Cricket

Sophia Dunkley has earned a recall to England's ODI squad for the upcoming home series against New Zealand, marking a significant turnaround after losing her place in the top order during the winter tour of New Zealand.Dunkley's return to the 50-over setup is a testament to her impressive performances for South East Stars in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, where she is the competition's leading run-scorer with 293 runs at an average of 97.66 and a strike rate of 83.00. She has also scored two half-centuries in the Charlotte Edwards Cup T20 competition.England Women's head coach Jon Lewis praised Dunkley's recent form, saying, "Her performance across the domestic game has been outstanding and she earned the right to be back in this squad through performance."Dunkley's recall comes after a challenging period where she failed to reach double figures in three T20I and one ODI innings in New Zealand. However, Lewis had challenged her to rediscover her best cricket and she has responded with a string of strong performances.Despite facing competition from the likes of Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Danni Wyatt, and Alice Capsey, Dunkley will be eager to regain a regular berth in the upper order. England's Nat Sciver-Brunt was the only stand-out performer in the ODIs against Pakistan, which England won 2-0.England's seam attack will be led by Kate Cross and Lauren Bell, with exciting quick Lauren Filer also included. The spin department will feature Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, and Charlie Dean.During their tour of New Zealand earlier this year, England won the T20I series 4-1 and the ODIs 2-1. England are yet to name their T20I squad for a five-match series with New Zealand immediately after the ODIs.

England's T20 World Cup defense is back on track after a dominant performance against Oman. Led by Jos Buttler's captaincy and Adil Rashid's bowling brilliance, England secured a resounding victory, boosting their net run rate and putting them in contention for Super Eight qualification.Buttler praised his team's ability to block out external noise and focus on the task at hand. England's bowlers set the tone, with Rashid claiming 4 for 11 and Mark Wood and Jofra Archer each taking 3 for 12. Oman was restricted to a modest 47 runs, which England chased down in just 3.1 overs.Buttler's unbeaten 24 from eight deliveries sealed the victory, transforming England's net run rate from -1.8 to +3.08. This puts them ahead of Scotland, who currently sit at 2.16. England's progress depends on avoiding any further upsets or washouts in the remaining fixtures.Buttler acknowledged the criticism surrounding England's campaign but remained confident in his team's abilities. He emphasized the importance of the bowling display, particularly the effectiveness of Topley, Archer, and Rashid on the Antigua pitch.England's run-chase was ignited by Phil Salt's two sixes from the first two balls, a rare feat in T20I cricket. Jonny Bairstow's four in the final over sealed the victory. Buttler stressed the importance of positivity and taking advantage of opportunities to improve their net run rate.England's focus now shifts to their match against Namibia on Saturday. A victory will further enhance their chances of qualifying for the Super Eight. Buttler remains optimistic, stating, "We can only focus on ourselves. We've got a huge game against Namibia and all focus now is on that."

England's T20 World Cup hopes hang in the balance after a disappointing loss to Australia. Head coach Matthew Mott expressed concern over Josh Hazlewood's comments suggesting Australia might manipulate their match against Scotland to affect England's run rate. However, Mott dismissed the remarks as a joke, emphasizing Hazlewood's integrity.Despite the distraction, England remains focused on securing victory against Oman on Thursday. They need to win by a combined margin of 117 runs against Oman and Namibia to improve their net run rate and potentially qualify for the next round.England's performance against Australia was a far cry from their usual standards. They conceded 90 runs without taking a wicket in the first ten overs and struggled to match Australia's intensity. Mott acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, "We've got to win this game and we've spoken a lot about that."The team's confidence remains high despite the setbacks. Mott praised their training performance and expressed optimism about their ability to perform under pressure. "We've played good T20 cricket for a while now," he said. "We've got our structure in place, we're really confident."England's fate ultimately rests on their own performance. They must defeat Oman and Namibia convincingly while hoping that Australia does not engage in any run-rate manipulation against Scotland. Mott emphasized the importance of focusing on the present rather than external factors. "We're treating this game with Oman in isolation," he said. "If we get into a position where we're in a dominant position and can push hard, we will."

England's World Cup hopes are hanging in the balance after a disappointing start to their campaign. With just one point from two matches, they face a must-win clash against Oman on Thursday. Captain Jos Buttler insists that the team's focus is solely on victory, and they will worry about net run-rate only if they earn the right to do so.England's opening match against Scotland was washed out, and they suffered a 36-run defeat to Australia in their second game. Scotland's subsequent thrashing of Oman has put them in a strong position, with a significant advantage in net run-rate.England have another must-win match against Namibia on Saturday, but their fate could be sealed before then. If Scotland and Australia close out the group stage with a narrow defeat for the Scots, England's hopes will be dashed.Buttler is determined to avoid such an ignominious exit, but he acknowledges the challenges ahead. England need to defeat Oman and Namibia by a combined margin of 117 runs or more to improve their net run-rate ahead of Scotland's.However, Australia's head coach, Andrew McDonald, has hinted that he may rest key players if they secure their Super Eights berth before the Scotland showdown. Additionally, NRR in the group stage is not carried over into the next round, which means Australia would have no incentive to stage a go-slow to eliminate England.Buttler insists that England will not be distracted by such permutations. He believes that the team needs to focus on winning the game against Oman and then assess their situation.Despite their poor start, Buttler remains confident in the team's ability. He admits that they were outplayed by Australia, but he believes that they have only played one-and-a-quarter games and still have plenty of cricket to play.Buttler is also unfazed by the growing frustration from England's fans. He understands that people care about the team and want them to perform well. However, he emphasizes that the team's focus is on their own performance and that they will make their fans happy if they play to their potential.

Shoaib Bashir, the promising England Test offspinner, has joined Worcestershire on a short-term loan to bolster their Vitality Blast and County Championship campaigns. The 20-year-old will make his debut for the Pears in Friday's Blast clash with Northamptonshire and is also set to feature in the Championship match against Surrey.Bashir's loan move comes after a breakthrough winter with England, where he claimed 17 wickets in three Tests against India, including two five-wicket hauls. However, his selection had been hampered by limited playing time at Somerset, where he had taken just 10 wickets in six matches since his debut in 2023.With Jack Leach firmly established as Somerset's premier spinner, the club had been open to a loan move to enhance Bashir's playing opportunities. In March, head coach Jason Kerr stated that he would not "stand in the way of anyone's opportunity."Despite playing as Somerset's main spinner in three Championship matches in April due to Leach's knee injury, Bashir managed only four wickets at a high average of 74.75. He has since been playing alongside Leach in the county 2nd XI T20 competition.Worcestershire head coach Alan Richardson expressed his delight at Bashir's arrival: "Shoaib is a player of immense talent and potential, and we believe his presence will significantly strengthen our squad for the Vitality Blast and our next Championship fixture against Surrey.""We're confident that he will make a positive impact from tonight's game against Northamptonshire. We're excited to welcome him, and we are looking forward to seeing him in action."Worcestershire currently sit fifth in the Blast North Group on net run-rate, while they are yet to win any of their seven Division One Championship matches. Bashir's addition is expected to provide a much-needed boost to their bowling attack.

Jofra Archer's emotional return to Barbados for the T20 World Cup was a moment of immense pride and joy for the England pacer. As he stepped onto the field at Kensington Oval, the cheers from the crowd were deafening, with a large contingent of children from his alma mater, Christ Church Foundation, adding to the thunderous applause.Archer's eyes welled up with tears as he surveyed the scene, overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from his homeland. "It was a little bit emotional," he admitted. "I had a little bit of water in my eye, a bit of a cry, but I was just settling."The prime minister of Barbados had invited Archer and his teammates to her box, but she had also arranged for students from Archer's and Chris Jordan's former schools to attend the match. "It was really, really emotional," Archer said. "I felt really supported. I felt unbelievable."Archer had avoided media interactions before the game, preferring to focus on his return to Barbados. "Once you get the first ball out of the way, any nerves are gone," he explained. "You tend to forget everything else and just focus."Archer's return to fitness has been carefully managed by England, who are eager to have him at his best for the T20 World Cup. He underwent surgery on his right elbow last year and has been gradually building up his workload since then."It was just a little bit of luck because, you know, if we'd gone a little bit… it could have gone wrong," Archer said. "Maybe I could peak too early and could have missed this. Or I didn't get up to speed fast enough and I miss it again. So I just feel very lucky that everything had checked along with this block."Archer has been playing cricket since November and feels fully fit. He believes his body is ready for the rigors of international cricket after bowling against Pakistan in the fifth T20I at the Oval."It's alright to train and it's alright to play in games here, but to get that last 10% intensity and [feel] actually, the body is okay. You know when you are able to step it up and the body takes it, then that's really, really refreshing."Archer will not play Test cricket this summer, but his eventual return to the format is being carefully managed. "I've got a PDF file of every single game I'm supposed to play in from now till next summer anyway," he said. "Yeah, they've really planned out almost everything."England have one more match at Kensington Oval before moving to Antigua for the rest of their group matches. The highly anticipated clash with Australia on Saturday could be crucial to their T20 World Cup hopes. The majority of fans will again be cheering for England and for one of their own.

West Indies have unveiled their 15-man squad for the upcoming three-Test series against England, scheduled to commence in July. The squad features the return of experienced all-rounder Jason Holder and promising fast bowler Jayden Seales, who missed the drawn series in Australia earlier this year.Holder, who opted to play in the ILT20 instead of the Australia tour, has earned a recall after showcasing his red-ball prowess for Barbados and Worcestershire. Despite being ruled out of the ongoing T20 World Cup due to an injury, he is expected to recover in time for the England series.Seales, who was sidelined for the Australia tour due to a shoulder injury, has impressed during his stint with Sussex in the County Championship. He is currently the joint-highest wicket-taker in Division Two and will provide a boost to the West Indies bowling attack.Apart from Holder and Seales, the squad boasts a formidable pace attack that includes Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, and Kemar Roach. Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who struggled in Australia, has been replaced by Mikyle Louis, the leading run-scorer in the West Indies Championship.Justin Greaves and Akeem Jordan have also been dropped from the squad, while 19-year-old fast bowler Isai Thorne will travel to the UK as a development player. The touring party will arrive in England on June 23 for a training camp before the three-day warm-up match against a County Select XI on July 3.Desmond Haynes, West Indies' lead selector, expressed confidence in the squad's balance and experience. He highlighted the team's progress in red-ball cricket and their determination to perform well in English conditions.West Indies have not won a Test series in England since 1988, but they will be aiming to replicate their success from the previous series between the two teams in early 2022. The first Test will begin on July 10 at Lord's, marking James Anderson's farewell as an England player.

Phil Salt, a rising star in English cricket, is set to make a special return to Barbados, the place where he spent his formative years. Fourteen years after witnessing England's triumph in the 2010 World T20 from the stands, Salt is now an integral part of the team aiming to defend their title at the same venue.Salt's journey to international stardom began in Barbados, where he honed his skills from the age of nine to 15. Despite not being a native Bajan like Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan, Salt acknowledges the profound impact the island has had on his life and career."To be back here and have the opportunity to play for England in a World Cup is a dream come true," Salt said. "Barbados has always been a special place for me, and I'm grateful for the experiences I had here."Salt's rise to prominence has been marked by a combination of factors, including increased experience in international cricket, a keen analysis of his strengths and weaknesses, and a mindset shift towards becoming a game-changer for England."I've realized that I want to be the person winning more games for my country," Salt said. "I'm not afraid to take risks and play aggressively, but I also understand the importance of staying grounded and focusing on one ball at a time."Salt's partnership with England captain Jos Buttler has been instrumental in his growth. The duo has forged a formidable opening stand, showcasing their complementary styles and ability to adapt to different situations."We communicate a lot out there and realize that when one goes, we feed the strike to the other person," Salt said. "It's a partnership based on trust and understanding."As England embarks on their World T20 title defense, Salt is confident in his team's abilities. He draws inspiration from the 2010 triumph, where the opening partnership played a pivotal role."I remember watching Craig Kieswetter and Michael Lumb in that final," Salt said. "They were incredible, and I've always tried to emulate their fearless approach."If Salt and Buttler can replicate the success of their predecessors, England will have a strong chance of lifting the trophy once again. And for Salt, it would be a dream come true, fulfilling the childhood aspirations he had while watching that memorable final in Barbados.

Former Indian Test opener Wasim Jaffer has taken a savage dig at England cricketers over allegations that the T20 World Cup schedule favors Team India. An English cricket website claimed that India's semi-final match is scheduled for prime time in India, while the first semi-final starts at an inconvenient time. The website also alleged that there is no reserve day for the second semi-final, unlike the first.Jaffer responded with a witty tweet, saying, "It's one thing to know where your SF will be played, it's another thing to qualify for it. For example WTC Final have always been held in England but England have never qualified. #T20WorldCup."Jaffer's tweet highlights the fact that England has never qualified for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, despite the final always being held in England. This is a reference to England's poor performance in Test cricket in recent years.The T20 World Cup schedule has been a topic of debate, with some critics arguing that it favors certain teams. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has defended the schedule, saying that it was created to ensure that all teams have a fair chance of reaching the semi-finals.Team India, led by Rohit Sharma, will be looking to end their long-standing ICC trophy drought in this edition of the T20 World Cup. India last won a major ICC title in the 2013 Champions Trophy. They reached the final of the 2019 ODI World Cup but lost to Australia.In this year's T20 World Cup, India will face Ireland, Pakistan, the United States, and Canada in the group phase. They will be hoping to qualify for the semi-finals and have a chance to win their first T20 World Cup title since 2007.