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The focus ahead of the Perth Test was on Mitchell Starc, who has struggled to hit form and rhythm, even as Australia believe they have a slight advantage over India at the new Perth Stadium
Daniel Brettig in Perth12-Dec-20182:02
‘The conditions at the new stadium will suit us’ – Harris
A firm handshake from the banned batsman Cameron Bancroft was the extent of the Australian captain Tim Paine’s activity at training on Tuesday, but rather more was undertaken by Mitchell Starc as the only member of the “big three”, with Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, to bowl.While Paine, the coach Justin Langer and the bowling coach David Saker have all sung his praises, the sight of Starc bowling apart from Hazlewood and Cummins was the strongest sign yet that his form and function need significant improvement to reach the desired level in the second Test.Recorded by two cameras, one fixed in the umpire’s spot and another hovering in a drone overhead, Starc bowled for an extended period in the centre of the WACA Ground alongside Peter Siddle and Mitchell Marsh. “Yeah quick, he bowled pretty well,” the opener Marcus Harris said. “There was obviously a bit of talk about him after the game but I thought he bowled pretty well during the game and he’s felt like he was in good rhythm out there before. I’m sure he’s ready and raring to go for Friday.”Starc will need to put on a dominant display for Australia in helpful conditions in Perth or risk being forced out of the side, the former selector Mark Waugh has said. Since a five-wicket haul against South Africa in Durban in March, he has claimed a mere 12 further – and expensive – wickets in six Tests.”He hasn’t bowled at his best probably the last 12 months,” Waugh told . “He’s just been a little bit off with his consistency and line and length. But he’s that sort of bowler who’s a bit of an enigma. He bowls some bad balls and then he’ll bowl you a cracking delivery. I’d just love to see him a bit more consistent with the new ball.2:26
Mitchell Starc’s magical numbers
“Perth’s really going to suit him. He’s going to bowl quick there and get a lot of bounce. If he’s probably not up to scratch in Perth I think they might think about making some changes for the rest of the series.”Langer’s men appear aware that they must win the second Test against India to have any chance of regaining the Border-Gavaskar trophy, given that the final two Tests are in Melbourne and Sydney, which have traditionally been more favourable venues to India’s batsmen in particular.ALSO READ: Langer hopes for fiery Perth Stadium debut”I thought India bowled well. You saw through both innings it wasn’t an easy wicket to score on freely,” Harris said of Adelaide. “If you look at India’s scores everyone got starts, and obviously the difference was Cheteshwar Pujara. It wasn’t an easy wicket to come out and get 40 or 50 off 60 or 70 balls. Pujara was the difference in the whole game, and we didn’t have someone make 120. So if you look at that by the end of the game, what’s the difference? Thirty. Our plan was to occupy the crease, and the longer you bat things will get easier. Unfortunately we didn’t have anyone who got a big score, but it wasn’t too much of an issue for us.”At the same time, the pace and bounce on offer at the new stadium in Perth will provide plenty of assistance to India’s disciplined and varied bowling attack. To that end, Langer was seen working assiduously alongside the Victorian batsman Peter Handscomb in the nets before his centre-wicket session, the better to equip him for a long batting stay during the Test after he squandered a pair of starts in Adelaide.”I think we took some good confidence from the fight we showed, I think it got down to 30 runs,” Harris said. “I know when I looked at it as a batter I thought ‘Bugger, I wish I could’ve got 60 or 70’, so we got pretty close and the fight we showed, hopefully, we can take some momentum into the game on Friday. I think the pitch will suit us a little bit more with the conditions.Getty Images
“Obviously it’s not the WACA, but from what I’ve heard from the boys who’ve played Shield games there, the wicket is as quick and as bouncy. So I think it’ll suit us. We’ve played some one-day games there, some Big Bash games there. I think we’ll probably still have the advantage if there’s any. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays and how the game pans out.”That’s taking nothing away from India, but I just think a little bit of momentum. We would’ve loved to win the game, but the boys bowled really well, the bowlers also batted really well, so it’s probably on us batters to take a bit of the weight from them.”Paine chatted amiably and at some length with Bancroft, set to make his return from suspension for the Perth Scorchers in the BBL at the end of December, as he seeks to rest his battered right index finger. “He’s [Paine] all good,” Harris said. “From what JL [Langer] said he just wanted to have a rest today. I didn’t even know there was anything wrong with him. I’m pretty sure he’s all good.”Born and raised in Perth before moving to Victoria in 2016, Harris is in the odd position of playing a Test in his home town having never played at the venue where it will be held. Perth Stadium will become the 10th venue to host a Test match in Australia.WATCH – Chappell: Paine the right person to captain Australia at the moment”I remember coming to Test Matches here all the time,” Harris said of the WACA Ground. “I remember the first Test that I ever came to, I think within the first five minutes, Glenn McGrath had a hat-trick against West Indies, so there have always been great memories for me coming to Test Matches in Perth and hopefully I can create some memories for young kids coming to games at the new stadium.”A Test win or a Test hundred or a five-wicket haul is all the same no matter where it is. I haven’t been to the new stadium so it will be a new experience for me but from what I have heard it is a good wicket and pretty similar to the WACA so it will be good in that way. It will be good to play the first Test there and get a win.”
Will Bosisto batted throughout the third day at Allan Border Field for a career-best 132* as Western Australia moved into the lead
ESPNcricinfo staff05-Nov-2018
Mitchell Marsh celebrates his hundred•Getty Images
Mitchell Marsh produced a superb century under team and personal pressure and Will Bosisto hit a career-best unbeaten 132 as Western Australia fought back impressively under the weight of Queensland big first-innings total.Marsh and Bosisto put on a partnership of 185 having come together at 156 for 6, trailing by 292. After Marsh departed, Bosisto was able to see out the entire day and an unbroken 56-run stand with Jhye Richardson had taken Western Australia into a two-run lead.For Marsh, like his brother Shaun, there was the additional pressure of having to respond to a poor Test series in the UAE which has brought scrutiny on his place ahead of India’s visit later this month. He was left out of the current one-day series against South Africa and the immediate response has been encouraging for the selectors.Marsh brought up his century off 201 balls with a boundary against Michael Neser and later went to his 150 with a six off Marnus Labuschagne before falling three balls later to the legspinner as Queensland were made to wait until the final session for their first breakthrough of the day.Bosisto, who had played the ideal foil to Marsh, then struck three boundaries in a row off Brendan Doggett to take him to 98 then next ball reached his second first-class century off 233 deliveries.Labuschagne also removed Josh Inglis but was the only one of the eight Queensland bowlers used to find success on a long day in the field.
Alastair Cook has announced he will retire from international cricket after the Oval Test against India. Cook, the sixth highest run-scorer in the history of Test cricket, is only 33-years-old but, after a grim run of form which has seen him average just 18.62 in nine Tests this year, he has decided to end what has been an increasingly painful struggle.The decision is not a huge surprise. While Cook looked a little better technically during the fourth Test, in Southampton, he suffered two lapses – a dab to the slips in the first innings and a loose drive in the second – that suggested his famed powers of concentration were not what they used to be. Underlining the sense that he has been a player in decline for some time, his Test average dropped below 45 for the first time since 2010 during the game.His has been, however, a career that has embraced some of the greatest moments in the history of England cricket. Among the best moments were a century on Test debut in Nagpur as a 21-year-old in 2006, winning the player of the series award as England won the Ashes in Australia for the first time in more than 20 years in 2010-11 and leading England to victory in India in 2012; a series in which he made three centuries. No England players comes close to his total of 12,254 Test runs. No England player comes close to his record of 32 Test centuries. But Sachin Tendulkar’s overall Test run record is safe.There were grim times, too. He was unceremoniously dropped as ODI captain at Christmas 2014, not long before England departed for their World Cup campaign, and he was caught up in the fallout of the decision to drop Kevin Pietersen at the end of the 2013-14 Ashes in which Cook’s England side were whitewashed. There were, no doubt, faults on all sides and the handling of the debacle left a great deal to be desired. But the toxicity of the debate left scars on what most would agree was a thoroughly decent man caught up in something you suspect, left to his own devices, he would have handled far more sensitively.Alastair Cook will retire as England’s highest Test run-getter, having led them in more Tests than anyone else•ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Most of all, though, there have been remarkable peaks and troughs of form. Cook always seemed to be battling his technique and, with a limited array of scoring shots, would sometimes appear reliant on the nudge off the legs and sheer will power to survive and progress. Surely no man has scored so many runs behind square on the leg side in the history of Test cricket.But, at his best, he had the determination and powers of concentration to endure and overcome in all conditions and against all attacks. His batting against spin on that 2012 India tour, in particular, was outstanding, while his opening partnership with Andrew Strauss was a foundation stone of England’s ascent to No. 1 in the Test rankings. Famously – infamously, perhaps – England tried 12 new partners for Cook once Strauss retired in an attempt to replicate that success. They never managed it.Few will begrudge Cook a send-off at The Oval, either. While his distrust of the media grew in the wake of the Pietersen affair, he has remained hugely popular with team-mates and fellow pros who recognise the courage and commitment of a man who had to fight for every run. He will remain popular, too, with the England supporters who cherish those years when their side pulled off memorable victories and who came to rely on Cook’s stoic resistance. A rousing ovation is assured.His departure does leave the selectors with a dilemma, though. With his opening partner, Keaton Jennings, also struggling for runs, the team management need to decide whether they blood a new opener now – perhaps to bat at No. 3 – or leave it until the winter tours. Cook, who has enjoyed the longest run of unbroken Test appearances in history (The Oval will be his 159th in succession), has been a pillar of the team for more than a decade. Replacing that may prove desperately tough.Cook will not be entirely lost to the game. He intends to continue playing for Essex for the next year at least and may well, at some stage, have a future in coaching. With a farm and growing family to look after – his third child is due during the Oval Test – he will not struggle for interests outside the game.”After much thought and deliberation over the last few months I have decided to announce my retirement from international cricket at the end of this Test series against India,” Cook said in a statement.”Although it is a sad day, I can do so with a big smile on my face knowing I have given everything and there is nothing left in the tank. I have achieved more than I could have ever imagined and feel very privileged to have played for such a long time alongside some of the greats of the English game. The thought of not sharing the dressing room, again, with some of my team-mates was the hardest part of my decision, but I know the timing is right.”I have loved cricket my whole life from playing in the garden as a child and will never underestimate how special it is to pull on an England shirt. So I know it is the right time to give the next generation of young cricketers their turn to entertain us and feel the immense pride that comes with representing your country.”There are too many people to thank individually, but a special mention must go to the Barmy Army and all supporters for their constant encouragement for the team and also a special mention to Graham Gooch. As a seven-year-old I queued for his autograph outside Essex County Cricket Club and years later was so fortunate to have him mentoring me. Graham was my sounding board, especially in the early years of my career, spending hour after hour throwing balls at me with his dog stick. He made me realise you always need to keep improving whatever you are trying to achieve.Alastair Cook has come in for scrutiny over his lack of runs•Getty Images
“My family and I have had 12 wonderful years fulfilling my dreams and this could not have been done without them. So I wish to thank my parents and brothers, my wife, Alice, and her family for their quiet, unwavering support behind the scenes. As cricketers, who travel frequently, we often don’t realise just how important our families are to our success.”I would also like to thank Essex County Cricket Club for their help and support ever since I was 12, and I can’t wait to get fully involved with them in the 2019 season.”I wish the England team every success in the future, and I will be watching with great excitement.”While his own declining form may render this a sad day for Cook, the fact he leaves after a series win against the No. 1 side in the world will please him. He has far more to celebrate than mourn.
Leeds United have found themselves back in the Championship after a three-year stay at the top table of English football that ended with a relegation earlier this year.
Marcelo Bielsa led the team back to the Premier League at the end of the 2019/20 campaign and achieved survival in his first season at that level.
A combination of the Argentine genius and Jesse Marsch then kept the team up the following term, only for a combination of Marsch, Javi Gracia, and Sam Allardyce to oversee relegation last season.
The managers were not the only men to blame for Leeds' downfall as former sporting director Victor Orta, who was relieved of his duties in May of this year, should also take some of the flak for his decision-making in regard to transfers.
Brenden Aaronson
£28.6m
Rodrigo
£26.1m
Dan James
£25.4m
Georginio Rutter
£24.4m
Luis Sinisterra
£21.8m
As you can see from the table above, his list of big-money signings during his time at Elland Road does not make for great reading, and one name, in particular, stands out in Dan James.
Whilst the Welsh ace has scored three goals and provided four assists in the Championship this season, Leeds fumbled a world-class talent before they decided to sign the former Manchester United man – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
How close Leeds came to signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
In the summer transfer window in 2021, the player confirmed that he had talks with the Whites over a possible move to Elland Road from Rubin Kazan.
The Georgian whiz stated that there were discussions with Leeds and did not rule out the possibility of further negotiations with the English club before the end of the window.
However, the talented gem also added that his dream was to play for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp, and that his main goal is to eventually win the Champions League.
Speaking on the Comment Live YouTube channel, his agent Timur Gurtskaya claimed, in October 2021, that no teams were prepared to pay the €20m (£17m) asking price that was set by Kazan. He even went as far as to say that no teams would muster up as little as €12m (£10m) to secure his services at the time.
LeedsLive claimed that Bielsa and the club 'decided' to swoop for long-standing transfer target James from Manchester United, who was snapped up for a reported fee of £25m in August 2021.
Kvaratskhelia was coming off the back of four goals and eight assists in 23 league games for Kazan during the 2020/21 campaign but only went on to manage two goals and five assists in 19 league outings after no English teams met the £17m asking price.
He then moved back to his home country to sign for Dinamo Batumi in March 2022 before, interestingly, signing for Napoli that summer for a fee of up to €12m (£10m).
Kvaratskhelia's Napoli statistics
That move has turned out to be a masterclass from the Italian side as the Georgia international has gone on to cement himself as one of the top players in Europe.
The right-footed magician caught the eye with an outstanding 14 goals and 17 assists in all competitions for Napoli throughout the 2022/23 campaign.
This included 12 goals and 13 assists in 34 Serie A matches to help his team to win their first Scudetto since the 1989/90 season – ending a 33-year wait for the trophy to come back to Naples.
Kvaratskhelia was an exceptional creator and incredibly progressive on the ball during the 2022/23 Serie A term. He ranked within the top 10% of his positional peers at that level for assists (0.41) and xAG (0.30) per 90, which shows that he was an excellent creative threat for Napoli.
The left winger also placed within the top 2% for progressive carries (7.58) per 90 and this illustrates how impressive his ball-carrying and dribbling ability was. His quality in that regard allowed him to push his team up the pitch to transition from defence to attack in order to cause opposition sides constant problems in the final third.
He has also started the current campaign in fine form with a return of three goals and four assists in nine Serie A matches so far, which has taken his total to 17 goals and 22 assists in 55 games in all competitions for Napoli.
His sensational form for the Italian club was rewarded at the 2023 Ballon d'Or awards as he finished 17th in the ranks, with Inter Miami and Argentina's Lionel Messi picking up the award in first place.
Kvaratskhelia finished above some huge footballing names; including the likes of Harry Kane, Antoine Griezmann, Bukayo Saka, and England and Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham.
Jude Bellingham's Real Madrid statistics
The former Birmingham starlet joined the Spanish giants for a fee that could rise to more than £115m from Borussia Dortmund over the summer and has been on fire this season.
Bellingham has racked up an incredible 13 goals and three assists in 13 matches for Madrid during the 2023/24 campaign as an attacking midfielder.
The 20-year-old maestro was honoured, however, with the Kopa Trophy – an award for the best player aged 21 or under in Europe. Kvaratskhelia, aged 22, was not eligible to be in contention for the honour.
This has come after his return of 14 goals and seven assists in 42 outings for Dortmund in all competitions throughout the 2022/23 season to earn his big-money switch.
This highlights how impressive it was for Kvaratskhelia to finish above him in the Ballon d'Or rankings, which further emphasises why Leeds may live to regret not swooping to secure a £17m transfer in 2021.
Dan James' Leeds statistics
Meanwhile, James, who was signed for £25m by Bielsa that summer, was unable to prove himself to be a consistent performer at the top level.
The Wales international scored four goals and provided five assists in 32 Premier League appearances during his first campaign with the club and was then sent out on loan to Fulham, where he scored twice in 20 top-flight outings.
In total, the 25-year-old winger has scored seven goals and assisted nine in 53 games in all competitions for Leeds, which is considerably less impressive than Kvaratskhelia's return for Napoli.
When Keshav Maharaj first saw Rangana Herath at close quarters, Herath was unable to impose himself on the series. Although in the lead up to Sri Lanka’s tour of South Africa in 2016-17, Maharaj had identified Herath as one of his leading spin-bowling influences, he wound up with better returns than the senior man across the three Tests – taking seven wickets at an average of 30.28, to Herath’s six at 48.South Africa had gone out of their way to neutralise Herath on that tour, stating publicly that they had asked for pitches that would not crumble, which partly explain Herath’s modest performances. But now, in Sri Lanka, where tracks are designed to have the opposite effect – to exacerbate Herath’s threat, Maharaj has a chance to watch the master left-arm spinner in his natural habitat, and perhaps pick up a few tricks.”I think Herath’s consistency in phenomenal,” Maharaj said. “Left-arm spinners are known to control the game, but he does something special – he turns the ball at will and slides the ball on at will. It’s something that I’d love to learn in my trade and get some knowledge from him. I did speak to him in South Africa, and he did give me some insight, but I’d like to pick his brain more about playing in subcontinent conditions, because he’s the best in the world at what he does.”What Herath does on Sri Lankan pitches, Maharaj felt, was consistently put balls in good areas. Maharaj had been modest in the first innings in Galle, going wicketless in 17 overs, but seemed to gain some confidence in the second innings, in which he took 4 for 58, dismissing four of Sri Lanka’s top five. “I think on these wickets, as long as you’re putting the ball in the right area with energy on the ball, what happens on the wicket you have no control over,” Maharaj said. “We don’t know when the ball is going to spin excessively or not. You’ve basically got to put the right ingredients into the wicket and whatever happens from there is in God’s hands.”Wherever you play in the world, you want to be consistent in your lengths and cause the batter to be uncomfortable when you’re bowling at him. That’s something I had to pick up after the first innings. Obviously I didn’t have a bit of rhythm, but then I found it in the second innings, and I put the ball in much better areas than I did.”Now that Maharaj’s spin partner Tabraiz Shamsi has returned to the squad, after attending to a family matter at home at the start of the week, South Africa have the option of fielding the same five bowlers at SSC. The five-bowler combination does put a little more pressure on the lower order, however, who will be expected to score runs. At Galle, Sri Lanka’s tailenders had batted well alongside a senior partner to change the complexion of the match, the last two wicket stands adding 111 to the team score.”I put more pressure on myself than anyone else does to score runs,” Maharaj said. “I need to contribute in the lower order. We saw the partnership of Suranga Lakmal and Lakshan Sandakan towards the end – they put on a 100-run partnership and it makes a difference in the Test match. In terms of game plans I’m just trying to keep it simple. I like attacking spinners, but I’ve got to back my defence against them at the same time.”
He has urged his team-mates to “stick together” after the nine-wicket defeat at Lord’s which has led to heavy criticism
ESPNcricinfo staff30-May-2018
Alastair Cook emerges from the Lord’s pavilion•Getty Images
Alastair Cook has warned members of the England dressing room will “be looking for other employment” if they are unable to reverse their recent run of form.Cook, who will break Allan Border’s record for the most consecutive Tests when he takes the field in Leeds on Friday, accepts that England are “not playing well” at present and knows they have lost their last three Tests at Headingley.But he has urged his colleagues to “stick together” and “not carry the negatives from the first Test with us to Headingley.””We need to play better,” Cook said in his column. “Test futures are on the line.”It’s never great when you lose, even more so playing the way we did at Lord’s. It’s a frustrating time for us at the moment as a side; we’re not playing well.”If you want to play cricket for England, you’ve got to deliver, otherwise we’ll be looking for other employment. That’s the nature of the beast and, fundamentally, we’re not producing out in the middle.”But we have to stick together as a group. The last thing you can do is play the blame game, and the trick is now to not carry the negatives from the first Test with us to Headingley.”Again, that’s another thing easier said than done. But clearly we are not going to lose every game of cricket ever, it is going to turn around at some stage, and it’s down to us to do that.While disappointed for Mark Stoneman, who was dropped after the Lord’s Test, Cook expressed confidence in his replacement, Keaton Jennings.”It’s tough on Mark Stoneman,” Cook said. “It’s horrible. Playing for England is these guys’ dreams, so it’s not nice seeing people dropped. I spoke to him on Monday; he was obviously disappointed, as you’d expect, but he has to now go away, score runs and look at areas in which he can improve his game.”It gives Keaton a great opportunity, and we just need people to grab these opportunities with both hands and to start pushing this side forward, like Jos Buttler and Dom Bess – on debut – did at Lord’s.”He is a very level-headed guy and seems very suited to Test level, in terms of his mental approach. He got a hundred on debut, which shows he can play, but then against a good South African side last summer things just didn’t quite go his way.”
A report this week has shed light on Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou's growing influence as transfer news comes out of Spurs.
Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy, before the arrival of Chief Football Officer Scott Munn, moved to bring in seven major summer signings after appointing Postecoglou in June.
Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, young centre-back Ashley Phillips, defender Micky van de Ven, midfielder James Maddison, winger Manor Solomon, striker Alejo Veliz and forward Brennan Johnson all put pen to paper on moves to north London before the September 1 deadline.
Meanwhile. former superstar striker Harry Kane, Sergio Reguilon, Joe Rodon, Djed Spence, Harry Winks, Alfie Devine, Troy Parrott, Dane Scarlett, Davinson Sanchez and Tanguy Ndombele all moved elsewhere either on loan or permanently.
Postecoglou's new-look Premier League squad has taken some shape and reports in the past fortnight have suggested they're setting January plans in motion already.
Tottenham were reported to be after a second centre-back over the summer, coming after their signing of van de Ven, but a late move for Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly ultimately failed to materialise.
It is claimed that the north Londoners will be back in for Kelly this winter, while journalist Dean Jones has also said that will sign an out-and-out replacement for Kane "once we get to 2024".
"I don't know what they will look for in a Kane replacement, but they would be silly not to be looking at Ferguson right now," said Jones to GiveMeSport this week.
"I know Manchester United have had an eye on Ferguson. I'm sure Chelsea will, too, given their recruitment policy. But Tottenham have to as well.
"They're going to have to sign another striker eventually. Son is good for now. With Richarlison, everything’s up in the air. They will sign a new striker once we get to 2024."
It will be interesting to see who Spurs bring through the door next year, but according to recent reports, they've already made an out-of-window signing.
Indeed, Croatian defensive starlet Luka Vuskovic has apparently signed for Tottenham with journalist Fabrizio Romano giving his famous "here we go" to the move.
The 16-year-old, who is an extremely highly-rated young defender from Hadjuk Split, is set to make the move to N17 in 2025 once he turns 18.
Called an "absolute unit" for his age by members of the English press, Vuskovic has also been billed as a "really exciting" capture by The Evening Standard's Nizaar Kinsella.
Now, a report by Italian media outlet Calciomercato has shed some light on his transfer, with Spurs boss Postecoglou playing a huge role.
It is believed the 58-year-old personally "convinced" Vuskovic to join Tottenham, who they say will be the "next big signing for Spurs".
The club beat Man City, Paris-Saint Germain and AC Milan to his signature, according to this report; highlighting Postecoglou's growing influence both on and off the field.
Vuskovic will apparently cost around £12.5 million, making him Hadjuk Split's most expensive transfer of all time ahead of former record holder Nikola Vlasic.
Postecoglou has been a long time fan of the player, apparently, and even had his eye on the defender during his Celtic tenure.
South Africa’s premier fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was suspended for the remaining two Tests of the Australia series, but his ban was overturned on appeal.
Yorkshire’s ground will also be one of the host venues for the new eight-team T20 competition, along with Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl, which missed out on an Ashes Test
ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2018
A general view of Headingley during the England v South Africa ODI•Getty Images
Headingley has been awarded the lucrative double of an India and an Ashes Test during the ECB’s major match allocation for 2020-2024. Yorkshire’s ground will also be one of the host venues for the new eight-team T20 competition, along with Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl – which missed out on an Ashes Test – Lord’s, The Oval, Trent Bridge, Edgbaston, Old Trafford and Cardiff.Lord’s is also a notable victor from the process, retaining the right to host two Tests a year despite a reduction in the overall programme. Like Headingley, Old Trafford was awarded Tests featuring India and Australia.Trent Bridge, a stronghold for England, is an absentee from the list of the venues for the 2023 Ashes, but the ground will become the home of the 50-over competition final from 2020, instead of Lord’s. Edgbaston will continue to host T20 Finals Day, while both grounds were handed four Tests in the five-year cycle.The ECB announcement sees Test cricket in England return exclusively to its six traditional venues, after more than a decade in which grounds around the country were encouraged to bid for matches, often to the detriment of their finances.Who has what? ECB men’s internationals 2020-20242020Tests Edgbaston, The Oval, Lord’s (two matches), Old Trafford, Trent Bridge
ODIs Bristol, Edgbaston, The Oval, Lord’s, Riverside, Trent Bridge
T20s Ageas Bowl (two matches), Headingley (two matches), Old Trafford, Cardiff2021Tests Headingley, The Oval, Lord’s (two matches), Old Trafford, Trent Bridge
ODIs Bristol, Edgbaston, The Oval, Lord’s, Riverside, Cardiff
T20s Ageas Bowl, Edgbaston, Headingley, Old Trafford, Cardiff, Trent Bridge2022Tests Edgbaston, Headingley, The Oval, Lord’s (two matches), Trent Bridge
ODIs Bristol, Edgbaston, The Oval, Lord’s, Old Trafford, Riverside
T20s Ageas Bowl (two matches), Headingley, Old Trafford, Cardiff, Trent Bridge2023Tests Edgbaston, Headingley, The Oval, Lord’s (two matches), Old Trafford
ODIs Ageas Bowl, Bristol, Lord’s, Riverside, Cardiff, Trent Bridge
T20s Edgbaston, Headingley, The Oval, Old Trafford, Cardiff, Trent Bridge2024Tests Edgbaston, The Oval, Lord’s (two matches), Old Trafford, Trent Bridge
ODIs Bristol, Headingley, Lord’s, Riverside, Cardiff
T20s Ageas Bowl, Edgbaston, Headingley, The Oval, Old Trafford, CardiffEight host venues for new T20 Ageas Bowl, Edgbaston, Headingley, The Oval, Lord’s, Old Trafford, Cardiff, Trent BridgeT20 Blast finals day 2020-24 EdgbastonOne-day final 2020-24 Trent BridgeA view across the Ageas Bowl•Getty Images
The omission of Southampton for an Ashes Test is something of a surprise. One of the packages of matches offered by the ECB – featuring only one Test in the cycle – looked to be designed with the ground in mind. Durham, meanwhile, failed in their attempt to argue they should provide one of the homes for the new T20 sides.Cardiff was understood not to have bid for Tests but remains a regular venue for ODIs and T20 internationals. The Riverside and Bristol have been awarded an ODI in each summer from 2020 but Taunton, which hosted an England men’s T20 in 2017, is not on the list.Work began over the winter at Headingley to rebuild the old Rugby Stand. The threat of a withdrawal of funding for the project last year had led to concerns about the future of the ground as an international venue.The identity of the eight grounds given host status for the new T20 competition was largely as expected, although there remains the possibility that grounds such as the Riverside and Taunton could be offered individual games.”Today’s discussion and decision followed a rigorous, comprehensive and detailed process by the independent Host Venue Panel, in which they assessed a range of high quality submissions and presentations,” Ian Lovett, deputy chairman of the ECB and chair of the panel, said.”With a five-year period of international and domestic cricket in prospect, as well as our New Competition being developed, there was very strong interest in hosting these events and the overall standard of submissions was excellent.”From the start of the process we had clear objectives, set a strong methodology and made best use of all relevant data and insight. To help to assess the submissions a balanced scorecard was used, with key aspects up-weighted to meet the needs of each specific set of matches.”It’s right that there should be thorough, independent scrutiny of such a significant process and I would like to thank John Crowther, Karen Earl and Mick Hogan for their contributions, knowledge and expertise. The ECB board recognised the quality and integrity of the process and has endorsed the recommendations, with the next stage the detailed discussion and agreement with each of these selected venues.”