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Australia have kept the door open for carrying Pat Cummins through the early stages of the T20 World Cup if it allows him to play a role later in the tournament, in a similar manner to how they kept an injured Travis Head part of the 2023 ODI World Cup, which enabled him to have a decisive impact.Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Tim David were all included in Australia’s squad for next month’s T20 World Cup provided they prove their fitness. Cummins has been rested since his one-off Ashes appearance in Adelaide having overcome a lumbar stress injury in his back; Hazlewood is recovering from an Achilles injury; David picked up a hamstring problem which has ended his BBL.George Bailey, the chair of selectors, was confident that Hazlewood and David would be fit for the World Cup and was hopeful that a further scan for Cummins at the end of January, which would show the effects of his Ashes workload, would provide good news.Related

• Connolly included in Australia's T20 World Cup squad

• From catharsis to conflict, and other stories

“I don’t think they [Cummins and Hazlewood] will be available for the Pakistan series [three T20Is in January], but I think both should be online [for the World Cup],” Bailey told reporters at the SCG. “Patty might be a bit later, that might be a similar sort of situation to Travis Head in the 50-over World Cup, where there’s an entry point at some point. Hopefully we can manage and carry a squad until that point. I think Hoff [Hazlewood] should be right by the start, think Tim David should be right by the start.”Bailey conceded that things would need to fall into place for Cummins to be given the early stages of the tournament to recover with, potentially, an eye on the Super Eights. Australia face Ireland, Oman, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in the first round with all their matches being staged in Sri Lanka, which could aid the cause.”You might get pushed into a corner where you can’t, and you might need to make adjustments in the squad,” Bailey said. “We were close to that having to be the case with Travis. It’s got a fit… but I guess the beauty is potentially Colombo and Kandy you might be in a position where you can set the team up in different ways.”We’ve obviously got some good all-round skills there, some good spin options. There’s different ways of structuring up the team where that might work out pretty naturally.”The spinners referenced by Bailey include left-armers Matt Kuhnemann and Cooper Connolly alongside the established due of Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell. Kuhnemann has yet to take a T20I wicket in four matches while Connolly, who provides another all-round option, has one. Connolly is currently impressing for Perth Scorchers in the BBL and was named despite not featuring in recent T20I series against South Africa, New Zealand and India.”It’s a nice skill set [left-arm spin] over there, and [there’s] some flexibility of where he can bat,” Bailey said. “So if you do want to throw that into the mix as a secondary spin option, [he] spins the ball the other way, if you’re going to be using your offspin options.”He’s continued to grow. I think the exposure that he’s had in international cricket’s been excellent for him, and he’s had some exposure in different roles as well. I just think every time he’s done that, it hasn’t always been good success, necessarily, but he’s a good learner. Just loving seeing him get the opportunity to bat quite high for the Scorchers and also getting plenty of overs.”Cooper Connolly is currently impressing for Perth Scorchers in the BBL and was named despite not featuring in recent T20I series•Getty Images

Bailey also cited the ability of both Connolly and Kuhnemann to bowl inside the powerplay. “[That] is something that we haven’t traditionally done a lot of,” Bailey said. “I think both those guys have got that skillset, so that allows you to create some space elsewhere to be able to line up certain bowlers and continue to keep Zamps in his space.”A trade-off the selectors have made, for now, is the absence of left-arm pace with Ben Dwarshuis not making the cut, as Xavier Bartlett took the last quick-bowling spot, although Bailey confirmed Dwarshuis would be “firmly in the mix” should either Cummins or Hazlewood not make it. With Mitchell Starc retired from T20Is and Spencer Johnson injured, Dwarshuis had provided the variety with good success against West Indies and New Zealand last year.”It’s great variety and it’s different, so I think any time you can add that to your attack it’s a nice point of difference,” Bailey said. “But there still has to be a high skill level there that comes with it. I don’t think you use it just because of the fact it’s a variety, so it’s a bit of a balance.”Bailey added that the squad for the Pakistan series, which leads into the World Cup, could involve some consideration of players involved in the BBL finals.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Daniel Vettori top scored with 83 in New Zealand’s first-innings total of 192 © AFP

South Africa A, inspired by Friedel de Wet’s 6 for 50, gained a first-innings lead of 251 over the New Zealanders but chose not to enforce the follow-on on day two of their four-day game in Potchefstroom. Instead they pushed to build on the lead and closed the day at 20 for 2.Resuming at the overnight score of 350 for 4, South Africa A batsmen Neil McKenzie and Morne van Wyk added 28 more before Daniel Vettori trapped van Wyk leg-before for 34. McKenzie looked set for his maiden first-class double-century when Jacob Oram had him caught behind for 182. The last three fell with only 11 added to the total, but McKenzie’s 224-run stand with Boeta Dippenaar on the first day had ensured that New Zealand were under enough pressure when they came out to bat.The pressure increased as Charl Langeveldt bowled Michael Papps for 1 in the third over. It got worse from there as de Wet and Lonwabo Tsotsobe removed the next five batsmen in 17 overs as New Zealand collapsed to 63 for 6. Vettori, who had taken three wickets in the first innings, prevented New Zealand from being bowled out under 100 as he hit 83 off 74 balls. He added 91 with Ross Taylor, who with 36, was New Zealand’s second-highest scorer as they were bowled out for 192.McKenzie was again at the crease when stumps were called along with Tshabalala, the nightwatchman, after Chris Martin dismissed the openers inside six overs.

Sourav Ganguly has joined the Indian team ahead of the practice match at Potchefstroom beginning December 7 © AFP

At 10 past eleven on a hot and dry day at Sedgars Park in Potchefstroom, aMercedes minivan pulls up a few feet away from the outdoor nets. As soonas its doors open, the TV crews make a beeline there from their vantagepoints. Sourav Ganguly gets out quietly, picks up his kitbag from theboot, and wheels in into the practice area.Initially no one sees him, all of them occupied midway through a session.Then, as he sets his kitbag down and set about opening it, Munaf Patelturns around. He stares wide-eyed for a minute and then extends his hand.Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who had been chatting to Munaf just moments earlier,follows suit. ‘You drove straight from the airport?” asks Dhoni. Gangulyjust nods, and half smiles.Ian Frazer, who had just been lobbing balls to Rahul Dravid in a net keptapart from the others, is next to see him. He too goes up and shakes hishand, sharing a few words. Greg Chappell is having a quiet word in GautamGambhir’s ear when he spots Ganguly. Ganguly crosses the few metres thatseparate them and they shake hands. “Welcome back, mate,” says Chappell.”Glad you made it.”Dravid has just finished a small session with Frazer and Greg Kingthrowing them down when he wanders across to meet the man he replaced asIndia’s captain. They chat for a couple of minutes, both men gazing in thedirection of the batsmen and bowlers engaged in the nets.Soon after, Ganguly breaks away to see to his equipment. The SG thigh padcomes out, and he puts his bat, gloves, pads and helmet on the grass inreadiness for what will be his first experience of South African pitchesin nearly four years. As he pads up, Irfan Pathan spots him and waves.Ganguly waves back. After nearly a year away from the limelight,he’s back. Only time will tell if he still belongs.

Scorecard

Mark Cosgrove celebrates a splendid century © Getty Images

South Australia held all the aces thanks to Mark Cosgrove’s fabulous 184 that propelled them to 389, securing a massive first-innings lead of 240 against Victoria at the Junction Oval. At stumps, Victoria were 0 for 7, still 233 runs short of avoiding an innings defeat.Resuming overnight on 2 for 58, Shane Deitz and Cosgrove put on another 101 in the morning before Deitz (78) finally fell to Gerard Denton, but not before their 158-run stand had taken South Australia ahead. Mick Lewis and Allan Wise prised out Callum Ferguson and Graham Manou relatively cheaply but Cosgrove, who hammered 14 fours and four sixes, stood firm at one end and strung together a couple of handy partnerships. When he brought up his century, Cosgrove added another impressive display to his fine run of scores since his return after being suspended for being unfit.Darren Lehmann, who had been ruled out of action for six weeks after injuring his thumb on the first day, was expected to bat only if necessary and walked out at 5 for 236. He struck six fours and was dominant in an 87-run partnership with Cosgrove that battered Victoria before he eventually fell to Wise for 49. Cameron White dismissed Matthew Weeks after some resistance before Jason Gillespie defied Victoria for 70 balls for his 20.Cosgrove batted on and extended the lead past 230 before Wise had him caught by Michael Klinger. Wise, who ended with figures of 4 for 78, finally dismissed Gillespie, whose stubborn batting is now a trademark, on 389 and White followed up with the wicket of Dan Cullen to end the innings.

Individual statistics for Tests played in 2004

Zimbabwe Batting
Name	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	0	Ct	St
Blignaut	1	2	0	39	32	19.5	–	–	–	–	–
Carlisle	2	3	1	194	103*	97	1	1	–	1	–
Chigumbura	2	4	0	26	14	6.5	–	–	2	–	–
Ebrahim	4	7	0	213	70	30.43	–	2	–	1	–
Ervine	2	2	0	160	86	80	–	2	–	2	–
Ewing	1	2	0	72	71	36	–	1	–	1	–
Flower	2	3	1	45	37*	22.5	–	–	–	1	–
Friend	1	0	0	0	–	–	–	–	–	1	–
Gripper	2	3	0	70	65	23.33	–	1	1	1	–
Hondo	4	5	2	48	19	16	–	–	–	1	–
Mahwire	2	2	0	2	2	1	–	–	1	–	–
Maregwede	2	4	0	74	28	18.5	–	–	1	1	–
Matsikenyeri	2	4	0	80	45	20	–	–	–	1	–
Mupariwa	1	2	1	15	14	15	–	–	–	–	–
Nkala	2	4	0	45	24	11.25	–	–	1	–	–
Panyangara	2	4	2	101	40*	50.5	–	–	–	–	–
Price	2	2	1	10	9	10	–	–	–	–	–
Streak	2	1	0	68	68	68	–	1	–	–	–
Taibu	4	6	0	184	59	30.67	–	2	2	12	2
Taylor	2	4	0	89	61	22.25	–	1	–	–	–
Utseya	1	2	0	45	45	22.5	–	–	1	2	–
Vermeulen	1	2	0	6	6	3	–	–	1	–	–
Zimbabwe Bowling
Name	M	B	Md	R	W	Ave	Best	5	10	SR	ER
Blignaut	1	160	7	85	5	17	3\12	–	–	32	53.13
Chigumbura	2	198	4	152	2	76	1\44	–	–	99	76.77
Ervine	2	234	9	130	3	43.33	3\44	–	–	78	55.56
Ewing	1	90	5	46	1	46	1\27	–	–	90	51.11
Friend	1	54	2	20	1	20	1\20	–	–	54	37.04
Gripper	2	24	2	8	0	–	0\3	–	–	–	33.33
Hondo	4	634	24	317	8	39.63	3\49	–	–	79.25	50
Mahwire	2	168	3	133	3	44.33	3\97	–	–	56	79.17
Matsikenyeri	2	231	3	170	1	170	1\58	–	–	231	73.59
Mupariwa	1	204	1	136	0	–	0\136	–	–	–	66.67
Nkala	2	234	4	152	1	152	1\111	–	–	234	64.96
Panyangara	2	307	6	221	4	55.25	3\101	–	–	76.75	71.99
Price	2	328	9	160	8	20	4\61	–	–	41	48.78
Streak	2	248	20	63	5	12.6	4\44	–	–	49.6	25.4
Taibu	4	48	1	27	1	27	1\27	–	–	48	56.25
Utseya	1	72	2	55	0	–	0\55	–	–	–	76.39
Vermeulen	1	6	0	5	0	–	0\5	–	–	–	83.33

Individual statistics for ODIs played in 2004

Zimbabwe Batting
Name	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	0	SR	Ct
Blignaut	9	6	2	78	31*	19.50	–	–	–	111.43	3
Brent	2	2	2	18	14*	–	–	–	–	75.00	1
Carlisle	10	9	0	304	109	33.78	1	1	1	68.62	5
Chigumbura	15	14	1	308	77	23.69	–	3	3	85.08	5
Ebrahim	25	24	4	490	71*	24.50	–	3	1	57.92	11
Ervine	11	10	1	320	100	35.56	1	1	–	88.64	2
Ewing	1	1	0	0	0	0.00	–	–	1	0.00	–
Flower	10	9	0	259	94	28.78	–	2	1	66.58	3
Friend	4	4	0	16	8	4.00	–	–	1	35.56	2
Hondo	22	12	3	32	12	3.56	–	–	3	47.06	8
Mahwire	3	2	2	11	8*	–	–	–	–	36.67	1
Maregwede	8	8	1	95	37	13.57	–	–	–	62.09	1
Masakadza	3	3	0	90	66	30.00	–	1	–	77.59	1
Matsikenyeri	24	24	1	394	73	17.13	–	1	3	59.79	8
Mpofu	3	2	0	2	2	1.00	–	–	1	6.90	–
Mupariwa	5	5	1	27	12*	6.75	–	–	1	62.79	3
Mwayenga	2	2	0	1	1	0.50	–	–	1	9.09	2
Nkala	11	10	2	123	47	15.38	–	–	1	69.49	1
Panyangara	16	14	3	51	14*	4.64	–	–	4	35.42	3
Price	11	5	3	51	20*	25.50	–	–	2	96.23	–
Rainsford	5	5	1	13	5	3.25	–	–	1	50.00	–
Rogers	3	3	0	131	54	43.67	–	2	–	72.38	3
Sibanda	18	17	0	186	57	10.94	–	1	4	45.37	4
Streak	11	10	4	317	64*	52.83	–	2	–	67.74	4
Taibu	28	26	2	568	96*	23.67	–	2	4	59.48	24
Taylor	17	17	0	402	74	23.65	–	4	1	53.74	2
Utseya	14	12	6	102	31	17.00	–	–	1	56.98	1
Vermeulen	17	17	1	151	25	9.44	–	–	2	61.13	5
Zimbabwe Bowling
Name	M	B	Md	R	W	Ave	Best	5	4	SR	ER
Blignaut	9	341	2	320	6	53.33	2\21	–	–	56.83	5.63
Brent	2	109	2	74	3	24.67	2\32	–	–	36.33	4.07
Chigumbura	15	309	3	380	7	54.29	3\37	–	–	44.14	7.38
Ervine	11	533	4	489	16	30.56	3\47	–	–	33.31	5.5
Ewing	1	42	0	36	1	36.00	1\36	–	–	42	5.14
Flower	10	472	0	367	7	52.43	3\36	–	–	67.43	4.67
Friend	4	30	0	24	0	–	0\0	–	–	–	4.8
Hondo	22	965	6	908	21	43.24	3\54	–	–	45.95	5.65
Mahwire	3	64	3	65	1	65.00	1\35	–	–	64	6.09
Matsikenyeri	24	462	2	364	9	40.44	2\33	–	–	51.33	4.73
Mpofu	3	154	1	129	0	–	0\0	–	–	–	5.03
Mupariwa	5	279	1	247	8	30.88	2\44	–	–	34.88	5.31
Mwayenga	2	72	2	83	1	83.00	1\61	–	–	72	6.92
Nkala	11	266	2	290	4	72.50	3\50	–	–	66.5	6.54
Panyangara	16	739	13	683	18	37.94	3\28	–	–	41.06	5.55
Price	11	600	0	446	7	63.71	2\38	–	–	85.71	4.46
Rainsford	5	252	1	185	4	46.25	2\29	–	–	63.00	4.4
Sibanda	18	90	0	87	2	43.50	1\12	–	–	45	5.8
Streak	11	605	11	419	22	19.05	4\30	–	1	27.5	4.16
Taibu	28	84	1	61	2	30.50	2\42	–	–	42	4.36
Taylor	17	138	0	147	3	49.00	1\6	–	–	46	6.39
Utseya	14	563	3	362	2	181.00	1\31	–	–	281.5	3.86

Shaun Udal has been banned from playing league cricket for Camberley, his club side, for three years after being found guilty of “physical violence on and threats to an opposition player.” Udal, who played ten ODIs for England in the 1990s, turned out for Camberley in the Surrey Championship when his county commitments with Hampshire allowed.The incident which led to the ban occurred when Camberley played Cranleigh at the end of July, and an altercation took place between Udal and Cranleigh’s Australian legspinner Alex Wyatt. Udal, who was batting at the time, and Wyatt exchanged comments and witnesses said that an altercation followed and contact was made between the pair who had to be separated by members of the fielding side.”It does take a lot to get me riled,” Udal said after the league hearing had imposed the severe punishment. “When I was batting, one of the opposition players severely insulted one of my team-mates, who has a disability. A minor fracas took place with a bit of pushing and shoving but there was no fighting and certainly no punches were thrown. Sadly, the umpires didn’t step in, which is rather symptomatic of the weak officiating that can exist in club cricket. But the other player and I had a beer in the clubhouse afterwards and said our apologies.”I accepted there might be some repercussions but I am not going to lose any sleep over the punishment. The disciplinary committee presumably decided they wanted to make an example of me and that is precisely what they have done.”Although Udal is generally regarded as a mild-mannered character, it is not the first time that he has been in trouble while playing for Camberley. In 1996 he was banned for the rest of the season following an alleged assault on an opponent after a match.

Tasmania have announced the following team for the ING Cup match against South Australlia on 6 Jan at Launceston:Jamie Cox (c), George Bailey, Sean Clingeleffer, Graeme Cunningham, Michael Di Venuto, Xavier Doherty, Scott Kremerskothen, Daniel Marsh, Adam Polkinghorne, David Saker, Shane Watson, Damien Wright, Shaun Young.

A season’s best 98 from Vince Wells, Leicestershire captain could notprevent a draw against Somerset in the County Championship DivisionOne match at Taunton. 140 overs were lost to weather on the first twodays, thereby ensuring that the game would end in a draw – the seventhon this ground in as many games this season.Resuming on the final day at 233 for 4, Leicestershire ended theirinnings at 470 all out in 122.2 overs. The fifth wicket stand betweenWells and Aftab Habib (72) produced 141 when Habib was out to JasonKerr. Then Wells got out to Kerr, two runs short of his century.Two balls later Philip DeFreitas (0) got an inside edge to Kerr andwas out caught behind. Jon Dakin (16) and Neil Burns (57) batted tilllunch. Finally Anil Kumble (35) and Burns put on a ninth wicketpartnership of 84 which enabled Leicestershire to obtain maximumbatting points before they departed in quick succession. Kerr wasSomerset’s successful bowler taking 4 for 97 in 23 overs.With 59 runs behind and 43 overs to see out, Somerset lost MarkLathwell (7) and Turner (3) and were 21 for 2. Then Jamie Cox (40 notout) and Peter Bowler (27 not out) took the score to 90 for 2 in 27overs when the game was called off.The 12 points gained by Somerset virtually assured them of FirstDivision status next season, while Leicestershire’s 11 elevates themto third position – seven points in front of Yorkshire who have a gamein hand.

When Leeds United agreed a £20m deal to sign Michael Cuisance from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2020, it very much appeared as if the Whites would be welcoming one of the most exciting young midfielders in world football to Elland Road.

Indeed, expectations for the France youth international were quite high, with former Borussia Monchengladbach coach Dieter Hecking stating of the then-21-year-old: “Michael is an exceptional player for his age. He’s a game-changer.”

Meanwhile, Bayern’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic also praised the youngster very highly, saying of the playmaker: “Michael’s strengths are in his possession of the ball. He has a great technique, a strong left foot and a great mentality.”

As such, when Victor Orta’s move for Cuisance allegedly fell through as a result of a failed medical, many supporters of Leeds would have been extremely disappointed.

However, a little over 18 months later, it now appears as if the Premier League side dodged a substantial bullet on the midfielder, who has rather dramatically regressed in the meantime.

Leeds got lucky on Cuisance

Indeed, following his failed switch to Elland Road, Cuisance subsequently secured a temporary move to Marseille, with the Ligue 1 side possessing an option to purchase the Frenchman.

However, after a disappointing season with Les Phoceens – he averaged a SofaScore match rating of just 6.45 over his 23 league outings, ranking him as the club’s third-worst player in the division out of 31 – Jorge Sampaoli decided against signing the midfielder permanently, with the Argentine claiming that the youngster possessed something of an attitude problem.

After returning to Bayern last summer, the Bundesliga side once again made it clear that Cuisance was free to leave the club, with Serie A outfit Venezia eventually landing the 22-year-old in a £3.6m deal.

However, things do not appear to have improved for the £32k-per-week midfielder in Italy either, with the Frenchman averaging a SofaScore match rating of just 6.51 over his seven league fixtures this season, ranking him as his team’s joint-seventh worst performer in the Italian top flight out of 34.

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As such, considering his rather poor level of performance – in addition to the player who Markus Babbel dubbed a “rotten egg” and “not the brightest” now being valued at just £4.5m by Transfermarkt – it is clear to see just how lucky Orta and Leeds were in missing out on the £20m signing of Cuisance in the autumn of 2020.

AND in other news: £1.5m wasted: Leeds flop dubbed “as talented as Pogba” rinsed Radrizzani for 207 weeks

A hefty fine and a 13-match ban for Shoaib © AFP

Shoaib Akhtar has been handed a 13-match ban and a fine of approximately US$57,000 for a number of breaches of discipline, including his spat with Mohammad Asif in South Africa. He has also been placed on a two-year probationary period during which any disciplinary breaches could result in a life ban.A three-man disciplinary committee of the board announced the results of their investigations in to four separate charges against Shoaib. The most serious of the charges was the fight with Asif, but others included playing a charity match without authorisation, making statements to thepress about last year’s doping case and holding an unauthorised press conference in Pakistan about the incident with Asif, which saw him sent back from Johannesburg.The ban, however, includes the seven matches already played at the ICC World Twenty20 and the two Tests against South Africa. Effectively, it means he will be available for the last ODI against South Africa but more realistically, the tour to India.”We have decided to ban Shoaib for 13 international matches,” said Shafqat Naghmi, the Pakistan board’s chief operating officer. “These include Tests, ODIs and Twenty20 matches. We have upheld the five-match ban given to him by Talat Ali in South Africa [for hitting Asif] and givenhim an eight-match ban on top of that. We have also fined him Rs3.4 million. The match-ban will run consecutively.”As well as deducting disciplinary points [a component in deciding central contracts] Naghmi added that Shoaib is now on probation and any breach of contract or disciplinary issues could result in a life ban over the next two years.Shoaib, who was present at the press conference, has the right to appeal but said he was eager to put the matter behind him now. “I have apologised to Asif, my team-mates, the country. It was a nightmare for me and something that happened in the heat of the moment. I have suffered enough in the last four weeks.”I want to put this matter behind me now and focus on cricket. I want to thank the board for considering this matter carefully. I will pay what penalties I have to but I want to get ready for India now.”The decision to select Shoaib for the India tour, to begin from November 1, or the final ODI against South Africa, will be left to the selectors now.