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Jacques Rudolph eclipsed a superb hundred by Sussex’s Luke Wright with an even better one of his own to ease Glamorgan to victory in their final Royal London game at Hove

Press Association20-Aug-2014
ScorecardJacques Rudolph hit a Glamorgan record one-day innings•Getty ImagesJacques Rudolph eclipsed a superb hundred by Sussex’s Luke Wright with an even better one of his own to ease Glamorgan to victory in their final Royal London game at Hove.Rudolph made a career best 169 to guide his side to a seven-wicket win as they chased down a Duckworth-Lewis adjusted target of 329 with eight balls to spare. Rudolph’s innings was also the highest score in List A matches by a Glamorgan batsman, beating Sir Viv Richards’ 162 against Oxfordshire in 1992.Wright had earlier taken full toll of some wayward Welsh bowling to score 127 from 115 balls – his second century in four days – before Rudolph shredded the Sussex attack to score his third century in this season’s competition.Rudolph was on 131 when he made his only blemish, but Yasir Arafat dropped a difficult return catch in his follow-through as he tried to intercept a waist-high straight drive. Otherwise, Rudolph gave a masterclass in timing and placement as he followed earlier hundreds against Somerset and Nottinghamshire to take his competition aggregate to 575 runs.On a superb pitch, a weakened Sussex attack, which included 18-year-old Academy product Fynn Hudson-Prentice on his debut, found there was no margin for error.Rudolph lost opening partner Jim Allenby, who was caught and bowled by Lewis Hatchett, in the seventh over but he ticked over at a run a ball thereafter to ease to the 16th List A century of his career.Gareth Rees helped him set up victory with a second-wicket stand of 173 in 26 overs before Rees was sent back by his partner looking for a single into the leg side and beaten by Ed Joyce’s throw.It gave the hosts a glimmer of hope but that was soon extinguished by former Sussex player Murray Goodwin, who took four boundaries off Hatchett in an over during the second power play as he raced to a 26-ball half-century.Arafat had Goodwin lbw playing across the line for 59 in the 44th over after a partnership of 100 in 10.3 overs for the third wicket, but Glamorgan needed just 25 more at that stage and Rudolph fittingly hit the winning runs with his 17th boundary. He also struck three sixes in the 150 balls he faced.Wright certainly did not deserve to be on the losing side after scoring his fifth hundred of the season in all cricket to take his aggregate in the one-day formats to 993, as Sussex piled up 323 for 3 from 48 overs. He also became the first Sussex batsman to score a hundred in all three formats in the same season. It was a chanceless ninth List A hundred of his career and also his highest one-day score for the county.Wright added 71 for the first wicket with Chris Nash and 99 in 18 overs with Craig Cachopa but the acceleration came when Wright and Harry Finch, in only his second List A appearance, plundered 79 in nine overs. Wright was eventually caught off a big top edge aiming to drive down the ground, having faced 115 balls with 14 boundaries and four sixes.Finch upped the tempo and his unbeaten 92 contained 12 fours and two sixes as he plundered 71 from 55 balls in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand with Machan. However, in the end Sussex’s highest one-day score against Glamorgan was not enough to subdue the peerless Rudolph.

Ed Cowan, the Australia opener, has been confirmed as Nottinghamshire’s overseas signing for the first half of the 2013 season

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Dec-2012Ed Cowan, the Australia opener, has been confirmed as Nottinghamshire’s overseas signing for the first half of the 2013 season. Cowan, who will likely feature in the Ashes against England later in the summer, will be available for seven rounds of the Championship, as well as eight CB40 matches.The move, first reported on ESPNcricinfo, will give Cowan extra time to get used to batting in English conditions ahead of the Ashes. Notts will be his second county, after a stint with Gloucestershire in 2012, and the 30-year-old has also played in England for Scotland and Oxford MCCU. He currently averages 34 in Test cricket after 11 matches, with one century.”I was very keen to play some Division One cricket and I’m pleased to have the opportunity to do that with Nottinghamshire,” Cowan said. “There are a lot of good players at the Club and Trent Bridge is a great venue so I’m hoping to make a good contribution on and off the field.”Nottinghamshire, who finished fifth in Division One in 2012, will look to recruit another overseas player after Cowan’s departure. Last season, Adam Voges filled the overseas role, while David Hussey had previously been linked with a return to the club.Notts’ director of cricket, Mike Newell, said: “Ed has an excellent record in Test cricket and there was an opportunity to sign him for a decent period given that a lot of Australian players were set to spend time in England on an A tour in preparation for the Ashes. Our priority was to find a player who we felt could score a good volume of runs in four day cricket but Ed has a good one day record as well and we’re confident that he can make a difference for us.”

Mark Ramprakash has been appointed as England’s new batting coach. He will take up the role immediately, joining England on a one-day tour of Sri Lanka later this month, and will fulfil the role across all formats

David Hopps06-Nov-2014Mark Ramprakash has been appointed as England’s new batting coach. He will take up the role immediately, joining England on a one-day tour of Sri Lanka later this month, and will fulfil the role across all formats.The ECB’s confirmation of Ramprakash’s elevation had been widely predicted from the moment that Graham Thorpe indicated his reluctance to tour for long periods. Thorpe will remain England’s lead batting coach, based at the national performance centre at Loughborough.England slipped Ramprakash into the batting coaching role on a part-time basis with a marked lack of fanfare during series’ against Sri Lanka and India this summer. The hierarchy took a long look at his methodology and finally they have seen enough to award him the role as they concentrate on restoring a strong team culture following the fallout from an Ashes whitewash and the ostracising of Kevin Pietersen.Ramprakash, 45, was always technically absorbed as a player, and his knowledge should hold him in good stead as a batting coach. But his intensity was sometimes to his own detriment and, alongside an innate charm and politeness, when he was frustrated at not achieving his own exacting standards he could cut an intense and aggravated figure.It would have been remiss of England’s senior coaches if they had not considered how this might translate into his approach as a coach, especially considering his lack of experience in such a role at county level. He did act as Middlesex’s batting coach for a relatively short period, although for a time it seemed as if he might move into TV as he made an excellent analyst during ITV4’s coverage of IPL.Paul Downton, the managing director of England cricket, was just one of many players who occasionally had a close-up view of a brooding Ramprakash when they shared a dressing room at Middlesex, but he has clearly concluded that, in common with many as they reach middle age, his approach is now more equable and communal. That he will expect discipline and desire from his charges can be taken for granted.”During his time with both England Lions and the senior teams, Mark has proved a valuable addition to the coaching group,” Downton said. “He has formed excellent relationships with players and a strong partnership with Peter Moores and the management team and I have no doubt he will continue to have a positive impact.”Ramprakash was often presented as the lost batting talent of his generation as his 52 Tests – an average of only 27.32 probably still etched on his soul – and 18 ODIs over an 11-year period never brought total fulfilment. But his desire to score runs never abated and he played 461 first-class and 407 List A games for Middlesex and Surrey, repeatedly proving a masterclass in preparation, technique and concentration, before retiring reluctantly in 2012, 25 years after making his Middlesex debut.Thorpe was the man in possession, having worked as batting coach in one-day cricket alongside Ashley Giles. But he is committed to putting family life above long periods away on tour, although he will also spend a limited period with the performance programme squad in Sri Lanka and with the Lions in South Africa in the new year.The vacancy arose when Moores, with the agreement of his captain Alastair Cook, decided to dispense with Graham Gooch following defeat in Australia and jump to a younger generation. It is now Ramprakash’s task to help England’s batsmen achieve what he never quite managed – the consistent run-scoring under pressure that wins matches. If he does that, it will be an accomplishment he will particularly treasure.

Preview of the match between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Ranchi

The Preview by Kanishkaa Balachandran25-Sep-2013Match facts September 26, 2013
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)With heavy dew expected, the batsmen could enjoy the advantage late in the evening•BCCIBig PictureBoth Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad are coming off successful chases in their opening games. Super Kings made a chase of 186 look ridiculously easy in Ranchi, with Titans failing to control a rampaging top order with heavy dew around. The wet ball was a big factor and will continue to be so since the forthcoming game between Super Kings and Sunrisers begins late in the evening. Chasing might not be a bad idea and as allrounder Albie Morkel said on the eve of the game, the toss will be a big factor.Sunrisers’ chase against Trinidad and Tobago wasn’t as clinical, since it went down to the final over. Shikhar Dhawan played only a minor role though it was good from Sunrisers’ perspective that the lower order proved themselves when a challenge presented itself. Thisara Perera’s fearless hitting made the difference and Super Kings would have to strategise how to contain the big hitters like Perera and Darren Sammy. However, Sunrisers weren’t their sharpest in the field on Tuesday and that’s an area they need to improve on.Super Kings will be concerned that their bowlers leaked 185. They have relied on spinners to pull the run-rate back but against Titans, seven overs of spin cost them 85 runs.In the spotlightDwayne Bravo’s cameo 38 off 26 balls helped Super Kings edge closer to victory against Titans and he picked up two wickets as well as Titans looked to accelerate towards the end. However, he has struggled as a death bowler in recent one-dayers for West Indies, something he had admitted needed plenty of improvement. His first two overs against Titans went for 23, but he came back well in his next two, conceding 11 and taking those two wickets. He could use the ongoing T20s to sharpen his death-bowling skills.Sunrisers’ younger Indian batsmen have yet to shine in this tournament, starting from the qualifiers. Biplab Samantray, batting in the top order, was dropped after scores of 0 and 8; Hanuma Vihari made a cautious 18-ball 13 against T&T, and in the same match Ashish Reddy was out for a first-ball duck. Teams that aren’t overdependent on overseas players and bigger names tend to be more successful than others. If the younger players can click, it could help Sunrisers in a big way.Quotes “This is probably the most dew I’ve seen on a cricket field.”

Steven Finn, excelling in a new role as nightwatchman, struck a maiden Test and first-class fifty to make a huge contribution towards England saving the first Test in Dunedin and saving face in the bargain

The Report by David Hopps09-Mar-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsSteven Finn reached the first fifty of his first-class career•Associated PressSteven Finn, excelling in a new role as nightwatchman, struck a maiden first-class fifty to make a huge contribution towards England saving the first Test in Dunedin and saving face in the bargain. As Finn walked back to the dressing room with 56 to his name, and perhaps his first experience of pad burn after not far short of five hours at the crease, he was in danger of being rewarded with a full-time appointment to go alongside the gratitude of his team mates.Finn’s marathon resistance stretched until the second over after tea, at which point he succumbed to an ambitious slog-sweep at the left-arm spinner Bruce Martin. Spared Finn’s sudden appreciation of the art of batsmanship, New Zealand might well have triumphed. As their bowlers strove gamely for victory on a docile surface, they will also have rued the rain and bad light which prevented play on the opening day.England lost Nick Compton on a slow final morning, with Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen following in the afternoon. Ian Bell’s senseless run-out of Joe Root, thrown out second ball for nought by a direct hit from cover, kept New Zealand’s interest flickering enough in the final session to take a third new ball, but by then England’s lead was 117 with four wickets and 25 overs remaining. Bell wisely saw the job through until, with the advantage stretched to 128, the match was called off at the final drinks break.Pietersen’s out-of-sorts innings immediately invited conjecture that he might be protecting an injury and, to add to the intrigue, he watched the last rites in front of the dressing room with a large black X on his right knee. To offer such target practice was especially dangerous in New Zealand, who can invent a sport for most things and who even now are probably drawing up the rules for world championship knee archery.Pietersen, Trott and Compton fell to the unflagging left-arm swing of Neil Wagner, who will need every hour of his three days off before the second Test begins in Wellington, but New Zealand never quite got on a roll.Finn could take much credit for that. The wagon wheel, which might one day be framed in his downstairs toilet, showed five boundaries scooting off in the general direction of third man, but he generally made good use of his long reach on a pitch which slumbered to the last. James Anderson, his predecessor, has taken a battering in some of the most threatening situations Test cricket can offer, but Finn got a cushier job and relaxed into it with aplomb. Wagner did test him against the short ball eventually, but only at around 130kph and only when his eye was in.He reached his 50 from 142 balls, angling Wagner through gully, but then decided to take stock, scratched a new guard and did not score for the next hour and a quarter. His next single brought ironic applause from the Barmy Army and a blast from Billy Cooper’s trumpet. It was just as well that he did dig in because Trott fell for 52 in the same over, Wagner taking a good leaping catch in his follow-through from a leading edge, and Pietersen soon followed to an inside edge from a nondescript shot.Perhaps Pietersen was just having one of those days. Just as he is intoxicated by the big occasion, he can run on empty if a game feels flat. If he guested in a club knockabout, there is every chance that somebody would get him out for nought, just as there would be every chance that Finn would get a hundred.Finn escaped a couple of tough chances; in the first over of the day edging very low towards Dean Brownlie at third slip and later, on 37, sending an edge between the slips off Kane Williamson. The middle of the bat often proved elusive, especially when compared to the timing shown by Trott, but his stay was testament to the work England’s bowlers put in their batting.England began the day still 59 runs behind and a couple of early wickets, with the second new ball still new, would have opened the door for New Zealand. However, it took them more than an hour to make the breakthrough which came when Wagner swung one back into Compton’s pads who, for a moment, considered the review before deciding, wisely as replays showed, that it would have been a waste.Compton’s seven-hour innings – 117 from 310 balls – was a study in concentration and determination. He was given a warm ovation as he walked off, his father Richard leading the applause from the crowd, and was safe in knowledge that his Test berth is now secure.Trott’s half-century was effortless, a punchy straight drive off Martin emphasising that there would be no last-day encouragement for the spinner, who instead continued to toil on a dead surface.England made only 53 from 28 overs between lunch and tea and Finn was responsible for 14 of them. But the overs were ticking down and for England, that was all that mattered.

England Lions moved into a 104-run lead against the West Indians in Northampton after the visitors had fought back during the morning sessions

Andrew McGlashan at Northampton11-May-2012
ScorecardLions captain James Taylor gave the England selectors a nudge with an impressive century•Getty ImagesThe news coming from Chelmsford of concerns surrounding Ravi Bopara’s fitness added extra interest to events on the second day in Northampton, where James Taylor, the England Lions captain, went about reaffirming his international credentials with a superb century while Jonny Bairstow produce another eye-catching innings. The West Indians were left facing a tough challenge to avoid defeat ahead of the Test series as they closed in trouble on 28 for 3, still 166 behind.Bopara is widely expected to be given the No. 6 spot for the start of the international season, having carried the drinks during the two winter Test series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. This latest injury worry appears to be at the minor end of the scale but even if it precluded him from bowling for a period that should not dent his Test chances, unlike they did in Sri Lanka when a side strain cost him a likely opportunity. On that occasion England felt they needed a reasonable fifth bowler, whereas in England during May the four frontliners will be more than enough.However, if batting cover (or ultimately a replacement) was required it would come from this Lions side so it was a timely moment to impress, although it is Bairstow who is probably ahead of Taylor at the current time, despite the latter’s hundred. Taylor has slipped down the pecking order over the last six months, to the extent that he was not included in the 26-man England Performance Squad for the season ahead, which is a rough guide of the way the selectors are thinking. He had a disappointing winter with the Lions during the one-day tours of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, so this was an important innings to put him back on the agenda.Last season he impressed in Lions colours with 76 against the Sri Lankans at Derby, where he opened the batting, followed by 76 and 98 against Sri Lanka A back in the middle order. Before this match Taylor said he saw himself as a middle-order player – although, as players do, he added he would bat anywhere – and it does appear his natural home. Here he was at No. 5, the same position he currently occupies for Nottinghamshire, with Samit Patel, who did not do himself any favours with a lazy chip back to the bowler, above him; although anyone with aspirations to bat top six for England should ideally bat top four for their county.This innings was exemplary and the only life he got was on 104 when he was caught at slip off a no-ball from Fidel Edwards. He had initially played second fiddle to Bairstow, but caught up as he moved to fifty off 91 balls and became increasingly dominant as he started to lose partners. The pull shot was working well and the West Indian bowlers did not always adjust their length and he was lightning between the wickets which helped with the outfield remaining sluggish.When Jack Brooks was ninth out Taylor was on 86 but Jade Dernbach, who took a painful blow on the arm from Edwards which prevented him from taking the field, hung around to see his partner towards three figures, which arrived with a thumping cover drive. The confrontation between Dernbach and Edwards was feisty and included a few words from the fielders which led to the umpires stepping in to calm the situation. The final-wicket stand was extended to a 64 in 10 overs as Dernbach and Taylor opened their shoulders and the final three wickets added 130 to take the Lions lead from useful to intimidating.During the morning session a lead of such a size was a long way off as the Lions slipped to 98 for 5, which brought Bairstow to the crease to join his captain. Entering the game in good form, having made two Championship centuries for Yorkshire this season, he stood tall and played impressively through the off side off front and back foot. His fifty came from 89 balls before, against the run of the play, he lofted Shane Shillingford to mid-off just as the tourists were starting to flag.The only member of this Lions team certain to be in the first Test squad is Ian Bell, who asked to play in this match after Ben Stokes withdrew with injury and he played confidently for his 29. At one stage when facing Shillingford he had to pull out of his stance as Andy Flower, the England team director, who is at the ground with the other selectors to discuss the squad for the first Test walked behind the bowler’s arm. Flower immediately raised his arms in apology and Bell had a smirk on his face but that turned to a grimace when Ravi Rampaul, the pick of the West Indian quicks, nipped one between bat and pad.The tourists will need to decide which of this four-man attack makes way for Darren Sammy at Lord’s. Edwards had moments when he cranked up the pace but continued to have no-ball problems and spells of lethargy, while Kemar Roach left the field after claiming his third wicket, although if all the quicks are fit it could be Shillingford who misses out. They may not get the chance of another run-out before the Test as the top order stumbled again before the close, as Brooks and Matt Coles shared three wickets, and the visitors will have to make huge improvements to be competitive next week.

The resumption of bilateral ties between India and Pakistan remains in the balance after inconclusive discussions between the heads of the two boards in Kuala Lumpur

Umar Farooq29-Jun-2012The resumption of bilateral ties between India and Pakistan remains in the balance after inconclusive discussions between the heads of the two boards in Kuala Lumpur. The BCCI president N Srinivasan and the PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf met on the sidelines of the ICC annual conference and agreed on a series in principle, but not on any specific details.”We’d already agreed [in May] to playing each other, which he [Srinivasan] reconfirmed,” Ashraf told ESPNcricinfo. “We will play, that’s for sure, but dates and revenue matters are yet to be finalised.”Ashraf said Pakistan were ready for progress on the series but Srinivasan had said he would only be able to commit after checking with Indian authorities. It is Pakistan’s turn to host a bilateral series, though Ashraf said the BCCI had the prerogative to decide on the dates. It’s understood the BCCI is not keen to play at a neutral venue, and Pakistan are ready to play in India. However, the PCB would want the BCCI to share revenue because it has apparently not yet recovered from the loss suffered when India pulled out their planned tour in 2009.The PCB is currently facing a shortfall of approximately $75 million in its annual budget and is looking at the India series to make up the deficit.Pakistan and India have not played each other in a bilateral series since December 2007, and ties have been frozen since the 2008 Mumbai terrorist strike. Pakistan did, however, travel to India to play the semi-final of the 2011 World Cup.Talks of reviving Pakistan-India cricketing ties began when Ashraf requested Pakistan President Asif Zardari to take up the issue with the Indian government. A meeting between the head of states in Delhi in April indicated that the Indian government had no objections to the resumption of cricket between the two countries. Last month, Ashraf visited India for the IPL final and it emerged that one window for the series could be during the gap in England’s split tour to India at the end of the year.

Stuttgart hero Serhou Guirassy gave what sounded like a warm farewell to the club's fans as he "thanked them for everything" after their latest win.

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Striker Guirassy on fire for StuttgartWanted by Premier League teamsMade odd announcement in stadiumWHAT HAPPENED?

Guirassy scored yet again as Stuttgart beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the DFB-Pokal round of 16 on Wednesday. His effort took his goal tally up to an awesome 18 goals in just 13 appearances across the cup and Bundesliga for the German side this season.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT GUIRASSY SAID

According to , Guirassy then walked down the tunnel and grabbed the microphone from the stadium announcer, issuing a message to the home supporters. He said: "The atmosphere was great as always. Thank you for everything."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Guirassy's comments may have caught the attention of his Premier League suitors. Manchester United and Newcastle have been credited with interest in the Guinea international and are said to be considering January bids for him. However, the 27-year-old is contracted to Stuttgart until 2026 and Stuttgart will be determined to hold onto their prized asset.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR GUIRASSY?

United, Newcastle and many other top clubs in Europe will continue to monitor the star forward. He will be out to continue his goalscoring exploits when Stuttgart meet Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday. Stuttgart are third in the Bundesliga and five points behind surprise league leaders Leverkusen.

The Bombay High Court has appointed a court officer, MD Narvekar, to supervise the auction of IPL team Deccan Chargers

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Sep-2012The Bombay High Court has appointed a court officer, MD Narvekar, to supervise the auction of the IPL franchise Deccan Chargers on September 13 in Chennai. The franchise is up for sale after its owner Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited (DCHL) suffered financial losses.The ruling was made after Tata Capital Financial Services, to which DCHL owed Rs.101 crore ($18 million approximately), had filed a petition with the High Court to protect its interests in view of the dues. The High Court also stated the sale proceeds from the auction would have to be deposited in ICICI bank and that the money once deposited couldn’t be disbursed or appropriated by the company without its permission. Five per cent of the winning amount would also have to be paid to the BCCI.The winning bid, worth between Rs. 800 crore ($144 million approximately) to Rs.1000 crore ($180 million approximately), could go towards paying back the debt.A few companies have shown interest in the Hyderabad-based team, with Indian conglomerate, the Videocon group, being one of them.

Veteran Australian batsman Marcus North made 79 on his Glamorgan debut to secure his club their first batting point of the season

16-May-2012
ScorecardAustralia’s veteran batsman Marcus North rescued Glamorgan from another batting failure with a defiant half-century against one of his former employers on the opening day of the Division Two match against Derbyshire in Cardiff.North, 32, the first overseas player to play for six counties, top-scored with 75 and led a recovery that earned Glamorgan a first batting point of the season after they had been in trouble at 111 for 5. He batted for nearly four hours and was well supported by skipper Mark Wallace, who made 45 out of a team total of 236, with Tim Groenewald ending with excellent figures of 3 for 34 from 22 overs.Glamorgan would have expected more after electing to bat first but at least it gave former England fast bowler Simon Jones something to bowl at in his first Championship match for Glamorgan since August 2007, and he sent down four overs as Derbyshire closed on 22 without loss.It was also more than the visitors looked like making when a series of poor shots handed the initiative to Derbyshire, who rested strike bowler Tony Palladino but then lost paceman Mark Footitt in only the eighth over of the morning.Footitt pulled up in obvious distress holding his right hip and, after treatment on the field, played no further part in the day’s action and will undergo a scan on Thursday to discover the extent of the damage.Despite that setback, Derbyshire had the better of the morning session with Jon Clare following his 11 for 57 in the match at Cardiff last month by striking twice in the 13th over. Nick James started the slide when he steered a short ball into the hands of third slip and then Will Bragg obligingly slapped Clare to point. It was another soft dismissal but at least Gareth Rees was defeated by a good ball from Ross Whiteley which moved away to find the edge and was taken by Martin Guptill at second slip.North soon looked in control in his first innings for Glamorgan and, with Ben Wright, guided the visitors to 93 for 3 at lunch. But more loose shots left them in trouble shortly after the interval. Wright launched a firm-footed drive at a wide ball from Groenewald and then Jim Allenby pulled Whiteley into the hands of mid-wicket, leaving North and Wallace to rebuild the innings.They added 77 in 25 overs before Groenewald bowled Wallace and David Wainwright trapped North lbw on the back foot, leaving enough time for Jones to work up some pace as Derbyshire ended 214 runs behind.