Find the latest news from the world of cricket in Wisden’s daily digest of stories and updates from the world of cricket for 18 July.
Pat Cummins Confirms Josh Hazlewood Will Replace Scott Boland For Ashes Test 4
Cummins stopped short of naming the Australian XI for the Old Trafford Test but confirmed in the press conference that Hazlewood will enter the team for Boland. Hazlewood played the first two Tests and was rested for the third game as Australia took a cautious approach with the bowler returning from injury. Cummins also confirmed that David Warner would keep his place on the team.
Usman Khawaja Reveals His Role In ICC Test Overcharge Penalty Change
Australia’s first match revealed how they went directly to the International Cricket Council to ease the penalties for negative surcharges during the Ashes. Prior to the change, teams were fined and deducted World Test Championship points for failing to meet stipulated overs. Both England and Australia were fined and docked two WTC points each for being two overs behind in the first Ashes Test, after which Khawaja contacted ICC General Manager Wasim Khan. Match fee penalties have now been capped at 50 per cent, while over-fee penalties for innings lasting less than 80 overs (previously 60) have been removed.
Shan Masood hints at Bazball’s influence in Pakistan
Despite Pakistan losing wickets early on day two against Sri Lanka, they continued to counter-attack the spinners, with Masood making a 39-for-30 ball, later claiming the attacking approach was a well thought out tactic by the team of Pakistan. “One of the things we were missing from winning the test matches was that we weren’t scoring at the same rate as our opposition. So there has been a concentrated effort; the emphasis was on scoring runs just to put the opposition under pressure.”
Pakistan Future Tour Schedule Modified
After the end of the World Cup, Pakistan will not play a single ODI until November 2024, with a change to the FTP announced by the cricket board. Instead, the team will play 19 T20Is between now and the 2024 T20 World Cup in June, with their two home Test series against the West Indies pushed back from February 2024 to 2025, and five T20I away games against New Zealand. which will be added instead.
West Indies announce their squad for the second India Test
West Indies have included topless spinner Kevin Sinclair in their 13-member squad that will take on India in the second test on July 20. He replaces Raymon Reifer, who scored just two and 11 and went wicketless in the opening Test. Sinclair has played seven ODIs and six T20Is and has taken 54 wickets from 18 first-class games. The rest of the template has not changed.
Beth Mooney becomes the best ODI batsman
Mooney replaced Chamari Athapaththu as the No.1 ODI batsman after being between the runs in the first two over-50 games against England in the Women’s Ashes. Mooney hit 81* and 33 as Australia retained the Ashes. Mooney currently has 769 rating points and is just six points ahead of second-place finisher Nat Sciver-Brunt.
BCCI unhappy with CAB for announcing World Cup price tickets
The BCCI is upset with the Bengal Cricket Association and Sourav Ganguly’s brother Snehahish Ganguly for making public the ticket prices for World Cup matches at Eden Gardens. The board has yet to announce ticket sales for the event, and the early statement appears to have upset board members.
