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Former Rajasthan Royals offspinner Ajit Chandila has been banned for life from all official cricketing activities for his role in the IPL 2013 spot-fixing case

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jan-20161:14

Ajit Chandila: Timeline from 2013 to 2016

Former Rajasthan Royals offspinner Ajit Chandila has been banned for life from all official cricketing activities for his role in the IPL 2013 spot-fixing case. Former Mumbai batsman Hiken Shah, who had been suspended by the BCCI in July 2015 for making an “illegal approach” to a player, was handed a five-year ban.

The BCCI anti-corruption code clauses Chandila breached

• 2.1.1 Fixing or contriving in any way or otherwise influencing improperly, or being a party to any effort to fix or contrive in any way or otherwise influence improperly, the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of any match or event.

• 2.1.2 Seeking, accepting, offering or agreeing to accept any bribe or other reward to fix or to contrive in any way or otherwise to influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of any match or event.

• 2.1.3 Failing or refusing, for reward, to perform to one’s abilities in a match.

• 2.1.4 Soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or facilitating (a) any participant to commit an offence under any of the foregoing provisions of this Article 2.1 and/or (b) any other person to do any act that would be an offence if that person were a participant.

• 2.2.2 Soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging, facilitating or authorising any other party to enter into a bet for the direct or indirect benefit of the participant in relation to the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of any match or event.

• 2.2.3 Ensuring the occurrence of a particular incident in a match or event, which occurrence is to the participant’s knowledge the subject of a bet and for which he/she expects to receive or has received any reward.

• 2.4.1 Providing or receiving any gift, payment or other benefit (whether of a monetary value or otherwise) in circumstances that the participant might reasonably have expected could bring him/her or the sport of cricket into disrepute.

A release from the BCCI said Chandila was “held guilty of misconduct and corruption”, having breached seven clauses of Article 2 of the BCCI’s anti-corruption code relating to corruption and betting. Shah, the release said, had breached three clauses of Article 2, all related to corruption.The BCCI’s disciplinary committee had met in Mumbai on Monday, and pronounced the penalties against the two.This is the first definite action taken against Chandila by the BCCI, since the Indian board suspended him in May 2013 following his arrest by Delhi Police for his alleged involvement in corruption in the IPL. While the others arrested at that point – former Royals players Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan – were banned from cricket by the BCCI on September 13, 2013, a decision on Chandila was deferred as there was no chance for Ravi Sawani – who led the BCCI’s probe into the matter and whose report formed the basis for the board’s actions – to question him; he had been in police or judicial custody since his arrest on May 16 till September 9, 2013, when he was granted bail, while Sreesanth and Chavan were out on bail since June 11. Since then the BCCI has been embroiled in internal turmoil and engaged in an administrative makeover stemming from the spot-fixing scandal, possibly pushing Chandila’s case on the back-burner.On the legal front, charges against all three players were dropped by a trial court in Delhi in July 2015, on the court on grounds of lack of sufficient evidence for prosecution under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The court’s decision did not have an impact on the life bans imposed by the BCCI.Shah, meanwhile, it is understood, had approached a Mumbai team-mate ahead of IPL 2015. He was found to be in breach of Articles 2.1.1, 2.1.2 and 2.1.4 of the BCCI anti-corruption code (see sidebar for details).

A victorious Sri Lanka will play in Cardiff on Thursday. A humbled Australia will start pondering the Ashes, and the state of disrepair their cricket has fallen into

The Report by Daniel Brettig17-Jun-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Mahela Jayawardene was in dazzling form, caressing his way to an unbeaten 84•Associated Press

A victorious Sri Lanka will play in Cardiff on Thursday. A humbled Australia will start pondering the Ashes, and the state of disrepair their cricket has fallen into. Led by Mahela Jayawardene’s silken unbeaten 84, Sri Lanka stuttered into a Champions Trophy semi-final against India by defeating a collective whose captain Michael Clarke watched disconsolately from The Oval balcony.Their slim chances of qualifying long since expired, Australia offered a last gasp via Clint McKay and Xavier Doherty, who added 41 for the final wicket. They were only separated by a blinding return catch from Tillakaratne Dilshan, whose exultant celebrations underlined the anxiety that had crept into a team who looked comfortable winners for most of the journey.Once Jayawardene had lifted Sri Lanka to 253 for 8 after an uncertain beginning, passing 11,000 ODI runs on the way, Australia’s chances of qualifying became largely theoretical. India in their pomp might have been a chance to reach 254 in 29.1 overs, but not a team that had failed to top 250 in two previous matches and been distracted by all manner of off field woes, from Clarke’s fragile back to David Warner’s choices of drinking spots and punching bags.This left Angelo Mathews’ team to ride out a brief spell of hitting from Glenn Maxwell, a doughty rearguard from Adam Voges, and a pesky last stand by the final wicket pair of McKay and Doherty, who conjured the second best partnership of the innings. As in India earlier this year, this served mainly to expose the appalling lack of application shown by many of the batsmen.Australia’s troubles were best summed up by their stand-in leader George Bailey, who dozed off at the wrong moment and found himself run out, helping to end a Champions Trophy defence that never really began. Apart from the emergence of James Faulkner they have precious little to show for the past two weeks.Sri Lanka’s innings had flirted with mediocrity in the face of some diligent bowling until Jayawardene’s delayed arrival, which signalled a late innings surge. Lahiru Thirimanne had been promoted ahead of Jayawardene at an uncertain 20 for 2, and the switch allowed the senior man to make merry in the later overs against the older ball after Thirimanne composed an important, steadying 57.Given the scenario confronting them, Australia’s batsmen were forced to play on instinct, and Shane Watson’s cover drive from the first ball of the innings made for a promising portent. But as has become the norm Watson flattered to deceive, bowled in the second over when making a hare-brained attempt to cut Nuwan Kulasekara off the stumps.Phillip Hughes showed himself adept at edging past the bails, twice gaining boundaries in those fortuitous circumstances. But the use of only half the bat did not suggest permanence, and it was no great surprise when he glided Kulasekara into Kumar Sangakkara’s gloves.Having come in at No. 3, Maxwell offered entertainment, cracking five boundaries and one six in the manner that earned him his exorbitant IPL contract. But Sri Lanka always had Lasith Malinga to use in case of emergencies, and he duly yorked Maxwell in his first over after the Victorian had swung once too often.Bailey has been a middle order resuscitator of sorts in the two previous games, but the team has not responded fruitfully enough to his leadership. He was to slip up badly here, dawdling in mid-pitch when trying to pinch a leg bye and finding himself run out at the non-striker’s end by Kulasekara’s direct hit.The innings then petered out in a manner sadly familiar to those who have watched Australia away from home in recent months. Only Doherty and McKay gave the impression they genuinely cared to win the contest, something not so surprising when observing the recent record: they have not won overseas in an international match in any format this year. Quite apart from the problems unearthed by Warner’s Birmingham misadventures, this is no trend to take into an Ashes series.Overcast skies and a desire to know his eventual target had encouraged Bailey to send Sri Lanka in. Mitchell Johnson’s first two deliveries of the match were poor; the first clattered to the backward point boundary, the second scuttling to fine leg off the pads. But his third was straight and too quick for Kusal Perera, who was clearly lbw.Sangakkara hinted at the genius that had guided Sri Lanka to a stirring chase against England on this ground last week, but found himself tied down by McKay’s persistent line and subtle movement. Having already chanced a desperate single, Sangakkara was offered a fraction of extra width and lashed out, but managed only to slice a drive to Maxwell.At that moment Australia could envision a slim target, but Thirimanne was sent in to steady the innings in Dilshan’s company, leaving Jayawardene in reserve. A serviceable job was done, gaps found every now and then the Australian bowlers were not gifted any wickets. It took Doherty to split them with a ball that straightened just enough to take an edge, Watson diving alertly to his right at slip.Mathews played a halting innings in Jayawardene’s company before losing his off bail to a nicely pitched delivery from Faulkner, but Dinesh Chandimal was busier and more effective in a fifth-wicket stand of 65 in 56 balls. The Australians did not bowl too much that was loose, but were left to marvel at Jayawardene’s knack for manipulating the field as the score mounted.In what is becoming a pattern as familiar as Australian defeat, the wicketkeeper and agitator Wade became embroiled in a profane joust with Jayawardene. Ninety-nine Sri Lankan runs from the final 13 overs meant the Australians could start thinking less about niggle and more about the Test matches to come.

ESPNcricinfo previews the IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Pune Warriors in Kolkata

The Preview by Devashish Fuloria04-May-2012

Match facts

Saturday, May 5, Kolkata
Start time 1600 (1030 GMT)Kolkata fans’ dilemma – Sourav Ganguly or home team?•AFP

Big Picture

Although it is just one of the IPL’s innumerable league games, the match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Pune Warriors at Eden Gardens has attracted special attention because of one player. Sourav Ganguly is coming home, ironically as captain of the away team. He is capable of rousing the passionate Eden Gardens crowd to feverish levels; his iconic status in Kolkata is comparable to Sachin Tendulkar’s in Mumbai. Ganguly’s return is expected to test the loyalties of the fans: home team or local legend?If the India-South Africa ODI in 2005 is any indicator, Knight Riders could find parts of Eden Gardens cheering the opposition captain. Back then, during the height of the Ganguly-Chappell fracas, India were booed because Ganguly had been dropped from the squad. He was snubbed in the 2011 auction by Knight Riders and a similar scenario this time is not improbable, but passions may have cooled like Ganguly form has waned.Ganguly, and Warriors, need all the inspiration they can get. They are second from bottom in the league, having lost six out of their previous seven games. In their most recent loss, to Mumbai, Warriors failed to chase 121, with Ganguly struggling to 16 off 24 balls. However, any revival against the most economical bowling attack this season will require resolve: Sunil Narine, the Knight Riders spinner, has taken 12 wickets and has an economy of 5.53, the second best after Lasith Malinga. But Warriors’ hopes lie in plotting the fall of Knight Riders’ batting, which has lacked substantial contributions from everyone except Gautam Gambhir. With another Bengal cricketer, Ashok Dinda, back to fitness Warriors’ bowling attack is better equipped to trouble Knight Riders.The home team has been in good form coming into this game – four wins in a row – and they would aim to stay close to Delhi Daredevils at the top of the table. The stage is set for Ganguly’s homecoming but fans will need to hope that the weather stays clear.

Form guide

(most recent first, completed games)
Pune Warriors: LLLLW
Kolkata Knight Riders: WWWWL

Players to watch

Gautam Gambhir, the Knight Riders captain, has scored 365 runs with four half-centuries, and he has done it at strike-rate of 143.70, while his other hard-hitting teammates have struggled to force the pace.Michael Clarke is new to the Warriors camp but he is expected to turn things around for a struggling team. He looked comfortable in his first two two games, but he will want to convert those starts. His class against spin could be key to negotiating a tricky Knight Riders attack.

Stats and trivia

• Sourav Ganguly has scored 496 runs in IPL matches in Kolkata at an average of 41.33. In IPL 2010 alone he scored 331 at an average of 55.16.
• Yusuf Pathan has hit 77 sixes in his IPL career. However, only three of them have come this season.
• Knight Riders’ bowling is the most economical this season, giving away only 6.79 runs per over. Warriors are fourth with an economy of 7.61.
  

  Quotes

  “Any match at Eden Gardens is my home match”

  “If we’re winning without him contributing much, it’s a good sign for the team”

Brain Evans, universally known as Ginger, a fast bowler for Glamorgan who went on to became a major force in Minor Counties cricket, has died at the age of 74

ESPNcricinfo staff17-May-2011Brain Evans, universally known as Ginger, a fast bowler for Glamorgan who went on to became a major force in Minor Counties cricket, died earlier this month at the age of 74.His 2nd XI debut for Glamorgan came as a 17-year-old in 1953 and he also made a name in South Wales club cricket, but he had to wait five years for his first county appearance. In 1960 and 1961 he took 82 and 87 wickets and briefly formed a dangerous new-ball pairing with Jeff Jones. But his career was blighted by injury issues which ultimately forced him to retire early in the 1964 season.Evans subsequently played for Lincolnshire, helping them win the Minor Counties Championship in 1966. He was a professional for Ross Sports Group in Grimsby until 1971.Even when he quit playing he retained his close links with the game as an umpire, a county official in Lincolnshire, and as groundsman at Ross Sports Group.In all he took 251 wickets at 27.04 in 88 matches, with a career best of 8 for 42 against Somerset in 1961. He also scored 1535 runs at 13.70.

Virender Sehwag has backed Yuvraj Singh to make a speedy comeback to the Indian team following his axing from the squad for the Asia Cup

Cricinfo staff09-Jun-2010Virender Sehwag has backed Yuvraj Singh to make a speedy return to the Indian team after his axing from the squad for the Asia Cup. Sehwag also said that his shoulder had healed completely as India prepare to head to Sri Lanka next week.”Times like these come because of [a lack of] form, but I’m sure he will sort out his fitness and batting skills and make a comeback soon,” Sehwag said. “All he needs is to spend time on his own and think about his game.”Yuvraj averaged 24.70 in his last 11 ODIs, and had a highest of 43 in 14 games in IPL 2010. His fitness in the recent past has come in for criticism and he was also issued a show-cause notice by the BCCI for an alleged pub brawl in St Lucia following India’s exit from the World Twenty20. Kris Srikkanth, the chairman of selectors, said fielding and fitness were two important factors considered when picking the Asia Cup squad.Sehwag overcame his fitness issues in time to make the Asia Cup squad. A shoulder injury sustained during the IPL had ruled him out of India’s ICC World Twenty20 campaign and the opener was rested from the ongoing tour to Zimbabwe to give him time to recover. He said the rest and rehabilitation had worked. “My shoulder has healed,” he told CNN-IBN. “I worked on my shoulders in the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore and I’m fully fit now.”Sehwag also backed the younger Indian batsmen, saying they would overcome their susceptibility against short-pitched bowling in due time. “People said the same thing about me. Give them some time and they would get better as they get experienced. Once they play more than 100 ODIs, they would do well. [Suresh] Raina, Rohit [Sharma], Gautam [Gambhir] – they would be ready by the time you have the World Cup.”

Quick bowler wants role in World Cup but says control and variety will be key to success

Andrew Miller29-Jun-2024Lauren Filer insists that England will not be getting ahead of themselves in their ongoing ODI series against New Zealand, despite a comprehensive nine-wicket victory in the series opener in Durham. Nevertheless, she admits that the T20 World Cup in October, and her potential role on those slower wickets in Bangladesh, will be a factor in her preparations for the rest of the summer.Filer, England’s fastest bowler, made her second ODI appearance of the summer on Wednesday, opening alongside Lauren Bell for the first time, with Kate Cross missing the series with an abdominal strain. She made a strong impact, bowling five powerplay overs for 18 and claiming the key early wicket of Suzie Bates, before passing the baton to England’s formidable trio of spinners, who claimed seven wickets between them in bowling New Zealand out for 156.England’s openers, Tammy Beaumont and Maia Bouchier, then picked off the bulk of those runs in a 137-run stand spanning 17.2 overs, to extend the team’s recent dominance over New Zealand, whom they beat in six matches out of eight across white-ball formats on their tour of the country in March and April.Related

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“We will definitely not underestimate New Zealand as a team,” Filer said on the eve of the second ODI in Worcester. “We know that they can hit a big ball and take wickets as well, so we’ve got to be careful. We don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves and throw everything at it, without actually thinking about it, but we’re just all up for our performance, and taking the momentum from the last game into the next one.”Filer herself took particular pride in her economy-rate (3.60) in the Durham fixture. Despite having been told by Jon Lewis, England’s head coach, that wickets were the key thing that she could offer, and that going for a few extra runs did not matter in the grander scheme of things, she conceded just two boundaries and one wide in her pacy new-ball burst, and admitted that it gave her a lift to perform her primary role with gusto without maintaining an extra level of control.”Lewy’s always told me that runs don’t matter as much,” Filer said. “But in Durham it was lovely to have that control. To only go at three and a half, it was really nice to see that on the scoreboard when when I turned around, because I wouldn’t have necessarily had that control this time last year.”It is evidence, Filer feels, of a greater understanding of her own game, and one that augurs well for a potential tweaking of her role at the World Cup, where there may be a greater need to mix up her lengths and paces to mitigate for the slower conditions.”On the pitch we played on in Durham – and most of the pitches in England – the top of stumps is the best option,” she said. “With the slower pitches, I’ll be using that quicker ball, but then it’ll be about having slower balls or yorkers, and anything that grips into the pitch, and using them wisely. I didn’t feel like I needed to do that in the last game, but moving forward, I might be able to show what I could do.”Lauren Filer celebrates the wicket of Suzie Bates in the first ODI•Getty Images

Filer’s raw pace, allied to her growing range of variations, means she could yet be deployed at the World Cup in a similar role to that which Jofra Archer performs for the men – with an impact at the top and tail of the innings, plus an ability to return in the middle of an innings if a breakthrough is required.”I’d love to do what Jofra does,” she said. “Obviously he has a great amount of control and his slower balls take a lot of wickets. But I’m trying not to look too far ahead. I wouldn’t say I’ve had a specific role given to me yet, but we’ll see where we’re at closer to the time.”I feel like I’ve worked quite hard on my accuracy, especially since my debut,” she added. “I think I’m in a good place with that. It’s about trying to move away from my stock ball and show my variations, and actually use them as a threat. When you come up against the best players, you’re not able to bowl the same ball all the time. So I’ll keep working on them until the World Cup.”Filer admits there’s no guarantees of a central role at the World Cup, especially given the ubiquity of England’s spin trio of Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean and Sarah Glenn. “It’s so hard as a seamer, you really want to play but you can’t push any of them out of the team,” she said. “They’re just absolutely world-class. Even if one of them doesn’t have the best day, the other two will come flying in with three or four wickets.But whatever happens, Filer knows she’ll have the support of a dressing-room which she describes as “the best environment I’ve ever been in”.”It’s just somewhere that you can be yourself,” she said. “As a team, we trust each other to do the things we do well, and that’s really important. Even on a day when it doesn’t go well, knowing that you’ve got the support of your team-mates when you come off the field, and a shoulder to cry on, that’s something really special, and something hopefully we can carry on throughout the years.”

Mitchell Marsh has had a lean time with the bat while Josh Hazlewood has yet to make an appearance

Andrew McGlashan27-Apr-20235:15

How long a rope can Capitals afford for Marsh?

David Warner (Delhi Capitals)

One of the major narratives from an Australian point of view has been Warner’s form and it has provided a curious situation. His strike-rate has come under significant scrutiny amid Capitals’ poor start to the competition, but he has consistently produced runs with four fifties. While conditions in the IPL could not be further removed from those that will confront him in the Tests, strike-rate will be less of a concern come June (notwithstanding Bazball). His most recent half-century, a 41-ball 57 against KKR, was much more fluent. Whatever happens over the next few it’s unlikely to be dull.

Cameron Green (Mumbai Indians)

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After a somewhat uncertain start, Green has hit his stride – certainly with the bat – scoring back-to-back half-centuries against Sunrisers and Punjab Kings. The second of them came in defeat, but the first was part of a matchwinning all-rounder display. Ahead of the WTC final and Ashes the selectors will have an eye on his workload and the quick transition from T20 to Test cricket could yet provide challenges for a player who has not made that switch often.

Mitchell Marsh (Delhi Capitals)

After looking a million dollars in the ODI series against India, it’s been a lean time with the bat for Marsh which has contributed to Capitals’ early-season woes. He started with four single-digit scores either side of returning home for his wedding, but getting back into the fray with the ball has been a good sign and will have helped in him earning a recall for the Ashes.Glenn Maxwell reverse-sweeps Yuzvendra Chahal for a six•Associated Press

Glenn Maxwell (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

For someone who suffered what was not far off being a career-threatening injury late last year, the sight of Maxwell launching the ball to all parts has been a heartening story in this IPL. He is not yet back to 100% and continues to play through some pain, but has looked very much like his old self with the bat. Two of his half-centuries have come in defeat as the regular debate about a top-heavy RCB order is revived, but the 77 off 44 against Royals was a matchwinner.

Marcus Stoinis (Lucknow Super Giants)

Stoinis is putting together a handy tournament for LSG. He produced a brilliant 65 off 30 balls against RCB to conjure remarkable chase of 213 after they had been 23 for 3 and has chipped in elsewhere without quite matching that display. In the last couple of matches he has bowled for the first time in the season and with excellent results, playing a key role in a relatively low-scoring affair against Royals (where he was Player of the Match) and again proving effective against Titans.

Tim David (Mumbai Indians)

David has perhaps not hit the heights that he has become known for, but he has still produced some useful displays for Mumbai Indians. He and Green got them over the line in a tight chase against Capitals then David helped ice a substantial target against KKR which they made look relatively simple. He had a big part to play in the field against SRH where he claimed four catches, one short of the IPL record.Nathan Ellis has again produced some clutch displays•BCCI

Nathan Ellis (Punjab Kings)

Ellis has continued to enhancing his T20 reputation. He produced a Player of the Match performance against Royals with 4 for 30 in a high-scoring game, including the key wicket of Jos Buttler. Then in a contest against Mumbai Indians with over 400 runs, where he was brought in as the Impact Player, he got the better of Australia team-mate Green at a vital moment.

Josh Hazlewood (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Hazlewood, whose Test career has hit the buffers over the last two years, has yet to make an appearance following his delayed arrival as he continued his recovery from the Achilles injury that ended his India tour. George Bailey, Australia’s chair of selectors, said that four-over spells in the IPL would be a good gradual return to action ahead of the Test matches although questions remain about whether he’ll be ready. He had an extensive bowl off his full run-up in a recent training session.

And a few more

Among the other Australians at the IPL, Jason Behrendorff has picked up eight wickets for Mumbai Indians although his economy rate has touched 10 an over. Matt Short, the BBL Player of the Tournament, hasn’t quite been able to hit his stride for Punjab Kings although a brace of 30s showed what he can produce. In a Royals outfit featuring R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, Adam Zampa has not found a regular starting spot and has played just twice – once as the Impact player. Matthew Wade, who is with defending champions Titans, and Daniel Sams (LSG) have yet to make an appearance.

In his official communication to the franchise, Katich said he was uncomfortable staying inside the IPL bubble and away from his family

Matt Roller and Nagraj Gollapudi18-Feb-2022Simon Katich has resigned from his position as assistant coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad, after being in the position for barely two months.While there has been no word from Katich or the franchise, ESPNcricinfo can confirm that he has left his role with immediate effect. It is also learnt that in his official communication to the franchise, Katich said he was uncomfortable staying inside the IPL bubble and away from his family for such a long period.Simon Helmot, who had previously worked as the Sunrisers assistant coach, is understood be Katich’s replacement. Helmot recently won the CPL 2021 as head coach with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, and was also head coach of WBBL team Melbourne Renegades, who finished second on the table and lost the Challenger in the playoffs.Related

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It was only last December that Katich was appointed as one of the assistant coaches when the franchise carried out a revamp of its coaching staff which included Tom Moody’s move from director of cricket to head coach.A report in the on Friday, however, quoted sources as saying that “Katich disagreed with the way the team was being managed and felt pre-auction plans were disregarded” in Bengaluru last weekend.Katich, formerly the assistant coach (to Jacques Kallis) at Kolkata Knight Riders and head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore, was present throughout the auction, sat alongside fellow support-staff members Moody, Brian Lara, Muttiah Muralitharan and Hemang Badani, and is understood to have resigned immediately after the auction, which ended on February 13.The former Australia international had also left Royal Challengers midway through the 2021 IPL, during the UAE leg, when Mike Hesson had to double up as head coach as well as director of cricket. The reasons for Katich’s exit from Royal Challengers was never made public.At the auction, Sunrisers spent big on Nicholas Pooran (INR 10.75 crore, USD 1.43 million), Washington Sundar (INR 8.75 crore, USD 1.16 million) and Rahul Tripathi (INR 8.5 crore, USD 1.13 million). They also splurged on Romario Shepherd (INR 7.75 crore, USD 1.03 million) and the uncapped Abhishek Sharma (INR 6.5 crore, USD 866,000).And prior to the auction, Sunrisers retained Kane Williamson, who is likely to lead the side if fit, as well as two uncapped Indians, batter Abdul Samad and tearaway quick Umran Malik.Sunrisers were also in the news during the 2021 IPL, when they first sacked David Warner as the captain and then dropped him altogether, with Warner later saying the whole thing was “a bitter pill to swallow, but I don’t think I will ever get answers and must move on”. Warner, who had led Sunrisers to the IPL title in 2016, was initially barred from sitting in the team’s dugout during games too.As for the support staff, then head coach Trevor Bayliss and assistant coach Brad Haddin left at the end of the 2021 season, paving the way for Moody to return as head coach. VVS Laxman, the team’s mentor, also left to take charge at the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.

After reluctantly giving up her spot as an opener, Jones is learning to thrive at No. 5

Valkerie Baynes29-Sep-2020Survival of the fittest relies on the ability to adapt, so by following the laws of nature, Amy Jones is making strides in ensuring her longevity in England’s middle order.Moved down from her preferred position as opener towards the end of the T20 World Cup in March, Jones is beginning to thrive at No. 5, as shown by her crucial half-century as England defeated West Indies for the fourth time in as many matches of their T20I series on Monday.Just as she is adapting to her new role, Jones was able to adapt the conditions of the match, producing the knock England needed after slumping to 45 for 3.Reprieved on just 2 when Lee-Ann Kirby put down a sitter at midwicket, Jones raced to a 30-ball fifty and shared a 65-run stand with Heather Knight from just 35 balls that allowed England to recover to 110 for 4 by the time Knight was caught behind off Shamilia Connell for 42.Jones finished with 55 off 37 deliveries, her first T20I half-century in England, helping her side reach 166 for 6. That was their highest total of the series so far, and proved insurmountable for West Indies, who managed only 122 for 9 in reply.”Batting in a different position than I have previously is a new challenge which I’m enjoying,” Jones said after being named player of the match. “It wasn’t my preference at the start when it was decided. I’ve always opened, it’s where I’ve seen myself.”But since doing it it’s definitely a new challenge and I am enjoying it. You have to adapt to the situation at five which makes it a bit interesting.”Amy Jones celebrates reaching her half-century•Getty Images

Jones batted at No. 6 in England’s last group match of this year’s T20 World Cup, also against West Indies. She looked far more comfortable in that match, scoring an unbeaten 23 off 13 balls, than she had for a while with scores of 23, 0 and 2 as opener in the previous three games and reaching double figures just once in four matches while opening in the tri-series against Australia and India immediately before the tournament.Batting at No. 5 throughout the current series against West Indies in Derby, she had innings of 24, 25 and 4 heading into the penultimate fixture.”That should have gone for four so I was annoyed that I picked her out,” Jones said of her second life following Kirby’s shelled catch. “But getting any chance is very helpful and I was happy to sort of cash in after that.”Jones has had the added responsibility of following the retired Sarah Taylor as wicketkeeper and her glovework has been praiseworthy, particularly standing up to the stumps. But one area Jones is keen to work on is her aerial catching after dropping three in this series.”It’s been an annoying one because I feel like I’m keeping as well as I ever have, probably better,” Jones said. “I can feel my game going up a level, felt like I’ve been really tidy, quite sharp. It’s just those skiers, I’m having a nightmare with them.”It’s a real pain. They’re always tough chances but I need to be taking them. I guess I need a more stable base, get there early and try and trust my hands from there.”I’ve had one chance before this and that was in West Indies and I dropped that so my record’s not great. The depth perception out of a black sky is always very difficult. It always feels like it’s coming right at you and then it seems to be a metre in front of me. I think it’s just about getting there early, try and make the ground early, being stable and then sort of reacting from there, which is something I’ve not mastered.”Amy Jones drops an aerial catch during the 2nd T20I against West Indies•Getty Images

Meanwhile, Stafanie Taylor, the West Indies captain, was scratching her head for answers as she looks to avoid a 5-0 series sweep.After making three changes ahead of the fourth match, with Aaliyah Alleyne, Karishma Ramharack and Shabika Gajnabi coming in for Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry and Shakera Selman, Taylor didn’t rule out the possibility of more.”I’m not sure what the selection is going to be like, but it’s the last game and we probably have players here who haven’t played much,” she told Sky Sports. “We still want to give players exposure but at the same time you want to keep that core group as well. You don’t want it to be all fresh faces. [I’m] not sure what it’s going to look like, but we’ll see.”I will need more reflection really, just sitting down in my room. But right now it’s pretty much around bowling and batting. We’re still bowling in good areas, but the last five overs they are still beating us.”The batting is still not coming. We’re still leaving it up to one person to get most of the runs, and we didn’t get off to a good start. Today was a perfect time for the other batters to step up, but that just wasn’t the case.”

The big-hitting batsman said KKR could gain strategically by sending him up the order and forcing opposition captains to use their best bowlers earlier

Sreshth Shah in Kolkata19-Apr-20194:18

I wouldn’t mind batting at No. 4 – Russell

Andre Russell’s devastating form in IPL 2019 has raised the question of his batting position for Kolkata Knight Riders. While he has often demolished bowling attacks at the death, experts and laymen alike have asked whether his team would be better served if Russell walks in with more overs remaining. After Knight Riders slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat, Russell added fuel to the fire by suggesting that he should have batted higher up the order, instead of walking in with an asking rate of 16.53 after Royal Challenges Bangalore had piled up 213 for 4.”Look, we were chasing 214 runs and weren’t in the best state when I went out to bat,” Russell said after the match, which Knight Riders ended up losing by only ten runs. “When Nitish (Rana) asked what I thought, I said ‘I bat one way – and that’s positive.’ (But) to go out there and chasing 14-15 per over, it’s not the best way you want to start as a batsman. I’m used to these situations, but why I say it’s a sweet and sour feeling is because we need to learn from this, as a team. We need to learn that we can get 214. And to lose by 10 runs, well, we were just two hits away.”I believe that [I should bat higher up the order],” Russell said as he put a finger to his lips, as if to suggest it was something he wanted, but couldn’t speak about. “Honestly, you have to sometimes be flexible as a team. When you look at the make-up of our team, I don’t mind going to bat at No. 4.”Knight Riders’ first two wins of the season came from near-impossible situations, driven by Russell. They chased down more than 50 runs in less than three overs on both occasions, against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kings XI Punjab, but Russell believed those weren’t ideal scenarios in the first place. He pointed out that him batting higher up would force opposition captains to use their best bowlers earlier in the game, thereby leaving their weaker bowlers for the difficult death overs.”When I’m at the crease, Virat Kohli will bowl the best bowlers to get me out, and those best bowlers will therefore have less overs remaining in the back end,” Russell said. “So even if I score 60 off 25 balls and give the team the early pump, then the type of bowlers like Dale Steyn will have only one over to bowl at the death, or they may bowl out. So I think me going to bat early would definitely be good for KKR, but with our make-up as a team… yeah, [stopping himself], that’s a good answer.”Russell also suggested that Knight Riders had suffered against Royal Challengers due to a lack of urgency in the middle overs, which contributed to the defeat. He walked in at No.6, with the team 79 for 4 and needed 135 to win off 49 balls. Russell ended up smashing 65 off 25, adding 118 runs in eight overs alongside Rana (85* off 46), but was eventually left with too much to do as Knight Riders ended on 203 for 5.”You know when you lose cricket games like these, it’s a sweet and sour feeling,” Russell said. “I just think that a four and six could’ve got us over the line. We lost the game in the middle overs. Even though we should’ve restricted RCB for less than 200, I think the ball was in our court and we tossed the ball to their side. That’s what happened tonight.”If we batted faster in the middle period, we would definitely get the runs with even balls to spare. Well batted to Nitish, but this is something [of concern].”Knight Riders sit at sixth on the points table, having lost five of their nine games. With three away games in their last five matches, including two against a Mumbai Indians side that they haven’t beaten in five years, the road to playoff qualification has become a tough one at the business end of the tournament.