Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin Report LONDON:-England Men's 6-member selection panel have named a 13-strong squad for the first two Test matches of the summer against New Zealand starting at Lord's on 2 June. Yorkshire batter Harry Brook and Durham seamer Matthew Potts are called up for the first time. Brook has been the standout batsman in Division one of the LV= Insurance County Championship. The 23-year-old, who made his England T20 debut in January in the Caribbean, has scored 758 runs at an average of 151.60, including three centuries and four half-centuries for the white rose county during the summer campaign. The 23-year-old Potts has been in impressive form in the LV= Insurance County Championship. He is the season's leading bowler, with 35 wickets and four five-wicket hauls, including his most recent return of seven for 40 in Durham's win over Glamorgan. The seam duo of Lancashire's James Anderson and Nottinghamshire's Stuart Broad return to the squad for the first time since the Australia Test series earlier this winter. Managing Director Rob Key said: "This is the start of a new era for our Test team under the stewardship of Ben (Stokes) and Brendon (McCullum). With a blend of youth and experience, we have selected an exciting squad that can compete with New Zealand in next month's Test series. "We have rewarded players in Harry Brook and Matty Potts who have had outstanding starts to the County season, and they deserve the opportunity to stake a claim at this level. "It promises to be a mouthwatering series, and I can't wait for the team to start against a very good New Zealand side. It is a fascinating prospect for everyone connected with the sport in this country." The three-match Test series forms part of the ICC World Test Championship. The England team will be looking to climb the rankings after a disappointing start to the second edition of the Championship. At the end of the two-year cycle, the top two teams will compete in the ICC World Test Championship Final due to be staged in the summer of 2023. The squad will come together for the first time next week in a camp before reporting to Lord's on 29 May ahead of the first Test on the 2 June. Selection Panel: The selection panel consists of Rob Key (Managing Director, England Men's Cricket), Brendon McCullum (England Men's Head Coach), Ben Stokes (England Men's Test Captain), Mo Bobat (Performance Director), James Taylor (Head Scout), David Court (Player ID Lead). Names of players: Ben Stokes (Durham) captain, James Anderson (Lancashire), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Foakes (Surrey), Jack Leach (Somerset), Alex Lees (Durham), Craig Overton (Somerset), Matthew Potts (Durham), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Joe Root (Yorkshire) Schedule (Test Matches) 1st Test: England v New Zealand, 2-6 June, Lord’s Cricket Ground, London 2nd Test: England v New Zealand, 10-14 June, Trent Bridge, Nottingham 3rd Test: England v New Zealand, 23-27 June, Headingley, Leeds

BIPIN DANI Bangladeshi player Mushfiqur Rahim's parents (father : Mahbub Habib and mother Rahima Khatun) had no plan to go to the Stadium and witness the current Test series against Sri Lanka. However, they have now changed their plan and have decided to drive about 200 km from their native Bogra to Dhaka and watch the second Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS). "My son scored a hundred (on Wednesday) and also became the first cricketer in our country to score 5000 runs in a Test. We want to celebrate the occasion in Dhaka", Mahbub Habib said exclusively over the telephone. "We are happy for his performance in this Test and his two achievements (century and 5000 runs) on the same day have made us proud". Father, who is in the business of selling the building materials, agreed that it was a slow batting by his son. Rahim's 105 runs came in 282 balls and had only four fours in the innings. "Rahim didn't have enough runs and a century for quite some time and now he has scored a ton and it gives us satisfaction", the father of five children (4 sons and one daughter) added. Rahim is the only cricketer in the family. "He didn't want to come in my business". Rahim's elder brother is in the business of selling motorcycles. Another one is a computer engineer and the youngest brother is a student. Rahim, who married to Jannatul Kefayet in 2014 lives in Dhaka with son Shahrooz and they all can't wait to watch Rahim play in the 2nd Test beginning on May 23.

Sports Bulletin Report LONDON:-Tom Harrison has decided to step down as Chief Executive Officer of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after more than seven years in the role. He will leave the organisation in June. The ECB Board will now begin a comprehensive search process to identify the next CEO who will lead the ECB and work with stakeholders across cricket to ensure the continued growth and development of the sport. A key part of this role will be taking on leadership of the game-wide programme of action and improvement to make cricket a welcoming and diverse sport, including through the continued implementation of the action plan agreed in November 2021 to drive out discrimination within the game. Clare Connor, currently Managing Director of England Women’s Cricket, has agreed to become interim CEO when Harrison leaves until a permanent successor is in post. Since taking up the role of CEO in January 2015, Harrison has overseen record levels of investment across the game at all levels and has led the delivery of the ECB’s ‘Inspiring Generations’ strategy, which aims to make cricket a bigger and more accessible and inclusive sport. He also led the ECB’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic as cricket confronted unprecedented financial challenges and became the first sport to achieve the return of competitive international fixtures in July 2020. The growth of the game – including the launch of children’s participation programmes All Stars and Dynamos - has been supported by significantly increased investment in the sport, as the ECB’s annual revenue almost trebled during Harrison’s tenure. Support from broadcast and commercial partners has been crucial to this growth, including through a successful long-term partnership with Sky and the return of live cricket to free-to-air TV with the BBC. Tom Harrison said: “It has been a huge honour to be CEO of the ECB for the past seven years. Cricket is an extraordinary force for good in the world and my goal has been to make the game bigger and ensure more people and more communities in England and Wales feel they have a place in this sport. The long-term health of cricket depends on its ability to grow and remain relevant and be more inclusive in an ever-changing world. “The past two years have been incredibly challenging, but we have pulled together to get through the pandemic, overcome cricket’s biggest financial crisis, and committed to tackling discrimination and continuing the journey towards becoming the inclusive, welcoming sport we strive to be. I have put everything into this role, but I believe now is the right time to bring in fresh energy to continue this work.” Martin Darlow, Interim ECB Chair, said: “Tom has been an outstanding CEO and deserves our sincere thanks for all he has achieved in his time at the ECB. Through the Inspiring Generations strategy, he has set the game on a path to growth and to being played and watched by more people from all backgrounds, underpinned by record investment in cricket. “When the pandemic struck, it was Tom’s leadership that brought the game together and saved us from the worst financial crisis the sport has ever faced. He has always put the interests of the game first and worked to lead important change to make our game more accessible and inclusive, though we all know there is still much more work to do. “We will now begin the search for his successor who can build on all that he has achieved. I’m pleased that Clare Connor has agreed to step into the role on an interim basis while this process is under way.”

BIPIN DANI Sri Lanikan all-rounder Angelo Mathews has joined the company of 12 other Test cricketers who were dismissed on 199 runs. The list also includes another Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya (against India at Colombo in 1997).   Incidentally, Mathews had also missed the magical figure (of hundred) by mere a single run (against India at Mumbai in 2009) when he was run out. "Any batsman missing the magical figure is more painful", his elder brother Trevin Mathews, who has also played cricket and is now in the coaching profession said over the telephone from Colombo.   "If a batsman loses his wicket at 99 runs is always a little painful but when he is out at 199 runs is definitely more painful".    "Instead of hitting a big shot on the onside, my brother should have tried to run a short shot to enable him to run for a single...but what to do...It was not in his destiny on Monday", the brother added. However, former Pakistani opener Mudassar Nazar believes that losing a wicket at 99 is more painful. "I think it would be more painful if you were out on 99. I was once out on 95 and I find it more hurtful than being out on 199. Missing out on a Test century is unthinkable". Also, remaining not out on 199 (Kumara Sangakkara and Andy Flower) and running out of partners would be hard to make but think about the poor partner. He would be grief stricken at letting you down", Nazar added. Mathews' father,  Tyronne Mathews, who had also played cricket in his time, however, termed the dismissal as "unfortunate". "This all happens in the game. But we are not disappointed. Satisfied with his score of 199 runs", the father said. Marthews already had one unbeaten double century in a Test against Zimbabwe (at Harare in 2020).

BIPIN DANI Sri Lanka's Roshan Abeysinghe and South Africa's HD Ackerman are the part of the commentary team for the two Test matches in Bangladesh, it is learnt. According to the sources in Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), six names are approved for the commentary panel. They are : Athar Ali, Shamim Ashraf Chowdhury, Samonnoy Ghosh, Mazhar Uddin, HD Ackerman and Roshan Abeysinghe. Ghosh and Mazhar are assigned to commentate in the first and second Test respectively. Roshan Abeysinghe and HD Ackerman are regular faces for the Sri Lankan viewers as they are regulars in Sri Lanka for the international and the LPL (Lanka Premier League) matches. Both are scheduled to reach Bangladesh on Saturday. South African-born Ackerman now lives in Australia. Abeysinghe will also be a key member at the presentations. The first of the two Tests begins at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium (ZACS) in Chattogram on Sunday. The second Test match (May 23-27) will be played at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS), Mirpur Dhaka.

BIPIN DANI Neutral match officials have been appointed for the two Test matches between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, it is learnt. According to the highly placed sources in the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), the two officials from England (one umpire and one match referee) and one umpire from West Indies will officiate in the two Test matches in Chattogram (May 15-19) and Dhaka May 23-27).  "The ICC will be sending England's Chris Broad as match referee (for both Tests) and for first Test Richard Kettleborough (England) and for 2nd Test Joel Wilson (West Indies) as umpires", a source in Dhaka confirmed. The ICC had recently said that more neutral match officials should be utilised as travel restrictions are lifted while building on the success of the use of home umpires. Also, Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid will officiate in both the Tests as an on-field umpire and Masudur Rahman Mukul and Gazi Sohel will be the reserve umpires. The duty of the third umpire will be shared between Joel Wilson (1st Test) and Richard Kettleborough (2nd Test). The home team will also have the knowledge of a Sri Lankan expert. The 44-year-old off-spinner Rangana Herath has again been hired by the BCB. Besides Herath, Sri Lanka's ex-fielding coach Shane McDermott will now sit in the opposite camp. He is the fielding coach for the Bangladesh team.

BIPIN DANI Delhi Capitals' David Warner was lucky enough on Wednesday when he survived despite the stumps lighting up but the bails did not dislodge in the bowling of Rajasthan Royals' Yuzvendra Chahal. Two years ago in the ICC World Cup also, he had a similar luck reprieve. It has been a practice of using the Zing bails at all international and IPL matches. With both wooden and Zing bails a snick of the outside of the stump sometimes results in the force not being sufficient to dislodge the bail to the ground.  Here's what David Lighterwood, the Director of the company has to say on bails and whether is it a good idea to eliminate the concept of having bails on stumps. "The way the Zings work, if a Zing bail lights, it means that both spigots have lifted from the groove.  So at that point the wicket is 'put down' by the laws of cricket. But if the bail subsequently reseats (when the Zings will turn off) by the laws of cricket it is not out, as a rider to the relevant law also requires a bail to fall to the ground. So theoretically when the Zings are being used, a playing condition could stipulate this rider doesn't apply, so the wickets are 'put down' upon the flash", explains David Ligertwood, the Director of the company. "Importantly this would still be 100% definitive.  Just like the current law has been through history, by requiring a bail to fall to the ground. If the wickets only had to be touched by the ball to be out a whole range of problems are triggered", he adds. "One problem you would have if the ball only had to touch the stumps is that deciding if and when it took place would often not be definitive.  And in games without TV cameras you often couldn't adjudicate it.  So bails would have to remain in non-TV cricket.  And it would be a real negative if such a cornerstone of the game was different in amateur and grass roots cricket to that on TV". "Even in TV games the technology to determine if stumps were hit would likely never be black and white, and decisions would at times therefore take a long time to assess, and could only be determined when there were TV umpires.  The Zings flashing is 'in front of camera' and can be determined on the field of play".  "With the Zings indicating the instant the bail is dislodged, stumping and run out decisions can be made definitatively in an instant.  If replays and other technology had to be used to determine in which frame the stumps were first touched it would be very difficult, and become more difficult the higher the frame rates of the cameras become". "Another big downside to the ball only having to touch the stumps for a dismissal is that Bails, which are a quirky, interesting and historical part of the cricket, would be lost to the game".  "Bails not dislodging is relatively rare, and is simply a factor in the 'size of the wicket'.  It is a lot rarer than other pieces of luck in the game, like playing and missing etc.  So although there may be emotion around such an occurrence at times, it does not undermine the integrity of the game.  The wicket is always the same for both teams".  "However, when Zings are being used a playing condition could theoretically be introduced so the wicket is 'put down' upon the flash (ie both spigots lifting, but not requiring the rider that they fall to the ground).  This would then capture the vast majority of situations of when the stumps are hit and the bails reseat.  It would be very rare indeed that a bail doesn't flash if the wickets are hit.  So such a playing condition could apply when the Zings are being used, with no real downside". "But like I say, the current law is factual/definitive, historical, entertaining, and always the same for both sides (so fair).  Plus occurs rarely.  And moreover, we have the Zings to tell us the precise definitive moment the second spigot lifts for run outs and stumpings". "So I would say with so much at stake, if it ain't broke why look to change an element of the game that has subsisted for centuries?", Lighterwood concludes.

Sports Bulletin Report LONDON:-The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced today that it has appointed Brendon McCullum as England Men's Test Head Coach. McCullum, 40, will be in place to start his role for next month's LV= Insurance three-match Test series against New Zealand, which gets underway at Lord's from 2 June, subject to obtaining the necessary work visa. The ECB's selection panel of Chief Executive Officer Tom Harrison, Managing Director of England's Men's Cricket Rob Key, Strategic Adviser Andrew Strauss and Performance Director Mo Bobat unanimously agreed that he was the outstanding candidate for the role, having impressed during the competitive interview process. New Zealand born McCullum currently works as Head Coach of Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders and previously coached Trinbago Knight Riders to the 2020 Caribbean Premier League title. He also had an exemplary playing career that saw him earn 101 Test caps and was Test captain of the Black Caps from 2012 to his international retirement in 2016. Rob Key said: "We are delighted to confirm Brendon as England Men's Test Head Coach. It has been a real privilege to get to know him and understand his views and vision for the game. I believe his appointment will be good for England's Test team. "He has a recent history of changing cricket culture and environments for the better, and I believe he is the person to do that for England's red-ball cricket. "We were incredibly fortunate to have a seriously strong list of quality candidates for the post, with Brendon demonstrating he was our number one choice. "I'd like to thank Tom Harrison and the ECB Board for their support in this process. "I believe in Brendon and Ben Stokes - a formidable coach and captain partnership. Time for us all to buckle up and get ready for the ride." Speaking about his appointment, McCullum, added: "I'd like to say how pleased I am to be given this opportunity to positively contribute to England's Test cricket set-up and move the team forward into a more successful era. "In taking this role on, I am acutely aware of the significant challenges the team faces at present, and I strongly believe in my ability to help the team emerge as a stronger force once we've confronted them head-on. "I've enjoyed several robust conversations with Rob Key about the direction of travel for the team and have found his enthusiasm contagious. I'm no stranger to bringing about change within a team environment, and I can't wait to get started. "Ben Stokes is the perfect character to inspire change around him, and I look forward to working closely with him to build a successful unit around us." McCullum is due to arrive in the UK later this month. The Knight Riders have two matches left in their IPL group campaign on Saturday against Sunrisers Hyderabad and complete their season on Wednesday 18 May against Lucknow Super Giants.

BIPIN DANI Sri Lanka's touring cricket team which was supposed to play its first two-day practice match in Chattogram will now play in Dhaka. The visiting team was scheduled to play the inaugural tour game on May 11 & 12 at MA Aziz Stadium, (the first Test match is to be played in  Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium (ZACS) but the same has been shifted to the BKSP (Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan) ground in Dhaka. The home team to play the practice match against Sri Lanka will be known as the BCB XI and will be led by Md. Mithun.   "The request to change the venue was received from the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC)", one of the sources in the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said exclusively over the telephone from Dhaka on Sunday. "No specific reason was given for this change", the source further added. The Lankan squad comprising 18 players and 12 support staff including the tour selector Pramodya Wickramsinghe reached Bangladesh on Sunday morning will stay in Dhaka till the training and the practice game are over. Whereas, the home team was scheduled to reach the first Test venue on Sunday, i.e. a week before the Test, which is to begin on May 15.   "Maintaining the protocol, there was no thread ceremony held at the SLC office", the source in Colombo confirmed. The opener Dimuth Karunaratne, who, on Saturday scored 36 runs in his last match (of the first half season) for Yorkshire is scheduled to leave for Bangladesh immediately after the Sunday match. He is believed to have had chats with the coaching staff.

BIPIN DANI Former Sri Lanka captain and ICC Elite Panel Match Referee Roshan Mahanama met a young cricket enthusiast Arsalaan Akhtar at his home in Mumbai recently and shared with him the experience as a cricketer and in life as well. This was revealed by Arsalaan's father Talha Mohsin. "My 11-year-old son, Arsalaan Akhtar, is a budding cricketer and his only dream is to play for India. The last two years were really tough for him as his cricket academy was shut due to Covid. He was extremely tense and worried as he was losing out on all the training", the father explains. During his father's recent visit to Sri Lanka, he met the 1996 World Cup winning team member Mahanama. "I told him about my Arsalaan and asked him if he could record a video message for him. He promised me that whenever he’s down in India next, he’ll meet him personally instead of just recording a 10-15 second video message. He told me that it would be far more motivational".  "I thought such a big man would naturally forget about it, especially when he’s busy helping people of Sri Lanka during a state of great disturbance, confusion, and uncertainty. But I was wrong. Now, something I never expected happened. I got a call from Roshan Sir to inform me that he’s in India for some important work but he will try to take out time to meet my son. We met and he spent a good 2 hours talking about cricket with my son. He shared his childhood stories. The lessons he got from his coach. The sacrifices he made to become an International Cricket player. He also spoke about how important proper cricketing shots are and it’s not just about playing the ball in the air".  Father adds, "It was like a master-class on cricket and also on how to be a better person. From the basics of cricket to leadership skills and from the importance of discipline to passion. He heard all his questions patiently and answered each one of them. Not only my son, even I learned a lot in those 2 hours". In the end, when we were saying goodbye, my son told him how he still can’t believe that he got so many lessons from a World Champion like Roshan Mahanama. To this, Roshan Sir said, “This is one more leadership lesson, son. Always stay true to your word. I promised your father so I had to fulfill it.” "My son is feeling extremely pumped up after meeting a great man and an even better human being. He’s practicing even more, all thanks to Roshan Sir!", the father concluded.