In today’s cricket sports news, learn more about Rilee Rossouw scoring the first century of this year’s Twenty20 World Cup as his 52-ball century and Anrich Nortje’s four-wicket haul led South Africa to a 104-run victory over Bangladesh in Sydney. Meanwhile, Michael Vaughan echoes Michael Clarke’s sentiments, stating that Steve Smith’s omission from Australia’s T20 World Cup match against England on Friday was a “shock” and a “mistake.” Lastly, In advance of the anticipated release of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket’s report, a second parliamentary evidence session on racism in cricket will be held in December.
Rilee Rossouw Helps South Africa Beat Bangladesh by 104 Runs
Original Source: T20 World Cup: Rilee Rossouw thumps century as South Africa thrash Bangladesh by 104 runs
Rossouw’s second century in as many T20I innings – he produced an unbroken 100 against India earlier this month – raised the Proteas to 205-5 from their 20 overs at the SCG.
The left-168-run hander’s partnership with Quinton de Kock (63 off 38) for South Africa’s second wicket is the most in men’s T20 World Cups, surpassing the 166 Sri Lanka legends Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara compiled against West Indies in 2010.
In reply, Bangladesh were shredded for 101 in 16.3 overs. Nortje (4-10 from 3.3 overs) vaporized three of their top four – Najmul Hossain Shanto (9), Soumya Sarkar (15), and captain Shakib Al Hasan (1) – as The Tigers crumbled to 47-4 in the powerplay.
Nortje bowled Taskin Ahmed (10) to seal the win for South Africa, who lost against Zimbabwe on Monday due to weather.
Later, Rossouw said: “A 100 in a winning cause is great. I’m happy with my performance, but we need the two points.”
Rossouw cracked the 10th century in all Men’s T20 World Cups – and first by a South African – before Nortje made a searing burst with the ball.
Rossouw, in early at No 3 after captain Temba Bavuma (2) fell to Taskin’s penultimate delivery, helped his team reach 58-1 in five overs before rain.
South Africa scored 33 in the next five overs but 80 in overs 11 to 15.
Overs 16-20 gave 34 runs and three wickets, with Rossouw caught at cover off Shakib’s bowling.
Then Nortje nicked off Sarkar and castled Shanto in his first over, the third of the innings, before trapping Shakib lbw.
Bangladesh had started strongly, taking 17 off Kagiso Rabada’s first over and 10 off Wayne Parnell’s second, but were reeling when Afif Hossain (1) chipped Rabada to Parnell at mid-off in the sixth over.
South Africa spinners Tabraiz Shamsi (3-20) and Keshav Maharaj (1-24) took over the wicket-taking charge, with Shamsi dismissing top-scorer Liton Das (34). Nortje then removed Taskin’s leg stump to complete the one-sided game.
Vaughan Blasts Smith’s Snub and Australia’s ‘disjointed’ Experiments
Original Source: ‘A big mistake’: Vaughan slams Smith snub and roasts ‘disjointed’ Aussie experimentation
Michael Vaughan said leaving out Steve Smith was a “shock” and a “error” before their do-or-die T20 World Cup match against England on Friday.
The 2015 World Cup-winning skipper was Australia’s most outspoken T20 player.
The former batsman, who hit centuries at the top of the order and in the middle, blasted Australia’s choice to drop Smith.
Clarke claimed Smith would be the tournament’s leading run-scorer if he started the batting, and he was important to Australia’s World Cup defense because he balanced a big-hitting order.
Steve Smith was sent to Western Australia. “Flew him to Perth to be 12th man – that’s not right,” Clarke remarked on the Big Sports Breakfast.
And don’t tell me Steve Smith must bat third or fourth.
“If he opens the batting, he’ll lead the T20 World Cup in runs. Still a good player.
Clarke’s comments came after Smith was dropped after the three-match tour of India. Cameron Green, who was not in the World Cup team until Josh Inglis’ injury, was chosen to open the batting with David Warner, while captain Aaron Finch batted in the middle order.
Australia’s World Cup defense is in jeopardy after a humiliating loss to New Zealand.
They gained a World Cup lifeline after England’s loss to Ireland on Wednesday in Melbourne, but they must now beat their Ashes nemesis.
Australia’s selectors face a hard call following Finch’s poor knock against Sri Lanka and when Pat Cummins received more tap.
But with Smith’s lack of time in the middle, Cameron Green’s troubles following a scorching series against India, and the fickle nature of T20 cricket, Australia is in a bind.
Vaughan, who ended England’s Ashes drought in 2005 and famously took on Australia in 2002-03, was startled by Smith’s absence.
I think Steve Smith has a place on a team, Vaughan said.
“Look at (Dawid) Malan for England. He times the ball, hits it in the gaps, and understands where his boundary options are. If you handed Steve Smith 50 balls, he’d score 80.
So good a player. He’s good. But it may take 20 balls to start him.
In most T20 teams, you need a skilled player who can play seam, spin, and gaps. Not only hitting sixes and fours, but managing the field.
“I don’t know how effective he is (as a leader), but he’s a tremendous player and I was surprised to see him out.”
Ian Smith questioned whether teams feared the defending champions without his namesake after Australia’s loss to New Zealand.
Vaughan claimed Smith’s absence was vital because he could adjust to T20 cricket, which is more complex than smashing every delivery. He called Smith the “ideal three.”
He stated, “I’m not sure if it’s that or a feeling in T20 cricket.”
I think you need skilled players, not just strong ones. We need circumstance manipulators.
Smith can play the scenario and 360 the ball in his own style. He has an excellent cricket mind. This is shocking.”
Bouncy Australian wickets suited Smith’s ability to score off the front and back foot.
“I guess in the UAE on those slower, lower wickets you maybe think you need more power and hitting down the ground abilities, but on Aussie surfaces, with a bit of bounce, I think Smith’s excellent for those wickets,” he remarked.
So it’s a tremendous shock and a big error in my opinion. Aussies seem to find a way, and they’ll have to.
How happy are you? The Indian World Cup team, fed up with cold sandwiches, orders online.
Vaughan criticized Australia’s batting order, suggesting Finch damaged his own prospects by frequently moving.
“Finchy’s form has been debated so long,” he remarked.
“If you’re out of form, keep playing the position you want to play at the World Cup and get in shape.
I didn’t receive the switching.
“The last several weeks have been a bit disconnected. Too many swaps. Too much spin. I get rotation when players are in good form and you’re trying to give them an opportunity, but Finch hasn’t been in great form and he didn’t play enough for me at the top of the order leading into the World Cup.”
Meanwhile, Vaughan felt India’s last-ball win was what the World Cup needed and that Virat Kohli’s knock gave the heavyweights a chance.
“India needed this triumph,” he remarked.
Virat needed the moment, too. We know he’s a terrific player, and he’s had some form in the Asian Cup, but to do it on that stage brought me back to when he seemed to hunt down everything on his own. To do it under that much pressure, against all the odds, was a brilliant game.
“I haven’t seen a finer T20 spectacle in terms of crowd, expectation, noise, and game itself. It was what the World Cup needed.
New Hearing on Racism in Cricket Slated for December
Original Source: New parliamentary hearing on racism in cricket set for December
The hearing follows last November’s hearing with Azeem Rafiq, who detailed the discrimination he faced at Headingley.
On Tuesday, December 13, DCMS MPs will evaluate progress on eliminating racism and prejudice in cricket.
It will also examine the actions of the England and Wales Cricket Board and the experiences of players, fans, and others involved in cricket.
It comes with the Independent Commission, which will report in the new year.
Yorkshire were banned from hosting international matches by the ECB for their “wholly unsatisfactory” treatment of Rafiq’s racism charges until this year.
Roger Hutton resigned as chair of Yorkshire in the wake of the racism incident, making way for Lord Kamlesh Patel.
Rafiq was one of five cricketers penalized for social media postings last month.
“The deep-rooted problem of racism in cricket was brought exposed in our session with Azeem Rafiq,” stated DCMS committee chair Julian Knight.
“As we heard from Kick It Out this week, the sport has a long way to go before it gets its house in line, as seen by the treatment of individuals who have exposed the game’s shortcomings.
“The Committee will examine how much progress has been made in cleaning up the game in Yorkshire and beyond.
With recent media reports claiming racism and discrimination still exist in sports, we’d like to hear from players, fans, and administrators about their experiences.
The DCMS Committee’s January report that public financing for cricket be contingent on the ECB making verifiable progress in eradicating racism from all parts of the spot.
Tony Burnett, CEO of Kick It Out, told the Committee on Tuesday that the anti-racism group has been working with cricketers to solve some of the issues, but that the challenge is ‘massive’ and’significant resources’ are needed to be effective.
Summary of today’s Cricket/Sports News
Overall, Rilee Rossouw scores a century off of 52 balls and puts together a record-setting 168-run stand with Quinton de Kock as South Africa defeats Bangladesh by 104 runs in their T20 World Cup Group 2 match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Proteas seamer Anrich Nortje takes 4-10 as the Tigers collapse to 101 in response to South Africa’s massive 205-5.
On the other hand, Michael Vaughan has agreed with Michael Clarke that it was a “shock” and a “error” not to include Steve Smith in the starting lineup for Friday’s decisive Twenty20 World Cup match against England. Clarke, Australia’s captain during their 2015 World Cup victory, was the most vocal of the team’s selected cricket players in the lead-up to the T20 event. The former batsman, who had an impressive career both at the top of the order and in the middle, criticized Australia’s choice to drop Smith on the eve of the competition.
Finally, after last year’s testimony session with Azeem Rafiq, the DCMS Committee will meet again in December to investigate the ECB’s efforts to eliminate racism in cricket. This meeting takes place just before the Independent Commission for Equity releases its report in the new year.