New Zealand are sweating over the fitness of as many as three players ahead of their three-T20I and two-Test series against West Indies.

The Kiwis are already without bowler Matt Henry for the T20Is due to a broken thumb, and the likes of Colin de Grandhomme, Neil Wagner and Ajaz Patel have joined the 28-year-old on the nursing table. The team now await the scan results before delivering an official statement.

West Indies are set to become the first team to tour two different countries amidst the ongoing global pandemic after travelling to England earlier this year to resume the action of international cricket following a brief halt. They are set to three T20Is starting from November 27 followed by two Test matches from December 3 to 15.

As for New Zealand, fast bowler Neil Wagner recovering from a groin injury and the team is hopeful that he will return for the Plunket Shield - a domestic tournament - which begins on November 14. The scan results however will come on November 5. Grandhomme and Patel, on their part, are recovering from a foot and a calf injury respectively and the extent will only be known after the scans.

"Injuries are always a concern and we’re certainly monitoring each case closely with our medical staff," Blackcaps head coach Gary Stead said.

"Wagner and de Grandhomme both have niggles and we are awaiting scan results on their respective injuries to ascertain the next steps. Likewise, Ajaz Patel had a scan on his left calf after suffering a setback."

Furthermore, Tim Southee and Henry Nicholls are also nursing their respective injuries but the team expect them to return during the Plunket Shield.

West Indies cleared to train in New Zealand

The touring West Indies squad has been cleared to train in New Zealand after testing negative for the global virus. The team will be allowed to train in small groups, but New Zealand Cricket has said that the touring players will undergo two more tests on day six and day 12 before they can be released from their mandatory 14-day isolation.

Most of the players as well as people from the West Indies supporting staff arrived in New Zealand last Friday and have been isolating in Christchurch. The players who are playing in the ongoing Indian T20 League, on the other hand, are expected to join the team sometime next week. West Indies coach Phil Simmons said that it is likely that those six players would be in isolation until the morning of the first T20I in Auckland on November 27.

West Indies Test Squad: Jason Holder (captain), Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Chemar Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Keemo Paul, Kemar Roach

Test Reserves: Nkrumah Bonner, Joshua DaSilva, Preston McSween, Shayne Moseley, Raymon Reifer, Jayden Seales

West Indies T20I Squad: Kieron Pollard (captain), Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Andre Fletcher, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Rovman Powell, Keemo Paul, Nicholas Pooran, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr, Kesrick Williams.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / William West

Late bowling strikes steered New Zealand to a 14-run victory in the third Twenty20 international against England in Nelson on Tuesday to go 2-1 up in the series.

In reply to New Zealand's 180, England were well placed at 139 for two in the 15th over before a flurry of wickets reduced them to 166 for seven at the close.

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first with Colin de Grandhomme scoring 55 and Martin Guptill 33.

Dawid Malan cracked 55 for England and James Vince added 49 before New Zealand fought back with Lockie Ferguson and Blair Tickner both taking two for 25.

Game four in the five-match series is in Napier on Friday.

Read | New Zealand catch England out with de Grandhomme’s safe hands

Featured image courtesy: AFP/ Marty Melville

There’s no boundary count rule yet but the series is tied at 1-1 as England and New Zealand fight it out in three more matches this week in a five-game T20I series. Make no mistake, the fervour is no less when these teams clash after the overly exciting World Cup finals provided a stunner for cricket fans. New Zealand are at home and in their zone which gives them an advantage while England are focused on fine tuning an already dangerous T20 line-up. Breathtaking action await us from the southern region. 

Watch out for: 

Colin de Grandhomme - The big hitting all-rounder was promoted above Ross Taylor in both T20Is, but has teased to fire without going too big. De Grandhomme will want to make use of this big chance.

Australia and Pakistan in T20I mode 

Mohammad Irfan is back and Sarfaraz Ahmed is out but Pakistan are Pakistan and in T20Is they have an uncanny way of edging out opponents. Sure it didn't work in the Sri Lankan series but at Sydney in the first T20I, they seemed to show shades of the kind of Pakistan they want to be.

Watch out for:

Babar Azam - The Pakistan opener is the highest run scorer in the format for his country since his debut. A promotion to open the batting has further boosted his credentials. Even with the added responsibility of captaincy, Babar appears to know how to nail this format.

No more smog, but Bangladesh are fuming 

We are off from the capital city, but Bangladesh, with the Shakib ban, are left fuming and need to refresh their T20 World Cup plans. They played a slew of slower bowlers in the first T20I against India and bowled as many as eight of them to fill in for the all-rounder they are missing. That could continue this series.

Watch out for: 

AFP / Randy Brooks

Washington Sundar - Be it with the new ball or with the bat down the order (or in some cases when opening the batting), Sundar is becoming quite a utility player for India. A mainstay in the shortest format of the game now, Sundar will love the surfaces this series is set to be played on.

ODIs sandwiched between T20Is

Two teams that are most likely to be playing T20Is and bossing them, clash in a rather surprisingly scheduled ODI series...in India. No, we aren't talking about India, but Afghanistan playing at their adopted home in India against the Windies. Of course, the T20Is follow the 50-over games but the focus this week will be on the ODIs.

Watch out for: 

Brandon King - The Caribbean Premier League hero is in the squad and could be a huge draw for this series. A big hitter with a clean bat swing, King should enjoy the Afghanistan spinners but more importantly he would want to draw in some of those scouts from the Indian T20 League ahead of the auction in December.

Head to Sportsbet.io to make your selections and let the ball rolling.

Feature image courtesy:  AFP / Saeed Khan

 

The safe hands of Colin de Grandhomme proved crucial as New Zealand drew level with England 1-1 in their Twenty20 international series in Wellington on Sunday.

While de Grandhomme was pouching all four skied balls that went his way, England were left to rue an uncomfortable day in the field with six spilled chances including three by James Vince.

New Zealand, who suffered a seven-wicket loss in the first match on Friday, were sent in to bat first and made their most of the errant fielding to post 176 for eight.

Martin Guptill at the top of the innings clouted 41 off 28 deliveries, while Jimmy Neesham belted 42 off 22, including four sixes, before he was removed on the final ball of the innings.

De Grandhomme also pushed the pace, facing only 12 balls for a whirlwind 28.

England in reply looked comfortable at 91 for four in the 11th over before New Zealand removed the remaining six wickets to end the innings with a ball to spare.

Mitchell Santner claimed three for 25 while Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson and Ish Sodhi took two wickets apiece.

England captain Eoin Morgan said it was easy to analyse the reasons for the loss, and the issues were repairable.

"We dropped catches and we continued to lose wickets," he said.

"We need to keep the attacking positive mindset. I think it's important to make mistakes, but I think the most important part is to learn from them."

After England lost Johnny Bairstow first ball, and Vince in the second over, Morgan (32) and Dawid Malan (39) set about rebuilding the innings.

But when Morgan gave de Grandhomme his first catch, the wickets fell regularly with only Chris Jordan (36 off 19) providing any solid resistance at the lower part of the batting order.

Malan fell to an exceptional diving catch by Guptill who also accounted for the wicket of Jordan in a polished New Zealand fielding performance.

Game three in the series is in Nelson on Tuesday.

Feature image courtesy: AFP/ Marty Melville

Contrasting half-centuries from B.J. Watling and Colin de Grandhomme helped New Zealand lead by 138 runs in their first innings against Sri Lanka on day four of the rain-hit second Test on Sunday.

De Grandhomme, scoring 83 off 75 balls, and Watling, on 81, put together an unbeaten 113-run stand for the sixth wicket to frustrate the Sri Lankan bowling at Colombo's P. Sara Oval.

Overnight centurion Tom Latham made 154 during a key 143-run partnership with Watling after the first session was washed out due to rain and wet outfield.

Only 48 overs were possible of the scheduled 98 on the fourth day as New Zealand reached 382 for five at stumps. The tourists resumed the day on 196-4.

Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera broke the marathon stand after trapping Latham leg before on a delivery that pitched and hurried on to the batsman's pad.

Latham, who started the day on 111, registered his fifth 150 plus score in Tests. His career-best 264 not out also came against Sri Lanka in Wellington last year.

De Grandhomme counter attacked after Latham's departure, hitting the home bowlers to all parts of the ground, smashing five fours and five sixes.

Watling, who completed his 18th Test fifty, then stood guard with De Grandhomme to take the team to tea at 295-5.

The two batsmen kept the Sri Lankan attack at bay in the final session as Watling played the sheet anchor role to perfection, while allowing De Grandhomme to take charge.

Watling, who started the day on 25, has played a patient knock during his 208-ball stay.

Sri Lanka are without the services of wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella and captain and opening batsman Dimuth Karunaratne, who strained a muscle of his left leg and will be unable to bat until the fall of the fifth wicket.

Angelo Mathews is the stand-in-captain and substitute Dinesh Chandimal is keeping wicket in the absence of Dickwella, who sustained a cut on the little finger of his left-hand on day three. 

Sri Lanka, who lead the two-match series 1-0, made 244 after electing to bat first in a match that has witnessed numerous rain interruptions.

The Kane Williamson-led New Zealand will be looking to bat only once and then let their pace duo of Tim Southee and Trent Boult have a crack at the Sri Lankan batsmen in a bid to square the series.

Play will get under way at 9:45 am (0415 GMT) Monday, the final day of the match, weather permitting.

Sri Lanka have lost five of their last seven Test matches at The Oval.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Lakruwan Wanniarachchi

Jimmy Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme hit fighting half-centuries as New Zealand posted 237 for six after Shaheen Shah Afridi's three-wicket burst left them in a perilous position against Pakistan on Wednesday.

Neesham finished with a career-best one-day international score of 97 not out, hitting a six off the final ball, while De Grandhomme scored 64 to give their unbeaten team side a defensible total at Edgbaston.

The pair, who came together at 83-5, added 132 for the sixth wicket, repairing the damage after a collapse following Kane Williamson's decision to bat in overcast conditions in Birmingham.

Teenager Shaheen, who finished with figures of 3-28 in his 10 overs, wrecked the New Zealand top order, taking three wickets in 20 balls as Pakistan looked for a crucial victory following their win against South Africa.

Neesham, whose previous highest ODI score was 74, hit five fours and three sixes in his sixth ODI fifty and was ably supported by De Grandhomme.

Despite New Zealand's fightback, Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur said he was confident his side could win the match and stay in the hunt for a semi-final place.

"Shaheen Afridi is only 19, we've got to understand that. Today he was outstanding, he asked a lot of questions," he said.

"Jimmy Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme played well. I thought we kept them at bay pretty well. I think there's always going to be a partnership, it's that sort of wicket, but they showed us how to play on the wicket. I'm backing us to chase that total."

New Zealand were wobbling badly when the in-form Williamson was dismissed by leg-spinner Shadab Khan, who enticed the captain into giving an edge to wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed when he was on 41.

Williamson, who had scored centuries in each of his previous innings, put on 37 for the fifth wicket with Neesham after New Zealand had slipped to 46-4.

Mohammad Amir was first to strike, bowling Martin Guptill with the New Zealand score on five before Shaheen had opener Colin Munro (12) caught by Haris Sohail in the slips.

Ross Taylor edged a Shaheen delivery to Sarfaraz and Tom Latham departed in similar fashion.

Overnight rain delayed the start by an hour but the umpires decided the match would remain at 50 overs per side.

New Zealand, who are second in the 10-team table with 11 points, kept the same team for the fifth match in a row.

Pakistan, who are seventh, with five points, also kept faith with the team that beat South Africa at Lord's on Sunday.

If New Zealand win, they will join title-holders Australia in the semi-finals.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / CricketWorldCup

All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is a rare talent who could command a place in the Bangladesh team as either a batsman or a bowler in an age of increasing specialisation in cricket.

The 32-year-old has others for company at the World Cup, including West Indies captain Jason Holder and England's Ben Stokes.

But today's all-rounders do not have the same profile as they did during a golden era in the 1980s when England's Ian Botham, Pakistan's Imran Khan, Kapil Dev of India and New Zealander Richard Hadlee vied for top-dog status in the global game.

Shakib, the world's top-rated all-rounder in one-day internationals, inspired Bangladesh to a convincing win over Afghanistan with his five wickets and 51 runs on Monday, matching Yuvraj Singh's feat for India at the 2011 World Cup.

Shakib Al Hasan is the first player to score 400+ runs & take 10 or more wickets in a single World Cup. Still 2 more group games to go at least. Unbelievable individual performance

�?Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq) June 24, 2019

Shakib has scored 476 runs with two centuries and three fifties in six games in England and Wales and has also picked up 10 wickets.

Stokes and New Zealand's Colin de Grandhomme have also caught the eye during the round-robin phase but Shakib, a left-arm spinner and left-handed batsman, has been the standout all-rounder.

Former West Indies paceman Ian Bishop said such players remained sought after.

"Everyone wants an Imran Khan (the current Pakistan prime minister who led his team to a 1992 World Cup triumph) or Shakib Al Hasan but they don't fall out of the trees," he said.

"Every team wants one of those (all-rounders). You don't go out and buy those. The core of the team is always built around the specialist but the all-rounder still has its place.

"If you look at New Zealand and Colin de Grandhomme chipping in. England have a number of guys who are specialist bowlers but they can also bat and that is what makes them such a strong unit."

"I don't think an individual who has been offered to lead his country should turn it down"#JasonHolder became the youngest West Indies ODI captain in 2015 and has led the team brilliantly. How far will he take the team in #CWC19?#MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/K8GDxscKVc

�?ICC (@ICC) June 17, 2019

India have unearthed Hardik Pandya as a genuine all-rounder to follow in Kapil's footsteps but he is yet to fire fully at the World Cup.

England star Stokes made his presence felt in a losing cause against Sri Lanka when he hit an unbeaten 82 and bowled five overs for just 16 runs.

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh believes all-rounders such as Pandya and Stokes justify their places as batsmen or bowlers.

"Hardik Pandya fits any batting position, the kind of technique he has got. He can bat at three, four, five, six or seven in different moulds at all times as the situation demands and is a proper bowler," Harbhajan said.

Ben Stokes at #CWC19 so far:

Runs ▶️ 254
Average ▶️ 63.5
Fifties ▶️ 3#WeAreEngland pic.twitter.com/nZUKv00cQ9

�?Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 25, 2019

"If you have all-rounders like him or Ben Stokes, they will fit in any squad, Test or one-day. They are specialists in both departments. They are not bits-and-pieces players.

"Hardik or Stokes can play just as a batsman because they are good enough and can play just as bowlers."

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Saeed Khan

New Zealand held their nerve under the floodlights to beat Bangladesh by two wickets in a dramatic low-scoring 2019 ICC World Cup match at The Oval on Wednesday.

Chasing a modest target of 245, Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson shared a third-wicket partnership of 105 to put the Black Caps on course for a comfortable victory, but they lost six more wickets before notching up their second win of the tournament with 17 balls to spare.

Williamson should have been run out for eight but Bangladesh wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim dislodged the bails with his arm to waste the chance and the New Zealand captain went on to make 40. Tom Latham was out cheaply and when Taylor was caught by Mushfiqur for 82 Bangladesh scented a famous win.

Colin de Grandhomme, Jimmy Neesham, and Matt Henry also fell as the pressure mounted but Mitchell Santner and Lockie Ferguson stayed calm to edge New Zealand over the line.

Pacer Matt Henry grabbed four wickets as New Zealand bowled Bangladesh out for 244 in their World Cup match at the Oval on Wednesday.

Earlier, Henry finished with figures of 4-47 to follow his three wickets against Sri Lanka as Bangladesh -- sent in to bat -- lost their last six wickets for just 65 runs. All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan hit a fighting 68-ball 64 with seven boundaries in his 200th one-day international but no other batsmen cashed in on good starts.

Once Shakib was caught by wicketkeeper Latham off the bowling of de Grandhomme in the 31st over, the innings fell apart.

Mohammad Mitun (26), Mahmudullah (20) and Mosadeek Hossain (11) all failed to build a significant innings. Tailender Mohammad Saifuddin hit a 23-ball 29 with a six and three boundaries before Henry and Trent Boult (2-44) mopped up the tail.

Openers Tamim Iqbal, who made 24, and Soumya Sarkar, who scored 25, gave Bangladesh a solid base, putting on 45 runs for the first wicket. But Henry made the breakthrough for New Zealand, bowling Sarkar in the ninth over.

That brought Shakib to the crease, much to the appreciation of a large contingent of Bangladeshi supporters. Iqbal was out shortly afterwards, caught by Boult off the bowling of Lockie Ferguson, to leave Bangladesh 60-2.

Mushfiqur Rahim rebuilt the innings with Shakib, putting on exactly 50 for the third wicket before he was run out for 19.