Cricket

Offspinner Amar Virdi's departure from Surrey marks the end of an era for the county, as the 26-year-old departs after a decade-long association with the club. Virdi's release comes as a surprise, given his impressive performances in Surrey's 2018 County Championship-winning season, where he claimed 39 wickets.Virdi's career trajectory has taken a downturn in recent years, with the offspinner falling out of favor with Surrey's management. The emergence of batting allrounders like Will Jacks and Dan Lawrence has limited Virdi's opportunities, despite his proven ability as a wicket-taker.In search of regular playing time, Virdi spent the latter part of the 2024 county season on loan at Worcestershire, where he impressed with 14 wickets in four matches. However, a permanent move to Worcestershire is unlikely, leaving Virdi's future uncertain.Virdi's departure is a significant loss for Surrey, who have relied heavily on his spin bowling in recent years. His ability to extract turn and bounce from the pitch has been a key factor in Surrey's success, and his absence will be felt.For Virdi, the move away from Surrey presents an opportunity for a fresh start. The offspinner remains confident in his abilities and believes he has much to offer the game. With his experience and talent, Virdi is likely to attract interest from other counties looking to bolster their spin bowling options.

Shakib Al Hasan, the legendary Bangladesh all-rounder, has been requested by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to undergo an analysis of his bowling action. This request comes after umpires reported him during his solitary appearance for Surrey in the County Championship this season.Shakib, now 37, made a significant impact in his first County Championship appearance since 2011, claiming nine wickets for Surrey in a thrilling clash with Somerset at Taunton in September. As a left-arm spinner, he had agreed to a short-term deal to bolster Surrey's resources during their title push, with eight players absent on England duty.Despite his immediate impact, Shakib was unable to prevent Somerset from securing a remarkable 111-run victory that briefly halted Surrey's march towards their third consecutive Championship title. He bowled over 63 overs in the fixture, and while he was not no-balled for throwing at any stage, it has now emerged that the on-field umpires, Steve O'Shaughnessy and David Millns, subsequently deemed his bowling action to be suspect.Shakib is not currently suspended from playing, but negotiations are reportedly underway for him to undergo further tests in an approved location within the next couple of weeks. This is believed to be the first time that Shakib's bowling action has come under scrutiny in his illustrious career spanning two decades. He has taken a total of 712 wickets across 447 international matches, including 246 in 71 Tests.Shakib's international career is currently in limbo following protests that accompanied his withdrawal, on security grounds, from Bangladesh's Test squad to face South Africa at Mirpur last month. He had previously served as an MP for the longstanding Awami League-led government, which was toppled amid student protests in July.

Jaydev Unadkat, the Indian left-arm pacer, has extended his contract with Sussex County Cricket Club for the 2025 and 2026 County Championship seasons. This extension marks Unadkat's continued commitment to the club, where he has made a significant impact since joining in 2023.Unadkat's initial stint with Sussex in 2023 saw him claim 15 wickets in three matches, showcasing his exceptional bowling skills. In 2024, he returned to the team and played a pivotal role in Sussex's Division Two title triumph, capturing 22 wickets at an impressive average of 14.40 in five games.Expressing his delight at the contract extension, Unadkat stated, "When I came to Hove last year, I wasn't sure what was on offer in the County Championship and how would I adapt to it. But after a few games now, I can definitely say Hove is my home away from home and Good Old Sussex by The Sea has my heart."Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace hailed Unadkat's contributions both on and off the field. "Jaydev's quality on the pitch has been so evident for everyone else to see, but just as importantly his qualities as a person make him one of the most popular and nicest guys any team could wish for," Farbrace said.Unadkat's current focus is on leading Saurashtra in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, which commenced on Friday. His impressive performances for Sussex and Saurashtra have solidified his reputation as a formidable bowler in both domestic and international cricket.

Yorkshire County Cricket Club has appointed Anthony McGrath as their new men's head coach on a five-year deal. McGrath, a former England all-rounder and Yorkshire academy graduate, returns to his home county after a successful stint as director of cricket at Essex.McGrath's coaching career began at Yorkshire following his retirement in 2013. He then moved to Essex in 2014 as assistant coach to Chris Silverwood. Under McGrath's guidance, Essex earned promotion to Division One in 2016 and won the County Championship title the following year.When Silverwood left to become England head coach, McGrath was promoted to head coach. He led Essex to a Championship and T20 Blast double in 2019, followed by the Bob Willis Trophy in 2020. In the 2023 season, Essex finished second in Division One and were beaten finalists in the Blast.McGrath inherits a Yorkshire team that has returned to Division One after relegation in 2022. The club was also docked 48 points in the 2023 season for its handling of the racism scandal involving former player Azeem Rafiq.McGrath's remit will be to improve the performance and management of the men's first team. He will officially start his role on November 1."It is a great honor to be appointed Head Coach of Yorkshire Cricket's Men's team," McGrath said. "I know the history of this great club and the passion of the members and supporters, and I am absolutely determined to develop a team capable of delivering the success they deserve."Essex captain Tom Westley praised McGrath as "one of the most influential figures I have come across during my career."Yorkshire's interim CEO, Sanjay Patel, said: "We're delighted to appoint Anthony as Head Coach. During the past nine years with Essex, Anthony has proved himself to be one of the most exciting and successful coaches in English cricket."

Surrey County Cricket Club has bolstered its bowling attack with the acquisition of Matthew Fisher from Yorkshire on a one-year deal. The 27-year-old seamer joins the reigning County Championship titleholders to address the potential absence of several key bowlers due to international commitments in 2025.Fisher, who has represented England in one Test match, has proven his worth in the County Championship, claiming 144 wickets at an average of 26.58. His impressive performances in Yorkshire's promotion-winning campaign last month, where he took 18 wickets in three games, further solidified his credentials.Surrey's decision to sign Fisher stems from the departure of Conor McKerr to Nottinghamshire and the anticipated unavailability of Gus Atkinson, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, and Reece Topley due to England call-ups. Additionally, Dan Worrall, Surrey's Australian-born seamer, may also be considered for England selection next year.Alec Stewart, Surrey's outgoing director of cricket, emphasized the importance of strengthening the squad after winning the Championship. He praised Fisher's abilities and experience, noting that he had followed his career since meeting him at a Yorkshire school when Fisher was 15.Fisher expressed his excitement and honor at joining Surrey, acknowledging the club's recent successes and his desire to contribute to future triumphs. He also expressed his anticipation of working with top players and coaches.

The proliferation of franchise leagues has prompted counties to become more selective in issuing No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to their players, according to Daryl Mitchell, interim chief executive of the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA).In recent years, the number of overseas leagues clashing with the English summer has surged. English players have participated in leagues in India, Sri Lanka, the US, the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands, and Zimbabwe this year, with the Pakistan Super League (PSL) adding to the congestion next season.Fourteen English players featured in PSL 2024, including Sam Billings, Alex Hales, and David Willey, who are expected to return in 2025. However, other players will be unavailable due to the tournament's overlap with the IPL and counties' reluctance to release players for the start of the season.Liam Dawson, a veteran of five PSL seasons, will not participate in the tournament next year. "I'll be playing for Hampshire at that time," he said at the cinch PCA awards, where he was named men's player of the year for his County Championship performances.Alec Stewart, Surrey's departing director of cricket, believes the ECB should take a more proactive role. "Money talks, and if they are earning five times what they earn at our place, their heads will get turned," he said. "We need the ECB to stand firm on this and not say, 'It's up to the counties', and to bring in regulations."Counties currently have the authority to withhold or withdraw NOCs for non-centrally contracted players, as Surrey did earlier this year to prevent Jamie Overton from participating in the PSL. However, some believe that counties risk losing players to other counties or the franchise circuit if they do not accommodate their demands."The global landscape is obviously important to our members, particularly the top 20% who play in global tournaments," Mitchell said. "NOCs are always on the agenda, and we need to work through how that will look moving forward.""It's a challenge, and we have to find a solution. There are many tournaments that encroach onto our season, and we need to work through that, possibly on an individual basis, to see how it aligns."Daniel Gidney, the Lancashire chief executive, recently criticized NOCs and standard county contracts, claiming they have been "diluted" and blaming player agents for prioritizing global tournaments over the County Championship. Mitchell expressed confusion over the criticism, stating that counties have the right to deny NOCs during the summer months and have not fully exercised that right.Mitchell predicts that counties will increasingly use their power to ensure the availability of top English players throughout the season, rather than allowing them to miss Championship games for overseas commitments."Counties have the right to [deny NOCs] within the summer months, and they probably haven't used their rights as much as they could have done," he said. "It's up to the counties, and their discretion… The global landscape is shifting so quickly, and we have to evolve with it and try to find the best fit that works for everyone."The PCA's other focus during the English winter will be lobbying for a resolution to the ongoing debate around the domestic schedule, with the aim of having a plan in place for the 2026 season by next summer."The debate needs to start pretty quickly," Mitchell said. "Counties ideally would like to know exactly what they're playing for. If there are going to be any structural changes come 2026, they want to know what they're playing for in '25, I would imagine. It's really challenging. There's loads of moving parts in there, and ultimately, the counties will decide what they want the structure of the county season to look like."Recent changes to the IPL's regulations are expected to encourage a large number of English players to enter the mega-auction for the league's 2025 season. Previously, players could choose whether to enter a certain season, but the BCCI has now stipulated that a failure to register for a mega-auction will make that overseas player ineligible for the following season too.

A Canine Interruption and Sri Lanka's Triumph: Highlights from the Weekend in SportsOn Saturday, the Durham vs Kent County Championship match took an unexpected turn when a playful dog made its way onto the field. The adorable canine briefly halted play, leaving commentators and spectators alike in amusement. The incident was captured on video and has since gone viral on social media.Meanwhile, on the international cricket scene, Sri Lanka celebrated a historic victory against New Zealand in the second Test in Galle. Debutant off-spinner Nishan Peiris emerged as the hero, claiming six wickets to seal Sri Lanka's first series win against the Kiwis in 15 years.Peiris and fellow spinner Prabath Jayasuriya wreaked havoc on New Zealand's batting lineup, sharing 18 wickets in the match. Jayasuriya's six-wicket haul in the first innings restricted New Zealand to a mere 88 runs, while Peiris's six wickets in the second innings proved decisive.Despite a valiant effort from New Zealand's lower order, Sri Lanka's bowlers remained relentless. Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, and Mitchell Santner all scored half-centuries, but it was not enough to prevent Sri Lanka from securing an innings and 154-run victory.The win marks a significant milestone for Sri Lanka, as it is their first series triumph against New Zealand since 2009. It also extends their unbeaten streak at Galle to six Tests, with New Zealand's 360-run total being their highest innings score at the venue.

Worcestershire County Cricket Club has secured its highest position in the Vitality County Championship Division One since the division split in 2000, drawing with Lancashire at Visit Worcestershire New Road. The draw sealed Worcestershire's sixth-place finish, surpassing their previous best of seventh in 2011.Despite pre-season predictions of relegation, Worcestershire defied expectations with a run of three consecutive wins against Durham, Kent, and Essex. The team's resilience was evident in their ability to recover from precarious batting positions, as they did twice in this match.Matthew Waite, Adam Hose, and Logan Van Beek played crucial roles in Worcestershire's recovery. Waite led a counter-attack with a 37-run knock, while Hose provided solid support with 41 runs. Van Beek contributed 44 runs before being dismissed.Lancashire's relegation was confirmed on Saturday, but pace bowler Tom Bailey showed signs of a return to form with 11 wickets in his last two matches. West Indian paceman Anderson Phillip also impressed with nine wickets in this game.Worcestershire's success is a testament to their team spirit and determination. They have overcome challenges on and off the field, including the retirement of long-serving all-rounder Joe Leach.

Durham's Alex Lees led the charge with a scintillating century as the hosts took control of their Vitality County Championship clash against Kent. Despite a valiant six-wicket haul from Matt Parkinson, Kent trail by 264 runs with seven wickets remaining.Lees, the Durham skipper, set the tone with a rapid 144 off 180 deliveries, including 18 boundaries. He was ably supported by Emilio Gay (52) and David Bedingham (66), who contributed to Durham's first-innings total of 360.Kent's response began poorly, losing early wickets to Daniel Hogg and Bas de Leede. However, Harry Finch and Jack Leaning steadied the ship with a 72-run partnership. Finch eventually fell for 34, leaving Kent on 96 for 3 at stumps.Parkinson was the star performer for Kent, claiming 6 for 109. He removed Lees, Ollie Robinson, and both Hogg brothers to give the visitors a glimmer of hope.Durham's innings was characterized by aggressive batting, with Bedingham hitting three fours and four sixes in his 38-ball 66. Lees reached his century in just 115 balls, while Gay impressed on his home debut with a composed 52.Kent's reply was hampered by the loss of Tawanda Muyeye and Jaydn Denly, but Finch and Leaning showed resilience with their partnership. Colin Ackermann eventually dismissed Finch, leaving Kent with a mountain to climb in the second innings.