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“He’ll just have to wait for some more time as Kyle Mayers is doing really well”

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Apr-2023KL Rahul has admitted he “feels bad” about Quinton de Kock’s continued absence from Lucknow Super Giants’ starting XI in IPL 2023, describing his omission as “very unfortunate”.De Kock was unavailable for Super Giants’ opening two games of the season while on international duty and Kyle Mayers, who filled in at the top of the order, made the most of his opportunity.Ahead of Wednesday night’s game against Rajasthan Royals, Mayers was Super Giants’ leading run-scorer for the season with 168 in five innings, including two half-centuries. He has also maintained a healthy strike rate of 168.00.Super Giants have used Mayers, Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis and one fast bowler – either Mark Wood, Romario Shepherd or Naveen-ul-Haq – as their four overseas players this season, and have been unwilling to alter that combination to accommodate de Kock despite his previous success for them.”It’s very unfortunate that someone like Quinton has to sit out,” Rahul, Super Giants’ captain, said at the toss ahead of their game in Jaipur. “But unfortunately, there are only four foreign players [per XI] that can play in this competition.”He’ll just have to wait for some more time. Kyle is doing really well. It’s a bit unfortunate. You feel bad. I’ve enjoyed playing and enjoyed opening with Quinton, but for now, he’s still not playing.”De Kock opened the batting alongside Rahul throughout the 2022 season as Super Giants reached the play-offs, scoring 508 runs at an average of 36.28 and a strike rate of 148.97. He was retained on a contract worth INR 6.75 crore ahead of this year, but has found himself running the drinks.”It’s been quite relaxed,” de Kock told Star Sports before Wednesday’s game. “I’m not quite used to being on the side for so long but it’s all good – the team’s doing really well so I guess that’s the most important thing.”It’s been chilled. I’ve made a couple more friends sitting on the side, learned a lot more with the boys and it’s been fun watching the guys.”He added that he has been working hard to keep himself fit and try to force his way into the side. “Put it this way: I don’t think I’ve gymed, run and practised as much as I have in the last two in my whole career,” de Kock said.

The domestic CSA T20 Challenge will be played instead of the MSL in the February slot

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Dec-2021The 2021 edition of the Mzansi Super League (MSL), which was scheduled to be played in February 2022, has been cancelled owing to Covid-19 concerns in South Africa. A CSA statement said that the discovery of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19 has “made it difficult to maintain the brand proposition of being the premium international T20 tournament, due to increased travel restrictions as imposed by many nations on South Africa”.Pholetsi Moseki, CSA’s acting CEO, confirmed that the CSA T20 Challenge would be played instead of the MSL in that slot in February.”The decision to cancel the 2021 edition of the MSL is meant to allow CSA and its strategic partners to revamp and review the tournament post-Covid-19 to regain its market and commercial position,” Moseki said. “For its purposes, the MSL slot will again be replaced by a domestic CSA T20 Challenge, featuring the 8 (eight) Division 1 teams and this tournament will take place in February 2022.”Related

• CSA revises bio-bubble norms for India tour

• CSA 4-day series: Final round of games postponed to 2022

The T20 league was played in 2018 and 2019 but was called off in 2020 because of logistical challenges posed by the pandemic. It was converted into a domestic T20 competition – played among eight top-tier teams – starting this season.Paarl Rocks are currently the defending MSL champions, while Lions beat Dolphins to become the domestic T20 champions in the 2020-21 domestic competition.On Sunday, ESPNcricinfo reported that the final round of matches in the four-day franchise series have been postponed and would be rescheduled in 2022.So far this season, domestic cricket has not been played in biosecure bubble environments, but ESPNcricinfo understands that this would change for the one-day and T20 competitions. Last summer, both white-ball tournaments took place in biosecure conditions.South Africa is currently in a fourth wave of the pandemic, which accompanied the discovery of the Omicron variant last month. Cases peaked at over 26,000 earlier in the week, but the number is now on the decline. The country, however, remains at alert level one of five, with the least stringent restrictions since the start of the pandemic last year.

Seamers lead fightback after Jake Libby’s form continues

George Dobell07-Sep-2020Some would tell you there’s not much point in games like this. Some might even tell you there’s not much point in teams like these.There’s no money being made, for one thing. And there’s little chance of much of a new audience being attracted, either.But as Worcestershire and Somerset battled for what looks set to be the right to face Essex in the Bob Willis Trophy final at Lord’s, the thought occurred that this was an exemplar of domestic cricket in any country.For here we have two highly motivated teams stuffed with locally developed talent who are driving the standard of the English game forward and producing players for their country. Indeed, 18 of the 22 players* involved here were developed through the academies of these two counties.To that list you can add Jos Buttler, who has just won England a T20 series against Australia and was player of the Test series against Pakistan. You can add Dom Bess, who can’t get into the Somerset side but is England’s first-choice Test spinner. Then there’s James Hildreth, who would have played in this match had a hamstring injury not intervened, and Jamie Overton, too. All four came through the Somerset system. Worcestershire, meanwhile, can also point to Adam Finch, who is currently bowling with impressive pace on-loan at Surrey alongside Overton.Yes, a few have moved on. But they will forever be associated with the clubs that identified and nurtured their talent.In short, these are clubs doing exactly what they’re meant to be doing: producing high-class players; playing high-quality, entertaining cricket. Anyone who think they’re superfluous to the English game can’t be judging them on cricketing merit.The prize for success in this game is pretty clear: the winner has an excellent chance of qualifying for that Lord’s final. The way bonus points have fallen, Somerset are now assured of making that final if they win this game, while Worcestershire may be reliant upon results elsewhere also falling their way.For a while, as Daryl Mitchell, Jake Libby and Tom Fell were building a strong platform, it looked as if Worcestershire might be on the way to establishing a match-defining position. Libby, showing the benefits of a fresh start at a new county, is now the highest run-scorer in the competition with one century and three half-centuries across eight innings.His game is built largely on patience and discipline outside off stump. But here he was particularly impressive against the spin of Jack Leach – playing his first first-class game since the Mount Maunganui Test in November – and skipped down the track to drive the bowler back over his head for a succession of fours and one six.On the brink of lunch, Libby enjoyed two moments of fortune from successive Jack Brooks deliveries. First he looked all the world to have been trapped leg before by one which kept a little low only to be relieved to hear the umpire’s no-ball call, before he edged the next ball through the cordon. Leach, a new face at first slip in place of Jamie Overton and Hildreth, was unable to cling on to the relatively straightforward chance.But the wicket of Fell, shouldering arms to one that shaped to leave him but ultimately went unerringly straight, precipitated something of a collapse. Worcestershire lost their final nine wickets for the addition of 77 runs with Somerset’s impressive quartet of seamers sharing the spoils. Libby fell driving at a wide one which left him – replays suggest he may have been a bit unlucky with the decision – Jack Haynes and Brett D’Oliveira played inside deliveries which were angled in but may have straightened a fraction, Riki Wessels’ counter-attack was ended by an excellent catch at square-leg as he attempted to pull and Ed Barnard was bowled – Barnard castled, if you will – off the bottom edge attempting a similar shot.If Worcestershire’s total of 200 might appear modest, it needs to be seen in context. For a start, this is not a straightforward surface. It’s sluggish – perhaps increasingly so – and offers enough off the seam to keep bowlers in the game at all times. Equally, there have been a few signs of just a little uneven bounce.More than that, 200 represents the highest score made against Somerset in the competition this season. Three times they’ve dismissed their opposition for below 80 and they will end the group stages of the season having conceded just one batting bonus point. Craig Overton, bowling as well as anyone in the county game, has taken his 26 wickets as a cost of just 10.00 apiece.Jason Kerr, the Somerset coach, reckons a target of 250 – 200, even – could prove tough to reach in the final innings. Right now, at the end of day two, the lead is 67. Both sides have some hard work ahead, though Somerset surely have their noses in front, particularly bearing in mind that Josh Tongue is unlikely to bowl in the second innings after suffering back spasms. Besides, it’s hard not to feel that winning the domestic first-class competition for the first time – they are one of three counties not to have done so in the modern era – in the year when it is not considered the championship would be Somerset.”The attack has been outstanding all season,” Kerr said. “We create pressure at both ends and we work as a unit. And if anyone is bowling better than Craig Overton at the moment… well, they must be bowling brilliantly.” Worcestershire may have their work cut out to deny him.*In case you were wondering who they are, only Riki Wessels and Jake Libby, of the Worcestershire side, and Jack Brooks and Josh Davey, of the Somerset side, did not develop through the two county academies. Davies, playing for Somerset, came through the Worcestershire academy, while Eddie Byrom was schooled in Taunton from sixth-form level and was part of the county academy.

Justive DK Jain sent them notices for their alleged conflict of interest for serving as IPL franchises’ support staff members as well as members of the Cricket Advisory Committee

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Apr-2019The BCCI’s ombudsman-cum-ethics officer Justice DK Jain served notices to former India batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman on Wednesday for their alleged conflict of interest for being part of IPL franchises’ support staffs as well as serving as members of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC). Justice Jain has given them time until April 28 to file their written responses.While Laxman is Sunrisers Hyderabad’s mentor, the Mumbai Indians website mentions Tendulkar as their icon.This is the third case of conflict of interest allegation being filed during this IPL after former India captain Sourav Ganguly was summoned by Justice Jain for his triple role as the CAB president, CAC member as well as advisor of Delhi Capitals. The three former batsmen were part of the CAC that had picked the India coach Ravi Shastri in July 2017 in their last meeting.In his notices sent to Tendulkar and Laxman, Justice Jain also stated that he had also asked the BCCI to file their response by April 28.”A complaint has been received by the Ethics Officer of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (for short “the BCCI”) under Article 39 of the Rules and Regulations of the BCCI, regarding certain acts, allegedly constituting as “conflict of interest” on your part,” Justice Jain wrote in the notices.”You may file your written response to the accompanying Complaint, supported by duly executed affidavit, on or before 28th April 2019, with the Office of the Ethics Officer, BCCI, Mumbai for further proceedings in the matter.”The ombudsman stated that their failure to respond to the notices would result in them not getting any further opportunity to file a response.”On your failure to respond to the present notice, the Ethics Officer shall be constrained to proceed in your absence, without giving any further opportunity of filing a response to the Complaint, to you.The complaints were filed by Sanjeev Gupta, a life member of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association.

The former chairman of selectors has accused N Srinivasan and MS Dhoni of favouring the Chennai Super Kings player S Badrinath

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Mar-2018Dilip Vengsarkar believes he paid a hefty price – his job as chairman of selectors – for selecting a young Virat Kohli, Under-19 World Cup winner, ahead of S Badrinath, domestic stalwart, back in 2008. At an event to felicitate sports journalists, Vengsarkar accused N Srinivasan, the then BCCI treasurer, and then captain MS Dhoni of favouring the Chennai Super Kings and Tamil Nadu player Badrinath.Vengsarkar went on to accuse Srinivasan of costing him his job as the chairman of the selection committee and replacing him with former India and Tamil Nadu player Kris Srikkanth. However, at the time, Vengsarkar could have qualified for an extension of his term if he had given up a conflict of interest that arose from his being vice-president of the Mumbai Cricket Association.In July 2008, when Sharad Pawar was the president, the BCCI working committee approved a new criteria concerning any conflict of interest pertaining to a selector. The clause, which was ratified at the AGM later that year, said a selector could not hold a dual post. Vengsarkar refused to stand down as MCA vice-president despite having served only half of his four-year term.The selection that Vengsarkar spoke of was for the limited-overs leg of the 2008 tour of Sri Lanka, incidentally the first year of the IPL. Super Kings captain Dhoni had been the limited-overs captain for a year. Asked which of his roles – player, captain, chairman of selection committee – was the toughest, Vengsarkar picked selector and went on to explain.”There was an Emerging Players tournament between Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and India in 2008,” Vengsarkar said. “We decided to send only Under-23 players for this tour. That year, we had won the U-19 World Cup as well, and Virat Kohli was the captain of that team. We included him in that team.”I went to Brisbane to watch those matches. This match was against New Zealand, and they had a stronger side than us. They had a few Test players too. In that match he scored 123 not out, and I knew we needed to play him in the Indian team. I felt he was mature as a batsman.”Kohli did score an unbeaten 120 as an opener in the match Vengsarkar spoke of, helping India chase down a target of 249 set by a New Zealand side that included Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill, BJ Watling, Corey Anderson and Hamish Bennett.”I felt the ODI leg of the Sri Lanka tour was an ideal situation to include him in the squad,” Vengsarkar said. “The other four selectors told me, ‘Dilip we will do whatever you say. There is no problem at all.’ But Gary Kirsten and Dhoni were reluctant because they said they hadn’t seen Kohli before. I told them, ‘You haven’t seen him but I have. This boy needs to play.'”I knew that Badrinath was from the south and he was from Chennai Super Kings. From N Srinivasan’s team. He would have to miss out if Kohli had to be picked. And that happened. I picked Virat Kohli, and Badrinath went out.”As it turned out, Sachin Tendulkar missed the ODIs with injury, which gave Badrinath an opportunity to play. Kohli played all five matches, Badrinath three. Kohli averaged 31.50, scoring a half-century too. Badrinath averaged 19.5 in the three innings he got. India won that series, their first bilateral success in Sri Lanka.However, Vengsarkar said the selection committee meeting was not the last of the resistance he had to face. “Next day Srinivasan asked me, ‘How could you leave Badrinath?'” Vengsarkar said. “I said I had seen the Emerging tour, and that Virat Kohli was an exceptional player. He said, ‘But Badrinath has scored 800 runs for Tamil Nadu.’ I said he will get his chance. Srinivasan said, ‘When will he get his chance? He is 29 [27, actually].’ I said he will get his chance when he gets it. I cannot make guarantees.”The next day he took [Kris] Srikkanth to Sharad Pawar – the BCCI president – and sent me home. That was the end of my career as a selector.”The decision to disqualify state officials from being national selectors was ratified at BCCI’s AGM in September 2008, where Srikkanth was appointed chairman of selectors, and where Srinivasan and Shashank Manohar took over as the board’s secretary and president respectively.The contentious selection was made in early August that year. Incidentally Badrinath had called the rejection a “crushing blow” that left him numb. “Forget Emerging Players Trophy, I have scored heavily during the A series against Australia and South Africa earlier and the only player to have done better than me in domestic competitions is Gautam Gambhir,” Badrinath told then. “When Manoj Tiwary went for the tri-series in Australia earlier this year, I was intrigued. Still, I tried to keep my cool. Now it’s Virat Kohli. This is really going nowhere.”Vengsarkar is not the only selector to have spoken of Srinivasan’s influence on selections. Mohinder Amarnath, the chairman of selectors in 2011-12, has in the past accused Srinivasan of blocking a move to remove Dhoni as the limited-overs captain after India had been whitewashed in successive Test series in England and Australia. However, Srinivasan was the president of the board then. The BCCI’s constitution said all captaincy changes had to be ratified by the board president. This one wasn’t, and Dhoni went on to captain India until after the 2015 World Cup.