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…
Pune sign Tahir for injured Mitchell Marsh
Imran Tahir found no takers at the auction last month © BCCI Imran Tahir 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 surgery last week and faces the prospect of being…
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…
Injured Southee ruled out of Hamilton Test
Play 01:15 Moonda: Depleted New Zealand left with plenty of problems New Zealand have suffered a third major injury blow in three Tests with news that vice-captain Tim Southee has been ruled out of the Hamilton match with a hamstring tear. Although only a grade one tear, Southee will not be risked in an attack that is still waiting on confirmation of whether Trent Boult, who sat out the Wellington…
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…
Hazlewood expects result pitch for decider
Josh Hazlewood has said the Australian team have recovered from spending 210 overs in the field in Ranchi © AFP Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood expected a result-oriented pitch for the series-deciding fourth Test against India in Dharamsala, though not necessarily the juicy kind that helped Adam Gilchrist’s team clinch the most recent Australian victory in India, 13 years ago. Dharamsala is the home ground of the deposed former BCCI…
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…
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….
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”…
CoA wants to work with BCCI state associations
Play 05:50 Ugra: Balance sheet shows no shortage of funds in states The BCCI’s Committee of Administrators will strive to consult with and persuade – and not confront – state associations into compliance of the Lodha Committee recommendations. The Supreme Court had ordered several changes to the functioning of the Indian board in July last year but none of them have been made yet. Staunch opposition from the state associations…