

Nagraj Gollapudi22-Jan-2017The Supreme Court has directed that BCCI chief executive Rahul Johri will be the caretaker head of the board until the committee of administrators is appointed by the court, which is likely at the next hearing on January 24. The Supreme Court’s latest directive is a setback for the senior office-bearers in the BCCI, who had received a reprieve last week after a three-judge bench issued a clarification stating that an administrator can serve nine years each at the BCCI and state association separately.On January 2, the Supreme Court had removed Anurag Thakur and Ajay Shirke as BCCI president and secretary and had said that the committee of administrators would supervise and control the board until fresh elections were conducted once the board’s constitution was amended in line with the Lodha Committee recommendations. In the interim, the court had also said that the senior-most vice-president would serve as the board president while the joint secretary would function as the interim secretary.Accordingly CK Khanna, vice-president from the central zone, would be eligible to take over based on seniority. Khanna has been a vice-president for the last two years in addition to a term between 2001 and 2003. Also, Amitabh Choudhary, who was the joint secretary, would take over Shirke’s seat.The reported that Choudhary and BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry arrived at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai last week to resume charge after the court issued the clarification concerning the tenure cap. Khanna, too, told the media that he had received a letter from the BCCI acknowledging he was the senior-most vice-president, and entertained his chances of being the interim president.However, in an interim order issued on January 20, the court put Johri in charge. “We have been apprised that presently the CEO is functioning and looking after the working of the BCCI and he shall continue to do so till we nominate the Committee, under whose supervision he shall work,” the interim order said.Nonetheless, the eligible office-bearers could continue subject to an undertaking by them that they will comply with the Supreme Court’s judgement of July 18 last year, in which court said the BCCI had to implement all the approved recommendations of the Lodha Committee. In its order on January 2, the Supreme Court had said that the office-bearers could then continue in their roles, but the committee of administrators would be the main supervisory body.In the order on January 20, the three-judge bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra, DY Chandrachud and AM Khanwilkar said that it had received “suggestions” from the amicus curiae Gopal Subramanium and senior legal counsel Anil Divan for the committee. “The said suggestions were filed in two sealed covers before the Court, one containing the names and the other the methodology adopted by it,” Friday’s order said. “Having heard learned counsel for the parties, we think it appropriate that the documents in the sealed covers which have been opened in the Court should be sealed and, after due deliberation, certain number of members shall be chosen, who can administer the day-to-day affairs of the BCCI.”

Ahead of their WCL Division Three tournament in Uganda, head coach Pubudu Dassanayake took the assistance of top Australian coaches to sharpen players’ skills in USA’s bid for promotion to Division Two

Peter Della Penna25-Apr-2017In a bid to reverse the curse of Division Three, the USA team’s preparations for their upcoming tournament in Uganda have been kicked up a notch with the help of several Australian coaches, including New South Wales assistant Beau Casson. It is a boost that USA players hope will finally get them over the hump and into Division Two for the first time since the ICC began the World Cricket League system in 2007.”It’s been great to tinker with some of the players and make slight technical adjustments, but there’s been a major emphasis on tactical awareness and particularly ‘game sense’ and when to execute certain deliveries depending on what the situation demands,” Casson told ESPNcricinfo during USA’s recent preparation camp in Texas. “That’s an area that I think there’s going to be incredible growth within this playing group because there’s skill there, but being able to identify certain situations in the game is very important.”A lack of tactical nous has been a key reason why USA has failed in three prior attempts to progress out of Division Three despite the talent at their disposal. In 2004, USA was in the top tier of Associates and qualified for that year’s Champions Trophy in England. A 10th place finish at the ICC Trophy in 2005 saw them reclassified into Division Three when the World Cricket League structure was unveiled for 2007, but when the ICC suspended the USA Cricket Association that year, one of the penalties handed down was a relegation from Division Three to Division Five.In their first attempt after gaining back-to-back promotions to move up from Division Five in 2010, USA opened the 2011 WCL Division Three tournament with a thumping seven-wicket win over current ODI nation Hong Kong before a calamitous series of results saw them relegated to Division Four. Back in Division Three in April 2013, they began 3-0 in Bermuda including a big win over current WCL Championship side Nepal before stumbling on the final two days of group play against Uganda and Bermuda. Another confident start against Bermuda at Division Three in 2014 in Malaysia spiraled out of control, resulting in relegation once more.Fresh talent not scarred by the memories of prior Division Three debacles has been drafted into the squad for the Uganda tour, including left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige. After a stint training with the Knights franchise in South Africa under coach Nicky Boje earlier this year, Kenjige says the time spent in Texas this month with Casson as well as Tasmania high-performance manager Richard Allanby further elevated his ‘game sense’ to get ready for a crucial tournament.”It’s just been priceless just because the kind of expertise and knowledge that these two coaches have,” Kenjige said. “They’ve played for international sides and they’ve been coaching around the world. So just to have them around and looking at you bowl, and then they’ve also been helping me in different scenarios with the field, with the tactical part of it and also the technical part of the bowling side. So it’s just been gold.”Peter Anderson worked extensively with USA’s wicketkeepers, including this golf ball catching exercise•Peter Della Penna

Fielding expert Trevor Penney is on USA’s staff for Division Three as an assistant coach alongside head coach Pubudu Dassanayake, but former Queensland wicketkeeper and current Cayman Islands coach Peter Anderson was brought to the Texas camp as a consultant specifically to work with USA’s wicketkeepers. Akeem Dodson said the brief time with Anderson was a bonus ahead of Division Three.”That kind of experience, it’s all you’ve been waiting for all your life as a professional athlete,” Dodson said of Anderson. “Not only the drive but the wherewithal to implement his own personality onto the way he teaches things. There’s so many different drills he had put together, things you could tell he did himself and now he’s passing on to you.”One drill Dodson did with Anderson was a rapid reflex exercise in which golf balls were hit from two feet away that needed to be snatched barehanded, then tennis balls, before advancing to cricket balls. The progression is intended to make each step easier for game action.”I didn’t find it too weird,” Dodson said. “I’ve heard golf ball practice is very good for your reflexes because it pings off very fast, then tennis ball for the touch and then those two things going together it makes the cricket ball easier to catch. Going through those progressive drills opens your eyes and you see and feel technically the things you’ve been doing wrong, and by the time you get to the cricket balls you’re not dropping any of them. It’s like you flip a switch.”Meeting him, working with him and having the chance to talk with him, he’s learned from some of the best and been around the best. It’s that kind of people that you want to keep close to you and build off of. The wealth of experience that he comes with is unfathomable almost and just to be able to have him here along with us and working with us is a great pleasure.”Anderson has formerly headed the Afghanistan national academy from 2014 to 2016 and also coached Papua New Guinea at the 2014 World Cup Qualifier where they secured ODI status. He believes, from his observations in Texas, that USA has the squad right now to be a Division One Associate.”They have a lot of talent but they have to go back home and reinforce what they’ve learnt,” Anderson said. “The intensity I’ve seen, I think they’re starting to understand what’s required to go to the next level and I think these guys will climb fairly quickly. They’ve got a good nucleus of players together. The biggest challenge is that it’s such a big place, they have to go back [home] and take ownership to work on their own game.”The talent I’ve seen, it won’t be long before they’re in the top leagues in my opinion. Playing against those teams, the hardest challenge is working their way up the ladder. I’ve coached two of those teams and there’s no doubt they have the talent to be there, it’s just a matter of getting consistency and working hard on their games. I expect them to go to Uganda and do very well and within 18 months I think they’ll challenge Papua New Guinea and some of those other countries.”

Carsen, Kasperek and Kerr took two wickets each to restrict Sri Lanka to a modest score

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jul-2023New Zealand 107 for 5 (Bates 44, Kerr 34, Priyadharshani 3-17) beat Sri Lanka 106 for 9 (Gunaratne 26, Kerr 2-18, Carson 2-20, Kasperek 2-21) by five wicketsNew Zealand’s spinners Eden Carson, Amelia Kerr and Leigh Kasperek combined to take six wickets and restrict Sri Lanka to 106 for 9 to set up a five-wicket win in the opening T20I of the three-match series in Colombo.Opener Suzie Bates and No. 3 Kerr then knocked off 78 runs between them from the 107-run target to ensure New Zealand had scored enough before a middle-order stutter to win with seven balls to spare.New Zealand cashed in on their decision to bowl by getting the big fish Chamari Athapaththu first ball, castled by offspinner Carson. The second-wicket stand of 37 between Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama was the only good sign for the hosts before Kerr took a return-catch to send Gunaratne back for 26. Sri Lanka never recovered from that and lost five wickets for just 35 runs to stumble to 72 for 6 in the 15th over. Returning to T20 internationals after nearly two years, offspinner Kasperek had Samarawickrama stumped and trapped Kavisha Dilhari lbw to finish with 2 for 21.Anushka Sanjeewani and Oshadi Ranasinghe revived Sri Lanka’s innings briefly by stitching a stand of 29 for the seventh wicket to take them past 100 but Sanjeewani’s run out broke the partnership before Kerr ran out Udeshika Prabodhani and took Ranasinghe’s return-catch as well, on the last ball of the innings, to finish with 2 for 18. New Zealand had used as many as eight bowling options.The visitors lost Bernadine Bezuidenhout early in the chase before Bates and Kerr put them in command with a 58-run stand, scoring 44 and 34 respectively. New Zealand withstood a wobble when offspinner Inoshi Priyadharshani struck twice in three balls and then in her next over as well to send back Kerr, Sophie Devine for a duck and Maddy Green for 5. With 30 required off 38 balls, New Zealand were still in command and Bates nearly took them all the way home before falling for 44. Georgia Plimmer knocked off the winning runs not long after.

Australia captain convinced that Jonny Bairstow’s stumping is a “non-event'”, but is ready for strong reaction at Headingley

Andrew McGlashan05-Jul-202311:37

What is the spirit of cricket? And why is it always England?

Pat Cummins has said that England should look at themselves and their own performances rather than invoking the spirit of cricket amid their anger at Jonny Bairstow’s stumping at Lord’s.The dismissal on the final day of the second Test – which Australia ended up winning by 43 runs despite a magnificent 155 from Ben Stokes – left the home side incensed, and reaction has reached fever pitch on both sides of the world since, including the Prime Ministers of each country getting involved.”For what I think is a pretty common non-event, it does seem like everyone has a pretty strong opinion about it,” Cummins said. “I don’t think there’s any discussion; it’s out. If the shoe was on the other foot, I wouldn’t be looking at the opposition, I’d probably be thinking [about] our own batter, and would be thinking it’s pretty silly.”Related

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England will have to become just the second side ever to come from 0-2 down if they are to regain the Ashes. Asked whether their reaction to the Bairstow dismissal has been a way to deflect from defeats, Cummins was not drawn directly into it, but added how impressed he was with how his team had handled the situation – from the immediate moment and the confrontations in the Long Room, to the 48 hours since, where the players themselves have said nothing unless asked.”I know what our team does, and that’s we concentrate on ourselves,” he said. “When we haven’t been playing up to scratch, we look pretty deeply at what we are doing, and try to make amends. We don’t apportion blame to conditions or opposition or anything else going on. I’m really proud of how our boys have conducted themselves [on] this tour, especially on that day five. I thought the way they maintained respect for the opposition, the umpires [and] the crowd, their dignity was first-class.”In his column for the , Stuart Broad wrote that he believes Cummins will come to regret the decision not to withdraw the appeal, while England coach Brendon McCullum referenced his own experience of controversially running Muthiah Muralidaran out, which in later years he apologised for. It was a tone Joe Root used again, while speaking ahead of the third Ashes Test at Headingley, which is his home ground.”I think Ben spoke very well on it at the end of the game. As a team, we want to play our cricket a certain way and want to leave a certain legacy,” Root said. “As a player, you want to play the game as how you want to play it. It was within the rules; it was technically out. If you’re happy with that, then fine. If not, I don’t think you can [criticise] other people that play the game slightly differently.””I don’t think there’s any discussion; it’s out”, Pat Cummins on Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal•AFP/Getty Images

Cummins, for his part, doubted his view would change. “Maybe ask me in years to come,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t think a conversation about the spirit of cricket even comes into a dismissal like that. It was plain and simple a stumping.”Cummins is expecting a hostile reception at Headingley – the scene of England’s remarkable Stokes-inspired victory in 2019 – although Australia’s captain reckons that would have been the case anyway. He said it was inevitable that players would face abuse from the public, and added that Australian crowds were as bad as anyone, but insisted it doesn’t bother his team.”People pay for their tickets, they can turn up… whilst I hope that I would never go to a sporting event and try to abuse players, some people do,” Cummins said. “I’m sure it’ll be a pretty fiery week from the crowd. But again, we’re on the field. I think in Australia, we’re as guilty as anyone a lot of the time. So I think it’s reality, to be honest.”If you’re going to play professional sport, unfortunately, that’s one of the things that you’re going to have to deal with. It’s nothing new. I think you could talk about it till the cows come home, but I doubt it’s going to make much of a difference.”Root, meanwhile, called on the fans who come to the Test to simply “support” England, but appeared to caution against things going too far.”I think that’s the most important thing – that you come in to support your nation. [It] doesn’t need to go beyond that,” he said. “It shouldn’t ever go beyond that. Everyone should be here to enjoy the cricket on the field. And, you know, that’s what it should be about, and shouldn’t be about anything other than that.”Cummins said that beyond the post-match presentation at Lord’s, he has not had any further conversations with Stokes, and had noted McCullum’s comments about the teams not sharing a beer, which Australia coach Andrew McDonald had termed “disappointing”.”I’ve got no problems at all with Baz,” Cummins said, having himself worked with McCullum in the IPL. “I know how much he loves a beer, so that was surprising. Maybe we just see this one differently, which is totally fine.”

Gareth Batty derided his Worcestershire critics after Surrey’s overwhelming victory in the Royal London Cup semi-final and informed them that they would never see their side play in a Lord’s final

David Hopps18-Jun-2017Gareth Batty derided his Worcestershire critics after Surrey’s overwhelming victory in the Royal London Cup semi-final and informed them that they would never see their side play in a Lord’s final.His comments came shortly after he had suffered boos and cat-calls during Surrey’s 153-run victory on a Worcester ground where he has been sporadically abused since he left Worcestershire eight years ago.Batty, Surrey’s captain and known for his spiky on-field demeanour, made a triumphant return to his former county. His off-breaks reaped 5 for 40 runs – his best List A figures for Surrey – during a feeble Worcestershire batting display.”Everytime we win and particular when there is a bit of banter flying around, you just want to show people that things can change and people do change.”It was not nice, I’m not going to lie, but it’s not going to change my life. I go back home to my daughter tonight and that’s the best thing that will happen to me today.”You heard it – a few idiots on the boundary. They will go home and to work tomorrow and I will have a day off with my daughter and probably have another day off on Monday as well.”I hope they think about that and we are playing in a final at Lord’s which they will never do.”Batty made a surprise England return against India last winter, 11 years after his previous Test appearance.He had two run-ins with Worcestershire supporters in 2010, the summer after he left them to join Surrey.
He was abused both during a 40-over match and a subsequent Championship encounter. In the latter incident, shortly after he had been dismissed, he went into the crowd to take issue with a spectator before Ian Salisbury, a member of Surrey’s coaching staff intervened to calm matters. He was later seen in tears.Surrey’s coach Chris Adams said at the time: “It’s quite sad that he wasn’t afforded respect by the supporters after putting in long service here,” he said. “He’s a feisty lad, plays with a lot of passion and he wears his heart on his sleeve. I’m sure that when he reflects on it, he’ll be disappointed that he allowed himself to react.”

Virat Kohli has said the team is preparing for the second Test the way they usually do for a match, and hinted towards a “few surprises” with respect to the XI that will play on Saturday

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Bengaluru03-Mar-20174:00

No more hesitation from our side – Kohli

Virat Kohli has said India are looking at being 1-0 down against Australia not as a setback but as an opportunity to improve ahead of the second Test in Bengaluru. India’s 333-run defeat in Pune snapped a winning streak that lasted 19 Tests, and Kohli said it was inevitable for teams to lose focus on their weaknesses during extended runs of good results.”I think it’s an opportunity to understand what other things we still need to work on,” Kohli said, on the eve of the second Test. “We are all professional cricketers. But sometimes when you are winning a lot of games, you don’t tend to focus on points that need to be improved as such. Because someone or the other is stepping up.”When the whole team does not execute the things that you want to, you understand the things that you need to work on as a team. That’s always a good sign. We got to know a lot more things that we need to still keep working on to be the top side in the world. As I said last time, you can’t take anything for granted at any stage of a Test match. It’s something that you look [at] as an opportunity to learn rather than a setback. I think these things are also important for your cricket journey.”Kohli said India had not deviated from their usual training routines before the Bengaluru Test, and stressed on the importance of playing without inhibitions or fear of things going wrong.”We don’t necessarily push people to practice in different ways because every individual has his own way of preparing for the game,” he said. “But in terms of mindset we have made a conscious push to go out there and express ourselves without thinking about ‘what if’. Individuals want to play their natural game and they should; they want to bowl a certain way and they should, not thinking about the outcome necessarily.”There won’t be any hesitation from here on till the end of the series from our side. That’s something we’ve addressed. Practice has always been similar, win or lose. That’s how you become consistent as a team, when you repeat the same things day in and day out. We have a set pattern of practise we always execute before every Test match and this time is no different. When you lose because of lack of intent, those things need to be addressed and we’ve done that.”Kohli didn’t divulge the combination India would play in Bengaluru, but hinted that there might be surprises, while answering a question about whether they were thinking of leaving out Jayant Yadav, who was the least penetrative of India’s three spinners on a square turner in Pune.”We have our ideas; we will go in with the best combination possible,” Kohli said. “Jayant has been outstanding. You can’t put too much pressure on a guy who’s played just one series. He’s been brilliant so far; the way he’s grabbed his spot has been outstanding. He’s a very intelligent cricketer.”All of us go through the grind. We have good games, bad games, off days as well. Pune wasn’t his best game. I won’t sit here and judge him because he’s played only a few games but he knows how to turn things around and get back into that mindset he started his first series with. I’m sure he’ll get back into that zone. As far as the combinations are concerned, we are studying a lot of options. Eventually we’ll come to a conclusion this evening, on what is the XI we want to go with. But yes, all kinds of possibilities tomorrow. Might be a few surprises.”

The Lodha Committee has asked two banks not to disburse funds from the BCCI accounts to the state associations with regard to two decisions taken at the board’s emergent working committee meeting

Nagraj Gollapudi03-Oct-20161:44

Anurag Thakur on the supposed restrictions on BCCI payments

The Lodha Committee has asked two Indian banks not to disburse funds from the BCCI accounts to the state associations with regard to two financial decisions taken at the board’s emergent working committee meeting on September 30.At the meeting on Friday the BCCI decided that all its full members – with the exception of the out-of-favour Rajasthan Cricket Association – would get INR 10 crores as an increment to the state associations’ existing infrastructure subsidy of INR 60 crore. The working committee also decided that money received from the broadcaster as compensation for the cancellation of the Champions League T20 would be distributed among the BCCI’s full members.The committee said it had issued such a directive to the banks because the BCCI’s decision to disburse such funds was not in line with the recommendations of the Lodha report, which the Supreme Court said the board must adopt in its order on July 18.”It has come to the notice of this Committee that certain decisions have been taken at the ‘Emergent Working Committee’ meeting of the BCCI on 30th September 2016 to disburse large funds to the various member associations,” the Lodha Committee said to Bank of Maharashtra and Yes Bank in an email that was also copied to BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke, treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry and chief executive Rahul Johri. “You are aware that by way of this Committee’s direction dated 31.8.2016, no further decisions were to be taken regarding the future apart from routine matters. The disbursement of these amounts are not routine, and in any case, not emergent.”The banks were told that the BCCI had “breached” the Supreme Court order by failing to comply with the first round of timelines set by the Lodha Committee, the deadline for which was September 30. At its special general meeting on October 1, the BCCI accepted some of the Lodha Committee’s recommendations when the court had said it had to implement everything it had passed.”You are also aware that the BCCI has chosen to breach the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court as well as the first set of timelines set out by this Committee which includes the Fund Disbursement policy to be framed by 30.9.2016,” the committee said in its email. “As the status report is to be taken up for directions by the Hon’ble Court on Thursday, 6.10.2016, you are hereby directed not to take any steps towards financial disbursement of the amounts as resolved/approved after the direction dated 31.8.2016. Any violation of this direction will be placed before the Hon’ble Supreme Court for appropriate directions.”The emergent working committee meeting, which preceded the SGM that was eventually adjourned on September 30, was not made public by the BCCI. It is understood that the agenda and the minutes of both the working committee meeting as well the SGM, which eventually took place on October 1, were not sent to the Lodha Committee.The Lodha Committee, ESPNcricinfo has learned, was concerned about the two specific financial decisions because they involved large amounts. In the BCCI’s annual report, released on September 23, Chaudhry had said the board “received a compensation of INR 1607.58 Crores (net of payment made to foreign boards) on account of termination of the rights agreement” for the Champions League Twenty20, which was discontinued last year.As for the infrastructure subsidy, BCCI president Anurag Thakur had said that it would be increased to INR 70 crore from the 2016-17 financial year – INR 10 crore more than what the board had decided in the annual report.  The subsidy is granted to states based on the claims and relevant documentation submitted, along with independently authenticated certificates of chartered accountants, which should meet the norms set by the board.

Ahead of New Zealand tour, the high altitude and cold weather, and the pace, bounce and movement, offered conditions they are likely to face there

Madushka Balasuriya23-Feb-2023Sri Lanka’s cricketers and coaching staff provided a glowing endorsement of the country’s latest training facility in Radella, Nuwara Eliya, following a week-long training camp at the newly renovated ground.Located some 4000 feet above sea level, the Radella Cricket Ground – home to Dimbula Athletic & Cricket Club – is among the most picturesque in the world; its immediate surroundings comprise the trademark greenery and mountainscapes of Sri Lanka’s hills, with waterfalls and tea estates aplenty, ready to greet those who venture further out.But more than the scenery, it was the conditions at the ground which most pleased those in attendance. Ahead of the team’s departure to New Zealand – where they will compete in two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is – the combination of high altitude and cold weather, along with the pace, bounce and movement present at Radella, offered the players as close a facsimile to the conditions they are likely to face in the coming month.Related

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“The wickets we’ve been playing on have been excellent,” Sri Lanka head coach Chris Silverwood said on the sidelines of the training camp. “Decent pace, good bounce, little bit of movement, and obviously the climate has suited us as well as training at high altitude; very similar to what we may face in New Zealand.”The renovation work has been headed by Godrey Dabrera, Sri Lanka Cricket’s manager of international venues and facilities. Having started on the work towards the end of last year, Dabrera headed a 20-member team in relaying four centre-turf wickets as well as installing five practice wickets, all of which was completed in a span eight weeks.”The work that Godfrey and the team have done here has been absolutely fantastic, to get this place up and running, to give us the conditions and the facilities we have here,” Silverwood said. “They’ve done a great job in such a short period of time as well.”Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne echoed his coach’s thoughts, and was particularly pleased at his bowlers being afforded extra time to get used to colder climes.”I think the bowlers benefitted quite a bit. For the fast bowlers, it’s not like bowling in warm conditions; bowling in colder conditions is a little harder,” Karunaratne said. “Even for the spinners, gripping the ball can be difficult in a colder climate. So things like that were very useful. We also have a lot of young players in the squad who haven’t played in New Zealand, so this was a very useful experience.”Sri Lanka completed their training camp on Thursday, and will now head back to Colombo to continue their preparations. The tour of New Zealand begins with the first Test from March 9 in Christchurch.

The tournament titled Lanka T10 League will be played over 12 days in June 2023

Madushka Balasuriya21-Nov-2022Sri Lanka Cricket has pencilled in June 2023 for the launch of its inaugural T10 league. Titled the Lanka T10 League, the tournament will also host both a men’s and women’s tournament in the same slot first – meaning matches would take place “concurrently,” potentially on alternating days, though SLC is yet to iron out the details.Related

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SLC also announced that six men’s teams and four women’s teams will take part, with each to be named after a Sri Lankan city – similar to those in the Lanka Premier League.While the precise dates and venues are yet to be finalised, it is expected that venues in Kandy and Hambantota will likely host the matches, while SLC anticipates substantial player registrations – over 1600, which was the number for the most recent Abu Dhabi T10 League – for the yet to be announced player draft.Each team will be allowed a 16-member squad, in which there can be a maximum of six foreign players.The tournament will be held over 12 days in June next year. However, going forward it is understood that SLC will look to hold it in December, with the LPL set for the August window.”Next year also we will have the LPL in December, but going forward we have reserved a window in August for that,” SLC CEO Ashley de Silva said. “So for next year, we will have the Lanka T10 in June and the LPL in December, but from 2024 onwards, the T10 tournament will move to December and the LPL to August.”Sri Lanka has long been a proponent of T10 cricket, with it being the first Full Member to sanction and endorse its players to participate in the Abu Dhabi T10 League. Since then, the cricket boards in the West Indies, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Bangladesh have followed suit.