Bangladesh confront form, selection calls for landmark Test

Match facts March 15-19, 2017Start time: 10am local (0430GMT) Play 03:28 Fernando: P Sara Oval the most result-oriented venue in the world Big picture The bigshots of the Bangladesh Cricket Board are arriving to much fanfare, soaring rhetoric about South Asian “brotherhood” abounds. Mementos are being polished, showmen are practicing their lines for the presentation: the celebrations for Bangladesh’s 100th Test are all set to go, but after the politically-minded…

Read More >>

Pattinson asked to be excluded from India tour

James Pattinson has had a long history with injuries, especially to his back © Getty Images Fast bowler James Pattinson has revealed he asked Australia’s selectors not to consider him for an international return against India after a string of injuries that have left him wary of rushing his latest comeback. Pattinson, 26, has broken down while playing for Australia no fewer than four times since his debut in 2011,…

Read More >>

Stoinis relies on confidence, not form, for India tour

If Marcus Stoinis makes his debut in Ranchi, he will be Australia’s fifth No. 6 since the start of the summer © Getty Images Mitchell Marsh, Callum Ferguson, Nic Maddinson, Hilton Cartwright, Mitchell Marsh … Marcus Stoinis? The man who may become the latest in a string of Test No. 6s for Australia since the start of the summer has arrived in India, and is confident that he will be…

Read More >>

Former Indian, SL, WI first-class players in USA selection camp

The USA team that won the Division Four title in November © Peter Della Penna Former Hyderabad wicketkeeper Ibrahim Khaleel is one of three former first-class players to be invited to a USA selection camp from March 16 to 19 in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the camp is to pick a 14-man squad to tour Uganda in May for WCL Division Three matches. Khaleel, 34, last represented Hyderabad in…

Read More >>

Derbyshire sign SA allrounder Smit

Daryn Smit spent 14 seasons with Dolphins © BCCI Daryn Smit, the former Dolphins allrounder, has signed for Derbyshire on a two-year contract. Smit, 33, had decided to leave Dolphins at the end of the 2016-17 season in order to relocate to the UK and has previously played for Derbyshire 2nd XI and Lancashire club side Ramsbottom. A batsman capable of keeping wicket and bowling legspin, Smit played in Durban…

Read More >>

Cummins declares readiness for second debut

Pat Cummins hits his delivery stride on his return to the Sheffield Shield after nearly six years © Getty Images Pat Cummins has declared his readiness to be unleashed for what he feels will be a second beginning to his Test career, should he play for Australia in the pivotal third Border-Gavaskar bout in Ranchi, more than five years after his memorable debut against South Africa in Johannesburg. Though Cummins…

Read More >>

We have the winning mentality at home – Herath

Contrary to the displays in recent matches, Rangana Herath believes the P Sara Oval pitch will have something more for the batsmen © AFP Sri Lanka’s most recent Test outing may have been the chastening 0-3 result in South Africa, but, where home Tests are concerned, there is a great deal of belief, acting captain Rangana Herath said. There has always been a disparity between Sri Lanka’s home form and…

Read More >>

'Jaded seamers an area of concern' – Walsh

Mushfiqur Rahim said Bangladesh didn’t play to even half their ability in Galle © AFP Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim has said they have to play to their potential, after they weren’t even at “half their ability” in Galle, in order to get a result in the Colombo Test. The visitors were crushed by 259 runs, with their bowlers lacking enough penetration while their batsmen were unable to bat out crucial…

Read More >>

Irfan provisionally suspended from cricket

Mohammad Irfan has 14 days to respond to the charge laid against him by the Pakistan Cricket Board © AFP The PCB has provisionally suspended Mohammad Irfan from all forms of the game for allegedly failing to report an approach. The 34-year-old fast bowler was sanctioned on Monday as the board’s investigation into alleged corruption in the Pakistan Super League gathered steam. ESPNcricinfo understands that Irfan broke the PCB’s anti-corruption…

Read More >>

Injured Mitchell Marsh almost certainly out of IPL

Play 00:41 Quick Facts: Mitchell Marsh Mitchell Marsh, the Australia allrounder, faced a lengthy lay-off from cricket after undergoing shoulder surgery on Monday. His rehabilitation period has not been finalised yet, although it was highly likely that he would be ruled out of the IPL starting April 5, when he was supposed to play for Rising Pune Supergiant. Marsh, who was until last week part of Australia’s Test squad in…

Read More >>