Month: March 2018

3:00 AM ET Big Picture If the Ashes-retaining campaign had been “a good starting point” for Australia to stage a turnaround after relinquishing their world titles in both limited-overs formats, captain Meg Lanning’s return to international cricket now awaits commemoration in the form of a double series triumph. A T20 series victory for the first time in nearly three years beckons Australia, soon after their 3-0 ODI series win against…

3:00 AM ET Big Picture If the Ashes-retaining campaign had been “a good starting point” for Australia to stage a turnaround after relinquishing their world titles in both limited-overs formats, captain Meg Lanning’s return to international cricket now awaits commemoration in the form of a double series triumph. A T20 series victory for the first time in nearly three years beckons Australia, soon after their 3-0 ODI series win against…

1:48 PM ET Tim Paine began his first day as fully-fledged Australian captain with one small but significant departure from custom by initiating a pre-game handshake between all players and ended it by flagging a revolutionary departure from custom, at least for his team, by announcing a firm redefinition of the captain’s role. As the teams began their warm-ups on an overcast Johannesburg morning, he approached his opposite number Faf…

1:48 PM ET Tim Paine began his first day as fully-fledged Australian captain with one small but significant departure from custom by initiating a pre-game handshake between all players and ended it by flagging a revolutionary departure from custom, at least for his team, by announcing a firm redefinition of the captain’s role. As the teams began their warm-ups on an overcast Johannesburg morning, he approached his opposite number Faf…

3:00 AM ET South Africa 313 for 6 (Markram 152, de Villiers 69, Cummins 3-53) v AustraliaScorecard and ball-by-ball details Aiden Markram celebrates his fourth Test ton AFP Aiden Markram owns his style of batting: languid, fluent and dominant. Against a bowling line-up that lacked penetration or oomph on a pitch offering sufficient seam movement, save Pat Cummins, Markram stroked his way to his 152, his highest Test score, strengthening South…

9:43 AM ET After giving them an ultimatum to step down, Zimbabwe Cricket has sacked the entire coaching staff following an unsuccessful World Cup qualifier campaign. The captain Graeme Cremer was another high-profile casualty with reports in the Zimbabwean press suggesting Brendan Taylor will take over leadership of the team. In addition to the national coaching staff – head coach Heath Streak, batting coach Lance Klusener, bowling coach Douglas Hondo,…

9:33 AM ET After giving an ultimatum to step down, Zimbabwe Cricket has sacked the entire coaching staff following an unsuccessful World Cup qualifier campaign. The captain Graeme Cremer is the other high-profile casualty with reports in the Zimbabwean press suggesting Brendan Taylor will take over leadership of the team. In addition to the national coaching staff – head coach Heath Streak, batting coach Lance Klusener, bowling coach Douglas Hondo,…

9:21 AM ET ESPNcricinfo staff Abahani Limited remained on top of the Dhaka Premier League’s points table after their 20-run win (via D/L method) against Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club in the Super League stage at the BKSP-3 ground. A result along expected lines after they had put up 393 for 4, the highest List A total in Bangladesh domestic history. They broke their own record from last season. But rain…

3:00 AM ET Tea: South Africa 177 for 2 (Markram 111*, de Villiers 8*) v AustraliaLive scorecard and ball-by-ball details Aiden Markram’s glorious cover drive Getty Images Aiden Markram owns his style of batting: languid, fluent and dominant. Against a bowling line-up that lacked penetration or oomph on a pitch offering sufficient seam movement, Markram stroked his way to his fourth Test century, his unbeaten 111 carrying South Africa to a…

7:30 AM ET ESPNcricinfo staff A fine bowling effort helped Legends of Rupganj to a 12-run win over Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity in the Dhaka Premier League’s Super League stage at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium. No 8 Nazmul Hossain Milon‘s brisk 63, which contained three fours and two sixes, took Rupganj to 216 for 8 after they had slipped to 86 for 6 in the 23rd over. Paceman Mohammad Saddam…