It took a while for Australia’s selectors to realise Steven Smith was serious about opening the batting. Australia’s best Test batter since Bradman opening? Risk him against the lottery that can be the new ball? The gut feel from those who heard it was to dismiss it out of hand. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Australia’s hierarchy had been softening the ground for a reshuffled batting order for…
ICC CEO Geoff Allardice has met with Sri Lanka’s new sports minister, as well as the country’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe, during a brief visit undertaken to gain a better understanding of the political situation in the country as it relates to cricket administration. In November, the ICC imposed a suspension on Sri Lanka Cricket’s membership, and subesequently stripped the country of its hosting rights of the Men’s Under-19 World Cup….
Mitchell McClenaghan, a four-time IPL champion with Mumbai Indians, has been appointed bowling coach of MI Emirates, their ILT20 affiliate. It will be McClenaghan’s first major role as a coach, having last played professionally in 2021. He represented New Zealand in 48 ODIs and 29 T20Is picking up 82 and 30 wickets respectively. McClenaghan will work under Robin Singh, who has been appointed head coach after he spent the ILT20’s…
Hampshire have confirmed they are “fully engaged in some detailed negotiations” with prospective investors after the Telegraph reported that GMR Group, the co-owners of Delhi Capitals, are in advanced talks with Rod Bransgrove about buying his share in the club’s parent company. Bransgrove, who saved Hampshire from insolvency in 2000, stood down as chair of the cricket club last year and has been succeeded by Nick Pike. But Bransgrove remains…
Toss: India opt to bowl vs Afghanistan India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bowl in his first T20I in more than a year. Rohit last featured in T20Is during the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. India picked just two frontline quicks in Arshdeep Singh and Mukesh Kumar on a greenish Mohali pitch in chilly conditions. There was no room for Avesh Khan while Mumbai and…
Colin Graves has issued a “personal and unreserved” apology to all victims of racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, after it was confirmed that his return to the board will be ratified at an emergency general meeting (EGM) at Headingley on February 2. Graves, who was club chair between 2012-15, and who was last year sanctioned by the ECB for dismissing previous allegations of racist incidents during his tenure as…
Adelaide Strikers 169 for 2 (Weatherald 80*) beat Hobart Hurricanes 167 for 6 (Wright 37, Boyce 2-17) by eight wickets Jake Weatherald has come from the clouds, hitting 80 from 32 balls to keep Adelaide Strikers’ Big Bash League final hopes alive and end the top-four quest of Hobart Hurricanes. Weatherald, in at No. 3 for the injured Chris Lynn, was unbeaten as Strikers chased down 168 with 25 balls…
Toss Zimbabwe chose to bat vs Sri Lanka Zimbabwe have chosen to bat first in the third ODI against Sri Lanka, having won the toss under cloudy skies at Kettarama. The visitors made three changes to their XI, strengthening their bowling by bringing in left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza in place of offspinner Tapiwa Mufudza, swapping out Faraz Akram for Luke Jongwe, while Takudzwanashe Kaitano – who had played the first…
West Indies 251 for 8 dec and 137 for 3 (da Silva 55*, Hodge 44*, Haskett 2-39) lead Cricket Australia XI 174 (Ward 50, Hope 24, Roach 2-23, Shamar Joseph 2-28) by 214 runs West Indies showed they are determined to put up a fight during their Australia tour with a spirited effort on day two of their warm-up match in Adelaide. Having struggled with the bat first-up against a…
Australia allrounder Marcus Stoinis has signed to play in the SA20 for Durban’s Super Giants, the affiliate of his IPL club Lucknow. He is comfortable with being left out of Australia’s ODI squad to face West Indies after speaking regularly to the selectors for six months, but still hopes to be part of the T20 World Cup campaign. Stoinis had known for some time he would not be part of…