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Bumrah commences rehab after undergoing back surgery

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Shreyas Iyer will report to the NCA for his own rehab after undergoing back surgery next week

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Apr-2023Jasprit Bumrah has started his rehab, from Friday, at the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru after having undergone back surgery in New Zealand last month.The surgery was successful and Bumrah was “pain-free”, according to a media statement from the BCCI. The plan is to get him fully fit for the home ODI World Cup, which is likely to start on October 5.Bumrah has not featured in any cricket since late September last year, when he pulled out of the home white-ball series against South Africa – the reason, reportedly, was a stress reaction in his lower back. He attempted a comeback in January this year for the home series against Sri Lanka, but that didn’t happen after he experienced pain in the back. He was subsequently sidelined from the ongoing IPL 2023 and the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, which begins on June 7 at The Oval.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri had recently expressed his frustration at frequent and recurring injuries to senior Indian bowlers. “Let’s put it this way: there are quite a few in the last three or four years who are permanent residents of the NCA,” Shastri said on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time:Out show. “Soon, they’ll get a resident permit there to walk in any time they want, which is not a good thing at all. It’s unreal.”Related

  • WTC final: Ponting wants India to play Kishan and Suryakumar for 'a little bit of X-factor'

  • Iyer to have back surgery, out of IPL 2023 and WTC final

  • Bumrah undergoes back surgery in New Zealand

Shreyas Iyer to undergo surgery next week

Shreyas Iyer, who has also been ruled out of IPL 2023 and the WTC final, is set to undergo surgery on his back next week. He will report to the NCA for his own rehab after remaining in the surgeon’s care for two weeks.An impinged nerve caused by a bulged disc in the lower back area on the right side has troubled Iyer ever since he returned from the Bangladesh series last December. Despite taking about six injections, Iyer continued to experience discomfort.

Hazlewood ruled out of second Test with side strain

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Jhye Richardson is the frontrunner to come into Australia’s XI in Adelaide

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Dec-2021Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide due to the side strain he picked up in Brisbane with Jhye Richardson, the Western Australia quick, favourite to replace him.Hazlewood bowled on the fourth day at the Gabba, having been held back for a large part of the innings, after scans had shown a “very minor” strain but it was always unlikely he would be risked for the day-night Test.He returned to Sydney on Sunday rather than head to Adelaide with the focus now on being ready for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Like all the Australian attack he came into the Ashes without any long-form match practice.Hazlewood has taken 32 wickets at 19.90 in seven day-night Tests. The series now includes a second match under lights following the relocation of the Perth fixture to Hobart.Richardson is the frontrunner to come into the pace attack having enjoyed an impressive Sheffield Shield season where he has claimed 23 wickets at 13.43.He played his previous two Tests against Sri Lanka in 2019, his debut coming in a day-night match at the Gabba where he claimed match figures of 5 for 45.However, the uncapped Michael Neser produced a timely reminder of his credentials by taking seven wickets against England Lions including 5 for 29 in the first innings.Australia have not made any additions to the squad for the second Test. David Warner did not field during England’s second innings in Brisbane or bat in the small chase after a blow to the ribs against Ben Stokes but is expected to be fit. Usman Khawaja is the spare batter.

Stuart Broad desperate for crowds to return after bio-secure summer

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England seamer would travel anywhere this winter so long as ECB gave bio-secure approval

Matt Roller03-Oct-2020Stuart Broad has admitted his desperation for crowds to return to English cricket grounds at the start of the 2021 season after an entire international summer behind closed doors.Broad enlisted England’s team psychologist David Young – who also works for Manchester City FC – ahead of the start of the first series of the summer against West Indies to ensure his “emotions are where they need to be”, and revealed his concerns about being able to perform without fans’ support.And while those concerns did not appear to come to fruition in a superb summer for him, in which he took 29 wickets across five Tests, Broad said in a virtual media session for the NatWest Cricket Awards that he was optimistic England fans would be able to travel to Australia for the 2021-22 Ashes as well as attending the start of next summer’s cricket season.”Obviously I’m desperate for crowds to be able to come back and enjoy our sport,” Broad said. “Let’s be honest, health and safety of people is much more important than that. But yeah, to be honest, I’m not even looking as far as Australia: I think England next April or May has got to be at the forefront of our minds to be able to get sports fans back into our stadiums.”The experts will study everything and hopefully we’re in a position in our country that that could happen – I know in October, we were due to start getting some fans back into stadiums but things took a little turn for the worse.ALSO READ: PCA accolade cements reputation of Chris Woakes, England’s ‘Mr Dependable’“I think Australia have done pretty well with it, haven’t they, so another year down the line we’d be hopeful that we can we can take our trusty support and the Barmy Army with us to Australia, because genuinely I do feel like it’s one of our best chances of doing well there with the quality of players we’re growing.”It would be awesome to be able to take our home fans to an Ashes series because they’re such special occasions.”England are not due to play Test cricket again until 2021, when tours to Sri Lanka and India are mooted to take place. In practice, the India series appears likely to be staged in the UAE, but Broad said he had no concerns about travelling overseas providing suitable Covid-19 protocols are in place.”To be honest, I wouldn’t have concerns about going away to a bio-secure bubble because I’ve seen it work so well this summer,” Broad said. “It’s felt very secure. We’ve had teams fly over and come into our bubble, and it seems to have worked really well, so if the likes of the IPL continue to work I don’t see a reason why we can’t do these bio-secure bubbles all around the world to get cricket on the screens.”I personally would be happy to go to anywhere as long as it was a bio-secure, safe environment to play some cricket because it gave everyone a boost this summer. If we got the go-ahead from the ECB – which I hope we do because I’m desperate to play some cricket this winter – I’m sure the players would be fully supportive of that.””One thing that’s very clear is training will be trickier than it was in April, May and June during the lockdown period because of the weather and being able to train outside. So there’ll be discussions about how we manage to peak at the right time and keep ourselves in condition.”I really didn’t want this summer to end. From the team’s point of view we were really growing and doing really good things and from a personal point of view I was in great condition and in a great headspace, so I just wanted the summer to continue. But unfortunately, it couldn’t.”

Forecast gloomy for Warwickshire despite Liam Norwell's debut seven-for

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Somerset’s breakneck pursuit of victory saw the visitors six down at the close still needing 136 to win

David Hopps at Taunton21-May-2019Paul Farbrace would not be human if just before start of play he did not feel a tiny pang of regret when England’s World Cup squad was announced over the PA system. Timing does not always work out perfectly, and to accept Warwickshire’s director of cricket role he had to relinquish his job as England assistant coach with cricket’s biggest one-day tournament beckoning.What is more, instead of a chance to share in history, he now knows he has walked into a Warwickshire relegation fight. A largely youthful squad looks up against it and will be releved that only one county will be relegated at the end of the season.They are not entirely out of this match at Taunton, but to be 103 for 6 at the close of a hectic second day, chasing 239 on a sporty pitch, identifies them as big outsiders. Much rests with Sam Hain, whose unbeaten 43 is the top score in the match. Few, if any, batsmen in a match where 36 wickets have tumbled in two days have looked as assured. Not that many have even tried to look as assured.If Farbrace was in search of optimism he found it in the performance of Liam Norwell, a close season capture from Gloucestershire, who took 7 for 41 on his Warwickshire debut with a controlled display of swing and seam bowling. Sporty pitch or not, he has wasted no time in proving he can make the step up to Division One cricket.

Banton injury scare

Somerset have played down fears that Tom Banton could miss Saturday’s Royal London Cup final against Hampshire at Lords after he withdrew from a 2nd XI match at Taunton Vale with a back spasm.
Banton’s wicketkeeping duties are bound to accentuate Somerset’s concerns, but their head coach Jason Kerr said: “We think it’s quite mild. The picture will be a lot clearer for us tomorrow but he is moving around at the minute in the dressing room so I anticipate he will be fine.”

Signing Norwell was a bit of a gamble for Warwickshire. He had spent eight seasons at Gloucestershire, though missed the entire 2018 season with recurring hamstring problems, but he has always been capable of hot spells when the conditions are in his favour.His debut for Warwickshire was delayed when he strained a pectoral muscle while fielding in a practice session at Edgbaston, inviting fears that ill luck had begun to follow a bowler who had previously enjoyed a decent enough injury record, but he felt the sun on his back at Taunton as he hustled in with an open action and revelled in the murmurs of a good crowd as the wickets built up.”I was quite fired up for it,” he said. “Warwickshire have been so great for me since I’ve been here and it’s nice to repay some of their faith. My bowling in the first innings was a bit rusty. I’ve had quite a long injury lay-off – a dark season in a way last year with three tears on the same hamstring – but today felt like I was back to where I was a year and a half ago. So it’s come back quite quickly.”I think it’s a good cricket wicket. Yes, it’s low scoring, but if you are going to be highly critical there is a lot of batsmen error as well as good bowling. There is pace in the wicket and a bit of nip, but I’d much rather play on these wickets and I think a lot of people would much rather watch cricket on these wickets than just getting to the third innings and shaking hands.”Somerset have batted in a frenzy in this match, regarding the surface with fatalism. The result of that was scores of 209 and 164 and an average run rate across the two innings of more than four an over. It was primarily down to Norwell that they subsided to 78 for 7 and it was largely in his absence that Craig Overton organised some late-order resistance for the second time in the match.Azhar Ali and James Hildreth were snaffled in his first two overs, both of them without scoring. Azhar fell to bounce and movement when he edged to the wicketkeeper; Hildreth was wary of something similar when he was lbw to one that held its line.His new-ball spell then brought wickets in consecutive overs for a second time. Marcus Trescothick released a few square drives, inviting hopes that his measured tread would bring some ballast to Somerset’s batting, but he became Norwell’s second lbw victim, 23 logged, his highest score to date in his 27th season. Tom Abell fell defensively to a ball that left him.When Norwell swung one back to bowl Lewis Gregory immediately after lunch and caused Steve Davies to follow a wide one that went wider, Somerset only had a lead of 152 and their hold on the game was tenuous at best. But Overton, who had begun the day by extending his Championship wickets tally to 22 at 14.77, responded with gusto as the last three wickets more than doubled the score.Tim Groenewald caused most merriment. Disconcerted by Henry Brookes’ pace, and struck on the hand, he was dropped at deep mid-on by Oliver Hannon-Dalby, a reprieve he celebrated by hauling a length ball over midwicket for six. “Short or yorker,” was probably the gist of the advice given to Brookes by his captain, Jeetan Patel. Brookes went short, and Groenewald was duly on his way, making room for a failed wind-up.Warwickshire lost two for 26 by tea. Will Rhodes fell in the first over, caught behind of Gregory for a duck and Rob Yates suffered the same fate. Jack Leach was popped on for a while and turned one to have Dom Sibley caught at slip for 26, so ending his run of centuries in successive first-class matches on six. Adam Hose completed an unhappy return to his former club by falling lbw to Overton for 4.This Somerset side can excel in the field, too, as was shown by the run out of Tim Ambrose. Hain ran the ball through point, the pair went for a quick single, but George Bartlett pounced to hit direct with a single stump to aim at. They will be confident about completing the job on the third morning.

Ball sails for six after hitting bowler's head in NZ 50-over match

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In a Ford Trophy match in Auckland, Jeet Raval’s drive rebounded off Andrew Ellis’ head for six, before the bowler passed a concussion test and completed the match

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Feb-20180:13

WATCH – Raval’s drive hits Ellis on the head, goes for six

In a bizarre incident in New Zealand’s domestic 50-over competition, Auckland batsman Jeet Raval struck an Andrew Ellis delivery so hard that it hit the bowler’s head and still crossed the boundary ropes for a six. Ellis, the Canterbury captain, passed a concussion test before completing his over and later on batted at his usual No. 6 position, “showing no obvious ill effects,” according to a New Zealand Cricket release.The incident occurred in the 19th over of Auckland’s innings in the third preliminary final of the Ford Trophy. Auckland opted to bat, and when Ellis brought himself on, Raval struck consecutive sixes in his first over. The second of the lofted drives struck Ellis on the front of his head before sailing over the ropes. The umpire initially signalled a four, before revising his decision. Ellis left the field for a concussion test, and went on to bowl six overs after that to end with figures of 7-0-52-2, including Raval’s wicket, in Canterbury’s 107-run loss.”Whenever anybody gets hit in the head, your immediate concern is for the person, and I was worried Andrew had hurt himself,” Raval said. “But, thankfully, it soon looked like he hadn’t been injured by what had seemed a nasty blow. He’s a true Cantab, a very tough nut, and it was a relief for me to see him carry on and complete the game without any visible effects. My hope for him is that he won’t experience any delayed concussion. It’s certainly not pleasant for anyone to experience that in a game.”Auckland’s win set up a final clash with Central Districts on Saturday, after Raval scored 149 off 153, studded with 10 fours and four sixes, to lead them to 304 for 6. In reply, Canterbury, the defending champions, were bowled out for 197 in 37.2 overs, as legspinner Tarun Nethula ran through the middle and lower order with 4 for 43. Michael Pollard top-scored for Canterbury with 47, and only one other batsman – Todd Astle – crossed 40.

Latham and Munro topple Bangladesh

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Tom Latham and Colin Munro set up New Zealand’s 77-run win in Christchurch, after their 158-run fifth-wicket stand pulled the hosts out of a difficult position

The Report by Mohammad Isam25-Dec-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:23

Isam: Munro’s innings was turning point

Tom Latham and Colin Munro set up New Zealand’s 77-run win in Christchurch, after their 158-run stand for the fifth wicket pulled the hosts out of a difficult position. The result left Bangladesh with a lot of worries, from their fast bowlers’ lack of discipline to Mushfiqur Rahim retiring hurt with a potential hamstring injury.Latham played one of his more fluent innings and made a career-best 137. Along with Munro, who made a 61-ball 87, Latham led New Zealand to 341 for 7 – their highest total in ODIs against Bangladesh.

Bangladesh fined for slow over rate

Bangladesh have been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate in the first ODI against New Zealand in Christchurch, which they lost by 77 runs.
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza was fined 20% of his match fee, while his team was docked 10%, after they were found to be one over short of their target when time allowances were taken into consideration.

In reply, Bangladesh ended on 264 for 9 in 44.5 overs, after James Neesham’s double-wicket maiden tilted the contest in New Zealand’s favour, and Lockie Ferguson’s short balls sealed it.Latham had started with a punch through covers in the third over, and continued timing the ball well through his innings. His first six was a pick-up over square leg off Soumya Sarkar, before he dropped anchor. That Latham batted until the 48th over was a relief for New Zealand, considering how they had begun.Hagley Oval had provided a pitch with true pace and bounce, and all a batting side needed was partnerships. Kane Williamson won the toss but every time two of his batsmen seemed to have the measure of Bangladesh, they faltered.Mustafizur Rahman, in his first international match since July, got rid of Martin Guptill with a slower ball in the sixth over. Williamson had looked solid, becoming the joint fourth fastest to 4000 ODI runs – 96 innings – before he was caught behind off a short ball from Taskin Ahmed for 31. Shakib Al Hasan then removed Neil Broom, playing his first ODI in six years, and Neesham in the space of 4.1 overs, both lbw playing back to full deliveries.New Zealand were 158 for 4 in the 29th over, their middle order exposed. In a matter of a few overs, however, they were in a position of strength. Munro walked in, struck the fifth ball he faced for six, and backed it up with a rasping cover drive off Shakib.Latham and Munro lifted the score by 70 between the 30th and 40th overs, setting an excellent platform for the final ten. After Latham reached a hundred on his home ground – his father Rod was watching from the stands – with a pulled six off Taskin in the 40th over, Munro moved to his third fifty, peppering the boundaries at square leg and long-on.Bangladesh conceded 103 in the last ten overs, but more grating to them were three dropped catches. Though none of them cost much – Broom was given a reprieve on 17 and fell for 22, Munro lasted only two balls after his second life, and Latham added 22 after he was dropped – Bangladesh’s bowling and fielding suggested they were undercooked.Mustafizur was returning from shoulder surgery on his bowling arm and his pace was markedly slower, though his cutters seemed unaffected. He finished with 2 for 62. Mashrafe Mortaza faded away after his first spell, and Taskin was far too short for most of his nine overs. Shakib, the lead spinner, had to settle for his most expensive three-for while part-timers Sarkar and Mosaddek Hossain hardly looked penetrating in their combined 11 overs. It begged the question: why didn’t Mashrafe use Mahmudullah at all?A good start was vital for Bangladesh to chase down the target but opener Imrul Kayes – after top-edging for four and six in the second over – was caught behind off Tim Southee in the eighth. The batsman opted for a review, and it confirmed the edge.Neesham then put Bangladesh in more trouble when he dismissed Sarkar and Mahmudullah in his first over. Sarkar was caught at mid-off for 1, before Mahmudullah nicked off for 0, leaving Bangladesh 48 for 3 in the 12th over. Thirty-three runs were added for the fourth wicket before Tamim Iqbal’s upper-cut found Mitchell Santner, who ran in from the sweeper cover boundary to complete the catch.Shakib was faced with a bouncer barrage during his 54-ball stay and he took it on, striking five fours and two sixes, one of which was a massive blow over wide long-on off Ferguson. Against the following delivery, fast and short again, Shakib was late on the pull shot and was caught at short midwicket for 59.Mushfiqur added 52 for the seventh wicket with Mosaddek Hossain, but hurt his hamstring while completing a tight single in the 38th over. He called for the physio immediately and hung around for a couple of overs after some medical attention, but eventually decided to retire hurt. He had made 42 off 48 balls.Bangladesh’s run-rate had matched New Zealand’s until about the 40th over, but the visitors had lost too many wickets to keep up. Mosaddek’s fast fifty, laced with three sixes and five fours, was one of the few positives they could take to Nelson for the remaining two ODIs.

Holder as captain an 'excellent choice' – Lara

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Former West Indies batsman Brian Lara has come out in support of Jason Holder as captain of the Test team, calling the decision an “excellent choice”

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Sep-2015Former West Indies batsman Brian Lara has come out in support of Jason Holder as captain of the Test team, welcoming his appointment as an “excellent choice”.Holder, 23, is West Indies’ second-youngest Test captain, and has played just eight Tests. He also took over the ODI captaincy last December at a similarly inexperienced stage in his 50-over career, with only 21 matches behind him, but Lara believed that if backed properly by the WICB, Holder could thrive in the role for years to come.”I saw the young man while working during the World Cup in Australia, and the pressure that he came under, personally with his bowling and even as a captain, and the way he handled it,” Lara told . “He is very eloquent and big in stature and he reminds me of another version of a Clive Lloyd.”I have a lot of belief in the fact that he can do well if he gets the support from the players but more importantly from his employers, the West Indies Cricket Board.”West Indies endured a difficult World Cup, which they exited at the quarter-final stage, but Holder showed evidence of his leadership skills during the tournament, shouldering the responsibility of bowling in difficult situations – such as the final over against a rampaging AB de Villiers – and batting with maturity.In the home Tests that followed, the same qualities came to the fore, particularly with the bat, as shown by a match-saving century against England in Antigua, and an unbeaten 82 against Australia in Jamaica.Lara, who himself led West Indies in 47 Tests, felt that Holder had already showed his mettle through such tests, and that having several young players in the team could only bode well for the future.”I still believe we are still in the same mind-set as we were 10, 15, 20 years ago which is not good for West Indies cricket,” Lara said. “I hope they can change that a bit, and the likes of [chief selector] Lloyd being around and some younger faces being around, lends to the fact that there might be something on the horizon.”

'I'd love to add to my one Test cap' – McLaren

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After receiving his second CSA contract McLaren knows he is being primed for a Test recall – something that’s been in the back of his mind for a long time

Firdose Moonda12-Mar-2013Ryan McLaren’s Test debut was memorable but not for anything he did. He was included in South Africa’s all-pace attack that was tasked with squaring the series against England in early 2010.They did the job emphatically and bowled England out for under 200 twice to ensure South Africa won by an innings and 74 runs. The nature of the victory may suggest McLaren played some sort of role but his was a bit-part.In the shadows of Dale Steyn taking a first innings five-for and seven overall, Morne Morkel finishing with the same match tally and Wayne Parnell debuting, McLaren bowled 13 overs all told and took one wicket. It was an important one because it was that of the top scorer, Paul Collingwood and it was brief glimpse into McLaren’s ability.For four years, there would be only those short, somewhat stolen moments because McLaren never nailed down a proper spot. Now, that could change. After receiving his second CSA contract McLaren knows he is being primed for a Test recall – something that’s been in the back of his mind for a long time.”I’d love to add to my one Test cap,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about and working towards very hard.” McLaren averaged 50.50 with the bat and 30.67 with the ball last season and has been included in South African recent A sides and limited-overs teams.He would bring to the Test XI a Shaun Pollock-like discipline and consistency as well as the ability to score runs in the lower middle-order. While it would seem only Kallis’ retirement would open a door for McLaren, he may not have to wait for that to make an appearance in whites. South Africa’s revolving door position – the No. 7 spot – is the only unsettled one and he could fill it. It has been used for an extra batsman so far but it could call for an extra bowler or an allrounder in future.Until then, McLaren has to bide his time in the other formats where he is finally being given a sustained run of matches. Prior to August 2012, McLaren had played 10 ODIs and five Twenty20s for South Africa but not much faith was invested in him. Albie Morkel was the preferred candidate and assembly line allrounders were fading out of fashion.McLaren became a substitute and was included in squads when there was a mild injury concern. Almost everyone knew that he was unlikely to play and he never did. Only recently, has team management seen real value in him.In recent months, McLaren has been seen in long consultation with Allan Donald as he worked on extensively on his bowling. The fruits of that have been obvious and he has taken 11 wickets in his last four ODIs. His use of the short ball has been exemplary, something he puts down to Donald’s influence. “Allan always encourages us to be more aggressive and that’s what I’ve been trying to do as well,” he said.As good performances mounted up, confidence in him swelled. McLaren now feels more secure as well. “I’ve been given a few more opportunities and I feel a bit more comfortable in the environment,” he said. “I’m just really enjoying it now under Gary Kirsten. He treats us all like adults and make us take responsibility for our own performances.”McLaren has always come across as mature and grounded, so much so that he would be happy to make way for Kallis at an event like the Champions Trophy because “it’s good for South Africa if Kallis plays as long as he can,” so it’s no surprise he is thriving in a grown-up environment. At 30, he is exactly that and hopes to have a few good years to offer South African cricket.McLaren has built up experience around the world, including a stint at Kent and at the Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab. This off-season, he will return to the IPL to represent the Kolkata Knight Riders and hopes to pick up new skills to take into his re-born international career. “It’s always helpful to play in different conditions and to share dressing rooms with players from around the world. I just want to learn as much as possible.”

Wellington beat Canterbury in stunning comeback

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Mark Gillespie took six wickets in the second innings and Josh Brodie led the chase with a hundred as Wellington completed a stunning comeback to win by five wickets against Canterbury

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Feb-2012Mark Gillespie took six wickets in the second innings and Josh Brodie led the chase with a hundred as Wellington completed a stunning comeback to win by five wickets against Canterbury in Rangiora. Wellington had conceded a 133-run first-innings lead but Gillespie and Andy McKay demolished Canterbury for 144 in the second innings. Shanan Stewart (57) was the only batsman to resist as Canterbury folded to leave Wellington with 278 to get. Gillespie took 6 for 41 while McKay had 3 for 45.Wellington lost Michael Papps in the fifth over of the chase but Brodie steadied the innings along with Stephen Murdoch (43). Once Murdoch was dismissed with the score on 128, Brodie put on another century partnership with Jesse Ryder, who smashed 82 off 63 deliveries, and hit nine sixes in the game. Though Brodie and Grant Elliott fell in the space of four runs to Todd Astle, Ryder took Wellington within touching distance of victory before he was bowled by Matt McEwan. Luke Woodcock and Harry Boam finished the job in the 68th over.The win had looked unlikely when Wellington had collapsed to 201 in reply to Canterbury’s 334 in the first innings. Reece Young (104) had built on half-centuries from George Worker and Peter Fulton after Canterbury were asked to bat, and despite Boam’s 6 for 51, Canterbury managed a strong total. Logan van Beek and Astle then snapped up nine wickets between them as Wellington slid to 201, despite Brodie’s 50 and Ryder’s 74 off 50.

Centuries from Matthew Sinclair and Kruger van Wyk went in vain, as did Kyle Jarvis’ eight wickets, as Central Districts lost to Northern Districts by 65 runs in Gisborne. Jarvis, the Zimbabwe fast bowler, claimed a five-for in his first match for Central Districts to dismiss Northern Districts for 309 in the first innings. Hamish Marshall and BJ Watling made half-centuries to lift Northern Districts to a competitive total. Central Districts were poor in their reply. Brent Arnel and Graeme Aldridge struck thrice each as Central Districts were shot out for 183.Jarvis claimed three more wickets in the second innings and Bevan Small took four, but Marshall and Watling made their second half-centuries of the game to boost Northern Districts to 280.Central Districts were left with a tall chase of 407 and when Trent Boult reduced them to 78 for 4, it seemed an improbable one as well. Sinclair (121) and van Wyk (110), though, put on 222 runs to lift their side to 300 for 4. Daniel Vettori broke the stand in the 91st over and Sinclair fell to Aldridge in the 92nd. The rest of the line-up caved in soon and Central Districts were bowled out for 341.

Mitchell McClenaghan led with eight wickets in the match as Auckland beat Otago by four wickets in a tense chase in Dunedin. McClenaghan ended the first innings with 6 for 87 but fifties from Neil Broom and Derek de Boorder helped Otago recover from 56 for 4 to post 226.Colin Munro pulled Auckland out of a bigger hole from 46 for 5 with his maiden first-class century. Neil Wagner and Warren McSkimming had Auckland struggling before Munro arrived at No. 7 and proceeded to hammer seven sixes in making 130 from 115 balls. Munro was supported briefly by his captain Gareth Hopkins (46). Munro was the last man to be dismissed as Auckland managed 242.Auckland’s bowlers came hard at Otago in the second innings, and at one stage, had them reeling at 99 for 7. But de Boorder made another half-century to take Otago to 170 and set Auckland a target of 155.Auckland were soon in deep trouble at 28 for 4 with the openers departing for ducks. It was left to Munro to put in another recovery effort but, when he fell for 39, Auckland still needed another 27. Anaru Kitchen ensured there were no further wobbles and remained unbeaten on 46 to bring up victory after tea on the final day.

Swann cleared of drink-driving

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Graeme Swann told police he was on the way to buy a set of screwdrivers to rescue his trapped cat when he was arrested for drink-driving a court heard at the start of the trial

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Feb-2011Graeme Swann has been found not guilty of drink-driving, as his trial came to an end at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.Swann, who is currently on paternity leave before linking up with his England team-mates ahead of their World Cup opener against Netherlands on February 22, was stopped near his home in West Bridgford shortly after 3.00am on April 2 last year, as he drove a white Porsche Cayenne towards a local supermarket, having arrived home to find his cat trapped under the floorboards.During his original trial in August, Swann admitted to having drunk three or four glasses of white wine to celebrate his birthday, and was alleged to have told the arresting officer, PC Steven Denniss, he “shouldn’t have probably been driving”, when pulled over for driving a high-performance car in an area beset by a spate of recent burglaries.The second of two blood samples showed that Swann had 83mg of alcohol in 100ml, which is over the legal limit of 80mg. However District Judge Julia Newton said that it had not been proven that the sample could be used as evidence, after Dr John Mundy, a forensic alcohol consultant, told the court on Tuesday that it was possible the sample had been contaminated.Swann showed little reaction as the judge delivered her not-guilty verdict, and was later asked by reporters if he would be fit for the World Cup, after flying home from Australia with a back problem. “Getting there,” he replied. “It’s a bit stiff but I’ve had a lot of physio.”