Cricket’s global union has described the landscape of T20 leagues as the ‘Wild West’ when it comes to player payments

Matt Roller27-Mar-2024The PCB has denied that there has ever been a delay in player payments in the PSL, following a report by cricket’s global players’ union which registered reports of late or non-payment across several major franchise leagues over the last 24 months.On Wednesday morning, the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) launched a “leagues hub”, which is designed to be a resource for players, their agents, and players’ associations to help them navigate what they described as the “Wild West” of global franchise leagues.FICA said that one player in four has experienced payment issues in sanctioned leagues and that it has received reports of payment issues in a number of major franchise tournaments. These include the IPL and WPL, the Bangladesh Premier League, the Lanka Premier League, Canada’s Global T20, Major League Cricket and the Abu Dhabi T10, as well as the PSL.Related

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Usman Wahla, the PCB’s director of international cricket operations, denied that the PSL has ever paid players late. He told ESPNcricinfo: “There is no – and never has been – any delay in player payments in any of our nine [PSL] seasons… we have written to FICA to rectify this in their document.”The PSL’s contract terms stipulate that players should receive 70% of their fee within seven days of their arrival in Pakistan, and the remaining 30% within 40 days of their final league match.The PCB had previously denied any issue with late payments across the PSL’s history when James Faulkner, the Australian allrounder, pulled out of the final stages of the 2022 season alleging that the board had failed to honour his contract. “In the seven years of the HBL Pakistan Super League, no player has ever complained about the nonfulfillment of the PCB’s contractual obligations,” the PCB said at the time.Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Tom Moffat, FICA’s chief executive, said, “The Hub reflects where we have had issues reported to us either directly or via our regular global player and agent survey data.”The feedback we receive from players and agents on both PSL and IPL is generally very positive. The majority of the late and non-payment issues we see are in smaller and start-up leagues.”According to the FICA’s report, players have also faced payment issues in the IPL and the WPL•BCCI

Moffat had earlier said in a press release: “The growth of domestic leagues around the world has been a great thing for cricket and has provided a number of new opportunities for players. However, inconsistencies with the treatment of players have led to the landscape being considered by many as the ‘Wild West’.”FICA continues to advocate for fit for purpose global regulation and increased accountability in the domestic leagues landscape to protect all stakeholders, including players. This should include contract minimum standards and effective pay enforcement mechanisms, for example.”In the meantime we want [to] play our role in supporting players, their associations, and agents, by providing information in the Leagues Hub to assist their decision making. We also welcome engagement from domestic leagues who wish to work directly with players collectively to raise standards and ensure their league aligns with international best practice in an increasingly competitive market.”The BCCI was contacted for comment in response to FICA’s findings that players have faced late or non-payment issues in both of the major franchise leagues which it governs: the IPL and the WPL.

It was another famous Gujarat Titans victory, in front of a home crowd of over eighty thousand

Alagappan Muthu24-Mar-2024
Keep your eyes on Shubman Gill. The captain. With Mumbai Indians on 107 for 2 after 12 overs, chasing 169, he barracked his team to get back in the game. And boy, did they ever.A batting line-up that is the envy of the T20 world came undone even with conditions pretty much in their favour, with two set batters at the crease and dew all over the park. And Titans, who had less than 8% chance of victory, went on to achieve a famous one. Or maybe it isn’t. Because they keep doing this. They keep defying the odds.Here they had their former captain – the one who built them into IPL winners – give them a huge scare. Hardik Pandya went 6 and 4 to start the last over when 19 were required. He looked in the mood. His old coach Ashish Nehra, who spent a vast majority of the chase patrolling the boundary, issuing instructions – seemingly spoon-feeding Spencer Johnson what he had to do in a 19th over that produced two of the five wickets that fell in the last 13 balls – turned away. He couldn’t watch.But he should have. Because Umesh Yadav, who doesn’t really bowl at the death, took full advantage of the two-bouncers-an-over rule and sent one up at Hardik’s right ear, which, even with his power, only went as far as the fielder at long-on. Eighty thousand and eighty one people roared in unison. They sensed it. They sensed that yet another incredible win was theirs.

Pace off, game on

This game turned between overs 13 and 17 in the chase. Because only one of them yielded more than a-run-a-ball.R Sai Kishore, who doesn’t always make the Titans XI but has never come across like he’s been on the outside looking in, produced a very mature performance. He took out Rohit Sharma with some style, slowing his pace right down, pulling his length right back, and having an excellent player of spin so badly reaching for the ball that he fell over in his crease as he played the sweep.Sai Kishore picked up the all-important wicket of Rohit Sharma•BCCI

Rashid Khan took over from there on and created a moment that signalled the shifting of the balance. Mumbai’s best power-hitter, Tim David, was hidden from the strike because he has been averaging 7.6 against legspin since IPL 2022. This was the 17th over and the required rate was still in the eight-and-a-bit range. The batting side had six wickets in hand. They really shouldn’t have been under pressure with an equation like that.But they were and the wickets as a result of that pressure went to Mohit Sharma, who is a wonderful case study because his biggest strength goes against his job description. The fast bowler who is far more dangerous when he bowls his slower ball. That came in very handy on a two-paced pitch. He dismissed David with an offcutter-boucner that rose up to the batter’s helmet and took away all his power.A Titans comeback, which only ever looked fanciful till then, became reality.

The story of the first innings

The Titans innings was a bit staccato. Five of their 20 overs produced five or fewer runs. Four others produced 60 – including 30 back-to-back from the 10th and 11th – and 19 from the 18th over where Luke Wood lost his plans. The field was set for the slower ball, his slower ball went for six, he went for pace, and it was too easy for Rahul Tewatia with third in the circle. A two-paced pitch – which kept low too at times – was creating this kind of game.Gill made a fast start (31 off 22) and Sai Sudharsan (45 off 39) kept away the doubt that fills a batter’s mind when very few of the shots they play go for boundaries. He hit only four and his strike rate was 115 but in between innings he mentioned that the ball was holding up in the pitch and keeping low as well, and that they weren’t too displeased with the total they had got to.

Bumrah magic in vain

Jasprit Bumrah bowled only one of the first six overs and perhaps that’s why they yielded 47 runs. He struck with a glorious yorker thudding into the base of Wriddhiman Saha’s middle stump. This was vintage from perhaps the best cricketer on the planet right now. The most inimitable one anyway.Jasprit Bumrah’s double-wicket 17th over put the brakes on Gujarat Titans’ scoring•BCCI

Bumrah’s dismissal of David Miller contained even more of his genius. He has that awkward action. He has unbelievable pace (for a guy who basically walks for about half his run-up). He has the best yorker in the business. The batter has all this in mind when he takes strike. And is completely unprepared for the slower ball.Miller was done. He was cooked. His body moving one way – because his feet were stuck on the crease, worried about the high-pace ball, maybe the yorker – and his bat moving the other – responding to the utter lack of pace, wandering so far in front of his body – his balance lost to the night. And so too his wicket.Bumrah finished with figures of 4-0-14-3. All of them were one over spells. He was given no opportunity to build rhythm because he can be peak right from the get-go. It was unthinkable at that point that he’d also be needed out there with bat, but you always run the risk of that when you play Titans.

Katie George, Grace Potts star with the ball in 21-run win over Western Storm

ECB Reporters Network22-May-2024Central Sparks 168 for 6 (Freeborn 68) beat Western Storm 147 (Gibson 40, George 4-36, Potts 3-35) by 21 runs Abbey Freeborn scored a swashbuckling half-century to propel Central Sparks to a 21-run Charlotte Edwards Cup victory over Western Storm beneath the floodlights at the Cooper Associates Ground in Taunton.The 27-year-old opener top-scored with a superb 40-ball 68 and dominated stands of 63 and 57 with Davina Perrin and Eve Jones for the second and third wickets respectively as Sparks posted 168 for 6 after being put in on a sound track.Cast in supporting roles, Perrin contributed a useful 26 and Jones made 38, while Chloe Skelton took 2 for 31 and Amanda-Jade Wellington, the pick of the Storm bowlers, returned figures of 1 for 22 from four overs.Eager to prove a point after missing out on a place in the England ODI squad, Dani Gibson threatened to make a game of it when scoring a quick-fire 40, but former Storm all-rounder Katie George removed her and finished with impressive figures of 4 for 36 as Sparks took wickets at regular intervals to turn the screw. Grace Potts weighed in with 3 for 35 as Storm were dismissed for 147 in 18.3 overs.Victory means Sparks, who take on Northern Diamonds at Headingley on Monday, have now won their opening two matches and top the table, while Storm head to Beckenham and a showdown with South East Stars still seeking their first win.Unperturbed by the loss of Ami Campbell in the first over, Freeborn and the in-form Perrin took full advantage of the fielding restrictions to advance the score to 53-1 at the end of the six-over powerplay as Sparks got off to an excellent start with the bat. Especially severe on anything short or wide, the big-hitting Freeborn cut a half volley from Gibson to the boundary before harvesting back-to-back fours off Sophia Smale’s slow left arm as the visitors wrestled back the initiative.Buoyed by her match-winning 79 not out against Sunrisers three days earlier, Perrin attempted to match Freeborn blow-for-blow, twice driving Alex Griffiths to the boundary and straight-hitting Smale for another eye-catching boundary as the second wicket pair raised a 50 partnership from 31 balls. The stand was worth 63 when off spinner Skelton engineered a breakthrough in the eighth over, inducing Perrin to sky a catch to cover and depart for a 20-ball 26 that included a quartet of fours.With Wellington plying her leg breaks at the other end, Storm took the pace off in a bid to stem the flow of runs during the middle overs, but Sparks were still handily-placed on 77 for 2 at the halfway point. Freeborn went to 50 from 34 balls, reaching that landmark with her seventh four, an aerial off-drive at the expense of Smale as the total moved into three figures in the 13th. She celebrated with another four, this time behind square, before hoisting Smale high over deep mid-wicket for the first six of the match.Storm supporters breathed a collective sigh of relief when Freeborn drove expansively at a ball from Skelton and was held by Sophie Luff at cover with the score on 124 in the 14th. Having proved a willing accomplice in a high-octane alliance of 57 in 6.1 overs, Jones now picked up the cudgels, smiting Skelton for an imposing maximum over deep square and dominating a partnership of 26 in 14 balls for the fourth wicket with Courtney Webb.She had smashed 38 from 26 deliveries and accrued five fours and a six when she was run out by Wellington’s throw from the deep to afford Storm breathing space. The home side then made good their breakthrough, Griffiths and Wellington accounting for Katie George and Emily Arlott in quick succession as Sparks ran out of steam at the death. But they already had more than enough.In urgent need of a good start, Storm kept pace with the required rate thanks to an expansive partnership of 39 for the second wicket between Gibson and Niamh Holland, these two mustering a combined tally of eight boundaries during a powerplay which yielded 58 runs for the loss of Emma Corney.Holland was bowled by former Storm all-rounder George for 15, but Gibson still found the boundary with sufficient regularity to keep the home side on track, the England all-rounder harvesting seven fours in a 21-ball innings of 40.But she was unable to go on and post the meaningful score that the situation required, pursuing a leg-side delivery from George and offering a catch behind, while Nat Wraith went in the next over, directing a leading edge to short mid-wicket as Hannah Baker reduced Storm to 67 for 4 in the eighth. Generating express pace, George then struck a crucial blow, bowling Luff without scoring and further reducing the home to 79 for 5.With Fran Wilson unable to bat owing to a concussion injury, Smale joined Griffiths in the middle with 89 needed from 67 balls. It proved too big an ask, Potts accounting for both in the space of two overs from the River End to render Wellington’s spirited knock of 31 not out inconsequential.

Offspinner impressed at Under-19 World Cup in January, having progressed through academy ranks

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jun-2024Farhan Ahmed, the England Under-19 offspinner and younger brother of Rehan Ahmed, has signed a three-and-a-half year deal with Nottinghamshire, his first senior contract with the county.Farhan, 16, is the second Academy product to sign permanent terms with the club in recent months, after Freddie McCann joined the playing staff in November, and comes after a run of appearances for the club’s Second XI, in between his academic studies, over the past two seasons.”There is no doubt that this is an exciting time for Farhan and the club,” Peter Moores, Nottinghamshire’s head coach, said. “He is a player with bags of talent and a high ceiling in the game. He’s a grounded individual, though, and he knows the work starts now for him to fulfil that potential in the years ahead.”He’s focused on forging his own path in the game, and he’ll have our full support as he begins to do that.”Like his elder brother Rehan – who was England’s youngest Test debutant, aged 18 years and 126 days, when he played at Karachi in December 2022 – Farhan was just 15 when he featured in England’s Under-19 World Cup campaign in South Africa in January.”I’m obviously very happy and excited to have signed this contract – it is something I’ve been working towards since I started playing cricket,” Farhan said. “For it to be for my home county is a dream come true, too. The history of the club is clear, and to be part of it myself is something I am looking forward to.”I’ve seen other players make that step from the Academy onto the pro staff then play first-team cricket, which gives me confidence that I can do the same in the years ahead.”Equally, I don’t want to look too far ahead. I’ll do my best to take every chance I’m given and keep improving as a player in all aspects, while I hope I can help put Nottinghamshire in winning positions when I get the opportunities.”Farhan joined Nottinghamshore’s academy in 2022, having taken 86 wickets in 57 games for the county’s Under-18s.”Farhan has been with us for seven years now, and his talent has been obvious across that time,” Matt Wood, the Elite Pathway Manager, said. “He is a clever bowler – he’s very mature in that sense – and his trajectory over the last couple of years has been exceptional.”It’ll be another step up for him to play regularly with the senior squad, but his focus and attitude is second to none, and that’ll help him in that transition.”

Blistering half-century seals thriller off final ball as Hammond 66 goes in vain

ECB Reporters Network12-Jul-2024Hampshire 177 for 5 (Howell 62*, Smith 3-35) beat Gloucestershire 176 for 9 (Hammond 66, Wheal 4-35) by five wicketsBenny Howell’s brutal half-century took down his former Gloucestershire team-mates to keep Hampshire Hawks’ Vitality Blast hopes alive.All-rounder Howell had already taken two wickets as Hampshire fought back to restrict their visitors – who have never won a T20 at Utilita Bowl – to 176.But he then clubbed four sixes and five fours to equal his T20 best of 62 not out to start a south coast party.The Hawks’ five-wicket win put them four points adrift of the qualification places with three matches to play, while fourth-placed Gloucestershire remain two points behind Essex.Miles Hammond and Cameron Bancroft saw off a couple of tricky new ball overs before tucking into their work after Gloucestershire had chosen to bat.Neither flaunted any flair but used timing and a lightning outfield to pick a boundary or two an over – as 49 stress-free runs came in the powerplay.But where Hammond ticked into gear – albeit surviving a couple of drops – Australia Bancroft came a cropper when Howell chopped one through him to end 92-run stand, Gloucestershire’s best opening partnership versus the Hawks.Hammond went past 350 runs in this year’s Blast and a seventh T20 fifty – coming in 36 balls – but the visitors went from looking at setting 200 to an almighty collapse.All told it saw eight wickets fall in 33 balls, with the vast majority of them caught slogging to fulfil the double-hundred prophecy.Scotland international Brad Wheal – now the owner of 50 T20 wickets for Hampshire. was the chief destroyer with four wickets. His figures of four for 35 were only ruined by a late six and four from Ben Charlesworth.Charlesworth was a rare Gloucestershire success in the second half with his 39 off 19 taking them to a par, but under what they had looked set for, 176.In reply, Ben McDermott started strongly by pumping fellow Aussie down the ground for a maximum, but James Vince strangling a pull shot behind off the last ball of the powerplay stemmed the hosts’ momentum.The following six overs went for 27 runs as Tom Smith led a Boa-like tightening on the Hawks.Tom Prest reverse swept to point and McDermott and Toby Albert both thumped to long off as Smith struck in his first three overs with analysis of three for 14.But a switch of ends for his last saw Howell explode with a pair of sixes in a 22-run over to take the equation to 63 off 30 balls, and swung the pendulum.Howell continued his assault against Marchant de Lange with another two huge hits and was also dropped by wicketkeeper James Bracey – his first Hampshire half-century coming in 22 balls.Joe Weatherley had been the onlooker for much of the fifty stand and fell when de Lange parted his stumps.A five-run over from Matt Taylor meant 31 was needed from the last two overs but Howell recharged with James Fuller to make it 14 off the last.It was taken down to four off the last delivery, which Howell scooped to the boundary to celebrate by ripping off his helmet.

Teenage spinner claims ten wickets on Notts debut but contest ends in high-scoring draw

ECB Reporters Network01-Sep-2024Surrey saw their romp towards a third consecutive Division One title lose a little momentum as they were forced to settle for a draw against relegation-threatened Nottinghamshire in the Vitality County Championship at Trent Bridge.On a day when their teenage off-spinner Farhan Ahmed’s 10-wicket match haul claimed a 159-year-old record set by no less a cricketing legend than WG Grace, the home side, who had been set a target of 298 to win from a minimum 48 overs when Surrey declared at 177 for nine in their second innings, were 121 without loss when the sides shook hands on a draw at 5pm, openers Haseeb Hameed and Ben Slater having each made half-centuries.The result means that Surrey’s lead of 35 points at the start of this round of matches, after winning seven of their previous eight matches, is cut to 24 thanks to Somerset’s victory over Durham at Taunton. Surrey and Somerset meet at Taunton next week.At the other end of the table, after Warwickshire and Worcestershire both won, the points taken for the draw – a merit worthy achievement after trailing by 120 on first innings – leaves Nottinghamshire 10 points ahead of Lancashire in the battle to avoid being relegated alongside Kent. All sides have three matches to come.Rory Burns made 71 to go with his first-innings 161 with Liam Patterson-White finishing with five for 94 before the declaration came, but the Nottinghamshire left-arm spinner’s achievement was again upstaged by his young team-mate Ahmed, with whom he shared all 53 overs of the Surrey second innings.Already in the record books on his Championship debut as the youngest player to bag five wickets or more in a first-class match in Britain, he achieved another mark of distinction, arguably even more prestigious, when he claimed Jordan Clark as his 10th wicket of the match.This enabled him to replace Grace as the youngest to take 10 or more wickets in a first-class match in Britain – in fact anywhere other than in South Asia.Grace returned the extraordinary match figures of 13 for 84 – on his first-class debut – for Gentlemen of the South against Players of the South at the Oval in June 1865, at the age of 16 years 340 days.With a match analysis of 10 for 247 at the age of 16 years and 192 days, Ahmed lowers the record by 148 days. He bowled a staggering 76.4 overs in the match, which may be a record in itself for a debut appearance.Surrey, who had missed out on a fourth first-innings batting point that seemed theirs for the taking, arguably made another mistake when they declared just shy of an hour after lunch.The timing meant Nottinghamshire would have to score at more than six runs per over to win the contest on a pitch that had yielded at barely three-and-a-half all game, with the Kookaburra ball reportedly hard to get away on a slow surface.Surrey were banking on England off-spinner Will Jacks, who had matched Ahmed by taking seven first-innings wickets, and leg-spinner Cam Steel to exploit the fourth-day pitch but Hameed and Slater were rarely troubled as neither could find a way through.Earlier, Surrey had advanced from 13 for one overnight to 104 for four by lunch, playing in light for that period so gloomy that bowling spin was the only option for Nottinghamshire skipper Hameed.A second-wicket stand worth 57 was broken by Patterson-White, who induced a miscue to short midwicket by Ryan Patel, following up by turning one sharply to bowl Will Jacks three balls later.Patterson-White had Burns dropped at square leg on 39, after which the Surrey captain’s stop-start dithering over a single into the offside off Ahmed saw new partner Ben Foakes run out by Hameed’s throw to keeper Kyle Verreynne.As the tempo increased after lunch, with Surrey now chasing runs for the declaration, Ahmed completed his 10 for the match by bowling Burns and having Clark caught behind in a botched scoop attempt.Patterson-White raised his five for the innings by having Sai Sudharsan caught at deep midwicket and bowling Conor McKerr and Tom Lawes, for his pains getting clubbed for two meaty sixes by Dan Worrall before Burns signalled the declaration.

Former opener also feels “home advantage in Australia has been taken away quite a lot”, particularly under lights

Vishal Dikshit21-Aug-2024Former Australia batter Matthew Hayden believes Australia’s home advantage “has been taken away quite a lot” in recent years, and that runs are going to come at a “premium” in the forthcoming five-match Test series between Australia and India to be played from November 2024 to January 2025.As for the nature of pitches at the five venues – Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney – Hayden said on the sidelines of the CEAT cricket rating awards that “three [Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne] out of five are drop-in wickets”.”One is a day-night Test match [in Adelaide] – the second Test match,” he said. “Again, once you get those overhead conditions under that twilight zone, they can be really difficult [to bat on]. I would go as far as to say that the home advantage in Australia has been taken away quite a lot, simply on the basis that if you get the wrong side of a certain session, be that you’re 4 for 130, at twilight you can be 8 for 150.Related

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“So there’s no chance to naturally dominate a game. It’s quite even the whole time, so it’s a very different type of cricket, because you don’t have those traditional surfaces.”Australia have not only lost their last two home series against India, thus losing their grip on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for ten years now, but also saw their fortress in Brisbane breached twice in three years: the defeat to India in January 2021 followed by one against a much lower-ranked West Indies in January earlier this year, which resulted in a 1-1 drawn series.That slim, eight-run loss to West Indies was also Australia’s first in a day-night Test after 11 straight victories.Expecting the upcoming contest against India to be an “unbelievable and historic series” between the top-two-ranked Test teams in the world, Hayden couldn’t pick a favourite for the series, unlike his former captain Ricky Ponting, who has pipped Australia to win 3-1.”Those two, coming now to the later pages of their career, will be keen to dominate” – Matthew Hayden on Virat Kohli and Steven Smith•BCCI

“You look at the line-ups, and it’s hard to really tell who’s got the edge,” Hayden said. “I sense that it’s going to be runs that are going to be the point of difference. So the best need to stand up in this series; runs are going to be at a premium. And I also feel like the structure of the tournament being from the west to the east is a bit of the unique way that the Australian landscape of cricket is going to be played out. It’s usually the other way around. It’s going to be a great summer.”For runs, a lot of eyes will be on the experienced Virat Kohli and Steven Smith – the leading run-scorers in Tests for their teams among active players, and also prolific scorers against the teams they’re going to face soon. While Kohli averages 47.48 against Australia and 54.08 in Australia, Smith averages an even better 65.87 against India.”I’m sure those two players, coming now to the later pages of their cricket career, will be very keen to dominate the landscape through the summer,” Hayden said. “That’s their nature: they do it in very different ways, [and] very different styles, but certainly, they really are the keys to the Australian summer.”Hayden also pointed out the kind of challenge India’s batters will have to face in Australian conditions because of the steeper bounce and the size of the grounds across the country. When asked about the kind of impact a young and promising batter like Yashasvi Jaiswal could make, as was pointed out by Nathan Lyon recently, Hayden said Jaiswal had “superb” strokeplay, but that he’ll be challenged by three “world-class speedsters”.”I think he’s a package,” Hayden said of Jaiswal. “Yes, his strokeplay is superb. His ability, in particular, to hit on the up through the covers is phenomenal. [But] that’ll also have its vulnerabilities. I’m looking forward to seeing how he adjusts on bouncy tracks. We did notice a few times in the IPL that he’s a very hard hitter of the ball – [with the] pull shots in particular.”But that’ll be challenged by three world-class speedsters, assuming they’re all fit, and on much bigger grounds as well – grounds where it has to almost be the perfect contact for that ball to sail over for six. You can get caught easily, three-quarters of the way in the fence. So they have little adjustments that world-class players like Jaiswal will make for sure.”

ECB announce latest move towards equity in wake of ICEC report in 2023

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Sep-2024England’s women cricketers have taken another step towards gender parity, with minimum starting salaries in domestic cricket set to be equalised across the men’s and women’s professional games from 2025.The move, which will coincide with the first season of the new women’s county competition, will apply both at ‘Rookie’ level, which is being introduced into the women’s game for the first time, and at ‘Senior Pro’ level for players who have established themselves in first teams.The announcement comes in the wake of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report in June 2023, which called for a “fundamental overhaul” to the pay structure of women’s cricket in England and Wales.The report found that the average England Women’s salary was 20.6% of their male equivalents (although the ECB considered that figure to be closer to 30%), and set targets for equalising pay at domestic level by 2029 and for internationals by 2030.Although the ECB pushed back at the report’s timeframe for achieving full parity across the sport, their commitment to minimum salaries reflects the need to offer an equality of opportunity for young players considering cricket as a career choice. At the time of the report’s publication, the minimum salary for male first-class county players was in the region of £27,500.This latest move follows last summer’s announcement that England’s women would receive equal match fees for international fixtures, which had been an immediate recommendation in the ICEC report.”Equalising starting salaries across our men’s and women’s professional domestic game is another positive step forward for women’s cricket in England and Wales,” Beth Barrett-Wild, Director of Women’s Professional Game, said.”The changes we’ve made to the structure of women’s domestic cricket across the last nine months have been about producing a sustainable and viable product that’s attractive off the pitch, as well as being quality on it. As part of this, it’s important that our players are remunerated appropriately, and that cricket is seen not just as a viable career option for women, but an enticing one.”Increasingly, every decision we take is about making cricket as attractive a sport for young girls as it is for boys. We know we still have a lot of work to do in this space. But we are moving at pace, and the news today represents another significant building block in the journey to gender equity in the game.”The ECB has also confirmed that the eight Tier 1 counties in the new women’s competition will have minimum squad sizes of 15 contracted players, with each of the first-class counties required to invest at least £500,000 on their player salary costs in 2025. A salary cap of £800,000 per year has also been agreed for those clubs.PCA Director of Player Rights and Women’s Cricket, Emma Reid, said: “Working with the ECB and the professional game, we are really pleased to see equalised minimum salaries across the men’s and women’s domestic game from 2025.”This is a big step towards reaching parity and a journey that the PCA is fully committed to achieving, but there is still further work to do. With the women’s teams under the umbrella of the First-Class Counties, the PCA will continue to lobby for parity across all areas of the professional game.”The starting salaries and salary budget details have been approved by the ECB’s Professional Game Committee (PGC), which features representatives from FCCs, the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) and the ECB.The announcement came in advance of the ECB’s one-year update on its progress towards equity in cricket, in the wake of its initial response to the 137 recommendations and sub-recommendations outlined in the ICEC report.The measures introduced have included the appointment of the Cricket Regulator as an independent, arm’s length disciplinary body, and an additional investment of £2 million in the ECB’s pathways programmes.Richard Thompson, ECB Chair, said: “A year ago, we published our response to the ICEC report into racism, sexism and class-based discrimination in cricket.”We made a commitment to wide-ranging action aimed at tackling discrimination and breaking down barriers for women and girls, people from lower socio-economic groups, and ethnically diverse communities, and today I’m pleased to report on the progress we have made in that time.”But we know there is much more work to do and it’s only the start of the journey. We have a number of plans and structures in place to allow us to accelerate change through 2025 and 2026. And we recognise that in some areas lasting, meaningful change will take a long time.”This article was updated at 1pm BST, September 25, 2024, following the publication of the ECB’s progress report

Australia quick signs for Blast but could feature across formats

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Oct-2024Somerset have agreed a return for Australia quick Riley Meredith next year. Meredith, 28, will be available for the Vitality Blast, as well as potentially in the County Championship and One-Day Cup, depending on the structure of the season.Meredith enjoyed a successful first spell in county cricket during the summer, his 14 wickets in the Blast helping defending champions Somerset reach Finals Day – although he was unable to play in the knockout stages after being called up by Australia. He also picked up six wickets in three One-Day Cup appearances.”I really enjoyed my time with Somerset this year and I’m looking forward to coming back to England next summer,” Meredith said. “We played some good cricket, and it was nice to be able to play a part in some good wins. Hopefully, we can go on to lift some silverware in 2025.”Somerset’s director of cricket, Andy Hurry, said. “We were all extremely impressed with how Riley performed on the field and by how he seamlessly he fitted into the group.”He showed that he is a world-class performer, and he brought something a little different to our already outstanding attack. He bowled with genuine pace and aggression and will once again be a valuable addition to our squad next summer.”

The home side couldn’t take a wicket across two sessions after Jasprit Bumrah haul had bundled them out for 104

Tristan Lavalette23-Nov-2024After a frenetic start to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India gained control of the first Test after openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul ground down a labouring Australia attack in improved batting conditions at Optus Stadium.Jaiswal closed in on a brilliant century and finished 90 not out, while a resolute Rahul was unbeaten on 62 as India reached stumps on 172 for 0 with a lead of 218 runs.A remarkable 17 wickets fell on a madcap opening day, but there were long periods of attrition on the second day which yielded only three wickets. It was a return to somewhat normalcy as a crowd of 32,368 at times resorted to Mexican waves and chants for entertainment.Related

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India did not mind playing a sedate tempo. Jaiswal reached his half-century off 123 balls – his slowest 50 of his short Test career – and Rahul registered his in 124 deliveries. The unbroken partnership has exceeded the first innings totals of either team.After an unlikely first innings lead of 46 runs, the fifth highest by any team making 150 or fewer while batting first, India’s position in the series-opener has been considerably strengthened as Jaiswal and Rahul batted through two sessions.Having endured a tough initiation in his first Test innings in Australia, where he made a duck amid apparent jitters, Jaiswal looked much more assured from start. He played from deep in the crease to blunt the new ball bowling of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who had combined for six wickets in India’s first innings of 150.Jaiswal, 22, combined perfectly with Rahul as they ran well between the wickets, scurrying singles, to rattle an Australian team seemingly playing within themselves. Rahul continued to bat resolutely following on from his gutsy innings early on day one which ended after a controversial DRS decision. He unfurled a gorgeous on drive against Pat Cummins that raced to the boundary despite a sluggish outfield, but mostly was content to play anchor.Jaiswal left the ball well and looked compact in defence. He had learned the lessons from the first innings and made sure he did not push at the ball hard. There was some trademark aggression like when he uppercut Cummins over the slips and swatted Starc over deep square leg, but he mostly unfurled textbook strokes through the covers and down the ground. Late in the day he skipped down at Nathan Lyon to send him into the stands over long-on.KL Rahul dives for his crease as he is nearly run out•Getty Images

Australia’s pace attack could not replicate their brilliant performance on the opening day. Perhaps feeling weary having to back up so quickly, Australia seemed helpless on a wicket that appeared to flatten amid sunny conditions. There was still some movement off the surface and occasional inconsistent bounce, but conditions were more benign.Australia, though, were conservative at times with fielders in the deep underlining Jaiswal’s dominance, while seven bowlers were used with Marnus Labuschagne unsuccessfully unfurling his much-publicised short-ball strategy.Like in India’s first innings, Cummins once again looked slightly underdone in his first red-ball match since the New Zealand Test tour in March. He closed with figures of 0 for 44 from 13 overs.Australia did not take their chances with Jaiswal having a let off on 51 when he edged Starc only for Usman Khawaja to drop a tough chance low down at first slip. There was a missed run out opportunity on the next delivery when Rahul backed up too far, but the openers regrouped to continue India’s remarkable turnaround.Earlier, Australia were bowled out by lunch for 104. It was their fourth lowest score against India in Tests and ninth lowest at home since 1900.After producing an all-time performance late on day one, stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah finished with 5 for 30 from 18 overs. It was his 11th five-wicket haul in Test cricket and ninth while playing outside of Asia, the joint-most by an Indian alongside Kapil Dev.Well bowled, skipper: Jasprit Bumrah gets a hug•Associated Press

When play started, there had been an outside chance that the match could end within two days. Bumrah continued to speed up proceedings with a wicket off his first delivery of the morning when he nicked off in-form Alex Carey for 21.Bumrah’s length and movement off the wicket was a constant menace as he threatened on almost every delivery. But it was debutant Harshit Rana who was rewarded for his hostile spell as he dismissed Lyon with a sharp bouncer that caught the glove and ballooned to the slips cordon.At 79 for 9, Australia were in danger of being dismissed for their lowest score against India and overtaking their infamous 83 in the MCG in 1981.But Starc, who after play on day one had stated that the pitch wasn’t as difficult to bat on as the scoreboard suggested, dug in and found a willing ally in Hazlewood. They put on 26 – the highest partnership of the innings – in 18 overs for the last wicket.Starc had to withstand a short-pitch barrage from Rana as the former Kolkata Knight Riders team-mates engaged in a war of words. There was mock applause from the terraces when Australia reached 100 – a landmark that seemed unlikely for much of their innings.Debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy and offspinner Washington Sundar, who was surprisingly included over veterans R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, entered the attack and bowled steadily during the match’s first sedate period of play. They could not provide a breakthrough as a frustrated India appeared set to have to ponder their approach through the lunch break.But just before the interval, Starc lost his running battle with Rana as he holed out in a tame way to end a fighting knock. He top scored with 26 off 112 balls – more than double the next most deliveries faced of 52 from Labuschagne.