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Wicketkeeper admits 2019 season was a “struggle” after being dropped by England in the Caribbean

Matt Roller11-Feb-2020Ben Foakes says he has got his “enjoyment and determination back” ahead of England’s Test series in Sri Lanka next month, after feeling like he had lost his love for the game during a difficult 2019 season.Foakes starred on England’s last trip to Sri Lanka, hitting 107 on Test debut and impressing behind the stumps after being added to the touring squad following an injury to Jonny Bairstow, but was unexpectedly dropped for the third and final Test of their next series in the Caribbean, and had a face-to-face chat with selector Ed Smith ahead of the home season to work out where he stood.But rather than starring in the County Championship to press his case for inclusion in England’s Ashes, Foakes found himself running on empty. He struggled for runs, averaging 26.13 in first-class cricket for Surrey, and decided to take some time away from the game this winter in order to rest and refresh.ALSO READ: Foakes, Jennings recalled for SL, Moeen unavailable“I felt like I was burned out from cricket, a little bit,” Foakes told ESPNcricinfo. “After the last four years, trying to get to the England level – when you play all formats in county cricket, you do your full county summer, then you’re in England squads but not really playing, then you go to the Lions in between.”To be honest with you, before last season, I was looking at it and going: how am I getting through this? I started all right, and then I didn’t have too much energy left, and I really struggled towards the end.”Rather than spending time on England pathway programmes, Foakes decided to forget about cricket completely at the end of September, instead going on holidays to Europe and the USA. Remarkably, this was the first winter since 2009-10 that he had not spent playing cricket overseas, and he admitted that the “intensity” of being in Under-19s, Lions, and pathway set-ups “can wear you out after a while”.”That’s why this winter I decided to take a break from the Lions, have a bit of rest time, and just get my head straight and get fresh again. I’ve definitely got that enjoyment and determination back, just because I actually have some energy to do some stuff. I’ve just been really enjoying training again, which has been quite nice.”Foakes was training indoors at The Oval with Alec Stewart when he found out about his inclusion in England’s 16-man squad for Sri Lanka. “He took a phone call and it seemed quite serious,” Foakes said. “He stopped the session, and I was pretty sure he was speaking to Ed Smith but I didn’t know it was about me. I got a little thumbs up, so I had an inkling.”He is expected to start the tour as Jos Buttler’s understudy, but with an impressive record against spin bowling (he averages 60.75 against spinners in Tests to date) and wide recognition that he is the superior gloveman of the two, his case for inclusion is strong. That said, he is not resting on his laurels, and hopes to keep his focus on his own game rather than wondering what will happen next.Ben Foakes works off his pads•AFP

“A lot of it is about opportunity, and just how you perform,” Foakes said. “You have to perform very well to be the number one when there’s that much competition. I probably wouldn’t have played at all last winter if Jonny hadn’t got injured.”It’s something I’m trying not to focus on – it’s probably not that healthy to be always wondering if I’m going to get a chance, so I’ll just try and focus on my primary role. It’s been quite difficult being sat on the outside, not quite knowing where you stand, but I guess that’s part and parcel of being the guy in the middle.”It’s definitely a challenge, especially during a county season when there are England games going on and you’re not sure whether you need to be ready in case [of a call-up].”He is also wary of developing a reputation as being a specialist wicketkeeper, and hopes that he can prove himself to be an all-round package thanks to his batting.”I’m quite hard on myself,” he said. “Generally, even if other people think I’m keeping well, I might think I’m not because I want to do everything perfectly. I’m a bit of a perfectionist.”Until the end of last year, I’ve been really happy with my batting. It’s a bit like with [former England wicketkeeper James] Foster – he kind of had that reputation that he could keep but couldn’t bat, when he was actually a very good batsman. It can work both ways.”It has been reported elsewhere that Foakes’ perceived weakness against the short ball has counted against him in selection, but he was defiant in stating that he considers that part of his game to be a strength.”I did see an article with that [suggestion] but I’ve not heard that myself. I guess in Sri Lanka I was going well against spin, then went to the West Indies where it was more seam and I had a couple of bad games.”But that’s the thing that frustrated me about the West Indies tour: I didn’t actually feel in bad form. I whacked one into short leg [in Barbados] then gloved on onto the hip which rolled on to the stumps [in Antigua]. There were a couple of things where it was just like… it’s not quite your day.”That is cricket, and it happens whoever you’re playing for. And playing for England is a bit more cut-throat: you don’t have that luxury of a bit of time where if you have a couple of bad games you get to recover.”

A look at the marquee events for men and women that are likely to be affected by the pandemic

Nagraj Gollapudi20-Mar-2020

Impact on Associate cricket

The World Cup League and the World Cup Challenge League, two main tournaments that constitute the pathway to the 2023 men’s World Cup Qualifier in 2022, are likely to be affected.
World Cup League
USA – April 1-8: USA, Scotland, UAE (postponed)
Namibia – April 20-27: Namibia, Scotland, Nepal
Papua New Guinea – June 9-16: PNG, Nepal, UAE
Scotland – July 4-11: Scotland, Nepal, Namibia
Namibia – September (dates tbc): Namibia, USA, PNG
World Cup Challenge League
Malaysia – March 16-26 (Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Qatar, Vanuatu, Denmark) postponed
Uganda – July 29-August 8: Uganda, Italy, Hong Kong, Bermuda, Kenya, Jersey)
Other series
Netherlands Quadrangular ODI Series -June 22-27 (Netherlands, Namibia, USA, Oman)
2021 T20 World Cup Regional Qualifiers
Europe: Group A – May 16-22 La Manga, Spain; Group B – June 24-30, Finland; Group C – June 10-16, Brussels/Ghent, Belgium
Americas: August 16-27, Toronto
Asia: Eastern Region April 2020 in Kuwait; Western Region, TBD
Africa: Group A – April 25-May 4, South Africa; Group B – June/July in Rwanda
East Asia-Pacific: TBD

Indian Premier League

Dates: Postponed until April 15Teams participating: 8The IPL, originally meant to start on March 29, was pushed back by the BCCI to April 15 after the Indian government put a ban on social gatherings in addition to restricting entry to the country. The IPL, which started in 2008, has grown to become the most lucrative cricketing event, and even has a separate window to allow the best cricketers to participate in it. The BCCI is understood to have internally discussed stretching the schedule to as far as first week of June – the final was slotted for May 24 initially – to hold a complete event subject to a nod from the Indian government.ALSO READ: ‘If you take sport away, then I don’t know really what we have’Also attached to this is the fate of the Women’s T20 Challenge, featuring the top women’s cricketers from around the world, which the BCCI had said would have four teams this season. The competition, which had started as a one-off exhibition affair in 2018, has now grown in stature and is a likely precursor to the women’s IPL.

World Test Championship

Dates: Started in July 2019, currently held upTeams participating: 9The WTC got off the blocks immediately after the 2019 men’s 50-over World Cup. A tournament to be contested between the top nine Test-playing countries, the WTC was devised by the ICC as a marquee event culminating in a final between the top two teams on the table in June 2021 at Lord’s. A maximum of 120 points per series is at stake with each team playing six series – three at home and three away – in the period. However, while some teams have played a fair share of their six series, some teams are yet to get started in earnest, and many series were scheduled for the rest of this year.
March: Sri Lanka v England – two TestsJune: England v West Indies – three TestsJuly-August: England v Pakistan – three TestsJuly: West Indies v South Africa – two TestsJuly: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka – three TestsAugust: Bangladesh v New Zealand – two TestsNovember-December: New Zealand v West Indies – three TestsDecember-January (2021): Australia v India – four TestsDecember-January (2021): New Zealand v Pakistan – two TestsALSO READ: Bal – Sport still matters, perhaps more than we think

ODI League

Dates: Scheduled to start on May 1Teams participating: 13Alongside the WTC, the ICC had also approved the ODI League, to be played between May 1 this year and March 31, 2022, which would serve as a qualification pathway for the 2023 men’s World Cup, to be played in India. There would be 13 teams, including the 12 Test-playing countries along with the Netherlands, that play eight series over a two-year cycle on a home-and-away basis against mutually agreed opponents.The ICC is yet to finalise the playing conditions for the league, which it is scheduled to do during the upcoming ICC Board meetings, scheduled over teleconference later this month.India (as hosts) plus the seven next-highest-ranked sides in the league as on March 31, 2022 will qualify directly for the 2023 World Cup, while the bottom five will get a second chance to make the grade through a qualifier.The ECB hopes to attract a more diverse range of fans to the Hundred•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

The Hundred

Dates: July 17 to August 15 (men’s); July 22 to August 14 (women’s)Teams participating: 8 each for men and womenThe ECB is hoping their new format reaches audiences beyond the usual cricket fan, with affordable tickets for families and the return of livine cricket to free-to-air TV. Cut down from 120 balls in a T20 innings to just 100, it will fit neatly inside a three-hour prime time TV slot, with some of the world’s biggest stars set to feature.

Asia Cup

Dates: Scheduled for SeptemberTeams participating: 6This six-team event, contested by Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, is scheduled for September. It will be played in the T20 format with the PCB playing host. Later this month, the Asian Cricket Council is likely to finalise the venue for the Asia Cup.

Men’s T20 World Cup

Dates: October 18 to November 15Teams participating: 16After the successful organisation of the women’s event, Australia is set to play hosts to the men’s T20 World Cup later this year too. Last November, six teams – Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Ireland, Namibia, Scotland and Oman – made the cut for the tournament after finishing in the top six of the qualifiers. Those six, along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, will contest in the qualifying stage of the T20 World Cup. The top four from that will progress to join the top-eight teams to contest in the Super12s stage, where the teams have been split into two groups.

ICC Women’s ODI Championship

Dates: Started in 2017 and scheduled to end in 2020Teams participating: 8The championship is the pathway through which the top four teams on the points table qualify for the 2021 Women’s ODI World Cup, which will be played between February 6 and March 7 in New Zealand. New Zealand qualify as hosts. The remaining three slots will be filled after a qualifier, which is scheduled for July in Sri Lanka.Australia, defending champions England, and South Africa have already booked their berths based on the points they have earned in the Championship. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and West Indies are the other teams in the fray. Based on the points earned so far, India and Pakistan have the opportunity to qualify directly.March: South Africa v AustraliaUnscheduled: New Zealand v Sri LankaUnscheduled: Pakistan v India

Board president Ganguly reasons allrounder in contention for home ODI series against South Africa

Nagraj Gollapudi06-Mar-2020The BCCI has told the Saurahstra Cricket Association (SCA) that it cannot permit the latter’s request to release Ravindra Jadeja for the Ranji Trophy final next week because the allrounder is in “contention” to be selected for the three-match ODI series against South Africa, which will be played between March 12 to 18. The Ranji Trophy final will, meanwhile, take place in Jadeja’s home town Rajkot between March 9 to 13.The SCA request was sent immediately after Saurashtra beat Gujarat in the semifinals on March 4, the fifth day of the match. The request, which was signed by former Saurashtra captain Jaydev Shah, the SCA president, was sent to BCCI president Sourav Ganguly.”It is a proud moment for us. So we just sent a request,” Shah told ESPNcricinfo. “It is an important match for us. It is the final.”Ganguly replied promptly. “I congratulate you and the Saurashtra Cricket Association for reaching the final,” Ganguly is understood to have said his response over the e-mail. “Ravindra Jadeja only can be released if he is not part of the Indian team of upcoming series. And currently there are players from both Bengal and Saurashtra who are in contention for selection to the Indian team. The priority will be always given to Indian team.”This is not the first occasion when the SCA had requested players to be released for Ranji Trophy duties. In 2013, too, Saurashtra had made the Ranji final, and were playing against Mumbai, but that match clashed with India’s home ODI series against England. The Ranji final was scheduled from January 26, while the final game of the five-match ODI series was being played in Dharamshala on January 27. Two Saurashtra players – Cheteshwar Pujara and Jadeja – were part of the Indian squad. The SCA had put in a special request to release both, but the BCCI turned down that request even as Jadeja played the final ODI and Pujara sat on the bench.Shah said Ganguly was “very right” and the SCA wanted to just put in the request because of the importance of the occasion. But Shah pointed out that the BCCI ought to pay attention to keeping a free window for the Ranji finals, so that if the Indian players were free they could participate.”If you want domestic cricket popular you need big players to feature in the match. We have requested in the past, too, saying if the player is resting on the bench then he should be released.”Earlier Shah had told the that the BCCI should consider not playing any international cricket during Ranji Trophy. “Will BCCI keep an international match during IPL? No, because it gives money. Ranji Trophy can only be popularised if star players play at least in the finals. Don’t keep any international cricket during finals, have a proper window.”Like Jadeja, Mohammed Shami is also expected to be a part of the India ODI squad – he suffered an external injury in the last Test in New Zealand – and will not be a part of the Bengal line-up, but Test specialists Pujara (Saurashtra) and Wriddhiman Saha (Bengal) are available for selection.

Warner expressed confidence in the BCCI creating a safe bio-security bubble for the IPL to take place

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jun-2020David Warner has said that the Australian players who are part of the Indian Premier League would be open to travelling to India for the tournament, subject to getting clearance from Cricket Australia and the Australian government.The timing of this year’s IPL could hinge on whether the T20 World Cup takes place as scheduled or not, in Australia in October and November. While the ICC has deferred a decision on the event, two members on the ICC Board have expressed doubts about the feasibility of holding the tournament this year.Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings felt it was “unrealistic” while Ehsan Mani said it was likely to be deferred by a year. Warner pointed out that if the T20 World Cup wasn’t going to take place, it opened up a window where no other international cricket had been scheduled in any case, which meant playing in the IPL was possible. However, the Australian players will have to get clearance from their board and their government, with CA giving them permission to skip their own domestic season.”If it is unlikely that the World Cup can go ahead, I’m definitely sure and positive that we’ll be able to come and play in the IPL if that replaces the World Cup,” Warner said in an interview with . “If that permits, CA giving us the go-ahead to go over there, I’m sure that we will put our hand up to come over and play cricket and do what we love.”All the players that have been selected and picked in the auction will put their hand up if they are permitted… we have to get government clearance as well, if we’re allowed to travel,” he added.ALSO READ: ICC to wait and watch before deciding T20 World Cup fate“Obviously what will happen is that, there is a World Cup that was planned so there is probably no international cricket that would have been able to have been scheduled anyway, so they can rescheduled and put the IPL in place. The other thing we have to think about is obviously state cricket starts here in Australia, that’s another thing Cricket Australia will have to consider. But I’m sure if we’re given the opportunity to go over and play, most certain the guys will go over there and play.”Warner expressed confidence in the Indian government and the BCCI creating a safe bio-security bubble for the IPL to take place. “At the end of the day we want to get back on the park, but [it’s about] making sure that we do that in a safe environment as well,” he said. “I’m sure that the Indian government and the BCCI will be putting perfect parameters in place to ensure the safety of the players, the staff that’s working at the venue, everyone that’s involved. Whether or not there’s crowds or no crowds, I’m sure the BCCI will be doing everything they can to try and get this off the ground and all the players in one safe place.”Sweat but no saliva “bizarre”While acknowledging the need for safety measures put in place and praising the thinking behind them, Warner also found it strange that saliva was banned while sweat was not for bowlers shining the ball when cricket resumes.”It’s a bizarre one. We’re in a position that’s new to everyone,” he said. “These parameters have obviously been put in place for health reasons, and obviously we’ve got to abide by those laws. It’s interesting, it’s going to be different that’s for sure. Whether or not down the track there is a designated ball shiner, only one person can shine the ball… it’s weird.”But from my point of view, if you can’t put saliva on the ball but you throw the ball, you catch the ball, you throw it back to that person… you’ve got more sweat on your palms than anything. I’m not educated in that sort of sector, but for me it just seems a little bit silly that you can’t use saliva but you can catch the ball and have sweaty hands and all that. It’s weird but it’s good to see them putting something in place that can negate the chances of spreading that [Covid-19].”

Adam Wheater hits fifty as Surrey’s young quicks impress

ECB Reporters Network08-Aug-2020Feroze Khushi suggested Essex’s production line is in no danger of slowing down as the academy product celebrated his maiden first-class half-century on an even opening day against Surrey.Batsman Khushi was one of 10 homegrown talents in the Essex’s Bob Willis Trophy side to face Surrey as he struck 66 on his second appearance for the county.Adam Wheater, who along with Sam Cook was awarded his county cap before play, also reached fifty as Essex reached the close on 253 for seven.Surrey, who picked seven homegrown players of their own in their XI, proved their youth was also prospering as debutant Gus Atkinson, James Taylor and Amar Virdi all claimed wickets.Home skipper Tom Westley won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket which seemed identical to the one which produced a two-wicket thriller against Kent last week. That meant patient batting and accurate bowling was rewarded throughout the day.Availability-plagued Surrey had enjoyed the better of the morning session as two teenagers saw county champions Essex slump to 49 for three.Surrey have 14 players currently unavailable which forced them to add Sussex’s Laurie Evans and Worcestershire bowler Adam Finch on loan for this match. Quick Atkinson was handed a debut, having been at the county since Under-12 level, and it took him just five overs to make his mark on the first team.Nick Browne seemed to expect the ball to angle across him but was cramped as he squeezed the ball to Mark Stoneman at extra cover.James Taylor wasn’t offered a new contract at boyhood club Derbyshire last year, but their oversight has been to Surrey’s benefit. The seamer didn’t take a wicket in the defeat to Middlesex but scythed down Essex’s top order in two successive deliveries.Westley slashed outside off stump to nick behind to keeper Jamie Smith, the batsman distraught at his misjudgement. Varun Chopra then jabbed a beauty to Scott Borthwick at second slip to leave Essex 49 for 3.Khushi joined his boyhood hero Sir Alastair Cook, who had provided a no-thrills backbone to the batting. Cook reached 42, having added 49 with Khushi, but edged Virdi to first slip Rikki Clarke to a ball which turned nicely out the rough – Virdi’s third ball.Khushi then took centre stage with patience mixed with a dabble of strokeplay – specifically picking up whenever Virdi found himself straying a tad short. Khushi made his debut last week, where he scored a vital 45 in the chase of 202, including 86 with Cook.The 21-year-old had been given a life when he was put down by Will Jacks at gully on 16, but strode to an 84-ball fifty with a flick off his hips. But he saved the shots of the day until the next over when he twice whipped Taylor to the leg-side boundary.Khushi departed in a tame fashion which betrayed the rest of his innings, when he placed straight into Ryan Patel’s lap at midwicket off Virdi. Paul Walter, who replaced the injured Ryan ten Doeschate in the side, had put on 67 with Khushi and continued his work with Wheater. They added another 57 runs before Borthwick entered the attack and yorked the allrounder with his third ball.Wheater was unassuming in his run-scoring, especially with a relentlessly precise bowling attack, but reached his half-century in 94 balls. The wicketkeeper has started the Bob Willis Trophy in fine form, following 37 and a match completing 26 not out.He was dismissed attempting an extravagant cut off Clarke, which deflected to Evans at gully. Simon Harmer, Essex’s only non-local, saw out the last seven overs of the day with Aaron Beard.

ECB Reporters Network30-Aug-2020Sussex captain Luke Wright led by example with a thunderous innings of 82 from 55 balls as Sussex beat Hampshire by six wickets with one ball to spare in the Vitality Blast.Victory for Sussex was always likely once Wright and Phil Salt had put on 89 for the first wicket in just eight overs – the normally dominating Salt was on 23 when Wright reached his half-century.But there was drama in the last over, when Sussex still needed six to win. Ravi Bopara was out lbw to the first delivery, bowled by James Fuller. New batsman Harry Finch then hit a single to leave five off four. David Wiese pulled to the leg-side boundary for another single.When Fuller bowled a dot ball to Finch Sussex suddenly needed four runs off two balls. But the Sussex batsman pulled the penultimate delivery of the game to square leg for four. Wiese was left unbeaten with a cool-headed 43.One of Wright’s sixes broke a flat window outside the east side of the ground, something Fuller had achieved in the Hampshire innings as both sides exploited the short boundary there.The only moment of anxiety for Wright came when he was on 74, and sliced a high full toss from Ryan Stevenson to backward point. But after a consultation between the umpires a no-ball was ruled. Wright hit eight fours and four sixes and when he was out in the 17th over Sussex needed just another 22 runs for victory. Wright and Salt, with two sixes apiece, took 29 runs from Fuller’s opening over. But the Hampshire allrounder had ensured this would be a meaningful match with a rapid fifty of his own earlier in the day.Hampshire started poorly when George Munsey was out second ball, well caught by the returning Wiese at mid-on off George Garton. And the Hampshire innings continued to falter, with just one of the first five batsmen reaching double figures.They lost their second wicket in the fourth over when Sam Northeast, surprised by the bounce of a Tymal Mills delivery, was caught at backward point. And it was 49 for three when Joe Weatherley was caught on the leg-side boundary by Ollie Robinson to give Danny Briggs the first of his three wickets.The first half of the Hampshire innings was held together by Tom Alsop, who took few risks in compiling a 42-ball fifty, with seven fours. He lost his fourth partner, Lewis McManus, at 77, and he was out himself immediately after reaching his half-century to make it 88 for five in the 13th over.The Hampshire innings was then transformed by some strong-arm tactics from Fuller, who made an unbeaten 53 from just 31 deliveries, with five sixes and a four. Garton went for three sixes in the space of five deliveries. Fuller was well supported by Ian Holland, who made a 22-ball 36 not out.”It would have been a cracker of a match with a crowd here – lots of sixes, lots of broken windows,” Wright said. “When a game goes to the last couple of balls it’s disappointing that there are not people here to watch it.”But it’s great to get a win. It was closer than we wanted it to be at the end but the lads did really well.”

All the buzz from the IPL 2020 game between the Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals, in Abu Dhabi

Matt Roller06-Oct-2020