The build-up to the 2016 Women's World T20 Cup in India has already started for the eight teams who are attempting to claim the last two spots in the WT20 competition in India next March.
Bangladesh, who qualified as hosts for the 2013 World T20 Cup, and Ireland, who won their place at the 2013 tournament by finishing third in the qualifying tournament held in Ireland (behind Sri Lanka and Pakistan, who also qualified) are the two favourites to emerge from the eight teams in the 2015 Qualifying Tournament, being played in Thailand at the end of November. Just the two teams that make the final of the Qualifying Tournament will join Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies, when the main tournament kicks off on 11th March 2016.
The format for the Qualifying Tournament is two groups of four playing each other once. The top two from each group then go into the semi-finals and the winners of those games not only qualify for the final, but have a place assured at the main competition.
The groups are:-
Group A - Bangladesh, Thailand, Scotland and Papua New GuineaGroup B - Ireland, Netherlands, China and Zimbabwe.
WCB will be following the whole Qualifying Tournament and we will have our own exclusive insider - captain of Ireland Isobel Joyce. She will be blogging for WCB in both the build-up to the tournament and as the tournament progresses, starting at the end of this month as Ireland head to Spain for a pre-tournament camp. So follow WCB on twitter (@womenscricblog) and here on the Blog for all the news on the ICC Women's World T20 Qualifier.
The 20 games will be played at the Thailand Cricket Ground (TCG) and the Asian Institute of Technology Ground in Bangkok, Thailand. These are the fixtures:-
Sat 28th November
Thailand v Bangladesh, TCG (1000-1245);
Ireland v Netherlands, AIT (1000-1245);
PNG v Scotland, TCG (1345-1630);
China v Zimbabwe, AIT (1345-1630)
Sun 29th November
China v Ireland, TCG (1000-1245);
Scotland v Bangladesh, AIT (1000-1245);
Zimbabwe v Netherlands, TCG (1345-1630);
Thailand v PNG, AIT (1345-1630)
Tues 1st December
Thailand v Scotland, TCG (1000-1245);
Bangladesh v PNG, AIT (1000-1245);
Zimbabwe v Ireland, TCG (1345-1630);
Netherlands, China, AIT (1345-1630)
Thurs 3rd December
Trophy semi-final 1 (A1 v B2) TCG (1000-1245);
Shield semi-final 1 (A3 v B4), AIT (1000-1245);
Trophy semi-final 2 (B1 v A2), TCG (1345-1630);
Shield semi-final 2 (B3 v A4), AIT (1345-1630)
Sat 5th December
Trophy third/fourth place play-off, TCG (1000-1245);
Shield third/fourth place play-off, AIT (1000-1245);
Trophy final, TCG (1345-1630);
Shield final, AIT (1345-1630)
MD
21/X/15
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Showing posts with label Netherlands. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Netherlands. Show all posts
Wednesday, 21 October 2015
Thursday, 30 July 2015
Round 3 of County T20 this Sunday
We may be in the middle of an Ashes Series, but the county fixtures continue this weekend with the third round of the Nat West County T20 competition. It seems that none of the England contracted players will be in action for their counties, and several Academy players will also be missing as they line-up for the EWA in a two day warm-up game against Australia at Loughborough this weekend.
This weekend's groupings are:-
Division One
Yorkshire, Somerset and Kent at Harrogate CC
Notts, Ireland and Sussex at Welbeck CC
Middlesex, Surrey and Berkshire at Merchant Taylors' School
Division Two
Wales, Staffs and Derbyshire at Pontarddulais CC
Lancs, Netherlands and Cheshire at Glossop CC
Warwickshire, Essex and Durham at Knowle & Dorridge CC
Preview
Division One is led by unbeaten Kent at the moment with Yorkshire and Sussex hard on their heels. Kent will be without six frontline players, which should give Yorkshire and Somerset an opportunity. But Yorkshire are themselves without Brunt, Hazell and Winfield and Somerset will be missing Shrubsole, and South African Lizelle Lee, who has had to return to South Africa due to a serious shoulder injury. Yorkshire will be very keen to pick up two more wins, inflicting a defeat on Kent on the way, which would take them to the top of the league.
In Nottinghamshire Sussex will hope to come away with two victories in their games against Notts and Ireland. Again the two English counties will be missing some key players, but Sussex's strength in depth could see them through if they can put some runs on the board.
The tightest games are likely to be at Merchant Taylors' School, where Middlesex, Surrey and Berkshire clash. Middlesex have struggled of late, whereas Berkshire are on a bit of a roll. Surrey might trouble them both, so your guess is as good as mine on these three fixtures.
In Division Two Lancashire, who are struggling in Div 1 of the County Championship are currently unbeaten in Div 2 T20 games. This Sunday they take on second placed Netherlands and mid-table Cheshire in what looks like the match-up of the weekend. It would not surprise me for honours to be even at the end of the day.
Staffs, who are unbeaten in Div 2 of the County Championship have yet to hit their straps in the T20 competition, with losses to Netherlands and Warwickshire in their first four games. They will be keen to add two more wins this Sunday when they meet Derbyshire and Wales, who are currently the bottom two in Div 2 of the T20.
Mid-tabled Warwickshire, Essex and Durham meet each other at the quaintly named Knowle & Dorridge CC in the West Midlands. Two wins for either Warwickshire or Durham could put them in with a shout of promotion to Div 1 next season, with just two more games to come after this weekend. Remember the top two teams in Div 2 will be promoted to Div 1 next year. There are no play-offs, so there is plenty to play for.
MD
30/VII/15
This weekend's groupings are:-
Division One
Yorkshire, Somerset and Kent at Harrogate CC
Notts, Ireland and Sussex at Welbeck CC
Middlesex, Surrey and Berkshire at Merchant Taylors' School
Division Two
Wales, Staffs and Derbyshire at Pontarddulais CC
Lancs, Netherlands and Cheshire at Glossop CC
Warwickshire, Essex and Durham at Knowle & Dorridge CC
Preview
Division One is led by unbeaten Kent at the moment with Yorkshire and Sussex hard on their heels. Kent will be without six frontline players, which should give Yorkshire and Somerset an opportunity. But Yorkshire are themselves without Brunt, Hazell and Winfield and Somerset will be missing Shrubsole, and South African Lizelle Lee, who has had to return to South Africa due to a serious shoulder injury. Yorkshire will be very keen to pick up two more wins, inflicting a defeat on Kent on the way, which would take them to the top of the league.
In Nottinghamshire Sussex will hope to come away with two victories in their games against Notts and Ireland. Again the two English counties will be missing some key players, but Sussex's strength in depth could see them through if they can put some runs on the board.
The tightest games are likely to be at Merchant Taylors' School, where Middlesex, Surrey and Berkshire clash. Middlesex have struggled of late, whereas Berkshire are on a bit of a roll. Surrey might trouble them both, so your guess is as good as mine on these three fixtures.
In Division Two Lancashire, who are struggling in Div 1 of the County Championship are currently unbeaten in Div 2 T20 games. This Sunday they take on second placed Netherlands and mid-table Cheshire in what looks like the match-up of the weekend. It would not surprise me for honours to be even at the end of the day.
Staffs, who are unbeaten in Div 2 of the County Championship have yet to hit their straps in the T20 competition, with losses to Netherlands and Warwickshire in their first four games. They will be keen to add two more wins this Sunday when they meet Derbyshire and Wales, who are currently the bottom two in Div 2 of the T20.
Mid-tabled Warwickshire, Essex and Durham meet each other at the quaintly named Knowle & Dorridge CC in the West Midlands. Two wins for either Warwickshire or Durham could put them in with a shout of promotion to Div 1 next season, with just two more games to come after this weekend. Remember the top two teams in Div 2 will be promoted to Div 1 next year. There are no play-offs, so there is plenty to play for.
MD
30/VII/15
Tuesday, 9 September 2014
England done for summer - County Champs to be finished now
So the international season has come to an end for England with a 3-0 defeat of South Africa in the T20I series, following the Test defeat to India and the 2-0 ICC Women's ODI Championship victory over the same opposition. Sarah Taylor, Charlotte Edwards and Heather Knight are now heading off to Australia to play for three separate state teams until Christmas. For the rest of the squad it is winter training before the tour to New Zealand in February for three more ICC WC ODIs, three T20Is, and then another two ODIs to finish off the tour.
Next summer is an Ashes Series Summer, so the New Zealand tour is a going to be key preparation for the biggest test England will face before the T20 World Cup in India in 2016, which they have to be looking to win. New Zealand themselves are currently in the West Indies about to start their ICC WC campaign (starts Friday). It will be interesting to see the England Winter Training squad. Will there be any new faces added to the 18 contracted players? Their current contracts take them through to October 2016. It will also be interesting to see the squad (or squads) ultimately selected to tour New Zealand.
On the domestic front the County Championship season will also conclude this weekend with the final play-off matches. These are:-
Div 1/Div 2 Play-Off
Warwickshire v Somerset at Moseley CC - Sunday 14th September (NB this game is now at Moseley CC)
Div 2/Div 3 Play-Off
Worcestershire v Netherlands at Birlingham CC - Saturday 13th September
Div 4 Promotion Play-Off
Suffolk v Cornwall - Sunday 14th September
MD
09/IX/14
Next summer is an Ashes Series Summer, so the New Zealand tour is a going to be key preparation for the biggest test England will face before the T20 World Cup in India in 2016, which they have to be looking to win. New Zealand themselves are currently in the West Indies about to start their ICC WC campaign (starts Friday). It will be interesting to see the England Winter Training squad. Will there be any new faces added to the 18 contracted players? Their current contracts take them through to October 2016. It will also be interesting to see the squad (or squads) ultimately selected to tour New Zealand.
On the domestic front the County Championship season will also conclude this weekend with the final play-off matches. These are:-
Div 1/Div 2 Play-Off
Warwickshire v Somerset at Moseley CC - Sunday 14th September (NB this game is now at Moseley CC)
Div 2/Div 3 Play-Off
Worcestershire v Netherlands at Birlingham CC - Saturday 13th September
Div 4 Promotion Play-Off
Suffolk v Cornwall - Sunday 14th September
MD
09/IX/14
Friday, 18 July 2014
New T20 Comp gets underway
The new-style Divisional T20 competition starts with the qualifying rounds next Tuesday and Wednesday (22nd and 23rd July) at various venues around the country. All the Div 1, 2 and 3 qualifying round fixtures are below, but first how is it going to work?
The nine teams in each of Divisions 1, 2 and 3 of the County Championship will fight it out amongst themselves in three groups of three (A, B and C), each playing each other twice over two days (three games will be played one after the other each day).
The winners of the three groups will then play-off against each other in a separate one-day competition (3rd August) where they each play each other just once to see who finishes 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The teams finishing second in their groups in the qualifying rounds will play-off for 4th, 5th and 6th, and the teams finishing third in their groups will play-off for 7th, 8th and 9th. Teams finishing 8th and 9th will be replaced by the teams finishing 1st and 2nd in the Division below for the 2015 competition.
The full rules are here.
Division 1
Div 1 Group A - Berkshire, Middlesex, Sussex at Wokingham CC
Last year's finalists Sussex have to be favourites, with Middlesex probably likely to pip Berkshire for second spot. Berkshire have a good recent T20 record, but have not had a great season.
Div 1 Group B - Essex, Kent, Surrey at Hayes CC
Last year's winners Kent are likely to come out on top, but Surrey may give them a run for their money. The Essex youngsters may struggle.
Div 1 Group C - Notts, Warwickshire, Yorkshire at Welbeck CC
The group of death as all will feel they should be battling it out with Kent and Sussex for the overall title. Yorkshire may have the better T20 batting and might just shave it.
Division 2
Div 2 Group A - Cheshire, Staffs, Worcestershire at Fordhouses CC
Staffs will be looking to progress to the Top Three from this group, with Cheshire and Worcestershire fighting to avoid the bottom three.
Div 2 Group B - Durham, Ireland, Lancashire at Northern CC
Tough group for Durham, who will struggle and Lancs may prove too good for Ireland, but one good game from Ireland could make it tighter than Lancs would like.
Div 2 Group C - Devon, Somerset, Wales at Bath CC
Another tough group from which you would expect Devon or Somerset to progress to the Top Three. It could be a long couple of days for Wales.
Division 3
Div 3 Group A - Gloucs, Hants, Oxfordshire at Frocester CC
These three lie 7th, 8th and 9th in the County Championship with only one win each. T20 is a different game but it could be a dog-eat-dog couple of days. Oxfordshire's bowling might just be the best of the three and pull them through.
Div 3 Group B - Herts, Netherlands, Northants at Tring Park CC
Netherlands should win this group, but they have a tiring few days with three County Champ games in the three days leading up to this competition. Hope they are fit.
Div 3 Group C - Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Scotland at Denby CC
Scotland should progress to the Top Three play-off, but Leicestershire and Derbyshire will be awkward opponents
MD
18/VII/14
The nine teams in each of Divisions 1, 2 and 3 of the County Championship will fight it out amongst themselves in three groups of three (A, B and C), each playing each other twice over two days (three games will be played one after the other each day).
The winners of the three groups will then play-off against each other in a separate one-day competition (3rd August) where they each play each other just once to see who finishes 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The teams finishing second in their groups in the qualifying rounds will play-off for 4th, 5th and 6th, and the teams finishing third in their groups will play-off for 7th, 8th and 9th. Teams finishing 8th and 9th will be replaced by the teams finishing 1st and 2nd in the Division below for the 2015 competition.
The full rules are here.
Division 1
Div 1 Group A - Berkshire, Middlesex, Sussex at Wokingham CC
Last year's finalists Sussex have to be favourites, with Middlesex probably likely to pip Berkshire for second spot. Berkshire have a good recent T20 record, but have not had a great season.
Div 1 Group B - Essex, Kent, Surrey at Hayes CC
Last year's winners Kent are likely to come out on top, but Surrey may give them a run for their money. The Essex youngsters may struggle.
Div 1 Group C - Notts, Warwickshire, Yorkshire at Welbeck CC
The group of death as all will feel they should be battling it out with Kent and Sussex for the overall title. Yorkshire may have the better T20 batting and might just shave it.
Division 2
Div 2 Group A - Cheshire, Staffs, Worcestershire at Fordhouses CC
Staffs will be looking to progress to the Top Three from this group, with Cheshire and Worcestershire fighting to avoid the bottom three.
Div 2 Group B - Durham, Ireland, Lancashire at Northern CC
Tough group for Durham, who will struggle and Lancs may prove too good for Ireland, but one good game from Ireland could make it tighter than Lancs would like.
Div 2 Group C - Devon, Somerset, Wales at Bath CC
Another tough group from which you would expect Devon or Somerset to progress to the Top Three. It could be a long couple of days for Wales.
Division 3
Div 3 Group A - Gloucs, Hants, Oxfordshire at Frocester CC
These three lie 7th, 8th and 9th in the County Championship with only one win each. T20 is a different game but it could be a dog-eat-dog couple of days. Oxfordshire's bowling might just be the best of the three and pull them through.
Div 3 Group B - Herts, Netherlands, Northants at Tring Park CC
Netherlands should win this group, but they have a tiring few days with three County Champ games in the three days leading up to this competition. Hope they are fit.
Div 3 Group C - Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Scotland at Denby CC
Scotland should progress to the Top Three play-off, but Leicestershire and Derbyshire will be awkward opponents
MD
18/VII/14
Thursday, 12 September 2013
And finally....County Season Finales
This Sunday, subject to the vagaries of the English mid-September weather, sees the culmination of the Women's County Championship 2013, season which started back in early May and effectively finished in mid July. The County Champions will be decided as will those being relegated and promoted from and to Divisions 1, 2 and 3.
The matches being played are :-
Divison 1 Championship Title Decider - Sussex v Yorkshire at Campbell Park, Milton Keynes - 10.30am start
Division 1 & 2 Play Off - Somerset v Essex at Slough CC - 11am start
Division 2 & 3 Play Off - Durham v Netherlands at Wellesbourne CC at 11am
Division 3 & 4 Play Off - Oxfordshire v Suffolk at Wokingham CC at 11am
Yorkshire finished in second place in the league and will be relishing their first opportunity at a County Championship for sometime. They lost two games during the "regular season" to Berkshire and Warwickshire, but beat both Sussex and then title holders Kent (by 6 wickets) in a key clash late in the season. The consistent Lauren Winfield (averaging 64.83) has lead their batting attack. She has not failed to reach double figures in any league game this year and has gone passed 50 in 4 of the 7 league games she has played. Significantly she did not play in the defeat to Warwickshire early in the season. Jess Watson has been Yorkshire's other mainstay with the bat, particularly later in the season, enjoying an unbroken opening stand of 177 with Winfield (76*) against Notts, in which she contributed 84. Both enjoy putting bat to ball and Sussex will need to keep them in check. In addition, of course, Yorkshire have Dani Hazell and Katherine Brunt, essentially bowlers, but both will be keen to show what they can do with the bat. Lower down the order experienced skipper Salliann Briggs and the young Hollie Armitage have chipped in with useful runs. Deprived of Brunt for most of the season, spinners Hazell (14), Katie Levick (11) and Aimee Simms (10) have been the main wicket-takers, but with Brunt potentially back and firing on all cylinders they will look to her to make the early breakthrough.
Sussex have had an inconsistent season, despite finishing top of the league. They lost to Yorkshire and Middlesex during the season and were soundly beaten by Kent in the T20 final last weekend. It is true to say that they have had their fair share of injuries this year, notably to their England stars Holly Colvin, Sarah Taylor and Georgia Elwiss. If Taylor and Elwiss play in the final then the Sussex batting becomes considerably stronger and more threatening. Sussex regular and chief wicket-taker Alexia Walker is definitely out of the final with a broken finger, so Sussex will once again be a very young team. Teenagers Izi Noakes and Freya Davies spearhead the fast bowling attack, and with Holly Colvin back from a broken thumb she will be one of possibly a trio of spin bowlers for Sussex.
At the beginning of the season Yorkshire would have been considered underdogs for this final, but given the way the season has panned out they might just be favourites. But this is a one-off game (surely not how a league title should be decided?). One big contribution for either side could swing it their way. This could be a nail-biting climax to the season?
MD
12/IX/13
The matches being played are :-
Divison 1 Championship Title Decider - Sussex v Yorkshire at Campbell Park, Milton Keynes - 10.30am start
Division 1 & 2 Play Off - Somerset v Essex at Slough CC - 11am start
Division 2 & 3 Play Off - Durham v Netherlands at Wellesbourne CC at 11am
Division 3 & 4 Play Off - Oxfordshire v Suffolk at Wokingham CC at 11am
Yorkshire finished in second place in the league and will be relishing their first opportunity at a County Championship for sometime. They lost two games during the "regular season" to Berkshire and Warwickshire, but beat both Sussex and then title holders Kent (by 6 wickets) in a key clash late in the season. The consistent Lauren Winfield (averaging 64.83) has lead their batting attack. She has not failed to reach double figures in any league game this year and has gone passed 50 in 4 of the 7 league games she has played. Significantly she did not play in the defeat to Warwickshire early in the season. Jess Watson has been Yorkshire's other mainstay with the bat, particularly later in the season, enjoying an unbroken opening stand of 177 with Winfield (76*) against Notts, in which she contributed 84. Both enjoy putting bat to ball and Sussex will need to keep them in check. In addition, of course, Yorkshire have Dani Hazell and Katherine Brunt, essentially bowlers, but both will be keen to show what they can do with the bat. Lower down the order experienced skipper Salliann Briggs and the young Hollie Armitage have chipped in with useful runs. Deprived of Brunt for most of the season, spinners Hazell (14), Katie Levick (11) and Aimee Simms (10) have been the main wicket-takers, but with Brunt potentially back and firing on all cylinders they will look to her to make the early breakthrough.
Sussex have had an inconsistent season, despite finishing top of the league. They lost to Yorkshire and Middlesex during the season and were soundly beaten by Kent in the T20 final last weekend. It is true to say that they have had their fair share of injuries this year, notably to their England stars Holly Colvin, Sarah Taylor and Georgia Elwiss. If Taylor and Elwiss play in the final then the Sussex batting becomes considerably stronger and more threatening. Sussex regular and chief wicket-taker Alexia Walker is definitely out of the final with a broken finger, so Sussex will once again be a very young team. Teenagers Izi Noakes and Freya Davies spearhead the fast bowling attack, and with Holly Colvin back from a broken thumb she will be one of possibly a trio of spin bowlers for Sussex.
At the beginning of the season Yorkshire would have been considered underdogs for this final, but given the way the season has panned out they might just be favourites. But this is a one-off game (surely not how a league title should be decided?). One big contribution for either side could swing it their way. This could be a nail-biting climax to the season?
MD
12/IX/13
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