As the England Women head out to New Zealand for the second leg of the ICC WC, plus three T20s and another two ODIs, I have done another audio update, which covers the squad selections, plus the conclusion of the domestic seasons in both Australia and New Zealand. You can listen to the WCB Audio Update here - https://soundcloud.com/martin-davies-34/wcbaudio280115. Below are links to the main stories covered in the Update.
England Squad
The 15 player England squad for New Zealand is:-
Charlotte Edwards (capt), Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Lydia Greenway, Rebecca Grundy, Jenny Gunn, Dani Hazell, Amy Jones, Heather Knight (vice-capt), Laura Marsh, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Lauren Winfield, Danni Wyatt.
ECB link is here
New Zealand Squad
Suzie Bates (capt), Erin Bermingham, Kate Broadmore, Sophie Devine, Georgia Guy, Holly Huddleston, Sara McGlashan, Morna Neilsen, Katie Perkins, Anna Petersen, Rachel Priest, Hannah Rowe, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu
White Ferns' link is here
Aussie Domestic Cricket
Meg Lanning beats Ellyse Perry & Elyse Villani to the Belinda Clark Award for Best Aussie Woman Cricketer 2014/2015 - more info
NSW beat South Australia to win WNCL 50 over final - more info & highlights - It is there tenth consecutive title and their 17th in the 19 years of the competition!!
NSW completed the double with a win in the WT20 final over Vic Spirit - more info. Looks like this could be the last WT20 competition for the states as plans for the Women's Big Bash begin to take shape - more info
New Zealand Domestic Cricket
T20 Final - Wellington Blaze blew away the Otago Sparks with a ten wicket win - more here - with 14 year old leg-spinner Amelia Kerr taking 3/19 (video here)
50 Over Final - Despite another 100 from Amy Satterthwaite (892 runs @ average of 148.66 this season) - the Auckland Hearts beat the Canterbury Magicians - more here
MD
29/I/15
expert & informed news, views and comment on women's cricket around the world - sponsored by B3 Cricket
Thursday, 29 January 2015
Wednesday, 14 January 2015
Launch of WCB Audio Updates
Today I thought I'd try something new - an audio update. Well I say today, it has actually taken me about three days to put it all together, but it has been an interesting learning curve.
The idea is to provide regular updates on Women's Cricket that you can listen to in the car, on the train, at work or at home. And with a trip to New Zealand imminent I thought I might upload some updates from the other side of the world while I was away, so this is a warm-up.
They won't be long, otherwise they become too boring, but hopefully they will be informative, interesting and easy to listen to.
The first WCB Audio Update is here - https://soundcloud.com/martin-davies-34/wcb-audio-update-jan2015
It provides an update on the Australian domestic season which is coming to a climax; the latest games in the ICC Women's Championship where Pakistan have recorded a stunning 3-0 series win over Sri Lanka; and catches up with domestic cricket in New Zealand, where they too are reaching the end of their season, ahead of England's visit in mid-February for the last games in Round Two of the ICCWC.
I was hoping that England would announce their squad for New Zealand this week, but that will be at 10am on Monday, when I will be away, but check out the ECB website after 10am on Monday for all the news (http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/womens).
I hope you like the audiocast (there has to be a better name for it than that- ideas?). Please feel free to leave a comment below or email me with your thoughts - wcb@lawdox.co.uk
Relevant links from the Audio Update are :-
Aussie Domestic Cricket
WNCL News - http://www.cricket.com.au/series/wncl/I7GXJQk9REiPQ1cc2rlZNg
WNCL - Lisa Sthalekar's take on the semi-finals this weekend is here
WT20 News - http://www.cricket.com.au/series/wt20/UM6eejv7DkCG927cmV_CJQ
WNCL & WT20 results (click on All Series for past matches) - http://www.cricket.com.au/fixtures
ICC WC Update
Pakistan v Sri Lanka - series scorecards etc - http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-womens-championship-2014-16/engine/series/808849.html
Domestic Cricket in New Zealand
Women's One Day Domestic Comp - http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/domestic/points-tables/womens-domestic-one-day-competition
Women's T20 Domestic Comp - http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/domestic/points-tables/womens-domestic-twenty20-competition
MD
14/I/15
The idea is to provide regular updates on Women's Cricket that you can listen to in the car, on the train, at work or at home. And with a trip to New Zealand imminent I thought I might upload some updates from the other side of the world while I was away, so this is a warm-up.
They won't be long, otherwise they become too boring, but hopefully they will be informative, interesting and easy to listen to.
The first WCB Audio Update is here - https://soundcloud.com/martin-davies-34/wcb-audio-update-jan2015
It provides an update on the Australian domestic season which is coming to a climax; the latest games in the ICC Women's Championship where Pakistan have recorded a stunning 3-0 series win over Sri Lanka; and catches up with domestic cricket in New Zealand, where they too are reaching the end of their season, ahead of England's visit in mid-February for the last games in Round Two of the ICCWC.
I was hoping that England would announce their squad for New Zealand this week, but that will be at 10am on Monday, when I will be away, but check out the ECB website after 10am on Monday for all the news (http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/womens).
I hope you like the audiocast (there has to be a better name for it than that- ideas?). Please feel free to leave a comment below or email me with your thoughts - wcb@lawdox.co.uk
Relevant links from the Audio Update are :-
Aussie Domestic Cricket
WNCL News - http://www.cricket.com.au/series/wncl/I7GXJQk9REiPQ1cc2rlZNg
WNCL - Lisa Sthalekar's take on the semi-finals this weekend is here
WT20 News - http://www.cricket.com.au/series/wt20/UM6eejv7DkCG927cmV_CJQ
WNCL & WT20 results (click on All Series for past matches) - http://www.cricket.com.au/fixtures
ICC WC Update
Pakistan v Sri Lanka - series scorecards etc - http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-womens-championship-2014-16/engine/series/808849.html
Domestic Cricket in New Zealand
Women's One Day Domestic Comp - http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/domestic/points-tables/womens-domestic-one-day-competition
Women's T20 Domestic Comp - http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/domestic/points-tables/womens-domestic-twenty20-competition
MD
14/I/15
Sunday, 28 December 2014
English trio enjoying their winter Down Under
So the "Aussie Experiment" is coming to an end for Charlotte Edwards and Heather Knight, with both due to return to the UK and the England squad in the New Year. As far as I know Sarah Taylor will remain with the South Australian Scorpions until February, when she will join the England team in New Zealand. They have played the first twelve weeks of the Australian domestic season with three separate states and all have done pretty well. In fact Charlotte Edwards and Heather Knight are the leading run-scorers in the WT20. All their figures are below.
Edwards has led a young Western Australia side who have struggled in both T20 and 50 over formats. Edwards has been her normal reliable self. She tops the run-scorers in the WT20 at the current time (although she has had two more innings than most of her closest rivals) and is 9th in the WNCL list of run-scorers. She averages about 40 in both formats.
Knight probably has the most to smile about. She has batted consistently well for Tasmania in both formats and is 2nd top-scorer in the WT20, with an average of a whisker under 50, in a format in which some have questioned her ability. She has also scored those runs at a very healthy strike-rate, in excess of a run-a-ball (114.92). In the longer format she is also averaging just under 50 and is the 5th highest run-scorer in the league.
Taylor has not fared as well as her two team-mates with the bat. She scored a magnificent 81* off 51 balls for South Australia against ACT in the WT20, but has managed only one other 50 (in the WNCL). She would have liked more. She also did not keep in the final three games of 2014, although she did take over the gloves in the last game when the young Aussie keeper was injured.
Charlotte Edwards (playing for Western Australia - WT20 - p10, w1, l9 WNCL - p5, w1, l4)
WT20 scores - 36, 34, 66*, 34, 46, 66, 7, 17, 4, 52 = 362 @ an average of 40.22
WNCL scores - 63*, 1, 28, 62, 5 = 159 @ an average of 39.75
Heather Knight (playing for Tasmanian Roar - WT20 - p8, w3, l5 WNCL - p4, w1, l3)
WT20 scores - 41, 68*, 53, 17, 0, 70, 66, 24 = 339 @ an average of 48.42
WNCL scores - 75, 27, 19, 78 = 199 @ at an average of 49.75
Sarah Taylor (playing for South Australia Scorpions WT20 - p8, w4, l4 WNCL - p4, w2, l2)
WT20 scores - 38, 1, 36, 81*, 4, 22, 6, 40 = 232 @ an average of 29.00
WNCL scores - 58, 8, 7, 4 = 77 @ an average of 19.25
Their form bodes well for England's trip down to New Zealand and the second round of the ICC Women's Championship games in February. Knight has certainly thrown down the gauntlet to others who are looking to take her opener's slot away from her in the T20 format of the game. Lauren Winfield got the job in the summer against the South Africans, scoring a match-winning 74 in the third and final T20 of the summer. She may retain the slot with Knight dropping down to four or five.
Perhaps only after that tour will we know if the experiment has really worked, but the results so far look favourable. Next year England's autumn/winter tour will be to South Africa, but with the prospects of a Women's Big Bash looming in Australia, their will be pressure to release several of the England girls to go and play in Australia at least in December and January, if not for the entire Aussie season.
Professionalism brings conflict between players being allowed to play and make a living, and not overplaying, and between tours and competitions. There have already been issues with the proposed WICL T20 tournament, and there will be more during the English summer with county cricket, as England entertain the Aussies for another exciting Ashes series. It is a fine line, and it will not get any broader as the profile of the women's game, and the girls that play it, continue to grow.
MD
28/XII/14
Edwards has led a young Western Australia side who have struggled in both T20 and 50 over formats. Edwards has been her normal reliable self. She tops the run-scorers in the WT20 at the current time (although she has had two more innings than most of her closest rivals) and is 9th in the WNCL list of run-scorers. She averages about 40 in both formats.
Knight probably has the most to smile about. She has batted consistently well for Tasmania in both formats and is 2nd top-scorer in the WT20, with an average of a whisker under 50, in a format in which some have questioned her ability. She has also scored those runs at a very healthy strike-rate, in excess of a run-a-ball (114.92). In the longer format she is also averaging just under 50 and is the 5th highest run-scorer in the league.
Taylor has not fared as well as her two team-mates with the bat. She scored a magnificent 81* off 51 balls for South Australia against ACT in the WT20, but has managed only one other 50 (in the WNCL). She would have liked more. She also did not keep in the final three games of 2014, although she did take over the gloves in the last game when the young Aussie keeper was injured.
Charlotte Edwards (playing for Western Australia - WT20 - p10, w1, l9 WNCL - p5, w1, l4)
WT20 scores - 36, 34, 66*, 34, 46, 66, 7, 17, 4, 52 = 362 @ an average of 40.22
WNCL scores - 63*, 1, 28, 62, 5 = 159 @ an average of 39.75
Heather Knight (playing for Tasmanian Roar - WT20 - p8, w3, l5 WNCL - p4, w1, l3)
WT20 scores - 41, 68*, 53, 17, 0, 70, 66, 24 = 339 @ an average of 48.42
WNCL scores - 75, 27, 19, 78 = 199 @ at an average of 49.75
Sarah Taylor (playing for South Australia Scorpions WT20 - p8, w4, l4 WNCL - p4, w2, l2)
WT20 scores - 38, 1, 36, 81*, 4, 22, 6, 40 = 232 @ an average of 29.00
WNCL scores - 58, 8, 7, 4 = 77 @ an average of 19.25
Their form bodes well for England's trip down to New Zealand and the second round of the ICC Women's Championship games in February. Knight has certainly thrown down the gauntlet to others who are looking to take her opener's slot away from her in the T20 format of the game. Lauren Winfield got the job in the summer against the South Africans, scoring a match-winning 74 in the third and final T20 of the summer. She may retain the slot with Knight dropping down to four or five.
Perhaps only after that tour will we know if the experiment has really worked, but the results so far look favourable. Next year England's autumn/winter tour will be to South Africa, but with the prospects of a Women's Big Bash looming in Australia, their will be pressure to release several of the England girls to go and play in Australia at least in December and January, if not for the entire Aussie season.
Professionalism brings conflict between players being allowed to play and make a living, and not overplaying, and between tours and competitions. There have already been issues with the proposed WICL T20 tournament, and there will be more during the English summer with county cricket, as England entertain the Aussies for another exciting Ashes series. It is a fine line, and it will not get any broader as the profile of the women's game, and the girls that play it, continue to grow.
MD
28/XII/14
Tuesday, 16 December 2014
New Zealand's team to face England
Fellow blogger Syd Egan recently speculated on the England squad to tour New Zealand in February - a tour that I will be lucky enough to be covering. I have to say I cannot wait. For those of you that haven't read Syd's piece yet it is here. His 15 are:
Edwards, Knight, Taylor, Greenway, Winfield, Beaumont, Sciver, Gunn, Hazell, Brunt, Shrubsole, Cross, Jones, Wyatt and Farrant. For what it's worth (which is not a great deal) I think they will probably take Marsh and Grundy rather than Wyatt and Beaumont.
But what of the New Zealanders they will be facing? So far New Zealand have played just three games in the ICC Women's Championship, all against the West Indies, in the West Indies, and they have lost them all. They are bottom of the ICCWC table of eight teams. They will be desperate to get something out of England's tour to New Zealand.
New Zealand currently have 10 contracted players - Suzie Bates, Sam Curtis, Sophie Devine, Holly Huddleston, Hayley Jensen, Felicity Leydon-Davis, Sara McGlashan, Morna Nielsen, Katie Perkins and Rachel Priest. In addition to these another 10 players were also named in the White Ferns High Performance Squad in October - Kate Broadmore, Nicola Browne (who declined a contract), Maddy Green, Georgia Guy, Frances Mackay, Hanah Rowe, Sian Ruck, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu, and Natasha von Tilburg.
The squad that went to the West Indies in September was the contracted 10, plus Green, Guy, Satterthwaite, Tahuhu. No-one really came out of that disastrous tour with any great credit, except perhaps Sophie Devine who averaged 40.25 in the four ODIs - only Bates, Priest and Satterthwaite averaged in double figures and only Devine, Bates and Priest scored 50s. Debutant off-spinner Georgia Guy also did well and was the top bowler with seven wickets.
You would guess that the selectors will stick with the contracted 10, plus vice-captain Satterthwaite, which leaves just 3/4 slots available. Guy deserves to keep one of them, but the others seem to be up for grabs. Seamer Tahuhu only bowled five overs in the Windies and has not put down a huge marker in the current New Zealand domestic season. Frances Mackay on the other hand has had a good start to the domestic season both with bat and ball, but may already be behind Guy in the off-spinning pecking order. On the opening bowler front Hanah Rowe is a young contender. She has had a decent start to her season with Central Districts and at 18 could provide back-up to Nielsen, Huddleston and Leydon-Davis.
A few of the New Zealand batsmen seem to be in decent nick. Sophie Devine scored back-to-back hundreds in the domestic OD competition for Wellington against Canterbury earlier this month; Amy Satterthwaite scored a hundred for Canterbury against Wellington and 97 against Otago; Sara McGlashan scored a hundred against Otago and was 96* against Northern Districts for Auckland; and Kate Broadmore has scored 53* and 115* for Central Districts, which must put her name in the frame for the final squad. Keeper batsman Rachel Priest has also scored a ton for Central Districts against Canterbury in her first OD of the domestic season.
However there have been few stellar bowling performances by any members of the High Performance squad, which could account for the glut of centurions, and must be of concern to the selectors with only just over two months to go until the England tour begins. To add to their woes captain Suzie Bates has not been in sparkling form with either Otago in New Zealand or, beforehand, in the Aussie WNCL with Western Australia (alongside Charlotte Edwards). She, along with the rest of the White Ferns, will have a maximum of six more domestic ODs and three domestic T20s to find some form and force their way into the squad for a very important series for both teams.
MD
16/XII/14
Edwards, Knight, Taylor, Greenway, Winfield, Beaumont, Sciver, Gunn, Hazell, Brunt, Shrubsole, Cross, Jones, Wyatt and Farrant. For what it's worth (which is not a great deal) I think they will probably take Marsh and Grundy rather than Wyatt and Beaumont.
But what of the New Zealanders they will be facing? So far New Zealand have played just three games in the ICC Women's Championship, all against the West Indies, in the West Indies, and they have lost them all. They are bottom of the ICCWC table of eight teams. They will be desperate to get something out of England's tour to New Zealand.
New Zealand currently have 10 contracted players - Suzie Bates, Sam Curtis, Sophie Devine, Holly Huddleston, Hayley Jensen, Felicity Leydon-Davis, Sara McGlashan, Morna Nielsen, Katie Perkins and Rachel Priest. In addition to these another 10 players were also named in the White Ferns High Performance Squad in October - Kate Broadmore, Nicola Browne (who declined a contract), Maddy Green, Georgia Guy, Frances Mackay, Hanah Rowe, Sian Ruck, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu, and Natasha von Tilburg.
The squad that went to the West Indies in September was the contracted 10, plus Green, Guy, Satterthwaite, Tahuhu. No-one really came out of that disastrous tour with any great credit, except perhaps Sophie Devine who averaged 40.25 in the four ODIs - only Bates, Priest and Satterthwaite averaged in double figures and only Devine, Bates and Priest scored 50s. Debutant off-spinner Georgia Guy also did well and was the top bowler with seven wickets.
You would guess that the selectors will stick with the contracted 10, plus vice-captain Satterthwaite, which leaves just 3/4 slots available. Guy deserves to keep one of them, but the others seem to be up for grabs. Seamer Tahuhu only bowled five overs in the Windies and has not put down a huge marker in the current New Zealand domestic season. Frances Mackay on the other hand has had a good start to the domestic season both with bat and ball, but may already be behind Guy in the off-spinning pecking order. On the opening bowler front Hanah Rowe is a young contender. She has had a decent start to her season with Central Districts and at 18 could provide back-up to Nielsen, Huddleston and Leydon-Davis.
A few of the New Zealand batsmen seem to be in decent nick. Sophie Devine scored back-to-back hundreds in the domestic OD competition for Wellington against Canterbury earlier this month; Amy Satterthwaite scored a hundred for Canterbury against Wellington and 97 against Otago; Sara McGlashan scored a hundred against Otago and was 96* against Northern Districts for Auckland; and Kate Broadmore has scored 53* and 115* for Central Districts, which must put her name in the frame for the final squad. Keeper batsman Rachel Priest has also scored a ton for Central Districts against Canterbury in her first OD of the domestic season.
However there have been few stellar bowling performances by any members of the High Performance squad, which could account for the glut of centurions, and must be of concern to the selectors with only just over two months to go until the England tour begins. To add to their woes captain Suzie Bates has not been in sparkling form with either Otago in New Zealand or, beforehand, in the Aussie WNCL with Western Australia (alongside Charlotte Edwards). She, along with the rest of the White Ferns, will have a maximum of six more domestic ODs and three domestic T20s to find some form and force their way into the squad for a very important series for both teams.
MD
16/XII/14
Friday, 28 November 2014
South Africa go second in ICCWC table after series win against India
South Africa have completed a fantastic 2-1 ICC Women's Championship series win over India in India, and by doing so have moved themselves up to second in the ICCWC points table.
In the first match of the series they restricted India to just 114 thanks to four wicket hauls from Dane van Niekerk (4/9) and Marizanne Kapp (4/21). At 29/3 their reply looked to be in trouble, but a maiden ODI 50 from Chloe Tryon got the Saffers over the line, with just two wickets in hand. Veteran Jhulan Goswami held the Indian batting and bowling together with 33 and 3/22, but it was not enough to prevent South Africa claiming the two points.
In the second game India chased down South Africa's below par 186/8, in which Chloe Tryon again top scored with 49*, including 18 off the last over of the innings. With India at 73/3 the game seemed to be in the balance, but an 89 run partnership between Shikha Pandey (59) and Harmanpreet Kaur (42*) allowed India to level the series. It was Pandey's maiden ODI 50 as she emerged as a genuine all-rounder.
And so to the deciding game of the series. India were inserted by South Africa and were once again indebted to Pandey, who again made 59, as they struggled to 180 all out. Having been 176/6 it was a total that should have been higher. Harmanpreet Kaur also hit 42 off 39 balls after an extremely cautious start to the Indian innings from Poonam Raut and debutant Deepti Sharma, after Mandhana had gone early. Sunette Loubser (3/28) and Marcia Letsoalo (3/46) were the main wicket-takers, but mention should be made of opener Ayabonga Khaka who opened with five maidens on the trot and went for just 19 off her nine overs. Keeper Trisha Chetty also had a good day behind the stumps with five victims.
In reply South Africa again lost early wickets with Lizelle Lee and Chetty soon back in the hutch, but new girl Nadine Moodley (56) hit her maiden ODI half-century and skipper Mignon du Preez struck 46, before both were out in quick succession with 59 still needed for the win. The nerves will have been jangling as South Africa were without the injured Chloe Tryon, but with Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk they seemed to have the experience they needed. But when Kapp was run out for 14, the load seemed to be all van Nierkerk's. Thabethe came and went quickly, but the experienced Sunette Loubser (23*), better known for her loopy off-spin, used her experience wisely and became the South African aggressor as van Niekerk (20*) bunkered down. Together they added the 33 runs that South Africa so desperately needed.
India's one day woes continue (they only have 3 points from 6 games), but South Africa have taken another step towards being regarded as one of the top four sides in the world and qualifying automatically for the 2017 World Cup.
MD
28/XI/14
| Teams | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | N/R | Pts | Net RR | For | Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia Women | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | +0.952 | 1196/236.2 | 1130/275.0 |
| South Africa Women | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | +0.334 | 852/216.1 | 796/220.4 |
| West Indies Women | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | +0.584 | 1128/257.3 | 1111/292.4 |
| England Women | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | +0.686 | 367/80.1 | 312/80.1 |
| India Women | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -0.371 | 793/224.5 | 855/219.2 |
| Sri Lanka Women | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -0.583 | 315/76.0 | 364/77.0 |
| Pakistan Women | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.357 | 467/125.0 | 477/93.4 |
| New Zealand Women | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.712 | 392/150.0 | 465/107.3 |
In the first match of the series they restricted India to just 114 thanks to four wicket hauls from Dane van Niekerk (4/9) and Marizanne Kapp (4/21). At 29/3 their reply looked to be in trouble, but a maiden ODI 50 from Chloe Tryon got the Saffers over the line, with just two wickets in hand. Veteran Jhulan Goswami held the Indian batting and bowling together with 33 and 3/22, but it was not enough to prevent South Africa claiming the two points.
In the second game India chased down South Africa's below par 186/8, in which Chloe Tryon again top scored with 49*, including 18 off the last over of the innings. With India at 73/3 the game seemed to be in the balance, but an 89 run partnership between Shikha Pandey (59) and Harmanpreet Kaur (42*) allowed India to level the series. It was Pandey's maiden ODI 50 as she emerged as a genuine all-rounder.
And so to the deciding game of the series. India were inserted by South Africa and were once again indebted to Pandey, who again made 59, as they struggled to 180 all out. Having been 176/6 it was a total that should have been higher. Harmanpreet Kaur also hit 42 off 39 balls after an extremely cautious start to the Indian innings from Poonam Raut and debutant Deepti Sharma, after Mandhana had gone early. Sunette Loubser (3/28) and Marcia Letsoalo (3/46) were the main wicket-takers, but mention should be made of opener Ayabonga Khaka who opened with five maidens on the trot and went for just 19 off her nine overs. Keeper Trisha Chetty also had a good day behind the stumps with five victims.
In reply South Africa again lost early wickets with Lizelle Lee and Chetty soon back in the hutch, but new girl Nadine Moodley (56) hit her maiden ODI half-century and skipper Mignon du Preez struck 46, before both were out in quick succession with 59 still needed for the win. The nerves will have been jangling as South Africa were without the injured Chloe Tryon, but with Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk they seemed to have the experience they needed. But when Kapp was run out for 14, the load seemed to be all van Nierkerk's. Thabethe came and went quickly, but the experienced Sunette Loubser (23*), better known for her loopy off-spin, used her experience wisely and became the South African aggressor as van Niekerk (20*) bunkered down. Together they added the 33 runs that South Africa so desperately needed.
India's one day woes continue (they only have 3 points from 6 games), but South Africa have taken another step towards being regarded as one of the top four sides in the world and qualifying automatically for the 2017 World Cup.
MD
28/XI/14
Monday, 17 November 2014
Aussies top ICC Women's Championship Table
Australia's comprehensive 3-0 defeat of the previous high-flying West Indies (remember they beat New Zealand 3-0 back in September?) has sent them back to the top of the ICC Women's Championship table, where they will continue to reside throughout Round 2 of the tournament. In Round 3 they meet with England, in England, and only then can they be knocked off their perch. The points table currently looks like this..
| Teams | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | N/R | Pts | Net RR | For | Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia Women | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | +0.952 | 1196/236.2 | 1130/275.0 |
| West Indies Women | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | +0.584 | 1128/257.3 | 1111/292.4 |
| England Women | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | +0.686 | 367/80.1 | 312/80.1 |
| South Africa Women | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | +0.583 | 364/77.0 | 315/76.0 |
| Sri Lanka Women | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -0.583 | 315/76.0 | 364/77.0 |
| India Women | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -0.686 | 312/80.1 | 367/80.1 |
| Pakistan Women | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.357 | 467/125.0 | 477/93.4 |
| New Zealand Women | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.712 | 392/150.0 | 465/107.3 |
The remaining second round matches are :-
India v South Africa starting on 24th November 2014
New Zealand v England starting on 11th February 2015
India v South Africa starting on 24th November 2014
New Zealand v England starting on 11th February 2015
Pakistan v Sri Lanka - on a date to be fixed before the end of February 2015
None of these teams can match Australia's 100% record with six wins out of six, so Australia will hold on to their top of the table spot at least until March next year. Who would back against them staying there for much longer?
India lost the two completed ODIs to England this summer and will be hoping to get their first win under their belts against South Africa, who have won one of the two completed games they played against Sri Lanka. But South Africa will be tough opponents and I think they may even end up winning the series in India (probably 2-1).
New Zealand have home advantage against England, and will be desperate to get something out of that series after their disastrous start in the Caribbean, which leaves them firmly rooted to the foot of the table. New Zealand would normally have been considered to be one for the "Top Four", but their place in the top order is under threat from the likes of Sri Lanka and South Africa, who they play in rounds 4 and 6 of the competition. England's overall record against the Kiwis is not that hot - won 28; lost 31, but they have won the last six, last losing to the White Ferns at Lord's in 2010. They must start as favourites to take the series, and they will be looking for a clean sweep, before taking on the Aussies in the English summer.
Sri Lanka will expect to boost their points tally when they take on Pakistan, which they must do before the end of February next year in the last of the Round 2 matches. In Round 3 they host the West Indies, which should be another great series; New Zealand travel to India for what could be another tricky series; and South Africa are hosted by Pakistan.
Sri Lanka will expect to boost their points tally when they take on Pakistan, which they must do before the end of February next year in the last of the Round 2 matches. In Round 3 they host the West Indies, which should be another great series; New Zealand travel to India for what could be another tricky series; and South Africa are hosted by Pakistan.
No team can afford to slip up if they want to be in the top four and qualify automatically for the 2017 World Cup. Australia have so far been clinical in all six victories. Can England peg them back in 2015? The Aussies are looking very strong!
MD
17/XI/14
17/XI/14
Thursday, 13 November 2014
Happy Birthday Women's Cricket Blog!!
WCB is two years old today (13th November). It has been an amazing two years for women's cricket, and indeed for the blog. To date there have been 253 postings (about one every three days) and they have been read over 103,000 times, which for "a minority sport", played by women, suggests one of two things - either my blogs are spell-binding or there is not enough coverage of women's cricket in the mainstream media - I think it is probably the latter. As a birthday treat to the blog here are some of the blog's, and women's cricket's, highlights of the last two years...........
The blog started with the build up to the Women's World Cup in 2013 in India and my preview in early January 2013 was the first page to be read over 100 times (339). Mid-tournament it was a blog about the disparity in the Net Run Rate calculation for sides batting first and second that got the views (519 - get a life people), probably after it was mentioned by Daggers on TMS commentary. Australia duly won the tournament beating the West Indies in the final.
My attentions then turned to English domestic cricket - the county season. I suggested that more county games needed to be played and got some good feedback and 441 reads, but this paled into insignificance when I wrote a preview of the Div 1 county season in March which was read by 1,897. The preview of the second division was read by 647.
In May 2013 Mark Lane left his post as England Coach and the new Ashes Series format was announced. What a great success that has been, inspiring more Test cricket to be played, not only here (including another Test against India this summer), but also abroad - India have just announced a one-off Test against the touring South Africans. The announcement yesterday that the entire 2015 Ashes series will be televised live is also testament to the success, and interest in, the series.
In the County Championship Sussex beat Yorkshire in the final with Sarah Taylor scoring 128*, and Somerset earned the right to play-off with Essex to claim a place in Division 1. As it happened it rained and the game never took place, so Somerset had to stay in Div 2.
The Ashes Series started and England drew the Test after a mammoth batting effort from Heather Knight (157) with the help of the obdurate Laura Marsh (55 off 304 balls). England lost the first ODI, but won the next two to lead the Ashes Series. They then won all three T20s to win the series 12-4.
In September 2013 I wrote a piece about women's cricket in 2014, which was well read (545). I was still banging on about more county cricket, preferably played with a white ball and an expanded white ball T20 tournament.
Before the rerun of the Ashes Series out in OZ, and the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in March 2014 England went to the West Indies with a very young side. It was the tour that saw Nat Sciver, Kate Cross and Lauren Winfield on the field and introduced Tash Farrant and Beth Langston to international cricket. They lost the final of a T20 tri-series to WI, having effectively knocked New Zealand out of the competition, but then won the ODI series with Sarah Taylor in good form with the bat.
So on to Oz for the Jan 2014 Ashes (seems an age ago already). England without the "retired" Holly Colvin and the injured Laura Marsh. In a fantastic fluctuating Test England came out on top with Kate Cross coming of age with the ball and Charlotte Edwards holding the England batting together again. England won the first of the ODIs, but with just one more win needed lost the following two quite badly, so it was on to the T20s and Lottie once again steered her team to victory and to the retention of the Ashes.
While England were winning the Ashes (that always sounds so good) a breakaway T20 tournament called the WICL was proposed, akin to the IPL but for the top women, where they would earn a decent wedge for two week's work. Much excitement ensued until the ECB and Cricket Australia effectively kiboshed the idea when they said that they would not sanction such a competition run by an outside agency. Plans are apparently still afoot for a women's T20 Bash in Australia next season, but the WICL lies dormant for the time-being.
And so on to the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh with England without Marsh, Brunt, Farrant, Wyatt and Winfield. Opportunities given to Rebecca Grundy and Jodie Dibble, and Tammy Beaumont and Fran Wilson recalled again. In a fit of madness WCB, with the aid of Syd the Cynic (@FairgroundTown), decided to set up a fantasy T20 competition. We made it simple because we have other things to do with our lives (well Syd does). I'd like to think it went down well and that we made people think about players beyond our own shores. We had 162 teams entered and I finished a respectable 5th in the Experts' League (Raf was last - @RafNicholson). The league tables pages had over 3,500 views. On the field the Aussies beat us in the final, but the story of the tournament was probably the emergence of South Africa, who reached the semi-finals by dint of beating New Zealand in their group match. They are a team that continues to go from strength to strength.
April heralded a preview of the 2014 County season with Kent (Div 1) and Lancs (Div 2) highlighted as the sides to beat (hardly rocket science), and so it proved as Kent swept all before them, and Lancs won automatic promotion from Div 2. At the start of the next month the ECB announced professional contracts for 18 England players - following Australia's lead the previous year. The new "professional era" of women's cricket had begun! [apparently]
Towards the end of May the MCC Women played a Rest of the World team at Lords to help celebrate Lords' bicentenary. It was a splendid event, but, played on a working Monday, attracted almost no crowd. Great for those that played, but a huge waste of money that could have been better spent on grassroots cricket. It also gave me a chance to rant about radio commentators that are unable to identify women players and fail to pronounce their names correctly. The commentator concerned shall remain nameless in this blog entry as he got a bit miffed about the last one!
England's opponents this summer were India in a Test and three ODIs (the first games in the ICC's new Women's Championship - a tournament in which the top eight sides in the world all play each other to earn the right to qualify automatically for the 2017 World Cup), and South Africa for the three T20s that India apparently did not want to play. England lost the Test to a jubilant Indian team, who have been in the doldrums for the past few years. They deserved their victory and their delight at winning was captivating. England pulled up their socks and duly won the two ODIs played (the other being rained off) and then beat South Africa 3-0 in the T20 series, although the Proteas improved with each game played.
I took the chance at the Test to have a chat with Clare Connor about the future of women's cricket - WICL; white ball County cricket: Test matches: and ECB contracts, which was well read, and also with Dan Norcross, the new voice of women's cricket on the beloved TMS (which was well-read by all his family members).
As I write this the Aussies are in the middle of their ICC WC series with the Windies and England are preparing for their tour to New Zealand in the same competition in February, where I too will be, to cover the series for this blog and anyone else I can con into taking some copy from me.
By its very nature a blog is a pure self-indulgence. The fact that so many of you seem willing to spend time reading it makes it slightly less indulgent. I thank you for that; the girls that play cricket at all levels; and Tim Berners-Lee for his role in this nonsense called the internet!
MD
The blog started with the build up to the Women's World Cup in 2013 in India and my preview in early January 2013 was the first page to be read over 100 times (339). Mid-tournament it was a blog about the disparity in the Net Run Rate calculation for sides batting first and second that got the views (519 - get a life people), probably after it was mentioned by Daggers on TMS commentary. Australia duly won the tournament beating the West Indies in the final.
My attentions then turned to English domestic cricket - the county season. I suggested that more county games needed to be played and got some good feedback and 441 reads, but this paled into insignificance when I wrote a preview of the Div 1 county season in March which was read by 1,897. The preview of the second division was read by 647.
In May 2013 Mark Lane left his post as England Coach and the new Ashes Series format was announced. What a great success that has been, inspiring more Test cricket to be played, not only here (including another Test against India this summer), but also abroad - India have just announced a one-off Test against the touring South Africans. The announcement yesterday that the entire 2015 Ashes series will be televised live is also testament to the success, and interest in, the series.
In the County Championship Sussex beat Yorkshire in the final with Sarah Taylor scoring 128*, and Somerset earned the right to play-off with Essex to claim a place in Division 1. As it happened it rained and the game never took place, so Somerset had to stay in Div 2.
The Ashes Series started and England drew the Test after a mammoth batting effort from Heather Knight (157) with the help of the obdurate Laura Marsh (55 off 304 balls). England lost the first ODI, but won the next two to lead the Ashes Series. They then won all three T20s to win the series 12-4.
In September 2013 I wrote a piece about women's cricket in 2014, which was well read (545). I was still banging on about more county cricket, preferably played with a white ball and an expanded white ball T20 tournament.
Before the rerun of the Ashes Series out in OZ, and the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in March 2014 England went to the West Indies with a very young side. It was the tour that saw Nat Sciver, Kate Cross and Lauren Winfield on the field and introduced Tash Farrant and Beth Langston to international cricket. They lost the final of a T20 tri-series to WI, having effectively knocked New Zealand out of the competition, but then won the ODI series with Sarah Taylor in good form with the bat.
So on to Oz for the Jan 2014 Ashes (seems an age ago already). England without the "retired" Holly Colvin and the injured Laura Marsh. In a fantastic fluctuating Test England came out on top with Kate Cross coming of age with the ball and Charlotte Edwards holding the England batting together again. England won the first of the ODIs, but with just one more win needed lost the following two quite badly, so it was on to the T20s and Lottie once again steered her team to victory and to the retention of the Ashes.
While England were winning the Ashes (that always sounds so good) a breakaway T20 tournament called the WICL was proposed, akin to the IPL but for the top women, where they would earn a decent wedge for two week's work. Much excitement ensued until the ECB and Cricket Australia effectively kiboshed the idea when they said that they would not sanction such a competition run by an outside agency. Plans are apparently still afoot for a women's T20 Bash in Australia next season, but the WICL lies dormant for the time-being.
And so on to the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh with England without Marsh, Brunt, Farrant, Wyatt and Winfield. Opportunities given to Rebecca Grundy and Jodie Dibble, and Tammy Beaumont and Fran Wilson recalled again. In a fit of madness WCB, with the aid of Syd the Cynic (@FairgroundTown), decided to set up a fantasy T20 competition. We made it simple because we have other things to do with our lives (well Syd does). I'd like to think it went down well and that we made people think about players beyond our own shores. We had 162 teams entered and I finished a respectable 5th in the Experts' League (Raf was last - @RafNicholson). The league tables pages had over 3,500 views. On the field the Aussies beat us in the final, but the story of the tournament was probably the emergence of South Africa, who reached the semi-finals by dint of beating New Zealand in their group match. They are a team that continues to go from strength to strength.
April heralded a preview of the 2014 County season with Kent (Div 1) and Lancs (Div 2) highlighted as the sides to beat (hardly rocket science), and so it proved as Kent swept all before them, and Lancs won automatic promotion from Div 2. At the start of the next month the ECB announced professional contracts for 18 England players - following Australia's lead the previous year. The new "professional era" of women's cricket had begun! [apparently]
Towards the end of May the MCC Women played a Rest of the World team at Lords to help celebrate Lords' bicentenary. It was a splendid event, but, played on a working Monday, attracted almost no crowd. Great for those that played, but a huge waste of money that could have been better spent on grassroots cricket. It also gave me a chance to rant about radio commentators that are unable to identify women players and fail to pronounce their names correctly. The commentator concerned shall remain nameless in this blog entry as he got a bit miffed about the last one!
England's opponents this summer were India in a Test and three ODIs (the first games in the ICC's new Women's Championship - a tournament in which the top eight sides in the world all play each other to earn the right to qualify automatically for the 2017 World Cup), and South Africa for the three T20s that India apparently did not want to play. England lost the Test to a jubilant Indian team, who have been in the doldrums for the past few years. They deserved their victory and their delight at winning was captivating. England pulled up their socks and duly won the two ODIs played (the other being rained off) and then beat South Africa 3-0 in the T20 series, although the Proteas improved with each game played.
I took the chance at the Test to have a chat with Clare Connor about the future of women's cricket - WICL; white ball County cricket: Test matches: and ECB contracts, which was well read, and also with Dan Norcross, the new voice of women's cricket on the beloved TMS (which was well-read by all his family members).
As I write this the Aussies are in the middle of their ICC WC series with the Windies and England are preparing for their tour to New Zealand in the same competition in February, where I too will be, to cover the series for this blog and anyone else I can con into taking some copy from me.
By its very nature a blog is a pure self-indulgence. The fact that so many of you seem willing to spend time reading it makes it slightly less indulgent. I thank you for that; the girls that play cricket at all levels; and Tim Berners-Lee for his role in this nonsense called the internet!
MD
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