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Yorkshire’s seam attack has proved itself a formidable unit over the past five months and they will need to work quickly on day four to push for a victory to keep up the pressure on Durham

Paul Edwards at Hove13-Sep-2013
ScorecardAshar Zaidi, a well-travelled Pakistani professional, took 4 for 57 to frustrate Yorkshire•Getty Images

Yorkshire’s seam attack has proved itself a formidable unit over the past five months and when Ryan Sidebottom uprooted Luke Wells’s off stump with a brutish swinging delivery as early as the third ball of Sussex’s second innings, it was clear that Ed Joyce’s batsmen were to have their work cut out amid the encircling gloom on the south coast.It was a good day for anthropologists at Hove. The morning was spent watching players, umpires and spectators conduct themselves during the bizarre set of rituals associated with a delayed start because of rain and a wet outfield; the afternoon and evening offered the sight of Yorkshire’s batsmen playing a little carelessly and being bowled out for 292, thus gaining a first-innings lead of only 34 when an advantage around 100-150 was probably desirable.But still, the White Rose removed two wickets before the deficit was wiped out – Michael Yardy cover-driving Liam Plunkett low to Phil Jaques’s right. But that was as good as it got for Andrew Gale’s title-chasing team. Soon after Yardy’s departure, the visiting skipper was compelled by the light to bowl only his spinners and even the gentle twisters of Kane Williamson and Adil Rashid were judged by the umpires to be too severe a test in Hove’s growing murk.Only 42 overs were possible on the third day of this game and Gale will plainly be hoping that conditions on the last day allow his bowlers to make the swift inroads they require if the gap between themselves and leaders Durham is not to remain more or less the same as it was on Wednesday morning. There are two rounds of County Championship matches left and they look like being tense affairs indeed.But if Sussex do not have a great deal invested in the outcome of this game – they are that rare thing in September, a mid-table Division One side – the same cannot be said of their slow left-armer Ashar Zaidi, who is effectively on trial over these four days. For the past three English summers Zaidi has been plying his trade for Accrington in the Lancashire League where his skipper, the ex-Lancashire batsman Graham Lloyd, recently described him as “a little bit of stardust” when his team won the title.Until yesterday, the people most readily associated with Accrington by the general public are probably David Lloyd, Graham’s father, and the novelist Jeanette Winterson. One or two more literary types might mention Peter Whelan’s First World War play The Accrington Pals.
Well at least Sussex cricket lovers now have another reason to recall that fine town of steep hills and narrow streets after Zaidi added the wickets of Gary Ballance, Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett to that of Adam Lyth and finished the innings with figures of 4 for 57 from his 23.2 overs. While Zaidi, a well-travelled Pakistani professional, may not earn an extended run in the Sussex team – indeed he may not play for them again – he has performed decently enough in this game. True, he does not turn the ball yards, and also true, the batsmen conspired in their own downfall, Ballance top-edging a sweep and Rashid driving loosely to mid-on, but Zaidi maintained a decent line and earned his wickets.So for all that Andrew Gale’s stressed the need to attack and play positively when play finally got under way at 2.10pm, he will surely have been hoping that his last six wickets would not be taken for as few as 76 runs in 24 overs. A larger lead would have given Yorkshire the chance to attack in the field on the final day and it will be galling in the extreme for Gale’s men if they are left with too stiff a target to chase.Williamson was lbw to Anyon without adding to his overnight 80 and the excellent Magoffin accounted for nightwatchman Steve Patterson. Plunkett whacked a cheery 27 but there remained a sense that amid the bad light and rain breaks, Yorkshire had missed something of an opportunity to truly dominate the contest. Tomorrow we may find out if such tentative judgements were justified.

In the first surprise result of the Allan Border Medal evening, Clint McKay has been named Australia’s One-Day International Player of the Year, narrowly beating George Bailey and David Warner for the award

Brydon Coverdale04-Feb-2013The rise and rise of captain Michael Clarke continued in Melbourne on Monday night when he won his fourth Allan Border Medal and was named Australia’s Test Player of the Year. Clarke also won the double last year, capping off his first 12 months as Australia’s leader in all formats, and his second year in charge was just as impressive. The other major winners from the evening were Clint McKay, who won his first One-Day International Player of the Year title, and Shane Watson, the Twenty20 International Player of the Year.In the Allan Border Medal count, Clarke finished on 198 votes, well clear of Watson and the retiring Michael Hussey, who were in joint second place with 165 votes each. David Warner was fourth with 148 votes, Mitchell Starc fifth with 122 votes and Australia’s Twenty20 captain George Bailey sixth with 116 votes, despite only playing the short formats. The win added to Clarke’s previous triumphs in 2005, 2009 and 2012 and he joined Ricky Ponting as the only men to have taken home four Allan Border Medals.Clarke had another remarkable year in Test cricket, scoring 1080 runs at an average of 77.14 during the voting period, which ran from February 25 last year to January 28 this year. His high point was when he scored consecutive double-centuries against South Africa, with 259 not out at the Gabba followed by 230 in Adelaide. The third of his hundreds during the voting period was 106 against Sri Lanka during the Boxing Day Test. It continued his incredible form since taking over the leadership from Ponting: as full-time captain Clarke has averaged 72.48.Despite the fact that the year brought Clarke’s first series defeat as captain, the 1-0 loss to South Africa, his team still won more than they lost during the voting period. They beat West Indies 2-0 in the Caribbean and enjoyed a 3-0 clean-sweep against Sri Lanka, but Clarke knows that such wins will be quickly forgotten if the coming year, which features a tour of India and back-to-back Ashes contests, does not bring success.The runner-up in the Test Player of the Year category was Hussey, who scored 746 runs at an average of 57.38 and was second on the run tally behind Clarke, while Matthew Wade, who at the start of the voting period had not even played Test cricket, was third. Clarke finished on 22 votes, with Hussey on 15 and Wade on 12. Surprisingly given he spent most of the year out of the Test side and played only three Tests during the home summer, Mitchell Johnson came fourth with 11 votes.In another surprise, the under-rated seamer McKay was named One-Day International Player of the Year, narrowly beating Bailey and Warner. McKay finished with 30 votes, Bailey and Warner were equal second with 28 votes and David Hussey finished in fourth place with 27 votes. Watson was fifth with 23 votes.During the voting period, McKay was Australia’s leading ODI wicket taker with 26 victims at 25.76. He was Man of the Match in the deciding third final of the Commonwealth Bank Series last summer, when he collected 5 for 28 against Sri Lanka at Adelaide Oval, and he was also Australia’s best bowler during their disappointing series in England in June and July.”Clint certainly knows how important he is to me and the team. I’ve made that very clear to him,” Clarke said of McKay. “He has become one of our top one-day bowlers in the Australian team, no matter who’s available to play. Clint in the past 12 months has been our first-picked one-day bowler.”I think his execution, not only with the new ball but at the death, is something that not many bowlers can do. His consistency day in day out, into the breeze, down breeze, open the bowling, bowl second change, it doesn’t bother him. Clint is a great example of one of the players I always want in this Australian team because he’ll do whatever it takes for the team first and himself second.”McKay broke the winning streak of Watson, who had taken out the past three ODI Player of the Year awards, and it was a good reward for a sometimes under-valued member of the side. Since his one-day international debut in 2009, McKay has collected 68 wickets at 21.91; only Mitchell Johnson with 73 has claimed more one-day victims for Australia during that time.In the T20 category, Watson was a clear winner with 42 votes, ahead of Warner on 29 and the captain Bailey on 16. Watson’s award was not surprising given his remarkable performances at the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka last year. He was not only the leading run scorer during the tournament, with 249 at an average of 49.80, he was also second on the competition wicket tally with 11 victims at an average of 16, behind only Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis.During the voting period, Watson was Australia’s leading T20 run scorer with 406 at an average of 40.60 and the leading wicket taker with 17 at 15.82. The T20 award was first handed out in 2011, when David Hussey was the recipient, and Watson picked up the prize in 2012.

England Women once again proved a class apart as they destroyed West Indies by 84 runs to move one step closer to a series whitewash.

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Sep-2012
ScorecardEngland Women once again proved a class apart as they destroyed West Indies by 84 runs to move one step closer to a series whitewash. Victory in the final match at Arundel will seal the 5-0 win.The win at Hove came courtesy of a stranglehold in the field as only Stefanie Taylor got into double figures. She made 40 from 56 balls opening the batting but that was the only innings that remotely took the attack to the England bowlers. Danni Hazel picked up four wickets, leading England’s spin assault that gave away nothing as 14 overs of slow bowling were sent down.By contrast England found little trouble scoring and racked up nearly an eight-per-over target. Lydia Greenway led the way with 61 in 45 balls with seven fours, sharing a partnership of 98 with Sarah Taylor, whose own contribution was 43 in 36 balls.”It’s been another great team performance today,” Greenway said. “Charlotte and Laura got us off to a good start and everyone coming in knew what they had to do. I was really pleased to contribute and to play positively today, it was good to get out there and get some runs under my belt. I always enjoy batting with Sarah Taylor and today we rotated the strike well.”We were comfortable with the target we set and our bowlers once again put in an excellent performance, all executing their plans to restrict West Indies.”

Raza, Williams, Muzarabani and Ngarava form the core of the squad, which will be led by Ervine

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Dec-2024Zimbabwe have named seven uncapped players for their upcoming historic Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests against Afghanistan. Batters Ben Curran and Johnathan Campbell, wicketkeepers Tadiwanashe Marumani and Nyasha Mayavo, and pace bowlers Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwa Chataira and Newman Nyamhuri have all been included.While six of these seven players have been with the national team before in the white-ball formats, 26-year-old right-arm seamer Chataira has earned his maiden national call-up. He is currently sixth on the wicket-taker’s chart for the ongoing Logan Cup first-class competition.Curran – the middle brother of England internationals Tom and Sam, and son of former Zimbabwe international Kevin Curran – has been rewarded for being the leading run-scorer of the Logan Cup. Nyamhuri, the 18-year-old left-arm seamer who made his Zimbabwe debut in the first ODI against Afghanistan and is also part of the T20I squad, now has the opportunity to make an international debut in all three formats inside a month.The experienced quartet of Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava form the core of the Test squad, led by Craig Ervine.Related

• Rashid Khan back in Afghanistan Test squad for Zimbabwe series

The selection committee has left out seven players from the Zimbabwe squad that played a one-off Test against Ireland in July. They are batters Clive Madande, Roy Kaia and Prince Masvaure, seamers Tendai Chatara, Tanaka Chivanga and Victor Nyauchi, and left-arm orthodox spinner Wellington Masakadza.The two-Test series will mark the first Boxing Day Test in Zimbabwe since 1996 and their first home New Year’s Test in their history. Afghanistan have also included seven uncapped players in their squad for the series.Zimbabwe Test squad: Craig Ervine (captain), Ben Curran, Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Takudzwa Chataira, Joylord Gumbie, Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brandon Mavuta, Nyasha Mayavo, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams.

Former bowler steps up after successful interim spell in charge that saw Foxes win One-Day Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Nov-2023Leicestershire have appointed Alfonso Thomas as their new head coach, having overseen the club’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup success while doing the job on an interim basis. Thomas, who has signed a two-year contract, will be assisted by James Taylor after his promotion from batting coach.Thomas took over after the departure of Paul Nixon in mid-season, having been Leicestershire’s assistant/lead bowling coach since March 2022. The former fast bowler has previously held coaching positions with Kent, Surrey, Hampshire and West Indies.With Taylor as his assistant, Thomas helped guide the Foxes to a dramatic, last-ball victory over Hampshire in the One-Day Cup final at Trent Bridge in September, bringing Leicestershire their first piece of List A silverware since 1985.”It wasn’t something that was planned, but after conversations with people close to me and seeing what we started to build last season I thought it’d be a real shame if I didn’t give it a go,” Thomas said. “James and I complemented each other really well. We communicated strongly and created an environment for the guys to be the best version of themselves, but also one where they were willing to do it together.”I’m very excited by the squad we’ve assembled. We have an opportunity for this club to play a brand of cricket that’s exciting, one which the people of Leicester can be proud of and that will see people queuing up to watch us play.”As well as their One-Day Cup success, Leicestershire were in the hunt for promotion from Division Two until the penultimate round of the season – having finished bottom of the pile in six of the preceding nine seasons.The club has also buoyed by the recent emergence of talented youngsters such as legspinner Rehan Ahmed – the youngest man to be capped by England in all three formats – and tall left-arm seamer Josh Hull.Claude Henderson, Leicestershire’s director of cricket, said: “Alfonso has shown his capabilities as a head coach, and turned a tough time for the club into a successful summer. Along with James and the backroom team, he got the changing room together and organised a high-performance culture.”Alfonso and James have built a solid partnership and we look forward to seeing what they can achieve together with an exciting group of players.”

It was after Kerr shone with a couple of wickets, meaning Webster’s all-round efforts were in vain

Tristan Lavalette26-Dec-2022Sydney Sixers 151 for 3 (Henriques 52*, Zampa 1-21) beat Melbourne Stars 150 for 5 (Webster 78, Kerr 2-26) by seven wicketsSkipper Moises Henriques emerged from a form slump as Sydney Sixers continued their stranglehold over Melbourne Stars with a seven-wicket win at the SCG.On a surface with inconsistent bounce and pace, Sixers’ chase of 151 was not easy but Henriques wound back the clock to steer the home side to victory with five balls to spare.It was their eighth straight win over Stars, who have slumped to a 1-3 record this season.Henriques returns to form
Sixers’ slow start to the season has been mostly due to their misfiring batting order. Kurtis Patterson and James Vince were keen to make amends with promising starts but they fell in quick succession to leave Sixers shakily placed at 3 for 63 at the midway point.For years, Henriques has been a fulcrum for powerhouse Sixers but he entered the match with consecutive golden ducks. In a relief, he scored off his first delivery as his trademark composure returned to anchor Sixers’ chase.There were periods where he was shackled, especially by legspinner Adam Zampa, but Henriques kept his cool alongside Jordan Silk, who had also made a duck in the last match against Hobart Hurricanes.Henriques accelerated in the back end and notched his half-century with a six in the penultimate over to effectively ice the game. It was the first half-century this season by a Sixers batter.Stars rue sloppy fielding
There was a lot of intrigue over how Stars’ attack would respond after conceding the third-highest BBL total in their big defeat against Perth Scorchers.Coach David Hussey was scathing of his team’s attitude and with his criticisms ringing in their ears, Stars’ attack produced a much better effort but it wasn’t enough. The bowlers weren’t helped by sloppy fielding and will particularly rue a missed slumping by Joe Clarke off Zampa to reprieve Henriques in the 15th over.Zampa and seamer Luke Wood tried their best with miserly bowling but lacked support in a Stars attack without quick Nathan Coulter-Nile.O’Keefe battles through hamstring injury
Left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe’s penchant for the SCG continued after playing a key role in Sixers’ tight win over Hurricanes last week to break their duck this season. Against Stars, the 38-year-old showed why he’s relied upon to open the bowling with the wicket of Tom Rogers second ball.But disaster struck when O’Keefe later in the over clutched at his right hamstring and had to go off the field for treatment. He made a quick return but was clearly hampered, trudging around in the field.Beau Webster picked up a wicket after his BBL-best effort with the bat•Getty Images

Fortunately, the discomfort didn’t affect his bowling with O’Keefe returning into the attack in the sixth over and continued his nagging length to frustrate big-hitters Clarke and Beau Webster, who could only muster four singles off the over. Quite clearly needing more medical attention, O’Keefe had to get through his remaining overs quickly and he didn’t disappoint to finish with 1 for 16 off four overs.O’Keefe mustered all his experience to bowl accurately amid obvious pain and he clearly remains a pivotal part of Sixers’ attack. They will sweat over the severity of his hamstring injury.Webster anchors shorthanded StarsStars suffered a major blow with Marcus Stoinis rested for the clash to further weaken a batting order already without Glenn Maxwell and Joe Burns to long-term injuriesAfter being sent in, Stars were in big trouble at 2 for 8 and they needed Clarke to fire with the ‘keeper-batter the only player to have hit a century this season.He looked the goods when he smashed wayward seamer Sean Abbott for two sixes in the third over before falling for 27.It was left to Webster, who had threatened this season for a big score without capitalising. On this occasion, he was up to the task with a mature knock to dig Stars out of trouble.Webster initially mostly played along the ground before launching a huge six over square leg off seamer Hayden Kerr to hit the roof.With his confidence rising, Webster made his move in the 17th and 18th overs as Stars scored 24 runs during the power surge.In his 47th BBL innings, Webster went past 1000 career runs and along the way notched his career best score of 78 off 51 balls to power Stars to a competitive total but it ultimately wasn’t enough.