Cricket news round-up – November 5: India B win Deodhar Trophy, Power Player to be introduced in IPL

India B win the Deodhar Trophy 2019-20. IPL 2020 will get a new concept of Power Player. Hashim Amla is set to begin a new career.

Deodhar Trophy goes to India B

India C failed to chase down the target set by India B and lost the Deodhar Trophy Final 2019-20 by 51 runs.

Batting first, Yashasvi Jaiswal took the first lead to stabilize the innings. He walked in when India B were 1/1. He scored 54 off 79 balls and saw others falling at the other end frequently. Post Yashasvi it was Kedar Jadhav who did the maximum job. A 94-ball 86 was majorly responsible for India B’s total of 283/7. Kedar focused on making partnerships- with Nitish Rana (20) and Vijay Shankar (45). Vijay’s quick fireworks at the end helped to accelerate the scoreboard. Ishan Porel who ran through the top and lower-middle order of India B finished with 5/43.

India C had a shocking start as they lost Shubman Gill in the second over. Priyam Garg (74) tried his bit but did not get much support from his colleagues. Post Priyam, Axar Patel (38), Jahaj Saxena (37*), and Mayank Markande (27) were at it but eventually, they were wrapped up for 232/9. Shahbaz Nadeem gave important breakthroughs to end with an impressive 4/32.

BCCI to introduce Power Player in IPL

The Indian cricket board is keen to introduce a Power Player concept in the next edition of the Indian Premier League. Teams will be allowed to substitute a player at the fall of a wicket or at the end of an over at any point in the game. A senior BCCI official informed IANS  “We are looking at a scenario where a team will not name the Playing XI. They will announce the 15 and a player can be substituted at either the fall of a wicket or at the end of the over at any point in the game. While we are looking to introduce it in the IPL, trying the concept first in the upcoming Mushtaq Ali Trophy could be the ideal way forward.”

He further explained how this could be a game-changer concept. “Imagine you need 20 runs off the last six balls and you have Andre Russell sitting in the dug-out as he wasn’t a hundred percent and wasn’t part of the original XI. But now, he can just walk in and go slam-bang and win you the game. Similarly, say you need to defend six runs off the last over and you have someone like a Jasprit Bumrah sitting in the dug-out. So, what does the captain do? Brings in Bumrah at the end of the 19th over and there you go. The concept has the potential to change the game.”

Hashim Amla joins Mzansi Super League

Hashim Amla will be starting his new job with Cape Town Blitz. He will work as their batting consultant during the upcoming Mzansi Super League. It will be his first consultancy role after bidding adieu to his international career. Amla will be available for the MSL franchise from November 25, after his stint in the Abu Dhabi T10 League. In that league, he will be seen playing for Karnataka Tuskers as their icon player and captain.

The Blitz coach Ashwell Prince said, “Hashim has a wealth of experience and knowledge of the game and we’re really looking forward to him bringing that to our management team.”

Amy Kenealy retires from international cricket

Amy Kenealy announced her retirement from international cricket on November 4. The Ireland Women pacer made her debut against West Indies in 2008 at Dublin and since then represented her country in 23 ODIs and 24 T20Is. She has 16 and 7 wickets in ODIs and T20Is respectively to her name. Her career-best figures of 4/32 in a 50-over contest came against Bangladesh in September 2016 and appeared last time for Ireland in November 2018

Kenealy assured, “Although it is sad to step away, I’ll keep up with the progress of the team and be there to support the girls throughout.”

Dawid Malan joins Yorkshire

Yorkshire signed Dawid Malan on a four-year contract. Malan boasts of 11,229 runs in first-class cricket that includes 25 centuries at an average of 37.43. He has also featured in 15 Tests for England and one of seven players to cross the 1000-run barrier in county cricket in 2019.

Yorkshire coach Andrew Gale had already informed about signing an experienced player. Yorkshire’s Director of Cricket Martyn Moxon said, “Dawid’s a three-format player, so he is a perfect signing for us in this time of our development. We are rebuilding our team and he is going to be a massive part of this going forward. Dawid is obviously keen to rekindle his England Test career as well as his white ball career. He also has huge ambitions to come here and win trophies. We have a highly motivated player coming to us and one with great talent.”

Cyclone threat in India-Bangladesh second T20I

There is the very real possibility of a cyclone affecting the next match of the T20I series between India and Bangladesh in Rajkot. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Director Jayanta Sarkar, , “Severe cyclonic storm Maha lay centered at 580 kilometres southwest of Diu and 550 kms southwest of Veraval. It is most likely to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm and make landfall between Dwarka and Diu on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning with wind speeds of 120 kilometres per hour.”

He further added, “The storm will cause heavy to very heavy rains in Saurashtra [the region of which Rajkot is a part] and south Gujarat on November 6-7. It is moving towards Oman but will recurve towards Gujarat coast on Monday.”