Cricket

Northamptonshire Cricket Club has parted ways with head coach John Sadler following a disappointing season that saw the team fail to win a single match in Division Two of the County Championship and finish eighth out of nine teams in their Metro Bank One-Day Cup group. The T20 Blast had been the only bright spot for Northants, but their quarter-final defeat to Somerset on Thursday night effectively ended their season.Sadler took over from David Ripley in September 2021 and oversaw a sixth-placed finish in Division One of the Championship in his first full season in charge. However, results have since declined, with only two Championship wins last year and a winless campaign in the second tier this season.During Sadler's tenure, several key players have left the club, including Adam Rossington, Josh Cobb, and Emilio Gay. Tom Taylor also rejected a new contract to join Worcestershire.In a statement, Northamptonshire Cricket Club said: "Throughout his tenure at Wantage Road, John Sadler has led the club with professionalism, dedication, and a strong work ethic. He has been a much-valued member of the Northamptonshire team, and everyone at the club wishes him well in his future career."Assistant coaches Rory Kleinveldt, Greg Smith, and Graeme White will take charge of Northants' three remaining Championship fixtures. The club has also begun the process of recruiting a replacement for Sadler.

Surrey's pursuit of a third consecutive Division One title hit a minor roadblock as they were forced to settle for a draw against relegation-threatened Nottinghamshire in the Vitality County Championship at Trent Bridge.Despite a record-breaking 10-wicket match haul from teenage off-spinner Farhan Ahmed, Surrey's declaration at 177 for 9 in their second innings left Nottinghamshire with a target of 298 from a minimum 48 overs. The home side responded with a resolute batting display, reaching 121 without loss at the close of play, with openers Haseeb Hameed and Ben Slater both scoring half-centuries.The draw reduces Surrey's lead at the top of the table to 24 points, while Nottinghamshire remain 10 points clear of Lancashire in the battle to avoid relegation.Rory Burns, who had scored 161 in the first innings, added 71 in the second, while Liam Patterson-White finished with five for 94 for Nottinghamshire. However, it was Ahmed who stole the show, becoming the youngest player to take 10 or more wickets in a first-class match in Britain since WG Grace in 1865.Ahmed's remarkable achievement overshadowed the efforts of England off-spinner Will Jacks, who had also taken seven wickets in the first innings. Surrey's decision to declare just shy of an hour after lunch may have been a tactical error, as Nottinghamshire were able to bat cautiously and avoid defeat.Despite the draw, Surrey remain in a strong position to secure the title, while Nottinghamshire's hopes of survival have been boosted.

Jack Leach, the left-arm spinner for Somerset, has expressed his unwavering determination to reclaim his place in the England Test team after his impressive 12-wicket haul against Durham. Leach, who was England's first-choice spinner under Ben Stokes' captaincy, has been sidelined by injuries in recent months, but his recent performance has reignited his hopes of a return to the international stage.Leach's 15 wickets in England's 3-0 Test series win in Pakistan in December 2022 serve as a testament to his abilities. Despite the emergence of Shoaib Bashir, his Somerset teammate, Leach believes he can regain his spot in the pecking order ahead of England's tour to Pakistan in October."I totally understand why Bash has been selected," Leach said. "I rate him really highly and think he is already a very good bowler with a lot of promise for the future. But there is a tour to Pakistan coming up and if England need me, I am more than happy to go."Leach's long spells against Durham have boosted his confidence, and he feels he is nearing his best form after overcoming a series of niggling injuries. He acknowledges the possibility of England selecting multiple spinners for the Pakistan tour and sees no reason why he and Bashir cannot both make the squad."I don't want to get my hopes up, but I am as determined as I ever have been to play for England," Leach said.Somerset's victory over Durham has kept them in contention for the County Championship title, and Leach is eager to contribute to his team's success. He believes the upcoming match against Surrey at Taunton will be crucial in their title aspirations."We are still right in the fight for the title, which is where we wanted to be at this stage of the season," Leach said. "I think the pitch against Durham suits our style of cricket. You had to be patient as a bowler, but if you kept putting the ball in the right place you were rewarded."

Yorkshire and Middlesex played out a high-scoring draw in their Vitality County Championship clash at Headingley, with both teams eyeing promotion to Division One in 2025.Yorkshire declared their first innings on 601 for 6, with Harry Hill (169*) and Jonny Bairstow (160) leading the charge. Middlesex responded with 522, thanks to centuries from Ryan Higgins (155) and Sam Robson (108).Dom Bess was the standout performer for Yorkshire, taking 7 for 179 in Middlesex's first innings. The off-spinner bowled a marathon 70.4 overs, showcasing his endurance and skill.Yorkshire's second innings began shortly before lunch, with a lead of 79. They reached 150 for 2 from 35 overs before bad light stopped play. Adam Lyth (62) and James Wharton (50*) were at the crease, ensuring Yorkshire took 13 points from the draw. Middlesex earned 11 points.Despite the high-scoring nature of the match, only two batters across both sides failed to reach double figures. The placid pitch made it difficult for bowlers to make inroads, with the scoring rate remaining below three runs per over.Yorkshire and Middlesex remain in contention for promotion, with just one point separating them in the Division Two standings. They will battle it out with leaders Sussex for the two top-flight places available in 2025.

Leicestershire's hopes of salvaging a draw against Glamorgan were boosted by a gritty batting display from Ajinkya Rahane and Peter Handscomb, who defied a formidable Glamorgan bowling attack to keep their side in the contest.Glamorgan had earlier declared their first innings on a mammoth 550 for 9, with Colin Ingram continuing his batting masterclass to notch an unbeaten 257. The South African opener's marathon innings, which spanned nearly ten hours, was the cornerstone of Glamorgan's imposing total.Leicestershire's chase got off to a shaky start as they lost early wickets to Dan Douthwaite and Ned Leonard. However, Rahane and Handscomb steadied the ship with a resolute partnership, frustrating the Glamorgan bowlers with their patient and disciplined approach.Rahane, the Indian Test star, was particularly impressive, showcasing his class with a composed 47 not out. He was fortunate to survive two dropped catches by Glamorgan legspinner Mason Crane, who also spilled a chance off Handscomb's bat.Handscomb, the Australian all-rounder, provided valuable support with an unbeaten 33, displaying his versatility with some crisp strokeplay. The duo's partnership has given Leicestershire a glimmer of hope as they trail by 155 runs with seven wickets in hand.Glamorgan will be disappointed with their fielding lapses, which could prove costly in the final reckoning. Crane's three dropped catches were particularly glaring, and the home side will need to be more clinical in the field if they are to secure victory.The match is evenly poised heading into the final day, with both sides having a chance to emerge victorious. Leicestershire will need to continue their resistance and hope for some luck, while Glamorgan will be looking to capitalize on their advantage and wrap up the win.

Hampshire's Liam Dawson starred with both bat and ball as they crushed Lancashire by an innings and 37 runs at Emirates Old Trafford, securing a vital victory in their Vitality County Championship clash.Dawson's first-innings century and match-winning 10-wicket haul propelled Hampshire to their third innings victory over Lancashire in 158 matches. The triumph also marked Lancashire's first consecutive innings defeats in the County Championship since 1907.Lancashire's batting woes began in their first innings, where they were dismissed for 200. Dawson's five-wicket haul, including the key scalp of Keaton Jennings, played a crucial role in their collapse. Hampshire enforced the follow-on, and Dawson continued his dominance, claiming another five wickets in the second innings.Luke Wells provided some resistance for Lancashire with a half-century, but his efforts were in vain as Hampshire's bowlers, led by Dawson and Mohammad Abbas, proved too strong. The victory earned Hampshire 22 points, while Lancashire collected just three, leaving them in danger of relegation.Dawson's all-round performance was a testament to his exceptional talent. His match figures of 10 for 99, coupled with his first-innings century, highlighted his versatility and impact on the game.The victory was a significant boost for Hampshire, who had lost their previous match at The Oval. It also marked a disappointing setback for Lancashire, who now face an uphill battle to avoid relegation.

Nottinghamshire's valiant effort to chase down Surrey's mammoth first-innings total of 525 was thwarted by a career-best performance from spinner Will Jacks, who claimed seven wickets for 129 runs. Despite a maiden century from 19-year-old Freddie McCann, Nottinghamshire fell short by 133 runs, leaving Surrey on the cusp of victory.McCann's innings of 154 was a testament to his talent and resilience. Batting at number three, he faced 268 deliveries and held the Nottinghamshire innings together. However, Jacks's off-spin proved too much for him, as he was caught at long-on after a slog-sweep.Jack Haynes also contributed with a valuable 68, but the follow-on target of 376 proved too daunting for Nottinghamshire. Kyle Verreynne, the South African wicketkeeper, remained unbeaten on 50, but his efforts were in vain as Surrey's bowlers tightened their grip.Surrey's pursuit of a third successive championship title was put on hold due to bad light, but they need just 13 runs to secure victory. Dom Sibley was dismissed for 10, but Rory Burns and Hashim Amla remain at the crease.The match was marred by an incident in the afternoon when Jacks threw the ball at McCann in an inappropriate manner. Umpires immediately penalized Surrey five runs and referred the matter to the county for further disciplinary action.

Middlesex's valiant response to Yorkshire's mammoth first-innings total of 601 for six declared has set the stage for an intriguing battle in the Vitality County Championship promotion race.Jonny Bairstow, eager to prove his worth after being dropped from England squads, continued his impressive form with a composed 160. However, it was George Hill who stole the show with a career-best 169 not out, sharing a record-breaking 238-run partnership with Bairstow for the sixth wicket.Leg-spinner Luke Hollman emerged as Middlesex's standout bowler, claiming four wickets for 194 runs. However, Yorkshire's dominance was evident as they secured four batting bonus points and limited Middlesex to just one bowling point.In response, Middlesex openers Sam Robson and Mark Stoneman provided a solid start, reaching 61 for one before Stoneman was dismissed for 27. Robson remained unbeaten on 65, guiding his team to 141 for one at the close of play.The match is evenly poised, with Middlesex aiming to salvage a draw and Yorkshire seeking a crucial victory to boost their promotion hopes. The battle between the two teams is expected to intensify as the match progresses, with every point potentially proving decisive in the race for promotion.

Shakib Al Hasan, the star all-rounder from Bangladesh, is set to make a brief appearance in the English County Championship for Surrey before joining his national team for their upcoming tour of India. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has granted Shakib a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the match against Somerset, scheduled for September 9 in Taunton.Surrey will be without their England players during that round due to the ongoing Sri Lanka Test series and the start of the Australia white-ball series. Shakib's inclusion will provide a much-needed boost to Surrey's squad.After his stint with Surrey, Shakib will fly to Chennai to join the Bangladesh team for their first Test against India, starting on September 19. The tour will also include two more Tests and three T20Is before Bangladesh returns home for a series against South Africa in October.Shakib's participation in the County Championship comes amidst ongoing legal proceedings in Bangladesh. He is among 147 people charged in connection with an alleged murder during protests in early August. However, the BCB has stated that Shakib can continue playing for Bangladesh as the investigation is still in its early stages.The ECB has the authority to withhold Shakib's registration to play in England even if he is granted a UK visa. However, Bangladesh's Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs adviser, Asif Nazrul, has expressed confidence that Shakib will not be arrested.Shakib's recent performances for Bangladesh have been impressive. He played a crucial role in their historic Test victory over Pakistan in Rawalpindi, taking three important wickets on the fifth day. He is also part of the ongoing second Test, which has been affected by rain.