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The Australian cited “personal reasons” but it is understood that delays in finalising the deal between him and the PCB may have played a part

Umar Farooq14-Aug-2018The Pakistan Cricket Board will have to start their hunt for a fielding coach afresh after Darren Berry withdrew his interest in the role due to personal and professional reasons. Berry, who played 153 first-class matches in Australia from 1989 to 2004, had been in talks with the PCB for more than a month.Pakistan were looking for a replacement for Steve Rixon, the previous fielding coach who chose not to renew his contract after it expired in June. Berry had emerged as a leading candidate for the post after being endorsed by head coach Mickey Arthur, and official talks between the PCB and Berry began in the third week of June.It is understood Berry was originally due to join the Pakistan team on their tour of Zimbabwe in July, but that was delayed because the PCB’s official procedures took time. The date of Berry’s joining was then pushed to August 25, with the Asia Cup in September set to be his first assignment with the Pakistan team.On the understanding that everything in his contract was principally agreed on to save a few minor tweaks, Berry had let go of a coaching job in the Global T20 Canada. But when faced with more unusual delays from the PCB, he decided to pull out of the discussions. While he won’t be taking up the Pakistan job, Berry has renewed his ties with Islamabad United for the next PSL season, and also retains his Bangladesh Premier League contract.”I’m extremely thankful for the opportunity presented by Mickey Arthur and PCB,” Berry told ESPNcricinfo. “After healthy discussions between the PCB and myself, I have decided that at this point in time with a young family (Berry has three children) that full-time international travel was a bridge too far right now. I will continue to work with Islamabad United in the PSL and will keep an open mind in relation to international coaching opportunities in the future.”Rixon, 64, had his last working day with Pakistan on June 13, when they beat Scotland by 84 runs to seal a two-match T20I series 2-0. Since that game, Pakistan have been without a fielding coach. The PCB did confirm that they have been in talks with Berry and that he was on the verge of being selected for the role, but the deal wasn’t penned down formally. “(There was) no delay,” a PCB official said. “Steve Rixon was contracted to us till end June. We gave an ad that had a deadline of June 27 to hire new coach. After that we were negotiating terms and everything was agreed until he withdrew for personal reasons, but on good terms with PCB.”Berry, a respected name in cricket coaching, had spent four years with South Australia until 2015 and guided them to the 2010-11 Big Bash title, the last before the BBL became a franchise tournament. His luck was different in first-class cricket with the Redbacks finishing last in three out of four seasons.

The Victoria player, who scored a double-hundred last week, is being treated for mental health-related illness

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Oct-2018Will Pucovski, the highly-rated Victoria batsman who made a double-century in the opening round of the Sheffield Shield, will take an indefinite break from the game for treatment on a mental health-related illness.Pucovski, 20, was withdrawn from the latest round of Shield matches on the eve of Victoria’s game against New South Wales and his state has now confirmed it will be an extended absence.”Will’s health remains our highest priority and Cricket Victoria’s medical staff will continue to provide support to Will during this time,” Cricket Victoria’s doctor Trefor James said.Cricket Victoria general manager Shaun Graf said: “Will is a terrific young player and we need to do what’s best for him at this time. We’ll continue to work with our medical staff to determine the best training and preparation plan to support Will at this time.”Pucovski hit 243 against Western Australia at the WACA, his second first-class century in seven matches, and given Australia’s current batting problems he was already been talked about as a potential option for the Test team.He has previously had to battle a series of concussions during his brief career following a number of blows to the head.

Visitors post sub-par total despite punchy Bairstow-Smith opening stand

ECB Media07-Aug-2025Zak Crawley shone under the lights at Headingley to make an unbeaten 67 and lead Andrew Flintoff’s Northern Superchargers to an assured eight-wicket win over Welsh Fire.The England man hit five fours and four sixes across his enterprising 37-ball stay at the crease to see the Superchargers to a brace of home wins on their opening matchday of the Hundred, following the women’s team’s win earlier in the day.Crawley was accompanied by captain and fellow England star Harry Brook to hit the winning runs at the end, book-ending a game that started with Jonny Bairstow and Steve Smith putting on 62 for the opening wicket for Welsh Fire.The pair were booed on their way to the crease but they looked as if they’d get their own back on their crowd, before Smith was bowled by Matthew Potts and the Fire innings began to lose its heat.Fire fought their way to 143 for 9 from their 100 balls but Crawley, David Malan (41) and Brook (25*) made light work of the chase – knocking off the runs with 11 balls to spare.Brook signalled his arrival at the crease with a first-ball six over mid-off and his innings brought plenty of cheer to the Headingley crowd, who on this performance may have plenty to celebrate across the Hundred this season.Crawley said: “I loved it. The boys are great, and coming here with Freddie [Flintoff] – the guy’s a legend. It’s a great place to play your cricket and an awesome wicket to bat on, so I loved it.”It felt a really good wicket for us to bat on and the outfield was rapid so the game-plan for us was to play strong shots, and it came off. The boys kept them to a really good total with the ball, and we felt like we could chase that and it was a good performance.”I felt like me and Dawid complemented each other quite nicely, we hit in different areas, so that was good. And obviously the skipper came in and does what he does. He’s a proper player so that made it easy for me at the end.”The bowlers got us off to a great start. They’ve got a couple of top players at the top for them but we managed to take regular wickets, which is what we talked about before the game, and the boys did brilliantly to keep them to 140-odd and that was very chaseable.”

The batsman had said in a TV interview on Sunday that he had been approached to leave to balls alone during the 2015 World Cup match against India

Umar Farooq24-Jun-2018The PCB wants Umar Akmal to explain the comments he made to a TV channel on Sunday about being offered money during the 2015 World Cup to “leave two balls alone”. Hours after Akmal told about the alleged approach made to him during the World Cup, as well as other supposed offers to miss games against India, the PCB served him a notice, asking him to meet the board’s anti-corruption unit on June 27 in Lahore to explain his comments.”I had got an offer during the World Cup to leave two balls alone and they were willing to pay me $200,000 for that,” Akmal said in the TV interview. “It was our first match against India in the 2015 World Cup… in fact, every match I play against India, they offer me money to make some excuse and opt out of the game. But I have told those people that I am very sincere about playing for Pakistan and to not talk to me on this topic ever again.”It is unclear whether Akmal had previously reported these alleged approaches to the anti-corruption authorities, and therein could lie a problem for him. While there is no evidence to suggest Akmal has been involved in any corrupt activity, failure to report an approach is also a punishable offence under PCB and ICC rules. Akmal, ESPNcricinfo understands, had officially reported corrupt approaches in 2014 during the England series in the UAE.
The ICC, in an official statement, said it had launched an investigation and that it wished to speak to Akmal “urgently”.”The ICC is aware of a recent interview given by Umar Akmal. Whilst we note that there is no suggestion that any ‘fix’ actually took place, the ICC is reliant on players to report any corrupt approaches in a timely manner. This is critical to our efforts to gather information on potential ‘fixers’ and to disrupt and prevent their efforts to corrupt the game. As such we are taking Akmal’s comments very seriously.”We have launched an investigation and wish to speak to Mr Akmal as a matter of urgency. Our Anti-Corruption Unit is committed to working to uphold integrity in cricket and would urge anyone with any information to contact us via [email protected].”Akmal has been embroiled in a number of controversies of late. In May last year, in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy, Akmal had to return home after failing two fitness tests in two days. In September, he picked up a three-match ban and a fine of Pakistani rupees 1 million for his public outburst against coach Mickey Arthur. Then, in March this year, his future with Pakistan Super League franchise Lahore Qalandars came into question after he was left out of the squad following a poor run of form; it was understood that he was not even travelling to the stadium with his team-mates at that point.June 25, GMT 0244 The story was updated to include the ICC’s comment.

An inspired, backs-to-the-wall performance from Pakistan, led by Haris Sohail, knocked South Africa out of the 2019 World Cup

The Report by Liam Brickhill23-Jun-2019
As it happenedAn inspired, backs-to-the-wall performance from Pakistan knocked South Africa out of the 2019 World Cup.Pakistan let sense prevail in their selections for this game, and a re-jigged XI collected a vital, 49-run victory. Haris Sohail, drafted in place of Shoaib Malik, showed just what Pakistan had been missing by blasting 89 of the most sublimely-timed runs so far witnessed in this tournament. His innings added further impetus after an 81-run opening stand between Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman, gluing Pakistan’s middle together alongside Babar Azam, who contributed 69. Haris then added 71 with Imad Wasim (with Imad, contributing just 23, mostly at the other end), and thanks to his nine fours and three sixes, Pakistan were able to take 91 from the last 10 and soar to 308 for 7.South Africa have never successfully chased 300-plus in a World Cup: the highest total they’ve ever overhauled is India’s 296 in Nagpur in 2011. And they haven’t chased a 300-plus target in any ODI in nearly three years, the last time being against Australia in Durban in October 2016.Watch on Hotstar (India only) – Full match highlightsMohammad Amir and Shadab Khan struck repeatedly to overcome their top order and ensure this would not be a historic occasion for South Africa, and a reverse-swinging, low-armed Wahab Riaz then did as he does best, skittling the lower order at the death with the required rate skyrocketing.Amir finished with 2 for 49, taking his World Cup tally to 15 dismissals, which is the combined haul of Jofra Archer and Mitchell Starc, who have both played one more game than him. He has almost as many as his team-mates have taken in total, and more than anyone else.While it was Amir who made the first decision, troubling Hashim Amla’s front pad with a first-over indipper, it was Shadab who pressed the issue with two vital strikes in the space of four overs: first he had a slogging Quinton de Kock caught at midwicket, just shy of a third World Cup fifty, and then he bowled a clueless Aiden Markram, whose struggles against quality spin continued.When Markram fell, South Africa were 103 for 3, needing well over seven an over, and Shadab had 2 for 17, including a wicket maiden. He ended with 3 for 50, having also had an increasingly desperate Rassie van der Dussen caught by Hafeez off a slogged top edge – his best figures of the tournament, and numbers which marked a timely turnaround. Before today, Shadab was averaging a whopping 53.9 in ODIs this year, and Pakistan’s spinners were leaking 75.3 runs per wicket in the middle overs of this World Cup, comfortably the worst for any spin unit. But on a tufty, dry Lord’s surface, both he and Imad found encouragement, and combined for 3 for 98 from 20.South Africa found no respite at the other end. The spirit went out of their chase when Faf du Plessis’ last stand was cut short on 63 by Amir. He had scrapped his way to fifty, but the required rate was nearing 8.5 thanks to the good work of the spinners, and something had to give. Sarfaraz brought Amir back, and with his third ball he ensured South Africa’s captain would not go down with his ship, inducing a steepling top edge that just about touched the gloomy clouds that had settled in over St John’s Wood before plummeting back down to be easily pouched by Sarfaraz.David Miller, having tweaked his hamstring in the field earlier, hobbled to the crease in a cacophany of sound as Pakistan’s fans, who packed the stands, sensed victory. He and van der Dussen swung gamely to add another 53 for the fifth wicket, but with every over the asking rate climbed.With 15 overs to go and South Africa needing almost ten an over, all Pakistan had to do was stick to the basics, keep it tight, and let scoreboard pressure do the rest. But Pakistan aren’t a team who like to make things simple for themselves, and several lapses in the field repeatedly let South Africa off the hook and back into the game. In total, no less than six chances were grassed as South Africa went down swinging – yet more evidence that Pakistan’s standards in the field have dipped since Steve Rixon’s departure.But today, there was enough brilliance with the ball to make up for it. Shadab saw the back of van der Dussen, Miller missed a swipe at Shaheen Afridi and was bowled, and Wahab did the business to scythe through the lower order, Andile Phehlukwayo playing a lone hand with 46 not out. South Africa’s campaign whimpered to a close, and Pakistan’s was kept alive with a vital win.There was also, for a change, plenty of brilliant batting to go around. Pakistan’s batting has lacked a century-maker in this World Cup – unlike the teams that currently occupy the top four points on the table – and no one made a hundred today either, but a far more fluent performance from the top order ultimately gave the bowlers the sort of total they need to put the squeeze on in the second innings.Imam kicked things off at a good lick, showing that his cover driving is in excellent working order and outscoring Fakhar Zaman in the early exchanges. Though neither reached fifty, Imran Tahir rolling back the years to dismiss both of them for 44 (including a remarkable one-handed stunner off his own bowling), Babar Azam was soon ticking, and helped to weather the loss of Mohammad Hafeez for 20.But the innings really belonged to Haris, who walked to the crease with intent and batted with the same vim, bursting out of the blocks with two fours and a six in his first 10 balls. While Babar raised a mid-tempo, 61-ball fifty at the other end, Haris showed he had all the shots. Crisp through the off side, and particularly behind point, he was increasingly brutal to leg. A ramped uppercut brought him a 38-ball fifty – his first in World Cup cricket – and he just kept accelerating. A second six was chipped over Duminy’s head at long off, while a third was slugged over midwicket.Ngidi pulled things back a little with an exemplary final over, dismissing Wahab with his first ball and Haris with his fifth, but by then the damage had been done. Pakistan had a total which inspired them to believe, while South Africa’s chase lacked belief almost throughout.

Injury concerns aside, CSK have begun well, squeezing out maximum points so far. Now they run into a revamped Kings XI Punjab, captained by an old friend

The Preview by Deivarayan Muthu14-Apr-20185:03

Agarkar: Out of form Yuvraj on shaky ground

Big Picture

Two matches, two last-gasp wins and two injuries. Having squeezed out maximum points so far, Chennai Super Kings now run into a revamped Kings XI Punjab side captained by an old friend in R Ashwin. Kings XI have had a seesawing start to the season: they mowed down Delhi Daredevils but came up short against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday. They have a little less than 48 hours to address their weaknesses, particularly their batting.Despite losing wickets in a cluster, Kings XI’s batsmen kept going after the bowlers and were ultimately bowled out with four balls unused in their innings. Such an approach works only if you have a fail-safe option in the batting line-up. Yuvraj Singh is past his prime while Karun Nair, Aaron Finch, and Marcus Stoinis are largely hit-or-miss batsmen. Ashwin, however, has indicated that the side will not curb its aggression after just one loss.Super Kings’ middle order is rickety as well, and the injuries to Suresh Raina and Kedar Jadhav have forced them to dig deep into their reserves. Ambati Rayudu has given the team bright starts in both games, so, perhaps, there is a case for him to stay at the top. Super Kings will have to choose between a fit-again M Vijay and Delhi’s Dhruv Shorey, who is uncapped in the IPL, for the middle-order slot thrown open by the absence of Raina.

In the news

• Raina will miss a Super Kings match for the first time in his career.
• Jadhav’s replacement David Willey joined the squad on the eve of the match.
• Lungi Ngidi will not be available for Sunday’s clash, having flown back home to South Africa following the death of his father.
• Ngidi’s captain at South Africa Faf du Plessis, who is recovering from a finger injury and a side strain, is “close” to full fitness, according to coach Stephen Fleming.

ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The likely XIs

Kings XI Punjab 1 KL Rahul (wk), 2 Mayank Agarwal, 3 Aaron Finch/David Miller, 4 Yuvraj Singh/Manoj Tiwary, 5 Karun Nair, 6 Marcus Stoinis, 7 Axar Patel, 8 R Ashwin (capt), 9 Andrew Tye, 10 Mohit Sharma, 11 Mujeeb ZadranChennai Super Kings 1 Shane Watson, 2 Ambati Rayudu, 3 M Vijay/Dhruv Shorey, 4 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 5 Sam Billings, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Dwayne Bravo 8 Deepak Chahar, 9 Harbhajan Singh, 10 Shardul Thakur, 11 Imran Tahir

Stats that matter

• Axar Patel has a perfect record against Shane Watson, having dismissed the Australian allrounder five times in five IPL matches
• MS Dhoni has struggled against spin, managing only 367 runs off 349 balls with a dot percentage of 45.6 since IPL 2015. Ravindra Jadeja has fared worse against spin, scoring only 157 off 161 balls in the same period.
• Mohit Sharma has bagged 25 wickets between overs 16 and 20 in 43 IPL games since 2015. He also tends to leak runs in the same phase, though, as his economy-rate of 9.4 suggests.

Strategy punt

If Rayudu continues to open for CSK, Ashwin could do well to bring himself on right away. The spinner has dismissed Rayudu four times in 48 balls while giving away only 53 runs.

Fantasy pick

That he can bowl legspin with accuracy too has amplified the threat posed by Ashwin. He struck with a loopy legbreak in the 12th over on Friday, removing Sarfraz Khan, and bowled a total of four legbreaks in the match for just one run. In Kings XI’s tournament opener against Delhi Daredevils, Ashwin had ventured four legbreaks and conceded three runs.

Quote

“There is obviously a lot going on. The positive is we have two wins out of two. There haven’t been great performances but scrapping and fighting wins, which at the start of a tournament is more valuable.”

New Zealand batter fell for 92 just eight balls into the final morning, before Jayasuriya bagged five in the second innings

Madushka Balasuriya23-Sep-2024Sri Lanka didn’t need long on the final morning in Galle to wrap things up, taking just 15 minutes to grab the final two New Zealand wickets and secure a 63-run win in the first Test. The result means Sri Lanka go 1-0 up in the two-match series, while also leapfrogging New Zealand up to third place in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table.Prabath Jayasuriya was at the forefront of Sri Lanka’s charge, finishing with figures of 5 for 68 – his eighth five-wicket haul, and his seventh in Galle. He ended with match figures of 9 for 204, taking home the Player-of-the-Match award.After having fought so hard the previous day, Rachin Ravindra lasted just eight deliveries into the first session of the final morning as Jayasuriya trapped him in front with an arm ball for 92 off 168 balls. Coming around the wicket, Jayasuriya tossed one up on leg as Ravindra was caught in the crease playing down the wrong line. He reviewed, but once it was confirmed to be pitching in line, there would be no saving him.And any lingering hopes of a famous rearguard were then swiftly quashed, as Will O’Rourke kept out just five deliveries before the sixth slipped past his forward defence and on to off stump to hand Jayasuriya his fifth wicket of the innings.O’Rourke wouldn’t quite be satisfied with how the game ended after an impressive showing in the game as he finished with eight wickets to his name – the second-most across the Test, and the same as Ajaz Patel.In terms of how this result impacts the WTC, it keeps Sri Lanka’s outside hopes of a berth in the final alive. But for New Zealand, it makes their task considerably tougher, with an away series against India and a home series England coming up in the next few months.There will be no time to dwell on this result for either team, with just a two-day break before the second Test gets underway on Thursday – also in Galle.

New Zealand were 211 for 5 but the India attack was unable to capitalise on the situation and the hosts declared on 458

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Nov-2018Associated Press

The New Zealand A lower order and tail piled on plenty of runs against an India A attack that features only two frontline bowlers with international experience under their belt. Soon after losing overnight centurion Hamish Rutherford for 114, New Zealand were reduced to 211 for 5 but the India attack was unable to capitalise on the situation and the hosts declared on 458, only nine behind India’s total.Visiting openers Prithvi Shaw and M Vijay were unbeaten in a quick stand of 35 in eight overs, with the Mumbai batsman scoring 33 off 26 with seven fours.Resuming on 176 for 1, New Zealand lost their early wickets to the pace bowlers when Tim Seifert drove to edge one behind off Mohammed Siraj and Rutherford chopped on against Deepak Chahar. Chahar soon had Rachin Ravindra hole out behind square with a bouncer, and when Glenn Phillips was trapped lbw by Navdeep Saini, India looked set to take a healthy lead with the hosts five down and 256 behind.However, Dane Cleaver (53) stitched crucial stands with Doug Bracewell (48) and Kyle Jamieson (30) to take them towards 350. When Cleaver holed out against Saini off a short ball on the off side, they were 346 for 8, but Seth Rance and Blair Tickner frustrated India further with an unbeaten stand of 83 for the last wicket. Rance was unbeaten on 69 off 57 with four fours and as many sixes, and Tickner was on 30* when they declared. K Gowtham chipped in with three wickets but conceded 107 runs in his 42 overs.

England, meanwhile, are hoping to recover quickly after losing their last two matches back-to-back

The Preview by Annesha Ghosh30-Mar-2018

Big Picture

If the Ashes-retaining campaign had been “a good starting point” for Australia to stage a turnaround after relinquishing their world titles in both limited-overs formats, captain Meg Lanning’s return to international cricket now awaits commemoration in the form of a double series triumph.A T20 series victory for the first time in nearly three years beckons Australia, soon after their 3-0 ODI series win against India. Barring the eight-wicket loss against England, in Lanning’s absence, Australia have looked menacing in their approach and application, with their batting and bowling units syncing perfectly.Heather Knight’s England, on the other hand, would be wary after suffering two successive defeats in as many days ahead of the final. Having razed down both their opponents in their first two games, fielding all their three debutants on tour, they found themselves restricted to 96 in their last encounter against Australia, and yielded to India for 107 on Thursday.England are likely, therefore, to return to a more tested combination, featuring old hand Jenny Gunn, who became the first cricketer to play 100 T20Is, on March 25.

Form guide

AustraliaWWLWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
England LLWWW

In the spotlight

Much of England’s fortunes on Saturday will rest on their most prolific run-getter in this tournament. That it was the same batsman, Danielle Wyatt, who also scripted the side’s come-from-behind, points-levelling Ashes campaign in November will not be lost on Australia. Apart from Wyatt’s maiden international ton, which trumped Beth Mooney’s 70-ball 117 at the Manuka Oval, Australia will do well to also bear in mind her demolition of India six days ago.To outdo their fiercest rivals a second time this series, Australia will require the sharp-shooting skills of their only bowler to claim a hat-trick, Megan Schutt, who jointly leads the tournament wickets chart with six scalps. With a little aid off the pitch, Schutt’s change-ups, especially her cutters, can fox anyone. She will hope to have the support of the left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen, who has been the stingiest bowler – among those who have bowled 14 overs or more – in this tournament.

Team news

Beth Mooney, who missed Australia’s last game with a mild abdominal strain, briefly trained in the nets on Friday and is likely to be available for selection. Rachael Haynes, however, missed training due to illness.Australia (possible): 1 Alyssa Healy (wk), 2 Beth Mooney, 3 Meg Lanning (capt), 4 Ellyse Perry, 5 Elyse Villani, 6 Ashleigh Gardner, 7 Rachael Haynes/Nicola Carey, 8 Delissa Kimmince, 9 Jess Jonassen, 10 Megan Schutt 11 Amanda-Jade WellingtonEngland quick bowler Anya Shrubsole is out of contention as she continues to recover from a shoulder injury.England (possible): 1 Danielle Wyatt, 2 Amy Jones (wk), 3 Tammy Beaumont, 4 Natalie Sciver, 5 Heather Knight (capt), 6 Fran Wilson, 7 Jenny Gunn, 8 Alice Davidson-Richards, 9 Natasha Farrant, 10 Danielle Hazell, 11 Sophie Ecclestone/Alex Hartley

Pitch and conditions

The tracks at Brabourne Stadium have been so flat that three of the 10 highest women’s T20I totals were amassed over the past week. However, if the same track as the one on which England played back-to-back matches against Australia and India is to be used, the sluggishness of the surface should keep the spinners interested. In that case, a low-scoring contest cannot be ruled out.

Stats and trivia

• England opener Danielle Wyatt needs 29 runs to surpass her Indian counterpart Smriti Mandhana as the leading run-scorer in the series.
• Australia’s last series victory in T20Is came in August 2015, when they consigned Ireland to a 3-0 clean sweep.

Quotes

“Been a while since we got a T20I series win. If we get over the line tomorrow, the girls will be really pleased about that.”
“Two defeats is not ideal but T20 is a very fickle game, it changes very quickly. Looking to turn it around and put in a good performance.”

Australia’s captain completed running, fielding and batting just days after being in a moon boot

Alex Malcolm28-Jan-2025Australia captain Alyssa Healy is making a bold bid to play in the historic day-night Ashes Test at the MCG starting on Thursday after completing a full training session two days out despite battling a stress injury in her foot that saw her miss the entire T20I series while wearing a moon boot.Healy participated fully in Australia’s first main session at the MCG and looked impressive with no signs of pain or limitations with her right foot.She began with a running session with six other team-mates, including Ashleigh Gardner who is coming off a calf injury. The pair moved well with other team-mates doing multiple laps of the MCG in intervals at a very solid intensity.Related

• Heather Knight has point to prove as Women's Ashes reaches grandest stage

• Healy declares herself fit but not locked in, Dunkley to play but Cross unavailable

• Mooney calls for Australia to put on a show in Ashes Test

• England must use Ashes humiliation as fuel for better days

• Australia hope Healy can play as a batter in Ashes Test

Healy also did short sprints thereafter without issue and then took part in Australia’s fielding session. Healy will be in the outfield if she does play and had no trouble during the session which was completed at a good intensity. She then had a solid hit in the nets cycling through pace, spin and throw downs and had no trouble at any stage on her feet.Speaking prior to the training session, coach Shelley Nitschke said no decision had been made on whether Healy would play and that the team management would wait to see how Healy pulled up after testing her foot.”She’s going as well as can be expected,” Nitschke said. “I think you’ve all seen her out in a boot and taking some weight off of that foot.”She will have a test today, and we’ll just sort of see where that lands and have some discussions about that, whether or not we think she’s going to be okay for a four day test.”Nitschke said they would try and leave the decision as late as possible but they were wary of creating problems around role clarity given Healy’s significance as the captain and a senior batter.”We don’t have to actually lock it in until the toss,” Nitschke said. “But obviously there’s repercussions around that with who’s the captain and what our line-up looks like. So I think people sort of want to know their role coming in, so as soon as we can we will, but it certainly doesn’t have to be today.”The coach did admit there was some emotion involved in the decision. It is the first time women will play a Test match at the MCG since 1949 and the occasion will be historic as the two teams celebrate the 90-year anniversary of women’s Test cricket.Australia’s women have not played at the MCG since the 2020 T20 World Cup final where Healy was player of the match. There have been multiple WBBL games at the venue since but Healy has not played in any of those. She has played at the MCG just 12 times in her career.Australia do not play another Test until February-March of 2026 by which time Healy will be nearly 36. There is a possibility, given her recent injury struggles, that this could be the final opportunity she has to play Test cricket and to appear at the MCG although she has not given any hint as to when she may finish her international career.Alyssa Healy is pushing to play in the historic day-night Test at the MCG•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

“I think it’s just about keeping in mind what’s best for the team and making sure we’re putting the best team we can out there to perform,” Nitschke said. “So that’s always been front and foremost. But we don’t play a lot of Tests, so there’s sort of some emotion involved there, but we want to do what’s best for the team and see what happens.”Nitschke confirmed Gardner was fit and would play after overcoming her calf injury. She completed her running, batting and bowling without issue and looms as a key player after her player of the match performance in the third ODI and her player of the match performance in the last Ashes Test in England in 2023.Nitschke added the selectors were unsure of how they would structure the XI for the day-night Test. Spin has been a huge part of Australia’s six victories in the white-ball matches so far but the MCG has been one of the most seam-friendly pitches in long-form men’s cricket since the drop-ins were redone in 2019. The pitch was under cover throughout the evening on Tuesday and neither side were able to look at it.”We certainly look at what the pitch has played like in whether it’s Shield and the Test match, and then considering the pink ball as well and what that brings to the game,” Nitschke said. “So we certainly do look at the results and how the wicket has played in the men’s game, because there’s been no female longer format played here. And then obviously use, what’s happened in the white-ball series as well as some intel to how we’re matching up.”England were equally unsure how the surface would play but seamer Kate Cross looms as an option after completing two full bowling spells on Tuesday without appearing in too much discomfort having missed the ODI series with a back problem. Cross wasn’t part of the T20I squad so has been based in Melbourne preparing for the Test.It has been a forgettable tour for England but there is a chance to end on a high•Getty Images

Nat Sciver-Brunt was unsure whether Cross would be available for selection but she was positive about what she faced from her.”I don’t know,” she said. “You’ll have to ask the physios who will review with her as to whether she got through the net sessions, alright. And I’m sure tomorrow will have a good bearing on that as well. She’s tracking good. It’s nice to see her rocking out a few overs in the nets as well. I think she got through two spells today. It’s great to see her back to being herself.”Sciver-Brunt did not shy away from the fact that the tour had been extremely difficult for the team, stating that it might have been worse than their last trip down under in 2021-22 when they lost the Ashes 12-4 under Covid restrictions, only claiming points from the drawn Test and two washed out T20Is.But she said the incentive of performing well in a historic Test had the team excited to finish the tour on a bright note.”It is difficult,” Sciver-Brunt said. “But I think being a Test match at the end of that at this iconic venue, we love putting on the whites. We love the fact that we get to create new memories with our team-mates, with our close friends, and hopefully put a good showing of ourselves.”Grateful that we’ve got opportunity to do that after six games. But the last few days have been tough. But, we’ve regrouped, and we’ll do our best to stay up.”