Pakistan Takes On England With One Eye On ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

Pakistan will be aiming to carry the recent Test momentum into the four-match One-Day International (ODI) series against England as it bids to gain crucial points on the ICC ODI Team Rankings.

Eighth-ranked Pakistan is currently sitting on 88 points as compared to sixth-ranked England’s 100 points. With England, plus seven other top-ranked sides as on 30 September 2017, set to qualify directly for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, the only way Pakistan can move up the order is by winning matches against the higher-ranked sides.

As such, a 4-0 series win against England will earn Pakistan five points, while a 3-1 victory will mean a gain of three rankings points. It will earn only one point if the series ends in a two-all draw.

An England series win will mean Pakistan will lose points. If England sweeps the series, like it did in 2012, then Pakistan will drop to 86 points, while it will concede one point if England wins 3-1.

As far as England is concerned, it can rise to as high as102 points, but will slip behind Bangladesh in seventh place by a fraction of a point, if it loses 4-0 and Bangladesh wins the third ODI against Zimbabwe on Monday.

Pakistan’s last series win against England was on home turf in December 2005 when it won 3-2.

Pakistan Cricket team
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The series permutations are:

Pakistan 4 England 0 – Pakistan 93 points England 95 points
Pakistan 3 England 1 – Pakistan 91 points England 96 points
Pakistan 2 England 2 – Pakistan 89 points England 99 points
Pakistan 1 England 3 – Pakistan 87 points England 101 points
Pakistan 0 England 4 – Pakistan 86 points England 102 points

In the ICC ODI Player Rankings, no batsman from either side features in the top 10. Joe Root is the highest-ranked batsman in 11th position, followed by captain Eoin Morgan (21st) and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler (23rd).

Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez is 30th, while Ahmed Shehzad is 32nd.

AB de Villiers of South Africa is the number-one ranked batsman, while Virat Kohli of India is second and Kane Williamson of New Zealand third.

In the bowling chart, Pakistan’s Mohammad Irfan, in 14th place, is the highest-ranked bowler from either side, followed by Moeen Ali of England (31st) and Wahab Riaz (49th).

Sunil Narine of the West Indies is the top-ranked bowler and he is followed by Mitchell Starc of Australia and Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan.

Meanwhile, the recently-concluded series between Sri Lanka and West Indies has resulted in gains for a number of players.

In the batting table, Marlon Samuels has moved up three places to 34th and Kusal Perera has climbed seven places to 43rd, while in the bowling, Suranga Lakmal has achieved a career-best ranking of 23rd after rising six places and Lasith Malinga has vaulted four places to 24th.

The 3-0 series win as earned Sri Lanka five points and it is now on 105 points, while the West Indies has slipped to 86 after dropping two points.

England Cricket Team
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Series schedule

Pakistan v England (all day/night matches)

11 November – 1st ODI, Abu Dhabi
13 November – 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi
17 November – 3rd ODI, Sharjah
20 November – 4th ODI, Dubai

ICC ODI Team Rankings (as on 9 November, after SL-WI series, before BD-Zim third ODI and before the start of Pak-Eng series)

Rank Team Points
1 Australia 127
2 India 114
3 South Africa 112
4 New Zealand 109
5 Sri Lanka 105
6 England 100
7 Bangladesh 96
8 Pakistan 88
9 West Indies 86
10 Zimbabwe 46
11 Ireland 46
12 Afghanistan 45

(Developed by David Kendix)

England Cricket Team
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ICC T20I Player Rankings (as on 9 November, after SL-WI series, before BD-Zim third ODI and before the start of Pak-Eng series)

Batsmen (top 10)

Rank (+/-) Player Team Points Avge HS Ranking
1 ( – ) AB de Villiers SA 900 54.21 902 v NZ at Auckland 2015
2 ( – ) Virat Kohli Ind 804 50.60 886 v Ban at Fatullah 2014
3 ( – ) Kane Williamson NZ 788 48.02 798 v SA at Centurion 2015
4 ( – ) T. Dilshan SL 780 39.62 802 v Sco at Hobart 2015
5 ( – ) Hashim Amla SA 776 52.70 901 v Eng at Trent Bridge 2012
6 ( – ) MS Dhoni Ind 741 52.26 836 v Aus at Delhi 2009
7 ( – ) Shikhar Dhawan Ind 730 42.93 794 v SA at Melbourne 2015
8 ( – ) Ross Taylor NZ 728 43.91 743 v Zim at Harare 2015
9 ( – ) Glenn Maxwell Aus 717 34.88 724 v Pak at Adelaide 2015
10= ( – ) Faf du Plessis SA 715! 39.65 715 v Ind at Mumbai 2015
( – ) Quinton de Kock SA 715 39.86 749 v Aus at Sydney 2014

Selected Rankings:
Rank (+/-) Player Team Points Avge HS Ranking
15 ( – ) Joe Root Eng 680 42.36 712 v NZ at Trent Bridge 2015
20 (+1) Angelo Mathews SL 643 39.94 707 v Eng at Colombo (RPS) 2014
21 (-1) Eoin Morgan Ire/Eng 641 37.81 690 v Aus at The Oval 2010
23 ( – ) Jos Buttler Eng 627 32.60 680 v NZ at Edgbaston 2015
30 ( – ) M. Hafeez Pak 599 31.58 665 v Ban at Mirpur 2014
32 (+1) Ahmed Shehzad Pak 596 34.81 670 v Ban at Mirpur 2014
33 (-3) L. Thirimanne SL 595 34.65 599 v WI at Colombo (RPS) 2015
34 (+3) Marlon Samuels WI 593 34.08 631 v SL at St. Vincent 2003
43 (+7) Kusal Perera SL 547! 27.36 547 v WI at Pallekele 2015
45 (-1) Andre Russell WI 542 28.97 571 v NZ at St Kitts 2012
50 (-6) Darren Bravo WI 536 32.15 588 v Ind at Kanpur 2013

Bowling

Rank (+/-) Player Team Pts Avge Econ HS Ranking
1 ( – ) Sunil Narine WI 734 26.05 4.07 791 v SL at Jamaica 2013
2 ( – ) Mitchell Starc Aus 713 19.65 4.85 783 v NZ at Melbourne 2015
3 ( – ) Shakib Al Hasan Ban 706 27.89 4.30 717 v Zim at Chittagong 2009
4 ( – ) Trent Boult NZ 705* 24.08 4.64 738 v Eng at The Oval 2015
5 ( – ) Imran Tahir SA 688 22.94 4.49 735 v SL at Sydney 2015
6 ( – ) Dale Steyn SA 682 25.93 4.86 746 v Ind at Durban 2013
7 ( – ) M. Johnson Aus 672 25.26 4.83 724 v Ban at Darwin 2008
8 ( – ) Morne Morkel SA 666 23.98 4.90 717 v SL at East London 2012
9 ( – ) Saeed Ajmal Pak 655 22.73 4.18 810 v SA at Centurion 2013
10 ( – ) R. Ashwin Ind 640 31.27 4.81 691 v SL at Hambantota 2012

Selected Rankings:

Rank (+/-) Player Team Pts Avge Econ Highest Ranking
14= (+1) Mohammad Irfan Pak 597 31.63 4.90 641 v UAE at Napier 2015
16 (-2) S. Senanayake SL 596 34.94 4.74 656 v NZ at Christchurch 2015
23 (+6) Suranga Lakmal SL 560 29.71 5.56 563 v WI at Colombo (RPS) 2015
24 (+4) Lasith Malinga SL 557 27.77 5.26 675 v Ban at Colombo (RPS) 2007
26 (-2) Jason Holder WI 555 32.12 5.68 576 v UAE at Napier 2015
29 (-6) Angelo Mathews SL 554 34.77 4.61 649 v Ind at Trinidad 2013
31 (+1) Moeen Ali Eng 544* 38.40 4.86 554 v Aus at Headingley 2015
32 (-1) Ravi Rampaul WI 542 29.35 5.10 628 v Ind at Ahmedabad 2011
44 ( – ) Jerome Taylor WI 496* 27.33 6.29 626 v NZ at Christchurch 2009
49 ( – ) Wahab Riaz Pak 486 29.67 5.57 501 v Zim at Lahore 2015

All-rounders

Rank (+/-) Player Team Points Highest Ranking
1 ( – ) Shakib Al Hasan Ban 424 453 v Zim at Chittagong 2009
2 ( – ) T. Dilshan SL 366 415 v Sco at Hobart 2015
3 ( – ) Angelo Mathews SL 356 427 v Eng at Colombo (RPS) 2014

Umpire Steve Davis To Retire At The End Of England-New Zealand ODI Series

“I have had a marvelous 25-year career during which I worked with some of the best umpires and match referees,” says Davis

Steve Davis of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires today announced that he will retire from international umpiring at the end of the upcoming One-Day International (ODI) series between England and New Zealand, which concludes at the Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street, on Saturday, 20 June.

63-year-old Davis was selected for the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires in 2002, before he was promoted to the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires in 2008. To date, Davis has umpired in 57 Tests, 135 ODIs and 26 T20Is.

Davis made his first-class umpiring debut in 1990-91 and umpired in his first ODI in 1992 when he officiated an ODI between Pakistan and the West Indies in Adelaide. His first Test appointment was five years later in Hobart when he stood in the match between Australia and New Zealand.

During his illustrious career, Davis has umpired in the 2007, 2011 and 2015 ICC Cricket World Cups, 2009 and 2013 ICC Champions Trophy tournaments as well as all five ICC World Twenty20 events.

steve davis cricket umpire photo credit icc.com

Announcing his decision, Davis said: “It has been a difficult but considered decision. I have had a marvelous 25-year career during which I worked with some of the best umpires and match referees.

“I have made many lasting friendships all around the world, both on and off the field, which I will treasure forever.

“I also take this opportunity to thank Cricket Australia and the ICC for their support and the opportunities they have given me. And as much as anyone, I thank my wife Annie and our families for their encouragement and support over the years.”

ICC General Manager – Cricket, Geoff Allardice, paid tribute to Davis when he said: “Steve will finish international cricket on a high, leaving the game with the respect of not only his umpiring colleagues, but of the match referees and players as well.

“He was one of the best match managers on the field, and a great team man for umpires and referees to work alongside. He has also been the leader of the elite umpires over recent years, and his calming influence will be hard to replace.”

Vince Van Der Bijl, Senior Umpires and Referees Manager, congratulated Davis on a successful career. He said: “The Elite Panel had been fortunate to have a person of Steve’s calibre and stature involved with the group for the last seven years.

“Through his leadership and commitment, Steve has had an immense influence on the umpiring community, which will be fondly remembered by all those who have worked with him during his long and distinguished umpiring career.

“On behalf of the ICC, I thank Steve for his significant contribution to the game.”

Davis’ replacement on the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires will be announced in due course.

Bailey Suspended For Second Minor Over-Rate Offence

Warner fined 50 per cent of his match fee for conduct contrary to spirit of the game

Australia captain George Bailey has been suspended for one ODI and fined 20 per cent of his match fee, while his players have been fined 10 per cent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate during Australia’s One-Day International against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Andy Pycroft of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the suspension on Bailey after Australia was ruled to be one over short of its target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration.

As Bailey had previously been found guilty of a minor over-rate offence in One-Day Internationals within the last 12 months, this offence constituted his second minor over-rate offence for the purposes of the ICC Code of Conduct. Bailey pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

In accordance with Article 2.5.1 and Appendix 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which deals with minor over-rate offences, in the case of a second minor over rate offence in the same format of the game within 12 months, the captain receives a one match suspension and is fined 20 per cent of his match fee, while the players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for each over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

As such, Bailey has been suspended from Australia’s next ODI, which is against England and will be played in Hobart on Friday 23 January.

In another incident, David Warner has been fined 50 per cent of his match fee after committing a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct.

Warner admitted to a breach of Article 2.1.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which provides that an offence will be committed where a player engages in “… conduct that either : (a) is contrary to the spirit of the game; or (b) brings the game into disrepute”.

The incident happened on the last ball of the 22nd over when Warner approached India batsman Rohit Sharma and confronted him aggressively after the batsmen had taken a run from an over-throw. The Australian had to be withdrawn from the confrontation by both the on-field umpires.

Warner accepted the offence and the proposed sanction, and therefore a formal hearing was not required.

Both the charges were laid by on-field umpires Kumar Dharmasena and John Ward, third umpire Mick Martell and fourth official Simon Fry.

Broad reaches 250-ODI landmark

Former England batsman reflects on “huge honour”

Chris Broad has become only the second member of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees to reach the 250-mark in One-Day Internationals (ODI’s) when he took the field to officiate in the second ODI between South Africa and West Indies on Sunday at Wanderers.

Broad, a former left-handed opening batsman, played county cricket for Gloucestershire and Nottinghamshire, as well as first-class cricket in South Africa for the Orange Free State. Broad was a mainstay in the England side in the mid-80s, representing his country in 25 Tests and 34 ODIs, in which he scored 1,661 and 1,361 runs, respectively. During an illustrious first-class career, he scored a total of 21,892 runs (including 50 centuries).

Following his retirement and a brief stint as a commentator, the 57-year-old soon made the transition to refereeing and marked his debut in the first Test between New Zealand and Pakistan in Hamilton in December 2003. A month later, made his ODI debut as a Match Referee in the same series in Auckland.

Chris Broad credit ICC.com

He was included in the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referee in 2004.

Speaking at the milestone, Mr Broad said: “I have many happy memories in my career as a Match Referee and this is a huge honour for me to reach this landmark.

“As an ex-cricketer, to remain involved in a sport which has given me so much, I feel privileged to work alongside some outstanding match officials and retain a strong affiliation with the game I love.

“I would like to acknowledge the encouragement of the ICC, especially former CEO Malcolm Speed, who employed me initially but also Vince Van Der Bijl who has brought a much more professional approach to the job in the last few years and continues to offer leadership and guidance to all the match officials. Last but not least, I am indebted to my family and friends for their love and support throughout the years.

“It is an incredibly exciting time to be involved in the game and with an ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 on the horizon, there’s so much to look forward to.”

Paying tribute to Mr Broad on reaching his 250th ODI, ICC’s Senior Umpires & Referees Manager, Vince Van Der Bijl, said: “Chris Broad is passionate about his role as ICC match referee and has always felt that it is the best job in the world. He officiates with a wealth of cricket experience behind him, with a straightforward, no-nonsense approach and has done sterling service for the game and the ICC. Congratulations Chris on this special milestone and thank you for your committed service.”

List of match referees to have refereed in 150 or more ODIs:

1 Ranjan Madugalle 288
2 Chris Broad 250
3 Jeff Crowe 207
4 Roshan Mahanama 207
5 Javagal Srinath 150