August 1, 2024

Wolvaardt Trumps Wyatt as Southern Brave Stay Winless

Laura Wolvaardt’s unbeaten 78 guided Manchester Originals to a six-wicket victory over defending champions Southern Brave at the Utilita Bowl. Brave have now lost their first three games of the season, with Wolvaardt’s exceptional performance proving decisive. She carefully managed the chase, securing the win with two balls to spare.

Wolvaardt formed a critical 80-run partnership with Eve Jones, who contributed 39 runs. Their efforts were crucial after Brave posted 136 for 5. Danni Wyatt led Brave’s scoring with 61 off 46 balls, while Sophie Ecclestone took 2 for 17.

Brave started well with Wyatt and Maia Bouchier, who added 51 runs from 35 balls. Kim Garth made the first breakthrough by dismissing Bouchier. Wyatt and Charli Knott built a 68-run partnership, but Ecclestone quickly rejected both. Wolvaardt also took a brilliant catch running backward, keeping the match tight.

Lauren Cheatle dismissed Beth Mooney, who edged behind while attempting to hit down the wicket. After that, Wolvaardt and Jones took control. Wolvaardt hit 11 boundaries in her 52-ball innings, while Jones contributed steadily until she was caught by Knott off Georgia Adams’ bowling. Ecclestone hit a six during her brief stay. Wolvaardt’s unbeaten knock ensured Manchester Originals‘ second win, leaving Southern Brave’s title defense in jeopardy.

Meerkat Match Hero Woolvardt said: “It’s nice to chase a big score and it will be good for our group. I didn’t get off to the start that I wanted and I think they bowled quite well in the middle. I felt like I wasn’t getting the boundaries I wanted but I knew we had the firepower so I just tried to take it deep. Eve was amazing. She has been whacking them in every game so far and she really played to her strengths.”

Jayasuriya: “Don’t See a Lack of Commitment, But SL Players Have to Tackle Pressure Better”

Sri Lanka’s interim coach, Sanath Jayasuriya, urges the team to use the criticism they faced after losing the T20I series to India as motivation for their upcoming ODI matches. He also emphasizes that fans should give Dasun Shanaka time to prove himself as captain before making judgments.

“I tell them that I have been at this place too during my 20 years as a player,” Jayasuriya said ahead of the first ODI in Colombo. “A lot of you have just started. You have to be able to accept this criticism, and then be able to come out and play well. If you play well the fans will love you. Sanath Jayasuriya explained that the criticism the Sri Lankan team is receiving is due to temporary frustration. He assured that the team is working hard in training, and the batting collapses in the T20Is were just moments when things didn’t go their way. In the third T20I, Sri Lanka fell apart, losing 7 wickets for 27 runs, allowing India to force a Super Over despite Sri Lanka initially being close to their target of 138. In the first T20I, they collapsed from 140 for 1 to 9 wickets for 30 runs while chasing 214.

Jayasuriya said it wasn’t a lack of skill or commitment that led to the meltdowns. He felt his players’ “cricket awareness” needed sharpening. “We have created a system where top-order batters could bat for two or three hours during training,” he said. “Kamindu Mendis batted for more than 600 balls during our training. Kusal Perera batted for over 700 balls and that’s quite a number of overs.

IPL Franchises Ask for Two-year Ban on Overseas Players Pulling Out After Being Bought at Auction

IPL franchises have proposed a two-year ban for overseas players who skip a season without a valid reason, such as injury or personal commitments. They have also suggested that all overseas players register for the mega auction, not just the mini-auctions, to avoid last-minute withdrawals. This proposal was agreed upon by nearly all ten franchises during their recent meeting with the IPL.

The franchises have been grappling with significant issues of players withdrawing just before the season starts, often citing personal reasons. These sudden changes disrupt team plans, as strategies are built around the inclusion of these players. This leaves teams scrambling for suitable replacements from a smaller pool of international talent, underscoring the urgency of the proposed changes.

Franchises have communicated to the IPL the importance of transparency in player availability. They are open to players missing the season for valid reasons like international commitments, injuries, or family issues, as long as there is clear information about their availability during the auction. They want to avoid situations where players bought at base price withdraw after the auction, emphasizing the need for clear and upfront player availability information.

The franchises also pointed out that some high-profile overseas players have skipped the mega auctions (held every two years) but participated in mini-auctions to attract more giant bids. This happens because there are fewer top-quality players in mini-auctions. For example, in the 2022 mega auction, Ishan Kishan received the highest bid of INR 15.25 crore (about USD 2.03 million), while the latest mini-auction saw higher bids for Mitchell Starc (INR 24.75 crore or about USD 2.98 million) and Pat Cummins (INR 20.50 crore or about USD 2.47 million).

The franchises believe that some players and their managers are trying to exploit the system. Therefore, they proposed that high-profile players should register for mega auctions. In contrast, new or less-known players can register for mini-auctions. If these big names go unsold in the mega auction, they could enter the mini-auction in the following season.