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Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes will take over as head coach of the Young Lions – the England developmental squad – on an interim basis until the end of the ICC Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand early in 2018.Rhodes, who has been director of cricket at Worcestershire since 2006, stands in for Andy Hurry following his appointment as director of cricket at Somerset.Recognition for Rhodes at England level comes after he guided Worcestershire to their fifth promotion in 11 years, an achievement with player development at its core.David Parsons, the ECB’s performance director, said: “Losing Andy at the start of a busy and challenging winter left us needing to find a high-quality replacement, and we believe that appointing Steve Rhodes on an interim basis is an excellent solution.”Obviously he is a highly experienced and respected coach as a result of his success with Worcestershire. He has already made a significant contribution to our International Pathway through his work with the England Lions in their training camp in Dubai and white-ball series against Pakistan A in the winter of 2015-16.”He has also spent time with the senior England set-up over the last two summers. And Worcestershire have an outstanding record of contributing players to all levels of the Pathway in recent years, with five involved again this winter – including Adam Finch and Dillon Pennington in the Young Lions squad.”Rhodes will work alongside Hurry in the early stages of the Young Lions winter programme, before taking over ahead of the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand before returning to Worcestershire after the tournament in early February.The ECB will appoint a permanent successor to Hurry in early spring and it would be a surprise if Rhodes, who has been highly committed to the county game since he made his Yorkshire playing debut 36 years ago, became a candidate for a full-time post.Rhodes said: “It is an honour to be asked to work for your country at any level, and I’m really excited about this chance to work with the Young Lions this winter. I’m grateful to everyone at Worcestershire for allowing me to take this opportunity.”I really enjoyed my time with the Lions in Dubai, and learned a lot from working in an international environment which I’ve been able to take back to Worcester for the last couple of seasons.”I’m grateful to everyone at Worcestershire for allowing me to take this opportunity – and I’m lucky to have such high-quality staff who will relish the extra responsibility with me being away.”Rhodes will join the Young Lions at a warm-weather training camp at the Desert Springs Resort in southern Spain from November 11-14.He will then take charge when the squad head for South Africa from November 22 to December 11, for a tri-series which also includes Namibia, before departing for the World Cup in New Zealand on January 2. The first of three group games is against Namibia in Queenstown on January 15 and the final is in Tauranga on February 3.

Lancashire knocked off the final 44 runs required without losing another wicket as they beat Surrey by seven wickets at Old Trafford to clinch second place in Division One of the Specsavers County Championship.Chasing their victory target of 176, Lancashire resumed their innings on 132-3 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Liam Livingstone at the crease.It took less than six overs for the pair to get the runs required, as Chanderpaul struck successive sixes followed by a four from Scott Borthwick to finish the match in comprehensive fashion.He finished unbeaten on 43 from 44 balls while Livingstone made 69.It’s the first time since 2000 that Lancashire have won four matches at Old Trafford in a single County Championship season, with all five of their wins – including one at Southport – coming at home.The second-placed finish represents Lancashire’s highest placing since clinching the Division One title in 2011. They finished 72 points adrift of leaders Essex.Surrey finish third, a further 13 points behind Lancashire.

Scorecardsize: 900•Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Usman Khawaja’s 122, coupled with the seven wickets taken by the pace-bowling duo of Jack Wildermuth and Michael Neser, helped Queensland complete a 110-run rout of Victoria inside three days of the day-night match at the Gabba.Propelled by Khawaja’s first century of the season, which included 16 fours, Queensland posted 311 in their second innings. They might have wanted more, considering they began the day at 5 for 254 but Scott Boland and Chris Tremain knocked them over rather quickly.Victoria needed 329 to win, but were reduced to 5 for 77 in the 26th over with Neser and Wildermuth taking turns in dealing blows to the opposition line-up. The only semblance of resistance from the visitors came in the form of two fifty-plus stands – worth 66 and 52 runs respectively – as Daniel Christian partnered captain Peter Handscomb and Tremain for the sixth and seventh wickets. They could only delay the inevitable though. Victoria slumped from 6 for 195 to 219 all out in the space of 10 overs.Peter Siddle, in the frame for the upcoming Ashes, had a decent game. He took the new pink ball, got through 37 overs and picked up a couple of wickets as well. Khawaja was the biggest gainer, his 21st first-class century adding to the belief that he will line up against England at No. 3.Glenn Maxwell couldn’t get past 20 in either innings. And though Matt Renshaw had a similarly unproductive outing for Queensland, scoring 17 and 16, he did ensure he was at the crease for a total of 112 deliveries.

Big picture

Ben Stokes flying to New Zealand and signing up with Canterbury has been the big news of the week, but there is the small matter of New Zealand’s thin Test summer at home, starting with the two-match series against West Indies.The last time West Indies faced New Zealand in a Test, in June 2014, Jason Holder made his debut and was part of a team that suffered a series defeat at home. Three years later, Holder faces New Zealand as the captain of young side that has defended 189 against India in an ODI, hunted down 322 in the Leeds Test after suffering an innings-and-209-run defeat at Trent Bridge, and sealed a 1-0 Test series win over a full-strength Zimbabwe team in 2017.He believes West Indies are in a “pretty good place” with the present team and heading in the “right direction”. From fearing for his international career, Kemar Roach has fit in as the leader of the attack, which includes Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph, and Miguel Cummins. Contrastingly, New Zealand are in a not-so-good place. For starters, they haven’t played Test cricket since March, while West Indies have played eight Tests since. They will also have to cope without the injured BJ Watling and Tim Southee, who is on paternity leave.

Form guide

New Zealand: DLDWW (completed matches, most recent first)
West Indies: DWLWL

In the spotlight

With a rock-of-Gibraltar defence and excellent judgement outside off, Jeet Raval is arguably the best candidate to negotiate the new ball on what is expected to be a green top. The opener had a breakout season last summer, and was subsequently added to New Zealand’s list of contracted players for 2017-18. Can he build on the gains now?Unlike Raval, Jermaine Blackwood isn’t really a big fan of defence. Case in point: his second scoring shot in Test cricket was a disdainful thwack over long-on off Trent Boult. Blackwood, though, hasn’t passed fifty in his last 12 innings in internationals and tour matches, and could face competition from Shimron Hetmyer.

Team news

New Zealand have already announced their XI, picking Matt Henry over Lockie Ferguson as a replacement for Southee, and handing a Test debut to wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Blundell at his home ground.New Zealand: 1 Tom Latham, 2 Jeet Raval, 3 Kane Williamson (capt.), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Henry Nicholls, 6 Tom Blundell (wk), 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Colin de Grandhomme, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Neil Wagner, 11 Trent BoultSunil Ambris, who cracked 153 off 145 balls in the middle order in the tour game against a New Zealand A attack that contained seven international bowlers, is likely to make his Test debut and occupy the spot vacated by Kyle Hope.West Indies (probable) 1 Kraigg Brathwaite, 2 Kieran Powell, 3 Shai Hope, 4 Sunil Ambris, 5 Roston Chase, 6 Jermaine Blackwood, 7 Shane Dowrich (wk), 8 Jason Holder (capt.), 9 Kemar Roach, 10 Devendra Bishoo, 11 Shannon Gabriel

Pitch and conditions

Early sightings of the pitch showed grass cover almost indistinguishable from the outfield, but that can often be misleading at this ground. ”It [The pitch] always looks a little bit [green] like that,” Kane Williamson said on Thursday. “There’s always something in the wicket if you do bowl well. But generally, it’s a fair surface which quickens up on day two and three”. The weather is expected to be largely fine for the duration of the match.

Stats and trivia

• West Indies haven’t won a Test in New Zealand since February 1995 when they secured a mammoth innings win at this venue.
• Trent Boult seems to relish bowling at the Basin Reserve: he has 27 wickets in six matches at an average of 28.07, including a 10-for against West Indies.

Quotes

“He [Henry] has been playing well for a long time and hasn’t had the opportunities that he’s deserved. He’s a different bowler to Lockie and has been bowling with good pace, and does tend to move the ball well.”
“Consistency is always our downfall. I think once we get on the park and play as one, I think the performances will come.”

Two months after the announcement of a five-year plan that involved West Indies touring Pakistan every year until 2022, PCB chairman Najam Sethi has walked back on that claim, saying it was a cost-ineffective option. In November last year, Sethi had stated that the PCB and Cricket West Indies (CWI) agreed to play a series of Twenty20 matches annually over the next five years that involved matches in Pakistan as well as the USA.

Sethi cites fatigue, injuries as factors in NZ whitewash

Commenting on Pakistan’s recent struggles in New Zealand, where the side was whitewashed 5-0 in the ODI series, Najam Sethi cited fatigue as a possible explanation. He also said several frontline bowlers were injured, which hampered Pakistan during the series. Pakistan had Mohammad Amir, the leader of the pace attack, and No. 1 ranked ODI bowler Hasan Ali available to them, as well as Rumman Raees, though Usman Khan and Junaid Khan were injured.
“Part of it is down to fatigue,” Sethi said. “Some of our fast bowlers are playing county cricket, others are playing various leagues. I am going to meet with Inzamam-ul-Haq and Haroon Rasheed to develop a formal policy concerning the number of T20 leagues any individual player is allowed to participate in. I’ve asked Mickey Arthur to prepare a management plan for each individual player, so we can analyse their fitness and performance, and take decisions on which leagues they can play and when.”
Sethi’s concern over the number of leagues players participate in is at odds with his position in the past. Last month, he approved permission for Pakistan players to participate in a T10 League in the UAE, despite strong opposition from several parties, most of all owners of at least four PSL franchises. Sethi, however, had the authority to take the final decision as PCB chairman, and allowed players to take part.

Sethi insisted that West Indies’ upcoming tour to Pakistan in March was “on so far”. That three-match T20I series is scheduled to be played in the last week of March. The games were originally meant to be played in November last year, but logistical challenges, as well as heavy smog that swept across large parts of the country in the first half of November, forced the tour’s postponement. Both CWI and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) had given their approval for the tour providing the security situation in Pakistan remained satisfactory. Pakistan hosted a World XI side for a three-match T20I series last September, followed by the third match of a T20I series against Sri Lanka in October.”It’s on so far, and by that, I mean even the dates are final,” Sethi said, while providing details on West Indies’ tour to Pakistan. “Earlier, we had a plan that West Indies would come here every single year and we would go to America to play a triangular series. But when we did our calculations, we found out that matches here are loss-making and they (West Indies) thought it would be a profit-making. The reason is the high production cost and player cost.”A full series would probably make a difference, but with three games, we do not get enough sponsors. So then the West Indies said if we don’t get anything from this tour, then let’s just go with a one-off series and play a triangular series in Florida which is profitable for all. So, a new MoU is being prepared that will not affect the series in March, and the arrangements for that are going well.”Since hosting the World XI and Sri Lanka T20Is in Lahore, the PCB has heavily courted West Indies as the next possible team to visit Pakistan for a series. Before they could finalise the schedule, both CWI and WIPA had sought a security and risk assessment from Eastern Star International (ESI), an independent security firm owned by security expert Reg Dickason. After prolonged deliberations, WIPA was assured that the threat levels had not “materially changed” since the World XI games. The PCB saw that report as an endorsement of the way they had handled security concerns for the World XI and Sri Lanka visits. The PCB and the Punjab government had assured CWI that the level of security offered to West Indies would be on par with the arrangements in place for the World XI and Sri Lanka.

Getty Images

Persistent batting from the Tasmanian pair of Beau Webster and Jake Doran and persistent rain have combined to frustrate New South Wales at the SCG.After much of day two was lost to rain, further weather delays meant only 65.1 overs were bowled on day three.The Blues made an early breakthrough with Steve O’Keefe deceiving George Bailey seven balls into the start of play to leave Tasmania two down and trailing the home side’s first-innings total by 369. But that was the only joy for New South Wales as Webster and Doran put together an unbroken stand of 160 in 64 overs.Webster reached his fourth first-class hundred in the penultimate over of the day, having faced 253 balls to get there. Doran remained not out on 86 at close. The two sides will face a challenge on the final day trying to manufacture a result.

South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock has been ruled out of the remainder of the ODI series, and the T20s against India after suffering a left wrist injury during the second ODI in Centurion. De Kock will require two to four weeks to recover, which could put his participation in the Test series against Australia, which begins on March 1, in doubt.Heinrich Klaasen, the only other specialist wicketkeeper in the squad, is almost certain to make his ODI debut in Cape Town. AB de Villiers is also injured but is expected to return for the fourth ODI at the Wanderers on Saturday, though it is not yet known whether he will take the gloves. The selectors have not named a replacement in the squad.BCCI

“Quinton suffered an extreme blow to the left wrist while batting in the second ODI on Sunday and felt severe pain and discomfort,” team manager Mohammed Moosajee said. “Further investigation revealed severe bony bruising to the area, with associated swelling around the tendon in the wrist. This type of injury will require between 2-4 weeks to heal. The Cricket South Africa medical team will aim to have him ready for the Test series against Australia starting next month.”De Kock’s injury leaves South Africa without an opening batsman and their first-choice keeper, but he has endured a torrid time during the India tour. He has not crossed fifty once in eight innings across all formats.De Kock is the third South African player to suffer an injury in the last 10 days, after de Villiers and Faf du Plessis, who are currently recovering from finger injuries. Dale Steyn, who was not named in the ODI squad, is still recovering from a heel concern.India lead the six-match series 2-0 after routing South Africa by nine wickets in the second ODI at SuperSport Park.

Bangladesh’s batsmen, led by Mushfiqur Rahim, have had their moments, but the bowlers have underwhelmed. So said stand-in coach Courtney Walsh on the eve of his side’s must-win encounter against Sri Lanka. In their previous match, Bangladesh had conceded 79 runs in a definitive six-over period against India. Even in the game they won, they conceded 214.There has been one bright spark in their attack, however, and this time it is not the young left-armer with the magic wrists. It is Rubel Hossain who has been Bangladesh’s best, maintaining an economy of 8.22 in three matches. Along the way, he has picked up four wickets. One of those was the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan, who was bowled by perhaps the ball of the tournament so far: a late-swinging, yorker that zipped past Dhawan’s outside edge and flattened middle stump.”Rubel has been very consistent,” Walsh said. “If the other guys stepped up, it would give us a little more cushion. I would be lying if I said I thought we bowled well. We have bowled okay, but not as well as we can. The improvement is coming, but not as quickly as we would like. If we can put it all together, it will be a big plus for us in Friday’s game.””Spinners also have not been as spot-on as we like them to be. They have had good patches. But if everyone did their bit, it will give us a very good chance.”Among those who have under-performed at the Nidahas Trophy has been Mustafizur Rahman, whose 12 overs have gone at 9.75 runs apiece, though he has also taken four wickets in the competition. His cutters have been only sporadically effective on Khettarama decks that have atypically failed to reward revolutions on the ball.Friday’s virtual semi-final will be played on a fresh pitch, which means that seam and swing may be more reliable fast-bowling weapons than cutters. “Someone like Mustafizur Rahman having a good game will help us tremendously,” Walsh said. “I am hoping he can step up to the plate in this crucial game. I know he can. He had some fantastic games in PSL so it is a case of turning it around here. One game can make a difference. It could be his game, or another bowler’s game, but we’re hoping that he comes good.”The attack would appear to have been bolstered with news that Shakib Al Hasan is joining the team ahead of this game, but Walsh was reluctant to suggest Shakib is a certainty for the playing XI. Though he will be with the team in the approach to the game, Shakib is expected to take a fitness test for his injured finger that has kept him out since mid-January.”He is on his way. Like any other player he will be assessed. If he is fit, someone of his class and calibre will be considered to play.”

In a nutshell

A chaotic start welcomed Chennai Super Kings back to the MA Chidambaram Stadium: protests and a delayed toss due to the late arrival of match officials. The end was even more frenetic, as Super Kings hunted down 17 off the final over, bowled by Vinay Kumar, to edge a high-scoring thriller and keep the IPL’s trend of successful chases this season alive.Chasing 203 after Andre Russell blitzed 88 off 36 balls, the highest score by a No. 7 batsman or lower in the IPL, Super Kings’ pursuit ebbed and flowed until the final over. Super Kings were given an imperative, rapid start by Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu, whose 75-run opening stand off 35 balls brought the voice of a subdued home crowd back. Then MS Dhoni’s 25 off 28 pushed Knight Riders ahead once more as the required rate soared.Eventually, the innings that gave Super Kings a chance came from Sam Billings. His strength is against pace, so he bided his time against Knight Riders’ spinners, using his feet and tucking twos into large gaps. Off the seamers, he pulled, drove and scooped his way to a 23-ball 56, his fastest T20 half-century, but holed out in the penultimate over.Then the final over. Vinay’s first ball, a full toss on leg stump that was questionably deemed a no-ball for height, was swung away over fine leg for six by Dwayne Bravo. Off the penultimate delivery, Ravindra Jadeja thumped a six over long-on to complete another stunning come-from-behind win for Super Kings.

Boundaries, wickets or both?

Given their personnel and the roles assigned, Knight Riders have set their template for the season: attack from the outset and don’t let wickets get in the way too much. The trend is already discernible. At the end of the Powerplay in their first game, against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Knight Riders were 68 for 2. At the same point against Super Kings, they were 64 for 2. After nine overs in the previous game, Knight Riders were 92 for 3. In this game, they were 87 for 4.The top three of Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine and Robin Uthappa scored a combined 63 runs off 36 balls against Super Kings. The approach of attempting to score boundaries despite losing wickets is fraught with risk, but it has worked for Knight Riders twice in two games.

In Russell’s hitting arc

Russell had a strike rate of 128 and a dot-ball percentage of 43 against legspinners in T20s, prior to Tuesday. So, it wasn’t surprising that Imran Tahir was brought on immediately after Russell came in. He conceded five runs off eight balls against Russell.With the main threat seen out, Russell feasted on Super Kings’ fast bowlers, who either had the wrong plan or missed their execution too often. As the bowlers repeatedly erred too full, Russell teed up the straight boundaries. Russell’s most productive hitting area was straight: he scored 50 runs off 15 balls between long-off and long-on. Overall, 84 of his 88 runs came in front of square on both sides. Off full balls, he scored 52 runs off 15 balls, at a strike rate of 346.7. His eventual smart strike rate of 347.22 over a 36-ball innings was a just indicator of the the impact of his blitz. In all, he hit 11 sixes out of 31 in the match – that is the joint-highest match tally in the tournament’s history.

Pacing a tough chase

Without a strong start in a 200-plus chase, the probability of getting close to the target reduces drastically. During the course of such a chase, wickets further bump up the required rate. So, against a strong bowling attack, the only chance Super Kings had was if their openers started aggressively.Shane Watson hit 42 off 19 balls, with three fours and three sixes, at a smart strike rate of 278.69 compared to his actual strike rate of 221.05. Ambati Rayudu kept abreast with Watson for the entirety of the Powerplay, adding 39 off 26 balls. Together, their partnership compensated for a stuttering Dhoni innings to give Super Kings a chance in a tough chase.

Thirty-two-year-old batsman Nain Abidi has returned to the Pakistan side for the Women’s T20 Asia Cup, after an eight-month break from cricket. She was named in the 15-member squad, along with four reserves, for the six-nation tournament to be played in Malaysia starting June 3.Abidi last played international cricket during the World Cup last year in England and subsequently moved to the USA after her marriage earlier in 2017. She returned to domestic cricket for the Zarai Tarakiati Bank women’s team earlier this month and had a productive tournament with two fifties, including an unbeaten 85 off 65 in the final on Thursday that helped them clinch the Departmental T20trophy. Abidi missed Pakistan’s last two outings, the ICC Women’s Championship matches against New Zealand and Sri Lanka.”Staying away from cricket is always difficult. I have played professional cricket for 11 years, so going and staying away from cricket was the most difficult part after marriage,” Abidi told the recently.Bismah Maroof continues to lead the team, following a 2-1 series win against Sri Lanka in March.The Women’s Asia Cup will consist of Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.Pakistan women squad: Bismah Maroof (capt), Muneeba Ali, Nahida Khan, Javeria Rauf, Nain Abidi, Umaima Sohail, Javeria Khan, Sidra Nawaz, Nida Dar, Kainat Imtiaz, Sana Mir, Nashra Sandhu, Anam Amin, Natalia Pervaiz, Diana Baig. Reserves: Fareeha Mehmood, Rameen Shamim, Fazila Ikhlaq, Aliya Riaz.