News Team doctor says batter is likely to be out for six weeks Kusal Perera was one of Sri Lanka’s three half-centurions in the ODI series against England Kusal Perera is almost certain to be out of Sri Lanka’s series against India, after picking up a shoulder injury. The team has not divulged the exact nature of the injury, nor withdrawn him officially, but a team doctor says he’s…
Sikandar Raza had surgery on his right arm to remove a benign tumor in April © IDI/Getty Allrounder Sikandar Raza is back for Zimbabwe following four months on the sidelines while he recovered from a serious bone-marrow infection. Raza was picked in a squad of 16 that will take on Bangladesh at home in a three-match ODI series from July 16. Also returning to squad are pacer Tendai Chatara, who…
News Former fast bowler says they were in part responsible for his exclusion from the XI at the 2007 World Cup Roger Telemachus claims he was supposed to have played the semi-final of the 2007 World Cup but didn’t because of political pressure South African cricket was controlled by a clique of white players nicknamed “the big five,” according to former fast bowler Roger Telemachus. Testifying at the Social…
News Rotation in prospect as England seek to fine-tune squad options before ICC deadline Eoin Morgan returns from self-isolation after enjoying the sight of England’s reserves playing with freedom England are prepared to give opportunities to fringe players and tweak their usual plans in this week’s T20I series against Pakistan, which Eoin Morgan has said they are treating as their “last chance” to look at options ahead of October’s…
Preview Brendan Taylor to lead, with Zimbabwe set to make a slew of changes Big Picture The one-off Test in Harare wasn’t part of the World Test Championship, neither are the T20Is at the end of the tour of any particular consequence. But these three ODIs carry much more significance for both sides. They are part of the ICC ODI Super League, and points are at stake. Bangladesh are in…
Preview Whitewashing by second-string ODI team leaves visitors short of answers Big Picture English eyeballs might have primarily focused on football heartache over the past week, but those who tuned into the cricket received the fillip they might have craved. An ad-hoc English squad cobbled together from a motley crew of country cricket staples and international reservists overwhelmed a Pakistan side that, despite its recent travails, will have felt fairly…
News The pair has been given a chance to push for England Test selection James Bracey and Haseeb Hameed will be given the chance to stake their case for inclusion in England’s Test squad after being named in a County Select XI to play India in a three-day match at Chester-le-Street next week. Bracey did not make an impact in his maiden Test series against New Zealand in June, making…
Big Picture Ireland are one win away from their biggest ODI achievement on home soil. Victory over South Africa in the third ODI will be the first time they take a series off a team ranked in the top eight, the first time they beat a top eight team in successive matches, and their first series win in their last six, since beating Zimbabwe in July 2019. It would also…
News Heather Knight happy with how her side is shaping up ahead of next year’s World Cup Bench strength, being ruthless and overcoming pressure are themes England Women will look to build on ahead of next year’s World Cup after winning a hard-fought multi-format series against India. The hosts had to win their final T20I at Chelmsford on Wednesday night to win the series – encompassing a one-off Test, three…
Tom Harrison, the ECB chief executive, has defended his board’s decision to relax the bio-secure environments that were a feature of England’s behind-closed-doors campaign in the 2020 home season, arguing that the mental health and well-being of the players in its competitions requires the game to “learn to live” with Covid-19, rather than seek to prevent further infections within team environments. Speaking at a media briefing ahead of the opening…