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Australia and England pulling away from the pack, as “pervading culture of insecurity” undermines positive strides

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Oct-2018The rapid growth in the profile of women’s international cricket is being undermined by continuing “amateurish” standards, particularly at domestic level, according to the findings of a global survey conducted by FICA, the players’ association.The FICA Women’s Global Employment Market Report and Survey 2018 is the first study of its kind since female players were formally brought under the auspices of FICA in 2016. In a 60-page document released this week, it outlines 20 key findings into the health of the game, as determined from interviews with players from the ICC’s 12 Full Member nations.The overwhelming conclusion of the report is that the game is “moving forward in a positive way”, with 89% of the 124 players surveyed, including 76 current internationals, stating that they were optimistic about the future of women’s cricket.However, the report also found that gender inequity was the biggest barrier to the game’s long-term future, with opportunities for participation still limited in many countries, as well as a continuing inequality of pay when compared to their male counterparts.”There has been a dynamic shift in the world, where businesses and sports are increasingly seeing the importance of equality,” Lisa Sthalekar, the former Australia allrounder and current FICA Board Member, states in the report. “Cricket is no different, with a watershed moment occurring in July 2017, when the ICC Women’s World Cup final was sold out at Lord’s.”That tournament, won by England in a thrilling final against India, transformed the profile of the sport and propelled many of its biggest names into a limelight that had never previously fallen on women’s cricket. However, the challenge of bridging that gap between the game’s possibilities and its current realities remains significant.The report states that the sport’s growth is currently being hampered by “the pervading culture of insecurity” that exists within the women’s game, and calls for minimum standards to be enforced in terms of playing opportunities and pathways, employment contracts, travel and accommodation.FICA’s research found that the global number of fully professional female players is currently “no more than 120”, adding that at present only Australia, with the Women’s Big Bash League, and increasingly England, through the advent of the Kia Super League, are in a position to offer professional cricket as a genuine career choice for women. As a consequence, the report states that “these two are pulling away from the rest of the countries”.Furthermore, four of the ICC’s 12 Full Member nations – Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan – were unable to provide sufficient information to offer a “realistic and balanced assessment” of the health of the women’s game in their countries.”Whilst the report recognises the great strides of the women’s game both on and off the field, there is still plenty of work to be done,” Sthalekar said. “Complacency is not an option if the game is to realise its potential and recalibrate the scales of equality in cricket.”

Australia captain ruled out of all white-ball cricket before the Ashes after a scan revealed ‘lumbar bone stress’ following ongoing back soreness post the Caribbean tour

Alex Malcolm02-Sep-20251:10

Bailey: ‘Expect Cummins to be fit for first Ashes Test’

Pat Cummins’ Ashes preparation has been compromised after a scan revealed lumbar bone stress in his lower back which has ruled him out of the three white-ball series against New Zealand and India. It leaves the potential that he won’t play any cricket ahead of the England series which starts on November 21 in Perth.Cummins, Australia’s Test and ODI captain, has not played since the Test tour of the Caribbean where his bowling workloads were significantly lower than usual. He missed the five T20Is against West Indies and both series against South Africa that followed which was a long-held plan to given him a 10-week physical build-up to the Test summer in a similar vein to last year.Related

• Doubts over Cummins' fitness for first Ashes Test grow, return remains unknown

• Inglis out of T20 tour of New Zealand with a calf strain, Carey called up

• Vidler ruled out of Australia A tour of India with a partial stress fracture

• Cummins may 'take a few risks' to be able to play Ashes

• Australia's pace depth: Who's in the Ashes mix if Cummins and co run aground?

But Cummins experienced some back soreness post the Caribbean tour that lingered much longer than expected and a routine scan on Monday showed the bone stress, otherwise known as a hot spot, which can be a precursor to a stress fracture. However, he has been cleared of any fracture in his lower spine and there remains confidence he will be fit for the opening Test against England.”There always was a de-load planned for him post that West Indies Test series, and then he’s just reported that he had a little bit of ongoing back soreness as part of that, and [the scan] just identified a little bit of lumbar bone stress,” chair of selectors George Bailey said. “I think the focus for him has and will continue to be just preparation for that [Ashes] Test series.”So there’ll just be some further management and a little bit of rehab around that. But in terms of plan for the Ashes, I don’t think too much will change. There still feels like there’s plenty of time. But there’s full expectation that Pat will be right to go come the first Test.”Cummins was plagued by stress fractures across the first six years of his international career and did not play a Test match between his debut in 2011 and his second Test in India in 2017.Since that time he has been incredibly durable with various minor issues, including an ankle injury and a hamstring issue, being managed without him missing large chunks of cricket.This back issue will be a concern given his overall bowling loads have been much lower in 2025. He had bowled 400-plus overs in all cricket in each of the last three calendar years but has only bowled 175.1 overs through nine months of 2025, including just 95.1 across the four Tests recently in June and July against South Africa and West Indies. Even with a handful of ODIs and a possible planned Sheffield Shield game as well as the first four Ashes Test before the end of the year he was likely to fall well short of 400 overs this year.Pat Cummins has missed very few Tests since returning to the side in 2017•Randy Brooks/AFP/Getty Images

Cummins went into last summer deliberately underdone playing one 50-over match for New South Wales and two ODIs against Pakistan before the first Test against India. He was rusty as a result in the first Test in Perth when Australia were beaten heavily. But his freshness showed at the back end of the series as he was Player of the Match in the fourth Test in Melbourne and took five key wickets in the final Test in Sydney while India’s Jasprit Bumrah went down with a back injury following an unsustainable bowling load.Cummins said after the West Indies series in July this year that he planned to play in New Zealand and then against India in the ODIs, as well as potentially play a Sheffield Shield game.He now has just 11 weeks for the hot spot to settle and it would seem highly unlikely, although not impossible, that he could play any cricket before the Ashes starts. There is a domestic one-day game between NSW and Queensland in Sydney on November 3 that could present a chance for some capped competitive overs if his back has settled in time, without being locked into a four-day Sheffield Shield game. NSW’s last Sheffield Shield match before the first Test, against Victoria at the SCG, starts on November 10.”I think he’s one, certainly skill wise, that has entered summers at different stages without a great amount of match balls at different times,” Bailey said. “Given how far out we are there’s the potential for some Shield cricket in the lead-up. There’s still options there. If it got to the stage where they were taken off the table, I still think that we’d be comfortable with Pat’s experience and skill level.”The injury also presents a possibility that Cummins will not be able to play and captain all five Tests. There are eight-day breaks following each of the first and second Tests but those breaks shorten to just four days after the third and fourth, putting major strain on the ability of fast bowlers on both sides to back up later in the series.Steven Smith will likely captain Australia if Cummins were to miss any of the Tests. Smith led Australia in the two Tests against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka earlier this year when Cummins missed due to an ankle issue and the birth of his second child. Smith also captained one Test in the last Ashes series in Australia in December 2021 when Cummins was ruled out of the second match in Adelaide due to the Covid-19 rules in place at the time.Overall, Smith has captained six times in Cummins’ absence since returning to the vice-captaincy in 2021. Travis Head is also formally a Test vice-captain but it would be unlikely he would be called upon to deputise if Smith is in the XI.Steven Smith would likely captain if Pat Cummins missed a Test•Getty Images

On a bowling front, Australia have a ready-made replacement in Scott Boland, but should another injury occur to either Josh Hazlewood or Mitchell Starc then the likes of Michael Neser and the uncapped pair of Brendan Doggett and Sean Abbott will come into the frame.Jhye Richardson is hopeful he can be fit by the time the Ashes starts but he is recovering from shoulder surgery and has only just started bowling again and won’t be able to throw properly. Lance Morris is out for the summer after opting to have back surgery following another stress fracture.Hazlewood and Starc’s management will become critical in the lead into the Ashes. Starc’s retirement from T20Is means he will likely play the ODIs against India and at least one Shield game for New South Wales before the first Test, as he did last summer.Hazlewood will play the T20Is in New Zealand, but almost certainly won’t play all three in four days. He, too, will likely play some of the ODIs and at least one Shield game before Perth. Last summer he played one Shield game and one ODI but broke down with a side strain in Perth before returning for the third Test in Brisbane only to injure his calf and miss the rest of the summer.CA will also be extra vigilant in managing allrounder Cameron Green ahead of the Ashes as he returns to bowling for the first time since back surgery last year. Green will not tour New Zealand and will instead play the first Shield round for Western Australia starting on October 4. It is likely he will play three Shield games and potentially only one ODI before the Ashes begins to build up his bowling loads.Cummins’ back issue could also influence Australia’s selection in the Ashes. There had been a thought that Australia did not need the luxury of two allrounders in the same Ashes XI with Green’s return to bowling potentially making the in-form Beau Webster surplus to requirements. But having two allrounders in the same XI could significantly aid Cummins’ chances of playing while managing his workloads given Australia could have five genuine seam options plus Nathan Lyon to spread the overs across.

In March this year, Hiren Bhanu, owner of Pretoria Mavericks, made the offer for the rights to host a competition in the country

Firdose Moonda17-Jul-2018Cricket South Africa (CSA) turned down a USD 70 million offer from a private businessman to own and run a 20-over league in the country.
In March this year, six months after the cancellation of the inaugural GLT20, Hiren Bhanu, owner of Pretoria Mavericks, offered CSA USD 70 million for over 11 years for the rights to host a competition in the country. CSA rejected Bhanu’s offer and, in June, signed an signed an equity deal with broadcaster for a similar tournament, the details of which have yet to be ironed out.In a letter seen by ESPNcricinfo, dated June 19, 2018, CSA’s then acting CEO Thabang Moroe informed Bhanu the board had rejected his proposal. “The CSA Board and its Members’ Council has considered your proposal to privatise the league for a definite period in exchange for a guaranteed fee to CSA. Much as all the proposals that were received were compelling and well-presented, including yours, unfortunately they were not favorably considered.”Asked specifically why the board had rejected Bhanu’s proposal, a CSA spokesperson said: “CSA has, in writing, thanked all prospective buyers for their interest in the league and have also communicated their decision in selecting the SuperSport equity model.”For Bhanu, the situation resembles a “monopoly,” as SuperSport already owns the rights to all cricket played in South Africa – domestic and international – and initially refused to pay the broadcast fees CSA wanted for the GLT20, which led to the tournament being scuppered. Moreover, Bhanu believed he was offering CSA a lifeline by offering to handle the entire logistics of a league, and he was led to believe – in messages seen by ESPNcricinfo – they would be interested in his offer.On May 4, an independent director on the CSA board sent Bhanu a message saying, “I am lobbying Louis [von Zeuner, another independent director] and Chris [Nenzani, board president] regarding your proposal. So far it looks good on the phone.”
Ten days later, the same board member sent Bhanu another message to say his proposal was about to be discussed (on May 20) and that Bhanu could “say TY (thank you) to me later.”The proposal was sent to the board by CSA’s financial head Naasei Appiah and then turned down. When Bhanu learnt of CSA’s deal with SuperSport, he questioned the board member, who replied. “What can I do?” In the same conversation, Bhanu told the board member the existing GLT20 owners were planning an injunction and considered CSA’s actions unfair.In the weeks after CSA’s announcement, three franchises – the Durban Qalanders, Nelson Mandela Bay Stars and Bloem City Blazers – all released statements demanding to be reinstated as owners in any T20 competition CSA held. They all indicated they would take legal action against CSA if they were not kept on.Bhanu is considering the same, but also wants to charge CSA for costs he puts at between USD 400,000 and USD 500,000. Those include flights for a trip to India for Moroe and Appiah in November last year that Bhanu paid for because apparently CSA’s travel agent was unable to book flights while his was. The visit was to try and convince the BCCI to allow Indian players to participate in the South African league. Bhanu said the BCCI were willing to consider that, if the tournament was played in August. CSA insists they have refunded Bhanu for the flights, but he told ESPNcricinfo he has not received any monies.CSA have not clarified whether they will continue to engage with private owners but ESPNcricinfo understands they have requested a meeting with the existing owners in early August. Bhanu has indicated he will not attend the meeting.Bhanu was brought on as owner of the Pretoria franchise after it emerged that Osman Osman, the man who was unveiled as the original owner at the launch last June and the only South African to own a franchise, did not have the USD 50 million required to own a franchise for 10 years. Bhanu was approached to take over the Pretoria franchise by former board head Haroon Lorgat and Venu Nair, who was working for Ortus, the company CSA initially engaged to run the GLT20. Osman was kept on as a minority shareholder and has his own grievances with CSA, relating to how they repaid his deposit.

All the action and analyses from the England v Bangladesh game

Liam Brickhill08-Jun-2019

Self-belief gained from Rajasthan Royals stint helped England batsman regain his uncomplicated approach

George Dobell04-Jun-20182:59

Jos Buttler shines, but has much really changed for England?

Jos Buttler has credited the confidence gained from his recent spell in the IPL, and the relaxation gained from accepting the inevitability of occasional failure, for his impressive return to England’s Test team.Buttler, who followed his 67 at Lord’s with an unbeaten 80 in Leeds, was something of a surprise selection for the series against Pakistan. He hadn’t played a first-class game this year and hadn’t made a first-class century since January 2014.But he feels the self-belief gained from his time with Rajasthan Royals – where he signed off with five half-centuries and a 39 in his final six innings – has helped him regain the uncomplicated approach – or the ‘F*** It’ attitude, as he might put it – he originally took to Test cricket.Buttler’s innings in Leeds was his highest – and, arguably, his best – in Test cricket since he made 85 on debut against India in July 2014. He followed that with innings of 70, 45, 0 and 59 not out in his next five innings at that level to give the impression he had made the step-up to Test cricket with some ease.But, once the Ashes series started in 2015, his form fell away and he was unable to reach 50 in his next 12, ever more tentative, innings.
As a result, he was dropped towards the end of the year after four innings in the UAE had realised just 34 runs. And, while he made a brief and partially successful comeback against India in late 2016 (he made 76 in Mumbai and 43 in Mohali), it looked, for a long time, as if his excellence in the limited-overs formats would prevent him having the time to make the adjustments to his game required to prosper in first-class cricket.It is only now, having found a way to bring the freedom he has in T20 cricket to his Test game, that he has been able to silence the doubts in his own head and gone some way to unleash his obvious talent in the longest format. And it is probably no coincidence that the most eye-catching part of Buttler’s innings in Leeds came when he had only the tail for company and the license and freedom to take the attack to the bowlers.”Those couple of weeks in the IPL gave me huge amounts of confidence,” Buttler said. “To be in those pressure situations in India, playing in front of crowds, the pressure of being an overseas player. That showed me a lot about where I was at and where I can get to, so that gave me a lot of confidence. For me, not trying to worry about the colour of the ball definitely helps. Having put in good performances elsewhere and not putting as much pressure on myself.”In T20 there’s generally another game soon after, so you know you’ve got another opportunity coming up. You probably just move on if you fail. But in Test cricket, if you get out early, you have a long time to think about it.Jos Buttler swings one over the leg side•Getty Images

“I started to think too much about how to not get out, as opposed to how to score runs. I got in a really bad rut that I just couldn’t get out of. The only real way to get out of it was to be dropped. And actually, being dropped released a lot of pressure. It wasn’t very long after that that I made an ODI hundred in Dubai, which was a turnaround for me after a long and hard six months.”It was just ahead of that century in Dubai that he first took to writing “F*** It’ in marker pen on the top of his bat handle. It was a phrase that was picked up again by the cameras in Leeds during a break in play on Sunday and, as Buttler explains, provides a reminder not to over-think the game or fret about the outcomes.”It’s just something that reminds me of what my best mindset is,” Buttler says, “when I’m playing cricket and probably in life as well. It puts cricket in perspective. When you nick off, does it really matter? It’s just a good reminder when I’m in the middle or when I’m questioning myself and it brings me back to a good place.”Now my mentality is quite similar to my first few Tests. I’m not worrying about external factors. I’m just trying to play the game and trusting myself.”These are early days, but Buttler has already gone some way to justifying Ed Smith’s faith in him.

Starc showed signs of discomfort at the MCG, and went for scans on Wednesday, but he also spent time in the gym in the lead-up to the SCG Test

Andrew McGlashan01-Jan-20252:11

Clarke: ‘Freakish’ debut for Konstas

Mitchell Starc has been termed one of Australia’s “toughest” cricketers as he was backed to be fit for the Sydney Test after having maintained speeds above 140kph in Melbourne despite battling a back problem.Starc first showed signs of discomfort in the first innings at the MCG, but was able to play a key role in the dramatic victory push where he claimed Virat Kohli on the final day. Starc went for scans on Wednesday, but he also spent time in the gym during what became an optional training session where none of the bowlers who played in Melbourne turned their arm over.Normally, Australia have their main training session two days out from a Test but have tweaked their build-up given the short turnaround between the final two matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, and the heavier workload at the MCG.”He’ll be fine. He’ll push through,” Alex Carey said. “I’ve played with Starcy for a long time now, and [he’s] one of the toughest cricketers I’ve played with. He’ll grimace, he’ll grab his rib no doubt, but he’ll be ready for the contest.”Related

• Mitchell Marsh dropped, Beau Webster to debut in Sydney

• 'Unfair' to question Marsh's fitness as pressure grows on Test spot

• Stats – A sorry end to 2024 for India and Rohit

• Labuschagne digs deep to handle Bumrah's heat

• A Test match to remember for the lower order

Starc has been lauded for his consistency across this series, with Ricky Ponting regularly saying he has never seen him bowl better. He has 15 wickets at 28.73 in the four Tests and was unfortunate not to claim more than the one wicket at the MCG.”I thought first spell [in the second innings] without the reward was some of the best bowling I’ve seen this series from him,” Carey said. “He’s a quality player and has been for a long time. He’s got an opportunity now to help this team in a Test match. He’ll be up for the contest, and I think his bowling’s just gotten better throughout the series.”Overall, Starc’s numbers have faded towards the end of long Test campaigns, with his average in the fourth and fifth matches at 41.82, whereas it is 25.91 across the first three games of a series. He has also struggled at the SCG, his home ground, with nine Tests having brought 24 wickets at 44.16 on a surface that hasn’t always offered much encouragement for the quicks, although Carey said it was reasonably well grassed two days out from this match.Should Starc not be able to take his place in the XI, it would open the door for Jhye Richardson to play his first Test since the 2021-22 Ashes. He featured for Perth Scorchers on New Year’s Day, where he bowled with pace and movement to claim 3 for 29 against Adelaide Strikers before rejoining the Test team in Sydney.Sean Abbott is the other reserve quick in the squad, and would add more depth to the batting order if he were handed a debut as one of three seamers.”Whenever we have put someone in the spotlight, the true Aussie way is to show them how good we are”•AFP/Getty Images

The other player under scrutiny heading into the final men’s Test of the home summer is Mitchell Marsh, who has made 73 runs in the series, with uncapped allrounder Beau Webster remaining part of the squad. However, as with those who have been in focus during the series – the likes of Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith – Marsh has been backed to make an impact.”Whenever we have put someone in the spotlight, the true Aussie way is to show them how good we are,” Carey said. “So I think it is Mitch’s time.”After his thrilling debut in Melbourne, Sam Konstas will also be the focus of much attention after leaving an impression both with the bat and in the field. He was the only frontline batter not to have a hit at training on Wednesday.”I was a spectator that first session,” Carey said. “I probably had the emotions of the 90,000 that were there. At times I couldn’t watch it, at times I was cheering.”But just the energy he brought, it was something different. I probably wasn’t expecting that amount of difference, but he played a style of cricket that was probably new to India as well.”We’ll wait and see how we plays out here. I don’t think that’s his blueprint every Test match, but to be able to throw a few punches early and get a bit of momentum for us, which the opening partnership was probably just lacking that intensity.”I thought Nathan [McSweeney] and Usman [Khawaja] got us through tough situations as well by facing lots of balls. Sam was able to score a little bit, so hopefully another opportunity in front of his home fans.”Weather is often a talking point around Sydney Tests and, with the series poised at 2-1, could shape as an important factor. Currently the first three days look fine and settled, but there is a greater chance of showers on Monday and Tuesday.Mitchell Starc was often spotted stretching his back at the MCG•Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

A draw would be enough for Australia to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade, but would leave them short of cementing a place in the World Test Championship final before the Sri Lanka tour at the end of January.”[It would be] reward for 24 months of really solid cricket,” Carey said. “[It is] a group that is extremely experienced, skilful, [with] Australian legends amongst it, who are continuing to surprise us with how good they are… but we can’t look too far ahead.”We know it’s a really quality outfit in India, who have shown they are well and truly capable of bouncing back. So for this group, it’s head down, another opportunity to win a Test match, and if are able to secure the trophy it would be fantastic.”It is hoped that the first three days at the SCG, the annual Pink Test to raise funds for the McGrath Foundation, will be a sellout following an Australian-record attendance across the Melbourne Test.

A potentially spicy final week of this exciting tour is now upon us

Sidharth Monga13-Dec-20250:57

Chopra: No cricketing reason to promote Axar to No.3

Big picture – India under rare pressure

South Africa’s win over India in New Chandigarh was pretty significant. It was only the third match India have lost out of 17 this year. It was the first time they won the toss and still lost since January. They went the whole last year with a single defeat after winning the toss.While it might be prudent to ignore the meltdown the country went into at just the third loss in a year in a fickle format, India will need to address issues. Was the reason behind promoting a spin disruptor, Axar Patel, against high pace a good one? What does Suryakumar Yadav need to do to get some runs? How do they get Marco Jansen out of their hair?From stunning India in the Tests to taking the ODI series to a decider to putting the hosts under pressure in T20Is, South Africa are having an unbelievable tour of India. They are yet to get the better of Varun Chakravarthy, but to score 0 for 45 off Jasprit Bumrah is half the battle.A potentially spicy final week of this exciting tour is now upon us.

Form guide

India LWWWL
South Africa WLLLW2:29

Ryan ten Doeschate has faith that Gill, Suryakumar ‘will come good’

In the spotlight – Donovan Ferreira and Jasprit Bumrah

Before New Chandigarh, Bumrah had never been hit for four sixes in a single T20I innings. A lot of it was down to Donovan Ferreira, who scored 17 off 6 off Bumrah, the best strike-rate for a batter against Bumrah in a T20I where they went at each other for six balls or more. He took Bumrah for two sixes, the joint-highest any batter has done in a single T20I. In the final equation, it was this assault that made it a bridge too far for India. There will likely be a repeat of this contest since Bumrah is a death bowler and Ferreira a lower-middle-order batter. Who will come out on top this time?Related

• Classy de Kock shows shades of old at just the right time

• Suryakumar's lack of runs a worry in lead-up to T20 World Cup

• Baartman makes his case to move ahead in SA's bowling queue

Team news – Changes only if conditions ask for them

India might have lost comprehensively but their combination was hardly at fault. Don’t expect much to change unless they want more batting depth or extra spin options.India (probable): 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Suryakumar Yadav (capt.), 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Shivam Dube, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Varun Chakravarthy, 11 Jasprit Bumrah.South Africa might bring back Anrich Nortje for Lutho Sipamla; the spinner slot might be a toss-up between Keshav Maharaj and George Linde, who have both played a match each.South Africa: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Aiden Markram (capt.), 3 Tristan Stubbs/ Reeza Hendricks, 4 Dewald Brevis, 5 David Miller, 6 Donovan Ferreira, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 George Linde/ Keshav Maharaj, 9 Lungi Ngidi/ Corbin Borsch, 10 Ottneil Baartman, 11 Anrich Nortje/ Lutho Sipamla

Pitch and conditions – All about the chase

Dharamsala is a tough venue to defend totals. Of the five T20Is with results that were played at night, four have been won by the chasing side. The cold temperatures – single digits possibly – could bring in assistance for fast bowlers.

Stats and trivia

• Varun Chakravarthy is one wicket short of 50 in T20Is. Among players from ICC Full Member teams, only Kuldeep Yadav, Rashid Khan, Ajantha Mendis and Imran Tahir have 50 or more wickets at a better average than Varun’s 15.38.
• At 76 wickets, Lungi Ngidi is one behind Kagiso Rabada and 13 behind South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is: Tabraiz Shamsi.

Quotes

“On a night when he’s off you got to take what you can get because I don’t know when you can get it again. He’s a world-class performer and I’m sure he’ll be back to his best again tomorrow night or maybe later in the series.”

Cameron Green will return to bowling duties while eyes will be on whether South Australia can defend their title

Alex Malcolm and Andrew McGlashan02-Oct-2025

New South Wales

Captain Jack Edwards
Coach Greg ShipperdSquad Sean Abbott, Charlie Anderson (R), Pat Cummins (CA), Joel Davies, Oliver Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Matt Gilkes, Ryan Hadley, Liam Hatcher, Josh Hazlewood (CA), Ryan Hicks (R), Riley Kingsell (R), Sam Konstas (CA), Nathan Lyon (CA), Nic Maddinson, Blake Nikitaras, Jack Nisbet, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, William Salzmann, Tanveer Sangha, Jake Scott (R), Lachlan Shaw, Steven Smith (CA), Mitchell Starc (CA), Charlie Stobo, Chris Tremain, Adam Zampa (CA)CA = Cricket Australia contract | R = Rookie contractIn Charlie Stobo (WA), Riley Kingsell, Jake Scott
Out Jackson Bird (Tasmania), Chris Green, Ryan Hackney, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr (Queensland)Last season FourthHow they shape upThey were in the mix for the final into the last round but ultimately finished with one win fewer than the previous season. The loss of Jackson Bird to Tasmania leaves a significant hole in the pace attack after he claimed 34 wickets at 17.20. They will hope Charlie Stobo can help fill the breach and will look to Liam Hatcher, Jack Nisbet and Ryan Hadley to grow.Kurtis Patterson’s resurgence was one of the stories of the season and he led the run-scorer followed by Sam Konstas either side of his dramatic Test debut. However, they were the only two batters to average more than 34 (aside from Ben Dwarshuis in one outing) while the return of Nic Maddinson fell flat as he averaged 17.80 so more will be expected of him alongside greater returns from Josh Philippe – whose positive start faded last season – and Ollie Davies, the only player to appear in all 10 games.Related

• Australia's Ashes 'bat-off' begins: Who could open against England?

• 'Haven't achieved much at all' – Harris' message as South Australia defend twin titles

• Labuschagne launches with a century: 'Nothing else matters but runs'

Player to watchIf he can put together a strong season, 25-year-old Jack Edwards, who is the NSW captain in both formats, will be pushing for an international call-up. He will feature for Australia A in both formats against India A having averaged 33.46 with the bat and taking 29 wickets 24.03 with the ball last season – certainly the right way round for an allrounder. If he can lift the batting numbers closer to 40 it will be a compelling case. He is also a brilliant slip fielder.Australia impactKonstas will be front-and-centre of the early-season bat-off, with the outcome of that to determine whether NSW have him for the whole pre-BBL stretch. They are likely to get good use out of Nathan Lyon before the Ashes with the offspinner in line for at least three outings – he will also captain the opening game – then he should be available again in February given he isn’t in Australia’s T20 plans. How much Steven Smith plays before the Ashes is still to be confirmed, but now that he’s not in Australia’s white-ball sides he could have significant availability.Pat Cummins’ back injury makes it unlikely he will make a rare Shield appearance, but Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood could squeeze in a game before facing England. Sean Abbott’s scheduling could need some juggling given he is part of the white-ball sides and he will be in the frame as an Ashes reserve as well. Edwards, Tanveer Sangha and Lachlan Shaw will miss the opening round while on Australia A duty in India.Marnus Labuschagne needs Shield runs for Queensland to build his Ashes case•Getty Images

Queensland

Captain Marnus Labuschagne
Coach Johan BothaSquad Lachy Aitken (R), Tom Balkin (R), Xavier Bartlett (CA), Max Bryant, Hugo Burdon, Jack Clayton, Lachlan Hearne, Usman Khawaja (CA), Marnus Labuschagne (CA), Angus Lovell, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Jem Ryan (R), Matthew Renshaw, Gurinder Sandhu, Jack Sinfield, Mark Steketee, Tom Straker, Mitch Swepson, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen, Tom Whitney, Jack WildermuthCA = Cricket Australia contract | R = Rookie contractIn Tom Balkin, Zanden Jeh, Hayden Kerr (NSW)
Out Liam Guthrie, Ben McDermott, Bryce Street, Connor SullyLast season Runners upHow they shape upHaving squeezed into the final amid a congested table, when they reduced South Australia to 28 for 3 chasing 270 it looked as they would emerge as champions despite being bowled out for 95 in their first innings. In the end, however, they had to settle for second but that was an improvement on the previous season’s bottom place albeit with only one more victory.The squad hasn’t seen too much change, the most significant movement being Ben McDermott’s request to leave and return to Tasmania where he doesn’t hold a contract. Jack Clayton and Jimmy Peirson led the batting last season with over 600 runs apiece while Usman Khawaja was productive when available until struggling in the final. It was a mixed season for Matt Renshaw who despite two centuries only averaged 29.17.The loss of the exciting Callum Vider to a stress fracture is a blow to their early-season plans but in Tom Whitney and Tom Straker they have two more promising young quicks, although the former is also carrying an injury. Ideally, legspinner Mitchell Swepson needs to take his wickets at a lower figure than last season’s 49.26Player to watchIn the first part of the season, at least, a lot of attention will be on Marnus Labuschagne and whether he can win back his Test place for the Ashes. While he will be in contention to open against England he is expected to continue to bat at No. 3 for Queensland who could benefit from a highly-motivated player. His last Shield century came in October 2022, although due to his international schedule that only represents nine matches.Australia impactAhead of the Ashes selection call, Labuschagne may miss a round of matches due to the ODI series against India. Khawaja will play a game or two, but it remains to be seen what route his career takes following the Test summer after last season’s tensions with the state and whether he calls time.Xavier Bartlett will go from Australia A duty to the T20I tour of New Zealand and will continue to be around the white-ball set-up. Should the Test side need reinforcements Michael Neser’s name could be in the frame. Renshaw has made a strong case to be considered for Australia’s one-day side but seems a fair way down the list for Test cricket. Straker is with Australia A’s 50-over side so will miss the first round of Shield as will late call-up Lachlan Hearne.Brendan Doggett will lead the attack as he pushes for an Ashes berth•Getty Images

South Australia

Captain Nathan McSweeney
Coach Ryan HarrisSquad Wes Agar, Jordan Buckingham, Aidan Cahill (R), Alex Carey (CA), Brendan Doggett, Daniel Drew, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mackenzie Harvey, Travis Head (CA), Douwtjie Hoogenboezem (R), Henry Hunt, Hanno Jacobs, Spencer Johnson, Thomas Kelly, Jake Lehmann, Ben Manenti, Harry Matthias (R), Nathan McAndrew, Conor McInerney, Nathan McSweeney, Harry Nielsen, Lloyd Pope, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Campbell Thompson (R), Henry ThorntonCA = Cricket Australia contract | R = Rookie contractIn Hanno Jacobs (NSW), Douwtjie Hoogenboezem
Out Harry Conway, Kyle BrazellLast season ChampionsHow they shape upHow do you follow last season? By aiming to do it again, according to head coach Ryan Harris. Now South Australia have that winning feeling they want to channel it into more success. One of the notable aspects of their title was hard far ahead of the pack they were in the regular season: six wins from 10 matches and 16 points more than second place.They retained a very stable list with Hanno Jacobs adding some more depth to the pace-bowling options. Three batters passed 700 runs in the 2024-25 season with Alex Carey doing so in just five matches and Jason Sangha six. Opener Henry Hunt also contributed three centuries, although his overall average was just 31. Their pace attack, led by Nathan McAndrew and Brendan Doggett, is impressive although the latter will miss the opening match with a hamstring niggle.Player to watchJason Sangha thanked South Australia for saving his career after a resurgent run which culminated in him hitting the winning runs in the final. Over the winter he has scored a career-best double century for Australia A against Sri Lanka A. He remains some way down the pecking order, but more of the same volume of run-scoring in the first part of the season won’t go unnoticed. And, having just turned 26, if it doesn’t happen this season he still has plenty of time.Australia impactCarey should get at least a couple of outings ahead of the Ashes but Travis Head’s availability will be limited by white-ball internationals. Jake Fraser-McGurk has slipped down Australia’s pecking order and there is a keenness for him to string together some red-ball cricket, but he needs to find a spot in the XI. He will be in India with the Australia A side during the opening round.Doggett could be around the Test squad once the Ashes starts so he will likely have his workload managed. If either Nathan McSweeney or Sangha go on an early-season run-scoring surge they could come into the selectors’ calculations. Liam Scott will miss the first round with Australia A in India.All eyes are on Tasmania opener Jake Weatherald•Getty Images

Tasmania

Captain Jordan Silk
Coach Jeff VaughanSquad Marcus Bean, Gabe Bell, Jackson Bird, Iain Carlisle, Nick Davis (R), Jake Doran, Kieran Elliott, Nathan Ellis (CA), Bradley Hope, Matt Kuhnemann (CA), Caleb Jewell, Raf MacMillan (R), Riley Meredith, Lawrence Neil-Smith, Aidan O’Connor (R), Mitch Owen, Will Prestwidge, Nivethan Radhakrishnan, Jordan Silk, Billy Stanlake, Charlie Wakim, Tim Ward, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster (CA), Mac WrightCA = Cricket Australia contract | R = Rookie contractIn Marcus Bean, Jackson Bird (NSW)
Out Jarrod FreemanLast season FifthHow they shape upTasmania were one two-run loss away from making a second straight Shield final last season. They have strengthened their squad over the off-season with the addition of Jackson Bird who is only 34 wickets shy of becoming the second highest wicket-taker in Shield history. Their attack looks strong with Gabe Bell, Kieran Elliott, Riley Meredith and Billy Stanlake set to give them plenty of options to mix, match and manage across the season alongside Test spinner Matt Kuhnemann.The batting is deep too with Jake Weatherald, Tim Ward, Caleb Jewell, Jordan Silk and keeper Jake Doran as the mainstays plus Beau Webster will be available around his Test duty and Mitch Owen around his Australia white-ball duty. Brad Hope is an able back-up allrounder who can fit in when needed. They will be tough to beat in all conditions and have some excellent depth behind that which includes seasoned players like Charlie Wakim and Mac Wright as well as youngsters in Nivethan Radhakrishnan, Aidan O’Connor, Raf MacMillan and Marcus Bean.Player to watchJake Weatherald will be one of the most closely watched players in the country at the start of the Sheffield Shield season as he vies for a Test debut in the Ashes. In theory he should not have anything to prove after last season and his Australia A performances in the winter but last season was an outlier against his career record and early season performances would allay any doubts about his worthiness to open the batting for Australia in Perth.Australia impactTasmania will miss Owen and Kuhnemann in the opening round of the season due to Australia’s short T20I tour of New Zealand and Owen will likely miss the first four rounds due to the two India series that follow. Nathan Ellis’ red-ball availability will be limited and it is unlikely he will be called upon at all. Webster is set to be available for the first four rounds but may be rested at some point depending on his workload and then he will miss rounds five and six if selected in the Test squad. But he will return for the second half of the summer. The same applies for Weatherald if he is selected in the Ashes but that is an unknown at the start of the season.Campbell Kellaway celebrates his second Shield century•Getty Images

Victoria

Captain Will Sutherland
Coach Chris RogersSquad Austin Anlezark (R), Liam Blackford, Scott Boland (CA), Dylan Brasher, Ashley Chandrasinghe, Xavier Crone, Harry Dixon, Sam Elliott, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Campbell Kellaway, Jai Lemire, Blake Macdonald, Glenn Maxwell (CA), Cam McClure, David Moody, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Oliver Peake (R), Tyler Pearson (R), Mitch Perry, Tom Rogers, Matt Short (CA), Callum Stow (R), Will Sutherland, Doug WarrenCA = Cricket Australia contract | R = Rookie contractIn Blake Macdonald, David Moody, Oliver Peake, Callum Stow
Out Peter Siddle (retired), Will Pucovski (retired), Jon Merlo, Josh Brown, Reiley MarkLast season ThirdHow they shape upVictoria’s best side will be very strong again having narrowly missed the final last year but their depth will be tested, especially with the ball given Scott Boland will have limited availability and they have lost the experience of Peter Siddle who was invaluable as a replacement for whenever Boland was absent last year. The batting is a superb mix of youth and experience with three of the most exciting young top order prospects in the country in Campbell Kellaway, Harry Dixon and Oliver Peake to be settled around the experience of Marcus Harris and Peter Handscomb. Dixon looks set to open, although he will miss round one with Australia A duty. When that happens, Harris may slide to No. 3 despite being a candidate to open for Australia in the Ashes.Matt Short may add some dynamism when he does not have Australia white-ball duties while the first-choice attack of Boland, Fergus O’Neill, Will Sutherland and Todd Murphy looks as good as any in the competition when fully fit and available. The likes of Cam McClure, Xavier Crone and Sam Elliott will have to step up at times when Boland is absent while Victoria need a big season out of wicketkeeper Sam Harper as their lower order batting has been fragile at times in recent years.Player to watchCampbell Kellaway took a major step forward in the second half of last season scoring centuries against Queensland at the Gabba and Western Australia at the WACA, the latter an unbeaten 165 to set up victory in the final round. He also made scores of 80, 79 and 77 in two games against eventual Shield winners South Australia and 55 against a NSW attack that featured Mitchell Starc, Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird and Nathan Lyon on a tricky MCG pitch. Those performances got him into the Australia A side and he made 88 against India A in India recently. He is down the list Test candidates for now but a hot start to the summer will vault him up the queue very quickly.Australia impactSutherland, Dixon and Elliott will all miss the opening Shield round because of Australia A duty in India but Boland is set to play the first match against South Australia. How many he plays after that before the first Test remains to be seen but there is a hope he can feature in at least one more before the first Test. He should be fine for the second half of the season though.Short’s availability is the other unknown. He could be available for rounds four to six but it may depend how his body is after three consecutive white-ball series against New Zealand and India. He is likely to be part of Australia’s T20 World Cup squad which may also see him miss most of the second half of the season.Cameron Green could play three of the first four Shield rounds for WA•Getty Images

Western Australia

Captain Sam Whiteman
Coach Adam VogesSquad Cameron Bancroft, Mahli Beardman, Simon Budge (R), Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly, Brody Couch, Keaton Critchell, Joel Curtis, Albert Esterhuysen (R), Sam Fanning, Cameron Gannon, Cameron Green (CA), Jayden Goodwin, Aaron Hardie, Liam Haskett, Baxter Holt, Josh Inglis (CA), Bryce Jackson, Matthew Kelly, Mitch Marsh (CA), Lance Morris (CA), Joel Paris, Jordan Quiggin (R), Jhye Richardson (CA), Corey Rocchiccioli, Ashton Turner, Corey Wasley (R), Sam Whiteman, Teague WyllieCA = Cricket Australia contract | R = Rookie contractIn Mahli Beardman, Joel Curtis, Simon Budge, Albert Esterhuysen, Jordan Quiggin
Out Hamish McKenzie, D’Arcy Short, Charlie Stobo (NSW), Sam Greer, Josh VernonLast season SixthHow they shape upTwelve months ago WA were gunning for a historic fourth straight title. This season they start as the defending wooden-spooners, albeit they still nearly made a Shield final last year despite finished sixth on a congested table. They are still laden with talent and their best XI is international quality. But managing the comings and goings of their Australia and Australia A representatives whilst keeping some continuity in their team will be the key.The batting will be strong with Cameron Bancroft and Sam Whiteman back healthy again and Hilton Cartwright is the bedrock of the middle-order while young keeper Joel Curtis has started the season in exceptional fashion in the Dean Jones Trophy. Add in Cameron Green for up to three of the first four games and it is an imposing batting order. The attack will be well led by Joel Paris, Cameron Gannon and Corey Rocchiccioli while the return of Matt Kelly from injury is a welcome addition. But it gets a little thin thereafter with Lance Morris out for the whole year and Jhye Richardson recovering slowly, while exciting youngster Mahli Beardman is unlikely to play any red-ball cricket in the first half of the season coming off stress fractures.Player to watchCameron Bancroft is the forgotten man in the race to fill an opening spot for the Ashes. At the start of last season he was one of the favourites to fill the vacancy against India but endured a horrid run of form early in the summer. He is coming off a good winter for Gloucestershire in all forms and returned early from England to get a brief rest before setting himself for a new summer. His technique hasn’t changed but he knows how to score big runs in Shield cricket and anyone scoring runs early in the season will be looked at for the Ashes.Australia impactFew states have as many moving parts to navigate as WA. Green’s availability in the early part of the summer has changed several times but he could play Shield rounds one, three and four for WA and bowl in a couple of them under restrictions, but he may also be absent for round two and possible round three due to ODI duty. Josh Inglis is injured at the moment but when fit is likely to be away for most of the summer on Australia duty.Mitch Marsh is notionally available for rounds four, five and six after Australia’s white-ball series against India but it remains to be seen whether he plays any red-ball cricket this summer. Cooper Connolly will miss the first round with Australia A duty but should be right for round two unless he is called up for ODI cricket. Aaron Hardie is recovering from a shoulder injury but may play quite a bit for WA if Australia don’t pick him for the India white-ball series.

Although Ireland scored their second-highest T20I total against South Africa, they did not have enough

Firdose Moonda27-Sep-2024South Africa completed the highest successful chase in Abu Dhabi and notched up a win in the first T20I to keep their unbeaten record against Ireland intact.It was officially a home fixture for Ireland but was played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium to solve cost and infrastructure challenges in Ireland. Ironically, South Africa seemed to be more familiar with conditions. After spending last week playing Afghanistan on dry, slow pitches in Sharjah, South Africa had adapted to the demands of the heat, and unlike in Sharjah, where the bounce was low, there was good bounce and carry in Abu Dhabi. Full, slower balls proved to be best wicket-taking options and South Africa understood that while Ireland struggled with dew and moisture in the field.South Africa’s strikes in the powerplay and at the end of Ireland’s innings meant that although Ireland scored their second-highest T20I total against them, they did not have enough. Ireland were pegged back after almost every acceleration but a fourth-wicket stand of 59 runs off 41 balls between Curtis Campher and Neil Rock anchored the innings.In reply, Reeza Hendricks and Ryan Rickelton shared in South Africa’s third-highest opening stand, and highest away from home, in T20Is and reached important milestones of their own. Hendricks scored his first fifty in 15 T20I innings and Rickelton registered a career-best 76, which was also his first international half-century. They complemented each other well, with Rickelton hitting high and hard over the leg side and Hendricks playing the classy off-side shots he has become known for. Neither stayed to the end, but South Africa got there with 14 balls to spare.

Push and pull in the powerplay

Ross Adair, not due to play this game until Lorcan Tucker was injured in training, made the first statement of intent when he hit a Lizaad Williams short ball over mid-on for the first boundary of the innings. He went on to take another 10 runs off Williams’ first over on the tour, after he missed out on the ODIs against Afghanistan, and hit Wiaan Mulder over his head for four before South Africa struck back. With Ross Adair’s strength down the ground, Aiden Markram placed Tristan Stubbs on the long-on boundary and he was in a good position to take the catch that dismissed the batter, who tried one big shot too many. Then it was the turn of another overlooked player from the Afghanistan matches, Ottneil Baartman, who struck with his third ball when he bowled Paul Stirling with a delivery that angled in and sailed through the bat-pad gap. But South Africa could not claim the early advantage.Campher, playing in his 100th international for Ireland, took five balls to get his eye in and then drove Baartman through mid-off and for two more fours to get his run-scoring underway. At the end of powerplay, Ireland finished on 63 for 2, their second-best against South Africa, after scoring 67 for 2 in Bristol in 2022.

Peter’s timely breakthrough

In his third T20I, legspinner Nqabayomzi Peter had to wait until the 11th over to be called on and it was a fairly tough introduction. Campher and Neil Rock were settled, South Africa were rattled after they dropped Campher on 17 at the end of the ninth over and then misfielded to allow four at the end of the 10th. Rock hit Peter for four in an over that cost eight and he was replaced by Bjorn Fortuin and allowed to change ends. And then he struck. Peter bowled Rock with a delivery that straightened as he tried to sweep and ended a partnership that was threatening to take the game away. That wicket would prove crucial in the target Ireland ended up setting South Africa.File photo: Patrick Kruger took four wickets•AFP/Getty Images

Death-bowling heroics from Williams and Kruger

At 163 for 5 after 18 overs, Ireland would have been eyeing a total over 180 but an excellent last couple of overs from South Africa’s seamers kept them to 171. Williams bowled the 19th over and, with a wide slip in place, stuck to a selection of wide yorkers. All Ireland managed were singles off every ball in that over. Then it was over to Patrick Kruger, who took pace off with immediate success. Dockrell played a swipe too early and was caught behind. Off the next ball, Fionn Hand tried to ramp Kruger but could only get the ball as far as short fine leg. Kruger’s hat-trick ball missed everything and cost a bye. His penultimate delivery brought another wicket as Mark Adair tried to hit him over the off side and was caught by Wiaan Mulder. Kruger finished with a triple-wicket maiden and South Africa only conceded eight runs in the last two overs.

Hendricks, Rickelton redeem themselves and South Africa’s batting

The big picture of South Africa’s batting woes against Afghanistan aside, the opening batters had questions over their form going into this game. Hendricks had only gone past 30 in three of his last 12 T20Is while Rickelton had a top score of 27 from eight white-ball internationals. Were they the best combination sans Quinton de Kock? Yes, they said, as they grabbed the chase by the scruff of the neck in the powerplay. Rickelton got the ball rolling with back-to-back boundaries off Mark Adair and showed his ability against the short and full balls. Hendricks only faced four balls in the first three overs but when given more of the strike, he made the most of it. He smashes four fours in six deliveries, to bring up 2000 runs in T20I cricket. Rickelton finished off the powerplay hitting Hand for two enormous sixes and South Africa were 58 for 0 in the powerplay. Two overs later, Rickelton reached his fifty off 30 deliveries. South Africa were 97 without loss at the halfway stage and the horse had bolted.

The trio shares nine wickets to bowl out Central Districts for 92 in 14.2 overs in a chase of 159

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jul-2025Guyana Amazon Warriors opened their account in Global Super League 2025 with a thumping 66-run win over Central Districts in Providence. The win took Warriors to the top of the points table, at least for the time being, while Central Districts are at the bottom with two defeats in two games.The star of the show for Warriors were their bowlers: Imran Tahir, Dwaine Pretorius and David Wiese. Tahir picked up 4 for 23, Pretorius 3 for 18 and Wiese 2 for 13, as Central Districts were bowled out for a mere 92 in 14.2 overs in their chase of 159.Earlier, Central Districts won the toss and opted to field. They removed Johnson Charles and Moeen Ali cheaply but Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Jewel Andrew added 84 off 63 balls for the third wicket. Andrew was run out for 45 off 29 in the 15th over and Gurbaz fell for 58 off 47 in the next. The incoming batters could not step up and Warriors could manage only 28 in the last four overs.Central Districts, though, never got going in their chase. Pretorius removed Dane Cleaver in the very first over and by the end of the powerplay, the scoreboard read 23 for 4. There was no coming back from there.Tahir hurt them further with two wickets in the 13th over. Two overs later, Wiese wrapped up the innings with the wicket of opener Will Young, who top-scored with 26 off 29 balls.