Play 02:07 It seems strange to suggest that the Champions Trophy might finally be coming of age. But, just as the most troubled of teenagers tend to find their place in life eventually, so the ICC’s least-loved bauble is somehow approaching its 20th year with a grizzled maturity and, if not outright contentment, then at least a sense of self-worth far removed from its gawky adolescence. It was way back…
“The recurring question that keeps arising is, where does all the money go?” © Craig Abercrombie – GWS GIANTS Simon Katich has attacked Cricket Australia over the board’s claim that it is being generous by offering pay rises despite losing A$33 million over the early seasons of the Big Bash League. Katich contended that the announcement of the figure in CA’s MoU offer to players was “either an MoU negotiating…
Play 01:37 ‘I know my body a lot better now’ – Lynn The Wankhede Stadium is heaving, as it does at every Mumbai Indians home match. Kolkata’s Chris Woakes runs in and bowls to his team-mate in England colours, Jos Buttler. Buttler, aggressive as ever, comes down the track but doesn’t quite get to the pitch of the ball. He tries to hoist it over the long-off boundary but only…
Ben Stokes’ knee hampered him when bowling against South Africa © Getty Images Andrew Strauss, the director of England cricket, has defended his decision to allow key England players to participate in the IPL despite subsequent injury concerns. Both Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes were obliged to sit-out games during the recent ODI series against South Africa after sustaining what have been described as minor knee and quad “niggles” respectively….
Play 04:11 Bal: Can’t judge Kumble’s performance only on results India’s campaign for Champions Trophy has begun under a cloud of discontent within the dressing room with the captain, and possibly a few other senior players, expressing a lack of confidence in their head coach. Speculation had been rife ever since the BCCI chose not to automatically extend the tenure of Anil Kumble as the head coach, choosing instead to…
Oman celebrate after being crowned tournament champions © Peter Della Penna After finishing as the tournament runner-up at 2016 WCL Division Five in Jersey and Division Four in Los Angeles, Oman were crowned champions of Division Three on Tuesday at Lugogo Oval after rain intervened to produce no result in the tournament final against Canada. Oman were declared winners by virtue of finishing with a 4-1 record in round-robin play…
New Zealand 359 for 4 (Guptill 116, Williamson 88, Prasanna 2-63) beat Sri Lanka 356 for 8 (Tharanga 110, Boult 2-47) by six wicketsScorecard and ball-by-ball updates Martin Guptill retired out on 116 after smashing 20 runs off Chamara Kapugedara’s second over © IDI/Getty Images New Zealand, led by Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson, overhauled Sri Lanka’s target of 357 with ease to complete a six-wicket victory in both teams’…
Ben Stokes is a key part of the power-packed batting order, but all eyes will be on his knee © Getty Images Overview That England are the bookies favourites speaks volumes for their improvement since the 2015 World Cup. Shocked into a change of mindset by their wretched from in the tournament, they discarded their coach, several senior players (including their top wicket-taker, James Anderson, and top run-scorer, Ian Bell)…
Jonny Bairstow was the one member of England’s top order to show some circumspection © Getty Images Say what you like about Trevor Bayliss: he’s consistent. Some coaches might have been reeling after their side set a new record for the worst five overs in ODI history. Some coaches might have urged their batsmen to exercise greater caution after they lost six wickets in the first 30 balls of an…
India 324 for 7 (Karthik 94, Hardik 80*, Rubel 3-50) beat Bangladesh 84 (Mehedi 24, Bhuvneshwar 3-13, Umesh 3-16) by 240 runsScorecard and ball-by-ball details Dinesh Karthik’s fluent 94 set up India’s massive win © IDI/Getty Images Bangladesh, who face England in the Champions Trophy opener on June 1, collapsed spectacularly, falling to 22 for 6, before eventually getting bowled out for 84 in their chase of 325 against India…