Hong Kong and Namibia ready to start Test cricket pathway in Intercontinental Cup 2015-17

Namibia captain Nicolaas Scholtz aiming to reap “fruits” of team’s dedication

Hong Kong captain James Atkinson excited about pathway “to eventually try to play against a Test playing nation”

The four-day first-class Intercontinental Cup 2015-17, which is a pathway for Test cricket, kicks off at the Wanderers, Windhoek, when Namibia plays host to Hong Kong in the opening round action on Sunday, 10 May. Both the sides have confirmed their squads for this fixture.

The side that wins the round-robin league tournament will play the bottom-ranked Test team on the Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings in the ICC Test Challenge in 2018.

Ireland will defend the title of the tournament, which also features former winner Afghanistan, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea (PNG), 2004 champion Scotland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

This will be Namibia’s sixth appearance in the competition with its best performance being runner-up in the 2007-08 edition. To date, it has played 27 matches, winning 14, losing nine and drawing three.

Namibia also participated in ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, but lost all six of its matches. In 2009 Namibia uniquely won the ICC Intercontinental Shield for the four teams placing seventh through 10th in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2009. Since the 2006-07 season, Namibia has participated in the second tier of South African first-class and list A cricket.

Led by Nicolaas Scholtz, the squad also includes veteran all-rounder Gerrie Snyman who has scored two double-centuries in the competition – both against Kenya – and his innings of 230 in the 2008 match at Sharjah came out of an all-out total of 282.

Looking ahead to the start of the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2015-17 competition, Scholtz said: “We as Namibia are looking forward to hosting Hong Kong and to play good competitive cricket.

“It is the first time they will be playing in Namibia, and I truly believe they will enjoy our warm Namibian hospitality. We are well prepared and the guys have been putting in the hours and it’s truly appreciated and we will look to reap the fruits of this dedication. Best of luck to everyone.”

The first recorded game of cricket in Hong Kong took place in 1841 and Sunday’s game will mark its second appearance in the competition, after taking part 10 years ago in 2005. In that event, Hong Kong lost to the UAE and drew with Nepal, but failed to qualify for the semi-finals.

In ODI cricket, Hong Kong participated in the Asia Cup in 2004 (in Sri Lanka) and 2008 (in Pakistan). Hong Kong successfully qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 2014 via the qualifier in the UAE the previous year and it memorably defeated host Bangladesh at Chittagong, but lost its other two matches to Afghanistan and Nepal.

Hong Kong will be led by former Warwickshire wicketkeeper Jamie Atkinson and has in its ranks a host of players, including promising 16-year-old all-rounder Waqas Khan, who have represented their sides at the Under-19 and senior levels.

Atkinson, looking ahead to the tournament opener, said: “The Intercontinental Cup gives Hong Kong a chance to play first-class cricket on a regular basis. It provides a pathway for the best team in the competition to eventually try to play against a Test playing nation at the end of the cycle.

“The squad is raring to go after a pre-tour in South Africa. Everyone has been working hard at training and in matches to best prepare for the upcoming game against Namibia. We’ll be aiming to make a good start to the both the ICC Intercontinental Cup as well as the one-day ICC World Cricket League Championship, with every result important to final standings.”

Nicolaas Scholtz, Namibia, credit ICC.

Squads:

Namibia (from): Nicholas Scholtz (captain), Stephen Baard, Sarel Burger, Christopher Coombe, Michau du Preez, Gerhard Erasmus, Zane Green, Zhivago Groenewald, Robert Herridge, J.P Kotze (wicket keeper), Xander Pitchers, Bernard Scholtz, JJ Smit, Gerrie Snyman, Tiaan Snyman, Raymond van Schoor, Bredell Wessels, Picky ya France

Hong Kong (from): Jamie Atkinson (captain / wicket keeper), Tanwir Afzal, Irfan Ahmed, Nadeem Ahmed, Haseeb Amjad, Waqas Barkat, Babar Hayat, Mohammad Aizaz Khan, Waqas Khan, Roy Lamsam, Adil Mehmood, Nizakat Khan Mohammad, Ehsan Nawaz, Ali Skhawat

Match Referee: Dev Govindjee (South Africa)

Umpires: Andrew Wynand Louw and Adrian Holdstock

ICC Intercontinental Cup first round fixtures:

10-13 May – Namibia v Hong Kong, Wanderers, Windhoek
2-5 June – Ireland v UAE, Malahide
2-5 June – Scotland v Afghanistan, Stirling
16-19 June – Netherlands v Papua New Guinea, Amsterdam

ICC World Cricket League Championship first round fixtures:

15 May – Namibia v Hong Kong, Wanderers
17 May – Namibia v Hong Kong, Wanderers
22 June – Netherlands v Papua New Guinea, Amsterdam
24 June – Netherlands v Papua New Guinea, Amsterdam
25 June – Kenya v UAE, tbc
27 June – Kenya v UAE, tbc
25 July – Scotland v Nepal, tbc
27 July – Scotland v Nepal, tbc

Pathway To Test Cricket To Begin For Associate Members In ICC Intercontinental Cup 2015-17

This tournament is now the platform for emerging nations to fulfill their ambitions of playing Test cricket, says David Richardson

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the dates for the first round of fixtures for the four-day first-class ICC Intercontinental Cup 2015-17, which features Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Namibia, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Scotland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The side that wins the round-robin league will play the bottom-ranked Test team on the Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings in the ICC Test Challenge in 2018.

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said: “The ICC Intercontinental Cup is now the platform for emerging nations to fulfill their ambitions of playing Test cricket. It will therefore be fantastic to see the strongest Associates face off in an exciting competition, with great context, that will showcase world cricket’s growing pool of talent.

“This event, funded by ICC, forms part of the ICC’s global development programme. As preparations intensify ahead of the opening round in Namibia this weekend, I would like to wish all of the competing nations the best of luck.”

Scotland won the inaugural ICC Intercontinental Cup in 2004, beating Canada in the final, while Ireland has been victorious on four occasions (2005, 2006-07, 20007-08 and 2011-13), while Afghanistan clinched the 2009-10 tournament.

David Richardson, photo credit icc.cricket.com

Dates for ICC Intercontinental Cup first round fixtures:

10-13 May – Namibia v Hong Kong, Wanderers
Match Referee: Dev Govindjee (South Africa), Umpires: Andrew Wynand Louw (Namibia) and Adrian Holdstock (South Africa)
2-5 June – Ireland v UAE, Malahide
2-5 June – Scotland v Afghanistan, Stirling
16-19 June – Netherlands v Papua New Guinea, Amsterdam

Dates for Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Championship first round fixtures:

15 May – Namibia v Hong Kong, Wanderers
17 May – Namibia v Hong Kong, Wanderers
22 June – Netherlands v Papua New Guinea, Amsterdam
24 June – Netherlands v Papua New Guinea, Amsterdam
25 June – Kenya v UAE, tbc
27 June – Kenya v UAE, tbc
25 July – Scotland v Nepal, tbc
27 July – Scotland v Nepal, tbc

The Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Championship will be played in conjunction with the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2015-17. The one-day tournament includes Kenya and Nepal which will have replaced Afghanistan and Ireland, as these two nations are now on the Future Tours Programme.

Australia Aims To Reduce South Africa’s Lead At The Top Of The Table

Sixth-ranked India can rise to as high as third

Download the Reliance ICC Rankings App via http://www.icc-cricket.com/mobile to predict the outcome of the series

The four-Test series between Australia and India gets underway in Adelaide on 9 December, with the host aiming to reduce South Africa’s lead at the top of the Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings, and India looking to improve its sixth position.

Australia is currently ranked second on 117 ratings points, seven points adrift of the Proteas, while India is 21 ratings points behind in sixth position, on 96 ratings points.

Michael Clarke’s men must win the series to maintain the side’s hold on the second position and thereby, close the gap with leader South Africa. If Australia is to win the series 4-0, it would close the gap on South Africa to four ratings points, with India dropping to seventh, while a 3-1 win will reduce the Proteas’ lead to six ratings points.

In contrast, a 4-0 win for the visitors would see them rise to 107 ratings points, one behind second-placed Australia. A 3-1 series victory, meanwhile, would see it join England on 104 points, although Alastair Cook’s side would hold a slender 0.4 point advantage when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

A 2-2 series deadlock will see both sides maintaining their pre-series rankings, although Australia would drop to 114 points while India will rise to 99 ratings points.

Number-one ranked South Africa will face West Indies in a three-match Test series that starts on 17 December at Centurion.

To find out exactly how the forthcoming series will affect the Test Rankings Table, please click here. The Test Rankings tables, unlike the ODI and T20I Test Rankings Table, is updated an end of the series.

Meanwhile, Australia opener David Warner in sixth place will start the series as the highest-ranked batsman from either side in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen. The left-hander is five ratings points adrift of South Africa’s Hashim Amla in sixth position.

In all, there are three Australia batsmen in the top 20, with Michael Clarke (11th) and Steven Smith (13th) also aiming for upwards movement.

Heading into the series, India’s highest-ranked batsmen are Cheteshwar Pujara (17th), Virat Kohli (27th) and MS Dhoni (30th).

In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers, Ryan Harris (second) is the highest ranked bowler, 54 points behind number-one ranked Dale Steyn of South Africa and two places ahead of his team-mate Mitchell Johnson (fourth).

India’s highest-ranked bowler is 28-year-old off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (12th), two rankings spots ahead of Australia’s Peter Siddle.

India’s Ashwin is in second position in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test All-rounders, 41 points adrift of Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan. ICC Cricketer of the Year Mitchell Johnson lies in fifth place, 15 points shy of England’s Stuart Broad.

Upcoming fixtures

Australia v India

9-13 Dec – 1st Test, Adelaide

17-21 Dec – 2nd Test, Brisbane

26-30 Dec – 3rd Test, Melbourne

6-10 Jan – 4th Test, Sydney

South Africa v West Indies

17-21 Dec – 1st Test, Centurion

26-30 Dec – 2nd Test, Port Elizabeth

2-6 Jan – 3rd Test, Cape Town

Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings (as on 7 December, ahead of Australia-India Test series)

Rank Team Rating

1 South Africa 124
2 Australia 117
3 England 104
4 Pakistan 103
5 Sri Lanka 101
6 India 96
7 New Zealand 94
8 West Indies 75
9 Bangladesh 32
10 Zimbabwe 18

(Developed by David Kendix)

Reliance ICC Test Player Rankings (as on 7 December, ahead of Australia-India Test series):

Batsmen

Rank Player Team Points Ave HS Rating
1 K. Sangakkara SL 915 58.76 938 v Eng at Kandy 2007
2 AB de Villiers SA 888 51.02 935 v Aus at Port Elizabeth 2014
3 S.Chanderpaul WI 887 53.10 901 v NZ at Napier 2008
4 Angelo Mathews SL 873! 52.65 873 v Pak at Colombo (SSC) 2014
5 Hashim Amla SA 863 51.32 907 v Pak at Abu Dhabi 2013
6 David Warner Aus 858 47.47 875 v Pak at Dubai 2014
7 Younus Khan Pak 818 53.37 880 v SL at Lahore 2009
8 Joe Root Eng 789! 50.94 789 v Ind at The Oval 2014
9 Ross Taylor NZ 783 45.95 871 v WI at Hamilton 2013
10 Misbah-ul-Haq Pak 777 49.15 842 v NZ at Abu Dhabi 2014

Selected Rankings

Rank Player Team Points Ave HS Rating
11 Michael Clarke Aus 755 50.59 900 v SL at Melbourne 2012
13 Steven Smith Aus 730 40.39 737 v SA at Cape Town 2014
17 C. Pujara Ind 691 49.26 851 v SA at Durban 2013
25 Chris Rogers Aus 623* 36.06 694 v Eng at Sydney 2014
27 Virat Kohli Ind 618 39.46 784 v NZ at Wellington 2014
30 MS Dhoni Ind 607 38.46 662 v SA at Kolkata 2010
35 Shane Watson Aus 574 36.25 729 v Eng at Perth 2010
36 Murali Vijay Ind 569 36.29 652 v Eng at Lord’s 2014
46 Ajinkya Rahane Ind 531* 39.88 612 v Eng at The Rose Bowl 2014
49 Brad Haddin Aus 518 34.20 637 v WI at Perth 2009
51 Rohit Sharma Ind 504* 48.90 578 v NZ at Wellington 2014
52 R. Ashwin Ind 503* 38.86 527 v Eng at Old Trafford 2014
64 Shikhar Dhawan Ind 429* 38.58 475 v NZ at Wellington 2014
79 Shaun Marsh Aus 373* 32.86 432 v SA at Centurion 2014
89 M. Johnson Aus 333 22.24 477 v Eng at Lord’s 2009
96 Mitchell Marsh Aus 316*! 41.00 316 v Pak at Abu Dhabi 2014

Bowlers

Rank Player Team Points Ave HS Rating
1 Dale Steyn SA 907 22.56 908 v Pak at Johannesburg 2013
2 Ryan Harris Aus 853 22.56 870 v SA at Cape Town 2014
3 Rangana Herath SL 851! 29.06 851 v Pak at Colombo (SSC) 2014
4 M. Johnson Aus 844 27.47 849 v Pak at Dubai 2014
5 James Anderson Eng 806 29.72 813 v Ind at Edgbaston 2011
6 V. Philander SA 785 21.57 912 v Ind at Johannesburg 2013
7 Stuart Broad Eng 774 29.90 783 v WI at Lord’s 2012
8 Kemar Roach WI 768! 25.98 768 v Ban at St Lucia 2014
9 Trent Boult NZ 762* 27.85 767 v Ind at Wellington 2014
10 Tim Southee NZ 744 30.67 799 v WI at Kingston 2014

Selected Rankings

Rank Player Team Points Ave HS Rating
12 R. Ashwin Ind 710 28.65 808 v WI at Mumbai 2013
14 Peter Siddle Aus 691 30.20 816 v Eng at Old Trafford 2013
19 Ishant Sharma Ind 588 36.75 671 v WI at Dominica 2011
23 Nathan Lyon Aus 538 35.80 648 v Eng at Melbourne 2013
28 Ravindra Jadeja Ind 505* 30.37 570 v SA at Durban 2013
37 Shane Watson Aus 412* 31.95 633 v SA at Cape Town 2011
38 B. Kumar Ind 409* 30.25 443 v Eng at Old Trafford 2014
41 Mitchell Starc Aus 394* 35.34 432 v Eng at The Oval 2013
47 M. Shami Ind 361* 36.31 422 v NZ at Wellington 2014
88 Steven Smith Aus 181*! 48.00 181 v Pak at Abu Dhabi 2014
97= Michael Clarke Aus 132* 37.93 265 v NZ at Wellington 2005
Varun Aaron Ind 132*! 47.37 132 v Eng at The Oval 2014

All-rounders

Rank Player Team Points HS Rating
1 Shakib Al Hasan Ban 398 419 v Zim at Khulna 2014
2 Ravichandran Ashwin Ind 357*/ 419 v WI at Mumbai 2013
3 Vernon Philander SA 348*/ 376 v Aus at Cape Town 2014
4 Stuart Broad Eng 296 382 v Pak at Abu Dhabi 2012
5 Mitchell Johnson Aus 281 384 v Eng at Cardiff 2009

* indicates provisional rating; a batsman qualifies for a full rating after playing 40 Test innings; a bowler qualifies for a full rating when he reaches 100 Test wickets.