Thisara Perera has raised questions about the ODI team’s leadership with Sri Lanka Cricket in the aftermath of a social media beef between him and captain Lasith Malinga’s wife. He has also described the team as “a laughing stock to the whole country” because of the exchanges unfolding on social media, and asked that the board “intervene”.Thisara, a former limited-overs captain himself, had ostensibly been the target of a Facebook post made by Malinga’s wife, Tanya Perera, early this month, in which she appeared to have alleged that Thisara had gone to meet the country’s new sports minister in an attempt to secure his place in the national side.Thisara then took to Facebook to defend himself, pointing to his excellent ODI record in 2018. Then, a few weeks later, following what he claimed was another post targeting him, he has taken the step of writing a letter to SLC CEO Ashley de Silva.Excerpts of the letter are as follows: “When these kinds of accusations are made by the incumbent captain’s wife on social media, it is hard to prevent the general public from believing and further slandering me in various ways.”There has been a general sense of unease in the dressing room ever since [the Facebook post] and to be honest the environment was rather unpleasant for the youngsters especially when two senior players were not on the same page. We cannot play as a team with friction. The leadership’s role is to create stability and unity within the team even before one could start with a game plan. In this instant I regret to say we had none of the above.””We are at the verge of the World Cup. Our focus and attention should be on performing well at it instead of bickering over social media on pointless issues. This team is in dire need of steady leadership and guidance. Importantly, and environment of unity is needed… These issues need rectifying ahead of the World Cup. The leadership and seniors of the team must set the example for this.”We have become the laughing stock of a whole country all because of one person’s personal vendetta. This is not something to be taken lightly, especially at a time like this. I humbly request SLC to intervene and help us overcome our difference and move forward with a renewed confidence and sense of unity.”Malinga was made captain of the limited-overs teams by the new selection committee, headed by Ashantha de Mel, ahead of Sri Lanka’s one-dayers in New Zealand. Thisara had been limited-overs captain in late 2017, after agreeing to lead the side in Sri Lanka’s first tour of Pakistan since the 2009 terror attack.

India spun New Zealand out for 192 and Smriti Mandhana helped chase it down with great authority, scoring her fourth ODI century along the way

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jan-2019Smriti Mandhana brought up her fourth ODI century•Getty ImagesMuch of the recent months in Indian women’s cricket has been dominated by squabbles, but come match day, the team produced a sensational performance. They were away from home. They were facing one of the traditionally strong teams in the circuit and none of it mattered. India spun New Zealand out for 192 and Smriti Mandhana helped chase it down with great authority, scoring her fourth ODI century along the way. Her innings, which was typically free-flowing, included nine fours and three sixes and wrapped up the game with nine wickets and 17 overs to spare.The match-changing contributions, though, came from India’s bowlers. Their decision to field seemed to be backfiring with New Zealand’s openers putting on a fifty-run partnership. But in the 14th over, Deepti Sharma ran Sophie Devine out and also took care of her partner Suzie Bates as the score slipped from 61 for 0 to 70 for 3.That opened up the middle order for Poonam Yadav, whose array of slow legbreaks got rid of New Zealand’s No 3, 4, and 5. Lauren Down was stumped for 0, while Amy Satterthwaite (31 off 45) and Amelia Kerr (28 off 60) could not make the most of their starts. New Zealand lurched from 136 for 4 to 148 for 7 and were eventually bowled out for 192.India’s openers then put on a 190-run partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues scoring an unbeaten 81 off 94 balls with nine fours and Mandhana, falling to Kerr, only when victory was one hit away.

Arsenal's title hopes suffered a potentially fatal blow on Sunday as Isabella Hobson scored a stoppage-time equaliser for Everton in the WSL.

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• Alessio Russo fires Arsenal ahead
• But Hobson grabs point at the death
• Draw another blow to Gunners' title hopes

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  TELL ME MORE

  Arsenal dominated the first half but could not find a way past Courtney Brosnan in the Everton goal. Stina Blackstenius saw an early effort blocked, while Caitlin Foord had an excellent chance to break the deadlock but completely missed her kick in front of goal. The Gunners then breathed a sigh of relief when Sara Holmgaard headed an Everton corner onto the crossbar.

  Arsenal were forced into a change at half-time as Leah Williamson was taken off and replaced by Laia Codina, but the chances continued to flow. Victoria Pelova side-footed a glorious opportunity wide, while Emily Fox could only shoot tamely at Brosnan from inside the penalty area.

  It was ultimately left to Alessia Russo to open the scoring inside the final 10 minutes. Beth Mead saw an effort saved by Brosnan, but Russo was quick to latch onto the loose ball and make it 1-0.

  The goal looked to be enough for the Gunners to seal all three points, but Everton managed to salvage a draw deep into stoppage time. Hobson met a corner into the box with a looping header that dropped over Manuela Zinsberger and into the back of the net.

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  THE MVP

  Hobson will steal the headlines after grabbing a rare point for Everton against Arsenal and effectively ending the Gunners' titles hopes There's no doubt it's a dream moment for the 16-year-old, playing for her hometown club, and the passionate celebrations after her first senior goal flew in said it all.

• THE BIG LOSER

  Arsenal's finishing was largely to blame for the Gunners failing to grab the win. The visitors created more than enough chances with Blackstenius, Russo, Foord and Pelova all guilty of poor misses. Russo was on target but should have made the game safe after putting Arsenal 1-0 up. The striker had the chance to finish Everton off but wastefully blasted an effort over the bar.

• WHAT COMES NEXT?

  Arsenal return to action against leaders Manchester City next time out when the two teams meet in the WSL on Sunday. Everton's next game is against Tottenham on Saturday.

Kate Abdo has admitted being "hurt" by the joke Jamie Carragher made on CBS Sports about her relationship with former US boxing pro Malik Scott.

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Carragher joked about Abdo's not being 'loyal' on airAbdo addressed awkward moment the following nightCBS presenter admits she was 'hurt' at timeWHAT HAPPENED?

Fans on social media reacted fervently to the original incident, when Carragher made things awkward with a misjudged on-air jibe at his fellow broadcaster during CBS Sports' coverage of Arsenal vs Porto in the Champions League in March. Abdo put the matter to bed in a broadcast the following night, but has since revealed that it did have an impact on her.

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According to Abdo, "What Jamie said came from nowhere. It was just a quick line, it was meant to be funny, sometimes they hit, sometimes they don't. Speaking to iFLTV, she continued: "That one went a little bit sideways. I felt a little bit hurt but it is what it is. You move on. We talked about it, we're all good, nothing really to talk about."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

In the aftermath of the incident, Abdo's boyfriend Malik Scott – a former boxing pro who now coaches Deontay Wilder – warned Carragher not to overstep the line, saying "her being irritated by it a little bit is what really got to me… If Kate gets upset then it's a really big deal to me and I'll give him a call and if he doesn't pick up my call, then I’ll show up in a physical manner." However, Abdo smoothed things out in her interview with iFLTV, insisting "Malik does not want to fight Jamie".

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ABDO & CARRAGHER?

Carragher's comment may have understandably hurt Abdo, but it appears to be water under the bridge, with the pair still cracking jokes and getting on during CBS' acclaimed Champions League coverage. After watching Madrid squeeze past Manchester City earlier this week, they'll no doubt be looking forward to the Spanish giants' semi-final clash against Bayern Munich on 30 April.

South Africa overtake Australia and England to go third while Nepal snatch 14th place from UAE

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Feb-2019India left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav has leapfrogged fellow wristspinner Shadab Khan to move to No. 2 on the ICC’s T20I rankings for bowlers. Rashid Khan, who is on top, has a 65-point lead over Kuldeep. Pakistan’s left-arm spinning allrounder Imad Wasim has jumped up five places to fourth after claiming three wickets in as many matches in South Africa at an outstanding economy rate of 4.25.New Zealand left-arm spinning allrounder Mitchell Santner, too, was among the major gainers, breaking into the top 10. He was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the T20I series against India, ending with four wickets in three matches at an economy rate of 8.00.Pakistan’s Faheem Ashraf is the only seamer in the top ten, which is dominated by wristspinners.Among the batsmen, Tim Seifert, who struck 139 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 173.75 against India, has vaulted up 87 places to 83rd, while Rohit Sharma moved from tenth to seventh.Having clinched the series 2-1 against Pakistan, South Africa overtook Australia and England to go third while Nepal snatched 14th place from UAE after securing a 2-1 series win over them.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag banned three newspaper journalists from asking questions in his press conference on Friday.

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United manager resumes crackdown on mediaThree newspapers prevented from asking questionsTen Hag had called analysis of FA Cup win "a disgrace"WHAT HAPPENED?

The Dutchman, who cracked down on negative stories earlier this season, refused to take questions from , and the in his media briefing ahead of United's game against Burnley. The journalists were allowed to attend the press conference but were informed before it started that they would not be invited to ask questions.

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The outlets were also not allowed to ask questions after the 4-2 win over Sheffield United. Ten Hag is believed to have been upset with the coverage from the outlets after United's narrow victory over Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-final on penalties after throwing away a 3-0 lead. He had called the media analysis of that victory "embarrassing" and a "disgrace". A United source said: "It’s not a hard ban. It’s our prerogative who we invite questions from."

DID YOU KNOW?

Ten Hag banned theand from attending a press conference in December ahead of United's game against Chelsea for publishing stories of a dressing room revolt against the manager without asking for the club's side of the story. Alex Ferguson was infamous for banning journalists for publishing stories he did not agree with.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR TEN HAG?

United came from behind to beat Sheffield United on Wednesday, winning their first league match since March 9. They will be looking for a second consecutive victory against struggling Burnley on Saturday.

Steve Waugh believes Australia’s one-day side was wrong to go ahead with their recent series against Zimbabwe, putting him at odds with his immediate successor as Test captain, Ricky Ponting.Speaking to the media in Mumbai, Waugh supported the decision to call off the Test series and said it should have been extended to the three one-day matches too.”I’m definitely happy that the Test series was deferred,” he said. “I think the players were uncomfortable with the situation. When a team is picked on the basis of colour they shouldn’t be allowed to play. And that’s exactly what’s happening in Zimbabwe.”I’m disappointed that the one-day series went on. The same logic that applied to the cancellation of the Tests applied here also. I’m a bit unclear as to why they played the one-day series. As a player you look to your board and the ICC to make these tough decisions.”But Ponting is standing by his team’s choice to play Zimbabwe, compromised selection process and all. “I’ve got no doubt it was the right decision,” he said upon arriving home on Monday.”We went there to do our job, which is to play cricket. We didn’t get involved in anything political but that’s not saying we turned a blind eye.”Australia’s vice-captain Adam Gilchrist also defended the tour, while acknowledging that it rated among the least meaningful of his career. “The positive to take out is that it has exposed cracks in the system and posed questions that need to be answered in a strong fasion. Hopefully the ICC will be able to do that.”Waugh is visiting India as a brand ambassador for the insurance company AMP Sanmar. He took the time to open up on various other contentious issues.On several people, including John Howard, the Australian prime minister, calling Muttiah Muralitharan a chucker
Who’s called him a chucker? I’m not sure John Howard called him a chucker, I didn’t hear him say it so I can’t comment on it. But, I can say it’s for the ICC to make the decision. It’s not up to me or you or John Howard to make that call. They’re the governing body and they have to decide. They’ve done some tests recently that have shown that the doosra is a problem and he can no longer bowl it. I think he’s a better bowler when he just bowls offspin and does not bowl the doosra. I think it will make him a more dangerous bowler. It’s a great achievement to get the world record. He should be celebrated for the fact that he’s taken so many wickets. He makes Sri Lanka a very competitive side, he gets people through the gate to watch the game, and he’s also a nice guy.On Sourav Ganguly’s suggestion of a two-tier system for Tests
I think it’s worthy of consideration. It’s a good idea for one-day cricket because there are more sides playing that, and they’re looking to inject more sides all the time. For Test cricket though, I’m not so sure. There are only nine or ten sides, so if you split them up into two tiers the teams will get sick and tired of playing the same opposition year in and year out. I’m not sure how the teams in the lower tier will improve enough to move up. If you look at the history of Test cricket there have always been weak sides. Remember New Zealand took 26 years to win a Test match. I think we’re getting a bit carried away because a couple of sides aren’t doing too well.On the proposed innovations and changes to one-day cricket
In domestic cricket in Australia we’ve tried a number of things. We had 12 players interchangeable and that worked very well. We had different fielding restrictions. I think most players would welcome the possibility that you can change the rules and improvise a bit. Perhaps one-day cricket does stagnate sometimes.On failing to conquer `the final frontier’, a Test series win in India
First of all, I’m not sure I ever said winning in India was the final frontier. Someone said it, made it up and it stuck. But it’s not a bad line. I didn’t play a lot of Test cricket in India. After the tied Test in 1986 there was a gap of eight or nine years and that’s a ridiculously long time. I’m more than happy with what we achieved in India in my career. I think I played in probably the greatest Test series ever when we were last here, and we won the World Cup in 1987.On who he thought are the second-best team in the world
I don’t think there’s much value in being No. 2. Anyone can lay claim to it, and I’m not sure who really is. India have to be somewhere in the running on current form – they drew in Australia and won in Pakistan. England are playing well. South Africa will be a force again shortly as well. Pakistan are unpredictable – at any time they can beat anyone.On the Australians playing their cricket aggressively
I don’t think we’re aggressive. I think we play in the right spirit. Most Australians are very approachable and happy-go-lucky, but once you get them on the field the gloves are off. We play hard, we play to win, we play fair and we play with spirit and passion. That’s just the way Australians play, even if it is in the backyard against our brothers. That’s the way we’re brought up.On the state of Test cricket at present
I think Test cricket is in a pretty healthy state. The cricket that’s being played at the moment is among the most aggressive that has been played in the history of Test cricket. There are results almost all the time and it’s exciting. Perhaps we need to do something to help the bowlers. They seem to be struggling at the moment. The pitches are very flat, the outfields are getting smaller and the bats bigger so you probably have to keep an eye out in that direction.On Brian Lara’s record-breaking 400 not out
It’s an outstanding personal achievement. To hold the world record twice and score 400 is like being Roger Bannister, the first runner to break the four-minute mile. It is a record that may never be broken again. You have to have a great level of skill, concentration and desire to get there. And particularly in a losing side it’s a great effort.On being invited to light the cauldron at the Athens Olympic games
I thought that was a secret till I saw it in the papers this morning. That is a massive honour. I can’t believe I’ve been chosen to do that. When the Olympics were held in Australia I was involved in the torch relay. I carried down George Street, one of the main streets in Sydney with 500 people watching, and that was one of the highlights of my life so I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like to actually light the cauldron.

Erik ten Hag may get the chance to work with Harry Kane after all, with the Manchester United boss reportedly on Bayern Munich’s managerial shortlist.

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• Red Devils wanted England striker in 2023
• Set to be working with new boss next season
• Two experienced coaches may trade places

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Dutch tactician has admitted that his current employers tried to sign prolific England international Kane in the summer of 2023, only to see him end up at the Allianz Arena. Their paths could, however, end up crossing some 12 months on.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Questions continue to be asked of how long Ten Heg will fill his current post, with United said to be mulling over another change in the dugout. According to , that situation is interesting Bayern.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  They have seen Thomas Tuchel state his intention to step down at the end of the season, with the former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss saying that agreement “still stands”. Ten Hag – who took charge of Bayern's reserve team between 2013 and 2015 – is now said to be an option that Bundesliga giants are considering, with the likes of Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann and Ralf Rangnick distancing themselves from roles in Bavaria.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  In a quirky twist of fate, it is claimed that Ten Hag and Tuchel could end up trading places. United are looking for a proven winner to inherit their reins, with Champions League winner Tuchel fitting that bill, and the German is said to be open to the idea of returning to England two years after seeing a stint at Stamford Bridge come to a close.

Durham coach says Bancroft showed ‘mental toughness, skill and attitude to excel’ upon return to first-class cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Mar-2019

Cameron Bancroft will captain Durham as he continues his comeback from a ban for his part in the Newlands ball-tampering scandal close to a year ago.Bancroft, who was suspended for nine months over his role in the affair against South Africa in Cape Town, which saw Steven Smith and David Warner banned for one year, agreed in July to join Durham as their overseas signing for 2019. Bancroft’s ban ended in December, while March 29 marks the end of the international bans for Smith and Warner, who are both preparing to play in the IPL.Bancroft replaces Paul Collingwood as captain of Durham’s County Championship and Royal London Cup sides following Collingwood’s retirement at the end of the 2018 season.Durham coach James Franklin believed Bancroft’s international and franchise experience with Perth Scorchers in the BBL would be an asset.”We’re delighted to have Cameron with us for the season and we’re confident he has the attributes to lead this exciting young Durham dressing room,” Franklin said. “He has invaluable experience at the top level and has enjoyed a successful spell in England before, during his time with Gloucestershire (in 2016-17).”He’s proven since returning to first-class cricket over the last few months that he has the mental toughness, skill and attitude to excel at the highest level and I’m sure he will relish the challenge we have at Durham this season.”The 26-year-old Bancroft scored an unbeaten 138 during his first-class return with Western Australia last month. He has played eight Test matches scoring 402 runs at an average of 39.92 and opening the batting against England in the 2017 Ashes.Bancroft will join Durham for their second County Championship fixture against Sussex on April 11, missing the season opener at Derbyshire from April 5 reportedly because Western Australia want him to attend their post-season awards. Alex Lees will captain the side in his absence.

Protocol required, says Tony Irish, to prevent host broadcasters from exploiting players’ comments

Nagraj Gollapudi14-Feb-2019The head of FICA, the international cricketers’ association, says that a protocol for the use of stump microphones must be introduced to avoid the “selective use” of incriminating audio by broadcasters.Tony Irish’s comments come after the West Indies fast bowler, Shannon Gabriel, and the Pakistan captain, Sarfaraz Ahmed, were both handed four-match bans by the ICC after being overheard making derogatory comments in separate on-field incidents.On Wednesday, Gabriel admitted to making homophobic comments in an altercation with the England captain, Joe Root, during last week’s third Test in St Lucia, while Sarfaraz was caught making a racist comment to the South Africa allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo during an ODI in Durban in January.The incidents are the first to cause controversy since the decision was taken, at the ICC annual conference in July, to broadcast stump microphone audio “at any time, including when the ball is dead”. That move came as part of the ICC’s drive to fight player misbehaviour, with new offences introduced such as personal abuse and audible obscenity.The ICC also factored in fan engagement as a big part of live sport, and the fact that cricket needs to embrace that. During the discussions involving the ICC and the various member boards’ chief executives, it was agreed that turning up the stump mic turns the focus not just on spirit of the game, but also allows for greater engagement for the fan watching at home. It brings them into the middle with the players.*While Irish, the executive chairman of FICA, believes that players will be willing to buy into the usage of stump mic audio, he says it is vital that broadcasters are consistent and universal in how they apply the technology.”The issue to be discussed is how they are used, including when they are turned up and when they are turned down,” Irish told ESPNcricinfo. “What I can say is that, when it comes to a matter such as this, players are generally in favour of consistency, which suggests to me that a protocol on how they are used is necessary.”Asked about the potential for a host broadcaster to exploit the feed captured on the stump mic, Irish said that was the players’ biggest fear. “When there is inconsistent use of the stump mic, then there is potential for selective use, which I think players naturally fear. That is not to say all broadcasters do that but the potential and opportunity is there.”The prospect of increased stump-microphone usage has already divided opinions among international teams. England’s head coach, Trevor Bayliss, is not in favour, arguing that “sometimes in the heat of battle things are said”, whereas Moeen Ali, the England allrounder, believes that the volume should be turned up at all times because “it’s time for people to behave themselves”.Irish recognised that there was a danger that some players could seek to use the stump mic to their advantage by setting up an opponent, but added that it remained the players’ responsibilities to ensure the line was never crossed.”Players have an obligation to play within the spirit and rules of the game, much of which relates to the way players treat each other on the field,” said Irish, “and I think a consistent protocol shouldn’t present opportunity for players to disregard that.”In a cricket match, and particularly a Test match, long periods are spent in the field, there are intense contests between bat and ball and a lot goes on. On-field characters have been a hallmark of cricket over the years and most of what goes on is within the rules and spirit of the game. It should stay that way.”