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Jason Gillespie will become the latest of Australia’s thirty-somethings to call time when he announces his retirement during South Australia’s Pura Cup tie against Queensland which starts on Friday.Gillespie, who will turn 33 in April, is widely reported to have signed with the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League, and that means he has delayed any announcement to allow him to bow out in the match. Gillespie would have been barred from playing were he to confirm a deal with the ICL .A source close to the player told The Australian newspaper that there would be a press conference at the close of the first day of the match. “He’s not allowed to announce it prior because it is not a sanctioned league.”Gillespie was one of Australia’s leading quick bowlers during their outstanding period of dominance. In 71 Tests he took 259 wickets at 26.13 with a best of 7 for 37 at Headingley in 1997. His last major act for Australia came in his final Test when he was recalled in 2006 after a dismal Ashes campaign the previous year and hit 201 against Bangladesh.Although Gillespie enjoyed a good season in 2006-07, taking 30 wickets at 28.43 for South Australia, this summer he managed 24 wickets at 35.87 and there was speculation that his contract would not be renewed.The news also caught Glamorgan, who Gillespie had signed to play for in 2008, on the hop. Only yesterday they issued the details of their squad to the media, but if he does sign with the ICL then he will be unable to honour that commitment.

Andrew Symonds is considering coming out of retirement to play a limited amount of T20 cricket.Symonds, who retired in February 2012 citing family reasons, has so enjoyed his experience of playing in the Masters Champions League – he is representing Capricorn Commanders in the tournament for players who have retired from international cricket – that he is mulling over offers to play more mainstream tournaments in the coming months.And, even if Symonds, now 40, ultimately decides against a playing comeback, he believes he could contribute to the game in a coaching role.He did some consulting work with the Australian Twenty20 team in South Africa in the lead-up to the World T20 in 2014 and has also had a loose advisory role with Brisbane Heat in BBL.”People have asked me: ‘would you consider starting up again?'” Symonds told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s something I’ve definitely got to consider.”I suppose I’m in a situation where I could go back, try and get really fit and engage again. Or just be happy doing what I’m doing. That’s something I’ve got to work out in the next six months or so.”I’m enjoying playing. It’s physically demanding, but I’m enjoying the challenge again. I’m enjoying the adrenalin and the nerves again. It’s not too bad at all. I am enjoying it.”For all his success – and Symonds played in World Cup-winning sides, set world records and finished with a Test batting average in excess of 40 – there is a sense that his was a talent not entirely fulfilled.A series of disciplinary misdemeanours saw his international career end prematurely when he was sent home ahead of the 2009 World T20, aged 33, but he believes his experience – particularly his experience in limited-overs cricket and playing in Asian conditions – could prove beneficial to another generation of players.Flashback to Andrew Symonds’ last IPL season for Mumbai Indians in 2011•Associated Press

“There’s a lot of ‘could haves’ with me,” Symonds admitted. “I’m probably a bit too old now to play really seriously. I’ve a good life. I’ve had a good life through cricket. I’m not unhappy. Life is really good. I’ve a young family now. It’s probably the greatest thing we’ve ever done.”But I’m also considering maybe going into the coaching side of things now. I wouldn’t want to burden anyone with my presence for too long, but a bit of consultancy work would be good. Going in for a couple of weeks and then leaving them alone: match awareness; how to finish games; setting totals; tactics against certain types of bowling or on certain surfaces.”I ended up playing a lot of cricket in the sub-continent and a lot of teams struggle when they go there. If I can pass on my experience, that may be helpful for them.”I’ve probably a few decisions to make in the next little bit.”

Match facts

Monday, January 4, 2016
Start time 1500 local (1100GMT)Hamilton Masakadza’s batting has appeared a level above the rest of his team-mates•Chris Whiteoak

Big picture

Zimbabwe were desperate for a performance that yielded a win to keep the series alive, but were well on their way to another disheartening defeat in the third ODI before two batsmen resorted to attrition and simple basics to provide them with a platform for a morale-boosting victory. Zimbabwe’s bowlers would have entered the bout ready to grind out a positive result, but were handed wickets on a platter through some amateurish strokes from Afghanistan’s batsmen. Through a host of wickets and impressive individual batting performances, one discernible pattern has stood out this series – the start of an innings sets the tone for the rest of the game.Zimbabwe, given their relative experience, will have to strive to improve in that aspect to dominate lower-ranked nations. Hamilton Masakadza displayed admirable patience amid an evolving ODI format, and the rest of the batsmen will do well to try and replicate his coup on surfaces demanding extra vigilance. Saturday also proved that the seamers possessed penetrative ability but were aided and abetted by a good start and Afghanistan’s questionable approach. Luke Jongwe persisted on good areas and was richly rewarded with a five-for. The bowling line-up, however, has come under severe pressure under a semblance of duress. In conditions where a shoddy period can define the game, can the Zimbabwe bowlers hold their own when the going gets tough?Afghanistan have had a lot to be proud about after a successful 2015, including a win at the World Cup, but they will have to reconsider their gung-ho attitude with the bat. Save an exceptional counterattacking innings from Mohammad Shahzad and Noor Ali Zadran’s stability, their batting has been fallacious. With plenty of time available, the middle order has to prepare themselves to build innings and scores of respectability. The bowling core, though, has enough variation, control and quality to trouble many an opposition. On paper, man for man, Afghanistan’s bowling has the edge over their counterparts but consistency will be imperative to their success.

Form guide

(Last five completed matches, most recent first)
Afghanistan LWWWW
Zimbabwe WLLLLL

In the spotlight

The Afghanistan openers – Mohammad Shahzad and Noor Ali – have each provided an innings of substance, directly affecting the result of the game. With a lack of confidence running through a fumbling middle order, a solid start could go a long way to ensuring the final game of the series is not a decider.Hamilton Masakadza has brought in an air of security to Zimbabwe’s batting order, with steady scores of 47 and 83, but has also importantly combined in strong stands that have perked up the final totals. His potential to build a score and play at two paces could also come to the fore, providing the rest of the batsmen with an example of adaptation.

Team news

Craig Ervine missed the third ODI with the flu, but expect him to slot right back in at No. 4 if he is fit, which could mean that Malcolm Waller, who has scores of 0, 0 and 8, makes way. There is likely to be no changes in the bowling attack that bowled Afghanistan out for 58.Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Peter Moor, Chamu Chibhabha, 3 Hamilton Masakadza, 4 Craig Ervine, 5 Elton Chigumbura (capt), 6 Sikandar Raza, 7 Richmond Mutumbami(wk), 8 Luke Jongwe, 9 Graeme Creamer, 10, Neville Madziva, 11 Tendai ChisoroAfghanistan chose to test some of the other members of their 21-man squad, but none of those inclusions made a substantial impact to the proceedings in the last match. The think-tank could juggle the set-up again in order to find the ideal balance.Afghanistan (probable) : 1 Noor Ali Zadran, 2 Mohammad Shahzad, 3 Mohammad Nabi, 4 Asghar Stanikzai, 5 Samiullah Shenwari, 6 Hashmatullah Shahidi, 7 Najibullah Zadran, 8 Mirwais Ashraf, 9 Dawlat Zadran, 10 Amir Hamza, 11 Rokhan Barakzai/Rashid Khan

Pitch and conditions

Expect the team winning the toss to bat first in conditions that have proved harder to bat as the game progresses. The low and slow pitches of Sharjah will continue to take plenty of turn, and provide just enough to keep the seamers interested under lights. Rain was predicted on the day before the game, but none on match day.

Stats and trivia

• Before the third ODI, Afghanistan had won five of the previous six ODIs against Zimbabwe
• The third ODI was the only time in ODI history that both innings had scores of 0 for 2

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has declared day-night Test cricket “here to stay” after the conclusion of the inaugural floodlit match at Adelaide Oval, a popular success despite its meagre three-day running time.A crowd of 123,736 poured into the ground across those three days, and similarly strong television audiences made it a spectacle to delight broadcasters and administrators alike. But the verdict of the players was always going to be critical to the future of the concept, and in the glowing words of McCullum and his opposite number Steven Smith there was ample evidence that the game’s elite practitioners will be comfortable with doing this kind of thing more often.The only reservation raised by both McCullum and Smith was the amount of grass left on the Adelaide Oval pitch, which they agreed was the major factor in the game’s short time span. But they were equally adamant that players would be able to adapt with greater experience, with the added incentive now of having played a Test match in front of such a celebratory and voluminous gathering.”It’s a great concept,” McCullum said. “As pink ball cricket evolves as I am sure it will grow into a global game and I think we will see the pitches probably won’t have quite as much grass on it. The thing about day-night Test cricket is it is meant to allow Test match cricket to be played at night time, it is not meant to be to change how Test cricket should play.”There was a fraction too much grass on it, I think we saw under lights that the pink ball probably responded a little bit much, but I would say that because I am a batter. Overall it was a roaring success and 120,000 people over three days, people are voting with their feet and I think it’s here to stay, which is great.”In general, spectators would want see results in games. And will want to see captains start to try and force results. Sitting in changing room after hard fought Test win that’s what’s most memorable as a cricketer. Sometimes fighting draws are great and I think we’ll find captains will try and push home some advantage to get Test victories.”Smith was naturally relieved after seeing out a series victory over a fast-finishing New Zealand, and he had little hesitation in describing the contest as a “great” one. “The whole Test match was a great innovation, it was a great spectacle,” he said. “To get 120,000 people through the gates in three days is absolutely amazing. I thought it was a great spectacle and a great Test match.”It was a game that was dominated by the bowlers. New Zealand’s bowlers bowled just as well as ours. But it was one of those games – if you got yourself in you could still score runs, it just wasn’t to be this game for a lot of the batters, we got starts and couldn’t go on with it. I think the contest is there if you’re willing to have a game plan and bat some time you can certainly score runs.”Like McCullum, Smith noted the thick grass coverage presented for the pink ball, but was happy enough to live with that after finishing the match as a narrow winner. “I think the wicket here compared to the two Shield games that have been played on it and particularly the pink ball shield game we played, it looked like the grass was a bit more lively,” he said. “I think it was the same height as the grass in the Shield game but it was probably just a tad greener.”That created a little bit more movement for the bowlers and kept the ball together and swinging for a long period. But I think it was great to see something different, the first two Test matches were dominated by the bat, so it’s great to see something different and see the bowlers coming into their own.”

Boyd Rankin, the Warwickshire and Ireland fast bowler, is likely to miss the entire 2008 season after being diagnosed with a serious shoulder injury.He is suffering from a SLAP (Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior) lesion in his right shoulder, a common injury among sportsmen who throw or in cricket bowl, and will undergo surgery. The expected recovery time is between three and six months.It is the latest blow for Rankin, who impressed during the 2007 World Cup for Ireland, after he spent the winter overcoming a back problem following his move from Derbyshire to Warwickshire.”I just dived for a ball in the warm-up [before the first day of the championship game against Worcestershire] and landed awkwardly,” Rankin told . “Then I went on as a substitute fielder and had to dive for another ball. When I tried to throw it in it felt as if I’d been stabbed.”It’s very frustrating. I’d worked so hard. But it’s better to have the operation now than let it get worse and hopefully I can get a few months cricket in later in the summer.”

Shane Warne believes Australia must improve their spin-bowling depth by using the slow men more often and more aggressively in state cricket. The retirement of Brad Hogg and uncertainty over Stuart MacGill’s fitness has left Australia without a clear first-choice Test spinner and Warne says the lack of opportunities in some domestic teams is contributing to the dearth of options.”A lot depends on the conditions they play under,” Warne said. “Sometimes it’s harder for some of the guys, like in Queensland for instance, where the Gabba should be one of the best places to bowl spin bowling.”They’ve got to educate the captains up in Queensland about how to actually use the spinners, they’re generally an afterthought. [They think] quick, quick, quick, let’s go for another quick, let’s go for a part-time quick, last day before lunch [ask the spinner to] have a bowl. That process is unfortunately around in a few places.”This year’s domestic statistics back up Warne’s concerns, with Victoria’s legspinner Bryce McGain the only slow bowler in the Pura Cup’s top 12 wicket-takers. Queensland’s first-choice spinner, Daniel Doran, has been given only 16 overs per match on average, compared to McGain averaging 37 overs a game.The trend is something Warne is trying to change in his new role as a spin coach with Cricket Australia. He is in Melbourne this week and will visit Sydney and Hobart next week, continuing his nationwide tour working with the tweakers and trying to help their captains understand how to use spin as an aggressive tactic.Australia’s main aim is to find somebody who can step into Warne’s old role at international level and Warne believes MacGill remains the top choice, if he is fit and bowling well, with McGain the next best candidate. MacGill is 37 and McGain turns 36 this month, but Warne said it could be risky to give a younger man opportunities purely because of his long-term prospects.”Sometimes it can be quite damaging for a young spinner that hasn’t got the confidence to throw them in there and that could be the end of them, or they can be lost for a few years until they find their feet again,” he said. “It can be good, but sometimes you’ve got to know what the personality is of the player, what makes them tick.”We’ve got some good spinners there. [We don’t] expect to turn up a spinner in a year or two that can take 500 Test wickets but what I could hope is that the spinners can actually perform consistently well over a period of time. If that happens then I think we’re doing okay.”

David Willey, England’s outstanding bowler in World Twenty20, could miss England’s one-day series against Sri Lanka next month with an abdominal strain.Willey himself has not abandoned hope of recovering fitness, but he has been advised by Yorkshire’s medical staff not to bowl for six weeks, and the Royal London Series begins at Trent Bridge on June 21 – exactly that time frame.England’s medical staff is bound to want to monitor Willey’s progress closely. His recovery would have to be advanced by a week, so enabling him to have a fitness run out in at least one of two Yorkshire Royal London One-Day Cup matches against Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire at Headingley.Willey, 26, has begun to forge an international career since making his debut a year ago. He has been a regular limited-overs performer under England’s coach Trevor Bayliss, featuring in 24 of the 33 internationals.Willey suffered his injury on the opening day of Yorkshire’s Specsavers Championship match against Surrey at Headingley. He bowled 20 overs as Yorkshire bowled out Surrey for 330 on the opening day – a demanding but far from excessive workload. A scan revealed a Grade Two tear.”It’s obviously disappointing for me to pick up a niggle in my second match,” he said. “I felt the injury towards the end of the first day – a bit of fatigue and not used to bowling that many overs in a day but that is part and parcel of professional sport.”They seem to think six weeks at the moment but ever the optimist I hope to be back sooner. The priority is the get back to 100 per cent. I’ve had numerous injuries before but this is a new one for me.”Willey’s injury is also a considerable blow for Yorkshire. He was signed as an eventual replacement for Ryan Sidebottom in the Championship – and has been working closely with him in recent days – but also to supercharge Yorkshire’s T20 cricket.Yorkshire were convinced they had signed a player to sort out their bowling issues at the top and tail of the innings after Willey led England’s wickets tally as they reached the final of World Twenty20 in India last month.He could potentially miss Yorkshire’s first four matches, unless he was utilised as a specialist batsman, an unlikely occurrence because of the potential for causing further damage.”There would have to be a bit of recovery for that to happen,” he said, “especially with slogging – which is my style, isn’t it – there would have to be some pressure on the abs. We will reassess at the end of next week to see where I am at. If there was a position for me to play as a batter I would be happy to do that.”As debates rage over the future landscape of Twenty20 cricket – it is conceivable, if no more so at this stage, that Yorkshire will have to finish in the top four of the North Group to be assured of a place in a new Premier Division.Their prospects are further clouded by an injury to Matthew Fisher, the exciting pace prospect, who will also miss the start of the NatWest T20 Blast campaign after failing to recover from hamstring problems.Fisher, who has suffered two injuries to his left hamstring, was Yorkshire’s leading wicket-taker in a dismal Blast campaign last season with 16 wickets from 13 games.Fisher initially suffered a tweak in Dubai in late March, restricting his participation in the pre-season tour of the Middle East. He suffered a more serious recurrence during a second-team game at Bristol in early April.With Tim Bresnan also laid low at the start of the season with a calf tear, it is a nervous time for Yorkshire who are desperate to revive their T20 cricket.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

In a match dominated by South African stars, the batting efforts of Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis edged the all-round contribution of Shaun Pollock, as Bangalore Royal Challengers recovered from Friday’s mauling to register their first win of the tournament. Set a challenging 166 by the Mumbai Indians, Bangalore rode on an unbeaten 39 from Boucher, and his 55-run stand with Kallis sealed a five-wicket win with two balls to spare.The absence of Sachin Tendulkar would have been a huge downer for the crowd at the Wankhede Stadium, but none of them could complain about the quality of action. The bounce on the pitch kept the bowlers interested, and the batsmen on their toes – one of them, Mumbai’s Dominic Thornely, was so surprised by a Zaheer Khan bouncer that he copped a blow above the eye which required 15 stitches. Robin Uthappa and Pollock were the two major contributors for Mumbai, with Sanath Jayasuriya chipping in with a cameo at the start.A target of 166 suggested a close finish, and that’s exactly how it panned out. Bangalore had contributions from all their batsmen, though none of the top five stayed through the chase. Shivnarine Chanderpaul biffed a few before getting a painful blow on the knee, while Rahul Dravid alternated between the sublime – with glorious straight- and extra-cover drives – and the tentative – five runs from 14 balls off Pollock. Ross Taylor and Virat Kohli both made 23 in identical fashion, but when Kohli fell, the match hung in the balance, with 60 needed from 39 balls.While Kallis played a typically patient hand, Boucher put in the decisive knock which turned the match Bangalore’s way. Striking the ball freely and cleanly, he ensured the asking-rate never climbed beyond ten, and got the boundaries so regularly that the pressure slowly moved to the home team. Harbhajan Singh, the Mumbai captain, was creamed through point in the 15th over, while Jayasuriya was clubbed for a straight six. When Nehra was pulled for four and blasted out of the ground for the biggest six of the game in successive balls, the requirement had suddenly come down to 11 from 12 balls, after which the result was never in doubt.Mumbai’s innings was built largely around Uthappa’s 48, which held the innings together, and a whirlwind 12-ball 28 from Pollock which turned an average total into a substantial one. The absence of Tendulkar was felt at the top of the order, as Luke Ronchi, his replacement as opener, lasted just ten balls before falling to an outstanding catch by Kohli. Jayasuriya gave every indication of making up for Tendulkar’s absence, creaming the hapless Kallis for three fours – two bludgeoned down the ground, one flicked fine – and a huge six over long-on. When he fell against the run of play, run out by a direct hit from Zaheer, Mumbai needed a steady hand to guide the innings, and Uthappa played that part well.

His familiarity with the opposition bowlers – Vinay Kumar, Sunil Joshi and B Akhil are all state-mates in first-class cricket – helped him along too, as Vinay was late-cut delightfully and then hooked for six off successive balls. Uthappa improvised cleverly, moving to leg to clip the ball fine, or walking down the pitch to upset the bowlers, but he also reined in his attacking instincts, knocking the ball in the gaps during the middle overs.When he fell just two short of his half-century, though, Mumbai only had 125 on the board with just 19 deliveries to go. Enter Pollock, who immediately turned it up a few gears. After Abhishek Nayar had creamed a straight six off Vinay, Pollock dismissed the same bowler for a four and a six off consecutive balls. Praveen and Zaheer were taken for boundaries as well, as 40 came off the last five overs. The opposition team, though, had two other South African heavyweights to seal the deal.

Walking out with his captain settled Sewnarine Chattergoon as he began his Test career with a composed 46 against Sri Lanka. Chattergoon’s innings assisted the home team to reach 137 for 1 before his dismissal started the slide towards a stumps score of 268 for 7, a deficit of 10 runs.Chattergoon was expected to make his debut in the opening match of the two-game series, which Sri Lanka won, but he was ruled out by illness and had to wait for his first cap. Despite Gayle’s struggles against Sri Lanka, Chattergoon felt extra confidence as the openers stepped out together.”I was a bit nervous, but the good thing was that I was with my captain and also a senior member and I rallied around him and he told me to relax and play my normal game,” Chattergoon said. “I was looking for the single to get down to the non-striker’s end and Gayle helped me a lot because he was playing positively and the Sri Lankan bowlers put more emphasis on him than me.”Gayle, who has five zeroes against Sri Lanka in Tests, reached 45 off 44 balls to give his side a boost after his unbeaten half-century at the end of the first contest. “He has been struggling against Sri Lanka,” Chattergoon said, “but he is a world-class batsman and he can come out anytime and destroy any bowling attack, so I was confident going out with him.”Chattergoon, who turned 27 on the first day of the game, hit five fours in his display and stayed for 78 deliveries until being bowled by Chaminda Vaas. In the lead-up to the match he had placed extra emphasis on facing Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan, who combined for four of the West Indian wickets.”The two of them are two great bowlers and to get an opportunity to face them in my first Test innings, it was a bit difficult,” he said. “But I played to my ability and I was successful in the end.”

Delaying the declarationSui Northern may have bossed the game, but an experienced captain like Mohammad Hafeez will regret not declaring earlier for so long. Batting first, they out on 511 in 150.1 overs against Habib Bank before being dismissed. Azhar Ali and Khurram Shehzad scored centuries – 118 and 133 respectively as they ground HBL’s bowlers down. Amad Butt did come away with a six-wicket haul, but not before bowling 38 overs and conceding 106 runs.In response, HBL were dismissed for 202 and asked to follow on. However, with bad light meaning several overs were lost, only 19 overs could be bowled in the second innings, with Ahmed Shehzad’s side at 67 for one when the match was called off. Given the extent of HBL’s dominance, they will be disappointed to kick off the Super Eight stage with a win.The two-day gameHave you ever heard of a contest where 167 runs were enough to secure an innings victory? Well, here’s one. On a pitch that seemed to have laid a particularly potent curse on all who batted upon it, WAPDA beat Khan Research Laboratories by an innings and seven runs in a game that lasted merely 120 overs. KRL were skittled out for 95 in their first innings, 40 of them coming from one man, Junaid Ali. WAPDA’s Waqas Maqsood registered the best figures of the tournament, taking nine wickets for 32.WAPDA appeared to have let KRL back into the contest with a fairly ordinary batting display of their own, getting dismissed for 167. More than half of those runs – 86 – came off the bat of No. 8 Khalid Usman as they opened up a 72-run lead. As it turned out, KRL’s second innings was even more listless than the first as they meekly surrendered for 65. Mohammad Asif took six wickets as WAPDA wrapped up a comfortable win.The Lahore DerbyLahore Whites and Lahore Blues played in the final of the recently concluded National T20 Cup, with the Blues coming out on top. They played each other again in the QeA’s Super 8 round, with the same outcome, the Blues sealing a 9-wicket win.They began sharply, bowling out Lahore Whites for 141, Aizaz Cheema and Bilawal Iqbal sharing 8 wickets between them. Their batsmen followed that up with a solid 281, with opener Tayyab Tahir and captain Saad Nasim scoring 83 runs each. Having opened up a 140 run lead, they proceed to clean up the Whites for 207, Cheema’s 7 wickets securing him an 11-wicket haul for the match. That left the Blues with the straightforward task of chasing 68 runs for a win, which they did in under 10 overs for the loss of just one wicket.Fawad watchFawad Alam stormed back to form, scoring 124 for Sui Southern. It was, albeit, an innings in vain as a second-innings collapse saw them slump to 149 runs.United Bank captained by Younis Khan, scored 252 in the first innings, with Shan Masood top scoring with 75. Saad Ali, who has been far and away the highest scorer in the tournament, also scored 52, while Ahmed Jamal’s 6 for 52 ensured UBL weren’t allowed to bat SSGC out of the game.While Alam’s century secured his side a 27-run lead, the innings of the round belonged to Umar Akmal, who once again demonstrated his seemingly boundless ability with the bat – if he is motivated enough. He smashed 148 in 166 deliveries, effectively batting SSGC out of the game as they declared at 328, setting SSGC a target of 302. SSGC never looked like escaping with a draw, let alone clinching victory, with no batsman scoring more than 27 (Alam managed 26) as they were bundled out for 152.