IPL 2016

Cheteshwar Pujara and M Vijay are among seven players to receive Grade A contracts © Associated Press Ravindra Jadeja, Cheteshwar Pujara and M Vijay have been included in the Grade-A category of annual contracts announced by the BCCI today. The trio joins Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, R Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane in the top category. The retainership for this grade of contract is now INR 2 crore (USD 300,000 approx),…

Peter Handscomb has made a stellar start to his Test career © Associated Press It’s been an eventful tour for Peter Handscomb. Setting aside his batting, which brought only modest returns in the first two Tests, Handscomb has been swept up in the whirl of controversy – both real and imagined – that has marked the series. He was there in the middle with Steven Smith in Bengaluru, suggesting his…

Quinton de Kock suffered the injury during the Wellington Test © AFP South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock has been taken for a scan on his right index finger, which he hurt during the Wellington Test. De Kock injured himself in the field and South Africa will wait for results of the scan before making any calls on his availability for the Hamilton Test. De Kock was not present at…

BJ Watling has been one of New Zealand’s counter-attacking keys in this series © Getty Images As New Zealand enter their final fixture of a summer that began nine months ago in August, wicketkeeper BJ Watling has cautioned against an over-reaction to their three-day defeat to South Africa in Wellington, but admitted the last match of the series could define this season. “It’s not a calamity. There’s a lot of…

Left-arm spinner Tom Andrews has been called up to South Australia’s squad for the Sheffield Shield final © Getty Images South Australia have added left-arm spinner Tom Andrews and fast bowler Kane Richardson to their squad for the Sheffield Shield final against Victoria in Alice Springs. The pitch at Traeger Park has traditionally taken spin, meaning Andrews is in with a chance of joining Adam Zampa in a spin bowling…

The Commitee of Administrators, headed by Vinod Rai, has submitted a second status report to the Supreme Court © AFP The Committee of Administrators (CoA) has sought the Supreme Court’s immediate interference to ensure both the fourth Test between India and Australia and the IPL are not disrupted by disgruntled state associations. In its second status report, submitted in the court last week, the CoA singled out the Himachal Pradesh…

South Africa are expecting Seddon Park’s worn pitch to aid their fast bowlers with the old ball © AFP One member of the South African touring party strode out to the Seddon Park square and lifted a blanket-like grey cover from the surface it was covering. He pulled a face as though he had just smelled something odd. As he walked back, he muttered, “That isn’t even prepared,” to another…

Peter Handscomb has made a stellar start to his Test career © Associated Press It’s been an eventful tour for Peter Handscomb. Setting aside his batting, which brought only modest returns in the first two Tests, Handscomb has been swept up in the whirl of controversy – both real and imagined – that has marked the series. He was there in the middle with Steven Smith in Bengaluru, suggesting his…