Munro, Ferguson keep Auckland title hopes alive

File photo: Colin Munro has made three hundreds in his last four first-class innings © Getty Images Colin Munro‘s rich form since being dropped from the New Zealand ODI squad continued as his third first-class hundred in as many games took Auckland to an eight-wicket victory over Otago in the Plunket Shield. After being put in to bat, Otago’s innings was a tale of several players getting starts with no…

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Pujara gets in the zone for 'important' Dharamsala Test

Play 01:57 Not worried about nature of pitches – Pujara On Thursday at the HPCA Stadium nets, Cheteshwar Pujara was batting like a man who had just made a double-hundred. He was stepping out frequently to R Ashwin, Jayant Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav, and driving down the ground with immense power – one straight drive broke the single stump at the bowlers’ end. On a couple of occasions, he even…

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Mehedi Hasan added to Bangladesh ODI squad

Mehedi Hasan was Bangladesh’s top wicket-taker in the Test series against Sri Lanka © AFP Nineteen-year-old offspinner Mehedi Hasan has been called into Bangladesh’s ODI squad for the three-match series against Sri Lanka that starts on March 25. This is the first senior call-up for Mehedi in the limited-overs format. His addition means the squad now comprises 17 members, and it remains to be seen if he gets picked in…

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Pune sign Tahir for injured Mitchell Marsh

Imran Tahir found no takers at the auction last month © BCCI South Africa’s Imran Tahir, the No. 1-ranked ODI and T20 bowler, is set to turn up for a second IPL franchise – the Rising Pune Supergiant – after being signed as a replacement for the injured Australian allrounder Mitchell Marsh. Marsh, who had to leave Australia’s tour of India midway because of a shoulder injury, underwent a reconstructive…

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Zimbabwe to tour Scotland in June

Zimbabwe are yet to face Scotland in an ODI © AFP After hosting Afghanistan for five ODIs in February, Zimbabwe have now plugged their gap in the international calendar by negotiating a tour of Scotland for two ODIs this summer. Before the Afghanistan ODIs, Zimbabwe were looking at a six-month hiatus. This will be the first bilateral series between Zimbabwe and Scotland. Their only meeting so far was at the…

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Shreyas Iyer called up as cover for Kohli

Shreyas Iyer struck a double century in the tour game against Australia last month © Prakash Parsekar Mumbai batsman Shreyas Iyer has been called up to Dharamsala as cover for Virat Kohli, who still hasn’t completely recovered from his shoulder injury. Iyer is expected to join the team on Friday, the eve of the match when greater clarity on Kohli’s fitness is expected. Besides a hundred for India A against…

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Rohit, Jadhav ruled out of Deodhar Trophy

Rohit Sharma has missed a large chunk of India’s domestic season due to a thigh injury that required surgery © Associated Press Rohit Sharma and Kedar Jadhav have been ruled out of the upcoming Deodhar Trophy due to injuries. Rohit suffered a minor knee injury and has been advised rest by the BCCI’s medical staff, while Jadhav is out due to a stomach ailment. Ruturaj Gaikwad, the Maharashtra opener, has…

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Gillespie bails out Kent as Donald awaits visa

Jason Gillespie’s return to England has been faster than expected © Getty Images Jason Gillespie will join the Kent coaching staff at the start of the season as cover for Allan Donald, the former South African fast bowler, who is still facing delays on his visa application to enter the United Kingdom because of the lack of the requisite coaching qualification. Kent’s chief executive Jamie Clifford bemoaned the “bureaucratic barriers”…

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Batsmen set focus on tightening techniques

Jeet Raval has defended resolutely against both pace and spin © AFP Forget the ramp shot, the reverse sweep or the really, really late cut, the simple forward defensive is the stroke batsmen should be practicing ahead of the Hamilton Test. That should seem obvious, shouldn’t it? This is the format for less flash, more focus, the format for a fight, yet so many batsmen seem to be losing it….

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Questions persist over Kohli's fitness

Virat Kohli didn’t train full tilt on Thursday, two days before the start of the series decider © PTI Virat Kohli, who injured his right shoulder during the third Test in Ranchi, may have yet not recovered fully ahead of the fourth Test in Dharamsala. Kohli hurt his shoulder while making a diving stop on the boundary on the first day in Ranchi. He spent the rest of Australia’s first…

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