Cricket

Ben Stokes' participation in England's upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka is in jeopardy after he suffered an injury while playing for Northern Superchargers in the Hundred on Sunday.During a chase against Manchester Originals, Stokes attempted a quick single but pulled up injured after completing the run. He was assisted off the field by medical staff, clutching the back of his left leg near the hamstring and knee.The injury occurred after Stokes was struck in the gut by a hard-length ball from Tom Aspinwall. He initially appeared winded but attempted to run a single before collapsing in pain.The injury raises concerns about Stokes' availability for the first Test, which begins on August 21 in Manchester. He has previously managed a chronic left-knee injury but returned to bowling earlier this year after undergoing surgery.England are already without Zak Crawley for the Sri Lanka series due to a fractured finger. Dan Lawrence is expected to open the batting in his absence, with Jordan Cox called up as batting cover. Ollie Pope, the vice-captain, would lead England for the first time in international cricket if Stokes is ruled out.The extent of Stokes' injury is still being assessed, but it is a significant blow to England's hopes of a strong start to the series. The all-rounder is a key figure in the team, both as a batsman and a bowler.

Ashleigh Gardner's life took a dramatic turn after a FaceTime call during the T20 World Cup. The auction for the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) was underway, and Gardner watched in disbelief as her bid soared to INR 3.2 crore. This life-changing sum, equivalent to A$558,000 for three weeks' work, marked a significant milestone in women's cricket.Gardner's journey began with a modest state contract worth A$3,000 as a teenager. The WPL contract represented a paradigm shift, reflecting the growing interest and investment in women's cricket. Gardner acknowledges the transformative power of the sport, stating, "People are buying into what the women's game is, showcasing women in sport."However, Gardner has grappled with the pressure associated with her high-priced contract. Despite solid performances in the WPL, she admits to falling short of her own expectations. "The ridiculous price tag brought an expectation that I had to live up to," she says. "It's a perceived pressure thing that I'm putting on myself."Gardner's current stint with the Trent Rockets in the Hundred provides a fresh perspective. Her contract, while significantly lower than her WPL salary, represents a 60% increase from previous years. The Hundred offers a valuable opportunity for Australian players to prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup.Gardner believes that Australian cricket could learn from the Hundred's success. She suggests exploring double-headers and leveraging the popularity of men's cricket to grow the women's game. The WBBL's recent schedule changes, including more matches at major stadiums, are seen as positive steps.Gardner's immediate focus is on helping the Rockets reach the knockout stages of the Hundred. She recognizes the expectations placed on international players and aims to contribute both on and off the field. With the T20 World Cup approaching, Gardner remains confident in her abilities and the team's potential.

Dillon Pennington's hopes of making his England debut against Sri Lanka have been dealt a blow after the fast bowler was forced to withdraw from the Hundred due to a hamstring injury.Pennington, 25, has been one of the standout performers in the County Championship this season, taking 31 wickets at an average of 23.80 in eight appearances for Nottinghamshire. His impressive form earned him a call-up to England's Test squad for the recent series against West Indies, where he impressed captain Ben Stokes.Stokes had hinted that Pennington could be in line for a debut against Sri Lanka, saying: "There's no doubt that if an opportunity comes to him, then he'll be ready to go."However, Pennington's chances of making his international bow have now been dented after he suffered a hamstring injury in his first competitive appearance for a month. Playing for Northern Superchargers against Oval Invincibles in the Hundred, Pennington bowled just five balls before being forced to leave the field.Superchargers have confirmed that Pennington has withdrawn from the final two weeks of the competition, making him a major doubt for England's first Test against Sri Lanka on August 21 at Emirates Old Trafford.Stokes had praised Pennington's work ethic and progress during his time with the England squad. "He's done everything that you'd expect someone in a squad to do - even if they're not playing," Stokes said. "He's got a naturally high release point, and I think his move to Notts has been very, very good for him."England are expected to name their squad for the Sri Lanka Tests imminently, with Zak Crawley considered a major doubt after breaking his finger in the third Test against West Indies. If Crawley is unavailable, Dan Lawrence is expected to deputise as Duckett's opening partner.

Jos Buttler, England's white-ball captain, has been ruled out of the Hundred tournament due to a calf injury. The injury occurred during preparations for the competition, and an initial scan proved inconclusive. However, a subsequent assessment confirmed the severity of the injury, forcing Buttler to withdraw from the tournament.Buttler's absence is a significant blow to Manchester Originals, who have lost their first three matches in his absence. Phil Salt, Buttler's opening partner, has captained the team in his stead but has struggled for runs, scoring only 23 in three innings. The Originals' batting lineup has looked vulnerable without Buttler's presence.Buttler's injury history includes several calf injuries, including a strain two years ago that ruled him out of England's T20I series in Pakistan. The injury also threatened his participation in the 2022 T20 World Cup.Despite the setback, Buttler is expected to be fit in time for England's first T20I against Australia on September 11. Managing director Rob Key has confirmed that Buttler will continue as England's white-ball captain, with Marcus Trescothick serving as interim coach during the series.The Originals are yet to announce a replacement for Buttler, but they had initially lined up Keaton Jennings as a potential candidate. However, the move stalled due to confusion over Buttler's status, and Jennings has since signed for London Spirit.Buttler's injury is a reminder of the physical demands of modern cricket, particularly in the shorter formats. Calf injuries are common among fast bowlers and all-rounders, but they can also affect batsmen who rely on quick acceleration and agility.

London Spirit emerged victorious in a thrilling encounter against Birmingham Phoenix at Lord's, securing a 20-run victory. Meg Lanning, the Australian captain, played a pivotal role for Spirit, scoring her maiden half-century in the Hundred.The match witnessed a crowd of 16,641, marking the fifth-highest attendance in the history of the women's Hundred. The contest was fiercely competitive, with both teams showcasing their strengths.Phoenix, despite their previous struggles, threatened to pull off an upset. Ellyse Perry, the Australian all-rounder, played a valiant innings of 65, while Sophie Devine, the New Zealand captain, contributed 37 runs.However, Spirit's bowling attack proved too strong, with Sarah Glenn claiming three crucial wickets in the final overs. Glenn's performance sealed the victory for Heather Knight's side, who now boast a perfect 2-0 record in the tournament.Lanning, reflecting on the match, acknowledged the challenges faced by her team. "The wicket was conducive to taking the pace off the ball, making it difficult for us," she said. "But we adjusted our strategy and bowled straight at the stumps, which ultimately paid off."Earlier, Spirit had set a competitive total of 147 for 9. Lanning led the charge with a well-crafted 53, while Georgia Redmayne and Cordelia Griffith also made significant contributions.Phoenix's chase began promisingly, with Perry and Devine forming a formidable partnership. However, the required run rate proved too demanding, and Spirit's bowlers maintained their composure to secure the victory.

Andrew Flintoff, the former England all-rounder, is eagerly anticipating his debut as head coach of the Northern Superchargers in the Hundred. Flintoff's assistant coach, Kyle Hogg, who has known him for over two decades, believes that Flintoff will be "at his happiest" when the Superchargers face the Trent Rockets on Friday night.Hogg, who has worked closely with Flintoff in the past, described him as a natural leader who has always been supportive of his teammates. He believes that Flintoff's passion for cricket and his desire to succeed will make him a successful coach.Despite speculation linking Flintoff to the England head coach role, Hogg downplayed those rumors, stating that Flintoff is currently focused on his new role with the Superchargers. He emphasized that Flintoff is enjoying being back in a cricket environment and is eager to make a positive impact on the team.The Superchargers are facing a shortage of players, with several key players unavailable due to international commitments or injuries. However, Hogg believes that the team has enough depth to compete in the Hundred. He praised the commitment of Matthew Short, the Australian opener who has joined the team early from Major League Cricket.Short, who has played with Flintoff in the past, expressed his excitement about working with him. He described Flintoff as a modern-day coach who brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the team. Short believes that Flintoff's leadership will create a positive and enjoyable environment for the players.Hogg, who spent 14 seasons playing for Lancashire, admitted that it felt strange to be in the home dressing room at Headingley, the home ground of their rivals Yorkshire. However, he emphasized that the Superchargers are determined to make Headingley their fortress.Flintoff, who played for England and Lancashire, is known for his competitive spirit and his love for the game. Hogg believes that Flintoff will bring the same passion and intensity to his coaching role. He expects Flintoff to be fully invested in the team's success and to inspire the players to give their all.

Beth Mooney, Australia's star opening batter, believes that women's cricket must continue to push for equal pay in global competitions. As she prepares to return to the Hundred after a year's absence, Mooney acknowledges the progress made in the tournament but emphasizes the need for further advancements.Mooney, 30, was Manchester Originals' top pick in this year's draft, earning a top-tier £50,000 deal. While this represents a significant increase from previous years, it still falls short of the men's top-tier salary of £125,000.Despite the disparity in pay, Mooney praises the Hundred for its efforts in providing equal opportunities for men and women. She highlights the shared facilities and double-header match-days as positive steps towards gender equality in cricket.However, Mooney believes that there is still work to be done. She points to the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket's (ICEC) recommendation that English cricket should offer equal salaries for the Hundred by 2025. While the ECB has pushed back on this commitment, Mooney argues that it is essential to keep pushing the boundaries."We've got to keep asking the right questions of the ICC, and of each of the different boards of the countries, and make sure that we're still striving to get, first and foremost, more girls in the game, but making sure there's equal opportunities across the board for each country and the females as well," Mooney said.Mooney also discusses the growing competitiveness of women's cricket globally. She believes that the gap between teams is narrowing, as evidenced by England's recent success in the Women's Ashes. However, she does not anticipate the same level of secrecy and reluctance to face teammates in the nets as seen in the men's game."We play so much franchise cricket now, and a lot of us are really good mates. And there really aren't any secrets in the global cricket game anymore, because there's so much vision on everyone," Mooney said.As she returns to the Hundred, Mooney is aware of the high expectations surrounding her. She is determined to score runs and help Manchester Originals win games, but she also recognizes the fickle nature of cricket."I certainly don't look at it as anything more or less than that. Like any tournament I play in, whether it's for Australia or back home in the Big Bash, I've got a job to do, and that's that doesn't change, no matter what colour shirt I put on," Mooney said.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has initiated discussions with Indian Premier League (IPL) owners regarding the acquisition of a stake in the domestic Hundred competition. The Hundred, a controversial tournament featuring eight specially created teams with both men's and women's sides, is entering its fourth edition.The ECB seeks to secure private investment to strengthen the Hundred's position in the global calendar and enhance the financial stability of domestic cricket. The board aims to sell a 49% stake in each team to private investors, while host teams retain the remaining 51%. However, host teams may consider selling part or all of their shares.ECB chief executive Richard Gould emphasized that the board will retain control of the competition, despite the potential for private investment. He acknowledged the strength of the Indian market and welcomed the expansion of IPL teams into other national markets.The cash-rich IPL has transformed the global cricket landscape, providing players with lucrative opportunities outside of traditional Test matches. IPL owners, such as the Ambani family of the Mumbai Indians, may be interested in acquiring full control of a Hundred team.Vikram Banerjee, the ECB's director of business operations, confirmed that he has engaged in discussions with IPL owners. He also expressed interest in potential partnerships with American Football's NFL, citing their expertise in fan engagement and stadium experiences.The ECB's goal is to combine the strengths of IPL teams and NFL owners to enhance the Hundred's appeal and attract a new generation of fans. The board believes that such partnerships can contribute to the long-term success of the competition.

Chris Silverwood, the former England head coach, has secured a new role as an assistant coach for the Oval Invincibles in the Hundred. Silverwood joins Tom Moody's coaching staff, replacing Azhar Mahmood, who departed to take up a full-time role with Pakistan.Silverwood's appointment comes after a brief stint with Sri Lanka, where he served as the head coach for two years. He resigned from that position following Sri Lanka's group-stage exit from the recent T20 World Cup, citing a desire to spend more time at home.Silverwood's return to English cricket marks his first coaching role since his dismissal as England head coach in early 2022. He will join Matt Walker and Jim Troughton as part of Moody's coaching staff for the Invincibles.Meanwhile, James Foster, who was previously the head coach of the Northern Superchargers, has also returned to the Hundred. He will serve as an assistant coach for the London Spirit, replacing Paul Collingwood, who is unavailable due to Test duty with England.The Spirit have also added Ali Maiden and Marc Broom to their women's coaching staff, which is led by Ashley Noffke. Maiden is a potential successor to Noffke, who is expected to step down at the end of the season.The most high-profile coaching appointment in the Hundred this year is Andrew Flintoff, who has replaced Foster as the head coach of the Superchargers. Flintoff will make his debut as a head coach in the Hundred opener against Trent Rockets on Friday night.