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Three-year deal for former Surrey and England captain in first major coaching role

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Dec-2024Adam Hollioake, Surrey’s legendary former captain, has been named as Kent’s new head coach, on a three-year deal that will keep him at Canterbury at least until the end of the 2027 season.He will take over from Matt Walker, who stepped down in September after eight years in the role, with Kent having suffered relegation from Division One of the County Championship, as well as finishing bottom of the South Group of the Vitality Blast.Hollioake, 53, has had limited coaching experience since retiring from playing in 2007, but forged his reputation as an inspirational leader during his time at Surrey, whom he guided to seven trophies, including three County Championships, between 1996 and 2003.He played four Tests for England between 1997 and 1998, as well as 35 ODIs in which his temporary role as captain resulted in a famous tournament victory in Sharjah in 1997-98. His tactical acumen is widely regarded to have been ahead of its time, and he was considered to lead England into the 1999 World Cup, in which he also played.Hollioake’s career was marred by tragedy, when his brother Ben was killed in a car-crash in March 2002, and he drifted away from cricket after retirement. After moving to live in Queensland in 2004, he set up a property company but was soon forced to declare bankruptcy and subsequently forged a brief career as a cage-fighter.Having coached Hong Kong at the 2000 ACC Trophy, he returned to cricket in 2017 as head coach of Boost Defenders in Afghanistan’s Shpageeza Cricket League, a role that he chose to stay on in even after a fatal bomb blast outside the ground in Kabul where his team were playing.This will be Hollioake’s first major head coach role, but he served as an assistant coach at Surrey in 2024, having previously worked as a batting coach for Pakistan, Queensland, and England Lions. He had been lined up by his former Surrey team-mate Graham Thorpe to join the England coaching set-up during the 2021-22 Ashes, but was ruled out after a close contact tested positive for Covid.”I’m honoured to be appointed as the head coach of Kent,” Hollioake said. “It’s an amazing chance for me to work with a great squad of players and to be involved with a county with such a rich history of success.”County Cricket is something that I hold extremely close to my heart, and this is an opportunity that I could not turn down.”Kent’s director of cricket, Simon Cook, said: “Adam has shown throughout his playing and coaching career that he has outstanding leadership qualities and a winning mentality, something that was instrumental in our decision to move in a new direction following our robust and thorough search for a new men’s head coach.”We welcome Adam into the Kent Cricket family and look forward to his leadership of our men’s side going into the new season.”

On a blustery day at the Basin Reserve, the home side’s understanding of the conditions came to the fore

Andrew Fidel Fernando05-Jan-2025On a blustery Wellington day, an Antarctic chill blowing in with the southerly, New Zealand’s home advantage may have played a role in their victory. This is what Matt Henry thinks, after his 4 for 19 led the demolition of Sri Lanka’s batting order. Bowling first on a green pitch, New Zealand rolled Sri Lanka over for 178. And yet Sri Lanka’s seamers were unable to exert similar pressure, New Zealand winning by nine wickets, inside 27 overs.Though this is midsummer in New Zealand, the temperature was around 15 degrees Celsius in the morning. And as almost always at the Basin Reserve, there was an end at which the bowlers had to work against a substantial wind. New Zealand understood how to harness these conditions, Henry said.Related

• Henry, Young give New Zealand thumping win in series opener

“It’s probably about understanding ends,” he said. “The wind plays a huge part here at the Basin. That’s the home advantage – knowing what it looks like to attack from both ends, and using the bounce that’s usually available here as well. Thankfully we were able to force some errors and take some wickets.”The first ten overs, at the end of which New Zealand had Sri Lanka 23 for 4, were the definitive period of this match. Henry claimed the first wicket – that of Pathum Nissanka – and Jacob Duffy and Nathan Smith also took wickets in their first spells.Jacob Duffy knocked over Kusal Mendis in the first powerplay•Getty Images

“The way we started with the ball, we were able to create pressure at both ends, and take wickets throughout, which is our key objective as a bowling group,” Henry said. “Any time you get the new ball you want to have an impact on the game. It’s nice to have that success, but you don’t have that without the guys doing the job at the other end as well. Starting with the new ball down-breeze, the way Duffy started and Smith as well – that’s how chances come as well. I thought it was a great team performance.”New Zealand also produced an outstanding fielding effort, with Mark Chapman in particular electric in the point region. The highlight of the fielding performance, however, was Mitchell Santner swooping on a ball from cover to fire in an underhand throw as he dived forward, to hit the single stump he had to aim at. This ran out Kamindu Mendis in the 10th over.”We pride ourselves on our fielding,” Henry said. “With these windy conditions, you can get lost out there. The engagement was brilliant, and we were taking our chances when they came. To have a run-out in the first 10 overs through Mitch Santner, with a great bit of fielding, it really puts a team under pressure and puts momentum in your favour. Little moments like that have a huge impact on the game.”Henry himself has entered a new phase in his career – one in which he makes all three New Zealand teams. For much of the last 10 years, he’d been in the shadows of the likes of Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and Neil Wagner. With all three now retired, Henry is the senior-most bowler around.”It’s great to have that continuity. Playing for New Zealand in all forms is something I’ve wanted to do. I’ve been involved with this group for 10 years now. I love playing for New Zealand.”And though playing all three formats could pose fresh challenges to a fast bowler’s body, Henry is unconcerned.”That’s the beauty of the strength and conditioning coach, who does a great job. We play all year round now, and it’s something that I’ve always done. I’ve played a lot of county cricket as well. It’s probably about understanding your body and how to stay fresh.”

Unbroken 197-run stand with Kane Williamson leaves Northants in the mire

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay22-Jul-2025Middlesex 319 for 1 (Holden 137*, Williamson 88*, Robson 57) vs NorthamptonshireMiddlesex’s Max Holden plundered an unbeaten century as he and New Zealand star Kane Williamson piled up runs on the opening day of their Rothesay County Championship clash against Northamptonshire.Holden, opening to accommodate Williamson’s red-ball debut for the county at number three, batted right through the day for 137, his third ton of the season, with the pair adding an uninterrupted 197 to reach 319 for one at Merchant Taylors’ School.Sam Robson (57) shared a stand of 122 with Holden before Williamson – sampling his first taste of Championship cricket since he featured for Yorkshire in 2018 – weighed in with an unbeaten 88.It was a testing day for Northamptonshire, with Ben Sanderson their only successful bowler after they inserted the hosts in overcast conditions, while Rob Keogh sustained a serious-looking finger injury attempting to catch Williamson’s ferocious drive.With Northamptonshire skipper Luke Procter absent for personal reasons, Lewis McManus took the reins for the first time in red-ball cricket and fulfilled his first duty by winning the toss.However, his bowlers went through the morning session wicketless, despite a tricky opening spell by Sanderson – with Holden taking his time to settle, facing 20 deliveries before he got off the mark with a single.First change Dom Leech struggled for consistency and Robson took advantage to steer him for successive fours as Middlesex picked up the pace, with Holden also unfurling a couple of classy straight drives to the boundary.Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal entered the attack as early as the 15th over, extracting turn as he began with two maidens, but Holden danced down the wicket to take him on, driving and sweeping with confidence.Having reached lunch with 90 on the board, the Middlesex pair advanced their partnership into three figures and Robson won the race to his half-century, pulling Liam Guthrie for two boundaries in an over.But the opener departed in the next, caught behind leg-glancing Sanderson and that slowed the batting side’s progress, although Williamson opened his account with a sweetly-driven cover boundary off Liam Guthrie.Holden moved on to 50 with a swiped hook that flew to the rope, but soon afterwards the left-hander survived a sharp chance to short leg off Chahal – now operating in an all-spin attack alongside Keogh.Displaying exquisite timing and placement, especially on the off side, Williamson mastered the bowling and progressed to his half-century just three balls ahead of Holden’s hundred, courtesy of a back-foot punch for four off Chahal.The Indian spinner returned for another spell earlier than expected after tea, with Keogh forced from the field after making a valiant but unsuccessful attempt to catch Williamson’s rocket drive off his own bowling.Holden pummelled Leech for another four to lift the partnership beyond 150 and, following the last of the day’s three brief rain stoppages, he and Williamson resumed the Middlesex offensive.Williamson cut Saif Zaib to the fence and then lifted his next ball effortlessly over the top for six but, with the new ball due and the light continuing to worsen, the umpires called a halt to proceedings.

1st Youth Test with Sri Lanka headed for rain-affected draw at Wormsley

ECB Reporters Network10-Jul-2024Young Lions opener Freddie McCann fell just short of a second century of the summer against Sri Lanka U19s in the rain-affected first Men’s Youth Test at Wormsley.McCann was stumped on 92 after sharing a 160-run second-wicket partnership with Keshana Fonseka that ensured a strong response with the bat after Sri Lanka were all out for 324.Sri Lanka U19s captain Dinuru Kalupahana had earlier reached his maiden international century with Surrey Academy quick Alex French the pick of the England U19s bowlers with 81 for four.The hosts lost three late wickets, with captain Hamza Shaikh and Noah Thain quickly following McCann back to the pavilion, but Fonseka stood firm as they closed on 193 for four and with a bit of work to do with one day remaining.McCann hit a record-breaking 174, from just 139 balls, to help secure victory in the second Youth ODI at Hove last week and again dominated the tourists bowling scoring a near run-a-ball half-century.England had lost Jaydn Denly early, pulling Nathan Caldera straight at Praveen Maneesha, but McCann and Fonseka then took centre stage as they scored at better than four runs an over.McCann, who signed his first professional deal at Nottinghamshire last November, appeared set for three figures but was undone when a Vihas Thewmika delivery kept low as he advanced down the wicket.Shaikh followed soon after when he picked out Sheshan Marasinghe off Thewmika before Thain played back to a Maneesha ball that also kept slightly low and skidded into his stumps.Fonseka remained unbeaten on 72, alongside new man and Lancashire team-mate Rocky Flintoff, to leave England U19s 131 runs behind at the close.Sri Lanka captain Kalupahana was the star of the first half of the day to post his milestone century. The 19-year-old looked comfortable in the conditions, typified by the stroke that brought up his century as he eased French backward of point and to the rope.Kalupahana celebrated the milestone by racing towards his team-mates and leaping into the air.The skipper had shared a 99-run stand with Diniru Abeywickramasingha, who became the first of five batsmen caught in the ring during the day when he mis-timed a drive to Flintoff in front of point.Leicestershire’s Alex Green then claimed the prize wicket of Kalupahana with the first ball of his new spell – the second time he has done that in the game – trapped lbw on the crease.Thain enticed Thewmika to drive to Flintoff at wide mid-on after a 45-run eighth-wicket stand with Caldera, who was last man out when he too mis-hit a drive that Shaikh held to hand French his fourth wicket.

Corteen-Coleman, MacDonald-Gay take command in death overs to edge a tight semi-final

ECB Reporters Network22-Jun-2024South East Stars 162 for 5 (Dunkley 49) beat Southern Vipers 157 for 9 (Dean 43, Corteen-Coleman 2-23) by five runsSouth East Stars held their nerve to win the chance to take on The Blaze in the final of the Charlotte Edwards Cup, beating holders Southern Vipers by five runs in a gripping semi-final that went down to the last over.Although seven wickets down, Vipers fancied that their experience would carry them through after needing 21 from the last three overs but two fine overs from Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Ryana MacDonald-Gay left them with a requirement of 10 off the final over, the key moment coming when Charlie Dean (43 from 29 balls) was run out off Tash Farrant’s second ball of that over.Sophia Dunkley (49 off 34) and Georgia Redmayne (39 off 38) had earlier shared a second-wicket stand of 74 to give the Stars a strong platform after losing skipper Bryony Smith earlier before Paige Scholfield cracked an unbeaten 34 off 22 balls to post 162 for five.Danni Wyatt struck 34 from 17 to get Vipers off to a flying start in reply but Corteen-Coleman (two for 23), Dani Gregory (two for 25) in particular bowled superbly to give Stars the edge.Having opted to bowl first, the Vipers dealt the Stars a big blow in the fourth over when Bryony Smith hauled Dean over the midwicket boundary for her second six but skewed the next delivery into the hands of extra cover, but the Stars made a bright start nonetheless, with Dunkley assuming the lead role and Redmayne offering solid support.They turned 48 for one after six overs to 92 for one after 12, giving themselves a platform to set the defending champions a testing chase.Vipers were concerned enough to turn to left-arm spinner Linsey Smith in mid-innings rather than keep her back for the death. It paid off, a flighted turning ball combined with some nifty glovework behind the stumps sending Dunkley on her way one short of a half-century. Freya Davies bowled Emma Jones in the next over to leave the Stars 109 for three with 34 balls remaining.Scholfield’s clean hitting advanced the total by 36 in three overs and though they were checked by a couple of good death overs by Charli Knott and Davies, Vipers knew they would need to bat well to win.Needing a tad over eight an over, Vipers scored at nines in the powerplay, although at a cost of two important wickets. England’s Maia Bouchier fell for two, bowled behind her legs to add to the growing list of big scalps acquired by 16-year-old left-arm spinner Corteen-Coleman. Australian all-rounder Knott hit 21 as she and Wyatt plundered 48 from 29 balls but the last ball of the opening six saw her bowled by Smith sweeping.An even bigger blow for the Vipers came as Wyatt, looking in ruthless mood and picking up her second six in the same over, hit Gregory’s leg spin down the throat of deep mid-wicket.At 84 for three at the halfway point, Vipers were still well in the chase but lost another wicket in an eventful 11th over that saw skipper Georgia Adams caught off a no-ball and dropped off a legitimate delivery before Freya Kemp was stumped as Gregory claimed a second success.When Adams then became another victim of Redmayne’s sharp hands behind the stumps off some more clever bowling by Corteen-Coleman, the balance was tilting in the Stars’ favour, an impression that was strengthened when Smith had Georgia Elwiss leg before and Rhianna Southby was run out by a brilliant throw by MacDonald-Gay running in from deep midwicket.Dean now held the key. She eased the pressure by hoisting Smith over the long-on boundary but a five-run final over from Corteen-Coleman left Vipers needing 16 from the last two overs, which became 10 from six balls after MacDonald-Gay’s last over restricted them to six singles.The decisive blow came with five balls left as Dean, at the bowler’s end after taking a single off Farrant, as non-striker, committed to running whatever Smith did at the other end but was left hopelessly out of her ground as Farrant picked up the ball in her follow through and turned to break the stumps, Vipers ultimately finishing six short of their target.

He is expected to travel out of Sri Lanka over the next week and consult doctors overseas about chronic pain in his left heel

Andrew Fidel Fernando26-Mar-2024Wanindu Hasaranga is expected to be unavailable for Sunrisers Hyderabad for at least another week as he consults doctors overseas about chronic pain in his left heel.Although Hasaranga played in Sri Lanka’s limited-overs series against Bangladesh in March, ESPNcricinfo understands he did so through substantial pain. Sri Lanka Cricket’s medical staff have assessed him, and suspect the pain is down to musculo-skeletal apparatus in his left heel having become worn.SLC’s doctors have asked Hasaranga to seek further medical opinion on the exact nature of the injury, and how best to manage it. He is expected to travel out of Sri Lanka to do so next week.In any case, he has not joined the Sunrisers squad yet, and there is no set date on when he will do so. The target, for both SLC and Hasaranga himself, is likely to be the T20 World Cup in June, where he is set to captain his national team.If his condition requires further rest, treatment, or rehabilitation, his return to the IPL will likely be delayed further.Hasaranga had a spectacular 2022 IPL season for Royal Challengers Bangalore for whom he took 26 wickets at an economy rate of 7.54. Sunrisers had paid INR 1.5 crore (approx USD $181,000) for him at the most-recent auction.Earlier this month, Hasaranga was suspended from playing Sri Lanka’s ongoing Tests against Bangladesh, after racking up eight demerit points for breaching article 2.8 of the players’ code of conduct during the third ODI against Bangladesh. Had Hasaranga, who had just come out of Test retirement prior to the ban, been unavailable for the red-ball games, he would have missed the initial matches of Sri Lanka’s next international assignment: the T20 World Cup in June.SLC, however, dismissed claims that Hasaranga’s return from retirement was a ploy to make sure he was available for the T20 World Cup, stating that he had informed them in an email on March 16 of his desire to be considered for Test cricket selection going forward, citing his improved fitness levels.

Bavuma sustained the injury in the WTC final during his match-winning 66

Firdose Moonda20-Jun-20257:27

Bavuma: We’ve wiped all doubts with the way that we’ve played

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the two-Test series against Zimbabwe, which starts next Saturday. Keshav Maharaj will captain the team in Bavuma’s absence.Bavuma has not recovered from the hamstring strain he suffered during the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia last week and will undergo further scans to determine the extent of the injury.The squad features five uncapped players as South Africa rest several all-format players including Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada. Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi is only available for the second Test.Related

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• Raza, Curran and Ngarava out of Zimbabwe vs South Africa Tests

• Brevis, Lhuan-dre Pretorius in SA Test squad for Zimbabwe series

Bavuma, who led South Africa to the WTC title, sustained the injury on the third day of the match. He was on six runs at the time and pulled up while completing a single. He received treatment on field and batted through to tea, where he was advised not to continue batting.After the game, Bavuma revealed that he went against medical advice because he did not want to give himself the option of not being in the middle at a crucial time in the game. In consultation with Markram, who agreed to downscale the tempo of his running between the wickets.
Bavuma resumed his innings and saw South Africa through to the close of play. He finished on 66 as South Africa won by five wickets.South Africa’s next assignments after Zimbabwe, which Bavuma could be part of, are ODIs against Australia in August and England in September. Their next WTC campaign begins against Pakistan in October before a series in India in November. South Africa will not play any home Tests until October 2026, when they will host Australia. Bavuma has indicated he would like to continue playing until the 2027 home ODI World Cup, fitness permitting.This is the third hamstring injury Bavuma has suffered in less than two years. He was injured during the 2023 ODI World Cup and played the semi-final and then again during the Boxing Day Test against India that year. He has also had a series of elbow injuries and plays with a heavily strapped left elbow.South Africa squad: David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj (capt), Kwena Maphaka, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi (second Test only), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Lesego Senokwane, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Verreynne, Codi Yusuf

A round-up of the first day’s action from the fifth round of matches from the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy

Cricinfo staff03-Nov-2009

Group A

A five-for from Asad Ali helped Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) gain the early advantage against Khan Research Laboratory (KRL) at the KRL Ground. The 21-year-old right-arm paceman bowled with great venom to take out four of the top six KRL batsmen. He was well supported by Mohammad Hafeez who chipped in with three bottom-order wickets to bowl out the hosts for 198. Hafeez then combined well with Naeemuddin to put on an undefeated opening stand of 51 during the reply.The left-arm spin of Mohammad Hussain proved too much for second-from-bottom Lahore Shalimar against Pakistan Customs at the Lahore Country Club. Hussain finished with sublime figures of 6.3-1-7-5 as Lahore folded for 114 in 47.2 overs. Once Tahir Mughal had made the intial inroads, Hussain ran through the middle and lower orders, with Lahore’s wicketkeeper-captain Ali Raza providing the only fight with 25. In reply, Customs lost Jibran Khan early while Asad Baig retired hurt. But they won’t be too troubled at 55 for 1.Uzair-ul-Haq was also on the list of five-wicket hauls for the day as National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) began well against Sui Southern Gas Corporation (SSGC) at the Iqbal Stadium. Uzair did full justice to captain Naumanullah’s decision to field first, accounting for the top five SSGC batsmen. Opener Asif Zakir made a lone fifty as the SSGC innings ended on 182. The NBP openers, Nasir Jamshed and Umar Amin, negotiated the five overs left in the day and took stumps at 19 for no loss.A disciplined effort from the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) seamers helped them bowl out Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) for 138 at the Gaddafi Stadium. The WAPDA scorecard made for uniform reading as fast bowler Aizaz Cheema struck at either ends – removing the openers and taking out the No. 9 and 10 batsmen. Kamran Sajid accounted for the next three to follow after the openers, while Najaf Shah dismissed the next three. Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed played no small part, plucking out six catches. PIA lost Khurram Manzoor before ending the day on 51 for 1.Zarai Tarqiati Bank Limited‘s (ZTBL’s) right-arm fast bowler Kashif Daud picked up 3 for 85 even as the Habib Bank Limited (HBL) batsmen managed sizeable contributions to maintain the balance in the match at the Marghzar Cricket Ground. Put in to bat, opener Saleem Elahi’s patient 49 proved to be HBL’s top score as Daud dented the middle order. The table-toppers were propped up by a string of thirties from ICL returnee Taufeeq Umar, Kamran Hussain and captain Hasan Raza. But at 232 for 6, the undefeated pair of Abdur Rehman and wicketkeeper Farhan Iqbal will be expected to do more.

Group B

Eighties by Umair Khan and Ashar Zaidi lifted Islamabad to a strong 281 for 5 against Faisalabad at the Diamond Club Ground . The home side openers added 79 and the fourth-wicket stand of 97 took them to a position of strength. Umair made 87 before he was dismissed by Ijaz Ahmed jnr, who took three wickets. Zaidi ended the day in sight og a century with an unbeaten 80.It was a good contest between bat and ball at the National Stadium as Karachi Blues posted 291 but lost eight wickets to Multan. Shahzaib Hasan got the innings off to a brisk start with a 44-ball 48 but his opening partner Ali Asad went on to score a fifty. Asad Shafiq was the top scorer of the day with 67, at No.3, but the middle order failed to convert their starts. Rizwan Haider, the left-arm seamer, and Zulfiqar Babar, the left-arm spinner, shared five wickets between them to pull things back for Multan.At the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground , Hyderabad ended the day on a decent 274 for 6 against Lahore Ravi. The openers, Aqeel Anjum and Sharjeel Khan, laid a strong platform with a stand of 102. Hanif-ur-Rehman, batting at No.4, missed his half-century by a run before he was dismissed by Kasjif Siddiq. Shahid Qambrani and Lal Kumar added 80 for the fifth wicket to prop Hyderabad after they lost two wickets in quick succession.A five-wicket haul by Mohammad Rameez helped Rawalpindi take control against Peshawar at the National Ground in Islamabad. The 19-year-old seamer took four top-order wickets to set Peshawar back. They had lost half their side for 55 and a recovery came in the form of a sixth-wicket stand of 55 between Mohammad Rizwan and Azam Jan, who top scored with 77. Jan got some support from the lower order who helped take the score past 250. Mohammad Ayaz took 3 for 57 while Rameez took another wicket to finish with 5 for 89.Faisal Rasheed’s four-wicket haul led Sialkot‘s opening day domination against Quetta at the Jinnah Stadium. Quetta were initially in control with a second-wicket stand of 78 but the batting began to fall apart. Shoaib Khan jnr top scored with 94 but lacked support from the middle order. Rasheed cleaned up the lower order to finish with 4 for 35. The Sialkot openers added 11 before stumps were drawn.

The home side how face a crucial clash against New South Wales with Western Australia also in the race

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff08-Feb-2024Jake Fraser-McGurk was sent packing early as Victoria rocketed to top spot on the One-Day Cup table with a three-wicket win over South Australia at Junction Oval.Chasing 232 for victory on Thursday, Victoria reached the target with 35 balls to spare courtesy of solid knocks from Tom Rogers (67), Nic Maddinson (54) and Marcus Harris (43).The win catapulted Victoria from third to first on the table ahead of the final round of the season, however they missed the chance for what could prove a crucial bonus, losing 5 for 41 in their chase for it before getting over the line.Victoria take on second-placed NSW in their final match, with both sides aiming to lock in a spot in the February 25 decider. Defending champions Western Australia, one point behind NSW and four points behind Victoria, are the only other team capable of snaring a spot in the final.South Australia remain last with five losses and a no result from their six matches.Adding to their woes was a suspected broken nose to opener Henry Hunt, who was struck flush in the face after dropping a catch while fielding at mid-off.Hunt had blood streaming from his nose after his attempted catch at mid-off from a powerful Rogers shot. As Hunt was falling to ground, the ball slipped through his hands and struck him flush on the nose, with blood immediately gushing out.Henry Hunt suffered a nasty injury when he was struck in the face•Getty Images

Team-mates rushed to Hunt’s aid, with Rogers also showing his concern. After receiving some on-field treatment, Hunt walked off with a towel covering his nose to contain the blood and went to hospital for scansSouth Australia recovered from 132 for 7 to reach a defendable 231 for 9 after being sent in to bat. Peter Siddle snared the first wicket of the day when Hunt edged through to the keeper with an attempted hook.Five balls later, X-factor Fraser-McGurk departed for 6 after dancing down the wicket and striking the impressive Fergus O’Neill straight to cover. It came just two days after Fraser-McGurk cracked 41 off 18 balls for Australia against West Indies.Nathan McSweeney and debutant Jake Winter helped the Redbacks move from 19 for 2 to 81 for 2. But when both were caught behind in quick succession, South Australia were in trouble again at 85 for 4.Wickets continued to fall before Harry Nielsen and Harry Conway lifted the visitors to a defendable total.Conway also provided one of the highlights of the match with a juggling catch on the boundary to dismiss Peter Handscomb for 17.

The left hander will slip down the order for the day-night Test as she continues as wicketkeeper in place of Alyssa Healy

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jan-2025Beth Mooney wants Australia to “show off our skills” during the day-night Ashes Test at the MCG as they aim to complete a miserable tour for England by claiming a 16-0 whitewash.Mooney, who was masterful in the third T20I with an unbeaten 94 off 63 balls, conceded there was an element of disappointment in the fact the Test wasn’t a live contest in terms of the Ashes, but on the flip side hoped that it would allow the team to play with freedom.Related

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“It’s going to be awesome,” Mooney said. “We obviously don’t get to pull on the baggy green too often. The pink ball behaves a little bit differently so that’ll create some challenges. I’m just really looking forward to the spectacle of the game to be honest.”We’re pumped that we’re 12-0 up. It certainly would have been nice if we played the test match while the series was still on the line, maybe earlier in the series, but that wasn’t to be. I think on an individual front and as a group it’s come at a great time for us to basically just show off our skills and really enjoy playing the four-day game.”Mooney confirmed she will bat in the middle order for the Test as she continues to take the wicketkeeping gloves from Alyssa Healy with Australia’s captain working around the clock to try and ensure she can overcome a foot injury to play as a batter. Mooney’s last three Tests have come as an opener but the workload would be too great for her to continue in that role and keep wicket.”I take pride in the fact that I can offer the coaching staff and selection panel different options,” Mooney said. “Whether it’s batting order or behind the stumps or in the field. It’ll be a nice challenge for me wicketkeeping and batting in that middle order role, so looking forward to what that’s going to present and hopefully I’m just warming Midge’s spot for a little while.”Should Healy be fit it leaves Australia with an interesting selection call to make given she has moved down the order in Test cricket in recent years. She would likely have to slot back in at the top alongside Phoebe Litchfield unless the selectors were also able to find room for Georgia Voll.There is one vacancy from when Australia last played a Test, against South Africa at the WACA, with Sophie Molineux out injured. Georgia Wareham could come into the side to partner fellow legspinner Alana King, although the pink-ball factor may bring Megan Schutt into contention as another seamer. Wareham has only played one previous Test, against India in 2021.Ash Gardner is expected to be fit after a calf injury kept her out of the T20I series.