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New Zealand quick hopes winning the WTC gives his team the opportunity to play longer series more often

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jun-2021New Zealand have played 18 bilateral Test series over the last five years. Of those, four have been three-match series, with two-match series making up the remainder. Compare that to the team they defeated in the World Test Championship final. India have played 18 series too, but 12 of them have included at least three Tests. Unlike New Zealand, they have also featured in a number of four- and five-match series in this period.Could winning the WTC pave the way for New Zealand to play longer series more often? Tim Southee certainly hopes so.Related

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“I guess one of our strengths as a side is that we sort of just concentrate on what’s put in front of us, and what we try and achieve as a group, [but] I guess playing more Test cricket as a whole would be nice,” Southee said in a media interaction on Monday. “We don’t play that many three-match series, so I guess just being able to play more Test matches and hopefully more three-match series rather than two-match series.”But yeah, I think it’s tough with future tours [programme] already being in place up to now, but just being able to perform at this level for a number of years and being a consistent side, I guess we have that right to play more Test cricket.”Asked what difference a third Test would make in a series, Southee said it would accentuate the challenge that the Test-match format already presented. “As players, Test cricket is the pinnacle of the game, and you always want to play more,” he said. “It’s something that we haven’t played a lot of, three-match-series, so to be able to test yourself over three matches rather than just two matches – it’s obviously a lot more taxing, it’s a tougher battle to get yourself up and go again over three matches, but that’s the beauty of it, and it’s part and parcel of it. It’s tough cricket, and you want to play as much as you possibly can.”And he wants to do this from an individual perspective as well. Southee, who’s only 32 but has been part of the New Zealand set-up since 2008, pointed to his team-mate Ross Taylor and his English swing-bowling counterpart James Anderson as examples of how far elite cricketers can stretch their careers.”I feel as fit as I ever have, so I’d love to play this game for as long as I possibly can,” Southee said. “It’s an absolute privilege and an absolute honour to represent your country, and do what we do, so I personally would love to do it [for as long as possible].”Seeing guys like James Anderson, at 38, still being able to do what he’s doing gives everyone hope, Ross Taylor at 37 still being able to perform at this level. I think it comes down to the individual standards that you set yourself, and you’re able to hold those high standards that it takes to play at this level, then I guess age is only a number. I hope there’s a lot of life left in me.”

Championship’s leading run-scorer makes second consecutive Blast fifty in dominant run chase

ECB Reporters' Network17-Jun-2021A blistering fifty from David Bedingham allowed Durham to get back winning ways in their Vitality Blast campaign, defeating Lancashire Lightning by six wickets at Emirates Riverside.Bedingham operated at the peak of his powers to score his second T20 fifty in a row, allowing the rest of the Durham line-up to chase down a total of 152 with ease. The hosts cantered over the line with 14 balls to spare, securing their third win in four matches in the competition to leapfrog Lancashire into third.Liam Livingstone had scored 65 for the visitors after they opted to bat, but the rest of the Lancashire lineup struggled in their innings, including Jos Buttler who was dismissed for a duck.Durham were rocked by a Covid-19 scare before the start of play, but only one change to their line-up was required from their defeat to Nottinghamshire as Sean Dickson replaced Jack Burnham. Lancashire won the toss and enjoyed a fast start as Finn Allen found his range, clipping Matty Potts over the fence before Livingstone followed suit.Related

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Potts had his revenge on Allen, dismissing the New Zealander for 25. Buttler arrived at the crease in the hope of providing fireworks, but he was caught on the fence for a third-ball duck handing Scott Borthwick his first T20 wicket of the season.Durham dragged the visitors back with tight bowling, especially from the spinners as Alex Davies and Dane Vilas fell cheaply. Lancashire found life tough to find the boundary, enduring a 33-ball drought before Livingstone eased the pressure sending Borthwick to the fence twice and over the rope in the 15th over.Livingstone reached his half-century in the process from 46 deliveries, holding the Lancashire innings together. The opener fell going for the boundary to hand Potts his second wicket. Steven Croft became his third victim in the final over before Danny Lamb and Luke Wood scrambled their side to a total of 151 for 6.

Middlesex thwarted by two runs on DLS despite Handscomb and White fifties

ECB Reporters Network27-Jul-2021Durham 288 for 8 (Borthwick 76) beat Middlesex 225 for 9 (Handscomb 75) by two runs (DLS method)Durham skipper Scott Borthwick top-scored with 76 and then delivered a crucial over to secure his side’s second straight Royal London Cup success as they edged a rain-affected clash with Middlesex at Radlett.Borthwick struck 76 in Durham’s total of 288 for 8, supported by half-centuries from Graham Clark and Luke Doneathy, only for Peter Handscomb and Robbie White to put Middlesex on track for victory with a fourth-wicket partnership of 130.But both fell in quick succession just before rain forced the players from the field at 173 for 5 from 32 overs – which was enough to push the home side behind under Duckworth-Lewis-Stern calculations.They returned for a further four-over thrash – with Borthwick conceding just four from his six balls and, despite a valiant flurry of boundaries by Thilan Walallawita, Middlesex fell just short of the revised target of 228.Clark – who had struck a career-best 141 against Kent two days earlier – continued his form when Durham won the toss and batted, hammering three boundaries from Tim Murtagh’s opening over.Despite the early loss of Alex Lees, well held by Sam Robson at midwicket, Clark and Borthwick scored freely in their partnership of 108, aided by some ragged Middlesex outfielding.Luke Hollman spilled a pull from Clark on the boundary and the opener progressed to 65 before he went after Robson’s long-hop and picked out the diving Handscomb in the deep.Hollman made amends for his earlier drop by removing Cameron Bancroft for a second-ball duck, but Borthwick found a willing ally in David Bedingham, who pummelled 41 from 31 deliveries to dominate their brisk stand of 66.At 193 for 3, Durham looked on course to post a daunting total, only for Borthwick to squander his opportunity of a maiden List A hundred by holing out off Murtagh and Bedingham departed in the next over, caught behind off James Harris.The visitors’ innings threatened to stall entirely, but a fearless knock by 20-year-old Doneathy – who clubbed five fours and a sweetly-struck straight six off Harris in his maiden 50 from 48 balls – gave them renewed impetus.Middlesex were soon floundering at 37 for 3 in reply, with Max Holden falling to Jack Campbell and Varun Chopra lbw shuffling across against Chris Rushworth, who then bowled Robson with one that nipped back to hit off stump.Handscomb and White undertook the reconstruction job, with the skipper employing the sweep shot to good effect and using his feet against spin in a knock of 75 from 71 balls.White opted for placement rather than power and picked the gaps consistently, reaching his first 50-over half-century with a leg-side boundary off Borthwick – but Campbell made the breakthrough, returning for a second spell to have him caught behind for 55.When Handscomb fell in the next over, Durham shot ahead under the DLS calculation – and that was how it remained when a downpour descended on the ground soon afterwards.

England were given no chance at redemption with the ball after wet outfield and bad light combined to end the day’s play

Alex Malcolm08-Dec-2021The Ashes’ past have been defined by the first ball of the series at the Gabba. Think Michael Slater clattering Phil DeFreitas for four in 1994-95 or Steve Harmison bowling the first ball to second slip in 2006-07.The 2021-22 Ashes series may well be defined by Rory Burns being bowled around his legs first ball from Mitchell Starc as England collapsed to be all out for 147 at tea on the opening day of the first Test, with Australia captain Pat Cummins claiming 5 for 38 after Joe Root won the toss and elected to bat.Related

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A thunderstorm then washed out the early part of the final session to pour salt into a gaping wound, as England were given no chance at redemption with the ball. A wet outfield and bad light combined to end the day’s play.Root won’t be lambasted for life for the decision at the toss in the manner that Len Hutton and Nasser Hussain have in Ashes Tests of the past at the Gabba. Cummins admitted he might have batted too despite a distinct green tinge to the surface and some moisture both in the pitch and in the atmosphere.But he would have been regretting it after he joined Andrew Flintoff and Andrew Strauss as England captains to make first-innings ducks in Ashes Tests at the Gabba. Root fell victim to a superb piece of bowling from Josh Hazlewood, who now has a stranglehold on the England skipper having claimed him eight times in Test cricket.He also may regret leaving both James Anderson and Stuart Broad out of the side for the first time in five years and the first time in an Ashes Test since 2006, as England’s top order capitulated on a surface that gave the bowlers plenty of assistance. But some played their own part in the procession of wickets that fell in the first hour after slumping to 26 for 4.Burns lost all bearings of where his stumps were stepping way outside off to expose leg stump to Starc who did shape the ball back down the line after it looked to be veering down leg. But Burns will rue the day as his error could be replayed for decades to come. He also claimed two regrettable records, becoming the second man in history to fall first ball of an Ashes series while registering his sixth duck of the calendar year, the most of any Test opener.Hazlewood then went to work testing the defence of England’s top order and they were found wanting. Dawid Malan nicked a ball he could have easily left alone on length handing Alex Carey his first Test catch, while Root wasn’t allowed to breathe for eight unwavering deliveries before one straightened off the seam to catch his outside edge.Joe Root fell to leave England three down inside half an hour•Getty Images

Ben Stokes entered at 3 for 11 needing to produce another Ashes miracle. He was undone after the drinks break by Cummins from around the wicket, squared up by a ball that climbed from a length and Marnus Labuschagne held a very sharp chance diving to his left at third slip.Haseeb Hameed fought impressively in the face of some outstanding fast bowling. Hameed and Ollie Pope steadied the ship momentarily prior to lunch to prevent any further loss. Hameed was obdurate in defence while Pope was busy, pushing balls into the off side with positive footwork and weight transfer to rotate the strike well.But neither could lay a glove on Hazlewood who bowled seven overs in the first session and conceded just three singles while collecting the scalps of Malan and Root.The lunch break did Hameed no favours as Cummins struck again. He went wide of the crease and angled into off stump forcing Hameed to play, a hint of seam movement away caught the edge and again it was well held at slip, this time by vice-captain Steven Smith.England’s only moment of joy for the day came with the arrival of Jos Buttler. Having pledged pre-series to play fearless cricket he followed through on his promise and counter-attacked in typical fashion. While England could barely defend Hazlewood before lunch, Buttler took the long handle to him launching him through and over the offside with control. Buttler and Pope’s positivity changed the atmosphere briefly as Australia turned Nathan Lyon for containment.The pair shared a 52-run stand and Pope passed 1000 Test runs in the process becoming the sixth-youngest English player to do so.But Starc returned and dismissed Buttler with a superb delivery that threatened to shape in but left him off the seam to catch the outside edge. Cameron Green then claimed his first Test wicket to raucous celebrations after going wicketless all last summer. Pope failed to control a hook shot and Hazlewood ran in from fine leg to complete an outstanding diving catch. It was the first of two for him in the deep as he took another to help Cummins complete his five-wicket haul. Cummins returned to take the last three wickets of the innings as England lost their last five for just 32 runs.Cummins became the first Australian captain to take a five-wicket haul in an Ashes Test since Richie Benaud in 1962 and the first captain of either nation to do so since Bob Willis at the Gabba in 1982. It was a day he could not have dreamt up if he tried, as England added another chapter to their horror history at the Gabba.

Tymal Mills picked up 3 for 23 on his Scorchers debut as the Hurricanes slipped to a 53-run defeat

Tristan Lavalette14-Dec-2021Mitchell Marsh’s hot streak continued when he smashed his first T20 ton as Perth Scorchers easily beat Hobart Hurricanes by 53 runs to remain the only undefeated team in the competition.Both teams welcomed back a host of stars, but it was the imperious Marsh who shone brightest to power Scorchers (who now boast a 3-0 record for the season) to 5 for 182 after electing to bat first at Blundstone Arena.Their brilliant attack then never let Hurricanes (1-2) into the contest with Scorchers debutant Tymal Mills starring as Perth vaulted to early title favouritsm.Marsh sparkles in season debut
Cricket can be a great leveller. After smashing a brilliant century against Adelaide Strikers, where he rode a charmed existence, Colin Munro made a two-ball duck after tamely falling to ex-Scorchers quick Joel Paris.Enter Marsh, who showed no signs of rust and continued his T20 World Cup form with a boundary off Scott Boland’s first ball then clubbed a six into the long-on sightscreen. But his momentum was halted due to Scorchers losing regular wickets as they slumped to 4 for 74 in the 10th over.He finally received support from new import Laurie Evans, who had little impact in the opening two matches but proved his worth with a quickfire 40. Impressively, the Englishman’s knack of moving deep into the crease negated Boland’s full-length bowling.Even though he was swinging powerfully, Marsh couldn’t quite get his timing right much to his frustration. That was until the 19th over when he belted a trio of sixes off spinner D’Arcy Short and then smashed another six in the final over to notch his first ever ton in the BBL.Testament to his incredible striking, Marsh whacked 32 runs off his last nine balls to become just the fourth Scorchers player ever to score a hundred.Paris’ injury hurts Hurricanes’ attack
Big things are tipped for Hurricanes, reinforced by a road victory over two-time champion Sydney Sixers. But there have been question marks over an attack missing Boland and speedster Riley Meredith.Boland returned from Australia A duties but never quite recovered from Marsh’s early onslaught and copped a late hammering from Evans.Hurricanes faced an uphill battle after being shorthanded by a groin injury from in-form quick Paris, who left the field during his second over.They hung in with Nathan Ellis performing admirably as skipper Matthew Wade relied on spinners Sandeep Lamichhane, Tim David and Short, who held up well until Marsh’s late heroics.Of concern for Hurricanes, however, will be the fitness of Paris who promised so much with the wicket of Munro. Even though he didn’t appear to be in obvious discomfort, it will be a nervous wait for Paris who played two ODIs against India in 2016 before a horror run of injuries caused numerous stints on the sidelines.Paris had started the season impressively to lead the shorthanded Hurricanes attack, but faces another injury scare.Tymal Mills picked up three wickets on his Scorchers debut•Getty Images

Hurricanes’ strong batting line-up fails to fire
Much like Munro, Wade couldn’t replicate his blistering previous innings (93 against Sixers) as he fell in the opening over to Jason Behrendorff. Hurricanes slumped to 2 for 7 which brought to the crease Ben McDermott who returned from injury for his season debut.He started slowly and was fortunate to be dropped on 22 by Kurtis Patterson before finding his range to ensure Hurricanes earned the Bash Boost point. With Short also getting going, Hurricanes had the Scorchers attack under pressure until McDermott fell in the 10th over to shift the momentum.Hurricanes then fell away badly against an unrelenting Scorchers attack with all of their bowlers claiming a wicket at least.Even though they look well stocked, Hurricanes appear to rely heavily on Wade’s pyrotechnics at the top.Mills adds to Scorchers’ deep attack
Scorchers are absolutely loaded, particularly with pace depth. The inclusion of Mills meant Scorchers had to drop Matt Kelly, who was player of the match against Brisbane Heat with 4 for 28.They also have speedster Lance Morris in their squad, but Mills justified his selection instantly with a gem of a yorker to trap Caleb Jewell on the toe dead in front.The ex-Hurricanes player didn’t come back on until the 10th over, where he grabbed the key scalp of McDermott in a game-turning moment. England’s T20 World Cup star claimed one more wicket to cap a dream season debut and add to Scorchers’ enviable bowling options.

Beth Mooney’s match-winning 73 in the first Ashes ODI helped break her into the top three on the batters’ charts

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Feb-2022Australia veteran Ellyse Perry has regained the No. 1 ODI ranking for allrounders following an all-round show in the second Ashes ODI against England on Sunday. This comes barely months after she had slipped down to No. 2 after the multi-format home series against India last September-October. That apart, Perry also climbed up the bowlers’ charts by rising up seven places to sit at No. 9.While Perry’s figures of 3 for 12 helped bowl the visitors out for 129 in Melbourne, she also hit 40 off 64 balls in the paltry run chase where the hosts had lost two early wickets. Eventually, Australia achieved a comfortable five-wicket win with more than 14 overs to spare, as she was declared Player of the Match.Meanwhile, Perry’s team-mate Beth Mooney benefitted in the batters’ list by breaking into the top three for the first time in her six-year career, gaining five spots up to No. 3 after a match-winning innings of 73 in the first ODI against England. While wickets kept falling around her – Australia first collapsed from 60 for 1 to 67 for 4 before being reduced to 152 for 7 – Mooney’s knock took only 91 deliveries, as England fell short by 27 runs and she was adjudged the Player of the Match.Though England lost both those matches, they still had something to cheer about as Katherine Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone’s performances pushed them up in the rankings charts. While Brunt’s 3 for 40 and 32* in the first match helped her rise three places up to No. 5 among allrounders and one spot up to No. 6 in the bowlers’ charts, Ecclestone’s career-best 717 rating points helped her jump to third among bowlers.Related

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Other gainers from the multi-format Ashes included Player of the Series Tahlia McGrath, who rose up the rankings across all three departments.Also, after the recently-concluded four-ODI series between South Africa and West Indies, opener Laura Wolvaardt skipped four spots up to No. 9 among batters following knocks of 117 and 23 in the third and fourth games, respectively, as South Africa came from behind to win the series 2-1. Her team-mates Shabnim Ismail – who got 4 for 44 in the series decider – rose to No. 5 in the bowlers’ charts and Ayabonga Khaka moved up to No. 7.