Steven Smith prepares to slog with Jonny Bairstow looking on © Associated Press Steve Smith remains an injury doubt for the second ODI against England after sustaining a blow to the head in training. Smith, the world’s No. 1-ranked batsman in Test cricket, was ruled out of the first ODI at Emirates Old Trafford on Friday after he was hit in the nets on Thursday. He is understood to have…
Former Sri Lanka seamer Tony Opatha dies aged 73
1:43 PM GMT ESPNcricinfo staff Former Sri Lanka seamer Tony Opatha has died from a stroke on Friday morning, at the age of 73. Opatha had played five ODIs, across the 1975 and 1979 World Cups, and was known as a domestic stalwart through the 1970s, playing for the Air Force – of which he was a serviceman – and the Nondescripts Cricket Club. He also played a year of…
David Hussey: Kuldeep Yadav is "at the top of his game"
1:38 PM GMT ESPNcricinfo staff Kuldeep Yadav is at the “top of his game” this season, according to the Kolkata Knight Riders team mentor David Hussey. Statistically, IPL 2019 was the left-arm wristspinner’s worst IPL season, where he picked just four wickets in nine games at an economy of 8.66. This led to him getting dropped by the Knight Riders for the business end of the competition. At the time,…
BCCI's AGM postponed indefinitely due to the pandemic
1:17 PM GMT The BCCI has indefinitely postponed its Annual General Meeting, supposed to be held by September 30, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, as the meeting cannot be held online. BCCI secretary Jay Shah wrote to the state units about the postponement. The Indian board is registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975, and is required to hold an AGM before September 30 each year. “Owing to…
Chris Gayle, Shahid Afridi, Shakib Al Hasan, Munaf Patel among international players in LPL auction
1:16 PM GMT ESPNcricinfo staff Chris Gayle, Daren Sammy, Darren Bravo, Shahid Afridi, Shakib Al Hasan, Ravi Bopara, Colin Munro, Vernon Philander and Munaf Patel are some of the international players to go under the hammer for the Lanka Premier League auction, which will be held on October 1. In all, the five franchises will have a choice of around 150 players to bid for. Each franchise can buy up…
Shubman Gill on leadership role at KKR: Want to be 'voice of the people who have just come in'
What kind of coach is Brendon McCullum? (1:33) Knight Riders CEO Venky Mysore says the former NZ captain has a steady hand and an aggressive outlook (1:33) 12:39 PM GMT Sreshth Shah At Kolkata Knight Riders, it seems age has little to do with being a leader. That idea was reinforced by head coach Brendon McCullum, when he revealed last month that Shubman Gill – who, having closed 21 just…
SASCOC to appoint task team to investigate CSA imminently
5:31 PM IST The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) hopes to appoint a task team to investigate Cricket South Africa’s administrative and financial affairs in the next two days but is preparing to do so without input from CSA’s Members Council. The SASCOC had hoped to meet with the Members Council – the body made up of the 14 provincial presidents that is the highest decision-making authority…
England choose to bowl, Steven Smith missing for Australia due to blow to head
Marcus Stoinis has returned to the set-up for the first time since last year’s World Cup 5:22 PM IST England won the toss and chose to bowl v Australia Australia were without Steven Smith at the start of their World Cup Super League campaign after he was left out of the first ODI in Manchester as a “precaution” due to a blow on the head suffered in training on Thursday….
Deepak Chahar gets BCCI clearance to start training from Friday
Will Deepak Chahar be available for Super Kings’ IPL opener against Mumbai Indians? 4:41 PM IST Chennai Super Kings pacer Deepak Chahar will start training from Friday, having got the necessary BCCI clearance following his recovery from Covid-19. Chahar, who was back at the team’s bio-bubble on Wednesday after returning two negative tests, had to undergo a cardio-vascular test as per BCCI protocol before he could hit the nets. “He…
ICC likely to approach CSA for clarification regarding Olympic Committee's interference
CSA have been embroiled in a governance crisis since December last year © Getty Images The ICC is likely to approach CSA for clarification over the board and executive being instructed to step aside by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) on Thursday. That’s according to David Becker, former head of legal for the ICC, who was involved in the drafting of the regulation on outside interference…