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Adcock not offered Redbacks contract

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Nathan Adcock retained his one-day place last summer after being dropped from the Pura Cup side, but his prospects for 2008-09 look bleak © Getty Images
 

Nathan Adcock’s South Australia career is hanging in the balance after the Redbacks did not give him a contract in their first round of offers. Shane Deitz, the wicketkeeper-batsman, also missed out, while the New South Wales players Greg Mail and Grant Lambert have declined a move to Adelaide.It is a remarkable fall for Adcock who started the 2007-08 season as captain. However his poor batting form – his first-class average for the campaign was 13.83 – first cost him the leadership and now a contract.”Obviously Nathan’s disappointed but he understands where we’re going,” the South Australia coach Mark Sorell said. “He’s taken it really well. His batting performance overall was down on what we expected. That doesn’t rule him out in the next round of negotiation and also even in performance down the track in club cricket.”Sorell will not rush to appoint next season’s captain, although he admitted he was keen on cementing Adcock’s replacement. “We need to get our squad sorted,” he said, “but come May 15 we will have our final list of offers and we will know where our squad is at.”The management has drawn on last year’s lessons when an 11th-hour appointment meant Adcock barely had time to settle after replacing Darren Lehmann. “I’d be quite keen to establish our leadership early,” Sorell said, “so everyone knows what we’re doing.”Graham Manou, who took over the Pura Cup leadership in February, is a strong contender but Sorell was offering no promises. “We’ve got some candidates for that position,” he said, while acknowledging that Manou was the stand-out contender from the current group.Adcock and Deitz could yet receive lifelines if they are handed second-round deals on May 15, and until then they also have the option of being picked up from the transfer pool by other states. Deitz made two fifties in 16 Pura Cup innings, with an average of 20.25, and appeared only once in the one-day competition.Instead of looking at local talent, the Redbacks picked four targets at New South Wales and were successful in picking up Aaron O’Brien and Tom Cooper as they attempt to bolster the state’s inconsistent batting. Sorell said O’Brien, who also offers left-arm orthodox bowling, was “an exciting player, a good all-round cricketer” and the 21-year-old Cooper was “a guy for the future”.Sorell plans to analyse the state’s recruitment and retention system after finding it “really disappointing” to miss out on some key batsmen in Mail and Lambert. Mail is studying to be an investment banker while Lambert’s decision was based on family reasons. “The downside of attacking those sorts of players is that they are more entrenched where they are,” Sorell said. “We had some hurdles there.”South Australia had previously made an unsuccessful bid for the opener Chris Rogers and were unable to secure their own No. 1 player Ryan Harris. Rogers ended up at Victoria while Harris will move to Queensland. The state will continue to look for new signings in the next few weeks.South Australia’s local contract holders Graham Manou, Mark Cosgrove, Daniel Cullen, Daniel Harris, Paul Rofe, Mark Cleary, Cullen Bailey, Callum Ferguson, Daniel Christian, Cameron Borgas, Peter George, Gary Putland.The imports Michael Klinger, Aaron O’Brien, Tom Cooper.The rookies Jake Brown, James Smith, Jason Donnelly, Jake Haberfield, Chadd Sayers, Andy Delmont.Players on the transfer list Nathan Adcock, Simon Roberts, Ken Skewes, Shane Deitz, Ben Cameron, Jason Borgas, Tom Plant.

McGrath tipped to reveal retirement

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Thinking time: Glenn McGrath has a decision about his future © Getty Images

A day after refusing to confirm his retirement, Glenn McGrath is expected to announce his departure date at the MCG today. McGrath has called a press conference for 1.10pm local time to “discuss his future plans” and is tipped to follow Shane Warne into Test retirement at his home ground in Sydney.McGrath, the leading Test wicket-taker with 555, has endured a week of speculation that he will walk away from the international game after the World Cup. Regaining the Ashes at Perth on Monday has meant a number of Australia’s senior players have ticked a significant box in their career goals after they were responsible for handing over the urn at The Oval in 2005.Having returned from an 11-month Test lay-off to start the current series, McGrath opened with 6 for 50 at the Gabba but even though he has produced some crucial spells he has been below his best during the series. Aged 36, McGrath has spent 13 years in the Test set-up after making his debut as a stringbean fast man against New Zealand at Perth.He started with match figures of 3 for 142 and was immediately dropped and it wasn’t until he was part of the first victory in the West Indies for 32 years that he became an essential member of the side. The 1994-95 Caribbean campaign was crucial to McGrath as he refused to be intimidated by the home side’s bowlers and fearlessly bounced them despite his limited ability with the bat. Australia sealed the series and McGrath’s reputation continued to be enhanced.Employing a simple action and applying regular check-ups, he was able to nag away with an unrelenting line and pick up kitbags full of wickets with movement off the seam. A shy and calm man off the field, he had no problem firing up when bowling and his behaviour often came under scrutiny. In the West Indies in 2002-03, when he arrived late to the series after his wife Jane was diagnosed with cancer, he had an angry, finger pointing exchange with Ramnaresh Sarwan. He admitted to “carrying on like a pork chop” at times but Australia would not have changed anything about their long-term spearhead.McGrath passed Dennis Lillee’s 355 Test wickets – it was the most famous Australian bowling milestone until Shane Warne overtook it – at The Oval in 2001 and became the country’s first fast man to play 100 Tests when he achieved the mark at Nagpur in 2004. It was a particularly satisfying record as he was out for a year with a serious ankle problem requiring two bouts of surgery. He briefly considered retiring and there were questions over whether he could return to his best. It became a regular theme during his career.Following his long lay-off to care for his family when his wife experienced another relapse of the disease in January, McGrath’s comeback ability was doubted again. He started slowly in the Malaysian tri-series and was part of Australia’s first Champions Trophy victory in India before re-setting his sights on England.

Familiar pose: Glenn McGrath fires up during the current Ashes series © Getty Images

Supporters in the United Kingdom did not understand the McGrath fuss when he first toured England in 1997 and Australia lost the opening Test at Edgbaston. He stepped in quickly to assure them he was a player of the highest quality. In the rain-ruined second Test at Lord’s he was responsible for knocking England over for 77 with his incredible 8 for 38.Michael Atherton was a victim, one of 19 times in his career, and they were his best figures until he produced 8 for 34, the second-best haul by an Australian, against Pakistan at the WACA in 2004-05. When it comes to wickets he has an almost photographic memory and his removal of the opposition’ best players are recalled proudly. Brian Lara was taken 15 times in Tests while Alec Stewart was also high on the list with 10. His comedic 61 against New Zealand two years ago also showed the hours of work he put into his often-ridiculed batting.McGrath passed Courtney Walsh’s world record of 519 wickets during the one-off Super Test against the World XI in 2005-06. It was suitable company for such a wonderful bowler. A country boy from central New South Wales, McGrath has grown from a spindly adolescent who was told he couldn’t bowl into one of the most durable fast men in Test history. His record over 122 matches is amazing and will always be treasured.

Pollock returns to boost South Africa

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The return of Shaun Pollock will boost South Africa as they look to bounce back after defeat in the opening Test.Pollock missed that match after deciding to remain at home for the birth of his second daughter.”We should not be thinking too much about what happened,” Pollock told reporters. “Instead we must draw a line under it and look ahead. From the reports we’ve heard, the pitch for the second Test is going to be even lower and slower than the first, but there’s no point dwelling on the negatives.”We just have to get on with it and prepare ourselves for a hard, patient fight going right down to the final session on day five.”Pollock is expected to replace Andre Nel who took 1 for 114.

Warriors threaten to waste good start

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Scorecard

Darren Lehmann top-scored for the Redbacks with 66 © Getty Images

Western Australia stumbled in their bid to keep their slim final hopes alive, wobbling to 2 for 23 in reply to South Australia’s 260. Ryan Harris struck twice as the Warriors faced a shaky 11-over period after the Redbacks again threw away a promising start to their own innings.South Australia were playing only for pride as they tried to avoid the prospect of finishing a season winless for the first time since 1976-77. The Warriors need a win and other results to fall their way to sneak into the Pura Cup decider against Tasmania.Danny McLauchlan, the left-arm fast man in his second first-class match, was Western Australia’s most dangerous bowler and finished with 3 for 75. He removed Darren Lehmann for 66 after Lehmann and Mark Cosgrove showed good signs and took the score to 2 for 125.Lehmann faced 92 deliveries before he edged McLauchlan onto the stumps trying to guide the ball to third man and when Cosgrove departed for 57, the Redbacks had tumbled to 6 for 179. They threatened to fall short of 200 until the lower order mounted a salvage operation, with Harris and Jason Gillespie adding 46 between them.Harris continued to fight with the late dismissals of Justin Langer (10) and Aaron Heal, the night-watchman, for 0. He had both batsmen bowled and only Chris Rogers survived, reaching 12 not out at stumps.

New Zealand lead by 94 as wickets tumble

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Scorecard and ball-by-ball details3:23

Rogers: Best day of cricket this season

The pink ball and green pitch have combined to produce a vivid brand of cricket over the first two days at Adelaide Oval, where a three-day Test now appears a near certainty. At stumps on the second evening, it was Australia who had the upper hand but in a match full of rapid momentum swings, New Zealand were well and truly still in the contest. Their lead of 94 runs with five wickets in hand could yet develop into a target that will challenge Australia.That the third innings was already half over was an indication of how quickly this Test had progressed. Runs were at a premium, with only three players having so far reached half-centuries, and none having made hundreds. On the first day 12 wickets had fallen and on the second, 13 more tumbled, but it was a not-out decision that may yet have the greatest impact on the result of the match, a reprieve for Nathan Lyon, who usually bats at No.11 for Australia.The scene was this: Australia were 8 for 118 in reply to New Zealand’s 202, and Lyon top-edged an attempted sweep off Mitchell Santner into his shoulder and up to slip. New Zealand’s appeal was denied on field by umpire S Ravi, and Brendon McCullum asked for a review, confident that Australia would soon be 9 for 118. But despite evidence that would have convinced most courts of law, the third umpire Nigel Llong was unswayed.After five minutes of replays, Llong upheld Ravi’s decision. There was a clear Hot Spot on the top edge of Lyon’s bat, and he had walked halfway to the dressing room. There also seemed to be a deviation in the ball’s course. But nothing showed up on Snicko, which appeared to create enough doubt in Llong’s mind. To add to the farce, he checked also if it could have been lbw off Lyon’s shoulder, but seemed not to notice that the Eagle Eye replay was of the previous delivery.It was a costly call for New Zealand. Lyon and Peter Nevill went on to compile the highest partnership of the match, adding a further 72 runs after the review. Undeterred by his near miss, Lyon continued to sweep with the enthusiasm of an Olympic curler, and the shot brought him plenty of runs, including the second six of his Test career. At the other end, Nevill played the perfect innings for the moment, his 66 the top score of the match so far.Eventually Lyon was caught at gully off Trent Boult for 34, but Mitchell Starc hobbled to the crease in spite of the stress fracture in his foot, and thumped 20 runs off one Mark Craig over and 24 in total. He was not out when Nevill holed out to deep cover off Doug Bracewell, and Australia had somehow turned what seemed a certain hefty deficit into a 22-run first-innings lead.It also meant that New Zealand would face the challenging task of batting under lights, when the pink ball seems to swing most. And even without Starc, Australia’s pace trio of Josh Hazlewood, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Marsh asked some serious questions of the New Zealand top order. Martin Guptill had no answers, caught at gully for 17 when he drove at a fullish outswinger from Hazlewood, completing a disappointing series with the bat.Shaun Marsh’s return to Test cricket ended in a run-out for 2•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

His opening partner Tom Latham again survived the early overs but could not push on. In every innings of this series, Latham has reached double figures but never has he scored more than 50. This time, he too drove at Hazlewood and edged behind to Nevill for 10. Most importantly for New Zealand’s hopes, Kane Williamson also fell cheaply, a faint tickle behind off Mitchell Marsh ending his innings on 9.Australia are adamant they need an allrounder in case a fast man breaks down, so in the absence of Starc there were great expectations on Marsh to step up. Getting rid of Williamson was the perfect start; dismissing McCullum was a bonus. On 20, McCullum prodded forward and was struck on the pad by Marsh; McCullum challenged the umpire’s out decision but it was an ambitious review, and he had to depart.One more wicket was to come, Ross Taylor trapped right in front by Hazlewood for 32, and nobody was more relieved than Steven Smith, who had put down Taylor at slip off Hazlewood before he had scored. The pink ball was easy enough for the 42,372 spectators to see under the floodlights but Smith seemed to have trouble watching it into his hands, also putting down BJ Watling later in the night on 2, also at slip off Hazlewood.By stumps, Watling was on 7 and Santner had 13, and with the score at 5 for 116, they and the tail needed to stick around for as long as possible on day three to set Australia a challenging target. Quite what such a target would be was unclear, for the Australians had collapsed to 8 for 116 themselves earlier in the day. Although the first session brought only 62 runs, the fewest of any session in the series, the match was moving at rapid pace.New Zealand seemed to have taken control of the game in that first session, collecting six wickets and doing almost nothing wrong. The fast bowlers swung the ball and kept the runs tight, the spinners extracted turn and wickets, and the fielding was as outstanding as anything seen so far in the series. Especially memorable was McCullum’s diving stop at mid-off, then his roll and throw to have Shaun Marsh run out for 2.Marsh had nobody to blame but himself for his call and hesitation, and it was the second wicket of the day after Tim Southee hooped the ball brilliantly to have Adam Voges caught at slip for 13. Mitchell Marsh replaced his brother and prodded an edge behind for 4 off Doug Bracewell, and it was just reward for Bracewell’s nagging lines and the pressure that he built.Bracewell bowled with such impressive economy that he could have been AAA-rated by Standard & Poor’s, his 12.1 overs bringing him 3 for 18 at less than 1.5 an over. Smith was the only Australian batsman to show the necessary patience and he reached his half-century from 108 balls, but he could not help going after the spin of Mark Craig, who turned the ball enough to catch Smith’s inside edge as he danced down the pitch and Watling moved quickly to take a sharp catch.Smith’s 53 had given Australia a base, but Craig soon added Siddle, caught in close for a duck, and Santner bowled Hazlewood for 4 to bring Australia to their knees. Unfortunately for New Zealand, when Lyon went to his knees for a sweep and was reprieved in the third umpire’s room, the momentum shifted back Australia’s way.

England hope for light relief

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Michael Vaughan’s return will be the major talking point at the SCG © Getty Images

If anyone thought England’s tour of Australia couldn’t get any worse they’ll need to think again – the coloured clothing is coming out. The tri-series acts as the final run-up to the World Cup, but first there’s the chance for England to shed some inhibitions in the Twenty20 International at Sydney.The game hasn’t quite worked out how to judge the latest format of limited-overs cricket, with Ricky Ponting’s comments showing that it still has some way to go to achieve respectability. However, it is rapidly becoming part of the cricketing landscape with most major nations now playing a domestic version and the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship taking place in South Africa in September.There are also plenty of issues providing interest for the match at the SCG, most notably the return of Michael Vaughan as England captain. If any form of cricket will test out his knee it will be the quick-fire nature of Twenty20.He will bring some much-needed calmness, and a fresh outlook, to the battered England squad which is once again lacking major experience. Paul Collingwood, England’s middle-order fulcrum, is aware that the senior players have a key role to play in guiding the youngsters.”I can always remember my debut watching [Shahid] Afridi smashing it over backward point off Darren Gough and thinking to myself ‘what is going on here?”‘ Collingwood said. “It’s likely to be exactly the same for the new guys. There will be times when they will probably miss a good line and length by a matter of inches and get smashed for a big six. This is what you learn at international level – the margins are so small and you have to be right on your game.”England have played three Twenty20 Internationals, winning one – against Australia at the Rose Bowl in 2005 – and losing both their matches last year against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Australia hold a 50-50 record having defeated New Zealand but lost to England and South Africa. They also managed to beat South Africa in the first game in Australia last season.Australia can never take a sporting contest lightly, but following on from Ponting’s remarks Andrew Symonds says they won’t be gauging much from the result. “You still do have that element of pride at the end of the day but it doesn’t have that complete sense of seriousness about it. If you win, you win, but we won’t be taking it into the first one-day international saying ‘We rolled England in a Twenty20 game’.”Australia have resisted the temptation to use the match as a chance to rest leading players such as Ponting and Adam Gilchrist, although Glenn McGrath and Stuart Clark do miss out, giving Ben Hilfenhaus, the Tasmania fast bowler, a chance. Cameron White, who set Twenty20 records during his time at Somerset last season, is also back in the frame. Despite Ponting having his reservations about the format don’t expect Australia to take their foot off England’s throat.

Kallis flays hapless New Zealand

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Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
How they were out

Kallis went on, and on, and on to his 29th Test hundred© Cricinfo Ltd

A masterful 131 from Jacques Kallis, his 29th Test hundred, put South Africa well in charge of the second Test against a demoralised and embattled New Zealand. Kallis and Hashim Amla, who was unbeaten on 89, shared in a 220-run stand for the third wicket – their second huge partnership in a week.What made it all the more depressing for New Zealand was the speed at which Kallis stole the momentum. Chris Martin had bowled impressively in the morning session, removed an out-of-form Graeme Smith in addition to Herschelle Gibbs. New Zealand’s fielding, so shabby in the first Test at Johannesburg, was a vast improvement today too – led by Lou Vincent, who ought to have run out Amla in the fifth over of the day.But from a rare position of relative strength, New Zealand’s bowlers utterly lost the plot after lunch. Whereas in the morning Martin and Iain O’Brien were pitching it up, their strategy in the afternoon revolved around bouncers. Kallis pounced, creaming fours through (and over) extra cover and pulling leg-side strays through midwicket with quite ominous power. Right from the off, it was clear this wasn’t to be one of his stodgy days.This was Kallis at his cavalier best, a near-flawless innings of technical perfection – and pleasing to the eye, too. The strategy, if they had one, of dropping the ball short was so flawed as to be laughable. Kallis flayed them over point; backward of square; over and through midwicket, not to mention crunching drives through his favoured cover region. He sped to a hundred, his 29th and fifth in seven innings, from 143 balls, while passing 1000 runs for the calendar year. Never has he been in such imperious form.Amla was less commanding but wonderfully effective, and is clearly benefiting from batting so often with a man of Kallis’ experience. The slightest err in line from New Zealand’s bowlers was seized upon, timing the ball beautifully off the back foot – particularly off Martin who, after his long morning spell, was now tiring. Without Jacob Oram (hamstring) and their spearhead, Shane Bond, the onus fell on the gangling O’Brien and Mark Gillespie, the debutant.Gillespie resembles an All Black No. 8 rather than a Black Cap No.10, and was deceptively quick with a heavy ball that bounces off a length. After tea, New Zealand finally ended their baffling bouncer strategy and Gillespie was rewarded for an excellent over to Kallis when he found one to jag back on him, trapping him in front.The most disappointing factor of New Zealand’s day, if not the most crucial, was the hammering Daniel Vettori received. Amla and Kallis took 16 from his first four overs and from there he never settled. Short balls were pulled for six; half-volleys cracked through cover. With Vettori dispatched, New Zealand’s last semblance of control was lost – and not even a defensive over-the-wicket tactic could dam the runs.For the second time in two days bad light came to rescue New Zealand as South Africa went to stumps leading by 84.

Glimpse of Twose form coincides with welcome Wellington success

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Roger Twose had become increasingly conscious, even broodingly concerned, that his form for Wellington through this Shell Cup season had not been commensurate with his status as one of the best one-day batsmen in the world.Twose wanted desperately to contribute for Wellington, consistently and well as he felt a player should who was both a professional and an international, but had been bedevilled by an unaccountable series of dismissals for low scores.It wasn’t that Twose was out of form – quite the contrary, he had a sense that he was well prepared, settled and in a frame of mind to make substantial one-day totals. But each visit to the crease seemed more brief and unproductive than the last and he had a sense that while he was ready to perform, luck was against him.It was a coincidence, clearly, but still a point of relevance that while Twose’s form lagged behind his expectations, Wellington’s ability to win Cup matches was also reduced. They were unlucky to lose matches against Northern Districts at Mt Maunganui and Central Districts at Waikanae and they were gradually losing their standing in a close race for places in the Cup finals.So there was considerable celebration in the Wellington dressing room this evening from Twose, who made 45 in an innings of typically earthy and uncomplicated style and from Wellington who took advantage of that contribution to beat Auckland by five wickets in a match vital to their Cup hopes.Wellington dismissed Auckland for 157 in 48.1 overs after their opponents had won the toss and batted, and made 158/5 in 42.2 overs in reply to grab two points which made their failing Cup campaign more sturdy.They still face three more matches over the next six days, against Otago and Northern Districts in Wellington and Canterbury in Christchurch, and must win each of those, and be favoured by other results, to have any chance of reaching the finals.But their win today and Twose’s contribution to it lifted the spirits of both and made the disappointing events of the recent past lose a little of their black appearance.”We can’t afford to slip up again and this win today was just the start of a big six-day run for us but it was very satisfying,” Wellington coach Vaughn Johnson said.”We were pleased with the way the bowlers set up the game for us. The channels were excellent and our ground fielding was superb. We showed lots of energy in those first 15 overs.”It’s been one of those campaigns where we haven’t had the rub of the green and we’ve lost a couple of games that we probably should have won. But we’re not looking back, we’re only looking forward and we’re in much better spirits after this win today.”It was nice for us all to be able to get up today and have such a complete performance. And I’m delighted on Roger’s behalf. He was thrilled to make a contribution today. We know how good he is and we were all thrilled that he got a chance to show what he could do. He told us today that he felt in good nick lately but he kept on getting out cheaply and he couldn’t explain it. He just wanted to contribute but things weren’t going his way. He feels a lot better this evening.”Wellington’s win was set up, as Johnson suggested, by an outstanding bowling performance supported by an energetic and skillful effort in the field. Auckland would have been happy to have the chance to bat first after winning the toss but when they lost both openers, Llorne Howell and John Aiken, for 13 runs in the first six overs, their innings lost direction and it stumbled rather than galloped to an early conclusion.Carl Bulfin, James Franklin and Andrew Penn bowled accurately in the first 15 overs to limit Auckland to 38/2, then Stephen Mather and Matthew Walker stepped in and took the heart of Auckland’s middle order.Franklin removed Howell, Bulfin took Aiken, spinner Mark Jefferson wrung out the wicket of Adam Parore, then Mather quickly contributed the wickets of Dion Nash, Blair Pocock and Tama Canning and Auckland were 109/6. At the same time, Walker bowled 10 consecutive overs for 16 runs and Auckland’s innings has been robbed of its heart.Even the few batsmen who made runs did so too slowly to help the revival of the innings. Parore lingered for 48 balls for his 18 runs, Pocock for 91 minutes for 26 and Canning for 41 balls for the same score.Kyle Mills batted through the second half of the innings, for a total of 90 minutes, for Auckland’s top score of 31 but the progress of the Auckland batting effort was always more sluggish than sprightly.Mather finished his eight overs with 3-24 and Franklin, who bowled seven overs to take 1-19 at the top of the order, returned to claim another wicket for only two runs at the death.Wellington, in reply, were slightly shaken by the loss of Chris Nevin for 10 when they were 11 and Matthew Bell for 15 when they were 38, both out to soft dismissals. They needed an anchor for the innings and they found it in Richard Jones who batted 135 minutes for 62 – his best Cup score for the Firebirds – and was out three overs and five runs before the end.But Twose gave the innings the boost it needed in its middle stages when he blasted 45 from only 46 balls. His first six scoring shots were boundaries and he ended with a flourish, hitting Mark Haslam out of the ground for six before being caught and bowled, to the immense delight of the bowler, from the next ball.His innings included eight fours – to all parts of the ground – and that six for a total of 38 runs from boundaries. Seldom has a player made a more resounding announcement of his return to form.Spinner Haslam bowled his 10 overs and took 3-30, Chris Drum removed Bell and Nevin and had 2-26 but the Auckland bowlers always had too few runs to defend.

Chanderpaul to move up the order

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Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been the standout performer for West Indies on an otherwise difficult tour © Getty Images

Chris Gayle, the West Indies captain, has said that Shivnarine Chanderpaul will be promoted in the line-up for the second ODI against England to strengthen the top order. Chanderpaul scored an unbeaten 53 batting at No. 5 in the first ODI as West Indies were dismissed for 146, chasing 225.”It [Chanderpaul moving up the order] is something that is definitely going to happen but we haven’t decided where [whether opening, No. 3 or No. 4] as yet, we’re still in discussions. He has been tremendous right throughout the tour and he has been our ‘in-form’ batsman and he should get more balls under his belt.””Chanderpaul can up the tempo whenever he needs to. Whenever the situation requires aggression I am sure he can take up that challenge, we know the great player he is,” Gayle said on the eve of the match.Chanderpaul has been one of the few successes on a disappointing tour for West Indies. He scored 446 runs averaging 148.66, including two centuries, as West Indies lost the four-match Test series 3-0.He also scored a crucial 41 during West Indies’ 15-run victory in the first Twenty20 match against England at The Oval on June 28 before being rested for the second Twenty20 encounter the next day, which they lost by five wickets.West Indies face England in the second ODI at Edgbaston later today.

Chandimal to stand in for injured Malinga in NZ T20s

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Sri Lanka will be without Lasith Malinga, their designated T20 captain, for the two-match series that culminates their New Zealand tour in January. Dinesh Chandimal, who led Sri Lanka in the format till Malinga took charge in 2014, has been named the stand-in captain.Opening batsman Danushka Gunathilaka and pacer Suranga Lakmal, who are part of the current ODI squad in New Zealand, have been named as replacements ahead of the T20 series that begins in Mount Maunganui on January 7.Malinga sustained a knee injury during the home series against West Indies in October-November and was initially deemed unavailable only for the five-match ODI series.Malinga’s absence is yet another setback to an inexperienced Sri Lanka team that is already missing the services of Dhammika Prasad and Kusal Perera. While Prasad flew back home before the first Test with a back injury, Perera was suspended by the ICC for failing a dope test.Sri Lanka lost both Tests on the tour, and are currently 2-0 down in the five-match ODI series.