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Brook, Livingstone, seamers square series in style with 186-run rout

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Harry Brook reached a 37-ball fifty to lead England's innings [Cricinfo]

England produced an electric all-round display to set up a series decider at Bristol on Sunday, as they thrashed Australia by 186 runs at Lord’s.Harry Brook’s  sublime 87 formed the backbone of the innings which was capped off by the thunderous hitting of Liam Livingstone in a ground-record 25-ball half-century. Joffra Archer then briefly rekindled memories of 2019 with the best spell of his latest comeback, while Mathew Potts bagged a career-best 4 for 38 in an overwhelming performance.

Harking back to last year’s dramatic Ashes Test, there was also, briefly, a moment with an Australian wicketkeeper in the spotlight. On 17, Brook glanced Mitchell Starc down the leg side and was given out but queried whether the catch had carried to Josh Inglis, who had been recalled to the side after injury. The replays showed the ball pitching just before his gloves. The crowd booed as the pictures came on the big screen, accompanied by a few chants of ‘same old Aussies, always cheating’, but it was a tame interlude compared to 2023.

Following his maiden ODI hundred in Durham, Brook cruised to a 37-ball fifty, adding 79 in 53 balls for the third wicket with  Ben Duckett and 75 in 47 with Jamie Smith for the fourth, as England went through the gears in a game cut to 39 overs by heavy morning rain. Livingstone produced a grandstand finish to the innings with a mighty display of striking, including four sixes off the last over bowled by Starc, whose 28 runs conceded amounted to the most expensive over by an Australian bowler in men’s ODIs. England amassed 156 off their last 15 overs.

Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh gave the daunting chase a promising start – Head launching a gigantic pull out of the ground over the Tavern Stand – and after the eight-over powerplay Australia were 66 without loss compared to England’s 34 without loss. Overall, the 16 sixes hit in the match was a record for a Lord’s ODI. However, sustaining the tempo was a tall order. Head swung across the line at Brydon Carse and Steven Smith edged an ugly charge at Potts.

Then Archer produced something special. An off-cutter at 88.2mph initially shaped in at Marsh before straightening to beat the edge and clatter off stump. It was a gem of a delivery to give Archer his first Lord’s wicket since 2019 and he rightly wheeled away in celebration. When his next ball clattered into the forearm of Marnus Labuschagne, the 2019 flashbacks were in full flow, albeit in coloured clothes, and Archer also added Glenn Maxwell during Australia’s collapse

Before long, however, his ball to Marsh had a contender for delivery of the game (or series) when Carse found an unplayable offering to flatten Labuschagne’s off stump. It was a collective effort from England’s quicks who shared nine wickets – Potts taking three wickets in four balls to rush through the lower order – before Adil Rashid finished things off.

Under heavy cloud, the ball nipped around early after England had been put into bat. Phil Salt fell shortly after the powerplay, skewing the excellent Josh Hazlewood to backward point, and Will Jacks picked out the same fielder to give Marsh a wicket in his second over – the first he had bowled since April 3. On a day when Cameron Green was revealed to have a back injury, it was not insignificant that Marsh was back with the ball.

Brook initially appeared to be playing a different game to the other batters, as he skipped out of the blocks with three leg-side boundaries prior to his near-dismissal, and England’s momentum built around him. Sean Abbott’s expensive series continued – by the end of the innings his combined figures for three outings were 19.4-0-165-0 – while both Brook and Duckett took on Adam Zampa as well as the other overs of spin from Maxwell and Labuschagne.

Duckett, who had offered a tough return catch to Starc before scoring, sent Zampa over long-on for six before moving to a hard-working 51-ball half-century one ball later, before top-edging the legspinner to deep backward square. Smith continued the aggressive approach against Zampa, sending him over wide long-on, and Brook added a second six in the same over to deep midwicket. The 12 overs of spin went for 106.

A moment of absent-mindedness nearly did for Smith when he only just avoided being run out when he didn’t run his bat in at the non-striker’s end, although the ball ended up costing Australia six runs as the deflection went to the rope. by then, Brook was challenging for England’s fastest ODI hundred at Lord’s – 61 balls by Jos Buttler – but picked out long-on as Zampa ended his stay from his 58th.

Smith fell in the next over, slicing Maxwell to short third, but any concerns the innings may limp to a finish vanished as Livingstone provided stunning late power. A huge blow over midwicket off Hazlewood was followed by the dismantling of Starc’s figures, including two sixes into the pavilion, to the increasingly joyous roars of a large crowd. Unlike last summer, an England-Australia series goes to the final game 2-2, although the weather in Bristol may yet have the final say.

Brief scores:
England 312 for 5 in 39 overs  (Phil Salt 22, Harry Brook 87, Ben Duckett 63, Jamie Smith 39, Liam  Livingstone 62*; Adam Zampa 2-66) beat Australia 126 in 24.4 overs (Mitchell Marsh 28,Travis Head 34,  Mathew Potts 4-38, Brydon Carse 3-36, Jofra Archer 2-33) by 186 runs

[Cricinfo]


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SLC plans day-night Tests at SSC

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2026/01/4

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Sri Lanka Cricket is laying the groundwork for a new chapter in the island’s cricketing history, with plans to stage day-night Test matches at the historic Sinhalese Sports Club ground.

The installation of floodlights at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) has now been completed and SLC Treasurer Sujeewa Godaliyadda said the project goes well beyond the immediate demands of the upcoming T20 World Cup.

SLC funded the floodlight project at a cost of Rs. 1.8 billion, with SSC set to host five matches of the showpiece event. The other venues for the tournament will be the Pallekele International Stadium and the R. Premadasa Stadium.

Speaking to journalists during a media tour to unveil the project, Godaliyadda said the long-term vision was for SSC to one day host day-night Test matches. While pink-ball Tests have gained traction globally in recent years, Sri Lanka are yet to stage one at home and the indication is that SSC will be the venue for the country’s first-ever day-night Test.

SSC ground will be leased for a certain amount of days a year to SLC for conducting training and games. It is part of the agreement that the board undertook to develop the ground.

Beyond the floodlights, the first phase of development also included upgraded dressing rooms and a new VIP viewing area. A second phase, scheduled to begin after the World Cup, will focus on expanding the venue’s capacity. SLC plans to upgrade SSC into a 30,000-seat stadium, a move the board believes will strengthen Sri Lanka’s case when bidding for future ICC events, including women’s and Under-19 tournaments.

SSC celebrated its 125th anniversary last year and has been the stage for many of Sri Lankan cricket’s defining moments. The ground hosted matches during the 1996 World Cup and was the scene of the world-record partnership of 624 runs between Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene against South Africa in 2006.

Alongside SSC, the Colombo Cricket Club Ground, just across the road and the P. Sara Oval are also undergoing upgrades.

SLC is meanwhile pressing ahead with plans to build a new international-standard cricket ground in Jaffna and has identified several other locations for future venues, as demand for international facilities continues to grow.

https://www.telecomasia.net/

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Sri Lanka turn Pakistan series to address T20 flaws

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2026/01/4

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If not during the Pakistan series, Dhananjaya de Silva will get a look in during the series against England and it seems he will shoulder the responsibility of batting through the innings.

With the T20 World Cup around the corner, Sri Lanka are getting their act together with some last moment preparations. A three-match home series against Pakistan next week in Dambulla is an opportunity to find answers to some nagging questions.

Over the past 24 months, Sri Lanka have been on a steady upward curve, rebuilding brick by brick. The only loose tile has been the T20 format. A home World Cup, though, offers the perfect chance to paper over the cracks.

At present, too much seems to rest on the broad shoulders of Pathum Nissanka. The opener has been motoring smoothly across formats and last September added another feather to his cap by becoming only the fourth Sri Lankan to score a T20I hundred. That it came against world champions India spoke volumes, a knock that virtually fast-tracked him to an IPL deal. When Nissanka fires, Sri Lanka purr; when he doesn’t, the engine splutters.

Kusal Mendis has struck up a productive opening partnership with Nissanka, giving Sri Lanka brisk starts. It is the middle order, however, that has repeatedly failed to carry the baton. Kusal Janith Perera, with a truckload of experience, remains the lynchpin. His recent dismissals have tested patience, but he is still the side’s leading batter and in a couple of overs can flip a game on its head.

Charith Asalanka endured a lean patch in T20 cricket, despite being prolific in the 50-over format. Relieved of captaincy duties, he now has the luxury of focusing solely on his batting.

Dasun Shanaka has been handed the captaincy and he has to justify his place in the side as a player. Batting where he does, Shanaka’s brief is clear: less about compiling scores and more about providing the late-innings punch, the kind of death-overs fireworks that can swing momentum in a hurry.

The selectors have also rolled the dice by drafting in Dhananjaya de Silva, hoping he can bat through the innings. Slotted in at number three, a role previously trialled, his adaptability will be closely watched. His off-spin adds another string to the bow, though Sri Lanka are hardly short of part-time options in that department.

Bowling, whether pace or spin, has largely held firm. It is the batting that has repeatedly let the side down, leaving bowlers to defend modest totals with little margin for error.

This three-match series, then, is Sri Lanka’s chance to shuffle the pack, experiment with combinations and get their balance right. The squad has had a handful of warm-up games in Colombo before heading to Dambulla on Friday evening to begin full training. The opening match is scheduled for Wednesday, followed by games on Friday and Sunday.

In a welcome off-field gesture, Sri Lanka Cricket has announced that profits from the series will be channelled towards rebuilding the lives of those affected by the recent cyclone. A three-match T20 series against India in August has also been announced for the same cause.

by Rex Clementine ✍️

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Rabada to lead strong South Africa pace attack at T20 World Cup

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2026/01/3

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Kagiso Rabada returned from a long injury layoff on New Year's Eve in the SA20 (Cricinfo)

Kagiso Rabada,  who returned to action on New Year’s Eve after almost ten weeks on the sidelines with a rib injury,   will lead South Africa’s attack at the men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in February-March. Rabada, who took 2 for 48 on comeback for MI Cape Town (MICT) in the SA20, has been named alongside five other quicks: Anrich Nortje,  Marco Jansen,  Corbin Bosch,  Lungi Ngidi  and Kwena Maphaka complete South Africa’s pace battery.

Maphaka and Bosch are among seven players who will appear at a World Cup for the first time. The others are batters Dewald Brevis,  Tony de Zorzi and Jason Smith,  and allrounders George Linde and Donovan Ferreira.

South Africa will be led by regular T20 skipper Aiden Markram and will have only seven members of the squad that reached the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Quinton de Kock is back at the top of the order after making himself available for South Africa in October, while David Miller,  Keshav Maharaj,  Jansen, Rabada and Nortje were all in the XI that lost to India in Barbados in June 2024.

Of those not in the squad, Heinrich Klaasen has retired from international cricket while Reeza Hendricks, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Bjorn Fortuin and Tabraiz Shamsi have missed out. All eight of these players are currently in action in T20 franchise leagues, with the first seven at the SA20 and Shamsi at the ILT20 and then the BBL.

Among the biggest talking points in the current squad is the addition of de Zorzi, who has not played in a month, since injuring his hamstring in an ODI against India in Raipur. De Zorzi had been in good form prior to that match, and is seen as someone who is suited to subcontinent conditions. He is part of the Durban’s Super Giants (DSG) squad in the SA20 but has yet to play a game.

Tony is recovering well,” Moroney said. “He’s working with a medical team and he will be fit and ready to go when we play the West Indies. He’s probably slotting in at number three.”

Moroney also explained the selectors’ thinking behind leaving out Rickelton and Stubbs.

“It was a big decision between Quinny de Kock and Ryan Rickelton and ultimately we’ve opted to go with Quinny de Kock in that opening berth along with Aiden Markram,” he said.

“On Stubbs, in theory what we’ve really looked for there is to make sure that we have that attacking middle order where the left-handed David Miller slots in for us ideally and then with [Dewald] Brevis and [Donovan] Ferreira complementing him on either side is our general plan.

“That’s what we’ve opted for with Stubbs not included in this tour, in this World Cup.”

Smith, who only has five international caps to his name, is also something of a surprise inclusion. Smith has recently enhanced his reputation as a finisher after an unbeaten 68 off 19 balls to send Dolphins into the playoff of the CSAT20 Challenge, and the 14-ball 41 for MICT against DSG in the SA20 opener.  Smith also offers a seam-bowling option, though he has not bowled since October as he recovers from a niggle. MICT coach Robin Peterson confirmed Smith may start bowling towards the end of the competition.

“Jason brings us a lot of versatility and is able to bat nearly anywhere in the order,” Moroney said. “He also gives us that opportunity to go in in the powerplay. That’s something that we were looking at, to get that player movement, to give the coach the opportunity to be strategic and slot batters into different positions in the batting order. It definitely gives us that versatility that we look for.”

Left-arm quick Nandre Burger, Moroney said, was unlucky to miss out. Burger sustained a hamstring injury recently, but it wasn’t this as much as competition for slots that led to his non-selection, with Nortje selected instead.

“Nandre Burger was part of the selection [conversation] and we’ve opted to go with Anrich Nortje instead of a player like Nandre. He’s recovering and everything indicates that he’ll be fully fit, but from a selection point of view we’ve gone with Anrich.”

In the spin department, South Africa have stuck to their two left-arm spinners in Maharaj and Linde, while Markram and Ferreira (who also keeps wicket) will be the offspin options. The international career of left-arm wristspinner Shamsi, who recently won a case for a no-objection certificate against Cricket South Africa and is no longer centrally contracted, appears to be over.

The T20 World Cup will be the first white-ball tournament under all-format coach Shukri Conrad, who took over the limited-overs sides in July last year. His regular support staff of Ashwell Prince (batting coach), Piet Botha (bowling coach) and Kruger van Wyk (fielding coach) will be enhanced by Albie Morkel as a specialist T20 consultant. Morkel is currently part of the management team of Joburg Super Kings at the SA20.

All South Africa’s players will be involved in the SA20 for most of this month. They will then host West Indies for three T20Is before heading to India for the T20 World Cup. Their campaign starts against Canada on February 9. South Africa will also play Afghanistan, New Zealand and the UAE in the group stage.

South Africa squad for the T20 World  Cup: 

Aiden Markram (capt), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Jason Smith

(Cricinfo)

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