Cricket

South Africa's women's cricket team has appointed Laura Wolvaardt as captain for their upcoming tour of India, which begins on June 16. Wolvaardt will lead the team in both Test and ODI formats.The tour will commence with three ODIs in Bengaluru, followed by a one-off Test and T20Is in Chennai. The squad for the T20Is will be announced later.South Africa will be without the services of experienced players Lara Goodall (hamstring injury), Chloe Tryon (back), and Ayanda Hlubi (groin), who are currently recovering from injuries. However, they may be included in the T20I side.Interim coach Dillon du Preez emphasized the importance of negating Indian spinners during the tour. "We had big focus on options against spin and it was good to see the buy-in from the team," he said.Du Preez also urged the team to remain calm under pressure. "The key for us would be to assess the conditions as soon as possible, be calm under pressure and try and play key moments in the game better than the opposition," he added.South Africa's Test/ODI squad for the India tour:* Laura Wolvaardt (c)* Anneke Bosch* Tazmin Brits* Nadine de Klerk* Annerie Dercksen* Mieke de Ridder* Sinalo Jafta* Marizanne Kapp* Ayabonga Khaka* Masabata Klaas* Sune Luus* Eliz-Mari Marx* Nonkululeko Mlaba* Tumi Sekhukhune* Nondumiso Shangase* Delmi Tucker

India's women's cricket team has announced its squads for the upcoming home series against South Africa, which will feature a three-match ODI series, a one-off Test, and three T20Is. The series will mark India's third Test in seven months, as they continue to promote the longer format of the game.The squads include several notable inclusions and exclusions. Batter Jemimah Rodrigues and allrounder Pooja Vastrakar have been named in all three squads, but their selection is subject to fitness. Rodrigues has been recovering from a back injury, while Vastrakar's injury status is unspecified.Uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Uma Chetry has earned a call-up to all three squads, replacing Yastika Bhatia, who is out injured. Chetry was part of India's gold-medal winning team at the 2023 Asian Games.Top-order batter Priya Punia, who last played for India in July 2023, has been recalled to the Test side. Medium-pacer Arundhati Reddy has also been called up to the Test and ODI squads.Fast bowler Titas Sadhu, who played in the T20Is against Bangladesh and India's last ODI and Test assignments, has missed out on selection. Legspinner S Asha, who made her T20I debut in Bangladesh, has earned her maiden ODI call-up. D Hemalatha, who made her comeback in the Bangladesh series, could return to ODI action after almost two years.The series will begin with the ODI series in Bengaluru, followed by the Test in Chennai. The T20Is will also be played in Chennai. The one-off Test was not originally part of the ICC's FTP but was added as both the BCCI and CSA aim to promote women's Tests.

Lancashire Thunder's impressive season continued as they overcame the previously undefeated Central Sparks by three wickets in their Charlotte Edwards Cup match at Emirates Old Trafford.Thunder's bowlers set the tone for the victory, restricting Sparks to a modest 121 for 8 in their 20 overs. Phoebe Graham and Fi Morris were the standout performers, claiming three wickets each.In reply, Thunder chased down the target with one over to spare, despite a shaky start. Morris led the way with a crucial 43, while Sparks' bowlers made them fight for every run.Sparks' innings began disastrously as Tara Norris dismissed Chloe Brewer and Davina Perrin with the second and third balls of the match. Abbey Freeborn provided some resistance with a 12-ball 15, but Morris took the next two wickets to leave Sparks reeling at 54 for 5.A rain delay halted play for 25 minutes, but on resumption, Katie George and Charis Paveley revived Sparks' hopes with a 19-run partnership. However, Morris struck again, dismissing George for 17.Emily Arlott and Paveley then combined for a 47-run stand, providing a late boost to Sparks' total. Arlott finished with 28, while Paveley remained unbeaten on 27.Thunder's chase was far from smooth. Emma Lamb was dismissed early, and Georgia Davis claimed two quick wickets to leave Thunder at 42 for 3.Morris and Ailsa Lister steadied the ship with a 38-run partnership, but Morris's dismissal for 43 put Thunder under pressure again.Lister's departure left 24 needed off five overs, but Norris's straight six off Hannah Baker eased the tension. Arlott bowled Norris in the penultimate over, but Graham sealed the win with an edged four off her first ball.

Nat Sciver-Brunt's all-around brilliance propelled England to a resounding 178-run victory over Pakistan in the third and final ODI at Chelmsford. Sciver-Brunt's unbeaten 124 from 117 balls anchored England's innings of 302 for 5, while her two wickets in her designated five-over spell, including Pakistan's top-scorer Muneeba Ali, showcased her return to bowling after a knee niggle.Despite leaving the field with a slight hamstring niggle, Sciver-Brunt expressed satisfaction with her performance. "I had a great time, and it's a great way to finish the series," she said. "The body is pretty sore! It's probably not my quickest five overs ever, but I was happy to bowl in a consistent area."England's bowling attack was spearheaded by Lauren Bell's two wickets in the powerplay, while Sophie Ecclestone's 3 for 15 included her 100th ODI wicket in a record-breaking 64 matches. However, Sciver-Brunt's batting heroics overshadowed the team's overall performance.Sciver-Brunt's ninth ODI century, her fourth in her last nine innings, was a testament to her exceptional skill and mental fortitude. She negotiated the loss of openers and played second-fiddle to Danni Wyatt before taking the initiative in the final overs, smashing consecutive sixes off Diana Baig."I'm pretty happy with the level of skill, but the mental game of it as well," Sciver-Brunt said. "I managed to get through those tougher patches today and communicate well with my batting partner."Despite her self-proclaimed scratchiness, Sciver-Brunt's only clear-cut chance came on 86, when she was dropped by the wicketkeeper. Her ability to battle through adversity resonated with Heather Knight's pre-series assessment that England needed to improve their management of challenging moments in 50-over innings.Sciver-Brunt acknowledged the need for players to adapt between formats, with the 20-over World Cup looming and the 50-over version approaching in 2025. "At the end of the day, the skill is pretty much the same," she said. "It's just elongated, or you might use different things in your armoury at different times."

Sunrisers emerged victorious in their Charlotte Edwards Cup clash against defending champions Southern Vipers, securing a thrilling three-run triumph at Arundel. The victory marked Sunrisers' first in the competition since 2021.Chasing a modest target of 135, Vipers appeared to be cruising towards victory after Australian opener Charli Knott's impressive 41-ball fifty. However, Sunrisers' disciplined bowling and aggressive fielding proved to be the difference-makers.Sophie Munro led the Sunrisers' bowling attack with a superb spell of 4 for 27, while Knott's all-round performance included three wickets. The Vipers' chase faltered as they struggled to maintain the required run rate, despite Knott's early heroics.With 32 runs needed from the final three overs, the match remained in the balance. However, the dismissals of key players Georgia Adams and Freya Davies, followed by Elwiss's departure, put pressure on the Vipers.Emily Windsor's stumping off the last ball of the 18th over left Vipers needing 22 off two. Alice Monaghan's dismissal at the end of the 19th over made the task even more daunting, with 12 runs required from the final over.Earlier, Sunrisers had posted a solid 134 for 5, thanks to a 41-run opening partnership between Grace Scrivens and Joanne Gardner. Gardner's 39-ball 42 included a towering six, but her dismissal triggered a collapse as Vipers took three wickets in quick succession.Knott's impressive fielding and bowling played a crucial role in Vipers' resurgence, but Sunrisers' resilience and determination ultimately proved too much for the defending champions.

Issy Wong, the 22-year-old England fast bowler, has joined Western Storm on loan for the Charlotte Edwards Cup after being omitted from the Central Sparks team for their first two T20 matches.Wong, who made her England debut in 2022, has struggled for consistency this season, taking only three wickets in five Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy fixtures. She was also a surprise omission from the Sparks' T20 side, despite their winning start to the campaign.The ECB, Wong's primary employer, has approved her loan move to ensure she gains competitive playing time. Storm, who have lost their opening two matches, will welcome Wong's experience and skill.Wong played all three formats for England in 2022 and was one of the stars of the inaugural season of the Women's Premier League (WPL), taking 15 wickets for Mumbai Indians. However, she has since lost her place in England's squads.Wong is expected to play a significant role for Storm, who are without Lauren Filer due to England duty. She will also aim to contribute more with the bat, having batted at No. 8 in 50-over cricket this season.The loan move is a positive step for Wong, who will be eager to regain her form and prove her worth to England. Storm, meanwhile, will hope that Wong can help them turn their fortunes around in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.

Victoria's women's cricket team has been dealt a significant blow with the resignation of head coach Dulip Samaraweera just two weeks after his appointment. The Sri Lankan legend's departure stems from a disagreement with Cricket Victoria (CV) over a staff appointment he sought to make.Samaraweera, who represented Sri Lanka in seven Tests and five ODIs, was appointed on a two-year deal in May after serving as interim head coach since November 2022. However, his tenure was cut short due to CV's refusal to approve a specific coaching appointment he desired."During the recruitment process, Dulip had expressed a desire to make a specific coaching appointment in his support team," explained CV CEO Nick Cummins. "That appointment was unable to be facilitated due to internal policies we have in place. Following further conversations, Dulip decided he would prefer not to remain in the role."Samaraweera's resignation leaves Victoria without a permanent head coach once again. Andrew Christie, Melbourne Renegades' WBBL assistant coach, will take over the reins on an interim basis. Christie, who joined CV in 2021, has experience leading the female emerging player program.The departure of Samaraweera is a setback for Victoria, who are looking to build on their recent success in the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL). The team won the WNCL title in 2021-22 and finished runners-up in 2022-23.Samaraweera's resignation highlights the importance of alignment between coaches and administrators in professional sports. When there is a disconnect between the two parties, it can lead to instability and disruption within the team.

Yorkshire's inclusion in the Tier 1 women's cricket competition in 2026 is a significant development for the county and the sport as a whole. The decision, which was initially met with criticism, has been welcomed by players, fans, and administrators alike.Yorkshire's omission from the inaugural year of the competition in 2025 was met with widespread disappointment. The county has a rich history in women's cricket, with 313 women's and girl's teams within its borders. The presence of the Northern Diamonds, a successful regional team based at Headingley, further strengthened Yorkshire's case for inclusion.The ECB's decision to reconsider Yorkshire's application was influenced by several factors. The impact on the Northern Diamonds' playing squad was a major concern, with players expressing their unease at the prospect of relocation. Additionally, the ECB recognized the strength of Yorkshire's bid and its commitment to developing women's cricket in the county.Yorkshire's elevation to Tier 1 will come with increased funding of £1.5 million per year from 2026. However, the club must meet certain conditions relating to governance, strategy, and finance. This is in light of Yorkshire's ongoing financial challenges, with debts currently in the region of £20 million.The new women's cricket structure will consist of three tiers, with no promotion or relegation for the first four seasons. This will provide stability for teams and allow them to focus on developing their talent pathways and building competitive squads.The inclusion of Yorkshire in Tier 1 is a positive step for women's cricket in England. It will provide a platform for talented players to showcase their skills and inspire future generations. The increased funding and support will also help to raise the profile of the women's game and attract new fans.