ICC Champions Trophy 2017

[Kevin S]

England have got ODIs against Ireland (2) and South Africa (3) throughout May, before the tournament.

The squad has been released today; details here with the tweaks to the pace attack being the headline-grabber.

Anyone going to any of the series or tournament matches? And is it all on Sky?

[Ray de Galles]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

I'm going to England v Bangladesh and the final. I had tickets for India v Sri Lanka too but now have to travel for work on that day. Been trying to get India v Pakistan but they are proving predictably hard to secure.

[longeared]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

Live on Sky, highlights clips on the BBC Sport website, not (yet) aware of any long form highlights package being shown anywhere.

Not going to any of this, but was rather surprised to learn the other day that England v India in the opening game of the Women's World Cup at Derby has already sold out. I was expecting to be able to bowl up to that on the day without any trouble.

[Kevin S]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

Ansari has announced his retirement from cricket, aged 25, with immediate effect., to pursue other goals.

A Cambridge alumnus with a double first, this article from Varsity suggests he may be looking to get into Law.

https://www.varsity.co.uk/sport/10687

[Kevin S]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

https://www.kiaoval.com/main-news/zafar-ansari-announces-retirement/

In fact he mentions Law in this release from Surrey.

[Satchmo Distel]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

Some notable points:

Only 3 grounds are being used and none is north of Birmingham.

Absence of the Windies

Uncertainty as to whether this will be the last year of this particular competition, despite all the games usually having something riding on them (unlike World Cups)

India in a strop and seem to be using the threat of withdrawal as a form of financial leverage.

Not good times but maybe the tournament will brighten them up, although I doubt I'll remember who won it by next year(or even a week after the final).

[Kevin S]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

Warm up time.

Ireland to bat first in Bristol.

England Team
JJ Roy, AD Hales, JE Root, EJG Morgan*, JM Bairstow, SW Billings†, AU Rashid, DJ Willey, LE Plunkett, JT Ball, MA Wood

Ireland Team
WTS Porterfield*, PR Stirling, EC Joyce, NJ O'Brien†, GC Wilson, A Balbirnie, KJ O'Brien, SR Thompson, GH Dockrell, TJ Murtagh, PKD Chase

[longeared]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

Sun shining, TMS on the radio, Giro d'Italia about to start. Summer!

[Kevin S]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

I concur.

[Satchmo Distel]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

Willey and Ball?

[Etienne]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

Not a great batting performance by Ireland.

[Satchmo Distel]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

Is it a big disadvantage to bat first in early May?

[Etienne]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

Not invariably. Certainly it shouldn't make you more likely to collapse to Rashid and Root.

[Kevin S]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

Root continuing his fine run of, er, bowling there. Lovely wicket.

[Kevin S]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

The BCCI have stopped throwing toys out of the pram for now and confirmed India will be coming for the Champions Trophy. All the squads are here including India's.

[Kevin S]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

First game of the Ireland Tri-Nations ODI series today, as the hosts take on Bangladesh. New Zealand are the other participants.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/series/1033359.html

[Kevin S]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

https://twitter.com/eirSport are putting up the odd clip of key moments. Bangladesh are 152/4 from 30 overs; Peter Chase has three wickets but Tamim Iqbal is still in.

[Kevin S]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

Here are the wickets so far:
https://twitter.com/eirSport/status/862995845783932929

[Kevin S]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

Bangladesh look on top against Ireland today. Hosts are 155/7 in the 39th over.

[Etienne]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

Bangladesh cruising to victory.

[Kevin S]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

Around 20 minutes until the first England v SA ODI at Headingley.

England Team
JJ Roy, AD Hales, JE Root, EJG Morgan*, BA Stokes, JC Buttler†, MM Ali, CR Woakes, AU Rashid, LE Plunkett, MA Wood

South Africa Team
Q de Kock†, HM Amla, F du Plessis, AB de Villiers*, JP Duminy, DA Miller, WD Parnell, CH Morris, AL Phehlukwayo, K Rabada, Imran Tahir

[Kevin S]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

New Zealand are playing Bangladesh in Dublin in the sixth and final game of the Tri-Nations tournament. NZ have already won it after three victories. Ireland finished with two points thanks to the rain that ended the first match.

[Kevin S]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

South Africa won the toss and elected to field.

[Kevin S]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

Roy gone on the eighth ball.

[longeared]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017

I always think a bowler called Wayne Parnell should be a moustachioed 1980s medium pacer.