Tag: England

CENTURION: England Women recorded a nine-wicket victory against South Africa in the third T20I to complete the series sweep here at SuperSport Park on Saturday.

Heather Knight’s side headed into the match having sealed a series win after taking a 2-0 lead earlier this week.

England Women, while chasing a target of 125, finished the match in a convincing manner with 51 balls to spare.

Opening batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge top-scored with an unbeaten 53 off 31 balls, which featured ten boundaries and one six. Meanwhile, Sophia Dunkley stuck 24* off 17 with four boundaries, including one six.

Opener Maia Bouchier was England’s only dismissal, caught by Nondumiso Shangase for 35 from 21 balls.

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Earlier, England Women won the toss and invited South Africa to bat first, with Lauren Filer drawing first blood with the wicket of Anneke Bosch on the second ball of the match.

Faye Tunnicliffe was dismissed by Lauren Bell in the next over and South Africa soon slipped to 45-5.

But Nadine de Klerk and Nondumiso Shangase hit a combined half-century to help South Africa reach 124 before bundling out.

Charlie Dean took 3-26 and a run out while Bell took two; Filer, Freya Kemp and Sophie Ecclestone contributed with a wicket each.

England and South Africa will now contest a three-match ODI series, starting in Kimberley on Wednesday 4 December.

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Kane Williamson has made history by becoming the first batter from New Zealand to score 9,000 runs in Test cricket. Moreover, he reached this milestone faster than some of the greatest Test batters, including Younis Khan and Virat Kohli.

Williamson achieved the historic milestone during the second innings of the ongoing first Test of the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy against England in Christchurch. The former New Zealand captain played a gutsy 61-run knock before he fell prey to Chris Woakes on Day 3.

He took 182 innings to reach the milestone, becoming the eighth quickest to score 9000 runs in Test cricket.

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In doing so, he surpassed many greats of the game, including Younis Khan, who took 184 innings, while current batters Joe Root and Virat Kohli, reached the landmark in 196 and 197 innings respectively.

Steve Smith is the only active batter who scored 9000 runs in fewer innings than Williamson, reaching it in 174 innings. Meanwhile, legendary Sri Lankan batter Kumar Sangakkara holds the record for being the fastest to the milestone with 172 innings.

It’s worth noting that Kane Williamson is New Zealand’s highest run-scorer of all-time, followed by Ross Taylor, who scored 7683 runs.

Fastest to 9000 runs in Test cricket

• Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) — 172
• Steve Smith (Australia) — 174
• Rahul Dravid (India) — 176
• Brian Lara (West Indies) — 177
• Ricky Ponting (Australia) — 177
• Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) — 178
• Sachin Tendulkar (India) — 179
• Kane Williamson (New Zealand) — 182

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CHRISTCHURCH: A sustained seam attack by Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse following a belligerent batting effort saw England on the verge of victory in the first Test of the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy against New Zealand at stumps on day three on Saturday.

New Zealand were 155-6 at the close, ahead by just four runs and with only four wickets remaining. Daryl Mitchell was not out 31 with Nathan Smith on one.

England made 499 in their first innings, taking an imposing 151-run lead, courtesy of a dominant 171-run knock by Harry Brook.

Captain Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope provided ample support to Brook with their dominant knocks of 80 and 77 runs respectively, followed by spirited cameos of Gus Atkinson (48) and Carse (33).

It was then the turn of England seamers, who wreaked havoc against New Zealand batters. The hosts’ salvage attempt faltered at the start with Tom Latham caught by Brook for one to give Woakes his first wicket in the third over.

Devon Conway was on eight when his attempt to pull Carse to the boundary was miscued to Atkinson at mid-on and New Zealand were tottering at 23-2.

Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra set about stitching the innings together as they put on 41 for the third wicket before Ravindra went for 24.

The left-hander could not resist pulling a short ball from Carse but failed to get on top of the bounce and was caught by Jacob Bethell waiting at mid-wicket.

Woakes returned to remove Williamson and Tom Blundell in successive balls to end the day with 3-39.

Williamson, so often called upon to rescue his country, had been unruffled until on 61 — his second half-century of the Test — he missed a straight delivery and was trapped plumb in front of the stumps.

With his next ball, Woakes found the faintest edge of Blundell’s bat but he was denied a hat-trick by Glenn Phillips who pushed a short ball towards the covers.

Phillips progressed to 19 before he was given out lbw to a Carse delivery that nipped back into the batsman.

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New Zealand sought a review but replays showed the ball was skimming the bails and the decision was the umpires call and Carse had 3-22.

Earlier, England resumed the day at 319-5 and raced along at six an over before being all out after lunch. A masterful Brook, who benefitted from five of the eight catches spilled by New Zealand, led England’s rescue after they were left reeling at 71-4.

The only good news for New Zealand was that while they dropped two more catches on day three, they successfully held five.

Brook smiled and looked to the heavens when Phillips missed a chance at 147, having been dropped the previous day on 18, 41, 70, and 106.

Four overs after his last reprieve, he brought up his 150 in imperious fashion, charging down the wicket at Tim Southee with the second new ball and driving him to the cover boundary.

But when New Zealand found a way to make catches stick, Brook’s innings, which included 15 fours and three sixes, came to an end.

A good length ball from Matt Henry found a faint outside edge and wicketkeeper Blundell grasped the opportunity.

The applause as Brook left the ground was as much for New Zealand holding a catch as it was for a magnificent innings.

Woakes (one) was out on the second ball he faced with Latham scooping up a low-level chance at the second slip.

Smith ended Atkinson’s breezy innings with Phillips taking a smart catch at long leg.

Henry was the most successful New Zealand bowler against England with 4-84. Smith took 3-141.

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England captured the vital wicket of Kane Williamson for 93 in a dramatic five-wicket final session to leave New Zealand 319-8 after day one of the first Test of the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy in Christchurch on Thursday.

The hosts went to tea at a healthy 193-3 and slumped to 252-7 before Glenn Phillips (41 not out) and Matt Henry (18) halted the collapse with a spirited 46-run stand for the eighth wicket.

Shoaib Bashir, the only specialist spinner in the Test, was England’s chief destroyer with 4-69.

“It’s a good, fair surface,” Williamson said. “On a surface like that you ride a bit of luck and I played and missed a bit, that’s just the nature of the beast.”

The 21-year-old Bashir did not expect to be bowling on day one and was surprised to find himself facing Williamson, New Zealand’s greatest Test run-scorer.

“Obviously he’s a world-class player and for me, bowling to someone like him, I was just in awe watching Kane Williamson bat,” Bashir said.

“I bowled plenty of bad balls out there but I was still kept on and that shows how much faith they (management) have in me.”

Former skipper Kane Williamson looked on track to put New Zealand into a dominant position after joining Tom Latham in the middle when they lost opener Devon Conway in the second over.

He faced 14 deliveries before getting off the mark and went on to anchor 50-run partnerships with Latham, Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell.

Williamson was instrumental in getting them to 227-4 before he was undone attempting a cut shot that went to Zac Crawley at point to give Gus Atkinson his second wicket.

England had started the Test with a roar, winning the toss and inviting New Zealand to bat on a green top, having Atkinson remove Conway almost immediately.

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But for the rest of the first two sessions, the composed Williamson swung the momentum back to New Zealand.

He was unfazed when twice struck on the helmet by Brydon Carse and survived a vociferous appeal on 51 for caught behind when replays showed the ball hit the thigh pad and not the bat.

Williamson, who hit 10 fours, faced 197 deliveries in 274 minutes with temperatures hovering around 30 Celsius before being dismissed in the 90s for the first time in six years.

In Williamson’s previous 13 innings where he scored at least 90, the prolific batsman had gone on to register eight hundred and five double centuries.

With moisture in the ground causing the England bowlers some early problems with their delivery stride, Latham punished every loose ball that came along.

But he had a lapse of concentration in the first over after the morning drinks break and he was caught behind off Carse for 47.

Ravindra took on the aggressor role as he and Williamson added 68 for the third wicket before Ravindra clumsily mis-hit a loose full toss from Bashir and was gone for 34.

Mitchell accompanied Williamson through to tea but went for 19 in the second over after play resumed.

The wickets of Williamson, Tom Blundell (17) and debutant Nathan Smith (three) quickly followed as New Zealand slumped to 252-7.

Henry added a brisk 18, leaving Phillips and Tim Southee (10) to see out the day.

England debutant, 21-year-old Jacob Bethell, bowled one over of left-arm spin with his first Test delivery dispatched to the boundary by former New Zealand captain Williamson.

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Uncapped wicket-keeper Ollie Robinson has been added to the England Men’s Test squad for the ongoing tour of New Zealand for the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy.

Robinson came into the squad as a replacement for Jordan Cox, who sustained a fractured right thumb during the team’s warm-up period over the weekend in Queenstown.

This marks the 25-year-old Robinson’s first call-up to the senior England squad. He has delivered solid performances for Durham in the County Championship, boasting an average of 48 with the bat in 2022 and an impressive 58 in 2023.

Robinson has also demonstrated his skill behind the stumps, with 92 Championship dismissals across the past two seasons.

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A regular in England Lions squads since 2019, Robinson has gained valuable experience on tours to Australia, Sri Lanka, and India in recent years.

It’s worth noting, he has become the second player bearing the same name to receive an England call-up within the last three years. He does not have any familial ties to the fast bowler Ollie Robinson.

Interestingly, both athletes hail from the county of Kent and share the same birthdate — December 1.

Robinson will join the England squad on Saturday, meanwhile Ollie Pope donned the wicket-keeping gloves in the first Test against New Zealand, which got underway in Christchurch earlier today.

Squads

England: Ben Stokes (c), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ollie Robinson, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

New Zealand: Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young

Tour Itinerary:

First Test: 28 November-2 December 2024, Hagley Oval, Christchurch

Second Test: 6-10 December 2024, Basin Reserve, Wellington

Third Test: 14-18 December 2024, Seddon Park, Hamilton

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BENONI: Nat Sciver-Brunt gave an all-round performance, leading England Women to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in their three-match T20I series over South Africa with a 36-run victory in the second T20I here at Willowmoore Park on Wednesday.

The tourists hit their joint third-highest total in women’s T20 internationals in Benoni, setting the Proteas a target of 205.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge hit 78 from 45 becoming the first England Women’s player to score 3000 T20I runs while Nat Sciver-Brunt finished unbeaten on 67 from 43 balls. Player of the match Sarah Glenn took four wickets.

Captain Heather Knight and Amy Jones both contributed with 26 and 19 respectively.

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Sciver-Brunt took the early wicket of Tazmin Brits and Charlie Dean dismissed South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt.

Glenn removed Faye Tunnicliffe, Annerie Dercksen, Nondumiso Shangase and Chloe Tryon to seal her side’s victory.

England and South Africa will play the final T20I at SuperSport Park, Centurion on Saturday (30 November).

South Africa Women Playing XI: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Tazmin Brits, Faye Tunnicliffe, Annerie Dercksen, Chloe Tryon, Nondumiso Shangase, Nadine de Klerk, Sinolo Jafta (wk), Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayanda Hlubi

England Women Playing XI: Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Maia Bouchier, Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight (capt), Amy Jones (wk), Freya Kemp, Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Filer

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The upcoming Test series between New Zealand and England has been renamed the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy in honor of Martin Crowe and Graham Thorpe, two cricket legends who left a lasting impact on the sport.

The trophy, crafted from wood sourced from bats belonging to both players, is a collaboration between New Zealand Cricket (NZC), the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and the players’ families.

It will be unveiled on Thursday morning at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval, just before the series opener. The unveiling will be done by Deb Crowe (Martin’s sister) and former England captain Michael Atherton during the national anthem ceremony.

Crowe, remembered as New Zealand’s greatest batter, passed away in 2016. Thorpe, known for his grit and determination, died earlier this year.

Both enjoyed stellar Test careers — Crowe scored 5444 runs at an average of 45.36, including 17 centuries, while Thorpe ammased 6744 runs with an average of 44.66 and 16 tons.

The bats used to create the trophy have sentimental value. Crowe’s bat is the Gunn and Moore he used to score a century at Lord’s in 1994 agains England, while Thorpe’s Kookaburra was the one he wielded during his back-to-back hundreds against New Zealand in 1997.

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Both players also became mentors, shaping the careers of many cricketers, including some who are part of this series.

Joe Root, who worked closely with Thorpe during his coaching stint with England, spoke warmly about the tribute.

“It is absolutely an honour,” said Root. “What a great man. For me personally, to have someone who you watched growing up and took a lot from, then to get the opportunity to work with him as a coach.”

“The amount he put into to my game, to have the opportunity to play for something with his name on it is really quite special and a nice way to remember his legacy and a player.

“It’s a side that he had a lot of success against, a brilliant double hundred. He told us many times about that innings here in Christchurch [an unbeaten 200 in 2002], normally over a glass of sauvignon blanc.

“It’s a really fitting way to remember two of England and New Zealand’s great players. How both sides play represents how they played the game pretty well.

“I expect a really exciting series, like the previous one was. It will be a really fitting way to remember two brilliant players.”

Squads

England: Ben Stokes (c), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

New Zealand: Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young

Tour Itinerary:

First Test: 28 November-2 December 2024, Hagley Oval, Christchurch

Second Test: 6-10 December 2024, Basin Reserve, Wellington

Third Test: 14-18 December 2024, Seddon Park, Hamilton

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LONDON: Nat Sciver-Brunt scored a commanding half-century, while Amy Jones played a 31-run cameo to steer England Women to a thrilling four-wicket victory over South Africa Women in the first T20I here at Buffalo Park on Sunday.

Chasing a target of 153, Nat Sciver-Brunt led the charge with a 59-run knock from 54 balls with the help of seven boundaries. However, she fell in the last over with scores levelled.

Other than Sciver-Brunt, Maia Bouchier (20) and Amy Jones (31) were major contributors for England Women with their quick-fire cameos against an inspired South Africa bowling attack.

Eliz-Mari Marx took three wickets, while Nadine de Klerk bagged two for South Africa.

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Nadine de Klerk also contributed with the bat to set up South African women’s total of 142-5. She struck an unbeaten 29 off 16 balls with the help of four boundaries.

Annerie Dercksen also remained unbeaten after scoring a scratchy 26 runs from 29 balls. Prior to them, captain Laura Wolvaardt provided a good start with 22 off 19, while Anneke Bosch and Tazmin Brits added 18 and 15 runs respectively.

For England, Charlie Dean claimed two wickets, while Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn and Freya Kemp bagged one each.

South Africa Women PLaying XI: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Suné Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Nondumiso Shangase, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayanda Hlubi

England Women Playing XI: Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Maia Bouchier, Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight (c), Amy Jones (wk), Freya Kemp, Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell

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Carl Hopkinson and Richard Dawson, who have been part of the coaching staff of the England men’s team, will leave their roles following the conclusion of the current tour of the West Indies.

Hopkinson became part of the England Men’s coaching staff in 2018 as the fielding coach, contributing to the team’s victory in the ICC Men’s World Cup 2019 on home soil and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.

Meanwhile, Dawson, who played seven Tests for England between 2001 and 2003, was the head coach of the Young Lions team that reached the ICC Men’s U19s World Cup 2022 final.

He was later added to the senior team’s coaching staff ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.

“It has been a career highlight not only to be part of the England coaching set-up for the past seven years but also to be involved in two historic World Cup victories, which is something I’ll always cherish,” said Carl Hopkinson.

“After starting as National Lead Fielding coach I worked alongside Richard Dawson to help the England Men U19s reach their first World Cup final for 24 years.

“It has been exciting to see young players we worked with at the World Cup grow into full England internationals as well as more recently helping some of the best white-ball players in the world continue to develop.”

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“I have enjoyed every minute in the England environment and working with some of the best white-ball players in the world as well as great people in the coaching team and backroom staff from the U19s to the senior team,” Dawson stated.

“Being head coach of the England U19 team that reached the World Cup final was a career highlight while it has been a pleasure working with some of the top spinners in the world while also developing the strength and depth of spin bowling talent from across the country.

“I look forward to seeing the white-ball team continue to progress and hopefully win more trophies.”

Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, Rob Key heaped praise on both coaches, acknowledging their services to the team

“Hoppo and Daws are two outstanding coaches who have played important roles in the success of our white-ball teams,” Key said.

“In addition to their coaching expertise with our senior teams, they have also developed young players through the age groups to help set up the next era of our white-ball teams.

“England Cricket is in a better place because of them and I wish them well in the next chapter of their careers.”

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Former New Zealand captain Tim Southee on Friday announced that he will retire from Test cricket after the upcoming Test series against England, with the 35-year-old set to finish up at his home ground in Hamilton.

The irrepressible seam bowler made his debut against England at Napier in 2008 and has been a mainstay of New Zealand Test side since then.

Southee has taken 385 wickets in 104 Tests during his 16-year-long career. He is the second-highest wicket-taker for New Zealand in Test cricket with Richard Hadlee standing at the top with 431 wickets.

“Representing New Zealand was all I ever dreamed of growing up,” Tim Southee said in his retirement announcement.

“To play for the Black Caps for 18 years has been the greatest honour and privilege, but the time feels right to now step away from the game that has given so much to me.

“Test cricket holds a special place in my heart, so to be able to play such a big series against the same opponent my Test career began against all those years ago, and on three grounds that are incredibly special to me, seems the perfect way to end my time in the Black Cap.

“I’ll always be so grateful to my family, friends, coaches, our fans and everyone involved in the game who has supported me and my career over the years.

“It’s been an amazing ride and I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Tim Southee captained the side to six wins, six losses and two draws after taking over from Kane Williamson in 2022 before handing over the baton last month to Tom Latham, who led them to a 3-0 Test sweep in India.

Southee’s all-round skills and consistency have seen him become the only player in the world to claim more than 300 Test wickets, 200 ODI wickets and 100 T20 wickets.

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New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive Scott Weenink saluted him as one of the country’s finest players.

“Tim [Southee] has been a constant in the improving fortunes of the Blackcaps and he’ll be remembered as a giant of the modern New Zealand game,” he said.

“Tim has an incredible bank of experience and knowledge of the game and while he may have called time on his playing career, I’d be surprised if we don’t see him in another capacity at some stage in the future.”

Tim Southee is yet to make a decision about his white-ball retirement. He will decide after the three-Test England series, which gets underway in Christchurch on November 28, whether he has one final white-ball farewell in him.

New Zealand face Sri Lanka in three ODIs and three T20s at home from December 28.

Blackcaps coach Gary Stead said Southee’s record spoke for itself.

“Tim’s durability and resilience has been outstanding,” he said. “He’s an incredibly tough competitor who gets himself up for big occasions and is rarely injured.”

“Tim cares deeply about the team, its reputation and performances, and he will be missed within the Blackcaps environment.

“He now deserves some time with his family and I’m sure he will reflect very positively in years to come about his impact and achievements in the game.”

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