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For all the talk of youth development and home-grown talent, sometimes there is much to be said for a fresh start.

George Dobell at Edgbaston29-Aug-2013
ScorecardLaurie Evans is in a rich vein of form•PA Photos

For all the talk of youth development and home-grown talent, sometimes there is much to be said for a fresh start.So it has proved for Laurie Evans. The 25-year-old came into this campaign having never registered a Championship century or a prolonged run in the first team. He was at that age where people were starting to whisper that it was time to get a proper job.But he had never had much opportunity. Despite a first-class century for Durham UCCE against Lancashire in 2007 and a stack of runs for Surrey Second XI – he scored five centuries for them in the summer they released him, 2010 – the first seven years of his career brought only 13 first-class matches. His career was in danger of passing him by.But now, finally given a run in the first team, he has responded in fine style. He has scored three centuries in three successive Championship matches at Edgbaston, in the process taking his career average above 40 and his season average above 60. He looks a fine player who could yet graduate to the highest level.There was nothing straightforward about this innings. He came to the crease with Warwickshire 0 for 2 and both Steve Magoffin and Chris Jordan bowling very well.But the difference between Evans and his top-order colleagues was his judgement about which balls to leave and which to play. While Magoffin had Varun Chopra and Ateeq Javid caught in the slips from successive deliveries just outside off stump, Evans left with a certainty that bodes well for his future. Having seen off the hat-trick ball, he concentrated on survival and took 102 deliveries over his first 50 runs.As he gained in confidence, saw the shine off the ball and forced the bowlers into second and third spells, he unveiled some flowing cover drives, some delightful late cuts and, against the gentle legspin of Will Beer, in particular, some savage pulls. Suffice it to say, on a wicket as slow as this, Beer is no substitute for Monty Panesar. Evans’s second 50 took 79 balls and his final 37, containing a delightful lofted six off Beer, only 34 balls.There were some moments of fortune. Evans might have been run-out on 38 had Luke Wells, at mid-on, hit the stumps with his throw and, on 45, he really should have been caught by Jimmy Anyon, also at mid-on, after mistiming a pull off Beer. An edge off the immaculate Magoffin, who passed 50 wickets in the campaign, might also have gone to hand but instead flew between second slip and gully.Warwickshire were grateful for Evans’s intervention. After Ian Westwood tried to cut one too close to him and William Porterfield, enduring a run of form so grim that, in Victorian times, it might have featured in a travelling circus, had become the third duck in the top five, Warwickshire were wobbling on 47 for 4. The squeamish may want to look away now, but Porterfield has not passed 25 in his last 10 Championship innings, not passed 36 this season and is averaging just 14.68.But with Tim Ambrose, who produced a series of straight drives, Evans added 137 for Warwickshire’s fifth-wicket. While Magoffin, later dubbed “county cricket’s Glenn McGrath” by Evans and Jordan, continued to bowl admirably, the absence of Panesar leaves a large hole in the Sussex attack. While Warwickshire have Jeetan Patel, whose extra pace may yet gain some joy from a dry but slow surface, Sussex’s spinners look a bit innocuous to trouble even in the fourth innings. Sussex have only won here once since 1961. And that was in 1982.Ambrose was eventually the victim of a super bouncer, one that reared at him and hit the glove, and a fine catch as Rory Hamilton-Brown dived in from gully to cling on to the ball, while Evans, in attempting to capitalise on his hard work, fell trying to punish the spinners before the return of the new ball. “I should be not out,” he said ruefully afterwards. “I have lots of areas in which I can improve.”Evans is not the only man benefitting from a fresh start at Edgbaston. Earlier in the day, Maurice Chambers became the 17th player to claim a five-wicket haul on his Warwickshire first-class debut as Sussex lost their last three wickets for 19 runs.Jordan’s fine innings, and his 97-run stand with Beer for the eighth-wicket, was ended with an inswinging yorker, before Beer played around a straight one and Magoffin was beaten for pace. Evans later suggested that, though Liam Plunkett’s short ball may be quicker, and Boyd Rankin remained the quickest bowler in county cricket, Chambers and Jordan were as quick as anyone else he had seen this season.Coincidentally, the 16th man to take a five-wicket haul on Warwickshire debut was also a fast bowler on loan from Essex. Like Chambers, Chris Wright found himself unwanted at Chelmsford at the end of 2011 but soon proved his worth elsewhere.Chambers only signed for Warwickshire on the morning of the game after receiving a call from Chopra on Tuesday. He was summoned purely to help the side through an availability crisis but, having bowled at a sharp pace with good control, he can only have impressed. Interestingly, he also gained some swing in both directions. While he has long taken the ball away from the bat, an ability to move it back into the batsman at pace could render him an unusually dangerous bowler.Essex have told him he is free to talk to other counties and Hampshire, Worcestershire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Northants have all been in touch.”I need to get away,” Chambers said of Essex. “I need a change of scenery. I’ve taken three five-fors for the seconds this season, but I can’t get in the side.”If he can bowl like this regularly – and no-one doubts he can do it occasionally – he will have no problem demanding a spot in most sides.

Scotland coach Peter Steindl has said his young team is capable of challenging more higher-ranked sides after they secured their first win against a Full Member nation

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jul-2012Scotland coach Peter Steindl has said his young team is capable of challenging more higher-ranked sides after they secured their first win against a Full Member nation by beating Bangladesh in a Twenty20 international at The Hague. Steindl praised the composure and shot selection of Richie Berrington, who scored his maiden international century to lead Scotland to a 34-run victory.”We’ve set our sights at beating a Full Member and we haven’t done that in a bonafide international before, either ODI or T20 internationals,” Steindl told BBC Scotland. “We know we are capable of challenging teams that are above us.”We had a polished performance, we worked hard and got that result we were looking for. We’ve got a young team who are hungry for success but realise we have a long way to go.”Berrington, a 25-year old batsman who was born in Pretoria in South Africa, was the only player to score more than 20 for Scotland after they chose to bat. He was firm at one end, striking five sixes and ten fours in his 100 off 58 balls, the seventh hundred in Twenty20 internationals. He was dismissed in the 19th over and Scotland’s score of 162 proved too much for Bangladesh to chase.”That was an outstanding knock by Richie,” Steindl said. “He’s had a couple of really good knocks for Scotland over the last two years, but today the composure that he had, his shot selection and decision making was outstanding and he deserved to get a hundred. But Richie would say himself that it was made even more special by the result.”Berrington concurred. “I am absolutely delighted to get my 100, my first in T20 cricket for Scotland,” he said. “But it was an absolutely fantastic team performance. We haven’t had the greatest month or so, we haven’t had a lot of cricket and we’ve had a few disappointing results in the CB40 [England’s domestic one-day competition]. And Bangladesh are a very dangerous side with some top-quality players.”It has been one of our goals for a year or two and we had great belief going into today’s game that we could do it.”Scotland travel to Cardiff to play Glamorgan in the CB40 on Sunday and Berrington was keen to build on the success against Bangladesh.

Ireland batsman Paul Stirling led Middlesex to only their second win in nine Friends Life t20 matches this season as they beat southern section rivals Kent by 28 runs

25-Jun-2011
Scorecard
Ireland batsman Paul Stirling led Middlesex to only their second win in nine Friends Life t20 matches this season as they beat southern section rivals Kent by 28 runs on a cold, wet night in Uxbridge.The umpires finally called it a day after playing on in pouring rain for the last 10 overs of the Kent innings and the first eight overs of the Middlesex reply, by which time the hosts had reached 79 for 1 which was good enough for victory under the Duckworth/Lewis method.Kent had made 149 for 3 with Joe Denly hitting an unbeaten 84 and sharing an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 96 with Martin van Jaarsveld but it was all to no avail once Stirling launched his ferocious assault. The 20-year-old hit 51 off 23 balls, including four sixes and five fours.Middlesex had put Kent into bat and bowled well to restrict them to 53 for 3 in the first 10 overs. Anthony Ireland had Rob Key caught at mid-on in his second over and Tom Smith, the left-arm spinner, took two wickets in successive overs.Smith had the dangerous Azhar Mahmood, who hit a century off 54 balls against Gloucestershire last week, stumped off his second ball and then circled to his right to hold a fine, tumbling catch when Darren Stevens got a steepling top edge.Middlesex did not take another wicket, however, as Denly and Van Jaarsveld took control. Denly made his 84 off 64 balls with two sixes and eight fours while Van Jaarsveld hit five fours in his 43 off 32 balls.It was obvious by then that the match would not go the distance and, though Middlesex got off to a poor start when Adam Rossington, an 18-year-old batsman making his Twenty20 debut, was lbw first ball to Mahmood, Stirling soon had them ahead of the required scoring rate.The Kent bowlers were clearly handicapped by the wet ball but it was still an exhilarating exhibition of clean hitting from Stirling.

The ICC has retained its current policy of allowing the host country to decide, upon consultation with the touring side, on whether or not to use the UDRS in a Test series

Cricinfo staff01-Jul-2010The prospect of using the UDRS at next year’s World Cup came a step closer after the ICC approved the implementation of the controversial system subject to agreements over costs and equipment between the broadcaster partner, ESPN STAR Sports, and the host nations. However, the use of UDRS in all Tests still seems a distant possibility after it was agreed to retain the current arrangement whereby the host country and visiting team decides.The implementation of the UDRS worldwide has been inconsistent, and the ICC Cricket Committee, in its meeting at Lord’s earlier this year, had recommended the system be introduced “as soon as possible in all Tests.””The detailed work of the ICC Cricket Committee gave both the CEC and the ICC Board excellent direction and there was full agreement that technology would be used whenever possible,” Haroon Lorgat, the ICC’s chief executive said.”We have all seen the benefits of using DRS to assist umpires in Test cricket and we are now keen to use DRS in the ICC Cricket World Cup. We also acknowledge and we are grateful for the support provided by broadcasters and technology suppliers around the world during the development phase of DRS.”The ICC and the ECB have also exonerated umpire Daryl Harper of any blame during the Johannesburg Test earlier this year. Harper landed in controversy after he turned down a caught-behind appeal against Graeme Smith which had been referred to him.Harper upheld the on-field umpire Tony Hill’s decision because he could not hear a sound on the replay and it was suggested that he had not increased the volume setting on his monitor which would have made the edge evident. However, the ICC has said a “technical failure” was the cause of the lapse.”Following the issues raised with the DRS in the Wanderers Test match between South Africa and England in January 2010, the preliminary findings of Advocate Brent Lockie and ICC Cricket Committee chairman Clive Lloyd acknowledges that the technology failure at the time adversely impacted on the information received by the third umpire Daryl Harper while making his decision,” the ICC said. “The ICC and the England and Wales Cricket Board agreed that the third umpire in the match, Daryl Harper, was entirely blameless due to this technical failure.”Andy Flower, the England coach, was unhappy with officials at the time and suggested the outcome of the investigation wasn’t quite what transpired. “I know what happened that day, because they told me,” he said.However, he remains a supporter of the system and has no issues with it being extended into the World Cup. “I think the DRS, in whatever format it is used, is quite useful – because we get more good decisions,” he said. “I don’t see why, if we give the same level of importance to all three formats, it is only Test cricket that should have DRS available.”In a bid to eliminate any inconsistency the ICC, in May, had decided it had to meet with all broadcasting companies in a bid to standardise the use of technology, and hosted a workshop earlier in the year.

“I’ve left the door open for him to approach me… [but] that might never happen,” South Africa white-ball coach says

Firdose Moonda09-Sep-2024South Africa remain unsure about the availability of Quinton de Kock, who was omitted from a second successive series post the T20 World Cup, in the format.De Kock, who is no longer nationally contracted but has not announced a complete international retirement, missed the three T20s against West Indies last month and will not play in two matches against Ireland later this month. South Africa will then play four T20Is at home against India in November as preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup ramps up.Asked if there was any clarity on de Kock’s availability, white-ball coach Rob Walter indicated that there would not be any for some time. “I don’t know, to be dead honest. For the next little while, there will be no conversations between myself and Quinny as to whether he wants to play for South Africa again,” Walter said at a press conference. “I’ve left the door open for him to approach me if and when he wants to do that. That might never happen.”Related

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De Kock retired from Test cricket in 2021 and from ODIs after the 50-over World Cup last year. At the time, Walter had said de Kock intended to step away from all international cricket but was persuaded to stay on for the 2024 T20 World Cup and allowed to miss a bilateral series in the lead-up to play at the BBL. By making that allowance, South Africa demonstrated a fundamental shift in their usual selection policy, which requires players to be involved in at least some international cricket ahead of major tournaments – and was the reason AB de Villiers’ request to make a comeback at the 2019 ODI World Cup was denied – and illustrated the power of leagues. The decision paid off as de Kock finished as South Africa’s highest run-scorer at the T20 World Cup, and was key to their run to the final.Since then, de Kock has played in MLC and the CPL and will play at the SA20 and IPL, all of which will mean he is still eligible for South Africa, although Walter was careful to underline that his place was not guaranteed. “There might be a conversation and also that conversation does initially mean it will lead to him being selected,” he said. “We have to just allow him to have his space, to play league cricket and to do what he needs to do. What will become more and more important is performance. He’s not exactly old [de Kock is 31] so from here on in, it’s a performance-based conversation.”Walter has put no timeline on de Kock making a final decision and in his absence, South Africa continue to invest in Reeza Hendricks in the opening role and have options between Kyle Verreynne, Ryan Rickelton and Heinrich Klaasen as wicketkeepers. Of those four, only Klaasen is not part of the squads to play Afghanistan and Ireland in the UAE. He pulled out of the CPL for personal reasons and remains unavailable for the time being. “He has some family matters that he is dealing with currently,” Walter confirmed. “As soon as that position has changed, he’ll obviously fall back into playing again.”

Green was the Sheffield Shield player of the season having only made his debut in December

ESPNcricinfo staff08-May-2023Allrounder Daniel Sams has opted not to take a state contract with New South Wales to explore further opportunities in the T20 franchise world.Sams, who plays for Sydney Thunder in the BBL, has had 10 T20Is for Australia, the most against England shortly before last year’s World Cup, and is currently with Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL where he has yet to make an appearance. He will join Essex for the T20 Blast and return to Trent Rockets for the Hundred.He made five Marsh Cup one-day appearances for NSW last season but has not played first-class cricket since 2018. Sams’ decision follows Kane Richardson’s omission from Queensland’s contract list.”When he’s in the state he will still be invited to train and participate on our white-ball program,” new head coach Greg Shipperd said. “The door is never shut for anyone in his position and with his talent.”Related

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A player going in the opposite direction is allrounder Chris Green who has previously been considered a T20 specialist but was named NSW’s Sheffield Shield player of the season for 2022-23. He claimed 20 wickets and scored 290 runs in six matches including nine wickets on his first-class debut.As previously announced, Jackson Bird has signed for the state from Tasmania while top-order batter Blake MacDonald and pace bowler Ross Pawson have earned their first contracts.MacDonald scored a half-century on his Shield debut in the final game of last season against South Australia having earlier made an unbeaten 177 against West Indies for a combined NSW and ACT XI.Joel Davies, who was Australia’s Under-19 captain last season, has been handed a rookie contract and joins his brother Ollie at the state.”With the additions of Jackson and Chris we get some experience from guys with well documented credentials,” Greg Mail, NSW’s chief of cricket performance, said. “Both Blake and Ross have deserved their contracts through sheer weight of runs and wickets at Premier Cricket and Second Xl level. Their contracts show that when players consistently perform at that level, we will look at those performances positively.”Joel Davies is a very talented young player with a high ceiling in the game. He is a genuine allrounder who is also a brilliant fielder and leader and someone we are very excited to see develop further.”Trent Copeland (retired) and Mickey Edwards (moved to the UK) drop off the list while Sean Abbott is added to those with a CA deal. Batter Lachlan Hearne was not offered a contract, while rookie Liam Doddrell also missed out with the number of contracts available reduced under the new MOU.It was confirmed on Sunday that Greg Shipperd would be the new coach of the NSW men’s set-up.New South Wales men’s contracts 2023-24 Sean Abbott (CA), Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins (CA), Joel Davies (R), Oliver Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Ryan Hackney, Ryan Hadley, Liam Hatcher, Josh Hazlewood (CA), Moises Henriques, Baxter Holt, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyon (CA), Blake Macdonald, Blake Nikitaras, Jack Nisbet (R), Kurtis Patterson, Ross Pawson, Will Salzmann (R), Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, Lachlan Shaw (R), Steven Smith (CA), Mitchell Starc (CA), Chris Tremain, Hunar Verma (R), David Warner (CA), Adam Zampa (CA) CA = Cricket Australia, R = Rookie contract