Month: April 2019

12:46 PM ET Peter Della PennaCricket Close Peter Della Penna is an American cricket journalist who also writes for ESPNcricinfo.com and DreamCricket.com. Since 2010, he has penned the USA entry in the Cricket Round the World section of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack.Follow Peter on Twitter @PeterDellaPenna Four years ago at Malahide, Oman clinched T20I status with a five-wicket win over Namibia in a playoff match at the 2015 World T20 Qualifier. On…

12:02 PM ET ESPNcricinfo staff India Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane will join Hampshire for the County Championship season from next month. Division One club Hampshire confirmed Rahane’s signing as an overseas player on Thursday, as reported by ESPNcricinfo last week. The 30-year-old Rahane is the first India player to represent Hampshire and will replace Aiden Markram, who will finish his stint with Hampshire at the end of the Royal London…

3:00 AM ET Toss: Rajasthan Royals chose to bowl v Kolkata Knight Riders Rajasthan Royals captain Steven Smith decided to field first against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Thursday. Smith said that it was a welcome change to play on a slightly more grassy pitch, which his opposite number Dinesh Karthik also said would help the batsmen. The home side have dropped Harry Gurney and KC Cariappa,…

8:30 AM ET ESPNcricinfo staff Sam Billings‘ return to action for Kent lasted just a matter of minutes against Glamorgan at Cardiff, as he suffered a shoulder injury that may rule him out of England’s ODI trip to Ireland next week. Billings, Kent’s captain, had returned to the team for his first county fixture of the season, after completing his stint with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. However, he…

8:06 AM ET ESPNcricinfo staff Did Virat Kohli mock R Ashwin’s controversial run-out of Jos Buttler after he caught his India team-mate at the long-on boundary? Paul Collingwood, former England captain and a staunch critic of the run-out of Buttler, certainly noticed it. “Love @imVkohli reaction catching @ashwinravi99,” Collingwood tweeted. “Great entertainment @RCBTweets and @IPL!! :clap::skin-tone-2: Mother cricket always gets you!! #mankad” Love @imVkohli reaction catching @ashwinravi99 Great entertainment @RCBTweets…

7:31 AM ET ESPNcricinfo staff South African all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius will join Northamptonshire for this season’s Vitality T20 Blast. The 30-year-old Pretorius will link up with the Steelbacks squad for the tournament, which begins in mid-July, alongside another newcomer to Wantage Road, Faheem Ashraf of Pakistan. Pretorius may also be available for selection for the County Championship match against Worcestershire in August. Pretorius is part of South Africa’s squad for…

6:36 AM ET Liam Brickhill An injury to Dale Steyn has potentially thrown South Africa’s World Cup preparations off track, with the 35-year-old fast bowler cutting his time with Royal Challengers Bangalore at the IPL short after only two games. Steyn will return to South Africa after his right shoulder – which had previously been seriously injured – flared up. He will be assessed by a shoulder specialist, with Cricket…

1:37 AM ET ESPNcricinfo staff The BCCI’s ombudsman-cum-ethics officer Justice DK Jain served notices to former India batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman on Wednesday for their alleged conflict of interest for being part of IPL franchises’ support staffs as well as serving as members of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC). Justice Jain has given them time until April 28 to file their written responses. While Laxman is Sunrisers Hyderabad’s…

5:04 PM ET Valkerie Baynes at Hove Chris Jordan says he has a dream road trip planned this weekend with his “little brother” Jofra Archer, as the pair prepare to link up with the England squad ahead of what could be a seismic international summer. Having found form with the ball after going wicketless in Sussex’s winning sides for the first two Royal London Cup matches of the season, Jordan…