SL bowl in first T20I, Anderson back as batsman

Toss Sri Lanka chose to bowl v New ZealandLive scorecard and ball-by-ball details Play 01:03 Sri Lanka seek revenge in T20s Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal won the toss and chose to bowl first on a dry Mount Maunganui track, simply citing a preference to chase. He expected the pitch to take turn, but did not think it would change in character over the 40 overs. Kane Williamson said he…

January 7, 2016
Read More >>

Former Warwickshire player Tom Allin dies at 28

January 7, 2016

Tom Allin played one first-class game for Warwickshire in 2013 © Getty Images Tom Allin, the former Warwickshire fast bowler, has died at the age of 28. Allin played one first-class game for Warwickshire in 2013 and a one-day game in 2011, and also played for Devon and Cardiff MCCU. “Everyone at Edgbaston is immensely saddened by the news that former Warwickshire fast bowler Tom Allin has died,” Warwickshire said…

Read More >>

England survive final-day scare

January 6, 2016

England will head to Johannesburg later this week with their 1-0 series lead intact after surviving a scare on the final day in Cape Town. South Africa had threatened to pull of an unlikely win, when England slipped to 116 for six shortly after lunch, but Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali calmed a growing sense of crisis. The middle-order pair dug in for over an hour leading up to tea…

Read More >>

Cook lauds Bairstow and Stokes heroics

Skipper Alastair Cook was keen to focus on the achievements of Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow after England endured a nervy final day in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town. Man-of-the-match Stokes smashed the fastest Test double-century by an England batsman, off 163 deliveries, during a world-record sixth-wicket stand of 399 with Bairstow, who completed an emotional maiden international ton. Although the tourists struggled to capitalise on…

January 6, 2016
Read More >>

Cook lauds Bairstow and Stokes

Skipper Alastair Cook was keen to focus on the achievements of Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow after England endured a nervy final day in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town. Man-of-the-match Stokes smashed the fastest Test double-century by an England batsman, off 163 deliveries, during a world-record sixth-wicket stand of 399 with Bairstow, who completed an emotional maiden international ton. Although the tourists struggled to capitalise on…

January 6, 2016
Read More >>

From crushed to content, Amla unburdens himself

Play 02:15 Amla resigns South Africa captaincy The Hashim Amla who called his men in from the middle with half-an-hour’s play left on the fourth day was neither the same Amla who addressed the media four days before, nor the same Amla who spoke to them 24 hours later at the conclusion of the match. The first Amla was crushed after his team sank to a fourth defeat in six…

January 6, 2016
Read More >>

Cook rues misses which led to nervous final day

January 6, 2016

Alastair Cook’s lean start to the series continued when he was caught down the leg side © Getty Images Alastair Cook admitted that missed chances cost England dear in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town. England missed, depending on what you think constitutes a chance, between five and 10 opportunities during South Africa’s first innings total of 627 for 7 declared. On a flat wicket and against…

Read More >>

Hobden died celebrating New Year, says family

January 6, 2016

Matthew Hobden was highly regarded and tipped to push for England honours © Getty Images The family of Matthew Hobden, the Sussex pace bowler, have said he died while celebrating New Year with friends in Scotland. His body was discovered by Police Scotland on Saturday at a property in Forres near Inverness. An investigation into his death is continuing but the police have said there are not thought to be…

Read More >>

Naib heroics lift Afghanistan to thrilling series win

January 6, 2016

Afghanistan 254 for 8 (Naib 82, Shahidi 31, Jongwe 3-50) beat Zimbabwe 248 (Masakadza 110, Moor 42, Hamza 3-41)Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details Hamilton Masakadza’s 111-ball 100 went in vain © Chris Whiteoak Gulbadin Naib played the most important innings of his life to hand Afghanistan a sensational comeback win that not only lifted them to their second 3-2 series win against Zimbabwe, but also ensured Afghanistan broke into the…

Read More >>

Steyn '50-50' for Johannesburg, Philander out of series

January 6, 2016

Dale Steyn needs further assessment before his availability for the third Test is confirmed © AFP Vernon Philander has been ruled out of the Test series against England due to the ankle injury he sustained in India while Dale Steyn is only rated 50-50 for the third Test in Johannesburg but Kyle Abbott has recovered from his hamstring strain. Steyn suffered a shoulder injury in Durban which ruled him out…

Read More >>