Tag Futebol

Dala returns, as does Rabada, who had missed SA’s last assignment against India

Firdose Moonda06-Nov-2020Kagiso Rabada is back in South Africa’s white-ball squads after missing their last ODI assignment against India, with a groin strain. Seamer Glenton Stuurman, who received his first international call-up, and Junior Dala, who has not played for South Africa since March 2019, were also included in the 24-man squad for the upcoming three T20Is and three ODIs against England.The six-match series will be the first international cricket played in South Africa in almost eight months since the home summer concluded with white-ball cricket against Australia. All the players who were involved in limited-overs matches against Australia at home and those who were part of the squad that went to India have been picked in this squad, apart from one big name: Dale Steyn.Steyn, 37, retired from Test cricket last August and despite playing three matches for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the ongoing IPL, was unavailable for selection for the upcoming series. Given that Steyn was not awarded a national contract in March and is omitted from this squad, there are signs that his international career has ended even though he had previously indicated that he hoped to feature in the T20 World Cup.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

That tournament was postponed by a year, and South Africa’s planning for the 2021 tournament in India is set to begin now. “This is an important season for the team, with an ICC T20 World Cup coming up late next year in India,” Graeme Smith, director of cricket, said.” I’m sure that the T20 series, in particular, is going to boast some explosive performances for cricket fans to enjoy at home.”With slower subcontinental surfaces in mind, the bowlers in this squad included a strong complement of spinners, led by Tabraiz Shamsi who will compete for a spot in the starting XI with a quartet of left-arm spinners: Keshav Maharaj, George Linde, Bjorn Fortuin and allrounder Jon-Jon Smuts.ALSO READ – Covid-19: Six Warriors players withdrawn from opening roundRabada, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje, who have all been in action at the IPL, will lead the pace attack that also included Dala, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lutho Sipamla, Beuran Hendricks and Stuurman. All but Stuurman and Sipamla returned to action this week in the domestic first-class competition. Stuurman was forced to withdraw from the Warriors squad after being among four players who were in direct contact with two other players that tested positive for Covid19 while Sipamla is nursing an injury. Sisanda Magala, who was in South Africa’s white-ball plans last summer but faced fitness challenges, has not found a place in this squad.Junior Dala returns after a long absence because of injury•AFP via Getty Images

All the members of the batting group have been in action recently, including Faf du Plessis, who averaged over 40 for the Chennai Super Kings at the IPL. Du Plessis will travel to Pakistan for the PSL playoffs and is expected to return to South Africa by no later than November 18, giving him around 10 days at home before the England series starts. The series will kick off with the first T20I at the Newlands on November 27.Du Plessis will play the role of senior batsman, after stepping away from the captaincy last summer, with Quinton de Kock, currently the fifth-highest run-scorer in IPL 2020, leading the side in white-ball formats. South Africa have given themselves plenty of options for who will open with de Kock with Temba Bavuma, Janneman Malan and Reeza Hendricks all in the squad. That has left no room for Aiden Markram, who has not played white-ball cricket for South Africa since the 2019 World Cup.David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen and Rassie van der Dussen make up an experienced middle order while Phehlukwayo and Dwaine Pretorius are the two allrounders in the squad. Chris Morris, who has played nine matches for RCB and has sustained a quad injury ahead of the Eliminator, is also not part of the South Africa squad. Like Markram, Morris last played for South Africa at the 2019 World Cup and like Steyn, he does not have a national contract.This was the first squad picked by new convenor of selectors Victor Mpitsang, who started work on Monday. His next task is to mull over who will take over as Test captain, with South Africa set to return to the longest format against Sri Lanka over the festive season.

The move continues significant recent behind-the-scenes changes at Queensland following the resignation of CEO Max Walters earlier this month

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jun-2019Former Queensland captain Chris Simpson has been appointed the new Cricket Queensland chairman after Sal Vasta stepped down to continue significant upheaval at the state.It is understood that the Bulls Masters, a group formed of former Queensland players Jimmy Maher, Ian Healy, Andy Bichel, Martin Kent and Michael Kasprowicz, pushed hard for the change. The influence of the group has grown since it was formed in 2010 and they are now a corporate sponsor of Queensland Cricket.The deputy chairman, Ian Mitchell, will also leave his post with former Australia pace bowler Kirsten Pike taking the role.Vasta’s departure continues the major recent behind-the-scenes changes at Queensland following the resignation of CEO Max Walters earlier this month.”Queensland Cricket is in an exciting phase of growth and success, which is credit to the hard work and dedication of our employees and volunteers across the state. I am pleased to leave the role as Chair at the right time with our game in a positive position and a bright future ahead,” Vasta said.Simpson said: “Sal has led cricket in Queensland with distinction during his tenure and we thank him for his contribution as Chairman. Under Sal’s leadership the current QC strategy was established with a purpose to deliver outstanding life experiences for Queensland communities anywhere, anytime. The foundations for this vision are set and Queensland Cricket is now able to continue delivering our strategy.”Kasprowicz, currently a non-executive director with Cricket Australia, is one of the favourites to be the new CEO along with another former Queensland seamer Greg Rowell.

Somerset’s upheaval has continued as chief executive, Lee Cooper, has signalled his intention to step down after only nine months in the job

David Hopps14-Mar-2018Lee Cooper, who took over the role of Somerset chief executive only nine months ago, is to relinquish the position because of pressures of work.Cooper had told Somerset that he could stand aside from the bulk of his duties at Cooper Associates, one of England’s fastest-growing financial services companies, where he remains as a non-executive director.But that scenario has not materialised as he has found it increasingly difficult to distance himself from a company that he founded, and which lies just across the road from the Taunton ground that carries its name.Alarm calls several hours before dawn have not been uncommon as he has attempted to balance both roles.In a statement issued by the club, Cooper said: “When I took up the role of chief executive at Somerset, I assured the then chairman and the committee that I would be able to fulfil my duties whilst standing aside completely from my former responsibilities with Cooper Associates.”It has become increasingly apparent to me that it has not been as straight forward as I envisaged to do so.”I do not believe that it is fair to the club that I continue as Chief Executive if it is likely that other business commitments begin to affect the amount of time that I can properly devote to its affairs.”Andy Nash, Somerset’s former chairman, has confirmed that he has no interest in returning to the county in a new role, remarking that his own chief executive days are behind him.Nash resigned as Somerset chairman to become a Board member of the ECB but he stood down from the Board last week in protest about additional payments to Test-hosting grounds.Nash claimed the payments were further evidence of a desire within the higher echelons of ECB to dismantle the 18-county system in favour of as few as eight city-based teams – precisely the model being used for the new Twenty20 competition.Charles Clark, Nash’s replacement as chairman, will now supervise the latest upheaval in Taunton: “I have been aware for some time that Lee has been facing some very challenging personal decisions,” he said. “Whilst his tenure has been relatively short, he has impressed all who have come into contact with him with his enormous work ethic, diligence, openness, organisational capabilities, courage, determination and passion for our club.”Cooper certainly achieved much in his short time. He restructured the cricket department, resulting in the return of Andy Hurry and the departure at the end of last season of Matthew Maynard as coach.At the end of last season, he threatened legal action action against the ECB during Middlesex’s appeal over relegation which, had it been successful, would have sent Somerset down in their place.He also revamped the club’s membership structure, raising additional revenue but bringing a mixed response. He was forced to publish an an open letter in which he addressed claims of a “conflict of interest” between his roles at Somerset CCC and Cooper Associates, stressing: “Personally, I’m a Somerset supporter first and an employee second and from my perspective, we’re in this together.”To complete a feverish period, there was also disappointment. When the ECB released their Major Match List for 2020-2024, Taunton failed to gain any England internationals and also failed to be chosen as a venue – even a part-time venue – for the the new domestic T20 tournament due to start in 2020. In the West Country, there was talk of ECB betrayal.

Pakistan’s Test captain has said a change of captaincy won’t make as much difference to Pakistan’s cricket as an overhaul of the domestic system

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Feb-2017

PCB invites current and former players to conference

Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chairman, will conduct a round-table conference with current and former players on March 6 and 7 in Lahore to discuss ways to improve the performances of Pakistan’s senior and junior teams. The conference will be chaired by Inzamam-ul-Haq, the chief selector, and Mudassar Nazar, director academies. Mushtaq Ahmed, the NCA head coach, will serve as co-ordinator.
Current and former players invited to the conference include Imran Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Zaheer Abbas, Wasim Bari, Shoaib Akhtar, Aamir Sohail, Javed Miandad, Rashid Latif, Ramiz Raja, Moin Khan, Abdul Qadir, Aaqib Javed, Iqbal Qasim, Bazid Khan and Saeed Ajmal.
The five main topics of discussion are improving team performance, domestic structure, improvement of pitches, coaching of national and junior teams, and encouraging of foreign teams to tour Pakistan.

Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq has said a change of captaincy won’t make as much difference to Pakistan’s cricket as an overhaul of the domestic system will.Misbah’s comments come at a time when the PCB is set to overhaul Pakistan’s team, following recent tours of New Zealand and Australia where they lost five straight Test matches and managed only one victory in the ODIs. At the forefront of this agenda seems to be the removal of Azhar Ali as the ODI captain and the appointment of one captain – most likely Sarfraz Ahmed – across all formats, although this is subject to Misbah stepping down as Test captain himself. However, Misbah doesn’t believe Pakistan’s problems will end there.”Make anyone captain – Azhar or Sarfraz – but unless we solve our problem deep down, whoever comes in will face problems,” Misbah said in Faisalabad on Wednesday. “We have to improve domestic cricket and groom talent. If we want to do well in England, Australia and South Africa, we have to give the players maximum experience of playing there. If a player keeps on playing here [in Asia] and all of a sudden does a tour of Australia or South Africa after six years, it will be difficult for him [to perform].”Pakistan’s domestic cricket has often been a subject of revamp and the standard of pitches and the ball have also been inconsistent, while the focus on fitness has also been in question. When asked if the Pakistan Super League (PSL) might offer some resolve, Misbah said it wasn’t feasible to expect that.”Don’t start thinking that there will be change in the team after PSL,” he said. “I think we have to improve [the domestic structure] overall. It is just a tournament. Obviously players will come from it and it will give them exposure, [but] otherwise we have to do a lot of work. We have to bring our domestic cricket close to international standards for whatever talent comes through from the Under-16s and Under-19s. We have to prepare better pitches and improve the standards of our cricket in domestic set-up.”Misbah has been under pressure amid suggestions from cricketing quarters in the country that he should retire. However, he is keen to assess his batting and hunger for the game as he leads Islamabad United, the defending champions, during the PSL’s second edition in the UAE.”We need consistency in the thinking of our nation, and then there will be consistency in our team,” he said. “If your thinking is not consistent and it changes after one match, then the team’s performance will also be like that.”If you are talking about me – I retired one year ago, but at that time the whole nation said I should keep on touring. Now the whole nation is saying that I should be ashamed of myself and go. If you do such things, nobody will be ready to become captain. It’s not necessary you win every series, it’s not necessary you perform in every series. One can put in his best effort. Our views change if you don’t perform in four matches, despite performing for six years.”

Challenging light conditions and a system crash contributed to the unavailability of ball-tracking for an LBW appeal against Jason Holder late on the final day of the Boxing Day Test, the technology operators EagleEye have revealed

Daniel Brettig30-Dec-2015Challenging light conditions and a system crash contributed to the unavailability of ball-tracking for an lbw appeal against Jason Holder late on the final day of the Boxing Day Test, the technology operators EagleEye have revealed.An ageing ball and stark shadows across the MCG were making it difficult for ball-tracking cameras to pick up the ball to a level that satisfied the technology’s handlers, causing them to state to the broadcast producer that they could not provide a ball-tracking model of the Holder lbw appeal immediately.When EagleEye operators then attempted to track the Peter Siddle delivery via Nine’s video footage – the secondary option – a system crash meant they were unable to do so in time for the DRS referral, though it was shown later to demonstrate the ball was missing leg stump.Such eventualities are accounted for in DRS protocols, with the third umpire Ian Gould duly compelled to return to the on-field umpire Marais Erasmus’ original decision of not out. Australia did not lose a review as a result of the course of events. Ian Taylor, head of the New Zealand company Animation Research that provides EagleEye for the broadcaster Channel Nine, said the firm took responsibility for the outcome.”The guys weren’t happy with the first data they got because of a lighting issue so they did a re-track from the video. Unfortunately when they did that the system crashed and they lost the video,” Taylor told ESPNcricinfo. “Doing the re-track without the video takes much longer.”They had to let the producer know they weren’t happy with what they had and advised him there was no useable track available at the time. That is part of the protocol and in that case ‘umpire’s call’ stands. They did retrieve the track in the end but it was too late to use, but they did put it to air.”I want to be clear this is our responsibility. We weren’t able to track this ball to a satisfactory standard and said so.”Taylor said this was only the third such occasion that EagleEye operators had needed to indicate they were unhappy with the data they were getting, in an association with cricket in Australia that dates back to the 2010-11 Ashes summer. By contrast, Taylor said that the Marlon Samuels lbw in the first innings of the match – considered by many to be out though tracking had the ball clearing the stumps – was not a source of consternation for the company.”They were happy with it,” Taylor said of the operators at the MCG. “Side-on showed he was on his tip toes and he was hit on the top of the pad. They felt happy with that tracking, based on what the side-on cameras showed.”There are ongoing discussions between technology operators and the ICC about how to further improve the system, including the advent of a specialist third umpires rather than the current rotation between on-field and off-field duty. It is believed that this concept is also supported by the umpires themselves, as they find it difficult to make the adjustment from the instincts required in the middle to the data analysis of the television review job.Taylor is also an advocate for a system of universal DRS training to be undertaken by umpires and technology operators alike, so all are accredited with the same knowledge base and thus have a greater degree of trust in each other. The Holder lbw was discussed between the match referee Chris Broad and officials from both teams following the conclusion of the Test. Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann said his team remained staunch supporters of the system.”You just want them to get it right, that’s all, make sure the technology is up to speed,” Lehmann said. “Everyone loves it, we’re pro it, it’s just making sure they get it right. It was missing leg stump, they handled it well from a match referee/ICC point of view, where we didn’t lose a review, got that back. Making sure it’s working 100% of the time is the key.”

At the close Lancashire’s lead was 327 runs and should give them a chance to force their third Championship win of the season

Paul Edwards at Aigburth31-May-2013
ScorecardGareth Cross hit 64 to push Lancashire into a commanding position•Getty Images

Many more days like this and county cricket runs the risk of getting some rather decent publicity. In near perfect weather and on a good wicket Lancashire and Gloucestershire’s cricketers tussled for advantage in a game which neither side never completely bossed until the last hour of play.By then Glen Chapple’s batsmen were scoring more or less as they pleased against a tiring attack that was missing the left-arm spin of Ed Young, who has a wrist injury. At the close Lancashire’s lead was 327 runs and only some daft, ultra-cautious declaration will prevent them having a chance to force their third Championship win of the season on the final day.Perhaps the cricketer who personifies the search for hard-won advantage
which this match has been all about is Gareth Cross. The Lancashire wicketkeeper-batsman made a hundred in his side’s last game against Hampshire but that game was as dead as last month’s Radio Times for a good proportion of his innings. More valuable was Cross’s 30 against Glamorgan or his 45 against Essex, both knocks which contributed important runs to eventual wins.On Friday, Cross signed up to do some more heavy lifting and this was all the more laudable given that he had been smacked in the mouth by the ball when keeping wicket in the morning session. Coming to the crease with Lancashire on 62 for 5, an advantage of a mere 150, and having lost five prime wickets to the Gloucestershire seam trio of Craig Miles, Liam Norwell and Graeme McCarter, Cross fought alongside Ashwell Prince – another cricketer who savours trench warfare – to build a potentially match-winning lead.Their 85-run stand had gone a long way towards achieving that goal when Prince chipped Benny Howell to Norwell at mid-off, but Cross then increased the tempo of the innings with Wayne White in some style. The pair added 67 in 12 overs before Cross was caught in the deep for 64 off the persevering Norwell. White completed his first fifty for Lancashire off 47 balls three overs before the close, but he would be the first to admit that Prince and Cross had earned him his licence to attack.”It was good to spend some time in the middle and continue from Hampshire,” Cross said. “I did a bit of work in the indoor nets in the winter on occupying the crease and, while I can play the shots, it’s also more risky to do that so I’m just trying to play to my ability. I’ve felt in good form all year and it’s nice to be making a contribution. If Ashwell or I had got out, we’d have been in trouble but he’s a calming influence and we played well, I think.”Yet each session of this day’s play produced players from each side whose qualities could be applauded by the good-sized crowd. In the morning Alex Gidman and Simon Kerrigan dominated proceedings, the Gloucestershire batsman completing his first Championship century of the season and the Lancashire spinner, bowling unchanged from the River End to take 5 for 40 in 14.2 overs.Indeed, at times the play constituted something of a duel befitting d’Artagnan et al, Gidman’s boundaries – he also hit Kerrigan and Kyle Hogg for sixes – being countered by the spinner’s wickets. Lancashire probably wanted something more than the 88-run first -innings lead they eventually gained whereas Gloucestershire entertained hopes of whittling the advantage down to less than 50. Both teams had to settle for less than their ideal; it made for splendid cricket.Gidman scored his century off 170 balls, hitting eight fours and two sixes in the process. On the point of lunch, he was caught by White at deep square leg off Kerrigan for 110. The large Liverpool crowd applauded him generously; his innings had determined the strength of Gloucestershire’s position. For his part Kerrigan finished with 5 for 68 in the innings and there is every chance he will add a few more on the final day of this game. If so, the name of Gareth Cross may be to the fore once again.

Sri Lanka’s chairman of selectors Ashantha de Mel has said the Sri Lanka batsmen should be wary of the Pakistani spinners during the upcoming series

Sa'adi Thawfeeq27-May-2012Sri Lanka’s chairman of selectors Ashantha de Mel has said the Sri Lanka batsmen should to be wary of the two Pakistan spinners, Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman, during the upcoming Twenty20, ODI and Test series.”It is the Pakistani spinners we need to be careful of. Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman are of a different class compared to our spinners. Only Rangana Herath comes anywhere close to them,” De Mel said.Offspinner Ajmal and left-arm spinner Rehman have been at the forefront of Pakistan’s recent successes. The pair took 43 wickets in Pakistan’s 3-0 win over No. 1 ranked England in their last Test series played in the UAE early this year. Ajmal was also the leading wicket-taker with 18 wickets during Sri Lanka’s three-Test series against Pakistan in the UAE last year.”The advantage the Pakistan team has is that it also has batsmen who can be useful bowlers, for instance opener Mohammad Hafeez, who can bowl offbreaks,” he said. “This adds a lot of variety to their attack and balances their team nicely.”Their fast bowlers are quite effective with the reverse swing. That’s another area our batsmen have got to be wary of. Pakistan have mastered the art of reverse swing from the era of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. Umar Gul and left-arm fast bowler Junaid Khan are very good at using the old ball.”A former fast bowler himself, De Mel said Sri Lanka’s fast bowlers need to develop their skills to master reverse swing, an art that needs a lot of practice to be perfected.Recollecting Sri Lanka’s last Test series against England at home which ended in a 1-1 draw, De Mel said the batsmen needed to put up 400-plus totals in the first innings if Sri Lanka are to have any chance of winning. Sri Lanka’s highest total in that series was 318 in the Galle Test and they failed to go past the 300-run mark in the Colombo Test.”At least three of the top five batsmen need to get a big score if we are to come up with competitive totals. Off the middle-order, two of the three most experienced batsmen must score runs,” De Mel said, referring to the trio of Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera who have a combined tally of 25,001 runs and 73 hundreds in Tests.De Mel admitted the middle order had been put under pressure due to the poor starts provided by the openers. Sri Lanka tried Tharanga Paranavitana and Lahiru Thirimanne as opening partners with Tillakaratne Dilshan in the series against South Africa and England, but none of them were able to settle into the role.”I don’t think Thirimanne is an opener. He is good in the middle order. We persisted with him because the previous selection committee had picked him as an opener and we wanted to give Thirimanne a fair chance to prove himself. We are thinking of bringing back Paranavitana to open with Dilshan.”Thirimanne, who has been named in Sri Lanka’s Twenty20 and ODI squads, bats in the middle order in the shorter versions, but is unlikely to be named in the Test squad. In seven Tests in which he has opened the batting, he has only gone past 50 once.When questioned why former Test opener Upul Tharanga is not being considered for the position, De Mel said, “Upul’s technique against the new ball is suspect. He is playing well away from his body and that is why we have decided to bring him down the order in the ODIs and play him in the middle where he has contributed.”There’s, at present, a paucity of quality opening batsmen in the country. We are looking at Dimuth Karunaratne as an opener for the Sri Lanka A tour to South Africa and also wicketkeeper Kushal Janith Perera, who bats at No. 3, as an opener in the limited-overs version.”The Sri Lanka A team is due to tour South Africa and Zimbabwe next month.Another youngster Dinesh Chandimal is likely to be named in the Test squad but will find it difficult to make it into a line-up that comprises Dilshan, Paranavitana, Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews and Prasanna Jayawardene. De Mel added Mathews would be picked purely as a batsman and may bowl occasionally.”Our bowlers are not penetrative enough. To win a Test you need to take 20 wickets. What I have observed about our quick bowlers is that they come at you initially around 135 [kph] but are about ten kilometers (per hour) slower when they return for their second spell. The four to five bowlers in the line-up should all contribute to take wickets.”Predicting a close contest during the Test series, De Mel said the pitches used would play a key role. “The side that performs on the day will hold the advantage. I hope we get some decent wickets with some bounce. We make slow and low wickets and end up losing. The P Sara Oval wicket (where Sri Lanka lost to England) was slow and low and lacked bounce.”Sri Lanka and Pakistan play two Twenty20 matches before the ODIs and Tests. De Mel said the selectors had picked the 14-member squad for the two Twenty20s in Hambantota with an eye on the forthcoming World Twenty20 (which will be hosted by Sri Lanka in September).”We have picked Isuru Udana who is a specialist Twenty20 bowler and legspinning all-rounder Kaushal Lokuarachchi whom we think can be useful in the shorter version.”De Mel said that apart from spinner Ajantha Mendis, who is still recuperating from a back injury and was not considered for selection, Farvez Maharoof and Suranga Lakmal were left out because Nuwan Pradeep and Dilhara Fernando were declared fit.

Shahid Afridi has downplayed the PCB’s decision to seek an “explanation” from him for the comments he made on Sunday after returning to Pakistan from the Caribbean

ESPNcricinfo staff11-May-2011Shahid Afridi has downplayed the PCB’s decision to seek an “explanation” from him for the comments he made on Sunday after returning to Pakistan from the Caribbean.”I have received a letter from the Board and will send my reply tomorrow,” Afridi told the . “It’s all the result of misunderstanding and I’m sure the matter will be resolved soon.”Afridi all but confirmed to reporters that there had been differences between him and the team management over selection issues during the five-match ODI series that Pakistan won 3-2, when he said, “Although the differences in team management are not such which could not be solved, I feel everyone should do his job and need not interfere in other’s work.”Though he didn’t take anyone’s name specifically, it was coach Waqar Younis he was referring to, growing differences between the pair a fact which PCB officials confirmed to ESPNcricinfo last week.The board took exception to the statement Afridi made and served him a notice on Monday to explain to the board what he has said, stating that he had violated the Code of Conduct by making such statements publicly.Afridi however said that he had made a few general comments and that he “didn’t say anything that I haven’t said before.”Afridi is no stranger to board notices and his public straight-talking ways have often landed him up at board headquarters with some explaining to do. Late last year, he criticised his team publicly after a Twenty20 loss to New Zealand and the fall-out was that he was almost removed from the limited-overs captaincy after a number of players grew unhappy with his comments.

The team will play three four-day games against Glamorgan and India A between June 5 and 20 before two limited-overs matches against Ireland in Stormont

Cricinfo staff22-May-2010Devon Smith has been named captain of the West Indies A team for the tour of England and Ireland this summer.The team will play three four-day games against Glamorgan and India A between June 5 and 20 before two limited-overs matches against Ireland in Stormont. West Indies A will then take part in a tri-series involving England Lions and India A.Clyde Butts, West Indies’ chairman of selectors, had said that scheduling of regular matches for the A team was a step in the right direction for the development of the region’s cricket. The team had a recent home series against Zimbabwe and also toured Bangladesh.West Indies A: Devon Smith (capt), David Bernard (vc), Omar Phillips, Lionel Baker, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Odean Brown, Kirk Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Justin Guillen, Imran Khan, Nelon Pascal, Gavin Tonge, Chadwick Walton.Kieron Pollard and Nikita Miller will replace Justin Guillen and Odean Brown for the one-day section of the tour.

The issue is not money, but that youngsters want to play on the big stage, Russell argues

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Aug-2024It’s not the money. According to Andre Russell, premier West Indian cricketers are “just not interested in playing Tests.”The issue has been simmering forever, with cricketers popular with T20 leagues around the world – like Russell – often staying away from West Indies cricket, particularly the longest format. Sometimes, they have been called mercenaries. Most recently, in December 2023, Jason Holder, Nicholas Pooran and Kyle Mayers turned down West Indies central contracts, but made themselves available for T20Is. Holder, though, has since played Tests.Even though observers say that is due to the lack of money in West Indian cricket, Russell disagrees. “I don’t think it’s the money, I don’t think money is the issue,” he told recently. “Based on the amount of T20 and leagues around the world, I think a lot of players are just not interested in playing Tests.”Russell’s remarks came after West Indies – placed bottom of the nine-team World Test Championship table at the moment – were swept 3-0 in England. They have since drawn the first Test in Port of Spain against South Africa, a Test they were behind in for the most part but, following rain and an attacking South Africa declaration, got to a competitive position when time ran out.Related

• Andre Coley: 'We proven in England that we can compete'

• Johnny Grave to step down as CWI CEO in October 2024

Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, Pooran, Rovman Powell and Kieron Pollard were among the West Indians playing in The Hundred when the last Test against England was being played in late July. Among the highest-paid players in the league, they are still playing The Hundred while the Test series against South Africa is on. Pollard, Powell and Pooran have never played Test cricket. Russell played one, in 2010. Hetmyer has played 16, the last of them in 2019.”I’m always excited watching the other West Indian batters, especially when they’re hitting boundary after boundary,” Russell said. “As long as you can do well from contracts outside your nation I think they are going to grab that opportunity but everyone wants to play on the big stage.”So, if the big stage comes in Test cricket, I know youngsters will be happy to play. I just don’t think it’s about money or anything like that.”Russell, now 36, has managed to stay at the top of his game in short-format cricket despite a succession of injuries over the years, especially in the legs. A knee injury forced him out of the 2019 ODI World Cup after a few games. Test cricket, he said, was not on the table for him.”Red-ball cricket is not my cookie, I don’t think my body will keep up with Test cricket,” he said. “But those in the team at the moment are fit enough and taking on the challenge. They had a few moments in the Test series [against England] where they could have turned things around. Playing England at home is always going to be hard for the West Indies.”