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Northern Districts’ all-rounder Scott Styris has won the race to convince the New Zealand selectors that he should be the player to stay on in the West Indies for the Test series.When the touring team was announced, one place was left open in the Test side, for another player to be added, and after his batting in two of the One-Day Internationals and yesterday’s six-wicket performance in New Zealand’s first win of the series, Styris was named today as the final player.Selection chairman Sir Richard Hadlee said: “There has been some healthy competition for the final Test place and I guess you could say Scott has emerged from the pack to take the vacant all-rounder position.”The full team is:Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, Ian Butler, Chris Harris, Robbie Hart, Matt Horne, Craig McMillan, Chris Martin, Mark Richardson, Scott Styris, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent.The first Test match is to be played at the Kensington Oval in Barbados starting next Friday.

The day began with Surrey pressing on, losing nightwatchman Ian Salisbury almost immediately for four and Ward, Brown, Stewart and Tudor then each lost his wicket assaulting the Somerset attack, who, Bulbeck aside, were less threatening than in the first innings. Sadly for the sake of the game wickets came in the wrong numbers and at the wrong times for either side to force the issue. When Martin Bicknell began his innings in defensive mode it became clear that the home side had given up on persuit of a victory. Blackwell bowled tidily for his wickets and Parsons last spell of the game was his best – good news for Somerset who will be without their main strike bowler for most of the Summer.For Somerset Caddick was warned for running on the wicket (something Salisbury and Saqlain would presumably have applauded more than his own batsmen) and consistantly overstepped when delivering his effort ball. The wickets of Salisbury, Ward, Stewart, Brown and Tudor were due at least in part to forcing shots, but they were taken nonetheless, had a couple more awkward catching chances been held onto then a target might have been on for the visitors, however the field was never overly attacking and it was clear that after the first hour’s play a draw was the visitor’s preferred result.Surrey could, and perhaps should have tried to make more of the game, especially since, as both Dutch and Blackwell enjoyed some success, their own spinners would probably have presented Somerset with troubles aplenty, had the upper order managed to generate another thirty or forty runs in their early attack – or indeed been bowled out cheaply, an exciting finish would have been the result. In the end the loss of four sessions and two sides more eager to preserve their unbeaten status than charge after an improbable victory killed the game.Somerset’s brief innings saw James Ormond handed the new ball, and unfortunately use it to produce the two worst overs I have seen him deliver, the no-ball and three easy four balls that were capitalised on by the Somerset openers could easily have been accompanied by two or three wides given and a couple more boundaries, before he found his length and line and began to trouble the batsmen. At the other end a classic confrontation between Alex Tudor and Marcus Trescothick in particular who struck him for two fine boundaries before being undone by a magnificent ball across him from the tall londoner. After that though both Cox and Burns failed to connect with the edge for the balls that beat them and middle those that didn’t so the game petered out.

Sun Bank has signed a six-figure deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to sponsor its National Under 15 Club Cricket Championship for the next three years.Sun Bank has been associated with the competition for many years, making SunBank one of the ECB’s longest standing partners. The number of clubs competing has grown from an entry of 817 clubs in 1985, to a record number of 1479 last year. This year’s tournament started in April with more than 1500 clubs taking part which means many thousands of young cricketers participating throughout the British Isles.The Championship has featured in the development of a number of Englandcricketers such as Nasser Hussain, Marcus Trescothick, Graham Thorpe and Andrew Flintoff. One of the first ECB National Cricket Academy students and now drafted into the current England Squad, Flintoff is often remembered for hisextraordinary feat in the 1993 competition of scoring 234 not out in 20 overs.Tim Lamb, ECB’s Chief Executive, said, “I am delighted that Sun Bank hasdecided to continue it’s association with the tournament with the signing ofthis three year sponsorship deal.. Grass roots development is vital for thefuture of the game, and this competition in particular has played an important role in the development of some of England’s best cricketers. I am certain it will continue to do so.”The Sun Bank Under 15 National Club Cricket Championship provides a focalpoint for Under 15 club cricket, giving the players something to aim for intheir season. Club cricket in England and Wales would be poorer without it.”Despite a challenging market for sponsorship, this deal proves that cricketcontinues to appeal to investors, and we look forward to making furtherannouncements during this summer.”Commenting on the deal, Sun Bank’s Chief Executive, Peter Lucas, said: “SunBank is pleased to be playing a part in the ECB’s objectives of encouragingthe widest possible participation and interest in the game. Cricketprovides a marvellous opportunity for young people to play sport within ateam environment with all the positive benefits that can bring. We knowthat team work is crucial in today’s business world and at this excitingtime in Sun Bank’s history we are actively pursuing a larger share of themortgage market through team work with Independent Financial Advisors toprovide relevant specialist products and continuing excellent service forour clients.The Under 15 National Club Cricket Championship has been in existence since1972, when it was initiated by the Lord’s Taverners.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Thursday said it had not invited India to participate in the Golden Jubilee Test. But the establishment neither denied nor explained if the Jubilee Test was not scheduled between Oct 26 and 30 , why it was slotted in Pakistan’s forthcoming international matches.The statement said: “The PCB denies having sent any invitation to India for the Golden Jubilee Test nor does it intend to send one in the near future.”The PCB chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia is on record having categorically stated that until cricketing relations between the two countries are normalized, there is no question of inviting an Indian team to Pakistan.”According to ICC’s 10-year calender, India is also scheduled to visit Pakistan from April 7 for three Tests and five One-day Internationals.Meanwhile, the PCB thanked TransWorld International for the help rendered by them during their current partnership. But the board stated that when the current contract expires in April next year, it will call fresh bids from all the leading contenders for the next broadcasting rights.”The matter will be decided in a transparent manner and in favor of the highest bidder of merit. The PCB is looking forward to maximize its resources for meeting its expanding development program.”A spokesman of the TWI had Wednesday expressed his disappointment the way his company was being treated by the PCB. He had said the PCB was undermining his company’s contributions and was set to award next broadcasting rights to Abdul Rehman Bukhatir’s newly launched Ten Sports.

Rajasthan Royals

Four defeats in a row means Royals could miss out on a top-two finish after dominating the points table for much of the season. They have now left the door ajar for both SRH and CSK to go past them on the points table. A win in their last game against KKR will at least ensure that CSK can’t catch them on 18, but SRH could still go past them and finish second if they win both their remaining matches, as they have a superior net run rate.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

If SRH get at least one more point – either through a washout or a win – then RCB’s only chance will be to finish ahead of CSK on the points table. That means beating them by at least 18 runs, if they score 200. If they’re chasing 200, they will need to win in about 18.1 overs (depending on the runs scored off the winning shot). If their margin of victory is smaller, they can qualify only if SRH lose both their games, by any margin, and stay on 14. A defeat or a washout against CSK will knock RCB out of the tournament.

Chennai Super Kings

A win against RCB on Saturday will ensure CSK’s qualification. If they lose by a margin of less than 18 runs (chasing 200), then their NRR will stay above that of RCB’s and they will still qualify regardless of other results. If CSK lose by a larger margin, they will have to hope SRH lose their remaining games and finish behind on run rate, in which case both CSK and RCB will qualify.CSK can also take the second spot on the points table if RR lose their last game, and if SRH win no more than one match. Then, a win against RCB could propel CSK to second position, given that their NRR is currently better than those of both SRH and RR.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Royals’ loss of form in the last leg of the league gives SRH an excellent chance of taking the coveted second position on the points table, especially since their last two games are at home against teams in the bottom three. Even if RR win their last game by 50 runs after scoring 200, their NRR will only improve to 0.435; SRH can go past that if they win their last two games by a combined margin of 25 runs (assuming a score of 200 in each game). They need only one more point to ensure qualification.

Delhi Capitals

DC finish their IPL 2024 on 14 points, but their net run rate of -0.377 means they have almost no chance of finishing among the top four. For them to make the playoffs, they’ll have to hope that CSK beat RCB and finish on 16, and SRH lose their last two matches by big margins so that their net run rate slips below that of DC. Given the difference in their net run rates currently, that translates into a combined margin of defeat of 194 runs for SRH in their two matches (if they are chasing 201 each time). Barring miracles, that means DC’s season has come to an end.

Lucknow Super Giants

LSG can still finish on 14 points, but even if they score 200 in their final match against Mumbai Indians and beat them by 100 runs, their net run rate will only improve to -0.351. Long story short, like DC, LSG are out of the race too, barring several miraculous results.

Cameroon fast bowler Maeva Douma, playing in the Women’s T20 World Cup African region qualifier against Uganda in Gaborone on Sunday, ran four of the opposition batters out backing up at the non-striker’s end.With Uganda in a dominant position at 153 for 1 in 15.3 overs after opting to bat, Douma ran opening batter Kevin Awino out first. In the last ball of the same over, top scorer Rita Musamali was also dismissed in a similar manner for 59. Douma returned to dismiss two more batters – Immaculate Nakisuuyi and Janet Mbabazi – in the 20th over, reducing Uganda to 186 for 6. Uganda finished with 190 for 6 after 20 overs.This, however, didn’t turn out to be much of a setback for Uganda, as they bowled Cameroon out for 35 off 14.3 overs for a 155-run win. Concy Aweko was the pick of the bowlers as she took 3 for 4 in her four overs.While the rare mode of dismissal is well within the laws of cricket, it has often sparked a debate regarding the spirit of the game. But the dismissals did not appear to evoke any strong reactions from the Uganda batters on the field.Cameroon, along with Botswana and Eswatini, are competing in an ICC event for the first time. Cameroon, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Uganda are placed in Group B in the 11-team tournament, which will end on September 19. Uganda are currently leading the group table at four points, with two wins in three games.As a result of a Cameroon player testing positive for Covid-19 on arrival in Gaborone on September 8, the whole squad was placed in isolation until Saturday and were re-tested, after which their campaign got on the road.

Former Sri Lanka batter Avishka Gunawardene has been named Sri Lanka’s Under-19 coach until the end of 2022.Gunawardene had been approached by the Afghanistan Cricket Board for the post of batting coach, and he had in fact agreed to take up the position temporarily, for the series that was meant to be played against Pakistan, in Hambantota, this month.However, it is understood that Gunawardene had always hoped for a long-term role within Sri Lankan cricket, rather than an overseas appointment. The uncertainty around Afghanistan’s cricket programme following the Taliban’s takeover of the country in August had also prompted Gunawardene to back out of the role, leaving him free to take up the Under-19 job in Sri Lanka.Related

• Avishka Gunawardene appointed Afghanistan batting coach

• Avishka Gunawardene cleared of corruption charges

“The next Under-19 World Cup is just in January next year, so I’ve only got about 100 days to prepare the boys for that,” Gunawardene told ESPNcricinfo. “A lot of these boys haven’t played for the last 18 months [because of the pandemic], so there’s work to do.”This will be Gunawardene’s first major coaching role since being cleared of corruption charges by the ICC in May. Gunawardene has had previous stints with Sri Lanka’s Under-19 team, and had also been the Sri Lanka A coach for several years, before being suspended after the ICC indicated he was under suspicion.Gunawardene maintained his innocence right through the process. He remains the only figure to have had all charges against him cleared, from among the recent raft of former Sri Lanka players who have attracted such attention.

Sri Lanka were forced to train indoors at the Wanderers Stadium on Monday, after weekend rains had seeped through the covers and made the outdoor practice pitches unusable.Though there was no rain, overcast conditions did little to aid the drying of the surfaces on Monday, and there is a chance both teams’ training will be affected on Tuesday as well. The South Africa squad does not officially convene till Tuesday, and as such, have not trained yet in Johannesburg.”Our guys are working on it,” Greg Fredericks, CEO of the Lions, the franchise based at the Wanderers, told ESPNcricinfo. “We had a lot of rain from Friday and through the weekend but we are doing our best.”Groundstaff did provide a centre track for Sri Lanka’s bowlers to train on – no one batted there – and will also aim to provide one for South Africa on Tuesday. Additionally it is hoped one of the practice pitches will have dried sufficiently to conduct a nets session on.Sri Lanka were briefly dismayed at the prospect of training indoors on surfaces they felt may be slower than the outdoor practice pitches, and indeed the Test-match surface. But after talking to groundstaff they are hopeful facilities will improve in the approach to the game.

Australia captain Steven Smith has challenged his deputy David Warner to do a Karun Nair and go on to make the sort of monumental scores that will be essential if the tourists are to have any hope of besting India at home next month.In a frank interview with ESPNcricinfo, Smith also declared his side’s recent aggressive batting approach in Asian conditions to be “rubbish” and pinpointed the left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe as critical to Australia’s chances.Warner, who made his second century in as many matches on his SCG home turf on Sunday, also led Sunrisers Hyderabad to the 2016 IPL title, but has not reached three figures in an overseas Test for more than two years. Smith said that after both captain and deputy failed to post centuries before last year’s Sri Lanka series had been decided, the team’s senior batsmen had to set their sights on hundreds – big ones.”It’s pretty important that our senior players step up in those conditions,” Smith said. “It’s something we didn’t do overly well in Sri Lanka and we didn’t get the results that we wanted there. I’m going to do it differently to Davey, you don’t want to get rid of someone’s natural flair and the way they play. But if he gets to a hundred it might be about knuckling down again and going big, get 200 or 300, like Karun Nair did a few weeks ago.”Those are the big scores that set your team up, so we are just being hungry and willing to keep going and not let up. I think we’ve been guilty in the past of saying ‘a ball’s going to have your name on it, so get them before one gets you’. To be honest with you, it’s rubbish.”I think if your defence is good and you back that, then the one that’s got your name on it generally spins past the bat or does too much. So get that out of your mind, it’s not going to be said again – it’s going to be about backing your defence and making sure you can bat for long enough. Everyone in our team has got the shots, but get yourself in, things get easier, and then be willing to go big.”Victories overseas are seldom achieved in the barnstorming manner Australia are used to imposing in home conditions – as the victorious 2004 India tourists have often attested. To that end, Smith said he was eager to see his men fight matches out that they are unable to dominate from the start. Too often, he said, Australian batsmen are guilty of simply playing their “natural game” rather than the situation, particularly when trying to scratch out a draw.Steve O’Keefe – who skipped part of the BBL to prepare physically and technically for India – will be crucial to Australia’s hopes of a strong performance in India, says Steven Smith•Getty Images

“Obviously you want to win first and foremost, but a draw’s a much better result than a loss,” Smith said. “If the game’s dead and buried and we can’t win, you want to see the fight and the willingness to put your natural game away and do everything you can to stay out there and get the team a draw.”That’s something we haven’t done overly well in the past. When we’re a long way behind the game and chasing 500 or something in the last innings, guys have still just gone out and played, rather than do what Faf [du Plessis] did in Adelaide a few years ago and just block it until the game’s gone, and give yourself a chance to survive.”Smith also pinpointed O’Keefe as critical to Australia’s campaign, as a bowler of the sort whose consistently pitched, skidding or spinning deliveries are so often successful in Asia. O’Keefe’s spotty injury record was to the visitors’ great cost last year, when he looked highly dangerous in the first Test in Sri Lanka but was then lost to the match and the series with a hamstring strain.”He has had some issues with his body, and I think he has done the right thing taking the BBL off,” Smith said. “I think he’s going to be a big player for us in those conditions. He understands how to bowl in those conditions, he had a bit of success in the A tour in India.”He was a big loss for us in Sri Lanka, he looked like taking a wicket every ball, and he has worked with Sri [bowling consultant Sridharan Sriram] from India who understands how to bowl in those conditions as well, understands the different arm angles, seam positions and paces you have to bowl on those wickets. That’s a big plus. If we’re going to have success on this tour, he’s going to be a big part of it.”The full interview with Steven Smith is here

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsIan Bell top scored with 45 as Perth Scorchers put up 177 on the board•Getty Images

Perth Scorchers moved to the top of the Big Bash League table with an emphatic win over Sydney Thunder at the WACA.This was the Scorchers well-worn blueprint down to a tee: bat first – they were invited to do so by Thunder – let the top order accumulate – Michael Klinger and Ian Bell this time – before the allrounders bash them to an intimidating total – Mitchell Marsh took care of that part – then the bowlers squeeze out a comfortable win – Andrew Tye and David Willey were front and centre in that regard.The outcome was a 50-run victory, which left champions Thunder rooted to the bottom of the table with four defeats from four games. Another against Melbourne Stars on Wednesday would end their title defence.

Morgan to be replaced by James Vince

Sydney Thunder batsman Eoin Morgan will be replaced by James Vince when he heads to India to captain England this week, ESPNcricinfo understands.
Morgan will depart after the Thunder’s game against Melbourne Stars on Wednesday, with Vince playing the final three fixtures of a tricky campaign for the BBL champions.
Vince was dropped by England after managing just 53 runs in three ODI innings in Bangladesh in October, while he failed to reach 50 in seven Tests against Sri Lanka and Pakistan during the English summer.
He has a fine record as a top order batsman in T20, however, with almost 3,000 runs at a strike rate of 128.44, and 20 scores of more than 50.

Thunder’s fielding returns
One of the most memorable aspects of Thunder’s three-wicket defeat to Brisbane Heat last week was their horrific catching as the chase got tight. Jake Doran, Shane Watson and Andre Russell were all guilty, but from the first over in Perth, Thunder were much improved.Ben Rohrer took a wonderful diving catch at cover to set the tone, then Pat Cummins’ tumbling take at mid-on dismissed Michael Klinger and broke an 85-run partnership for the second wicket. The whole performance in the field was raised, with Chris Green notably impressive in the deep and debutant Jay Lenton tidy behind the stumps, even if he did miss a very sharp stumping. Adam Voges, the reprieved batsman, had to go back to the pavilion anyway, twinging his hamstring while attempting a big sweep shot.Thunder’s poor batting meant very little of that mattered on Sunday, but it was a small step in the right direction.Scorchers blazing towards final
Like their female counterparts, the Scorchers look the strongest side in the BBL. They have a settled combination, and their additions slot perfectly into their plans. Bell builds a platform at the top of the batting order while Mitchell Johnson is a wicket-taking threat in the middle overs. In the absence of Brad Hogg, their spin bowling reserves seem weak, but Ashton Turner continues to impress as a resourceful and intelligent cricketer. He added a handy 20 runs in the slog overs, took an important wicket – Eoin Morgan’s – and three good catches, too.…And are set to be unfazed by further absentees
Given they are missing bowlers of the quality of Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Joel Paris, the Scorchers’ depth and excellence is remarkable. They did not have Ashton Agar today and it will be interesting to see how they handle the absence of the injured Voges and the outstanding David Willey – who again picked up wickets by swinging the white ball in the Powerplay. He dismissed both Thunder openers, with Ryan Gibson, bowled, and Kurtis Patterson, caught behind. Willey will be replaced in the squad by Tim Bresnan.Thunder’s batting woes
Nothing sums up Thunder’s slide like the fact that their top scorer was Cummins, a bowler unlikely to describe himself as an allrounder. He has more runs than any of his team-mates this summer.They may have lost the experience of Michael Hussey and Jacques Kallis to retirement, and the excellence of Usman Khawaja to international duty, but the fact is their senior batsmen have not performed. Watson, Russell, and to a lesser extent Morgan are struggling for form – all three fell very softly in Perth – failing to shape games and leaving the lower order too much to do.The debutant Lenton, Chris Green and Cummins, until he was brilliantly run out by wicketkeeper Sam Whiteman with a direct hit from square leg, battled gamely, but it was too late. The same may be true of their season as a whole.The weakness of Thunder’s batting makes it even stranger that Watson, upon winning the toss, chose to bowl – although that is the current trend, with 11 of 13 captains opting to chase so far in the tournament. Scorchers, with their excellent record defending modest totals, must have been licking their lips.