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The intent machine Mohammad Haris and the extraordinary Rashid Khan also find a place in the XI

Danyal Rasool and Umar Farooq19-Mar-2023Mohammad Rizwan (wk) Rizwan will go down as a PSL legend, and it’s because of seasons like these. Not only did he retain his incredible consistency – he was the highest run-getter of the tournament – he also demonstrated he can continue to add layers to his batting. Often criticised for his strike rate, it was up to 142.85 this year from under 127 the previous year. His magnum opus was an unbeaten 64-ball 110 against Karachi Kings. He flew from 50 to 100 in 18 balls, and was the only player to score a hundred this PSL at a ground other than Rawalpindi. He was, expectedly, flawless behind the stumps, all while leading Multan Sultans to their third straight final, and ending up agonisingly close to another title.Saim Ayub Not quite the find of the PSL, since he’d already been lighting up the domestic circuit, but the effortless step up was still a sight to behold. Having struggled with Quetta Gladiators as a teenager in 2021, Ayub’s reinvention as an aggressive top-order ball-striker was instrumental to Peshawar Zalmi’s successful season. A 37-ball 53 was a statement of intent, but he hit the heights during the Rawalpindi leg, taking full advantage of the shorter boundaries and flat pitches. Three successive fifties ignited Zalmi’s campaign, propelling them through to the play-offs and earning him a maiden call-up to Pakistan’s T20I side.Mohammad Haris This isn’t Pollard’s finest T20 season by any means, but then again, he sets high standards. Deployed mainly as a lower-order bludgeon, the West Indian produced several useful cameos. They might not have grabbed headlines, but they won games. An unbeaten 6-ball 15 and another undefeated 21-ball 32 gave Sultans crucial wins early on, while a 25-ball 52 in Rawalpindi helped them chase down 243 with relative ease. He saved his best for the first Eliminator, though, his 34-ball 57 coming in a remarkable counterattack that blew the Lahore Qalandars away. It included smashing Shaheen Afridi for 20, his most expensive PSL over, and he even chipped in with three wickets through the campaign.ESPNcricinfo LtdAzam Khan What he lacked in consistency he made up for in pure, exhilarating power hitting. Playing with an Islamabad United side that’s best set up to maximise his ability, the free license he had in the middle order was used to devastating effect. It was all evident in two blistering innings: his 42-ball 97 against Gladiators was probably the innings of the tournament, pulverising an attack that comprised Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain at the death. He followed it up shortly after with an unbeaten 72 in 41 balls that helped chase down 201 against Kings, earning himself a call-up to the national T20 side.Imad WasimKings’ captain endured seven losses out of ten matches after taking over from Babar Azam. Though Kings finished fifth, Imad’s all-round performance helped him earn a recall to the Pakistan side for the T20I series against Afghanistan.Rashid KhanRashid’s economy rate of under seven stood out in a campaign where he also ended as the third-highest wicket-taker. Only Zalmi took him for 40-plus runs this season. He played a crucial role with Qalandars winning seven out of ten group games.Shaheen Shah Afridi (capt)Shaheen lifted the PSL trophy for the second time in succession, thus establishing his credentials as leader. He also scored a lot of valuable runs, with 133 at a strike rate of 168. to stun the opponent. That included a half-century against Zalmi, before smashing 44 not out from only 15 balls in the final. As for his bowling, he was the tournament’s fourth-highest wicket-taker, with one five-for and two four-wicket hauls.ESPNcricinfo LtdZaman KhanA last-over specialist, seems to have a knack for defending a handful of runs. He bowled the 20th over in both the opening match and the final, defending 14 and 12 runs respectively. In only his second season, he showed temperament and control to become a part of Qalandars’ core. He and Rashid bowled the joint-second-most dot balls – 106. He did not pick up a player-of-the-match award, but there’s no denying the impact he had. He was rewarded with a maiden call-up for Pakistan, in the T20I side for the Afghanistan series.IhsanullahPakistan unearthed another bowling talent this season. Ihsanullah was picked by Sultans last season, but was injured after one game; this season he has come back as the finished product. The 20-year-old bowled some furious spells, clocking 150kph and announced himself in his second game with figures of 4-1-12-5 against Gladiators. He tested almost every batter he came up against this season and was top of the bowling charts all through before his team-mate Abbas Afridi pipped him at the end, pushing him down to second. He registered his trademark “archer” celebration, and was also rewarded with a national call-up for the Afghanistan series.Abbas Afridi

The reactions to R Ashwin’s all-round showing in Chennai

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Feb-2021

What an outstanding performance from @ashwinravi99 . The fifer followed by a brilliant hundred in the second innings . Top class

— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) February 15, 2021

England allrounder thriving after being picked to produce moments of brilliance

Cameron Ponsonby15-Nov-2024In the seminal cult classic , characters Joey and Chandler buy a pet duck for their flat. They don’t really know what they want to do with said duck, or how exactly they’re going to look after it, but they know they like it.Jamie Overton is England’s pet duck. They have no idea what they want from him, or how they’re going to take care of him, but they like him. And for now that’s enough.Overton is an exceptionally modern cricketer. A career-long bowling allrounder with a hulking 6ft 5in frame, a series of stress fractures (and move to Surrey) has seen the balance of his worth shift.Related

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For the past five seasons in the T20 Blast, his batting strike rate has never dipped below 167. In 2020 and 2022, it was above 180. During last season’s Hundred, he made 83 not out off 30 balls against a bowling attack containing England team-mates Reece Topley, Adil Rashid and Brydon Carse.Mixed in with an ability to bowl heavy-length seamers and catch flies, he has become an increasingly attractive option on the franchise market.”Last year at the Adelaide Strikers, I spoke to one of the analysts halfway through the tournament and he was like, ‘yeah, we didn’t really pick you for your bowling’,” he says.”I’m just enjoying the ride really. If you said to me five years ago I’d be playing for England just as a batter, I’d have been like yeah, whatever.”Until a month ago, Jamie Overton had only ever played once for England (you’re thinking of his brother, Craig): a Test in 2022 against New Zealand where he made 97 with the bat from No. 8 in one of the early Bazball miracles. But stress fractures in 2023 and 2024 hit pause on a promising start to his international career.Overton’s stress fractures didn’t require surgery, but did require a change in lifestyle. In an attempt to “get everything right” and lessen the load going through his back when bowling, he has lost 10kg through a combination of cycling and moving on to prepped meals.”I’ve always eaten pretty well, but the quantity was always a bit too much,” he said to warm nods of agreement from all round the world.Counterintuitively though, his time away from bowling saw his stock rise as he was able to further prove his worth with the bat. Overton’s worth with the ball was known, but with the bat it wasn’t – and over the past two seasons, he has played as a specialist batter for Surrey in T20 cricket.

“It gives you massive confidence. I was chatting to him before the series, and he was just like, ‘we back you’. Just go out and do what you do”Jamie Overton on Rob Key’s support

Such was Overton’s jump in value that before the second of his stress fractures earlier this year, he was set to be a bolter for the T20 World Cup squad, with Rob Key liking what he saw.”It gives you massive confidence,” Overton said of Key’s support. “I was chatting to him before the series, and he was just like, ‘we back you’. Just go out and do what you do.”Such is England’s keenness on Overton, he debuted in ODI cricket at No. 8 and didn’t bowl. In part, his absence with the ball on that occasion was due to England’s meagre total of 209, but in the second T20 played at Barbados, which was just one day after the first, Overton was picked as a specialist No. 8 with no intention to bowl him.”It felt a little bit like I shouldn’t be there,” Overton said of his sometimes unique space in the team. “But then I think they’re looking at the big picture. They see me bowling and batting at eight. So it’s trying to get me in that role.”During the Hundred last year, Overton’s ability to clear the ropes meant his team-mates started jokingly referring to him as Dre Russ. Overton isn’t sure who started that one, but after his dipping slower ball to dismiss Romario Shepherd in the third T20I, his England team-mates have started referring to him as another West Indian legend: DJ Bravo.”They’re some of the best T20 players in the world,” Overton says of the comparisons. “So if you can do anything that’s near their ability, then I’m over the moon.”The ball that got Shepherd out was the result of time spent with Surrey coach Neil Killeen, who Overton had been working with on bowling several different offcutters and in particular trying to bowl them slower. By his own admission, he isn’t able to bowl a legcutter, so the goal is to have as many different styles of offcutter in his armoury to make up for it.In the space of a month, Overton has leapfrogged from outside the international circle, to a wildcard, joker selection where England think they have something special.T20s are often won by moments of individual brilliance. A flurry of wickets or sixes, or an amazing catch at slip in the powerplay or long-on at the death. Overton ticks all those boxes. Ultimately, no-one knows how the Overton adventure will end, but they do know it’ll be fun to watch along the way.

He got his chance because of an injury to Kane Williamson, and B Sai Sudharsan had done the work to make the most of it

Deivarayan Muthu08-Apr-20231:18

Sai Sudharsan: Knock against Delhi Capitals one of my best

On his IPL debut last season, he hooked Kagiso Rabada over the boundary. On Tuesday, he scooped a 144kph delivery from Anrich Nortje off the stumps for six over the wicketkeeper, and went on to ace the chase for Gujarat Titans. He’s only seven matches into his IPL career and 21-years old, but there’s something special about B Sai Sudharsan.R Ashwin wanted him to be fast-tracked into the Tamil Nadu side after he had played one TNPL game in 2021. It was after that TNPL season, in which he scored 358 runs in eight innings at a strike rate just under 144, that Titans bought Sai Sudharsan at his base price of INR 20 lakh for IPL 2022. Then, despite a bright start to his IPL career, he got only five games last season.

This boy Sai Sudarshan is special, get him into the TN team asap! @TNCACricket . He had such a good league season and has now seamlessly transitioned into the 20 over format. #solidtalent @TNPremierLeague #TNPL

— Ashwin (@ashwinravi99) July 19, 2021

The new Rajasthan Royals captain reflects on how far he has come, and talks about his approach to leadership

Interview by Nagraj Gollapudi10-Apr-20212:17

“After each chat with Sanga, I am a bit more clear on what I need to achieve”

In 2013, 18-year-old Sanju Samson travelled to Jaipur to try out for the Rajasthan Royals, accompanied by his senior Kerala team-mate and India fast bowler Sreesanth, who was with the Royals then. Among those watching was former India and Royals captain Rahul Dravid, the franchise’s head coach at the time.After the second day of trials, Dravid walked up to Samson and asked him a question that gave the youngster goosebumps. Samson spoke of the incident in 2016. “He came and said, ‘Sanju, you have a very special talent and I would really love to make you play in my Rajasthan Royals team. Would you play for us?'” Samson remembered. “If anyone asks which is your favourite day in this career, definitely that’s the day, till now.”Samson is now in his second stint at the Royals and has been appointed captain for the 2021 season. In this interview, he talks about evolving from an uncapped player to the team’s leader.How incredible has the journey in the IPL been for you?

It is really amazing. I just recently had a look back at what I am and what I have achieved or whatever I have gone through my journey. And I can never ask for more. I have been very grateful and very blessed for this beautiful career.When the team management said they were making you captain, were you ready for it?

If you had asked me the question two years ago or if you would have given me this role two years ago, I would have said, no, I need some more time, I’m figuring out my own game. But now I feel that I’m mature enough to handle my own game and handle this role. So I feel that I’m ready to do this.Fans make clear who they are behind during a Royals game in Dubai in 2014•BCCIWhat about leadership do you think is your strength?

I like to carry everyone with me. I am not the kind of leader who will stand up tall and say that this is what need we need to do, or this is what I want everyone to do. I am very much flexible in understanding people. I understand that people are different, and they have their different mindsets and characters, but at the same time, I need everyone with me. So it’s all about understanding where are they coming from and putting a hand around them and saying, “I’m with you” and giving them the confidence which they need.If you have made it to the IPL team, you don’t need to prove anything else. So it’s all about giving them that confidence, that trust, and just giving them their space to express themselves – as simple as that. Kumar Sangakkara [the Royals’ team director] recently said you are a natural-born captain. You have been part of the Royals’ leadership group for a few years. What are the little things you have learned in that time?

We just had a meeting two days ago and they asked me the same question: what are you bringing on board as a captain? I said that I already have a lot of great leaders around me, so I don’t think I need to do much here.When I came in as a 17- or 18-year-old, I had people like Rahul Dravid, Shane Watson, Steve Smith, Ajinkya Rahane, Paddy Upton, Zubin Bharucha, Manoj Badale [team owner] – almost everyone in this group is a beautiful leader. I have sat quietly and I have observed and I have learned and all those qualities, they reflect on me. RR is the place where I have learned my leadership qualities and it’s a lucky thing that it’s my time to show those skills to the team.You have led Kerala and been vice-captain for India in age-group matches. How do you think that is different from leadership in the IPL?

What I feel is the challenge is that normally in a team you have 15 players, but in IPL you have 25 players to manage. Out of those 25, about 11 or 15 can play almost all the matches and the other ten are not playing. So as a captain or as a leader, I would want the whole team management to give importance to those ten players who are not being able to be part of the IPL.Samson has picked his 85 vs the Kings XI last year as one of his top IPL innings. “I don’t stand there and say that I’m going to hit a six. I just watch the ball and it comes naturally”•BCCIAt the Royals you have the likes of Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, and now Chris Morris. Also, domestic talent like Rahul Tewatia. You already have one-on-one relationships with most of them. Does that gives you an advantage in bringing the best out of them?

Whatever you speak, if you show that in your actions, you don’t need to convince a lot of people.Talking about a lot of great cricketers of the modern era – Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Chris Morris, Jofra Archer, David Miller, almost every one of them is [among the] greatest we have [currently in cricket]. I have a decent kind of relationship with them outside the field from the last three to four years. They know me and I know them, so there is not much communication needed. I’m very excited about it.Would you say one of your strengths is that you do not let emotions dominate your thinking and decision-making?

That is fair to say to a certain point. I am someone who is still trying to master that. It is not easy. It is very easy to say that you should not take decisions on emotions, but I feel that I’m getting much better at it.Are you a data captain or do you lead by instinct?

You have to be a mixture of both nowadays. Data is very important and we at RR definitely rely a lot on it. Captaincy is something I always believe that you have to go with your gut feeling also at times, so it has to be a mixture of both.Are you a bowlers’ captain?

I have to be. Leading a team in IPL, you have to stand by your bowlers. So I’m definitely a bowlers’ captain – I can say that.What have been your key takeaways from your conversations with Sangakkara?

We have been speaking for the last two to three months. After every chat I feel that I’m a bit more clear towards what I want to achieve as a captain – a lot of clarity and a lot of confidence has been given from Sanga to me. It is really special.Sreesanth hands Samson his cap on his first-class debut, in 2011•Kerala Cricket Association We do have chats on different players or different things happening in and around the team, but the main thing he said he wants me to do is get involved in almost every decision we take. So he wants me to take all those decisions. And he wants me to get better. He said, there is no right or wrong for a captain – if you take a decision, you have to stand by it and that’s it. Sometimes if the decision we have taken falls on the right side and the result is coming, then everyone says that it’s the right decision, but it is always about making a decision with a lot of conviction.So was he saying you are the boss of the Royals’ ship?

What he was trying to say is, he wants me to be the captain.There are a lot of different captains who sit back and want other players to take the calls, but I am the type of character who stands up and says that, yes, this is what [decision] we have taken and I stand for it, we have lost games and I take the responsibility. It is all about taking responsibility, that’s the only way you can grow as a captain.What would you say is the strength of your team?

Our strength is our unity. There are not big individuals in our team. We don’t rely on individuals. If we look at our past [seasons], we have always had a lot of young, raw Indian match-winners – we proved that last time, too, in [Kartik] Tyagi and Rahul Tewatia. So it is all about relying definitely on your star players, but we also trust our Indian players to win matches.Cricket-wise which are the areas that you as a captain are going to talk to your team about?

As I said before, it is all about trusting the person – if someone is in doubt or someone has some issues, it is all about giving him confidence and clarity. Keeping it as simple as possible. A captain doesn’t actually do much for a player. If the confidence and support is given by the leader, you don’t need anything else. As a captain I don’t like to talk much. It all about saying as little as possible.ESPNcricinfo LtdIn 2018, immediately after the IPL, you missed out on touring England with India A as you failed a yo-yo test. Recently you posted a picture of yourself after passing a yo-yo test. Can you talk about the period between the two tests in terms of fitness?

I’ve always been putting a lot of work into my fitness or in my batting. I have always been a very dedicated person. The reason I was failing all the tests, I found out, was the work was not put in the right direction. My game was improving, my cricket was improving, but fitness-wise I was not improving. It was all about finding the right guy to work with.When you train [on your own] you don’t know how to train or what is a smart way to train. So finding the right trainer was a game changer for me. I could see the difference in my fitness level as well.Who is this person?

We have Rajamani in our team [Royals] as a strength and conditioning coach, a dedicated trainer from Tamil Nadu.Fitness is playing a huge role in cricket – almost every day you are playing matches, you have to recover and then play another match with the same intensity. Being a leader of this team [Royals], what I have learned from Virat [Kohli] is how he changed the Indian team’s fitness culture. I told him that I’m going to do the same here in Rajasthan Royals as you did in Indian cricket. I take up the responsibility to improve the fitness levels of each and every Indian cricketer playing in Rajasthan Royals.We had a chat much before the season with Royals management. And I had a chat with the CEO and our chairman and I said that we need to definitely improve our fitness standards. A lot of actions have been taken.Inspired by how Virat Kohli instilled a no-excuses fitness culture in the India side, Samson has gone about doing the same with the Royals•Associated PressTell us more about the chat with Kohli.

Yeah, I told him that I know that you have made a lot of effort in the last three to four years. The way we came back in each format, playing a tournament after a long IPL and going to Australia and then having [peak] fitness levels and winning those matches, the last Test match [Brisbane] which we won… the credit must go to Virat , the way he has changed the culture. I was very much inspired by his actions and I told him that this is what I’m going to do.He was happy. He said, “” [You have understood, so go ahead and do it]. So it was nice. It was after the Australia Test series.You have spoken about how fitness has helped you with your power-hitting. Can you break that down for us?

It is all about asking yourself: what do you want to achieve? As a cricketer I want to hit maximum number of sixes or I want to improve my strength or I want to improve my power. How can I do that? What type of exercises can I do which will help me do this?I found out that being lean and being thin is not my style. I want to feel a bit muscular. I want to feel a bit bigger and stronger. So that’s how I gained a bit more muscle mass and gained a bit more weight. That has really helped me to score more runs or perform more inside the cricket ground. Being thin and being lean – it feels great, but it didn’t help me perform better. For me it is being strong and feeling that power inside me, so that really reflects positively in the cricket ground.Talking about power, you hit 26 sixes in the 2020 IPL, the second highest, behind Ishan Kishan of the Mumbai Indians. You just love hitting sixes, don’t you?

I believe that it comes naturally to me. I don’t stand there and say that I’m going to hit a six. I just watch the ball and it comes naturally, so I’m just learning to get better and better at it. You also get out, so that is also what I have accepted. It is okay at times to get out if you are trying risky shots. With time I have matured enough to understand that it is okay to get out, but at the same time I am also working to hit more sixes consistently.Samson says his learnings from the three T20Is in Australia last year were “to focus on myself and focus on being the best version of myself”•Getty ImagesBecoming the captain, does that change your attitude in your batting?

Yeah, that’s the most important thing I will be facing this season. Till last time I was a player and I was given a role and I had to do it inside the ground.What I have [figured out] mentally is, you can’t be a batting captain. You’re a captain when you are fielding. When you are batting, there are specific roles given to everyone and you just need to do the same role. You don’t have to allow captaincy to come into your head while you are batting.While you’re batting, you are just blank, you are just trusting yourself and you are just watching the ball. Every ball demands a different kind of treatment. Being a captain, if you ask me if is there no responsibility in my batting, I have been responsible. The only intent which I bat with is to make my team win, so that’s what I need to do each and every time, whether I am captain or not. It is very important to keep captaincy aside and just focus on your batting while you are batting.As far your batting is concerned, in the last three IPLs at least, you started off well and then struggled a bit for consistency. Are you confident you will be able to fix that?

I’m getting better at it: till last year it was one match and then a flop, but last year I scored in two matches [in a row] (). Every individual is different. My character is something different and I try to express it through my batting. Scoring runs is not what I do, it happens to me. The shots I play happens to me. If I get too conscious about scoring runs or if I get too conscious about keeping my consistency rate higher, I will be facing more balls, which is not my character.ESPNcricinfo LtdI can definitely take singles. I can definitely take ones and twos – a 20-ball 25 is not a hard thing for me to do. It is always about sticking to being true to yourself, being true to your game, no matter what people say.What is your best IPL innings?

One of the best was against Punjab where we chased down around 217-odd [224], where Rahul [Tewatia] finished off the game. That was special.Before that, in your first game of the season, you hit 74 off 32 balls against the Chennai Super Kings. Gautam Gambhir said at the time you were the best keeper-batsman in India and that it would be India’s loss if you were not picked in the T20 team. You were picked for the T20s in Australia and played three matches. What did that comeback to the Indian team teach you?

Mindset-wise, preparation-wise, execution-wise I did almost everything perfect. The only mistake I made was, the ball I got out – it went straight to the fielder. The learning was to focus on myself and focus on being the best version of myself. It is lot more to do with how mature you have become about understanding this game, what all you need to develop in your game. I am happy about where I am right now.So is it your personal goal is to become consistent this IPL?

My goal will be to win more matches for my team.

After they were placed into administration last Friday, Sheffield Wednesday have now received contact from American billionaire John Textor about buying the club.

The Owls knew the inevitable was coming for some time and it speaks volumes that many around the club will be relieved to be in administration rather than under the ownership of Dejphon Chansiri. His decade-long ownership has finally come to an end following a period in which staff and players went unpaid on a number of occasions.

Whilst there may be some light at the end of the tunnel off the pitch, however, Sheffield Wednesday have suffered on it. Henrik Pedersen’s side have been dealt an automatic 12-point deduction which has left them on -6 points and an impossible battle to stay up in the Championship.

Many have had their say on the consequences that they’ve been handed by the EFL, including Gary Lineker. The former Match of the Day host told The Rest is Football podcast: “They have gone into administration, obviously, and hopefully they can sort it all out. But they have got the 12-point penalty and are now on -6.

“I understand why clubs have to suffer repercussions, but I just think it’s like kicking a club when it’s down and at its lowest. We have had this with other clubs, and it just doesn’t sit well. It’s almost like the fans take the punishment.”

Julian Pitts, Kris Wigfield, Paul Stanley and Begbies Traynor have been appointed joint-administrators and are tasked with finding a suitable buyer for the club, with the EFL ready to relax their 21-day insolvency guideline to fast-track any potential sale.

John Textor makes contact with Sheffield Wednesday

According to reporter Alan Myers, Textor has now made contact with Sheffield Wednesday and their administrators about a potential deal to buy the club.

The American billionaire has also been linked with Wolverhampton Wanderers and it’s clear that he’s looking to invest in English football after selling his Crystal Palace shares in the summer.

That said, Sheffield Wednesday should proceed with caution. Having only just ended a toxic relationship with Chansiri, the last thing they need is another difficult ownership.

Textor stole the headlines when he resigned from his leadership position at Lyon after they were relegated to Ligue 2 amid financial problems. Although they have now been reinstated to France’s top flight and Textor remains a shareholder from afar, his day-to-day role received major protest from fans.

A repeat at Sheffield Wednesday is not guaranteed, but the Owls must ensure that Textor is right for them if they are to add themselves to his portfolio of clubs.

Sheffield Wednesday administrators reveal criteria owners must meet

It would be an unprecedented gamble in modern Australian cricket if the 19-year-old, with less than ten first-class games, were to be picked so soon

Alex Malcolm30-Oct-20241:00

Bailey: Bancroft’s consistency will count for something

Is Sam Konstas ready to play Test cricket? Time will tell and he will get his chance to add to his case against India A in the next two weeks.But if the 19-year-old were to be picked for the opening Test against India, he would be an unprecedented selection in modern Australian cricket.Even if he plays both matches against India A, picking an Australian batter who has played fewer than ten first-class games before making their Test debut is almost unheard of in the last 35 years. Not Ricky Ponting, not Steven Smith, not David Warner, not Cameron Green, and not even the late Phillip Hughes had so little experience when given a Baggy Green for the first time.Related

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The comparisons between Ponting and Konstas have been prevalent since the latter became the third youngest behind Ponting to score twin centuries in a Sheffield Shield game earlier this month. But beyond both achieving the feat as teenagers, the comparisons end there for the time being.Ponting achieved the feat as an 18-year-old in March 1993 but he did not play Test cricket until just prior to his 21st birthday in December 1995. Ponting’s accumulated experience by the time he was picked to play Test cricket makes him look like a veteran compared to Konstas. He had played 42 first-class matches and scored 12 first-class centuries, averaging 51.23. He had toured with Australia and played six ODIs in 1995 in New Zealand and the Caribbean. He had also played for Australia A in front of ODI-type crowds in the often-recalled 1994-95 summer.Konstas has only played three of his six first-class matches on Test grounds and is yet to reach 50 at a Test venue. He doesn’t yet have 500 first-class runs. If Alex Carey had held a very straightforward edge that Konstas offered on 0 in the second innings against South Australia, he might not even have 400.New South Wales coach Greg Shipperd is in a rare position to comment on whether Konstas is ready by comparison to Ponting, given he also coached the former Australian captain when he scored those twin centuries for Tasmania. Shipperd was asked last week whether Konstas would benefit from being made to wait like Ponting was.

Lanning, Perry, Gardner and co. share their thoughts after triumph; Sune Luus says tournament a watershed moment for women’s sports in SA

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Feb-2023Meg Lanning: “It’s a pretty special effort from the group. All teams came hard at us – we knew that was going to happen. But we performed well throughout the tournament, so super proud. We felt like it was a good score, but we had to bowl well. The wicket wasn’t as good as it was in the semi-final. We felt confident if we could hit the right lengths and target the stumps. We had to put pressure on South Africa.Related

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• South Africa makes itself heard at loudest Cape Town party

• Mooney's 74* leads clinical Australia to sixth T20 World Cup title

“We knew it would be an amazing atmosphere, which it was. It was a great event. It was about keeping things simple when the pressure is on, and getting things done. Nice to finish off with a win with this group. It’s a special group. Not just the players, but also the support staff that put in a lot of work behind the scene, and allow us to go out and play our cricket.”Ashleigh Gardner: “We have been longing for this moment since the last World Cup. We played some fantastic cricket throughout the tournament. Today just showed that we were not in winning positions throughout the game, but we scrapped and we fought; super proud of this group. [Best personal contribution in the tournament] Probably the semi-final. My role within the team with both bat and ball is trying to change the game with whatever I can do. For me, it was with the bat in that game, and then come back and bowl.”Personal accolades are great, but what I am most excited about is that we have won this tournament. We are World Cup champions. I probably bowled more in games, and that was in WBBL as well. I played a different role. I have bowled more and it has translated in internationals as well. Meg has the trust and confidence in me. She has been fantastic. Just putting my team in winning positions as much as I can. Words cannot describe how proud I am. We talk about evolving as individuals, and growing the game and having the impact globally. There is so much fun playing cricket for your country. Being a part of this team is fantastic. This phase is something I am going to be proud of later in life.”Beth Mooney: “It’s a very special win. Incredible being in South Africa and playing in front of an outstanding crowd like this one was special. I am glad I can fake it. I was not calm [in the middle] and the crowd was impressive and not many cheering for us, unfortunately. The girls will tell you later. The crowd were very impressive. It was a really tough wicket and I was a little too hard on myself in the middle. I walked off thinking we hadn’t gotten on the board.”Never judge a wicket till both the teams had batted and it was bloody tough out there and we did well. I was disappointed with my output in the first couple of games. But the belief of the support staff helped me turn it around. It was unbelievable. It was just a matter of time for me. We’ll see what Cape Town has in store for us [to celebrate]. But it’s nice to sit with the group and celebrate. This is a very special group and an amazing squad.”Ellyse Perry: “Amazing game. Huge thank you to the crowd for creating such an incredible atmosphere. I know it didn’t quite go the way they were hoping. But just to have the opportunity stand and be a part of this; right from the start – the national anthem. I knew it would be a great day. It was up and down in our bowling innings. [Laura] Wolvaardt batted exceptionally well and her partnership with Chloe [Tryon] put them in the hunt.”Felt like they were building the momentum. It was tense till we broke that partnership. It was nice to finish the way we did. I think it is nice to contribute in the game [when it comes to fielding]. It is a thing you do as a full team and it is about effort than skill.”Grace Harris: “You definitely won’t be able to wipe the smile off my face tonight, I’m just so happy about how we played throughout the tournament. I thought 156 it could be bit challenging, considering how the other two games were 170-plus score plus and they were close semi-finals. But to get the win against South Africa in front of the packed Newlands, who weren’t cheering for us, which is fair enough, this is outstanding and I love my experience here.”Lanning just said to back my skills and we needed a little bit of boost in the run rate to get to the 160 total, so I got the promotion up the order. Walking out to bat is something I look forward to in a game, I just loved it.”Jess Jonassen: “You can’t go into a World Cup or a final not thinking you are going to lift the trophy. To South Africa’s credit, they took it right to the end, and the crowd was amazing. Even though they weren’t going for us, it was an incredible atmosphere. So it was special to play in front of [them].”Relishing the opportunity to be back out here to represent my country. Have my parents and partner in the crowd, which is extra special.”

SA’s Luus expects more girls will play cricket

Sune Luus: “If you told me before the game that Australia were getting 156, I would have taken it. We lost wickets at crucial times, we knew they had a brilliant bowling attack as well. We lost at the crucial time but we can still be proud of the way we played in the tournament.”I don’t think women’s cricket is going backwards at the moment. I hope there is a lot of development in this front in the country. I hope so many girls want to pick up a bat and ball, so the schools have to get girls’ cricket. They got to be starting club cricket as well with more girls knocking on the door.”Firstly, you guys (Australia) are very annoying. But, congratulations to Meg and her team. You guys have been inspirational in world cricket for a long time and a lot of the players look up to you guys and you showed your class again. I think my wish is just to keep on growing. We have set the platform today. We can’t go backwards. The pressure is on women’s sports in his country, on the minister of sports, CSA and everyone to keep growing women’s sport in this country, whether it is financially or the pipeline, just need to keep growing and pushing.”Laura Wolvaardt: “It’s been such an incredible tournament to be part of. Australia are always going to be a tough side to beat in the final.”We didn’t get off to a great start and was always tough to catch up towards the end. You could hear every single cheer. It’s something I’ve never experienced – a crowd like this. I could do this every day. Very cool experience.”