Sunday 30 December 2012

Sri Lanka announce World Cup squad

Sri Lanka have named their 15 players who will make up their World Cup squad. They are:-

Shashikala Siriwardene (capt)
Sandamani Dolawatte
Dilani Manodara
Chamari Atapattu
Deepika Rasangika
Eshani Kaushalya
Chamani Seneviratna
Sriplai Weerakkody
Udeshika Prabodhani
Inoka Ranaweera
Prasadani Weerakkody
Lasanthi Madushani
Osdhadi Ranasinghe
Sharina Ravikumar
Yasoda Mendis

MD
30/XII/12

Thursday 27 December 2012

South Africa in WI match info

South Africa will take on the West Indies in five ODIs starting in Basseterre on Monday 7th Jan. It will be the last international series before the ODI World Cup which starts at the end of the same month.

The West Indies will be looking to carry their form from the T20 format of the game into the longer version, and will start as favourites to take the series comfortably. But South Africa will fancy their chances of sneeking at least one if not two of the five matches. The sides have not met in an ODI for over 2 years, when South Africa ran out comfortable 6 wicket winners, but West Indian cricket has been on a steady rise over the last couple of years, particularly in the shortest format of the game. This series will be a good indicator of whether they have what it takes to challenge for a top four slot in the forthcoming World Cup.

Fixtures

Mon 7th Jan WI Women v SA Women at Basseterre 9.30am
Wed 9th Jan WI Women v SA Women at Basseterre 9.30am
Sat 12th Jan WI Women v SA Women at Roseau 9.30am
Sun 13th Jan WI Women v SA Women at Roseau 9.30am
Tues 14th Jan WI Women v SA Women at Roseau 9.30am

The squads for the series are:-
South Africa
Mignon du Preez (cpt/wk)
Cri-zelda Brits
Sarannats Cordes
Shandre Fritz
Marcia Letsoalo
Yolandi Potgieter
Chloe Tryon
Susan Benade
Trisha Chetty
Dinesha Devnarain
Marizanne Kapp
Sunette Loubser
Elrisa Theunissen
Dane van Niekerk

West Indies (first 3 games)
Merissa Aguilleira (cpt/wk)
Shermaine Campbelle
Deandra Dottin
Anisa Mohammed
Juliana Nero
Shaquana Quintyne
Tremayne Smartt
Stefanie Taylor (vc)
Shanel Daley
Kycia Knight
Subrina Munroe
June Ogle-Thomas
Shakera Selman

MD
27/XII/12

Leah Poulton retires from ODIs

Australian opening bat Leah Poulton has announced her retirement from international ODIs. She will continue to play in the T20 format of the game.

Poulton first made the Aussie ODI team in 2006 after a good domestic season. She started her international career with a duck, but hit a century in her third ODI against New Zealand in the Rose Bowl series of 2006. In all she has played in 48 ODIs and has scored 1033 runs at an average of just over 25. She has scored 2 hundreds and four 50s.

Her last series was again against the White Ferns in the Rose Bowl series just before Christmas, but she had a poor series, scoring just 24 runs in 3 innings. She had been named in the provisional 30 player Australian squad for the forthcoming World Cup. The Aussies will now have to look for an alternative opener for that tournament and beyond.

MD
27/XII/12

Friday 21 December 2012

ODI Ratings - significant or not?

Australia's Meg Lanning has moved up to sixth place in the Reliance ICC World ODI batting rankings after her recent performances against New Zealand in the Rose Bowl series. Lanning was the top run scorer in the four match series with 300 runs, at an average of 75, including a blistering 100 in the third game, which included the fastest 50 (23 balls) and the fastest 100 (45 balls) in women's ODI cricket.

Top run scorers for NZ in the series - Suzie Bates and Amy Satterthwaite - have also moved up the rankings to 7th and 5th respectively.

The Top 10 currently looks like this

1. Mithali Raj (Ind) 767
2. Stephanie Taylor (WI) 737
3. Sarah Taylor (Eng) 660
4. Lydia Greenway (Eng) 640
5. Amy Satterthwaite (NZ) 637
6. Meg Lanning (Aus) 635
7. Suzie Bates (NZ) 611
8. Alex Blackwell (NZ) 581
8. Charlotte Edwards (Eng) 581
10. Jess Cameron (Aus) 575

But does the table really reflect current form and ability? The rankings are relatively new to women's cricket, because previously it was felt that the women did not play enough ODI cricket against each other to make them relevant.

With the focus on the T20 World Cup this year there have been few significant ODI series in last 10 months - only really India in England (3-2 to England), before the recent Rose Bowl series. England have not played a 50 over game since 11th July 2012, and will not do so before the ODI World Cup in February next year. India have not played an ODI since 16th March 2012. Only South Africa and the West Indies, who meet in the West Indies in January, will play before the World Cup starts.

Perhaps the best that can be said of the current rankings is that these are probably the Top Ten batters in the women's ODI game at the present time, but that the order is questionable. It will be interesting to see how the table changes after the World Cup has concluded. My view is that it will look very different!

MD
21/XII/12

Wednesday 19 December 2012

Aussies wrap up 3-1 series win

Australia duly wrapped up the Rose Bowl series with another win, but by only 7 runs as the White Ferns came close to chasing down the Southern Stars score of 267.

The Aussie score was built around solid performances from Rachael Haynes (32), Jess Cameron (66), Meg Lanning (38), and acting captain Alex Blackwell (23), plus a smart 33 not out from Ellyse Perry coming in at 9 and adding 62 with her fellow tail-enders. Lea Tahuhu and, suprisingly Amy Satterthwaite, helped themselves to three wickets apiece.

In reply the White Ferns made a solid start through Lucy Doolan (30) and the ever-reliable Suzie Bates (54), and this was continued by Satterthwaite (38), Katie Perkins (40) and Nicola Browne (60) and at 220 for 3 with just over 7 overs left they were in a decent position to push for victory, but the pressure told and wickets tumbled. 28 were needed off 3 overs when Tahuhu hit Sharon Millanta for a 6 and 4, to leave 17 required from the last two overs. But recent debutant 19 year old Megan Schutt held her nerve to bowl a superb penultimate over, conceding just 3 runs and dismissing Tahuhu. 14 from the last over proved too much and the White Ferns finished agonisingly short.

But overall New Zealand will have taken many positives from the series. They were there or thereabouts in 3 of the 4 games, only once failing to make a competitive total with the bat. It bodes well for their World Cup campaign in February next year. As for the Aussies they may well feel that they should have dominated the series more than they did. They have some dangerous batters in their side who can take games away from the opposition in a matter of a few overs. However their bowling may still be their weaker suit. They have some work to do before the World Cup, but they will go there in good spirits, no doubt hoping to steal England's champions' crown. It is all building up to a great cricket tournament. Not to be missed.

Scorecard - http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/584549.html

Match report (Aus) - http://www.cricket.com.au/news-list/2012/12/19/more-joy-for-southern-stars

Match report (NZ) - http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/match-report/southern-stars-wrap-up-rose-bowl-3-1/1500/report.aspx

MD
19/XII/12

Monday 17 December 2012

Aussies crush NZ to take Rose Bowl

Australia strolled to a 9 wicket victory in the third of the four Rose Bowl ODI games against New Zealand, thanks to a magnificient 100 from Meg Lanning off just 45 balls. The Aussies were set just 178 to win after Jodie Fields had won the toss and inserted the White Ferns. With Lanning (103) in imperious form they reached their target in just 21.2 overs, with Alyssa Healy finishing unbeaten on 62.

Earlier the White Ferns had contributed to their own downfall with three run outs, including one of Amy Satterthwaite, who had been in a rich vein of form in the opening two games. Only Suzie Bates (39)  and Nicola Browne (42) of the top order batters made any significant contribution, plus a spirited 25 from Erin Bermingham. But 177 was woefully short and Lanning ensured the Rose Bowl would remain in Australia for another year.

The final match of the series takes place on Wednesday in Sydney.

Scorecard - http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/584548.html

Match report (Aus) - http://www.cricket.com.au/news-list/2012/12/17/lanning-hundred-sparks-stars

Match report (NZ) - http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/match-report/australia-retain-rose-bowl/1499/report.aspx

MD
17/XII/12

Friday 14 December 2012

Aussies level series with NZ

Australia fought back against the White Ferns to level the series at one apiece with two games to go thanks to a four wicket win at North Sydney Oval.

Australia won the toss and chose to field first and got the early wicket of Frances Mackay, but then Suzie Bates and Amy Sattherthwaite carried on from where they left off in the first match of the series. They added  115 for the second wicket in 25 overs before Bates (59) was run out by Sarah Coyte. But that just brought Sara McGlashan to the crease and she and Satterthwaite added another 102 runs before McGlashan (51) was bowled by Jess Jonassen. The score by this time had moved onto 240 and Satterthwaite, who fell for 98 in the first match, had made her maiden ODI century. Satterthwaite (109) finally fell as the White Ferns tried to up the momentum at the end of their innings, with Katie Perkins smashing 31 from just 15 balls, including a six and four 4s, to take the total to 288 for 6.

New Zealand must have been quietly confident that they could defend this total if they could take early wickets, but the Aussies had other ideas. Meg Lanning (72) and Rachael Haynes (70) took the score to 131 in just a little over 18 overs before Lanning fell to a run out. Her 72 had come from just 53 balls, including two maximums. Morna Nielsen sparked a mini collapse when she got the wickets of Haynes, Lisa Sthalekar and Alyssa Healy to leave the Aussies on 199 for 5, but none of the other White Ferns could match her efforts and Jodie Fields (31) and Sarah Coyte (51*) took the Southern Stars to within 30 of their required total before Fields was run out. But Coyte and Erin Osborne saw their team home with plenty of balls to spare.

The teams meet again at the same venue on Monday.

Scorecard - http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/584547.html

Match report (Aus) - http://www.cricket.com.au/news-list/2012/12/14/stars-silver-ferns

Match report (NZ) - http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/match-report/womens/9/australia-level-rose-bowl-series/1498/report.aspx

MD
14/XII/12

Wednesday 12 December 2012

England name World Cup 15

England have named the 15 players who will represent their country at the forthcoming World Cup in India.

There are no real surprises as Georgia Elwiss is the only addition to the 14 who went to the T20 World Cup. Elwiss, who was player of the ODI series in the summer when England defeated India 3-2, will strengthen a squad that will be looking to retain the World Cup, last won in Australia in 2009.

The squad is :-

Charlotte Edwards (Kent) capt
Tammy Beaumont (Kent)
Arran Brindle (Sussex)
Katherine Brunt (Yorks)
Holly Colvin (Sussex)
Georgia Elwiss (Sussex)
Lydia Greenway (Kent)
Jenny Gunn (Notts)
Danielle Hazell (Yorks)
Amy Jones (Warks)
Heather Knight (Berks)
Laura Marsh (Kent)
Anya Shrubsole (Somerset)
Sarah Taylor (Sussex)
Danielle Wyatt (Notts)

MD
12/XII/12

New Zealand stun Australia

New Zealand have spiced up the Rose Bowl series of ODIs against Australia with a convincing 8 wicket victory over the Aussies, with 31 balls to spare, in the first of the four game series.

Australia won the toss and chose to bat at the SCG and must have been targeting in excess of 300 after Meg Lanning and Leah Poulton got them off to a swift start on a good batting track and with a slick outfield. Poulton fell in the seventh offer with the score on 42, but Lanning then lost a succession of partners meaning that the Southern Stars had to keep rebuilding. Lanning was the 6th Aussie wicket to fall when the score was 156 and nearly 30 overs had gone. It was only thanks to good knocks by skipper Jodie Fields (51) and Erin Osborne (34), who added 80 for the 8th wicket in 14 overs, that Australia reached 248. Rachel Candy picked up 4 for 35, including the key early wickets of Jess Cameron and Lisa Sthalekar, and Sian Ruck and Morna Nielsen picked up two wickets apiece.

In reply, after the early loss of opener Lucy Doolan, New Zealand rarely looked in trouble. Skipper Suzie Bates (122*) and Amy Satterthwaite (98) put on 172 for the second wicket, with Satterthwaite finally falling lbw to a full-toss from part-time bowler Meg Lanning. But it was too little too late and Bates guided her team  home with plenty of balls to spare for a victory which will give the White Ferns a great confidence boost for the rest of the series. The Aussies will be keen to square the series when the sides next meet at the North Sydney Oval on Friday.

Scorecard - http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/584546.html

Match Report - NZ - http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/news/womens/9/white-ferns-crush-australia-in-first-odi/10270/article.aspx

Match report - Aus - http://www.cricket.com.au/news-list/2012/12/12/southern-stars-eye-rose-bowl-revenge

MD
12/XII/12

Tuesday 11 December 2012

Aus v NZ in Rose Bowl Challenge

The first of the four match ODI series between Australia and New Zealand start today at the magnificent SCG.

The Aussies will start as firm favourites having won 20 of the of the previous 25 series. The White Ferns have won just 3 of the series. The Aussies are also in tremendous form, coming off the back of their successful T20 World Cup campaign, although they have not played a 50 over match since March. But don't write-off the White Ferns with Sarah McGlashan and Sophie Devine in a great form in domestic cricket.

The Aussies will be looking to the likes of Jess Cameron and Meg Lanning to set some imposing scores for the White Ferns to chase.

Let's hope for a great series of tight matches and some great cricket. We will have match report links and scorecards here as soon as we get them.

Tuesday 4 December 2012

Women's Cricket website

I am sure there is a better way of linking to Don Miles' excellent website, but I cannot for the life of me find it.

You will find info, stats and pictures at www.womenscricket.net. Always worth a look.

Cheers

MD
04/XII/12

NZ name 30 for World Cup

The White Ferns have named their 30 woman squad for the Women’s World Cup in January/February next year.

The squad will be narrowed down to 14 players closer to the tournament.

The squad is:-
Amy Satterthwaite
Anna Peterson
Brooke Kirkbride
Erin Bermingham
Felicity Leydon-Davis
Frances Mackay
Georgia Guy
Hayley Jensen
Holly Huddleston
Janet Brehaut
Kate Broadmore
Katey Martin
Katie Perkins
Lauren Down
Lea Tahuhu
Lucy Doolan
Madeline Green
Meg Kendal
Morna Nielsen
Natalie Dodd
Nicola Browne
Rachel Candy
Rachel Priest
Samantha Curtis
Sara McGlashan
Sian Ruck
Sophie Devine
Suzie Bates
Victoria Abbot
Victoria Lind

 MD
04/XII/12

Monday 3 December 2012

SA appoint new Women's Coach

Hilton Moreeng has been apponited as the new coach to the South African Women's cricket team following the resignation of former coach Yashin Ebrahim-Hassen. Moreeng, who is a former provincial and franchise player himself, has been rewarded for the good work that he has done at provincial level as the Griquas Junior Women's Cricket coach.

MD
3/XII/12

Women's World Cup Schedule

The ICC have today announced the schedule for the forthcoming World Cup, and BBC Radio have also announced that they will be covering all the England games for the very first time.

The top eight teams in the world will compete for the trophy currently held by England. Hosts India will kick-off with a game at the Wankhede Stadium against the West Indies on 31 Jan 2013. England will play Sri Lanka at the same venue 2 days later. New Zealand play South Africa in between these two games and Australia open their campaign on the opening day of the tournament against Pakistan.

Star Cricket are broadcasting 10 of the games live on television, but whether this will be picked up by broadcasters outside India is not clear at the moment.

The teams are divided into two groups of four and the top three will progress to the Super Sixes stage of the tournament. The groups are:-

Group A - England, India, West Indies and Sri LankaGroup B - Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa

Group Matches (by team)

England v Sri Lanka - 02/02/13 Wankhede
England v India - 04/02/13 - Wankhede
England v West Indies - 06/02/13 (D/N) Cricket Club of India

Australia v Pakistan - 31/01/13 (D/N) Bandra Kurla Complex
Australia v South Africa - 03/02/13 - Cricket Club of India
Australia v New Zealand - 05/02/13 (D/N) D Y Patil

New Zealand v South Africa - 01/02/13 (D/N) Wankhede
New Zealand v Pakistan - 03/02/13 Bandra Kurla Complex
New Zealand v Australia - 05/02/13 (D/N) D Y Patil

West Indies v India - 31/01/13 (D/N) Wankhede
West Indies v Sri Lanka - 04/02/13 Middle Income Group Club
West Indies v England - 06/02/13 (D/N) Cricket Club of India

India v West Indies - 31/01/13 (D/N) Wankhede
India v England - 04/02/13 Wankhede
India v Sri Lanka - 06/02/13 Wankhede

Sri Lanka v England - 02/02/13 Wankhede
Sri Lanka v West Indies - 04/02/13 Middle Income Group Club
Sri Lanka v India - 06/02/13 Wankhede

Pakistan v Australia - 31/01/13 (D/N) Bandra Kurla Complex
Pakistan v New Zealand - 03/02/13 Bandra Kurla Complex
Pakistan v South Africa - 05/02/13 Bandra Kurla Centre

South Africa v New Zealand - 01/02/13 (D/N) Wankhede
South Africa v Australia - 03/02/13 Cricket Club of India
South Africa v Pakistan - 05/02/13 Bandra Kurla Centre

MD03/12/12