Matthew Potts has been announced as Ben Stokes’ replacement in the XI for England’s first Test against Sri Lanka, with Harry Brook stepping into the vice-captaincy role for the series to assist stand-in captain Ollie Pope.Potts, who earned the last of his six Test caps in the one-off Test against Ireland last summer, has been given the nod ahead of fellow quick Olly Stone and uncapped batter Jordan Cox after Stokes was ruled out of the rest of the summer with a hamstring injury sustained during the Men’s Hundred.Potts, 25, is a team-mate of Stokes for both Durham and Northern Superchargers, and will slot in at No. 9 for the fixture at Emirates Old Trafford, which begins on Wednesday. That means promotions up the order for Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson, who will bat from No. 6-8 respectively.While not quite an allrounder, Potts is a handy lower-order batter, as showcased by an unbeaten 149 against Warwickshire earlier this season, which was his maiden first-class century. Nevertheless, the selection adds to the peculiar nature of the XI, which also features Dan Lawrence as opener following Zak Crawley’s finger injury sustained during the last Test against West Indies.Matthew Potts is set to play his first Test since June 2023•Getty Images

Both Potts and Lawrence have had to bide their time. Potts’ debut summer in 2022 brought 20 wickets at 28.00 as he featured in the first five Tests of the Bazball era. But beyond a sole appearance against Ireland, he has been a spare body around the squad, including at the start of this summer against West Indies when he was superseded by Atkinson.For Lawrence, this will be a first Test cap in the new era, though he has still yet to play under Stokes. He has been a squad regular for the last 17 Test matches – a run which began at the start of 2023 against New Zealand – including the entirety of the India tour at the start of the year. Lawrence debuted against Sri Lanka in 2021, with the last of his 11 appearances coming at the end of the Caribbean tour in March 2022, which was Joe Root’s last as Test captain.Even within that small sample size, Lawrence has occupied every position between No.3 and 7 and will tick off the opening berth this week. While his early learnings at Essex came as an opener, particularly for their second team, only seven of the 27-year-old’s 203 first-class innings to date have been at the top of the order.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The most recent of those came as a pinch-hitter for new county Surrey against Somerset, finishing 54 not out from 34 balls. While the match situation was something of an anomaly, as Surrey made an ambitious dart at a target of 209 inside 19 overs, it is that kind of aggressive intent Lawrence is looking to channel in his new, temporary role.”I think my natural style is to try and be aggressive, always try to take the game on and score runs,” said Lawrence. “Not necessarily as quickly as possible, but try to take every opportunity. And that won’t change over the next few weeks. Throughout my whole career, I’ve played a certain brand of cricket and that has served me well so I’m just going to do the same thing.”I think it’s kind of the style of cricketer that Baz and Stokes are generally after, and my general way of going about it is to try and be quite aggressive. So I think I fit the mould more in that aspect.”I did actually start my first-class career as an opener and then I’ve gradually kind of moved up and down as I’ve gone along. But I’m only really focusing on trying to really enjoy the week. It shouldn’t be too much different from batting three or four.”England: 1 Dan Lawrence, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope (capt), 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Jamie Smith (wk),7 Chris Woakes, 8 Gus Atkinson, 9 Matthew Potts, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Shoaib Bashir

Given their already-strong net run rate, a win here will prop up West Indies’ semi-final chances

Sruthi Ravindranath09-Oct-2024

Bangladesh vs West IndiesDubai, 6pm local timeBangladesh squad: Nigar Sultana (capt, wk), Nahida Akter, Murshida Khatun, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Sobhana Mostary, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Jahanara Alam, Dilara Akter, Taj Nehar, Shathi Rani, Disha BiswasWest Indies squad: Hayley Matthews (capt), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Shemaine Campbelle (vice-capt, wk), Ashmini Munisar, Afy Fletcher, Stafanie Taylor, Chinelle Henry, Chedean Nation, Qiana Joseph, Zaida James, Karishma Ramharack, Mandy Mangru, Nerissa CraftonTournament guide: After a win in their first match against Scotland, Bangladesh crumbled to a loss against England on a surface that aided spin. West Indies, meanwhile, lost their first match to South Africa but bounced back with a dominating win against Scotland thanks to an all-round show from Chinelle Henry.Related

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News brief: Left-arm spinner Zaida James suffered a blow to the jaw while fielding off her own bowling in the match against South Africa and subsequently missed the Scotland game. A West Indies statement said she “fortunately does not have breaks and fractures” and continues to be monitored by the medical team.West Indies earned a massive net run rate boost after their win against Scotland, and winning this match will strengthen their semi-final chances. If Bangladesh lose this match, their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals will take a big hit given their negative NRR. This will be West Indies’ first game of the tournament in Sharjah.Despite being used to spinning tracks back home, Bangladesh – after a fine outing with the ball – were undone by England’s quality spin attack in the previous game in Sharjah. This match, too, will come down to how well the teams counter spin. The average first-innings total at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium this tournament is 119, and only twice have teams won chasing.Player to watch: Bangladesh’s batting unit has not been up to mark in both games, but one player who’s stood out is Sobhana Mostary. She helped Bangladesh put up a competitive total scoring 36 against Scotland, and once again top-scored with 44 against England. Coming in after an early wicket against England, she dropped anchor as regular wickets at the other end piled the pressure on her. She hit a four and a six in her 48-ball stay on a slow surface against tight bowling and kept at it till the 19th over, but the target of 119 was too much of an ask in the end.

In-form opener will face Surrey in upcoming round after injury to Scott Borthwick

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Sep-2024Emilio Gay will join Durham on loan for their County Championship clash with table-topping Surrey at the Kia Oval on Tuesday, after the club captain Scott Borthwick was ruled out for the rest of the season with an elbow injury.Gay, 24, has enjoyed a prolific season at the top of Northamptonshire’s order, scoring 919 runs at 57.43 in ten matches, including a career-best 261 against Middlesex in April.However, he was out of contract at the end of the season, and having agreed to join Durham on a two-year deal from 2025, he has now brought forward his time at the club to include their final two Championship matches, against Surrey and Kent.Alex Lees will take over as Durham’s captain for the remainder of the season.Gay’s arrival is a boost for Durham, who are currently fifth in Division One in their first season back in the top flight for eight years, and who will face a Surrey side still smarting from their shock defeat against title challengers Somerset at Taunton last week. Surrey currently lead Somerset by eight points, and have still to face Essex in their final match at Chelmsford, starting September 26.Surrey’s morale took a further dent on Saturday when Somerset also ended their hopes of a domestic double in the T20 Blast semi-final at Edgbaston.With England’s ongoing white-ball series against Australia limiting player availability, Surrey were shorn of four key players in that contest. They now face missing more personnel for the last rounds of the Championship, with Gus Atkinson already ruled out with injury, and Ollie Pope rested for the final two rounds with England due to fly out for their Test series against Pakistan in just over two weeks’ time.

Warwickshire dropped to third but scheduling issues mean they will host the semi-final against Worcestershire

ECB Reporters Network14-Aug-2024Nottinghamshire ended their inconsistent Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign on a high with a 12-run (DLS) victory over Warwickshire at Rugby School.Warwickshire still qualify for the quarter-finals – they will face Worcestershire at Edgbaston on Friday – but need to reboot after ending the group stage with successive defeats.The home side was bowled out for 182 in 46.3 overs, only Ed Barnard reaching 30 against an impressive attack led by Robert Lord (3 for 24) and Liam Patterson-White (3 for 26).Nottinghamshire’s reply was heavily rain-affected and closed on 135 for five after 28 overs, chasing a DLS target of 173 in 38. They were in trouble at 62 for 5 but were lifted ahead of the equation by a composed unbroken stand of 73 from Jack Haynes and Tom Moores.The defeat dropped Warwickshire to third in the final Group B table but they will still host Worcestershire (who finished second in Group A) because New Road will be hosting England Lions vs Sri Lanka on Friday.Nottinghamshire chose to bowl at a home batting unit deprived of Rob Yates and Hamza Shaikh by England Lions duty. Those two were missed as no Warwickshire batter lasted 50 balls.Zen Malik, on his debut, soon edged James Hayes to wicketkeeper Moores. Barnard and Will Rhodes took the score to 45 for one before the fall of the former, lbw to a fine delivery from Lord, sent the innings into decline.Rhodes was run out by a direct hit from the boundary by Haynes. Michael Burgess pushed forward down the wrong line to Patterson-White and was bowled.Chris Benjamin and Kai Smith added 30 but both fell in Matthew Montgomery’s first over, each caught at deep mid-wicket. When Patterson-White trapped Theo Wylie lbw through an ill-judged reverse sweep, three wickets had fallen for one run in seven balls.Michael Booth edged Patterson-White to second slip as Warwickshire dipped to 141 for 8 before Jake Lintott and Tazeem Ali added 41 in 11 overs to give their side something to bowl at. Lintott hit the only six of the innings, over long on off Montgomery, before skying Lord to extra cover.Embarking on a target of 183 in 48 overs, Nottinghamshire lost early wickets in thickening drizzle. Freddie McCann chipped Barnard to mid-wicket, Ben Slater edged Booth behind and Haseeb Hameed was adjudged caught at gully off Lintott when the ball apparently bounced before being scooped up by Smith. That wicket, quickly followed by Montgomery edging Lintott behind, tilted the DLS equation Warwickshire’s way.After an hour-long rain break at 56 for 4 (12.5 overs) changed the target to 173 from 38, Lintott quickly struck again when a full-length ball trapped Sam King lbw, but Haynes and Moores batted sensibly in poor light and drizzle. Haynes reached a 64-ball half-century and nudged his side calmly into control before the rain thickened up and off came the players once and for all.

Shashwat Rawat waged a lone battle for India A with an unbeaten 122 off 235 balls as the India C quicks kept a lid on proceedings on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy 2024-25 encounter in Anantapur.Anshul Kamboj grabbed three wickets, Vijaykumar Vyshak two, while Gaurav Yadav returned one wicket to restrict India A to 224 for 7 in 77 overs on day one.It could have been a lot worse for India A who lost their top four for single-digit scores if not for Rawat’s defiance. Coming in at No. 5, he recorded his sixth first-class hundred in only his 17th match to take the side past 200. At stumps, he had Avesh Khan for company on 16 with the duo already having added an unbroken 70-run stand for the eighth wicket.Related

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India C’s decision to field was vindicated almost immediately, with Kamboj and Vyshak cutting through the India A top order who lost their first five wickets with just 37 on the board.Kamboj struck first taking out opener Pratham Singh for 6 in the seventh over, with the ball taking the inside edge of his bat onto pad and lobbing to Sai Sudharsan at square leg. He then had Mayank Agarwal edging a straightforward catch to Ishan Kishan before Vyshak got into the act, getting rid of Riyan Parag.Parag’s was a soft dismissal as he drove a full-length Vyshak delivery well outside off stump and failed to keep it down and Sai Sudharsan at point gobbled up a simple catch. Things went from bad to worse when Tilak Varma was run out at the non-striker’s end with Shashwat’s full-blooded straight drive catching Vyshak’s left hand and ricocheting onto the stumps. Tilak’s bat was in the air and he had to depart for 5.Kumar Kushagra then nicked Vyshak behind for an eight-ball duck as India A lost half their side inside 20 overs before lunch.Rawat and Mulani joined forces to take India A into the break unscathed. The duo added an 87-run stand for the sixth wicket giving their side something to smile about. Mulani struck 44 off 76 balls which included five fours and a six before he became Gaurav’s first victim with Rajat Patidar taking a good catch to his left at gully.Rawat though carried on reaching his fifty off 119 balls. At the other end, Tanush Kotian failed to last long falling to a brute of a delivery from Kamboj that caught his gloves and lobbed to Baba Indrajith at slips. At 154 for 7, it seemed the end was nigh for India A but Rawat found excellent support from Avesh.The duo dug in with Avesh even smashing two fours and a six in his 43-ball unbeaten stay. Rawat reached his century with a tuck to the on-side, getting there in 174 balls. By the end of the day, Rawat had struck 15 fours in his knock and will hope to take India A past the 300-mark on the second day.

The fast bowler made the announcement as the team returned from Sri Lanka where they lost 2-0

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Oct-2024

Tim Southee has stepped down as New Zealand’s Test captain following the series defeat in Sri Lanka, and will be replaced by Tom Latham, saying he believes it is in the best interests of the side.Southee led the team in 14 Tests with a record of six wins, six losses and two draws since taking over from Kane Williamson in 2022. New Zealand lost a hard-fought first Test in Galle but were soundly beaten by an innings in the second making it four defeats in a row either side of the Afghanistan fixture which was abandoned without a ball bowled. New Zealand’s next assignment is a three-Test series in India later this month.Related

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“Captaining the Blackcaps in a format that’s so special to me, has been an absolute honour and a privilege,” he said. “I’ve always tried to put the team first throughout my career and I believe this decision is the best for the team.”I believe the way I can best serve the team moving forward is focusing on my performances on the field and getting back to my best, to continue taking wickets and helping New Zealand win Test matches.”I will, as I’ve always done, continue to support my team-mates, especially the exciting young bowlers making their way on the international stage. I wish Tom all the best in the role and he knows I’ll be there to support him on his journey, as he has done for me over the years.”Southee said that it was his own decision to step down as captain. “Yes. We have discussions with Gary [Stead] like we do at the end of every series,” he said at the Auckland airport after having arrived from Sri Lanka. “It was my decision to move aside and it’s Tom’s time to keep moving this team forward. [We have] got six Test matches to look forward to and I’m excited about that.”I love Test cricket and it’s a game I care deeply about. I love playing, so yeah will be nice to be part of the six Test matches moving forward.”Southee’s own form has been in the spotlight this year. He has taken just 12 wickets in his last eight Tests and, though he played both matches in Sri Lanka, there was a chance he wouldn’t feature throughout the upcoming India series depending on the make-up of the attack.Now, without the captaincy, he will return to the selection mix alongside Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke and Ben Sears. O’Rourke was impressive in Sri Lanka while Henry, who was outstanding in the last home summer, and Sears did not feature.Southee isn’t taking the franchise T20 route yet and has reaffirmed his commitment to New Zealand Cricket for now. “I guess it’s all options but I’m committed to New Zealand Cricket for now and Test cricket is a format I love playing and really enjoy.”Latham has previously captained the Test side on nine occasions between 2020 and 2022.Head Gary Stead praised the selflessness of Southee’s decision and said he continued to see him as a key part of the Test side as he searches for the 18 wickets he needs to be just the second New Zealand bowler to take 400.”Tim’s a fantastic player and a very good leader who is held in high regard by the players and support staff,” he said. “He’s been a great servant of New Zealand Cricket over nearly 17 years playing on the international stage, and I’d like to acknowledge his humility in stepping down from the role as Test captain.”It’s not easy giving up something you love, but Tim is a true team-man and he’s made the decision with the team’s best interests at heart. He’s one of our greatest ever players and we still very much see him playing a part in our Test side moving forward.”NZC CEO Scott Weenink added: “It’s a measure of the man that he continues to put the team interests ahead of his own and, despite his obvious personal disappointment, wants to do the best thing possible for everyone else. To me, that’s the sign of a true leader in every sense of the word.”New Zealand’s 15-player squad for the three-Test tour of India will be confirmed in the coming days.