Adam Gilchrist is being rested for Australia’s next two matches in the one-day VB Series. His place will be taken by the New South Wales wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.The selectors decided to leave Gilchrist out of the matches against Pakistan at Sydney on Sunday (Jan 23) and West Indies at Adelaide on Wednesday.Trevor Hohns, the chairman of selectors, explained: “Upon selecting the squad for this series, we said that certain players would be rested from time to time. That was the reason we opted for a larger squad. Matthew Hayden and Glenn McGrath have had short spells so far in this series, and we felt that it was in Adam’s best interests to have some time out prior to the end of the VB Series and the tour of New Zealand. Brad Haddin has been in very good form so far this season and deserves this opportunity.”Glenn McGrath, who missed today’s match against West Indies at Brisbane, rejoins the squad for Sunday’s match at the SCG.
Matthew Hayden, reportedly battling a back problem that almost prevented him from playing, unleashed a century of outstanding quality which contained all the elements of batsmanship that have made him one of the most dominant destroyers on the world stage over the last few years. By the close, Australia had marched to 372 for 3, with Hayden unbeaten on 183. The unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 173 with Steve Waugh utterly demoralised Zimbabwe, who had fought hard for a semblance of parity in the first two sessions.Hayden attacked early on, to gain the ascendancy, then anchored the innings through potential danger before finishing off the day with an assault that bordered on the sublime. He took 308 minutes and 210 balls to reach his 15th Test century, but needed just 32 more deliveries to speed past 150. It was a brutal decimation of an impotent attack, with the prospect of more punishment tomorrow.The day had started on an emotional note with 88 seconds of silence in memory of the 88 victims of the Bali bombings, which happened a year ago on Sunday. There was also a presentation of medallions to both teams in honour of the first match in Australia between these sides, and a special greeting for the umpires and the referee as part of the Australian Sports Commission’s Year of the Official.The way Australia started, it seemed as if they were on a time bonus to complete the match within three days. Hayden and Justin Langer scored at six an over with some audacious strokeplay, more in keeping with the final session of a day than the start. High risk brings greater demand for execution, and when Langer had made 26 he failed to cover a ball that he played defensively onto his stumps off an inside edge. Sean Ervine’s medium-pace had done what Heath Streak and Andy Blignaut’s superior speed had not been able to achieve.Further success came just after lunch when Ervine trapped Ricky Ponting in front for 37. Throughout it all, Hayden was immovable. He reined in the aggression when Langer departed, and it wasn’t until after he had scored his century that he opened out.Damien Martyn came in and rattled off a quickfire 53 from 76 balls before he edged one to slip off Trevor Gripper’s gentle offspin. But with Steve Waugh settling in, there was no more respite for Zimbabwe. After a period of consolidation just after tea, Hayden and Waugh lifted the scoring tempo with imperceptible ease. Hayden reached his century, and then moved into another realm.Zimbabwe’s attack was ill-equipped to contain the power and intent of the Australians. If Streak thought the second new ball might rescue his day, and the decision to bowl first, reality was less than one over away. Hayden took 14 runs from the first over – a four to cover, another to midwicket and six over long-on. In between, he copped a severe blow to his left knee when he pulled the ball down onto it, leaving him hobbling in pain.For Ervine, there was some comfort with two wickets for 56 but, in all likelihood, Australia have already done enough to wrap up this match quickly. However, as long as Hayden maintains his desire, the prospects for individual records are limitless. And then there’s the small matter of Perth being the only current Test ground in Australia on which Waugh hasn’t scored a century … yet. The omens aren’t that great for Zimbabwe ahead of the second day.
Auckland openers Matt Horne and Tim McIntosh batted their side back into a strong position on day three of their State Championship match with Otago in the continuing run fest at Carisbrook today.Auckland were 275 for one at stumps, a lead of 274.Otago resumed their first innings still 87 runs behind Auckland on the first innings but wicket-keeper Martyn Croy and Craig Pryor made up for the early loss of Chris Gaffaney for his overnight score of 36.Croy scored 58 not out and Pryor 22 not out as Otago declared immediately upon passing the Auckland total with six wickets down.It has not been a match for bowlers and of the Auckland attack, Tama Canning did best by sending down 27 overs and taking two for 71 by bowling economically. Kyle Mills tended to be too short and took two for 90 from his 17 overs.Auckland started its second innings cautiously with Horne and McIntosh again its opening pair and not even the most optimistic Auckland supporter could have foreseen what was about to unfold.They put on 240 for the first wicket and in so doing broke the record for Auckland’s first wicket of 169 against Otago set in 1976/77 at Eden Park by Austin Parsons and Jim Riley.Horne was finally out for 127 from 139 balls which included 21 fours. McIntosh, who was on 113 at stumps, had played a subservient role to Horne while scoring his third century of the first-class season, but nevertheless it was a most valuable one and his timing particularly towards the end of the day was quite magnificent.Horne, the faster and more experienced of the two, registered his 21st first-class hundred, and he told Cricinfo, “It was great to have Tim McIntosh at the other end and for both of us to be scoring well.”It was great to be back at Carisbrook and to be batting on an excellent pitch,” he said.McIntosh said he enjoyed the experience of batting with the New Zealand opener and relished the occasion of them both scoring centuries.Auckland’s decision tomorrow should it look to push for outright points by making a challenging declaration will know that its hopes rest on the timing of the close on a pitch which has been another first rate Carisbrook track.The weather forecast is good and a result seems highly likely.
England Women produced another encouraging result in their preparations for the CricInfo Women’s World Cup as they beat South Africa by 9 wickets in a rain-affected match at Trent Bridge.The rain rules, bizarrely avoiding the reliable yet incomprehensible Duckworth Lewis system, played straight into England’s hands. Captain Clare Connor remarked as such as she won the toss and elected to bowl. Man of the Match Lucy Pearson produced a devastating opening spell from which the South Africans struggled to recover.England’s team spirit and fielding was electrifying throughout. Arran Thompson’s catch in the first over set the standard for all that was to follow. Every appeal was uniformly supported in the field, and every wicket greeted with genuine excitement. None more so that the run out of Cindy Eksteen just as South Africa were heading confidently towards a good total, with Jane Cassar gathering a wild throw as she fell backwards, rapidly recovering to whip off the bails.The South African batsmen were positive throughout, despite losing regular wickets. The sixth wicket partnership of 74 between Eksteen and Davies ensured a total that would have been competitive without the intervention of the now familiar Trent Bridge rain.Initially chasing 151 in 35 overs, Claire Taylor and Charlotte Edwards formed a contrasting blend of patience and panache. Edwards was quickly into her stride, timing a number of shots exquisitely, while Taylor played a solid supporting role.Then came the rain, and a dramatic change in the match situation. The target off the remaining seven overs was reduced to just 38 runs, but after one eventful over, decisive hitting and poor fielding put England well on top. Taylor was dropped three times as she attempted to set the pace, including an horrific drop at mid-on by Lewis. From then on, runs came easily, quick singles and emphatic boundaries saw England cruise to a comfortable victory.Edwards was dismissed just before the winning hit, and it fell to Barbara Daniels to deny Taylor a well-deserved 50 as she cut the winning boundary.England Women now require just one more win to ensure a series victory, and a valuable morale boost prior to the CricInfo Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.
Wolves are looking set for a busy summer transfer window, with a number of players expected to leave the club, like Fernando Marcal, who is reportedly set to move to Brazilian outfit Botafogo in the summer upon the expiry of his contract.
Meanwhile, Ruben Neves, Morgan Gibbs-White and Max Kilman have all been linked with moves away too, and Joao Moutinho and Romain Saiss have both still not signed new contracts.
To compound the misery on Wolves fans, Barcelona could trigger a clause that will see Adama Traore move permanently to Catalonia, after impressing so far in his loan spell with the La Liga club, setting up four goals in ten appearances.
With Francisco Trincao also just on-loan in the West Midlands, and having not entirely convinced fans of his quality yet, as well as new signing Chiquinho still adjusting to England, it would make sense if the club heads into the transfer market to find a replacement.
Valencia star Goncalo Guedes and Benfica ace Rafa Silva have both been heavily linked this week with summer moves to Molineux, but should the club decide upon spending their cash in other areas of the squad, they may look to their academy to find a replacement right-winger, and exciting young talent 18-year-old Lee Harkin could be that man.
A former Republic of Ireland U16 international, the teenager first turned heads when he helped County Londonderry to a sensational 2-1 victory over Manchester United in the Super Cup NI, scoring two sensational lobs against a team which included the likes of Charlie Savage, who made his senior debut for the Red Devils in the Champions League earlier on this season.
Despite claiming to not watch much football and not have a favourite team, Harkin looks set to have a successful career at a professional level, after being promoted into Wolves’ U23 side this season and impressing, scoring three goals in 12 Premier League 2 appearances.
With that in mind, it’s clear to see why reporter Josh Bunting once labelled the teenager as “such a good talent.”
Being their joint-second top scorer in Premier League 2 behind Chem Campbell and alongside Harry Birtwistle, it’s clear that he is highly rated at the club, and if he has a good pre-season and impresses first-team manager Bruno Lage enough, he could receive chances at senior level next season in cup competitions and from off the bench.
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In the process, he’d also potentially help supporters forget all about Traore.
In other news: Neves 2.0: Wolves could save millions by unleashing 19 y/o who “works his socks off”
Ishan Kishan forced his way back into the T20I conversation with a dominant 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign, finishing as the tournament’s leading run-scorer and the most prolific six-hitter. The icing on the cake, however, was a stunning match-winning 49-ball 101 in the finale as Jharkhand beat Haryana by 69 runs in Pune to clinch their maiden T20 title.Put in to bat, Jharkhand bludgeoned their way to 262 for 3 – the highest total ever in a T20 tournament final. The onslaught was built on a breathless 177-run second-wicket stand between Kishan and Kumar Kushagra, who smashed a 38-ball 81. Their dismissals five balls apart after the monumental partnership offered Haryana their lone moment of relief in an innings that featured a staggering 20 sixes.In reply, Haryana lost their top three inside the powerplay but kept going as Yashvardhan Dalal and Nishant Sindhu played blinders to keep their hopes flickering. But when they both were dismissed to leave them at 104 for 5 at the halfway mark, the contest swiftly drifted into little more than a formality. Haryana were eventually bowled out in the penultimate over for 193.Kishan’s powerplay blitzHaryana had an ideal start when Anshul Kamboj had an advancing Virat Singh toe-end a lofted hit to mid-on in the first over. Thereafter, the rest of the powerplay – as well as the match – was the stuff of nightmares for Haryana. Kishan launched six sixes in the powerplay, raising the half-century stand with Kushagra off just 27 balls, as Jharkhand raced to 69 for 1.Kishan’s range of strokes were astonishing. He latched onto anything short against pace, like Kamboj found out when he was imperiously pulled in front of square. When a nervy Ishant Bhardwaj bowled full, he was tonked down the ground.In a bid to shake things up, Haryana turned to spin early. With Yuzvendra Chahal missing due to chikungunya and dengue, the pressure of arresting the run-torrent fell on Amit Rana’s right-arm everything, who only two nights ago had taken 3 for 14 in Haryana’s semi-final win over Hyderabad in similar conditions.In his very first over on Thursday, Rana was tonked down the ground twice as he pitched up to Kishan; his three overs would eventually end up costing 48. Kishan’s six tally in the powerplay alone helped him surge past Salil Arora’s tally of most sixes in the tournament (28).Kushagra joins the partyOne of the key reasons for Jharkhand’s surge to the final courtesy three back-to-back half-centuries, Kushagra came into the final having missed out in his two most-recent knocks: 8 and 17 against Madhya Pradesh and Andhra respectively.But right from his first ball, there was a keenness to take the attack to the bowlers. He stepped out to hit Sumit Kumar, one of Haryana’s most-accomplished seamers, for three fours in his first over – the seventh of the innings – to ensure Jharkhand never had even an inkling of post-powerplay lull. Sumit’s first two overs would cost 25.Where Kishan was all about clean backswing and imperious pulls, Kushagra was aesthetically pleasing in playing his cover drives and was quick to pick length early to access areas behind square on both sides. A neat little help over fine leg to a short ball raised his half-century off just 29 balls.File pic: Kumar Kushagra was aggressive from the very first ball•PTI
Minz and Anukul deliver grandstand finishHaryana had an opportunity to stem some damage when Kishan top-edged Sumit. Having beaten Kishan for pace with the bumper, Sumit then nearly ran across 30 yards towards square leg but couldn’t hold on to the return catch. On 71 off 35 then, Kishan would soon raise his century off 47 balls before perishing.Despite losing both Kishan and Kushagra, Jharkhand were able to sustain momentum and end up with a grandstand finish courtesy the ever-reliable Anukul Roy and Robin Minz. Anukul, whose incredible 58-ball 95 against Karnataka earlier in the group stage set the campaign up for Jharkhand, muscled 40 off 20 balls, while Minz walloped three sixes in his 14-ball 31 not out as the pair added 75 off the last 29 balls.Yashvardhan, Sindhu flicker brieflyAt 3 for 2 in the second over, Jharkhand may have hoped for a smooth sail. But Yashvardhan, the left-hander, used his long levers to unlock a sensational burst of powerplay runs to make a 19-ball half-century. Sindhu matched him stroke-to-stroke in hitting six fours in his eye-catching 31 before Anukul’s change up with his left-arm spin had him holed out in the deep.That Anukul was able to get some purchase from the surface was largely down to a 4.30pm start that greatly negated the effect of dew, ensuring toss wasn’t as massive a factor as it would’ve been in a day-night game. Anukul aside, left-arm seamer Sushant Mishra too impressed, hitting hard-lengths and hustling batters to finish with 3 for 27. Bal Krishna, the 27-year-old, who also picked up three wickets delivered the winning moment when he dismissed fast bowler Bhardwaj to trigger wild celebrations in the Jharkhand camp.
Junaid Siddique and Tamim Iqbal showed there was plenty of fight in the Bangladesh camp, adding a record 148-run opening stand on a slow track to reduce the deficit to 72 on day two at Dunedin’s University Oval. Inspired by a new-ball burst that checked New Zealand’s lower order – the first time in seven Tests they bowled a side out – the debutant left-handed openers bravely chipped away at a 220-run first-innings lead and left the hosts with plenty to think about.New Zealand dominated the first half of the day as Matthew Bell made his comeback Test one to remember, converting his excellent provincial form into a second Test century, and Jacob Oram thumped a brisk fourth century, but they will be kicking themselves for not getting a larger total.If Tamim and Siddique were under pressure in their first Test, it rarely showed. Their association didn’t start pretty – Tamim was dropped by Iain O’Brien and a slog off Daniel Vettori was misjudged by Chris Martin in the deep – but the openers fought through a testing passage against a moving new ball. Initially eager to manufacture runs, they wisely settled down to press for time. But that didn’t mean the scoring rate reduced. Ticking along at around five runs an over, Siddique played some convincing drives down the ground while Tamim, happier to get onto the back foot, hooked and pulled fours. The team fifty was on the board in the 11th over.The two played on New Zealand’s mind. Anything full was driven firmly by Siddique, prompting the seamers to hold back the length, at which time Tamim flashed hard and picked the gaps, more often than not. Siddique got to fifty first, thumping O’Brien for four, and his maiden effort was well appreciated by a raucous dressing room. Tamim slogged Vettori to bring up the 100 in the 20th over and soon celebrated his second fifty of the match, driving Vettori against the spin for four. While Vettori struggled to locate his angle Tamim put him away through cover-point.While they were near impeccable in defence, both waited for the short stuff from Vettori and when it came, they thrashed behind point. As the pitch flattened out, so did the bowling. About 15 minutes before stumps a record was achieved with a nudge past square leg – it was the highest opening stand for Bangladesh. Even in the last over of the day Tamim and Siddique were playing their shots, such was their positive mindset.There was nothing in the first half hour which suggested it wouldn’t be a good batting day. With six wickets left New Zealand were in the position to command. The pitch played a lot better on day one than expected. Bangladesh needed early wickets but there were far too many loose balls that allowed Bell and Oram to start confidently.When he decided to put them away, Oram was clinical, and such was his power and placement that the fielders had little chance of stopping shorts. Putting his height to good use, he drove and punched with power, his on-drives especially well-timed. Enamul Haque jnr bowled a touch too short and was easy pickings for Oram on a slow pitch.If Oram was eager to get to a hundred, Bell was understandably patient to reach his second, seven years after his first. Making the most of an umpiring reprieve on 97 – umpire Peter Parker failed to see pad first on a very good leg before shout from Mashrafe Mortaza – Bell moved out of a tense couple of overs in the nineties with another dab between gully and the slips, to cheer from his home town crowd. For a team whose opening combinations have been poor all season, Bell’s hundred was a whiff of fresh air.Mohammad Ashraful struck twice before lunch, getting Bell and Brendon McCullum, but Oram didn’t keep the crowd waiting long after lunch, easing one to the midwicket boundary to raise three figures at a healthy strike rate of 70. To celebrate, Oram lifted an Ashaful long hop into the car park.The new ball, taken with New Zealand 320 for 6, worked straight away as Oram bottom-edged onto his stumps. Kyle Mills pushed his first ball into the wicketkeeper’s hands to lift sagging shoulders and Vettori tried one shot too many and chipped a simple catch to mid-on. Mortaza’s fourth wicket curtailed the innings at 357, a total that seemed extremely healthy at the time.After a largely unsuccessful first day with the bat Bangladesh had put themselves under pressure, but thanks to two teenagers with an appetite for a scrap they’re almost matching New Zealand step for step.
Mark Cosgrove’s first Pura Cup century of the season ensured a competitive score for South Australia but Ashley Noffke’s five-wicket haul kept the honours even on day one at Brisbane. Cosgrove made 109 but had too little support and Noffke’s 5 for 69 reduced the Redbacks to 9 for 323 at stumps.Cosgrove became only the third South Australia player to make a Pura Cup hundred in 2006-07 and their below-par batting was again on display as the top order threatened to collapse once more. The visitors lost 4 for 12 shortly after lunch and it looked like the 102-run opening stand between Daniel Harris and Jason Borgas would be wasted.Cosgrove’s 144-ball innings and Shane Deitz’s unbeaten 65 steadied the Redbacks but the team was unable to capitalise as five batsmen failed to score. Noffke’s removal of Cosgrove started another mini-collapse of 4 for 4 and Andy Bichel helped Noffke with 3 for 76. Deitz held his nerve and was with Shaun Tait (4 not out) at the close.South Australia began promisingly after Darren Lehmann, who was returning from a hamstring injury, won the toss and chose to bat. Borgas was the first to go for 38 and he was followed by Matthew Elliott and Lehmann, who each made 0. Harris, who had batted well for his 59, completed the eventful little post-lunch spell when he was caught behind off Noffke.
The cricketing world may soon remember December 12 as Irfan Pathan’s day. Exactly two years after he made his Test debut, and exactly one year after his first ten-wicket haul, Pathan, opening the batting for the first time in a Test, produced a triumphant career-best 93 to propel India to a dominant position in the Delhi Test, with a lead of 297 with two days to play.As a young colt sparkled in a new role, two old warhorses played their part admirably: Anil Kumble, ending with a six-wicket haul, extended his astonishing record at Delhi – he now has 44 in nine innings – while Rahul Dravid, displaying a silken flourish, produced his highest score as captain. There was a landmark moment for another battle-scarred campaigner – Chaminda Vaas snapped up his 300th Test wicket – but Sri Lanka, playing catch-up for most of the day, will now have to score more than any other team to win a Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla.Just as he had done in the one-day series, Pathan responded brilliantly to the challenge of batting at the top of the order and attacked the bowling with gusto. He spanked Muttiah Muralitharan for a lofted six in his first over, ensured he always countered him with a straight bat, and also backed himself to pull the faster bowlers. Dilhara Fernando’s bouncers were daringly pulled away – some off the meat of the bat, others off the edge – and Vaas and Murali weren’t allowed to cast their pressure net. Batsmen came and went at the other end – Gautam Gambhir overbalanced and missed a cutter, VVS Laxman feathered one to the wicketkeeper, and Sachin Tendulkar missed a flipper – but Pathan, showing great poise at a critical juncture, motored along at a fair clip.In Dravid, he had an ally who read the situation to a nicety. Knowing that they couldn’t afford to get bogged down, as they had done in Chennai and in the first innings here, the duo rotated the strike amid dispatching the loose ones. Dravid, as Tendulkar had done before him, came out with a positive approach and was always on the look out for runs. There was hardly any risk in his half-century, with a few glorious boundaries struck with minimum fuss, and it was only an because of an error in judgement, taking off for a single after tapping one to mid-on, that he had to go back.Pathan had fallen a little earlier, pushing tentatively at a wide one from Fernando, and a hushed silence was followed by rousing applause as he walked off the ground. India have a history of makeshift openers coming off – Nayan Mongia in 1996 and Parthiv Patel in 2003 – and despite missing out on a well-deserved century, Pathan’s effort will be hard to forget. Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh added 47 assured runs in the fading light, both particularly impressive in the off side, and stretched the lead close to the 300-mark.All this might have been much harder if not for the 60-run cushion that Kumble had created. After a masterful display last evening, he continued to torment Sri Lanka with a series of googlies and flippers and it was just a matter of time before the tail gave in. Vaas had no clue against one googly after another while Murali, who swung his bat with characteristic abandon, had no chance when he charged down the track to a faster one.At the other end, Pathan, who was unlucky to not have more than two wickets yesterday, managed to swing the ball both ways and hassle the batsmen. He cleverly set up Malinga Bandara’s downfall – moving one away before getting one to jag back in and rattle the bails – and ended with an impressive 3 for 34, his best figures in a Test in India. On the twelfth day of the twelfth month, as if there were some celestial forces involved, he couldn’t do much wrong.How they were outSri LankaChaminda Vaas c Harbhajan b Kumble 2 (200 for 7) Malinga Bandara b Pathan 1 (204 for 8) Muttiah Muralitharan b Kumble 9 (219 for 9) Dilhara Fernando c Ganguly b Harbhajan 0 (230 all out) IndiaGautam Gambhir lbw b Vaas 3 (12 for 1) VVS Laxman c Sangakkara b Vaas 11 (42 for 2) Sachin Tendulkar lbw b Bandara 16 (86 for 3) Irfan Pathan c Sangakkara b Fernando 93 (178 for 4) Rahul Dravid run-out (Jayawardene) 53 (190 for 5)
Reports that Stephen Mangongo, the former head of Zimbabwe’s selectors, had been suspended from Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) were confirmed in the weekend’s newspaper in Harare.Mangongo, along with Givemore Makoni, the general manger of Mashonaland Cricket Association (MCA), were suspended for unspecified reasons, although it is thought that it relates to the recent move by the MCA to bring a vote of no confidence against the ZC board.The unrest against the board surfaced last week, and it is believed that senior MCA officials want to take their case to the ICC. The official meeting to discuss the vote of no confidence is due to take place on Wednesday (December 22).But Peter Chingoka, ZC’s chairman, sought to turn the tables on the dissenters, claiming that the MCA’s move was no more than a bid to cover up an investigation into the conduct of some officials, including Mangongo, at the Takashinga club.A local reporter told Cricinfo that the news of Mangongo’s suspension was not surprising. "They are out to fix him," he said, pointing out that his position and influence within the board had been weakening steadily in recent months. He was replaced as head of selectors at the AGM in August, when it was stated that he would be in India on a coaching course for most of the year, but he has remained in Zimbabwe. "That was a way of getting rid of him," the source added, "and it succeeded."There are also reports – unsubstantiated – that was an attempt to remove Max Ebrahim, the current head of selectors, as chairman of Masvingo.