Out of season News

[Admin]

OOPS

Argentina's women compiled a T20 International record score of 427 as they thrashed an inexperienced Chile side in Buenos Aires on Friday.

The total - the highest in women's and men's T20Is - eclipsed the 318-1 made by Bahrain's women against Saudi Arabia in March 2022.

Lucia Taylor hit 169 off 84 balls for Argentina as she made the highest individual score in women's T20Is.

Chile, who fielded seven debutants, were bowled out for 63 in reply.

The 364-run margin of defeat in the match played at the Maurice Runnacles Oval in the St Albans Club, was the heaviest in both women's and men's cricket.

Taylor, whose previous top score in T20Is was 29, hit 27 fours as she shared a first-wicket stand of 350 with Albertina Galan (145 not out) - also a record for any partnership in both men's and women's T20Is.

Chile's Florencia Martinez bowled 17 no balls as her one over cost 52 runs. Jessica Miranda top scored for Chile with 27 and claimed the wicket of Taylor to finish with 1-64 from her four overs.

Argentina are currently 66th in the International Cricket Council's rankings while Chile - who were playing a T20 for the first time since 2019 - have not played sufficient fixtures to have a ranking.

Last month, Nepal hit a men's T20 record of 314-3 as they beat Mongolia at the Asian Games in China.

[MickeyG]

Although Argentina are not a top team, what a waste of time playing the likes of Chile. Same with some of the stuff in Rugby. I suppose they have no choice if they want game time to try and get better.

[lancsdes]

As mentioned on Daniel Gidney’s thread , I’m going to hear him speak on Wednesday. May not be questioned about it at Southport, however.

[John W]

Oct 15, 2023 15:28:28 GMT lancsdes said:

As mentioned on Daniel Gidney’s thread , I’m going to hear him speak on Wednesday. May not be questioned about it at Southport, however.

Des, fingers crossed somebody from Liverpool cricket club is in the audience and asks the question.

[Admin]

Somerset

Right-arm seamer Jake Ball has signed for Somerset on an two-year deal.

The 32-year-old, who played four Test matches, 18 one-day internationals and two T20 internationals for England, also has the option of a third year.

Ball became the first England bowler to take five wickets on his 50-over debut against Bangladesh in Dhaka in 2016, with figures of 5-51.

He spent 15 years with Nottinghamshire where he took 423 wickets for the county across all formats.

But back injuries limited Ball to bowling mainly in the T20 Blast for Notts this season, where they were knocked out by eventual winners Somerset at the quarter-final stage.

"I'm really looking forward to this new challenge," Ball told the Somerset club website.

"Somerset have got a great bunch of lads, and their ambition was one of the things that really attracted me to the club.

"I genuinely believe that this group of players have what it takes to challenge for the Championship and build on the success of wining this season's Vitality Blast."

Ball made the last of his 24 England appearances against India in Bristol, in July 2018, in a T20 international.

He joins a Somerset side that has seen veteran paceman Jack Brooks leave at the end of the season, while a number of seamers have injury concerns.

"He will really complement our outstanding attack, whilst the knowledge and experience that he will bring to the dressing room will be of huge benefit to our aspirational bowlers and their development," Somerset director of cricket Andy Hurry said.

"He has a genuine desire to win games of cricket and it was very much apparent during our discussions that there remains a strong fire burning inside him to achieve as much as he can within the game.

"He is a quality performer who will ensure we have the depth to maintain our ability to be really competitive across all the formats over a demanding season."

[oldhamexile]

Jake Ball joins Somerset on a two year deal following his release from Nottinghamshire. 32yo but potentially a very good signing, worth taking the risk on his fitness: bowls at a very good pace for championship cricket and gets good bounce from his height, likely to play for them in all three formats if not picked up for the Hundred.

[Admin]

ESSEX

Essex youngster Robin Das has extended his contract with the club until the end of the 2025 season.

The 21-year-old top-order batter has regularly featured in Essex's white-ball teams, including the T20 Blast final defeat by Somerset in July.

He also scored 132 on his first-class debut against Ireland at Chelmsford earlier this year.

"I really feel at home here and that environment has allowed me to play my natural game," said Das.

"I'm someone who likes to play with freedom, and it's fantastic that the coaches and the rest of the guys here are willing to let me do that."

[Admin]

DURHAM

Durham have signed Australia Test seamer Scott Boland for the first half of the 2024 season.

The 34-year-old will feature for the Chester-le-Street side until the end of July, in both the County Championship and T20 Blast.

Boland has taken 35 wickets in 10 Tests, including figures of 6-7 on his debut against England in December 2021.

"I'm eager to join a strong bowling group and work alongside some new faces," he told the club website.

"I feel the time is right for me to play county cricket, I've always wanted to and grateful for Durham for giving me the opportunity."

Durham won promotion back to Division One of the County Championship last season after seven seasons away.

[ross]

At Southport last night, Gidney said it was for Liverpool to step forward with a plan after giving the recent impression that they were not very keen.

[Admin]

SUSSEX
Sussex have signed experienced wicketkeeper John Simpson from Middlesex on a three-year contract.

The 35-year-old three-times capped England one-day international mutually agreed with Middlesex to end his contract at Lord's to move to Hove.

"I am excited to be joining Sussex at such an exciting time for the club," said Simpson.

"After 16 happy seasons with Middlesex it was time for a fresh challenge, and I can't wait to get started."

Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace added: "John will be a central point of our progression, bringing huge experience, calmness and a high level of skill and leadership."

Since making his debut in 2009, the Lancashire-born left-handed batter has made 866 dismissals with the gloves across all formats, the third highest total in Middlesex's history - behind only former England Test players JT Murray and Fred Price.

Simpson, whose contract with Middlesex had been due to run until the end of next summer, also made over 13,000 runs in all three formats.

He becomes Sussex's first winter signing, following the collapse of a plan to bring in Leicestershire paceman Chris Wright.

A statement signing for Sussex
Analysis - Adrian Harms, BBC Radio Sussex

Paul Farbrace made it abundantly clear at the end of the season that he wanted to add experience to the Sussex squad - and this is a statement signing.

John Simpson brings not just a wealth of experience in all formats but, more importantly, Sussex have lacked a genuine top class wicketkeeper since the departure of Ben Brown to Hampshire two years ago, and Simpson will fill that void.

Promising young keeper Ollie Carter improved considerably last season and his time will come again but, for now, this signing represents a significant step in Sussex building a side capable of mounting a serious promotion challenge next season.

[Admin]

SUSSEX

Bowler Brad Currie and batter Harrison Ward have signed T20 contracts with Sussex for 2024.

Currie, 24, signed a one-year deal with Sussex in March after impressing on his debut during 2022.

The Scot, who has played 12 T20 matches for the club, took a sensational diving catch on on the boundary during the win against Hampshire Hawks this year.

Ward, 24, scored 165 runs in seven matches for Sussex during this season's Blast campaign.

"Harrison is an aggressive top order batter who I think we can keep improving and help us with our approach to T20 cricket," Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace said.

"Brad showed high quality with the ball and in the field last season in T20 cricket. He swings the new ball and can bowl in all three phases"

MIDDLESEX

Middlesex all-rounder Josh de Caires has signed a new deal to stay with the club until the end of the 2025 season.

The 21-year-old has made 34 appearances for the club having been part of their set up since under-10 level.

In 2023 he took 27 first-class wickets in eight games, with a career-best 8-106 against Essex.

He is the son of ex-England captain Michael Atherton and was called up to the England Lions side this week for a training camp.

"Coming into the side as a batter two years ago, it's testament to how hard Josh works at his game, that he has been able to continue to develop his batting, whilst also working closely with the coaching staff to develop his off-spin," Middlesex director of cricket Andy Coleman said.

"He is now an important part of this Middlesex side, has a really bright future ahead of him, and thoroughly deserves the opportunity he has earned to show the England selectors exactly what he can do."

[Admin]

ESSEX
Essex prospect Noah Thain has extended his contract to the end of the 2024 season.

The 18-year-old all-rounder made his first-class debut in a three-day game against Ireland in May.

He went on to score 159 runs in six appearances in the 50-over One-Day Cup, including two fifties.

They were followed by five games against Australia for England Under-19s, and he hit 88 off 100 balls in the second youth Test at Northampton.

"Everyone connected with the entire player pathway here can be very proud of the efforts they've put in to help Noah reach this stage," said Essex head coach Anthony McGrath.

[Admin]

KENT

Kent have handed Jaydn Denly his first senior contract with the club.

The 17-year-old nephew of ex-England batter Joe Denly came through the Kent Academy and impressed in five One-Day Cup appearances last summer.

The England Under-19s player hit his first ball in professional cricket for four and took 1-20 in Kent's 87-run victory at the Oval on debut.

"I'm thrilled. I know this is just the start for me and I'm hungry for more first team opportunities," he said.

The left-hander averaged 26 with the bat and took four wickets at 33 with his left-arm spin.

"Jaydn has made the step up to the first team successfully last year and became a mainstay of our one-day squad in the back-end of the One-Day Cup," Kent's director of cricket, Simon Cook, said.

"He is an exciting young talent that can contribute with bat, ball and in the field - I look forward to seeing him continue to develop as part of our first-team squad for 2024."

Meanwhile Alex Gidman has left his post of men's batting coach to become England Women's assistant coach.

The former Worcestershire head coach joined Kent in February.

The club is seeking a new lead batting coach, as well as a bowling coach after Cook's appointment as director of cricket, following the retirement of Paul Downton.

[Admin]

WARWICKSHIRE

Warwickshire have made their first new signing for the 2024 season by signing Sussex left-arm paceman George Garton.

The 26-year-old, who won an England T20 cap against West Indies in 2022, has signed a three-year contract.

Brighton-born Garton has been with his boyhood club since under-10 level, but his only career success so far was with Southern Brave in the inaugural Men's Hundred in 2021.

Garton first worked under Bears first-team coach Mark Robinson, for Sussex.

"I am particularly keen to work with Mark Robinson having known him for a long time," he said.

"I feel my best years as a player are ahead of me and I retain huge ambitions in the game.

"The club have a tremendous record of winning trophies and I hope to contribute to winning more of them."

Garton has been signed to play both white-ball and red-ball cricket.

He has played only 26 first-class matches in eight seasons at Hove.

But he does have vast global cricketing experience in white-ball matches, having played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League, for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash, Joburg Super Kings in the SA20 and also in the Abu Dhabi T10.

He missed the 2018 T20 Blast final defeat by Worcestershire in 2018, but made it to Edgbaston with Sussex for Finals Day in 2021, when they were beaten in the semi-final by eventual winners Kent.

The Bears, who were without the injured Liam Norwell for all of last season and Craig Miles for a large part of it, as well as England all-rounder Chris Woakes, have lost three more pace bowlers since the end of the season.

Ethan Brookes has moved to Worcestershire, George Garrett joined Kent and Manraj Johal was released.

[Admin]

Kent

Bristol City have appointed Oxford United boss Liam Manning as head coach.

The 38-year-old succeeds Nigel Pearson, who was sacked last month with the club 15th in the Championship after a run of five losses in his last seven games.

Manning leaves Oxford second in League One and three points behind leaders Portsmouth after 15 matches, having spent just eight months in charge of the club.

He has previously managed Milton Keynes Dons and Belgian side Lommel.

"This is a terrific opportunity and one that I'm really looking forward to," Manning, who has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract at Ashton Gate, told the Bristol City website.

"If you look at the vision of the club and where they want to get to and how they want to get there I think there is really good fit and alignment with my journey and where I want to get to."

Listen to BBC Radio Bristol's One for the Bristol City podcast
Manning 'a great fit' for Robins
Manning, who will be assisted at the Robins by his number two at Oxford, Chris Hogg, has impressed since succeeding Karl Robinson as U's boss - the club were 18th in League One and three points off the relegation places when he took over in March.

He kept Oxford up last season thanks to two wins in their final three matches, before masterminding an excellent start of this season which has seen the U's lose just two league games since the opening day of the season.

"Liam is a great fit for the club and the style of play we want", Bristol City Chairman Jon Lansdown said.

"He has a very detailed approach to coaching, improving players and getting the best out of them as his record at MK Dons and Oxford United shows.

"As soon as we made the change Liam was our first choice and we are grateful to Oxford United for the extremely professional way they have approached the departure of someone who was doing a fantastic job for them."

U's begin managerial search
Oxford chairman Grant Ferguson said the U's had "reluctantly" given Manning permission to speak to Bristol City, adding that the club did "everything it could to keep him".

Chief executive Tim Williams added: "I am hugely disappointed. However, we have already begun the process of securing the best possible candidate to replace Liam.

"This is a fantastic club with great training facilities and an exciting future - I have no doubt we will have huge interest in the role."

First-team coach Craig Short will take on the role of interim head coach for Oxford, and will be assisted by academy coach Chris Hackett.

After taking over from Russell Martin at MK Dons in August 2021, Manning led the club to a third-placed finish in League One, before being knocked out of the play-offs at the semi-final stage by Wycombe Wanderers.

He lost his job in December last year after a run of one win in his final 11 league games left the club second-from-bottom.

Manning a 'summertime fling' - analysis
BBC Radio Oxford's Oxford United commentator, Jerome Sale

A week ago, Oxford United had won at Lincoln and were back to within three points of the League One lead and all seemed well on and off the field.

Seven days later and the league position hasn't changed, but there is turmoil. The fact that Liam Manning has jumped ship just 241 days into his tenure as head coach leaves supporters sore - and judging by Oxford's statement - plenty inside the club too.

But Manning's short time was transformative. He's taken them from a struggling relegation-threatened team to one that look serious promotion contenders.

United are absolutely correct that the field of potential replacements will be deeper for a top two side than a bottom six one.

Though the needs and immediate ambitions are different this time, they would do well to stick to the same processes that so successfully led to Manning's appointment. I say that even though it turned out to be little more than an intense summertime fling rather than a long-term relationship.