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Nisarg Patel, the Most Valuable Player at the USACA T20 National Championship in Florida, is hoping that his performances during the tournament were enough to catch the attention of the USA team management

Peter Della Penna22-Aug-2014Nisarg Patel, the Most Valuable Player at the USACA T20 National Championship in Florida, is hoping that his performances during the tournament were enough to catch the attention of the USA team management and get a possible call-up to the national team for ICC WCL Division Three in Uganda.”I would love to be in the men’s national team as soon as possible,” Patel told ESPNcricinfo. “In order to do that, I have to put in performances. Without performances I’m not going to get anywhere.”Patel, 26, top-scored in two of the three matches played by South West Region and was never dismissed at the tournament. On the opening day, he hit an unbeaten 54 off 29 balls against Central West that included three fours and six sixes. He also took 2 for 14 bowling left-arm spin in an eight-wicket win over North East.A former junior representative of the USA, Patel played for the country at the 2006 ICC U-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka. He successfully completed bachelor’s and masters degrees in pharmaceutical science and took up a job with a US multi-national pharmaceutical company’s branch in the UK.The left-arm spinning allrounder spent the 2011 season playing premier league cricket for Richmond in the Middlesex County Cricket League and then followed it up with two years playing for Chelmsford in the Essex Cricket League. At Chelmsford, he was the first XI’s second highest scorer in 2012 and their leading wicket-taker in premier league matches for both 2012 and 2013. He took 31 wickets at an average of 12.96 in 2012 where he was fifth overall in the league and just three behind Buckhurst Hill’s overseas pro, former New Zealand legspinner Todd Astle.”Playing in England is always a good experience,” Patel said. “Playing with good international players, county players consecutively for the last six or seven years has been a wonderful experience learning a lot from them. I’ve moved back this year to the States for good. Hopefully I can pass on that knowledge and experience to other players and teammates.”After accepting a job transfer that put him back in Los Angeles, Patel is aiming to become more involved in the US cricket scene. He feels he can be a meaningful contributor to the national team if given the opportunity.”The good thing about my job right now is that it’s a project management role so it gives you a lot of flexibility time management wise and job hours wise,” Patel said. “Obviously it’s difficult when you are doing such a high-prospect job and also trying to play professional cricket but I’ve done it in the past. I’ve done it in England for a few years and I don’t see how there should be any problem doing it in the US as well.””I’ve just come back. It’s been a good eight months since coming back, scored a few runs and taken a few wickets. Hopefully I can carry on that momentum and hopefully I’ll get a call.”

Heather Knight made her first Test century as England continued their dogged rearguard action well into the third day at Wormsley

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Aug-2013
ScorecardHeather Knight and Laura Marsh put on a record-breaking partnership for the seventh wicket•Getty ImagesHeather Knight made her first Test century as England continued their dogged rearguard action well into the third day at Wormsley. Knight’s 157 from 338 balls was the seventh-highest Test score by an England woman and she was joined by the equally obdurate Laura Marsh in a stand of 156 – England’s best for the seventh wicket and one run shy of the Test record – that went a long way to staving off the threat of defeat to Australia.With six points on offer in these multi-format Ashes, the incentive to win was clear and evinced by Jodie Fields’ decision to declare with her team six down on the second day. But with the prospect of defeat coming at such a price – a draw will give each side two points – England have knuckled down in an attempt to make sure they don’t lose. Australia had extended their lead to 81 by reaching 64 for 1 by the close, making a draw the most likely result.Resuming on a perilous 172 for 6, still 149 runs behind, Knight and Marsh forged on in the same manner in which they had gone about their business on the on previous evening. The pair soaked up 73 overs of pressure before Knight was run out after being sent back looking for a single.Knight was dropped on 105, wicketkeeper Fields missing a chance down the leg side, but by then she had long-since surpassed her previous best innings, in her only other Test, of 19. She hit 20 fours in all and was particularly strong off her pads in making the third-highest individual total for England against Australia.Marsh, 13 from 114 balls at the start of the day, had progressed to 35 when she lost her partner and Katherine Brunt, who hit her first ball for four, went soon after. But Danielle Hazell stuck around for another 20 overs as Marsh went to her first Test half-century, eventually facing 304 balls for her 55. By the time Australia claimed the final wicket, Erin Osborne finishing with 4 for 67, the deficit was just 17.”I’m really pleased, I think when I went in we were pretty up against it,” Marsh said. “I was just really pleased to be able to hang in there with Heather and support her.”It was the job the team needed and I tried to stick in there and be disciplined with my decision-making. It was really helpful to have Heather at the other end for the vast amount of the time I was there because she just played brilliantly and we kept each other going.”I tried to be positive in defence and approach it that way and pick up runs when they became available.”With a slim lead and a potentially tricky couple of hours to negotiate amid rain showers, Australia’s openers began at a similarly watchful pace, reaching 40 before Jenny Gunn removed Rachael Haynes. First-innings centurion Sarah Elliott accompanied Meg Lanning safely to the close but it will take something special from the usually attacking Fields to force a result.

Afghanistan coach Kabir Khan believes India can lend more influence and funds to help assist his team

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Feb-2013Kabir Khan, the Afghanistan coach, has called for the BCCI to provide more support to Afghanistan cricket, highlighting England’s support for their neighbouring Associate nations.”If you look at England they go out of their way to support the associate cricket nations in their region, which include Holland, Ireland and Scotland,” Kabir told PTI. “They allow their players to play in their county and league system, while giving them valuable assistance through various coaching programmes.”In comparison, South Asia has four Test-playing nations – Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh – [yet despite this] we don’t get the same kind of support, except for Pakistan. India has the influence and money to do a lot for Afghanistan cricket if they wanted. But so far we are still waiting.”There’s a lot of passion for cricket in Afghanistan, and there are good players, but we suffer mainly because we don’t have a domestic cricket structure. We don’t get enough matches in this region.”The Afghanistan team is currently in Lahore for a month-long conditional camp which also includes a series of matches against Pakistan A and several regional sides. The team trained at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, where they were granted access to all facilities and coaches at hand.Afghanistan will play Scotland next month to play in the ICC league series for a four-day match, two ODIs and a T20 in preparation of next year’s World T20. Khan has already set his sights on the 2015 World Cup, which is to be jointly-held by Australia and New Zealand.”Right now we are focusing on improving our fitness and fielding skills,” Kabir said. “We want to play in the next ODI World Cup and make our presence felt.”

Ian Bell’s hamstring strain should not keep him out of contention for England’s first Investec Test squad, according to his director of cricket at Warwickshire, Dougie Brown

George Dobell10-May-2016
ScorecardIan Bell was given a boost after his hamstring injury•Getty ImagesIan Bell’s hamstring strain should not keep him out of contention for England’s first Investec Test squad, according to his director of cricket at Warwickshire, Dougie Brown.Bell left the field on the first day of Warwickshire’s Championship match against Somerset after experiencing pain in his left hamstring. A subsequent scan revealed a “slight strain” in Brown’s words.While any injury doubt at this stage – the squad for the first Test will be picked on Wednesday – is far from ideal, Warwickshire hope Bell would be fit for their next Championship match which starts on Sunday. The Test does not start until Thursday. He had a net at Edgbaston on Tuesday and will bat on Wednesday as required.Bell has not played for England since the final Test of the series against Pakistan in the UAE in November, but has started the season in fine touch – he made a century against Hampshire and looked set for another against Middlesex until bowled by one that kept low – and describes himself as “refreshed” after a period of rest ahead of the season.”He is coming on well,” Brown told ESPNcricinfo. “We certainly hope he’ll be fit for the next game, but it’s a bit too early to say for sure. Usually a hamstring strain would keep a player out for five to 10 days. The next two days will tell us a lot but he will bat in this match if needed.”Meanwhile Brown dismissed concerns over the pitch at Edgbaston for the current game, suggesting there had been some “soft dismissals” on both sides.Several batsmen were struck by the ball on the second day, with Lewis Gregory sustaining what appeared to be an especially hard blow on the helmet. But while Brown admitted there were some cracks in the pitch, he did not think they were serious.”People complain when the wicket is flat and they complain when the wicket helps the bowlers,” he said. “There may be a bit of uneven bounce, but there are also two very good pace attacks at work in this match.”Maybe one or two balls bounced a little, but I saw a couple of batsmen duck into pretty full balls and I think both sides will look back at their dismissals on day two and think them a bit soft.”There was no play on day three of the game at Edgbaston due to rain meaning Warwickshire will resume on day four requiring 318 to win with all 10 wickets in hand. “We’re only thinking about winning this game,” Brown said. Judging by the weather forecast, though, a draw is a strong favourite.Brown also played down speculation linking him with the vacant role as coach of Otago.”New Zealand is a wonderful country,” Brown said. “And my wife is from there. So maybe one day, who knows? But at the minute all my focus is on Warwickshire. We have a lot of unfinished business here and I’m not thinking of anything else.”

Murray Goodwin fell six runs short of his double-century in becoming one of seven wicket for Lancashire spinner Simon Kerrigan

Paul Edwards at Old Trafford16-Jul-2013
ScorecardSimon Kerrigan stopped Murray Goodwin short of his double-ton on the way to a seven-wicket haul•PA PhotosEven in his 41st year Murray Goodwin is a batsman whose thirst for runs remains gloriously unslaked. Angular, compact and resolutely well-organised, the Zimbabwean gives the impression that scoring a century merely lays the foundation of his innings.Goodwin’s demeanour also suggests that he is, in the best sense of the word, a most combative cricketer. It is little wonder that one strays into the semantic field of boxing to describe the technique of this chunky, square-jawed batsman, who mixes a very tight defence with the cuts and punches that earn him his runs.Yet on the second afternoon of this game – and having added 56 runs to his overnight 138 – Goodwin was eventually removed by Simon Kerrigan, a young spinner whose desire for success is no less keen than the man who is more than 16 years his senior. When just six runs short of passing 200 for the tenth time in his career, Glamorgan’s close-season recruit from Sussex carelessly slapped a short ball from the slow left- armer straight to square leg where Andrea Agathangelou pocketed a low two-handed catch with his customary aplomb.That Goodwin was plainly annoyed with himself as he stalked off the field reflected well on his professionalism; all the same, it was unfortunate that his disgruntlement prevented him fully acknowledging the generous applause that came from all the open stands at Old Trafford.In truth, Goodwin’s dismissal – he was eighth out after batting for 458 minutes and facing 354 deliveries – concluded a period in which Kerrigan effected a partial restoration of Lancashire’s fortunes in this game.At 408 for 4 and having lost only Jim Allenby on the second day, lbw to a Glen Chapple shooter for 92, Glamorgan had seemed set to build a total which would have left Lancashire with little but a draw to play for. Instead, Kerrigan had Mark Wallace caught at slip, probably off inside edge and pad, for 37 and then took three wickets for seven runs in 18 balls as the Welsh team declined to 474 all out, a total which is still very formidable without being quite the riches they hoped for.Kerrigan’s performance offered further proof that he possesses the tough character which is the sine qua non of any successful spinner. Having been at less than his impressive best on the first day of this game, Kerrigan took 5 for 48 in 13.1 overs on Tuesday and finished with 7 for 162 from 49.1 overs.The 24-year-old has now taken 39 wickets in nine County Championship games and he is now comfortably the most successful spinner in the country. If Monty Panesar is still the favourite to make the winter tour to Australia as Graeme Swann’s understudy, Kerrigan cannot be too far behind him and it would be only natural for the Lancastrian to cast an eye over the massive stands being erected for the Ashes Test and wonder when his chance might come.For the moment though – which is what the professionals are so often encouraged to experience and enjoy – Kerrigan’s efforts have given Lancashire a sniff of a chance of overhauling Glamorgan’s total and maybe pressing for an unlikely victory in this game. That impression was confirmed when Karl Brown and Luis Reece, Lancashire’s fifth opening partnership in seven games, added an untroubled 93 runs in 40 overs in the evening session.

Chasing 159 in the first semi-final against Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel, Jamaica Tallawahs were 76 for 6 in 13.3 overs, when Andre Russell launched a remarkable assault that won the game with two balls to spare

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Aug-2014
ScorecardAndre Russell muscled Jamaica Tallawahs out of a tight spot in the chase•LatinContent/Getty ImagesJamaica Tallawahs were out for the count. Chasing 159 in the first semi-final against Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel, Tallawahs were 76 for 6 in 13.3 overs – they had just lost their top-scorer and were going at less than a run a ball. Then Andre Russell began hitting out, targeting midwicket straight down the ground and cover, and he did not stop. Russell plundered 62 off 27 balls, and Tallawahs stormed to an unlikely victory with two balls to spare.Russell was on 2 off 2 balls when he refused a single and Nkrumah Bonner, on 39, was run out. Tallawahs needed 80 off 39 deliveries. He threw the first counterpunch a ball later, smacking Shannon Gabriel over long-off for the first of four sixes. Russell then took a single to keep strike and launched Kevon Cooper over the midwicket boundary.Just when there were signs of life in the Tallawahs chase, Russell and Rusty Theron played nine balls without a boundary, and the equation rose to 54 off 26 balls. Russell hacked at that with consecutive sixes off Jason Mohammed, both powerfully hit over midwicket. Theron did his bit by going at a run a ball and rotating strike.Tallawahs took 19 runs in the 17th and 18th overs, and needed 23 in the last two, when the match turned decisively. Russell received three full balls from Gabriel and they disappeared for fours to midwicket, cover and down the ground. With only 8 to get off 7 balls, however, Russell could not take a single, meaning Theron would have to face the start of the final over from Dwayne Bravo.Theron was on 8 off 9 deliveries, and if Red Steel had any relief that Russell was not on strike, it dissipated rapidly. After missing the first ball of the 20th over, Theron took two off the next two deliveries, capitalising on a ricochet off the stumps and a dropped catch by Evin Lewis, before launching Dwayne Bravo over cover for the match-winning six.Russell’s blitz overshadowed Ross Taylor’s innings-reviving 70 off 44 balls for Red Steel, after they had been sent in to bat. David Bernard had reduced them to 36 for 3 in 5.4 overs before Taylor and Darren Bravo added 110 for the fourth wicket. Taylor was the aggressor, hitting three sixes and seven fours, while Darren Bravo used up 35 balls to score 33.Red Steel, however, did not have a powerful finish after Taylor was dismissed. They scored only nine runs off the last ten deliveries of the innings, losing three wickets in that time, to finish on 155 for 6. For a little more than two thirds of the Tallawahs chase – before Russell’s attack – that total looked like it would be enough.

Jesse Lingard is hoping to land a new contract in 2024, with the ex-Manchester United star promoting himself during solo training sessions in Dubai.

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Released by Nottingham Forest in 2023Ex-England star still without a clubWorking on fitness amid talk of U.S. moveWHAT HAPPENED?

The former England international was released by Nottingham Forest at the end of the 2022-23 campaign and has been without a club ever since. He has taken in trial spells at West Ham and Al-Ettifaq, but no offers have been put to him.

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Lingard is looking to stay in shape, ensuring that he is ready for any call, and has headed to the Middle East for some warm weather work during the English winter. He is putting in the hard yards, with videos posted on social media in a bid to catch the eye of potential suitors.

DID YOU KNOW?

Lingard took in 232 appearances for United during his time at Old Trafford, while earning 32 caps for England, but has found form and fitness hard to come by in recent times. He is, however, still only 31 years of age and believes that he has plenty left in the tank.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR LINGARD?

There has been talk of Lingard heading to the United States, where he would join Lionel Messi in MLS, but the 2024 campaign in America is not due to get underway until February so there is more work for him to do behind the scenes before any permanent deal is done. Everton are also said to be mulling over an approach, according to , which could deliver a shock return to the Premier League.

A round-up of the Pro50 Championship games that took place in March 14, 2014

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Apr-2014Mid West Rhinos collapsed in the face of a modest target, losing by 22 runs to Matabeleland Tuskers in Bulawayo. Chasing 165, Rhinos were comfortably placed at 72 for 2, but the loss of Brendan Taylor triggered a collapse, with the offspinner John Nyumbu running through the middle order with a four-wicket haul.Taylor and Malcolm Waller added an exact 50 for the third wicket after the openers fell early. Taylor was run out for a brisk 47 off 49 balls in the 16th over and in the following over, Nyumbu struck with his first wicket, dismissing Peter Moor for a duck. The Rhinos lost their way and when Waller was trapped lbw by Nyumbu for 40, they were struggling at 125 for 7. The innings was wrapped up in the 35th over and the bottom-placed Tuskers picked up their third win. Earlier, the Tuskers batsmen too struggled to put up big partnerships. At 95 for 7, they were struggling to post a competitive score, but a 52-run stand for the eighth wicket between Nyumbu and Tawanda Mupariwa turned out to be crucial to the final outcome. The left-arm spinner Bradley Wadlan picked up 3 for 24.It was a one-sided game at Mutare Sports Club, with Mountaineers strolling by nine wickets against Southern Rocks. Chasing a meagre 139, Hamilton Masakadza smashed an unbeaten 83 off 78 balls to power Mountaineers home in just 27 overs. The opener Tino Mawoyo made a more sedate 34 off 65 balls with two boundaries but it was Masakadza who took charge with 11 fours and two sixes in his knock to guide his side to their third win.The Mountaineers could have been chasing a more paltry target, having flattened the Rocks to 26 for 5 at one stage. The seamers did the damage, with Tendai Chatara removing the openers before Donald Tiripano ran through the middle order to finish with 3 for 39. Stubborn resistance from the lower order kept the Mountaineers in the field for nearly all the 50 overs, but they could only muster 138. Prince Masvaure top scored with 34.

Chelsea's Sam Kerr looks to retain her title, but team-mate Guro Reiten and four other top players stand in her path

The PFA Awards have been a highlight of the footballing calendar for 50 years, and the organisation have now revealed the shortlist for the 2023 Women's Players' Player of the Year, with six brilliant players fighting it out for the gong.

Chelsea's Sam Kerr returns in an attempt to retain her title, while the Blues' Norwegian star Guro Reiten also finds herself as a nominee. The west London club have had a player win the award four out of the last five years.

Former Manchester United star Ona Batlle, who just reached the World Cup final with Spain, is also nominated along with Manchester City and Jamaican sensation Bunny Shaw, while Aston Villa's Rachel Daly and Arsenal's Frida Maanum close out the nominees.

Find out more about the six-woman shortlist below…

GettySam Kerr | Club: Chelsea FC | Nationality: Australia

Chelsea's Australian striker returns on the ballot sheet in an attempt to retain her title as the PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year. Kerr scored 29 goals across 38 appearances in all competitions for the Blues during the 2022/23 campaign, earning Chelsea's Player of the Year award en route to becoming a WSL champion for the fourth-straight season.

AdvertisementGettyRachel Daly | Club: Aston Villa | Nationality: England

Leading scorer of the 2022/23 WSL campaign, Daly notched 22 goals in league play and 30 in total across all competitions. Daly was named WSL Player of the Season following her terrific 2022/23 campaign, which also saw Aston Villa reach their first-ever FA Cup semi-final.

Getty ImagesGuro Reiten | Club: Chelsea FC | Nationality: Norway

Reiten's brilliant 2022/23 campaign saw her win the FA Cup with Chelsea and top it off with a WSL title for the fourth-straight season. The Norway international had 13 goals and 19 assists across all competitions for the Blues and was particularly important when Kerr was absent through injury.

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GettyKhadija 'Bunny' Shaw | Club: Manchester City | Nationality: Jamaica

The 2022/23 season was an outstanding campaign for Shaw, who scored 31 goals across all competitions while adding nine assists along the way for Manchester City. The 26-year-old attacker extended her contract in May through to 2026 after her record-setting season.

India’s bowling coach B Arun has conceded his team’s bowlers need to be more disciplined, and that a lot of work needs to be done on them, after India conceded 348 runs on the opening day of the SCG Test against Australia

Sidharth Monga at the SCG06-Jan-20151:54

‘We are working on consistency’ – B Arun

India’s bowling coach B Arun has conceded his team’s bowlers need to be more disciplined, and that a lot of work needs to be done on them. India are yet to take 20 wickets in this Test series, Arun’s first as India’s bowling coach. Day one of the SCG Test, with an injured Ishant Sharma missing, was possibly India’s worst show in the field yet. Australia plundered 348 for the loss of two wickets on a flat pitch.”It’s been a mixed bag, and we have to be a lot more disciplined than what we are,” he said. “But there have been occasions where we have shown discipline. I think the consistency is going to be the key.”Arun was asked what went wrong with India’s bowlers so often, for nobody wants to bowl poorly. He said: “There is a lot of work that needs to be done on that. Obviously we are working on that for them to be more consistent and disciplined. Every kind of wicket that you bowl on is different. You have got to adjust to the wicket before you do that, and that’s exactly what we are working on.”What kind of work is being done Arun wouldn’t say. “It’s very difficult for me to elaborate on the kind of process that we set to work on these guys. Yes, it’s an issue, and yes we need to be more consistent, we are aware of that.”Arun said the fitness of India’s bowlers vis-à-vis other attacks was not an issue. “Obviously the fittest team is playing here so it’s not a question of fitness,” he said. “I don’t think it is fatigue either. Yes, it’s a big mental thing to be successful in international cricket, and that comes with experience.”According to Arun, it all came down to consistency. “We are a young side, we are in the process of rebuilding and learning,” he said. “We have performed very well so far, we have been competitive. If you notice, the first two matches could have gone either way. There are a lot of lessons to be learnt. The fact is that we are not as consistent as we need to be. That’s a fact, and that’s something we really need to look hard and work on. That’s exactly what we have been doing. I think this is going to be a great learning experience for us to move forward.”Ishant has been India’s best bowler in this series, but he doesn’t have the wickets to show for it, with nine dismissals. Is it because he is forced to bowl restrictively as the other bowlers have not been consistent? “If you look at the trend in this series, it’s been hard work to fetch wickets,” Arun said. “It’s the case for bowlers from both sides. One who is willing to work hard in terms of line and consistency has been successful. Ishant has had a fair amount of success, and by far he was the most consistent Indian bowler on this tour so far.”When told of Ishant’s average of 48.22 in the series, Arun paused for a moment and said: “You can only work, you can never guarantee success.”Arun confirmed that Ishant sat out with pain in the left knee, and that Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped. “Pujara has been exceptional for us earlier, but all the decisions and the composition of the team is decided by the team management,” he said. “People who are benched are spoken to, and they will be given sufficient opportunities to come back too. We are in the process of rebuilding, and we have to try out a lot of people, and see how far it goes. Then we have got to work out the combination.”