Cricket

South Africa's white-ball coach Rob Walter has acknowledged the team's recent struggles in bilateral T20I series, but emphasized the importance of balancing the need to field the best XI with exposing younger players to top-level competition.In the recently concluded series against India, South Africa's bowling attack, which lacked the experience of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, and Tabraiz Shamsi, conceded over 200 runs three times in four matches. Walter explained that this was a consequence of trying to deepen the player pool."To grow the net of players, there's times we have to play younger guys even in big series against good teams. And ultimately, that's where they're going to learn the most," Walter said.However, Walter acknowledged that the team's performance was not acceptable. "It's really a balancing act and there's no right or wrong. We're trying to get it right, we're trying to get rest right, we're trying to get rotation right, we're trying to get exposure right all at the same time. But it doesn't excuse the performance. We still need to be better and that starts with me as the head coach of the team."Walter also highlighted the discrepancy between South Africa's bilateral form and their success in major tournaments, such as the T20 World Cup. "The easy answer is that when we go to the world tournaments, we're picking our very best 15 players but we can't pick those same 15 players every single time we play. It's just not feasible. It's just too much cricket."Walter recognized the depth of India's squad, which allowed them to field a strong team even in the absence of key players. "Their fringe players are stepping up and creating pressure on the guys that are in main XI," he said.Walter also addressed the issue of players opting out of central contracts to play in franchise leagues. "A guy like Anrich, I certainly wouldn't doubt his want to play for South Africa and his commitment to do that. But he made a decision personally around contracting so that he could move away from playing Test cricket for a while. I think physically he was finding it a bit tough to do everything and I respect that," Walter said."At the end of the day, when it comes to the world tournaments, we want to pick our best side. And if he is one of those best players, we consider him. Shammo has done exactly the same thing. We need to be cognisant of what's happening in world cricket. It's not easy and the national side is competing with franchise cricket. The money lies in franchise cricket, not international cricket. That's the reality that we live in."Walter concluded by emphasizing the ongoing balancing act between fielding the best team and developing younger players. "And so, again, the balancing act continues."

Zimbabwe's T20 skipper Sikandar Raza has highlighted the transformative impact of franchise cricket on the development of players from lower-ranked nations. Despite limited opportunities to compete against top-tier teams, franchise leagues have provided a platform for these players to learn from and collaborate with elite cricketers.Raza, who has played in franchise leagues worldwide, emphasized the confidence boost and knowledge gained by Zimbabwean players through these experiences. He believes that franchise cricket has significantly enhanced the skill level of lower-ranked nations.However, Raza also acknowledged the challenges faced by Zimbabwe due to its small pool of active cricketers. With a population of around 14 million, only 2,000 individuals actively play cricket. Despite this limitation, Zimbabwe has shown glimpses of its potential on the international stage.Raza remains a strong advocate for Test cricket, considering it the ultimate test of a player's abilities. He expressed his excitement for Zimbabwe's upcoming one-off Test against England in 2023, their first in the country since 2003. He commended the England Cricket Board for providing touring fees and urged other top nations to follow suit.Raza believes that increased Test match opportunities would significantly contribute to Zimbabwe's growth as a cricketing nation. He highlighted the financial challenges associated with hosting Test matches and expressed gratitude to India for their support in hosting Zimbabwe in the past.

Moeen Ali, the versatile England all-rounder, has bid farewell to international cricket, bringing an end to a remarkable career spanning nearly a decade. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, the 37-year-old announced his retirement from all formats of the game.Ali's decision stems from his omission from England's squad for the upcoming Test series against Australia. "I'm 37 years old and didn't get picked for this month's Australia series," he explained. "I've played a lot of cricket for England. It's time for the next generation, which was also explained to me. It felt the time was right. I've done my part."Since his international debut in 2014, Ali has amassed an impressive record across all formats. In 68 Tests, he scored 2,914 runs, including eight centuries and 28 half-centuries, while claiming 195 wickets. In 138 ODIs, he contributed 2,417 runs and 87 wickets, and in 92 T20Is, he scored 1,347 runs and 84 wickets.Ali's last international appearance came in England's semi-final defeat to India at the T20 World Cup in Guyana. Reflecting on his career, he expressed immense pride in his achievements. "When you first play for England, you don't know how many games you're going to play. So to play nearly 300…My first few years were all about Test cricket. Once Morgs [Eoin Morgan] took over the one-day stuff, that was more fun. But Test cricket was the proper cricket."Despite his retirement from international cricket, Ali remains passionate about the game and plans to continue playing franchise cricket. He has already signed up as a replacement player for defending champions Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). In the past year, he has also represented Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Joburg Super Kings in the SA20, and Chittagong Vikings in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).Beyond playing, Ali aspires to pursue a career in coaching. "Coaching is something I want to do -- I want to be one of the best," he said. "I can learn a lot from Baz [Brendon McCullum]. I hope people remember me as a free spirit. I played some nice shots and some bad shots, but hopefully people enjoyed watching me."Moeen Ali's retirement marks the end of an era for English cricket. His all-round abilities and infectious personality will be sorely missed by fans and teammates alike. As he embarks on a new chapter in his life, he leaves behind a legacy of success and inspiration.

Southern Brave's title defense in the Women's Hundred has come to an end, leaving head coach Charlotte Edwards to reflect on a disappointing campaign. Despite a promising start, Brave struggled to maintain consistency, losing six of their eight matches.The season began with a narrow defeat to London Spirit, followed by a tie with Northern Superchargers. A solitary win against Oval Invincibles provided a glimmer of hope, but Brave's fortunes took a turn for the worse with a heavy loss to Welsh Fire in their final match.Edwards acknowledged the team's inconsistent performances, stating that they failed to put together a complete game. She highlighted the growing strength and depth of teams in the Hundred, emphasizing the need for Brave to improve in all aspects.While the disappointment of the failed title defense is still fresh, Edwards plans to conduct a thorough analysis of the season's shortcomings. She believes that a full review will help identify areas for improvement and guide the team's preparations for the 2025 edition of the tournament.Edwards also expressed her desire to continue as coach of Southern Brave and Mumbai Indians, despite the latter's unsuccessful WPL campaign. She emphasized the importance of franchise leagues in the growth of women's cricket and called for exclusive windows to avoid clashes with bilateral series.Edwards' comments align with those of Jhulan Goswami, her Mumbai Indians bowling coach, who has advocated for protected windows for franchise leagues. Edwards believes that three exclusive windows for the WPL, Hundred, and WBBL would allow the best players to participate in both international and franchise cricket without scheduling conflicts.

Devon Conway and Finn Allen have become the latest New Zealand cricketers to decline central contracts, opting instead for greater flexibility and opportunities in franchise cricket. Conway, however, has signed a casual agreement with New Zealand Cricket (NZC), similar to Kane Williamson, making him available for all internationals except for the Sri Lanka white-ball matches in January, when he will honor his SA20 commitment.Allen, the hard-hitting white-ball opener, will pursue franchise opportunities and has not been offered the same agreement by NZC. He remains eligible for selection on a case-by-case basis. Both Conway and Allen were initially included in the contract list last month but will now be replaced.Conway, who has been named in the Test squad to face Afghanistan and Sri Lanka next month, is available for all of New Zealand's nine upcoming Tests. He has also committed to warm-up matches ahead of the Champions Trophy in February, including an ODI tri-series in Pakistan."The decision to move away from a central playing contract isn't one I've taken lightly, but I believe it is the best for me and my family at this present time," Conway said. "Playing for the Blackcaps is still the pinnacle for me, and I'm hugely passionate about representing New Zealand and winning games of international cricket."NZC chief executive Scott Weenink emphasized that casual contracts are only an option for a select number of leading players. He believes it is a prudent way to manage the evolving landscape of franchise cricket."We're delighted with Devon's decision to commit to the Blackcaps - he's a quality player who's made a strong contribution to the team over the past few years," Weenink said. "In the current environment, it's important to have flexibility in our system to navigate some of the challenges posed by franchise cricket."Conway and Allen join Williamson, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, and Adam Milne in moving away from central contracts. However, Williamson, who will also play in the SA20 in January, has not ruled out taking one in the future.Under the NZC system, players must make themselves available for the domestic Super Smash tournament when they are not playing international cricket to be eligible for central contracts.

The rise of franchise cricket has sparked a debate in women's cricket, with former India fast bowler Jhulan Goswami advocating for its prioritization over bilateral series. Goswami, who has been involved in the Women's Premier League (WPL) and Women's CPL, believes that franchise cricket is crucial for the growth of the sport.Goswami highlights the success of franchise leagues like the WBBL and Hundred in producing quality cricketers. She argues that giving priority to these leagues will ensure the availability of top players, leading to more competitive and successful tournaments.The calendar clash between franchise leagues and bilateral series has become a concern, with players facing difficult choices. Goswami suggests that the ICC should prioritize franchise league windows to avoid losing out on quality cricketers. She believes that bilateral series should be scheduled after these windows to ensure the growth of women's cricket.Goswami's views are supported by the busy calendar for the rest of 2024. The women's Hundred, WCPL, T20 World Cup, and WBBL are all scheduled within a short period, followed by international matches and home seasons for various teams.The prioritization of franchise cricket is seen as a way to address the limited pool of quality cricketers in women's cricket. By giving priority to these leagues, the ICC can ensure that the best players are available for the most competitive tournaments, which will ultimately benefit the growth and development of the sport.

James Anderson, England's legendary fast bowler, has hinted at a potential return to competitive cricket after his international retirement. Despite turning 42 recently, Anderson believes he still has the skills and desire to contribute as a bowler.Following his final Test match at Lord's, Anderson has been assisting England's bowlers in a coaching capacity. However, he may consider stepping back from this role during the upcoming tours to Pakistan and New Zealand, opening up his schedule for overseas opportunities."I feel there's something there, that I still want to play a little bit more," Anderson said. "I'm pretty open to anything at the minute. Things will become clearer as the rest of the year progresses."Anderson has not played white-ball cricket since 2019, but he remains England's all-time leading ODI wicket-taker. He believes he can still be effective in this format, having bowled at England's batters in the nets recently."I don't know how seriously I'm actually thinking about this myself right now," Anderson admitted. "But the bowling thing is still a definite option for me, the way my body feels right now, the way my head is."Anderson also expressed his desire to give back to Lancashire, the county where he developed as a young bowler. "I've played more Tests than I have first-class games for Lancs," he said. "Whenever I've gone back, I've tried my very best and loved it."Despite his age, Anderson remains confident in his ability to bowl fast and effectively. "There will be a time when I can't turn my arm over at all and I can't bowl at 50mph, never mind 80, so while I can do that, I want to keep doing it," he said.Anderson's potential return to competitive cricket would be a remarkable achievement for a player of his age. It would also provide a valuable opportunity for younger bowlers to learn from one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time.

Afghanistan's impressive run in the ongoing T20 World Cup, where they have secured a berth in the Super Eight stage, is a testament to the experience gained by their players in domestic and franchise cricket, according to captain Rashid Khan.After registering three consecutive wins in the group stage, Afghanistan became the second team from Group C to advance to the next round, following co-hosts West Indies. Khan praised his team's ability to adapt to different conditions, as evidenced by their seven-wicket victory against Papua New Guinea.Opting to bowl first, Afghanistan restricted PNG to a meager 95 runs in 19.5 overs, with Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq claiming three and two wickets, respectively. In the chase, Gulbadin Naib's unbeaten 49 guided Afghanistan to victory with 29 balls to spare."Our openers have given us solid starts in the last two games, and today was a chance for others to get some time in the middle," Khan said after the match. "We had a domestic competition before coming here, and everyone is in good form."Khan emphasized the importance of franchise cricket experience, which has allowed his players to familiarize themselves with different conditions. "Some of them have played at St Lucia and know how the pitch will play, which helps others," he said. "Everyone has the skill to adjust to any condition."The star spinner attributed Afghanistan's success to the collective efforts of the team. "It's a great feeling to qualify for the next round," he said. "The boys have put in a lot of effort since the first game. They know what they need to do and have executed it beautifully."Khan highlighted the contributions of wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz and pacer Farooqi. "It's important to have someone like Gurbaz who can take on the bowling or Farooqi who can pick up wickets in the powerplay," he said. "If the batter is attacking, then as a bowler, you have to attack too, especially with pitches helping you."Afghanistan will face West Indies in their final group stage encounter on June 17 in Tarouba.

Ashton Agar, the Australian left-arm spinner, is ready to venture beyond the confines of international cricket and explore the lucrative world of franchise cricket. With a decade-long career in the Australian setup, Agar believes it's time to seek new challenges and opportunities.Agar, 30, is currently part of Australia's T20 World Cup squad but has only played three international matches across all formats in the past 1.5 years. He has realized that relying solely on national contracts can hinder his growth as a cricketer."I've made that mistake before and your cricket skills fall away, if you're clinging on to safety and security," Agar said in an interview with cricket.com.au.Agar's decision to explore franchise cricket follows the trend set by his Australian counterparts, such as David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Glen Maxwell, and Pat Cummins, who have become household names in leagues worldwide."I think a lot of people are going to do what I've just done in the coming years. We'll see it a lot more next year, more the year after -- and that's just going to be the way cricket works," Agar said.Agar, who has played in the T20 World Cup warm-up game against Namibia, hopes to be a part of the playing XI in the tournament and bowl alongside his close friend Adam Zampa."It had been really positive (messaging from national selectors) the whole time that if we were going to take two spinners I was going to go," Agar said.Agar's decision to seek opportunities outside of the Australian cricket establishment is a reflection of the changing landscape of the sport. With the proliferation of T20 leagues around the world, players are increasingly looking to maximize their earning potential and gain experience in different conditions.