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Batsman says he realises his comments could harm the CPL, which he doesn’t intend to do

ESPNcricinfo staff16-May-2020Chris Gayle has avoided sanction for his public criticism of Ramnaresh Sarwan and other Jamaica Tallawahs personnel, after the CPL Tournament Committee (CTC) said in a media release on Friday that it was satisfied with the batsman’s statement, even though he stood by his comments – calling Sarwan a “snake” and “vindictive”, and accusing the franchise owners of “playing a game”.A three-member independent tribunal had been looking into Gayle’s comments, made in a YouTube video on April 27, where he had made clear his displeasure at being abruptly ousted by Tallawahs for the 2020 season.In the statement, Gayle indicated that he realised how his words might bring disrepute to the tournament and Cricket West Indies. “I made these videos with one single intention – to explain to the fans in Jamaica the reasons behind what has now become my second departure from Tallawahs franchise,” Gayle’s statement read. “It was my greatest wish to finish my CPL career in Jamaica – playing in front of my home crowd at Sabina Park with the franchise that I had previously led to two CPL titles.ALSO READ: Tallawahs ‘weirdest’ team I’ve ever played for – Andre Russell“In so far as my resentment at the treatment, I stand by my comments in those videos. My words were spoken from the heart. Having said that, I must be honest and say that I now realize how portions of my comments may be viewed as being damaging to Cricket West Indies, and to the CPL Tournament and its brand – a tournament which I have sincerely enjoyed not just being a part of, but also helping to build and promote.”The CTC said it was satisfied that Gayle would continue to act in good faith and the tribunal, set up after a formal complaint on May 6, would no longer be needed, and that the CTC, CPL, and CWI all considered the matter closed.Gayle had returned to Tallawahs – the Jamaica CPL franchise – last season after a stint with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for the two seasons. Gayle had been given a three-year contract and said he had always wanted to end his career in the “uniform” of Tallawahs. But in a late development late in April, he ended up signing for St Lucia Zouks. Just about a week after that, he lashed out at Sarwan, who is an assistant coach at Tallawahs, the chief executive Jeff Miller and owner Krish Persaud.With Sarwan, in particular, Gayle had indicated the issue went as far back as to their Under-19 days in 1996, when a complaint about Gayle watching TV late into the night forced head coach Gus Logie to evict him from a camp.Gayle said in his video that Tallawahs had a “good” team last season, but were “traumatised” by Sarwan, who he claimed was close to Persaud. “Sarwan wanted to be the manager, he wanted to be the coach. But Sarwan is like the owner for the team because Sarwan go back and tell the owner what transpired within the team,” Gayle had said. “Sarwan want to put curfew for players when game starts at 8 o’clock. Sarwan, when me and you play for West Indies, we used to party every night, so why you want to put curfew for players, why do you want to tie down players?”Sarwan you are a snake. You are so vindictive. You are still immature. You are still stabbing people in the back. You are still carrying news. When you gonna change, Sarwan, seriously? When are you planning to change?”Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle during their Test-playing days•Getty Images

Following the outburst, Sarwan had “categorically” denied any hand in Gayle’s ouster from the team and said that decision had come from the owners and management.”In that video, he has levelled false allegations and tarnished the good name and reputation of a series of persons,” Sarwan had said. “I was the focus of most of the onslaughts. I reply, not because I feel that Gayle’s rantings are worthy of it, but because I feel that the public’s record must be set straight and also, to protect the character and careers of so many people, whose image he sought to besmirch.”On Wednesday, CWI president Ricky Skerritt had hinted on a Trinidad-based radio station that Gayle’s comments might draw sanctions for bringing the game to disrepute, given that he was still active in the league and not a retired player speaking as an outsider.The CPL, independent from the CWI, was satisfied with the statement, which went on to say: “It was never my intention to damage the T20 Tournament, as playing in the CPL has guaranteed an opportunity for the past 7 years to play in front of the great fans of the Caribbean. This is a privilege which I genuinely appreciate and have never taken for granted.”Right now, my eyes are fixed firmly on the season ahead, and the new challenge which playing for the St. Lucia Zouks franchise will bring. I hope to see you there.”The tournament is scheduled for August-September this year.

Hardik Pandya came close to taking a wicket in Hamilton on several occasions, but instead ended up with 44 for 0

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Feb-2019
4.3
HH Pandya to Munro, FOUR, magnificent! Picks the length early and whips this up and over the infield as it bounces past Vijay Shankar at deep midwicket. Vijay covered good ground again but the ball spun away and he ended up crashing into the advertising hoardings. Seems fine though12.1
HH Pandya to Munro, 1 run, dropped by Khaleel! Slower short one, spinning away from the batsman who plays half a pull, skies it towards backward square leg where Khaleel goes reverse cups but drops12.5
HH Pandya to Munro, 4 leg byes, a bouncer on middle and leg, goes for the pull, gets an edge that goes just over the short third man fielder [Pant], another boundary for Munro. Signalled leg-byes, might have just hit the elbow17.1
HH Pandya to de Grandhomme, 1 run, slower one outside off and smashed in the air towards extra cover, Rohit dives to his right and spills

As if being England’s youngest specialist spinner for 90 years was not demanding enough, Mason Crane underwent the ritual glare from a posse of cricket experts

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jan-2018England supporters had waited all series but finally, in Sydney, Mason Crane became the youngest specialist spinner to play for England for 90 years.England’s record for producing legspinners is an abysmal one as Andrew Miller reflected in his round-up of the Not-so-Famous Five who have plugged a gap or two in the past half-century.So just to see Crane, at 20 years and 320 days, become the youngest England spinner since Ian Peebles played against South Africa in 1928 was something to celebrate.Crane might have followed Tom Curran in claiming Steven Smith as a maiden Test wicket had his edge not fallen short of Joe Root at slip. And twice, inside-edges from Usman Khawaja fell short of short leg and he also edged between wicketkeeper and slip.By the time it was all over, although Crane went wicketless in his 17 overs, a long line of former England and Australia players were queuing up to offer praise.Mason Crane bowls on debut at the SCG•Getty Images

It has become part of a legspinner’s initiation ceremony to undergo an evaluation from Shane Warne, the greatest leggie of them all. “His action is nicely balanced, there is nice momentum and he explodes through the crease,” Warne said before adding: “He’s very aggressive. He is feisty, looks to get into the batsman’s space. He won’t back down from the challenge.”On ESPNcricinfo, Graeme Swann, said: “I think it was a good day, a day that showed a lot of promise. It’s never easy bowling wrist spin, full stop, it was a hot day, a very good batting pitch, but he bowled 16 overs of very solid legspin.”Another former England spinner, Vic Marks, said: “The simple fact is Mason Crane has bowled impressively and with zest. I think he’s done pretty well.Mental strength was picked on by several observers, including the regular ESPNcricinfo contributor, Mark Butcher. Butcher said: “I’m not surprised that he’s settled quickly because one of his great strengths and, for me, one of the things that make him stand out among English spinners of many vintages is that he doesn’t seem to carry a lot of the mental fragility that his predecessors have done.”Mason Crane receives his Test cap from Graeme Swann•Getty Images

Ebony Rainford-Brent, who won the Women’s World Cup as a player, added: “Mason has got a little bit about him. I like energetic actions; I like bowlers who get through the crease. He’s very light on his feet – ballerina-esque.”Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, can be a demanding judge, but he seemed happy enough. “Mason has got the right style of energy and he gets plenty of revolutions on the ball,” he said, before adding a rider: “He’s not the kind of bowler you’d see playing every single Test match but we’ve seen enough today to know that, if England work well with him, there’s things to be worked on over the next few years.”That leaves the most trenchant observer of all – Vaughan’s fellow Yorkshireman Geoffrey Boycott. But, on second thoughts, that’s enough to be going on with. Best to let the toughest critic of all take a look for at least another day.

Masabata Klaas, Moseline Daniels and Odine Kirsten were vital to South Africa Women pulling off only their second victory over New Zealand Women in ODIs

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Oct-2016
ScorecardFile photo – Mignon du Preez struck six fours during her 44 off 76 balls•ICC

Seamers Masabata Klaas, Moseline Daniels and Odine Kirsten took seven wickets between them to set up South Africa’s second win over New Zealand in ODIs. Their first had come in this series as well.After opting to bowl in the rain-reduced, 39-overs-a-side game South Africa left New Zealand at 53 for 5 in the 15th over. Daniels made the first breakthrough when she had Rachel Priest caught by Kirsten for 3. Four balls later, the other opener, Suzie Bates fell for 3 as well. Kirsten and Klaas then sliced through the batting line-up before Daniels returned to bowl New Zealand out for 130.Katey Martin stood out amid the collapse with her second ODI fifty. She stayed unbeaten on 65 off 80 balls, including five fours. Amy Satterthwaite and Holly Huddleston were the only other batsmen to reach double-figures.New Zealand felt a sliver of hope when Lea Tahuhu and Erin Bermingham took two early wickets in the chase but former captain Mignon Du Preez, who made 44 off 76 balls, and her successor Dane van Niekerk, who scored an unbeaten 36 off 61 balls, helped South Africa regain the initiative. Du Preez and debutant wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta fell in the 37th over, but van Niekerk and Suné Luus completed the chase with eight balls and five wickets to spare.The seventh and final ODI is scheduled for Monday. New Zealand, having won four matches, would take the series.

A round-up of all the Ranji Trophy Group C matches on October 3, 2015

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Oct-2015
ScorecardFile photo: After scoring 91 on a turning track, Ravindra Jadeja finished with 11 wickets in the match•Associated Press

This was Ravindra Jadeja’s match. After scoring 91 in the first innings to take Saurashtra to 307 on a turning track, he took six wickets to enforce a follow-on on Tripura. On the third morning he completed his second five-for of the match to help Saurashtra win by an innings and 118 runs. The win gives Saurashtra full seven points, and Jadeja a timely return to form and confidence at the start of India’s season. This was his third 10-wicket match haul in first-class cricket.Tripura began the day on 11 for 3, and resisted Saurashtra’s charge for what looked a certain innings win, but the other Jadeja – Dharmendrasinh – broke the back of their resistance. Once he got Maura Singh out at the team score of 56, the rest fell like a house of cards. Seven wickets fell for 30 runs, and the only contest now left was between the Jadejas: who would complete the five-for. Tripura’s ninth wicket fell to Dharmendrasinh, tying the two Jadejas at four wickets apiece. Ravindra, though, ended the proceedings with the return catch of Tushar Saha, his third such dismissal of the innings.
ScorecardThat Services would win, chasing 77 in the fourth innings, was almost a foregone conclusion at the start of the third day’s play. Their openers still began under pressure for on their staying till the end depended the extra point from the match. If Services had won by 10 wickets, they would have got seven points, otherwise just the six. Anshul Gupta and captain Soumik Chaterjee began cautiously, adding 59 in 24 overs, but Chaterjee fell to the Jharkhand quick Rahul Shukla. Thereafter Gupta and Ravi Chauhan completed the formalities to send Services to top of Group C for a couple minutes. Two minutes later Saurashtra completed their win, and went past them by one point.
ScorecardCenturies from Sachin Baby and Sanju Samson powered Kerala to a 155-run lead against Jammu & Kashmir in Srinagar. Kerala, who began at 158 for 2, were dealt an early blow on day three when Rohan Prem, the overnight batsman, was dismissed for 69. Baby and Samson, though, held firm, batting through the next 57 overs and adding 177 for the fourth wicket. Samson, on his captaincy debut, struck 101 with 16 fours before being dismissed by Ram Dayal. Baby, however, hung around with the lower middle order and made his way to 151. He hit 21 fours and one six during his 310-ball knock, but was removed in the penultimate over of the day, as Kerala ended with 485 for 8.
ScorecardFour Goa batsmen chipped in with fifties, as a strong performance from the team’s top and middle order secured a first-innings lead against Hyderabad in Povorim. Goa, who began at an overnight score of 47 for 1, powered to 349 for 5 thanks to handy knocks from Swapnil Asnodkar (53), Rituraj Singh (59), Sagun Kamat (81 not out) and Darshan Misal (67). Asnodkar and Rituraj laid the groundwork, sharing a 98-run stand for the second wicket. Hyderabad fought back with two quick scalps, but Kamat strung together two more big partnerships – 69 for the fourth wicket with captain Dheeraj Jadhav, and 120 for the fifth with Misal – to ensure Goa carried a lead of 24 going into the final day.

Joe Burns’ sure-handed century took Queensland to first-innings points over Tasmania before a late burst of wickets kept the Tigers in the contest on day two of the Sheffield Shield match at the Gabba

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Mar-2013
ScorecardJoe Burns’ sure-handed century took Queensland to first-innings points over Tasmania before a late burst of wickets kept the Tigers in the contest on day two of the Sheffield Shield match at the Gabba.The Bulls quickly rolled up Tasmania’s tail on the second morning before Burns produced the spinal innings for the hosts, well supported by a typically doughty 72 from the captain James Hopes.At 6 for 250, the Bulls had a chance of building a major lead, but Luke Butterworth claimed Ryan Harris and Cameron Gannon in successive balls to keep the match finely balanced.

Peter Siddle has spent most of the summer helping Australia to Test wins and he kept his successful season up by bowling Victoria to victory on the third day against South Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Feb-2012
ScorecardPeter Siddle collected 6 for 43•Getty Images

Peter Siddle has spent most of the summer helping Australia to Test wins and he kept his successful season up by bowling Victoria to victory on the third day against South Australia. Siddle collected 6 for 43 from his 24 overs and his work ensured that half-centuries to Callum Ferguson, Tom Cooper and Travis Head would be in vain as the Redbacks again failed to bring up their first win of the Shield campaign.South Australia were chasing 302 and they began the day in trouble at 3 for 55, but Ferguson and Cooper compiled a strong partnership that gave the Redbacks a genuine chance. But their 134-run stand ended soon after lunch when Siddle got rid of both men, Cooper lbw for 62 and Ferguson caught behind cutting loosely outside off for 71.That left a mountain of work for the 18-year-old Head, who was playing his second first-class match and was the last of South Australia’s recognised batsmen. But after Adam Crosthwaite was bowled by Jayde Herrick for 16, Head and Chadd Sayers put together a 55-run partnership that kept the match alive until Sayers (21) was bowled by Jon Holland.The loss of Joe Mennie, who edged Siddle to slip, in the last over before the second new ball arrived hurt South Australia, who still needed 53 for victory at the time. The new ball helped Andrew McDonald get rid of Head, who top edged a pull for 57, and Siddle finished the match by trapping Peter George lbw for a duck to give Victoria a 34-run win.The success pushed Victoria up to third on the Shield table with two matches to play, but the first- and second-placed Queensland and Western Australia each have three games in hand. South Australia remain on the bottom with five losses, three draws and only two points from their eight matches.