Cricket

George Worker, the former New Zealand batter, has bid farewell to professional cricket at the age of 34. The decision marks the end of a 17-year journey in the sport, during which he represented Central Districts and Auckland.Worker's international career spanned from 2015 to 2018, with 10 ODIs and 2 T20Is to his name. He made his T20I debut in Zimbabwe, earning the Player-of-the-Match award for his 38-ball 62. His ODI debut came on the same tour of Africa, and he went on to score three half-centuries in the format.In domestic cricket, Worker was a prolific run-scorer. He amassed 6721 runs in 169 List A games, averaging 43.64 with 18 centuries and 37 half-centuries. His first-class record included 6400 runs at an average of 29.49, while he scored 3480 runs in T20s at a strike rate of 123.57.Worker's leadership and experience were highly valued by Auckland Aces, where he played a pivotal role in their Ford Trophy 2021-22 title win. He topped the overall run-scoring chart with 672 runs in ten innings, averaging 84.00 and hitting four centuries.As a part-time left-arm spinner, Worker claimed 58 first-class wickets, 60 in List A cricket, and 42 in T20s.Upon announcing his retirement, Worker expressed gratitude for the memories and friendships he forged during his career. He also revealed that he has accepted a "fantastic opportunity" with Forsyth Barr, an investment services firm.Auckland Cricket's head of performance and talent, Evan Jones, acknowledged Worker's contributions and wished him well in his future endeavors.

New Zealand's domestic cricket season is set to kick off soon, and several provinces have announced their contracted players for the upcoming campaign. Here's a comprehensive overview of the latest updates:Central Hinds:Central Hinds captain Natalie Dodd has opted out of the contracting process due to her pregnancy. The team has signed Anna Gaging, who joins her twin sister Kate on the roster. Last season's young additions, Aniela Apperley, Emma McLeod, and Flora Devonshire, have retained their spots. The captaincy remains undecided, with Hannah Rowe a potential candidate.Canterbury Magicians:Kate Anderson has returned to the Canterbury Magicians after missing out on an NZC central contract. Harriet Graham has earned her first domestic contract after impressing in the wider squad. The team is committed to developing young talent, with senior players providing guidance and support.Other Updates:Other provinces have also announced their contracted players. Northern Districts has retained the core of its squad, including White Ferns stars Suzie Bates and Lauren Down. Wellington Blaze has signed promising all-rounder Georgia Plimmer, while Otago Sparks has added experienced batter Katey Martin.Key Points:* Natalie Dodd's absence creates an opportunity for other players to step up for Central Hinds.* Canterbury Magicians are focused on developing young talent and providing a supportive environment.* Several provinces have retained their key players, while others have added promising additions.* The upcoming domestic season promises to be competitive and exciting, with a mix of experienced and emerging players.

Indian batter Mandeep Singh has announced his departure from Punjab after a 14-year stint, opting to join Tripura for the upcoming domestic season. The 32-year-old made the announcement via Instagram, expressing gratitude for his time with Punjab and excitement for the new chapter in his career.Mandeep's decision comes after a successful tenure with Punjab, where he captained the team to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for the 2023-2024 season. He has been a consistent performer for Punjab, amassing 6448 runs in 99 matches at an impressive average of 47.76. His tally includes 15 centuries, with a top score of 235.In his Instagram post, Mandeep acknowledged the support he received from the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA), particularly from former cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh. He also thanked the PCA management and staff for their unwavering support throughout his journey.Tripura will benefit immensely from Mandeep's experience and batting prowess. The team recently lost wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha, who returned to Bengal. Mandeep's presence will provide stability and leadership to the Tripura batting lineup.In addition to Mandeep, Tripura has also acquired the services of former Punjab batter Jiwanjot Singh for the upcoming season. The duo's experience and talent will be invaluable assets for Tripura as they aim to make a mark in the domestic circuit.Mandeep's move to Tripura marks a significant shift in his career. He has been a mainstay in the Punjab setup for over a decade, but he believes it is time for a new challenge. Tripura will provide him with a fresh start and an opportunity to continue his pursuit of cricketing excellence.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled a comprehensive overhaul of its domestic cricket structure, introducing three new competitions and significantly enhancing player contracts and match fees. The ambitious plan aims to bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket and elevate Pakistan's standing in the global cricketing landscape.The centerpiece of the new structure is the Champions tournament, a five-team competition that will span across formats. The Dolphins, Lions, Panthers, Stallions, and Wolves will compete in the Champions One-Day Cup, Champions T20 Cup, and Champions Pentagular (first-class cricket). The tournaments will run from September 2024 to August 2025, effectively extending the domestic season by almost a year.PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi emphasized the need for innovation and strategic enhancements to restore Pakistan's cricketing prowess. He believes that the Champions tournaments will create an environment that mirrors the intensity of international cricket, fostering the development of top-tier players.The Champions tournaments will feature around 150 of Pakistan's most talented and consistent domestic performers, including centrally-contracted players. The selection process remains to be determined, but the plan has received the endorsement of Waqar Younis, the newly appointed advisor to the chair on cricket affairs.Each of the five teams will have a potential owner and mentor, in addition to a dedicated high-performance center and a full complement of coaching staff. The PCB has also raised domestic player contracts, with Category 1 players now earning PKR 550,000, Category 2 players earning PKR 400,000, and Category 3 players earning PKR 250,000.Match fees have also been increased significantly, with white-ball matches now paying PKR 125,000 (50-over cricket) and PKR 100,000 (T20 cricket), while red-ball matches will pay PKR 200,000.The PCB's bold initiative aims to create a more competitive and rewarding domestic cricket environment, fostering the development of world-class players and ultimately elevating Pakistan's standing in international cricket.

Mohammed Shami, India's premier fast bowler, is eager to make his comeback through domestic cricket after recovering from an ankle surgery. Shami, who has been out of action since February, has started bowling at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru but is yet to bowl at full throttle."It's difficult to say when I will be back. I am trying hard but hopefully you will get to see me in Bengal colours before I don the India jersey again," Shami said while being felicitated by the East Bengal club in Kolkata.The 33-year-old pacer said the injury came at a time when he was trying to recover from India's ODI World Cup final defeat. "We never thought the injury would be this serious. The plan was to address it after the T20 World Cup since we had the IPL and the ICC T20 mega event coming almost back-to-back after last year's World Cup. But it turned worse during the ODI World Cup itself and I also did not find it right to risk playing on with it," he recalled."Even the doctors could not fathom that the injury will take such a serious turn and will take so much time to heal," the pacer said.India's highest wicket-taker in the 2023 World Cup, Shami thus had to miss this year's IPL and also watched India's T20 World Cup triumph sitting at home. "To tell you frankly, I got tense when South Africa were pulling things back in the final. For a moment memories of our 2023 WC final loss returned to haunt me. But luckily Suryakumar Yadav took that great catch to fetch us the Cup and it took time to sink in that India have actually won it," Shami stated.Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly, who was also honoured in the evening, also looked forward to Shami's comeback. "I am actually surprised to see Shami has played only 101 ODI matches. Somebody with his calibre and talent should have played many more," Ganguly said.The former BCCI chief remembered seeing Shami first while playing for Bengal in late 2000s. "Laxmi (Ratan Shukla) was the Bengal skipper then and I immediately told him that this boy (Shami) is an exceptional talent. I am happy to see him converting that talent into performance," he added."It's said that (Jasprit) Bumrah is the best pacer, but Bumrah has become the best because he got Shami at the other end. So you have pressure from both ends," Ganguly pointed out.

Hardik Pandya's significance in Indian cricket cannot be overstated. As a premier fast-bowling all-rounder, he brings a rare skillset to the team. His presence in the lineup provides exceptional balance, as witnessed during the T20 World Cup. Pandya's crucial late overs in the final against South Africa played a pivotal role in India's victory.However, Pandya's absence as captain or vice-captain for the Sri Lanka T20I series has raised questions about his fitness. Former Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore, who has experience coaching Indian domestic teams, has shed light on this issue.Whatmore emphasizes the importance of a robust domestic setup for the health of the national team. He highlights the extensive participation in India's domestic circuit and the role of the IPL in developing talent. However, he also points out that some players, including Pandya, have not been actively involved in white-ball cricket at the domestic level."In my last few years in Baroda, Hardik Pandya wouldn't ever play white-ball cricket," Whatmore said. "It always amuses me that he's termed as the all-rounder from Baroda but he hasn't played for Baroda for years!"Whatmore acknowledges that the BCCI has recently taken steps to encourage players to participate in domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy. He believes that this will ultimately benefit the national team by providing a stronger foundation for players to develop their skills.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced its intention to closely monitor player availability and participation in the upcoming domestic cricket season (2024-25). This move is a clear indication that the BCCI expects India internationals to prioritize domestic competitions when not selected for the national team.The BCCI's decision stems from the recent controversy surrounding the exclusion of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan from the list of BCCI-contracted players due to their absence from state team matches. The board is keen to ensure that international players remain committed to domestic cricket and continue to develop their skills across all formats.The monitoring process will involve assessing player performance in domestic competitions and tracking their availability for state teams when not on India duty. The BCCI will also consider the workload management of players, as evidenced by the decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah for the upcoming ODI series in Sri Lanka.According to reports, the topic of player availability was discussed during the recent selection committee meeting. The BCCI has reportedly spoken to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli regarding their availability for the Sri Lanka tour, leading to their inclusion in the ODI squad.The BCCI's focus on domestic cricket aligns with the vision of new head coach Gautam Gambhir, who has emphasized the importance of players competing in all three formats. By monitoring player availability and participation, the BCCI aims to foster a strong domestic circuit that will produce high-quality players for the Indian team.

Shreyas Iyer's impressive performance as captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has earned him a well-deserved recall to the Indian national team. The batter, who had previously been criticized for prioritizing the IPL over domestic cricket, has now made a strong case for his inclusion in the ODI squad.Iyer's return to the national setup is a testament to his determination and resilience. Despite being dropped from the ODI team last season, he remained focused and worked hard to regain his place. His consistent performances in the IPL, coupled with his impressive record in domestic cricket, have convinced the selectors to give him another chance.However, the same cannot be said for Ishan Kishan, who is believed to be out of favor with the selectors. Sources indicate that Kishan will only be considered for national selection after a full season of domestic cricket. The selectors believe that his focus on the IPL is hindering his development as a player.In addition to Iyer's recall, the BCCI has also announced the inclusion of Riyan Parag and Harshit Rana in the ODI squad. Parag, an all-rounder from Assam, has impressed with his performances in the Vijay Hazare National one-dayers, while Rana, a pacer from KKR, has shown promise in the IPL.The selectors have emphasized the importance of domestic cricket performances in their selection decisions. They will continue to monitor player availability and participation in the upcoming domestic season. This move is aimed at encouraging players to prioritize domestic cricket and develop their skills at the highest level.Abhishek Sharma, who recently scored a 46-ball century in the IPL, has missed out on a place in the ODI squad due to the presence of the skipper at No. 3. Similarly, Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has also been overlooked.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has unveiled the structure for the second tier of its new domestic women's competitions, which will commence in 2025. Ten counties—Derbyshire, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Middlesex, Sussex, Worcestershire, and Yorkshire—will compete in Tier 2, playing both 50-over and 20-over cricket. The competition structure and schedule for 2025 are yet to be finalized.Tier 3 status will be granted to all National Counties that wish to participate in the new competitions at that level from 2025. The three tiers will be closed from the 2025 to 2028 seasons, with no promotion or relegation.To foster competition among all counties, the ECB has also announced a knock-out cup competition involving teams from all three tiers. The cup competition is expected to launch in 2025 alongside the establishment of the three-tiered structure.Earlier this year, the ECB announced that Durham, Essex, Surrey, Hampshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, and Warwickshire would play in Tier 1 of the new competitions starting in 2025. Yorkshire will join Tier 1 for the 2026 season, subject to meeting certain conditions, while Glamorgan will join in 2027. The ECB aims to expand Tier 1 to 12 teams by 2029.Beth Barrett-Wild, director of the women's professional game, expressed excitement about the finalized tiers. She emphasized that the new structure will accommodate the growth and enhance the depth of the women's professional game.The ECB plans to invest £8 million in new funding per year in women's domestic cricket by 2027, bringing the annual investment in this area to approximately £19 million. This investment will support the development of more professional female players, increased investment, and improved alignment between the men's and women's game.