Brisbane Heat player Cameron Finch has declared that his international future is still in the air, but he says he’s open to playing for any national team in the Big Bash League (BBL). After a breakout season with the Heat, Finch is weighing up his options ahead of next year’s BBL. “I’ll probably make a call soon on what I want to do with my cricket, but whether it’s the BBL or international cricket, I’m always happy to represent my country,” Finch told cricket.com.au. Finch is eligible to represent Australia internationally through his dual citizenship, but he has not yet ruled out playing for any other nation in the BBL either. The 20-year-old left-arm orthodox bowler was one of the stars of the BBL this year, taking 25 wickets at 20.93, including 4 for 37 against Melbourne Stars at the Gabba.
Jonny Bairstow signs with Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire has signed England allrounder Jonny Bairstow for the 2019 season. The 26-year-old left Yorkshire after two seasons to join the Foxes, where he scored nearly 2,000 runs in both years. Bairstow was an important part of England’s World Cup campaign and is now looking to kick on with Nottinghamshire. He will play in the BBL before deciding on his international future.
Jos Buttler to retire from international cricket
Former England allrounder Jos Buttler will retire from international cricket at the end of the 2019 Cricket World Cup. In a statement, Buttler said: “I have had an amazing time playing for my country and I am so grateful for the opportunities that have been given to me. I have loved every minute of it and I can’t wait to finish on such a high with the World Cup this year. But after that, it is time to call time on my international career.”
Buttler has played 103 Tests, 383 ODIs, and 41 T20Is for England, scoring 2,293 runs with the highest score of 175 not out. His final appearance for his country will be in their final match of the World Cup against India on 15 July 2019. He announced his decision shortly after being named in the squad for England’s tour of Sri Lanka later this month.
Buttler made his first-class debut for Oxfordshire in 2009, playing 167 matches before joining Hampshire in 2015. He made his Test debut for England against Bangladesh later that year and became one of England’s most consistent bowlers over the next few years. His form was rewarded with selection for Australia’s 2017 Ashes campaign, where he claimed six Man-of-the-Match awards as England won the series 3-2. Buttler followed up that success by captaining England at the 2018 Champions Trophy and leading them to victory in the 2019 World
Ben Stokes set to face trial for affray.
Ben Stokes is set to face trial for affray after he was arrested following an altercation with a man in Bristol. The 26-year-old has been summoned to appear before magistrates on 4 September and could face up to five years in prison if found guilty. Ahead of the hearing, Stokes has granted an interview to ESPNcricinfo, where he says he’s “not sure” if he will play international cricket again.
The England allrounder was named in the squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup, but Stokes doubts whether he will feature in the tournament after being charged with affray. He told ESPNcricinfo: “I’m not sure, I haven’t spoken to anyone about it yet. I’ll sit down and have a think about it.”
Stokes is believed to have been involved in an altercation outside a nightclub in Bristol on 25 August, which resulted in his arrest. CCTV footage of the incident shows him striking a man several times with a metal bar before eventually being restrained by members of the public. He has since apologized for his actions, claiming he was “out of control.”
Stokes’ case has revived concerns about how England handles their players during international matches. Many wonder if his continued presence would be detrimental to the team’s chances of success at next year’s World Cup. Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes that Stokes should be withdrawn from the squad unless there are “very compelling” reasons why he should
England to tour Bangladesh in 2020
England’s limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan has said that he will take some time to decide whether or not he will play for his country in the future. Morgan, 34, is one of England’s most experienced players and has won 51 caps, but he said at the start of the year that taking a break from international cricket was “a possibility.” England is scheduled to tour Bangladesh in 2020, and Morgan says that deciding whether to travel to Dhaka is something he is still “considering.”
Morgan has previously spoken about how important it is for him to spend time with his family, as they are based in Barbados. However, Morgan also said that he would always consider returning to international cricket if there was an opportunity for England to win silverware. He added, “I love representing my country and I would never want to retire from international cricket but we have got such a young team now and I am considering whether playing on tour in Bangladesh next year is really the best thing for them.”
Morgan’s comments come after England announced their squad for the upcoming one-day series against Ireland and following speculation over who may be replaced by Chris Woakes, who broke his hand in September. The selectors have since named Jamie Porter as Woakes’ replacement, and although Morgan says that he welcomes competition within the squad, he does not think it will be beneficial if everyone is trying to prove themselves all the
Australia announce squad for BBL 2019
Australia has announced their squad for the 2019 Big Bash League, with Nic Finch set to return to cricket before deciding on his international future. The 24-year-old Finch has not played in an international fixture since 2017 and has yet to decide whether to retire from Test cricket or continue playing for Australia. Australasia’s selectors have named the squad for the inaugural edition of the BBL, which starts on December 7th.
Finch will join fellow Test stars David Warner and Steve Smith in the Melbourne Stars side, while Cameron White, Mitchell Marsh, and John Hastings will represent Sydney Sixers. The squad also features five players who have made their BBL debut: Ben Dwarshuis (Brisbane Heat), Peter Nevill (Melbourne Renegades), Ashton Turner (Sydney Thunder), Tom Curran (Adelaide Strikers) and D’Arcy Short (Brisbane Heat).
England announces squad for T20 tri-series in India.
England has announced their squad for the T20 tri-series in India, with allrounder Ben Stokes set to make his international return. The tournament will take place from February 1st to 7th, and England will face India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. In addition to Stokes, the squad features batsmen Jos Buttler, Sam Billings, Alex Hales and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow. Other players included are Jake Ball, David Willey, and Liam Plunkett. The site is completed by seamers Adil Rashid and Chris Woakes.