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Vernon Philander, the South Africa seamer, hopes to use his stint in the Caribbean Premier League as a means to breaking into South Africa’s limited-overs squads

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jul-2013Vernon Philander, the South Africa seamer, hopes to use his stint in the Caribbean Premier League as a means to break into South Africa’s limited-overs squads. Philander, set to play for Jamaica Tallawahs, has only played eight ODIs and seven T20s since making his international debut in 2007. Since his remarkable entry to Test cricket in 2011, he has been identified by the selectors as a Test specialist.”I have obviously not played a lot of white-ball cricket for South Africa,” Philander was quoted as saying in . “This tournament is a chance for me to step up in the shortest form of the game and I am pretty excited about it.”I back myself in the shorter formats and want the opportunity at international level so if I can put my name on the board then that is what I want to do.”Philander took a five-for in his Test debut against Australia at Newlands in 2011 and within five months became the second-fastest to 50 Test wickets, in seven games. Philander has thrived in helping bowling conditions at home in South Africa, and in away tours to New Zealand, England and Australia. Popular opinion called for his inclusion for the Champions Trophy squad, but he wasn’t selected.Philander is currently representing Kent in the Friends Life t20 and has taken nine wickets in seven games. He understands the challenges of bowling in the West Indies, where the conditions may not be as helpful.”The conditions will pose challenges and as I have not played in the West Indies before, that is something I will have to get used to,” he said. “It will be a case of getting used to the decks and bowling up front as quickly as possible.”He said he wasn’t looking as far ahead as the World T20 in 2014 in Bangladesh. “Obviously I would love to play in it but my first priority has to be to do well in the CPL. If I can do that, make my mark and make a name for myself, I will be in a much better position for selection, but the CPL is the first thing to get right.”

Five uncapped players have been picked in the squad for the Bangladesh T20 in Pallekele which will round of the Bangladesh tour

Andrew Fidel Fernando27-Mar-2013Five uncapped players have been named in Sri Lanka’s squad for the one-off Twenty20 that will complete the Bangladesh tour in Pallekele. Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Nuwan Kulasekara have been rested for the match. Mahela Jayawardene has recovered sufficiently from a finger fracture to be available for selection, but was not picked either.*Allrounders Shehan Jayasuriya, Chaturanga de Silva, Ramith Rambukwella, and fast bowler Ishan Jayaratne were the new additions to the squad, while batsman Angelo Perera, already in the ODI squad, also found a place.The selectors’ focus on youth development is writ large in their latest team, as all five uncapped players are yet to turn 24, with Jeevan Mendis the only player named in the squad above the age of 30.Kithuruwan Vithanage, who debuted in the Test series and is in the ODI squad, retained his place for the final assignment of the tour. Sachithra Senanayake was the only specialist spinner, with no room for either Ajantha Mendis, Akila Dananjaya or Tharindu Kaushal.The match will be Dinesh Chandimal’s first as Twenty20 captain, with Malinga set to be vice-captain for the first time. The squad for the third ODI was unchanged from the side named for the first two matches, after the second game was washed out in Hambantota.Twenty20 squad: Kusal Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dilshan Munaweera, Dinesh Chandimal (capt & wk), Angelo Mathews, Jeevan Mendis, Kithruwan Withanage, Angelo Perera, Lasith Malinga (vc), Sachithra Senanayaka, Shaminda Eranga, Chathuranga de Silva, Shehan Jayasuriya, Ramith Rambukwella, Ishan Jayaratne, Thisara Perera

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Apr-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsA rapid half-century from Cameron Delport propelled South Africa Emerging Players to a seven-wicket win against Namibia in their opening game of the quadrangular T20 tournament in Windhoek. Delport, opening for South Africa, slammed 69 in 40 balls with 10 boundaries to help them chase down 161 with an over to spare. His team-mates could not match his pace of scoring, but handy cameos from Yaseen Vallie and Jean Symes after Delport was dismissed ensured the team eased home.Namibia’s innings too was built around one half-century, theirs coming from No. 3 Louis van der Westhuizen. His knock of 63 off 45 was crucial in that it followed ducks from both openers. That they got to 160 after being 4 for 2 in the second over was commendable, but as it turned was not enough. Left-arm pacer Beuran Hendricks was quite expensive, going at nine an over, but he was also the most effective for South Africa with three scalps.

A round-up from the latest Sunfoil Series wraps as Warriors secure a big victory

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jan-2013Ayabulela Gqamane, a 23-year-old pace bowler, had a match to remember as he played a central role in setting up Warriors for a ten-wicket victory against Titans at Centurion. Gqamane took 6 for 40 on the third afternoon to run through the lower order after Titans had threatening to bring themselves back into the contest.Gqamane had earlier starred with the bat, scoring a career-best 86 off 89 balls at No. 10, to earn Warriors a lead of 191 after the match had been heading for a far more even situation. Arno Jacobs had struck 105 but Titans, who had been bowled out for 222 first time around, fought back to have Warriors 265 for 8 before Gqamane added 129 for the ninth wicket with Simon Harmer (66 not out) to stretch them well ahead.Titans then battled themselves back into contention by reaching 138 for 1. However, it did not last. Gurshwin Rabie made two breakthroughs before Gqamane took centre stage. His first scalp was Roelof van der Merwe followed by current one-day international player Farhaan Behardien (13).It continued a rapid rise for Gqamane, who made his first-class debut for Warriors against Lions at the Wanderers last month and grabbed a match-winning 7 for 24 in the second innings.The tail offered precious little resistance and in total Titans’ last nine wickets tumbled for 66. It left just 14 to knock off which took under three overs. The win keeps Warriors second in the table, just over five points behind Cape Cobras, while Titans remain stuck at the bottom with four defeats in five matches.

Regular captain Darren Sammy and batsman Chris Gayle have been rested by West Indies for the first two ODIs of their three-match home series against Zimbabwe

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Feb-2013West Indies squad for first two Zimbabwe ODIs

Dwayne Bravo (capt), Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Narsingh Deonarine, Sunil Narine, Veerasammy Permaul, Kieron Pollard, Kieran Powell, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Ramnaresh Sarwan
In: Veerasammy Permaul, Denesh Ramdin
Out: Darren Sammy, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Devon Thomas

Dwayne Bravo will lead West Indies in the first two Zimbabwe ODIs•Associated PressRegular captain Darren Sammy and key batsman Chris Gayle have been rested by West Indies for the first two ODIs of their three-match home series against Zimbabwe. Allrounder Dwayne Bravo will lead the team in the matches, which are scheduled for February 22 and 24 in St George’s.Gayle, a WICB release said, had asked to skip the games, while it was decided that Sammy needed a break after playing in every match for West Indies over the past two years. The selectors are yet to name a vice-captain.Wicketkeeper Devon Thomas, who travelled with West Indies to Australia for their just-concluded limited-overs series missed out, making way for Denesh Ramdin to return. Ramdin’s last ODI for West Indies was against New Zealand in July 2012, though he played the World Twenty20 and the Test series against Bangladesh that followed.Fast bowler Jason Holder was also left out, with the selectors going in for the extra spinner in left-armer Veerasammy Permaul who had a fine first-class game for Guyana against Leeward Islands last week, taking a match haul of 9 for 115.Devon Thomas had a poor series in Australia with the bat, totaling 48 in five ODIs. Holder had played only two of those games, claiming the wicket of Aaron Finch in both matches.Veteran batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan, who made a comeback on the Australian tour after a contentious 18-month absence from the team, retained his spot despite getting two ducks in three ODIs in Australia.Marlon Samuels, meanwhile, is still sidelined, currently recovering from the facial injury that he suffered at the Big Bash League after being struck in the face while facing Lasith Malinga.Following the ODI series, West Indies also host Zimbabwe in two Twenty20s and two Tests.

Phil Mustard and his cousin Chris Rushworth were the stars of Durham’s 91-run win against Nottinghamshire in their Clydesdale Bank 40 clash

03-Jun-2012
ScorecardPhil Mustard hit a century as Durham’s explosive opening partnership saw them to victory•Getty ImagesPhil Mustard and his cousin Chris Rushworth were the stars of Durham’s 91-run win against Nottinghamshire in their Clydesdale Bank 40 clash.Mustard thrashed a century off 66 balls as Durham amassed 310 for 4 after being put in, then Rushworth took all the wickets in reducing the visitors to 43 for 5. The 25-year-old seamer had 5 for 13 at that point, but finished with 5 for 31 as Nottinghamshire were eventually bowled out for 219 after Adam Voges and Paul Franks had fought back.Playing only because of Graham Onions’ latest England call, Rushworth showed the visitors’ makeshift attack that there was something in the pitch for anyone who could hit the seam on a fullish length.He claimed five high-quality scalps, even if the first was handed to him when Michael Lumb tried to pull his first ball and skied to mid-on. Alex Hales got an inside edge on to his stumps, Riki Wessels was clean bowled playing across the line, Samit Patel edged to Mustard and James Taylor was lbw.Despite their Championship struggles, Durham have now won three out of four in the CB40, and much of the credit for this victory must go to opening pair Mustard and Mark Stoneman after another brilliant partnership at the top of the order. The duo followed their stand of 207 against Scotland last week by putting on 183 inside 23 overs.Harry Gurney opened up with a maiden and Durham collected only a wide and a leg bye off the first two overs. But the next 10 yielded 100 runs with Franks conceding 37 in three, including two pulled sixes by Stoneman. A reverse sweep for his 10th four off Patel took Mustard to 50 off 37 balls and Stoneman reached the mark off 46 deliveries.They departed in successive overs with Stoneman going first for 72 when he holed out at long-on off Patel. Mustard fell to the next ball he faced after reaching his hundred, stepping across to work Andy Carter to long leg only to lose his leg stump. Ben Stokes and Gordon Muchall put on 56 at a slower rate before both holed out, then Dale Benkenstein hit an unbeaten 39 off 19 balls as he and Paul Collingwood collected 60 off the last five overs.The weight of runs was too much for Nottinghamshire, although they did prove their depth of batting with an eighth-wicket stand of 99 between Voges (74) and Franks, who hit three sixes in his 57.

A tremendous run-a-ball century by Mark Pettini helped Essex power to a 25-run victory over Worcestershire

29-Jul-2012
ScorecardMark Pettini laid the foundations for Essex’s victory with 111•Getty ImagesA tremendous run-a-ball century by Mark Pettini helped Essex power to a 25-run victory over Worcestershire in the Clydesdale Bank 40 Group A match at New Road.The opener smacked 111, containing three sixes and seven fours, as his side piled up an impressive 269 for 4 after being put into bat. Worcestershire were then restricted to 244 for 8, despite a battling 68 from Phil Hughes.It enabled Essex to register their second Group A victory of the season and gain revenge for a seven-wicket defeat against the Royals at Chelmsford in May.Pettini was in dazzling form and was solidly backed up by 62 from Tom Westley and a stunning unbeaten 50 off 24 balls from Ryan ten Doeschate, who punched four sixes and three fours.Essex, despite Westley offering a couple of difficult chances to James Cameron, made an excellent start to their free-scoring innings. He and Pettini completed a half -century stand in nine overs before Westley went on to register his 50 off 47 balls with one six and seven fours.His fine efforts, coupled with Pettini’s eyecatching progress, enabled Essex to confidently move past the three-figure mark in the 19th over. Pettini went on to notch his 50, containing one six and two fours off 62 balls, before Westley was run out to a direct throw by Brett D’Oliveira from gully for 62.He hit one six and seven fours off 60 balls and put on 113 in 20.3 overs with Pettini, who had a lucky let-off when he was dropped on the boundary by substitute fielder Matt Pardoe. Pardoe only succeeded in pushing to ball over the rope for six to enable grateful Pettini to move into the seventies.He went on to add 65 in 11 overs with Owais Shah, whose dismissal for 28 paved the way for Ten Doeschate to set about some grim Worcestershire bowling. Captain Pettini eventually fell to a catch by Daryl Mitchell at wide mid-off off David Lucas to leave Ten Doeschate to continue his 33-minute assault.Worcestershire tried hard to get to grips with their formidable run chase, but in the end tumbled to their fourth CB40 defeat on the trot. Vikram Solanki and Moeen Ali had both been removed before the hosts reached the halfway mark in their innings on 100 for two with Hughes and Cameron both fighting to keep in touch with the target.Their 52-run stand ended when Cameron was run out going for a hesitant single. After Mitchell and Neil Pinner had been removed, Hughes and Gareth Andrew did their best to gather momentum.But once Andrew was ousted, the writing was on the wall for Worcestershire – despite Hughes’ knock which contained one six and four fours off 75 balls.

MCC has elected four new members to its main committee. Angus Fraser, John Barclay, Hugo Loudon and Robert Griffiths will take up their three-year positions on October 1.

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Mar-2012MCC has elected four new members to its main committee. Angus Fraser, John Barclay, Hugo Loudon and Robert Griffiths will take up their three-year positions on October 1.The four will replace Matthew Fleming, Charles Fry, Christopher Martin-Jenkins and Colin Maber, who will retire as elected members on September 30.”MCC will continue to be well served from October, with a committee intake that boasts an excellent amount of cricketing skills and expertise,” Oliver Stocken, the MCC chairman, said. “I look forward to welcoming everyone on to the committee in the autumn.”Former-England fast bowler, Fraser, is now managing director of cricket at Middlesex; Barclay played for Sussex for 17 years and is a former MCC president; Loudon, 33, is financial controller of BSkyB and, having played for Hampshire and Kent second XI’s, has been a regular player in MCC colours; Griffith is a practicing Queen’s Counsel and has been chairman of the MCC laws sub-committee since 2008.The new members become part of the 20-strong MCC vommittee, which comprises the president, the club chairman, six chairmen of committees and twelve elected members.

If good leadership is about setting an example, Chris Read might have to be considered a masterful captain

George Dobell at Trent Bridge20-Apr-2012
ScorecardChris Read dominated Nottinghamshire’s first innings•Getty ImagesIf good leadership is about setting an example, Chris Read might have to be considered a masterful captain. While his colleagues poked and prodded like blind men, Read compiled an outstanding century that made it appear, as Peter Trego put it “as if he was playing on a different pitch.”The simple facts are these: while Read made a chanceless, unbeaten 104, none of his team-mates managed more than ten. While Read made 72 of his runs in boundaries – 15 fours and two sixes – his ten colleagues could muster only three fours between them. None of the top five managed any. And while Read recorded the 21st century of his first-class career, the next highest contribution was extras with 17. Read scored 64% of Nottinghamshire’s runs and looked a class above a top-order containing four other men whose batting has won them international caps for England. Three games into the season, Nottinghamshire have yet to pick up a batting bonus point.Not until Harry Gurney joined Read did he find any meaningful support. When Gurney, making his Nottinghamshire debut, came to the crease with the ninth wicket down, Read was on 58 and there were no thoughts of a century. Yet Gurney, showing fortitude that some of his top-order colleagues would do well to emulate, resisted for 36 balls to allow his captain to take the attack to the bowling. The pair added 56 for the tenth wicket – the highest partnership of the innings – with Read feasting on Somerset’s support bowlers and showing excellent shot selection against the impressive Trego and Steve Kirby.Read’s heroics were somewhat overshadowed by an injury to Marcus Trescothick. The 36-year-old fell to the floor in pain when running after a ball in the field and was diagnosed with a recurrence of the ankle ligament injury that troubled him towards the end of the 2011 season. He was subsequently taken to hospital for scans, the results of which will be known on Saturday. While Trego thought Tresocthick would bat – “he’s a tough old goat” was Trego’s assessment – Brian Rose, Somerset’s director of cricket, was more cautious in his assessment. It would be a major surprise if Trescothick was available next week.Trescothick’s injury also took some of the gloss off an excellent performance from Trego, the 30-year-old all-rounder, who had previously only taken one five-wicket haul in his first-class career – 6 for 59 on this same ground when playing for Middlesex in 2005 – but fully deserved his second with an excellent display of swing bowling. After left-hander Paul Franks was beaten by a fine one that swung back and trapped him prodding half forward, Ben Phillips was unfortunate enough to receive a beauty that pitched middle and leg and swung away to take the outside edge. It would have dismissed most batsmen.Trego has had a busy winter. He not only played domestic cricket in Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, but also in the BPL, the Champions League and the Hong King Sixes.But he is not the type to complain at a heavy workload. After a couple of years, 2003 and 2004, when his form and his reputation – possibly an unfair reputation – as something of a waster forced him out of the professional game, he is relishing every moment of his return. With bat, ball and in the field, he has finally developed into the cricketer his talent always suggested he could be.”I was signed by Somerset when I was 15 and straight out of school,” Trego said. “They give you your kit and your bats and you feel fantastic.”But that was all taken away from me when I was 23. After that I had to scrap for a job and it made me realise how much the game meant to me. Once you have had to fight to get something back, you are much less likely to let it slip away again and I think the whole experience made me a better cricketer and a better person.”Playing a lot of cricket suits my body. I’m physically stronger and, having bowled on docile pitches all winter, I am in the habit of putting the ball in the right place. I have a huge desire to play for England; it would make me the happiest man in the world. But I can’t make that my focus. I am very happy helping Somerset win games of cricket.”Somerset’s greatest foe in this game could yet be the weather. The rain that had so curtailed play on the first day returned to steal 40 overs on the second. While Somerset’s batsmen demonstrated the patience and application that their hosts could not to set up a solid foundation, they will need more luck with the weather to take press home their dominance.Arul Suppiah, timing the ball elegantly through the covers off front and back foot, was particularly impressive. He experienced only one nervous moment when, on 21, he edged the deserving Gurney just short of third slip. Samit Patel claimed the catch but, after the umpires conferred, Suppiah was given not out.”Somerset’s batsmen applied themselves well and some of ours were responsible for their own downfall,” Read said. “It’s always dangerous to play away from your body at Trent Bridge and our batsmen will have to ask themselves if they applied themselves correctly. Samit Patel may have to rein himself in a bit.”

Cricket Scotland has announced the squad for the upcoming tri-series against Sri Lanka and Ireland, making a couple of changes to the group that swept past Netherlands to complete a 2-0 series win last week

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Jul-2011Cricket Scotland has announced the squad for the upcoming tri-series against Sri Lanka and Ireland, making a couple of changes to the group that swept past Netherlands to complete a 2-0 series win last week. Scotland’s first fixture of the tri-series is against Ireland on July 12, followed by a match against Sri Lanka the next day.Alasdair Evans, who bowled 11 wicketless overs in the rain-ruined Intercontinental Cup match against Netherlands and didn’t take part in the limited-overs games, is replaced by Ryan Flannigan, who has recently been in good domestic form, while wicketkeeper Simon Smith also sits out.After an impressive debut in the second ODI against Netherlands, in which he took 4 for 27 to help set up a five-wicket win, 20-year-old seamer Safyaan Sharif retains his place in the squad.”As a squad we are all looking forward to the challenges that Ireland and Sri Lanka will bring,” Scotland coach Pete Steindl said. “We will be looking to improve on our performances from last week and show similar fighting spirits. I feel we have selected a well balanced squad and all the players have been working extremely hard and rightfully earned their place to represent their country”.Scotland squad: Gordon Drummond (captain), Fraser Watts, Ryan Flannigan, Josh Davey, Kyle Coetzer, Neil McCallum, Majid Haq, Gregor Maiden (wk), Richard Berrington, Gordon Goudie, Safyaan Sharif, Preston Mommsen, Calum MacLeod.