Cricket news

• Hazy spirit gives way to smoke haze as cricket's Sydney Test approaches

  01-01-2020 23:50
  
  The intangibly lazy, hazy mental space of the New Year’s Test takes on an eerie air as thick smoke is set to envelop the Sydney Cricket GroundThe Trans-Tasman Trophy moves to Sydney this week. The Australian side will take on a sickly New Zealand side, search for their sixth straight Test victory against them, and do so under sick skies.It will be eerie. The New Year’s Test traditionally occupies that intangibly lazy, hazy mental space between the year end and the year anew. Everyone
  
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• Joss Buttler backs ECB over being ‘open to change’ on four-day Tests

  01-01-2020 16:02
  
  • England wicketkeeper says ‘cricket must be open to change’
  • Players split on the idea of scrapping five-day TestsEngland wicketkeeper Jos Buttler says cricket must be “open to change” and weigh up the benefits of four-day Tests. The International Cricket Council is understood to be considering standardising shortened matches from 2023 in a bid to ease player workload, not to mention lower staging costs, with the England and Wales Cricket Board “cautious
  
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• ‘Cricket must be open to change’: Jos Buttler backs ECB over four-day Tests

  01-01-2020 16:02
  
  • Wicketkeeper says priority is to ‘preserve Test cricket’
  • Vernon Philander among players eager to keep five-day TestsEngland wicketkeeper Jos Buttler says cricket must be “open to change” and weigh up the benefits of four-day Tests. The International Cricket Council is understood to be considering standardising shortened matches from 2023 in a bid to ease player workload, not to mention lower staging costs, with the England and Wales Cricket Board “caut
  
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• ‘Cricket must be open to change’: Buttler says four-day Tests ‘must be looked at’

  01-01-2020 16:02
  
  • Wicketkeeper says priority is to ‘preserve Test cricket’
  • Vernon Philander among players eager to keep five-day TestsThe England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler says cricket must be “open to change” and weigh up the benefits of four-day Tests. The International Cricket Council is understood to be considering standardising shortened matches from 2023 in a bid to ease player workload, not to mention lower staging costs, with the England and Wales Cricket Board “
  
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• Cricket Australia commit to safety first approach amid bushfire smoke

  01-01-2020 14:30
  
  Governing body will provide data to umpires on air qualitySaturday is likely to provide the most challenging conditionsCricket Australia have vowed not to put players, officials or fans at risk as they prepare a cautious approach to smoke haze at the Sydney Test. The third Test between Australia and New Zealand at the SCG starting Friday will be played amid smoke from the nation’s unfolding bushfire crisis. Saturday is forecast to be most challenging with increased smoke haze and high temp
  
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• Bushfire smoke likely to affect play in Australia v New Zealand Sydney Test

  01-01-2020 14:30
  
  Smoke from wildfires expected to reach peak on SaturdayJustin Langer: ‘I hope it rains a bit ... Sydney needs it’Smoke from bushfires is likely to affect play in the third Test between Australia and New Zealand, which is set to begin on Friday at the Sydney Cricket Ground.More than 100 wildfires are currently burning in New South Wales, with air quality an concern for Sydney residents. The smoke is expected to be at its worst on Saturday and play could well be delayed, as was the cas
  
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• Australia and New Zealand focus on victims as bushfires threaten third Test

  01-01-2020 14:30
  
  Justin Langer: ‘People are suffering ... this is just a game’Friday’s Test at SCG may be delayed by bushfire smokeSmoke from bushfires is likely to affect play in the third Test between Australia and New Zealand, which is set to begin on Friday at the Sydney Cricket Ground.More than 100 wildfires are currently burning in New South Wales, with air quality an concern for Sydney residents. The smoke is expected to be at its worst on Saturday and play could well be delayed, as was
  
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• Dom Bess gets chance for second spin on Test cricket wheel of fortune | Adam Collins

  01-01-2020 14:10
  
  Somerset spinner’s fall after his first England stint was precipitous but he is back in contention at NewlandsWhen Ed Smith named his first England Test squad as national selector, it was notable for two contrasting cricketers from Somerset. The first, Jos Buttler, had long since left that nest and his wings expanded yet further from that point. As of this week, he has MBE next to his name. But the other who turned out for England against Pakistan last summer, Dom Bess, has been invisible
  
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• England’s Jofra Archer an injury doubt for second Test against South Africa

  01-01-2020 12:37
  
  • Fast bowler struggling with sore elbow before Cape Town match
  • Player only managed limited bowling in training sessionJofra Archer is an injury doubt for England’s second Test in South Africa, to add to the tourists’ woes after defeat in the opening match at Centurion.Archer reportedly only bowled six balls in the training session on Wednesday owing to a sore elbow, indicating he faces a race against time to play in the Cape Town Test on Friday. Related: Four-day Tests n
  
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• 'Ridiculous – I'm not a fan': four-day Tests plan meets player resistance

  01-01-2020 12:28
  
  Nathan Lyon, Tim Paine and Travis Head oppose proposalsAfghanistan Test floated as a possible trial groundPlayer resistance looms as as a serious difficulty for cricket administrators if the push for four-day Tests is to gather serious momentum, with the Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon among those coming out strongly against proposals he described as “ridiculous”.Australia host Afghanistan in a one-off Test next season and there is a possibility that encounter will be a four-day ma
  
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