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India’s new ODI captain wants to improve the players’ fitness levels and fielding abilities ahead of the busy period

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jun-2022The ODI series against Sri Lanka will herald a new beginning for the Indian women’s team.The three-match series, to be played in Pallekele from Friday, is part of the ODI championship and provides an opportunity to India to wipe their slate clean and move on from their poor World Cup performance. India won the T20I series 2-1, but will want to iron out a few grey areas, mostly in the bowling department, which is without the talismanic Jhulan Goswami.Related

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For the first time since 2016, India won’t have a split-captaincy model, with Mithali Raj having retired. Harmanpreet Kaur, captain in both white-ball formats now, suggested that being in charge across formats would be a massive advantage for her as it would give her the bandwidth to put her stamp on the team.”When I’m leading, I feel I am more involved in the game,” she said ahead of the first ODI. “It always gives me a lot of confidence. Captaincy is something that comes naturally to me when I’m on the field. Over time, when you have a lot of years of leading [the team], things get easier. Right now, I don’t feel extra pressure on me.”If I enjoy as captain, the rest of the group will also feel they can enjoy the moment. That’s what I’ve been discussing in team meetings. I feel I’m free to do what I want to do now. When you give players the freedom, you can improve more. That is my motive, to give the players freedom to express themselves.”Though the next 50-over World Cup is three years away, there’s a lot lined up. This current tour will be followed by the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Then there’s a T20 World Cup to look forward to, early next year in South Africa. On the way, non-negotiable to Harmanpreet are the fitness and the fielding of the players.”As captain, I’ve always tried to keep goals,” she said. “When I lead the team, there are things I want to do. Fitness part is very important, especially.”For skills, we have coaches who help us, but with fitness, if I can set a goal for my team, and if they can see me and get motivated, I want to set an example. All of them have skills, we don’t need to tell them much, but fitness is something I want our team to improve [on], and the second part is fielding. These are the two areas we want to cover well.”The physical aspect of things is well covered, with India having now roped in a batting coach in Hrishikesh Kanitkar, alongside head coach Ramesh Powar, who also looks after the bowling. At the World Cup, the BCCI had hired a mental conditioning coach in Mugdha Bavare, but that association hasn’t extended to this series.Harmanpreet, however, would like someone for the players to turn to for work on the mental aspect, having benefited personally after chats with Bavare during the World Cup, which helped turn around her wretched form.”Mugdha ma’am has done a lot of work. She helped me a lot during the World Cup,” Harmanpreet said. “We do need people like her in the team. Sadly, this time around, she isn’t part of the group but hopefully we can have someone like her who can travel with us.”We do have skills coaches, but the mental side if we have someone who can take care, if we can talk to that person and share thoughts, sometimes you need that in your life for small problems. Skills aren’t going anyway but mentally if you feel free, you can improve your game and give it 100%. Hopefully in the future, we will talk to the staff and see if we can bring her back.”

Opener gutted to miss out on landmark tournament but puts all such thoughts to one side

Valkerie Baynes18-Jul-2022It was just over a year ago that Tammy Beaumont announced she had “stopped believing in form”. But if there was ever a good time to show – shall we say, “what she’s capable of” – it was now.After a shock omission from England’s T20I squad for the Commonwealth Games, which will also contest the final three-match leg of the multi-format series with South Africa starting on Thursday, Beaumont’s 119 off 107 balls as England won the third and final ODI in Leicester by 109 runs sent a clear message that she’s still at the top of her game.”I was obviously pretty gutted about a week ago when I when I found out but it was just a case of trying to find a way to get myself in the best headspace to play the last couple of games,” Beaumont said. “I guess it is what it is. I hope that in the future I’ll get another go in T20 cricket.”I hope I’ve got a lot more to give for all formats for England but massively wish the girls the best of luck. I think it’s a really exciting team to go in and maybe bring that gold home but yeah, gutted that I won’t be there.”She revealed her philosophy on form during a hot run of it, helping England to victory over India in Bristol last June with a run-a-ball 87 that marked her fourth consecutive fifty in ODIs.Her latest innings led England to their fifth-highest ODI total of 371 for 7 as Emma Lamb, Heather Knight and Sophia Dunkley all contributed half-centuries and Danni Wyatt a 14-ball 33 to trounce a South Africa side which has failed to compete since last month’s rain-hit drawn Test. The victory allowed England to sweep the ODIs 3-0 and take an 8-2 lead in the series overall, meaning South Africa must win all three T20s to draw level.Related

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In fairness, Lisa Keightley, England’s head coach, said in explaining Beaumont’s omission from the 15-strong T20I squad: “In 50-over cricket you can’t match Tammy’s record. I think it speaks for itself. In T20, I think there’s still some room for growth and improvement.”Beaumont has been a mainstay of England’s line-up, including in their triumphant 50-over World Cup campaign in 2017, when she was her team’s top-scorer for the tournament. She has anchored the opening role as a number of partners have come and gone, and has now found a potential long-term ally in newcomer and Player of the Series Emma Lamb, with whom she has shared partnerships of 127 and 149 in the last two ODIs against South Africa.This year in T20Is, however, Beaumont has made just 36 runs in two games, albeit amid limited opportunities, given that they are the only two matches England have played in the format with all attention on their World Cup defence, and that one of those two Ashes games was rained off. Having scored a 65-ball 97 against New Zealand in a home T20I series last September, Beaumont played out-of-position in the middle order at the T20 World Cup in 2020 and has a career strike rate of 108.37 in the format.Now that England’s focus is about to swing back to T20 for a home Commonwealth Games, however, Beaumont’s only opportunity to work on her short game will be the Hundred – another format again – as England prepare to experiment without her in Birmingham.That experiment could involve Danni Wyatt, who opened after replacing Lauren Winfield-Hill mid-World Cup, at the top with Bryony Smith, who played the last of her four games for England in an ODI against West Indies two years ago. Lamb, the fifth-highest run-scorer in this year’s Charlotte Edwards Cup, also missed on on T20 selection, despite amassing 234 runs at 78.00 in the series with South Africa, at a strike rate of 102.63.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Monday’s knock from Beaumont was brilliantly crafted on an excellent batting track in searing heat. She found the boundary regularly, pulling Shabnim Ismail to the rope in front of square off just the fifth ball of the match and cracking Marizanne Kapp through cover in the next over.She advanced to Nonkululeko Mlaba for a stunning drive through extra cover and again to lamp Chloe Tryon over the sightscreen for the only six of her innings. Three more fours in one Ismail over preceded back-to-back sweeps off Mlaba on her way to 19 fours in all.Beaumont brought up her century moments later, pressing a single off Mlaba wide of mid-off, then punching the air and acknowledging the changing room with arms spread wide in triumph and a broad smile on her face before embracing Dunkley. Her ninth century moved her equal third with Charlotte Edwards on the women’s ODI list.She eventually fell skipping down to Mlaba again but failing to connect and spinning round to see Trisha Chetty whipping off the bails. Later, in the field, she thrilled spectators cheering her from beyond deep square leg with a flourish and a bow and she said had banished all thoughts of her Commonwealth Games omission during her innings.”I think it was probably right at the very back of my mind,” Beaumont said. “You don’t score runs thinking about things other than the ball, and one ball at a time. As one of my trusted friends told me a couple of days ago, you’ve got to go one ball at a time if you’re going to get anywhere so no, it wasn’t really front and centre.”

Says that while Babar isn’t quite there yet in comparison to Kohli, “he’s on track to be one of the modern greats”

Shashank Kishore23-Aug-2022Wasim Akram believes Pakistan’s win over India in the 2021 T20 World Cup has made them believe “they can compete against India day in and day out”. He feels what was once a one-sided rivalry at World Cups has suddenly come alive.”Pakistan team is on the rise for the past couple of years,” Akram said during a media session organised by Star Sports. “They’ve been consistent, and I think the win against India, although that was a year ago during the World Cup, gave them a bit of confidence that they can compete against India day in and day out.”Related

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When Pakistan won their opening game of the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE by ten wickets, it was their first win against India in six attempts at the competition. It was also the first time Pakistan had won a men’s World Cup fixture in any format against India, across 13 matches. It was a win that spurred their impressive run to the semi-finals, where they lost to eventual champions Australia.As they look to finetune their preparations for this year’s T20 World Cup in Australia, Pakistan will look to channel that spirit of 2021. This weekend, India and Pakistan will lock horns for the first time in a year when they meet in the Asia Cup in Dubai. In fact, over the next two weeks, they could potentially meet three times, ahead of their high-stakes T20 World Cup fixture in Melbourne on October 23.Akram is optimistic of Pakistan’s chances, but is aware that the team’s strength – the top order – could become a weakness. Since the start of last year’s T20 World Cup, Pakistan’s top three have scored 67.53% of all the runs made by the team in T20Is. This has largely been down to Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman.Akram: “It’s a bit too early to compare Babar to Kohli, but he’s on track to be one of the modern greats”•AFP/Getty Images

“The only thing I’m worried about is the middle order,” Akram said. “There is no experience apart from Iftikhar Ahmed coming in at No. 4, and then you’ll have probably Haider Ali, a young sensation who hasn’t been consistent. Babar Azam and Rizwan are the key as far as the T20 format is concerned.”I think in general they’re confident, but it depends on how they feel or what sort of mindset they’re in when they arrive before the India-Pakistan game because that game can make or break the Asia Cup for either side.”Akram agreed that comparisons between Babar and Virat Kohli were inevitable, given the kind of impact they have had on their respective teams, but it’s best avoided. To him, Babar is not yet there, but has all the makings of being a modern-day great.”It’s only natural,” Akram said of the comparison. “When we played, people compared Inzamam-ul-Haq with Rahul Dravid or Sachin Tendulkar. Before that, it was Javed Miandad versus Sunny [Sunil] Gavaskar. Gundappa Viswanath and Zaheer Abbas. So [the comparison] is only natural.”Babar has been very consistent because he has the right technique. He enjoys his batting, is still very hungry, physically fit, still young and is the captain across formats. He’s learning and learning very quickly. As far as comparisons go, he’s on the right track to be where Virat Kohli is. It’s a bit too early to compare him to Kohli at this stage, but he’s on track to be one of the modern greats.”

Mitchell Starc and Sean Abbott grabbed two wickets each, as Australia recovered from 117 for 8 to boost themselves

Andrew McGlashan08-Sep-2022For the second time in three days, Australia dug themselves out of a hole – this time with both bat and ball – to clinch the Chappell-Hadlee series in Cairns as New Zealand were dismantled for 82, and left wondering where their next win against the hosts in their own backyard will come.Australia had been 117 for 8 after which the last two wickets added 78 – Josh Hazlewood made Australia’s second-highest score by a No. 11 in ODIs – before they defended the total brilliantly in the field. Mitchell Starc set the tone with a first-over wicket, and Sean Abbott started with two wickets in five balls followed by four consecutive maidens on his return to the side.Adam Zampa then preyed on the pressure created on the New Zealand batters to claim a career-best 5 for 35, although Kane Williamson missing a big full toss and getting trapped in front wouldn’t have been plan A.However, it was not all good news for Australia despite the victory. Aaron Finch’s painful form continued with a second-ball duck when he drove Matt Henry to mid-off. It was Finch’s fifth duck in ODIs this year, setting a new record for an Australia batter, with a return to form looking as far away as it ever has.He has 26 runs in five innings against Zimbabwe and New Zealand this home season, leaving him with 169 runs at 13 in 2022. A decision on his ODI career – either by himself or the selectors – may not be far away.More broadly, it was another unconvincing display from Australia’s top order as Henry and Trent Boult again caused problems after they had found themselves 72 for 5 in the first ODI and 44 for 5 in the third ODI against Zimbabwe. But in their defence, conditions were not easy for batting, and Australia’s bowlers made them look even tougher.Martin Guptill played a poor stroke in the first over of the chase, edging a wild drive to Finch at slip, and there was barely an attacking stroke from New Zealand’s top order. Abbott, who had replaced Cameron Green who couldn’t recover from the effects of cramp, struck with his second ball when Devon Conway whipped to long leg, while three deliveries later Tom Latham edged to slip.Trent Boult again troubled Australia, accounting for Marnus Labuschagne and Marcus Stoinis early•Getty Images

It would be 29 balls before Abbott conceded a run as New Zealand were rendered largely scoreless: after ten overs, they had 14 runs – their lowest powerplay score since 2002 – and after 20, they were 36 for 4. By then, Williamson had departed having tried to soak up the pressure in 17 from 58 balls only to then miss a pull against a full toss from Zampa.Williamson couldn’t believe what had happened, and forlornly called for the review; and although the ball was only clipping leg stump, it was enough to confirm the decision. Zampa soon had another lbw when Daryl Mitchell missed a reverse sweep, with nothing New Zealand tried seemingly enough to break the shackles.Marcus Stoinis, the fourth seamer – and clearly a bowler New Zealand pinpointed to attack – joined the wicket-takers when Jimmy Neesham flicked to midwicket to give Finch his third catch. Michael Bracewell, who has got New Zealand home in some thrillers recently, was well caught in the gully from an inside edge into his pads before Zampa cleaned up the lower order.All that left New Zealand with one more match on this tour to get a first win across formats in Australia since 2011.The bowlers dominated from the start, with Steven Smith’s steadily-compiled 61 the only half-century of the game. After Finch’s early departure, in which almost everything looked out of sync, David Warner fell in similar fashion, also driving a catch to mid-off.Both of Boult’s early wickets also raised further questions about Australia’s use of the DRS. Marnus Labuschagne was struck on the knee roll with the subsequent review showing three reds, and in Boult’s next over, Stoinis was caught dead in front but also opted to review – seemingly prompted by Smith – with the ball smashing the middle of middle stump.Alex Carey, one of the stars of the close run chase two days ago, briefly steadied the innings alongside Smith but departed to a line-call stumping when he missed a reverse sweep against Mitchell Santner. Subsequent progress was slow against tight bowling as Smith and Glenn Maxwell tried to engineer the type of stand Carey and Green had managed on Tuesday.Maxwell cleared the leg-side boundary once off Santner, and Smith went to fifty from 83 balls. Australia’s hundred came up in the 31st over – their slowest since 2014.The loss of Maxwell in the 33rd over and Smith in the 37th appeared to leave the innings set for an early conclusion. However, after his important hand in clinching victory two days ago, Zampa again made handy runs, adding 31 with Starc, before Hazlewood joined in a partnership of 47 which included both fast bowlers launching sixes in the last two overs to enable Australia to see out the 50 overs.The initial thought was that it at least gave them to bowl at. But in the end, they had plenty.

The Pakistan batter was struck on the head by a stray shot from Mohammad Nawaz

Danyal Rasool21-Oct-2022Pakistan batter Shan Masood was taken to hospital after suffering a blow to the side of his head during a training session in Melbourne. Later, the PCB management said that the scans from hospital only showed a superficial bruising where the ball struck him, adding that Masood’s neurological observations were normal and he currently remains asymptomatic for concussion.Masood was struck by a stray shot off the bat from Mohammad Nawaz; as Masood was not batting at the time, he was not wearing a helmet.
Masood fell to the ground and looked in pain. He was soon attended by the team doctor.The incident occurred as Pakistan trained at the MCG ahead of their first group match against India on Sunday. ESPNcricinfo understands there were no immediate signs of alarm following the blow, with Masood conscious and reporting no concussion symptoms.”He was hit awkwardly in a sensitive area. I don’t know his current status, but he has passed the tests taken by our physio,” Pakistan vice-captain Shadab Khan said after the incident. “Now, he’s gone to the hospital for a scan. We’re praying for his quick recovery.”Masood has become a regular starter in the Pakistan T20I side in the build-up to the World Cup, finding a home at number three. He made his debut in the format against England, going on to play all seven T20Is against them in Pakistan, and all of Pakistan’s games in the tri-series against New Zealand and Bangladesh. He scored two half-centuries against England, but had a more difficult time in the tri-series, and was expected to be replaced in the starting XI by Fakhar Zaman.

Suzie Bates and Ellyse Perry fell in the second over but Sixers fought back while Thunder were hit by an injury

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff02-Nov-2022Sydney Sixers 6 for 163 (Gardner 53) beat Sydney Thunder 7 for 148 (Haynes 37, Cheatle 3-21, Gardner 3-22)Table-topping Sydney Sixers trumped crosstown rivals Sydney Thunder by 15 runs in the relocated Sydney Smash thanks to an outstanding allround display from Ash Gardner.Gardner hit a vital 53 off 37 balls to rescue the Sixers from 2 for 7 after they elected to bat first. Suzie Bates and Ellyse Perry fell in Sam Bates’ opening over and Sixers were again wobble on 5 for 94 when Gardner’s innings ended in the 14th over.However, Sixers’ batting depth came to the fore as Nicole Bolton (28) and Maitlan Brown (29 not out) added 56 for the sixth wicketCaptain Rachael Haynes and No. 5 Chloe Tryon (32) attempted to push Thunder towards an unlikely win, but it was all Gardner. The 25-year-old opened the bowling to finish with figures of 3 for 25 to be the clear player of the match. She also claimed a terrific catch running in off the boundary to remove Sammy-Jo Johnson.Thunder were hampered by an injury to England wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones late in their fielding innings, where she aggravated a previous back and couldn’t complete her stint behind the stumps, meaning she was unable to be part of the chaseLauren Cheatle also picked up three wickets for Sixers as the star-studded group went a game-and-a-half clear on top of the ladder.For Thunder, Hannah Darlington had returned for his first game of the season after a knee injury and claimed the wicket of Alyssa Healy in what was her first full outing since the end of January.This game had originally been scheduled for Blacktown Oval before being moved due to concerns over the pitch, facilities and crowd.Sixers will battle Scorchers in Perth on Saturday in a blockbuster top-of-the-table clash.