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He played 16 Test matches for Australia between 1966 and 1970

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jul-2023Former Australia and New South Wales wicketkeeper Brian Taber has died at the age of 83.Taber, who played 16 Test matches for Australia between 1966 and 1970, passed away on Friday.He made his Test debut against South Africa in Johannesburg where he claimed seven catches and a stumping. He would go on to also face England, India and West Indies during his career.His highest Test score of 48 came against West Indies at Sydney in 1969 in a match Australia won by 382 runs.Taber was widely regarded as one of the best wicketkeepers to represent Australia and was renowned for his impeccable glovework and calm demeanour behind the stumps.In his domestic career, he played more than 100 games for New South Wales and is a member of the state’s Hall of Fame.After finishing playing, he held various roles within the game, including NSW coach and selector and manager of the Australian Under-19 men’s team.”Brian’s vast popularity among former team-mates, and all those fortunate enough to have known him, is just one indication of the impact he had on our game,” Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said.”Brian had a passion for the development of young players, and it is fitting that the Player of the Tournament at the Men’s National Under-19 Championships will continue to receive the Brian Taber Medal.”Cricket NSW CEO, Lee Germon, said: “His contribution to Australian cricket was immense, as a player, coach, manager and selector. Tabsy was universally loved for both his skill as a wicketkeeper and his character as a person. He was such a nice, genuine guy and he will be greatly missed by all.”

Cummins is still due to lead Australia in the ODI series, but a decision on his participation in that series hasn’t been taken yet

Andrew McGlashan06-Mar-2023Pat Cummins will not return to India for the final Test in Ahmedabad, and Steven Smith will lead Australia again as they seek to level the Border-Gavaskar series.Cummins left after the second Test in Delhi to be with his seriously ill mother, Maria, who has been placed in palliative care, and he has opted to remain at home. The team was in contact with Cummins after the nine-wicket victory in the Indore Test, just their second Test win in India since 2004.Ahmedabad will be the fourth time Smith has stood in for Cummins since they came together in the new leadership structure before the 2021-22 Ashes, but Smith insisted he had no interest in another full-time go at the captaincy.Related

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“My time is done. It’s Pat’s team now,” he said after Indore. “I’ve obviously been able to stand in this week, obviously in tough circumstances with Patty going home. Our thoughts are still with him back home as well.”However, he did talk about how much he enjoyed the challenge of captaining in India where he feels every move made in the field could have an impact on the match.”It’s a game of chess, every ball means something,” he said. “It’s probably my favourite place in the world to captain. You think back home in Australia and generally you’re playing with a third slip or putting a third slip to cover or your square leg up or back or something like that. There’s not too much that sort of goes on with it.”But [in] this part of the world, you have to be really proactive. Every ball is an event and therefore can dictate what happens after, which is something that I really love and you’ve got to be ahead of the game.”Cummins is due to captain the ODI squad for the three-match series which follows the Tests, but a decision on his participation in that is yet to be taken. He had already opted out of this year’s IPL due to the heavy international schedule. Australia will play the World Test Championship final in early June, against either India or Sri Lanka, before the five-match Ashes series – the six Tests will take place in two months.

Annabel Sutherland stars with ball and bat to give the Stars a last-ball win over the Renegades

AAP13-Nov-2022Alyssa Healy notched her fifth WBBL century, crunching a boundary from the final ball to deliver Sydney Sixers victory over Perth Scorchers to keep them on top of the ladder.Chasing the Scorchers’ 4 for 176 at Junction Oval, Healy was battling on 1 off 10 balls. But the new Australian vice-captain found her groove to finish on an unbeaten 107 off 64, pairing with Ellyse Perry for a 154-run stand that powered the Sixers to within 20 of the target with two overs to bowl.After going for 17 runs off her previous over, Scorchers captain Sophie Devine had Perry (48 off 40) dismissed and Healy dropped in a fine 19th over that left the Sixers still needing 14.Healy watched from the other end as Ashleigh Gardner hit the first two deliveries for six. She was bowled from the next ball and Piepa Cleary was on a hat-trick after claiming Erin Burns next ball. Nicole Bolton chipped that delivery just short of deep midwicket for a single and then, with one to win off the final delivery, Healy gave herself room and calmly dispatched the winning runs to the cover boundary, letting out a boisterous cry in the process.No other player has scored more than three WBBL hundreds, Healy’s century coming off 62 balls and featuring a one-handed six over mid-off.Victory keeps Sixers on top of the ladder. Scorchers, who beat them last week, could have jumped above them from fourth with victory.Earlier, Beth Mooney and Marizanne Kapp put on 97 off 58 balls to continue their own stellar form. Their stand came a day after combining for a devastating 123-run partnership in just 56 deliveries, Mooney also scoring an unbeaten 99 against the same opponents last week.But Gardner (2 for 30 from four overs) helped slow them just enough, moving to the top of the competition wicket-takers’ board in the process.Annabel Sutherland smacked 62 not out off just 29 balls•Getty Images

All-round Sutherland keeps Stars’ hopes alive

Annabel Sutherland hit three sixes in the final over to deliver a stunning last-ball win for the Melbourne Stars over the Melbourne Renegades.Needing 23 to win from the final over, 21-year-old allrounder Sutherland held her nerve and swung freely to bring to life a chase that looked futile. Sutherland (62 not out off 29) cleared the boundary twice off Sophie Molineux’s left-arm spin, the bowler’s knee buckling as she delivered the second of those deliveries. Molineux was assisted from the ground and Georgia Prestwidge was thrown the ball for the first time with nine to get off three balls.A wide was followed by another strong-armed six by Sutherland, who then took a quick single and watched captain Nicole Faltum clear the off-side field for the winning runs. Sutherland also took three wickets in the win that kept the Stars’ finals hopes alive.Earlier, Sarah Coyte hit two sixes in a six-ball knock that pushed the Renegades to a respectable total, wicketkeeper Josie Dooley’s 54 anchoring their innings. Stars spinner Sasha Moloney took 4 for 15 from her four overs before Coyte put the clamps on the Stars’ batters. Sutherland wasn’t deterred, though, her innings featuring five sixes and coming with no other team-mate able to strike above 106.

Allrounder was subbed out of Australia A game due to concussion scare

Alex Malcolm14-Dec-2020Australia coach Justin Langer is hopeful that Cameron Green could be available to make his Test debut in Thursday’s first Test against India in Adelaide.Green suffered a mild concussion and was subbed out of the Australia A game against India when he was struck on the side of the head by a fierce straight drive from Jasprit Bumrah.Green flew to Adelaide on Monday with the Test squad members who were involved in the Australia A game that concluded on Sunday in Sydney. The selectors also called up Moises Henriques to join the Test squad on Monday as cover for Green.Related

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Langer met with Green after he arrived and said on Monday night that he was optimistic about his availability.”Fingers crossed,” Langer told . “The guys from Australia A arrived a couple of hours ago. He turned up with a big smile on his face. [There’s a] massive opportunity potentially ahead for him to make his Test debut. He looks in really good spirits. He’s got training tomorrow and Wednesday. Fingers crossed he’ll be right to go – he’s a real talent.”Langer would not be drawn on who would open the batting, given the form issues of Joe Burns and the absence of David Warner and Will Pucovski.”Wait and see on Thursday,” Langer said. “We’ve got a very got team no matter which way we go.”Dave Warner no doubt was a huge loss for us a few weeks ago, but I’m really confident that we’ve got enough batting to make a big difference in this series.”The majority of the Australian squad that didn’t play at the SCG held a rare centre-wicket practice on the Adelaide Oval under lights.”It was almost a luxury,” Langer said. “To be under lights, centre-wicket – it was a real treat for us. There’s some life in the wicket though, so it should be a great Test match.”

Somerset stumble in 12-over chase despite 43 not out from 20 balls from rookie

ECB Reporters Network04-Sep-2020Birmingham Bears overcame Somerset and the weather to claim a four-run Vitality Blast Central Group under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern system at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.The match was interrupted for an hour and three-quarters by rain, which set in with the Bears 85 for 4 from 11 overs. When play became possible again at 9pm, the umpires ruled that it would be a 12-over match.Birmingham added 22 in the final over of their innings, Sam Hain finishing 55 not out in a total of 107 for 4, and Somerset were set a revised target of 125 to win under DLS.They could manage only 120 for seven, Tom Lammonby top-scoring with 43 off 20 balls , and lost a game they seemed to have under control before the rain-break.Somerset skipper Lewis Gregory struck a double blow for his side in the second over of the match to reduce the Bears to 2 for 2.First he took a return catch to dismiss Ian Bell for a duck off a leading edge and two balls later had former team-mate Adam Hose caught behind attempting to pull a short ball, also without scoring.Ed Pollock responded by pulling the first six of the game off Ollie Sale and cleared the ropes again in Gregory’s next over with a sweet pick-up over long-on.Pollock was looking dangerous when trying one big shot too many off Josh Davey in the fifth over, a thick edge carrying all the way to James Hildreth at third man.The opener departed for 20, but soon Hain was taking up the attack, despite being hit on the grille by a short ball from Lammonby when on 17.Having already claimed a maximum off Sale, Hain clubbed Lammonby over mid-wicket for another six to bring up a half-century stand with Will Rhodes.The pair had added 53 in 6.3 overs when Rhodes was bowled by Lammonby looking to open the face of the bat. Only two more deliveries were bowled before the rain set in.After the break, Warwickshire’s one remaining over of batting saw Hain smash two fours and two sixes off the inexperienced Sale, a surprise choice to bowl it, to reach a 31-ball half-century.Babar Azam posted notice of Somerset’s intent by pulling the first delivery of their innings from Tim Bresnan for six. But two balls later the veteran seamer took revenge, having the opener caught behind attempting to cut.James Hildreth arrived to hit two quick boundaries, but the first ball of the second over from Olly Stone saw Steve Davies miscue a catch to mid-on.Hildreth replied with a square cut four and an upper cut six as the over ended with Somerset 28 for two. But Tom Abell was caught at cover off Henry Brookes and worse was to follow for the hosts in the fourth over, bowled by Jeetan Patel.Hildreth was slow responding to a call for a quick single and failed to beat Bresnan’s throw to the bowler’s end. The batsman pulled up clutching a hamstring and had to be helped from the field.Gregory was given a life on 5, with the score 44 for 4, when Michael Burgess missed a stumping chance off Jake Lintott. But Eddie Byrom holed out to long-on of Brookes to make it 50 for five and Gregory quickly followed, lbw to Lintott.Lammonby and Roelof van der Merwe (25) swung lustily in the closing overs, but had been left too much to do. Twenty-year-old left-hander Lammonby took the game down to the wire with some savage blows, but couldn’t quite turn the tables.

Champions Nottinghamshire completed a second successive victory, with a bowling attack that showed its experience as the Outlaws beat East Midland neighbours Leicestershire by 19 runs at the Fischer County Ground

ECB Reporters Network08-Jul-2018
ScorecardChampions Nottinghamshire completed a second successive victory, with a bowling attack that showed its experience as the Outlaws beat East Midland neighbours Leicestershire by 19 runs at the Fischer County Ground.”They strangled us well in the middle overs,” Foxes’ captain Colin Ackermann said, after seeing his side collapse from 80 for 2 to 102 for 6 when in pursuit of a target that did not look unattainable on a good wicket and with a lightning quick outfield.Nottinghamshire’s Samit Patel said his side had completed a “convincing” win. “The intent we showed when we batted was good, Tom [Moores] and I managed a good partnership, and we accelerated nicely. Then we bowled to our plans and got wickets at the right time, because it’s always tough chasing ten an over.”The visitors’ total was based on a partnership of 97 for the third wicket between Patel and Moores. Coming together when Riki Wessels’ attempt to pull a quick delivery from Zak Chappell gave Mohammad Abbas a simple catch at mid-on, leaving the visitors on 17 for 2, both batsmen made half-centuries, albeit in contrasting styles.Patel, all wristy flicks, timing and placement, reached his fifty first, off 26 balls with ten fours, before holing out to long-on off Callum Parkinson. The young left-arm spinner picked up the wicket of Moores in the same over. Moores had just reached his fifty with a bludgeoned six over midwicket before his attempt to repeat the shot was well held by Raine.Captain Dan Christian, while unable to repeat his heroics of Friday evening, when he hit a century off 37 balls at Northampton, ensured his side would get close to 200 by thumping 47 from 29.Leicestershire’s reply began solidly enough, Cameron Delport and Neil Dexter compiling an opening partnership of 51 before Luke Fletcher yorked Delport for 33 in the final over of the Powerplay.Mark Cosgrove’s immediate dismissal for a duck, brilliantly caught by Steven Mullaney, one handed high to his right at midwicket, was a hammer blow to the Foxes’ chances, but the clatter of wickets that followed the loss of Dexter did not make for pretty viewing for the sizeable home crowd.Lewis Hill was caught slog-sweeping at deep backward square, Ackermann and Raine at deep midwicket, and although Mohammad Nabi, and in the final over, Abbas, hit out to good effect, there was never a sense that the Outlaws’ score was under any real pressure.”That we got quite close without looking likely to chase it down was frustsrating,” Ackermann said. “We’ve had a few decent knocks, but nothing really substantial and match-winning in the last two matches.”

A loss for New Zealand would dent their chances of a straightforward entry into the semi-final, while a defeat for West Indies would further hurt their net run-rate, which is already down in the negative

The Preview by Annesha Ghosh06-Jul-2017With one win, one loss, and one washed-out match, New Zealand are tottering at fifth place on the points table. They are coming off a narrow five-wicket loss to Australia, which went down to the penultimate over, but will take heart from the resistance offered by their bowlers in that match. They will also take heart from the form of their opponents – West Indies, finalists in 2013, have yet to win a match and come into this game having been dismissed for 48 against South Africa, their second-lowest total in ODIs.A loss for New Zealand would dent their chances of a straightforward entry into the semi-final, while a defeat for West Indies would further hurt their net run-rate, which is already down in the negative.West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor has stressed that “panic is not in our books”, but has also acknowledged it was “down to business time” for her side, with the threat of falling out of contention for a semi-final berth. “All the teams are in the business mood; we, too, do need to get into the business mood. It’s all about belief, going out there and getting the job done,” she said.No West Indies batsman has made a half-century in the tournament so far and they would look to heed the advice of coach Vasbert Drakes, who emphasised the importance of clarity: “I want the players to be clear in what they want to do, be clear in their decision making, be clear in their thinking.”Their chances of a turnaround will depend heavily on former captain and wicketkeeper Merissa Aguilleira finding form in her 100th ODI appearance, after scores of 1, 6 and 3 so far. Allrounder Deandra Dottin, who followed her 20-ball 29 against Australia with scores of 7 and 0, will also look to summon her might with the bat and deliver breakthroughs with her medium-pace.No West Indies batsman has yet struck a half-century in the tournament•AFP

A cloud cover is likely to loom over County Ground for a major part of the day, which could assist the medium-pacers early. However, considering spinners have bagged 21 wickets as opposed to the 10 by the seamers in the three matches played so far at the venue, it’s unlikely New Zealand would risk tweaking with their four-spinner attack, led by the offspin-legspin pair of Anna Peterson and Amelia Kerr.New Zealand allrounder Amy Satterthwaite, who had returns of 6 for 17 – the best T20I bowling figures – with her medium-pace at this ground in 2007, could also find purchase with her offspin should the match be played on a used pitch. In assessing the challenges West Indies may pose, Satterthwaite echoed coach Haidee Tiffen, underlining the need for her side to guard against the mercurial nature of the opposition. “They are a dangerous side and a quality side as well and must be hurting with their start and we know that they’ll come back strong. They showed that in the way they won the World T20 title last year, so they know how to win games,” Satterthwaite said.West Indies’ resources in the bowling department are limited. Having lost their fast-bowling strike bowlers Shakera Selman and Shamilia Connell to injuries, their effectiveness revolves largely around Taylor’s offbreaks – she is the side’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament, with three dismissals. West Indies will look to left-arm spinner Shanel Daley and offspinner Afy Fletcher to back Taylor up in their pursuit of their first win on the tour so far.

England remain hopeful that pace bowler Katherine Brunt will be fit for the World T20 after injury forced her out of the current tour of South Africa

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Feb-2016England remain hopeful that pace bowler Katherine Brunt will be fit for the World T20 after injury forced her out of the current tour of South Africa.She has been included in England’s 15-player squad for the tournament in India which begins on March 15. Brunt flew home from South Africa after suffering a back spasm during the second one-day international in Centurion.Of the players currently on duty in South Africa, Lauren Winfield is the one not to make the final cut for the World T20. Tash Farrant, the 19-year-old left-arm seamer, who was called into the one-day squad following Brunt’s injury, will travel to her first ICC event.

England Women’s squad

Charlotte Edwards (capt), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Georgia Elwiss, Natasha Farrant, Lydia Greenway, Rebecca Grundy, Jenny Gunn, Danielle Hazell, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Natalie Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Danielle Wyatt

Mark Robinson, the head coach, said: “We are all looking forward to testing ourselves against the very best cricketers from across the world and playing the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 in a cricket-mad country.”It will be a great experience for all of the players selected – both those who have had this opportunity before, and for the likes of Tash Farrant, selected for an ICC global event for the first time.”Tash really impressed during England women’s training camp to Sri Lanka before Christmas last year, and adds a different dimension to the bowling attack as a left-arm seamer.”England have reached the final of the previous two World T20s – losing to Australia both times in 2012 and 2014 – and open their campaign in this year’s tournament against Bangladesh on March 17 in Bangalore.

Doug Watson is set to replace Johan Rudolph as the coach of the Namibian national team, Cricket Namibia has confirmed

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Oct-2012Doug Watson is set to replace Johan Rudolph as the coach of the Namibian national team, Cricket Namibia has confirmed. He will take charge of the team from October 22. Watson, who played first-class cricket in South Africa for 15 years, has been involved with Namibian cricket for the past two years in various capacities.”I’m extremely privileged and humbled to be the national coach for Cricket Namibia,” Watson said. “It is an exciting period of life for me, I believe that cricket in Namibia can only go forward, we have an exciting international and South African cricket calendar ahead of us and we’ll be looking to achieve our goals and objectives.”Watson has previously had coaching stints with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2009, where he was the assistant coach to Shaun Pollock, and the head coach of the Kwa-zulu Natal Inland team between 2009-11. He played 139 first-class matches, scoring 7692 runs at an average of 36.80.

Not even a career-best 169 from Liam Dawson could save Hampshire from providing Somerset with their first win of the season at the Rose Bowl.

30-Apr-2011
ScorecardNot even a career-best 169 from Liam Dawson could save Hampshire from providing Somerset with their first win of the season at the Rose Bowl. Somerset had little trouble in chasing a target of 114 and, despite the early loss of their captain Marcus Trescothick, they got home with nine wickets to spare.Hampshire’s defeat was their second of the season and leaves them in trouble after a second innings collapse. They were still 16 behind when play resumed on the fourth day with Dawson 103 not out and the score 212 for 3.But apart from Dawson’s defiance, Hampshire put up little resistance, losing their last seven wickets in adding 129 and that was never going to be enough. Pace bowler Peter Trego did most of the damage ending with figures of 4 for 74 as Hampshire quickly fell away, their last four batsmen being dismissed for just 13 runs.James Vince was the first to go at 245, leg before to Trego, and from then on Hampshire’s batting became processional. Nic Pothas was fifth out at 264, again leg before but this time to Steve Kirby, armed with a new ball.Sean Ervine was caught at the wicket off Charl Willoughby attempting an extravagant pull but Hampshire still had hope all the while Dawson was at the other end. Hampshire’s captain Dominic Cork was bowled by Trego at 328 and Dawson’s efforts came to an end finally at 333.Again Trego was the bowler and Dawson was leg before pushing forward and with Hampshire now in a hopeless position at 105 ahead. Dawson’s innings included 26 fours and came off 308 balls.The end was not long in coming, Danny Briggs was bowled by Kirby for one and in the next over David Griffiths was another leg before victim for the hard-working Trego. Hampshire were all out for 341 leaving Somerset plenty of time to wrap up a morale-boosting victory.Trescothick, who scored 228 in the first innings, pulled Briggs for six and looked in imperious form again until he was beaten for pace by Friedel de Wet after making 23. But there was no respite for Hampshire with Arul Suppiah and Nick Compton knocking off the 83 runs still required without semblance of a chance.