Shami's stiff leg a factor in lopsided squad

Mohammed Shami suffered a leg niggle, which was attributed to cramps, in Rajkot © AFP The score might be 2-0 in India’s favour, but the hosts got there despite significant fitness issues in the lead-up to the third Test in Mohali. Apart from late injuries to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha and opener KL Rahul, India also had to deal with the possibility of fast bowler Mohammed Shami missing the match. Shami…

Read More >>

Pat Cummins, Test cricketer?

Play 02:32 ‘I feel I have not lost any pace’ – Cummins It’s the first week of December and Christmas trees are being put up in houses all over Australia. Excited kids are waiting for the morning of the 25th. Some won’t have the patience. They’ll go hunting for presents hidden in wardrobes, or lift the sticky-tape on a piece of wrapping paper, take a peek at what’s inside. And…

Read More >>

Azharuddeen takes Kerala to first win of the season

File photo – Smit Patel’s 54 in the second innings wasn’t enough for Tripura © PTI Kerala registered their first outright win of the season as they chased down 183 against Tripura in the first session of the final day in Cuttack. Kerala’s opening pair of Bhavin Thakkar and Mohammed Azharuddeen extended their overnight stand of 117 to 151, before Azharuddeen was dismissed for 99, one short of his maiden…

Read More >>

Jharkhand top table with five-wicket win

File photo – Rahul Shukla took three wickets on the fourth morning © PTI Seamers Rahul Shukla and Ashish Kumar combined to knock Assam over for 299 on the fourth morning before Jharkhand chased down the target of 110 with five wickets in hand. The win pushed Jharkhand to first place on the Group B points table. Resuming on 269 for 5, Assam lost Arun Karthik in the second over…

Read More >>

UP, MP complete comprehensive wins

File photo – Suresh Raina scored 91 in both innings as he led UP to their first outright win of the season © Associated Press Uttar Pradesh bowled Railways out for 155 in Rajkot to complete a comprehensive 221-run win that lifted them out of bottom place in Group A. Railways were dented late on the third day, having been reduced to 35 for 5 after being set 377 to…

Read More >>

Azharuddeen takes Kerala to first outright win of the season

File photo – Smit Patel’s 54 in the second innings wasn’t enough for Tripura © PTI Kerala registered their first outright win of the season as they chased down 183 against Tripura in the first session of the final day in Cuttack. Kerala’s opening pair of Bhavin Thakkar and Mohammed Azharuddeen extended their overnight stand of 117 to 151, before Azharuddeen was dismissed for 99, one short of his maiden…

Read More >>

Maxwell was never in contention for Adelaide Test, says Lehmann

Glenn Maxwell’s “me me me” attitude has drawn the ire of his Victoria peers © Getty Images Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann has said Glenn Maxwell was never in contention for the Adelaide Test against South Africa because he had not made enough big scores in recent seasons. On Thursday, Maxwell expressed his disappointment that he had been overlooked for the Adelaide Test, and also that he had been stuck batting…

Read More >>

Root calls on Hameed to keep improving

Play 03:08 Compton: Root should be a permanent No. 4 for England Haseeb Hameed has been urged not to rest on his laurels following the impressive start to his Test career. While praising Hameed’s “remarkable” second-innings half-century in Mohali, Joe Root also encouraged his young colleague to respond to his early success by working ever harder. Having received widespread acclaim at the end of the Mohali Test – not least…

Read More >>

Root gives Cook full backing to continue as captain

Alastair Cook and Joe Root head to the nets in Mumbai © AFP Joe Root says that he hopes that Alastair Cook will continue as England’s captain for “years to come”, in spite of growing speculation that Cook may be tempted to return to the ranks at the end of the current tour of India. Despite a century and two half-centuries in his last four Tests, Cook has looked oddly…

Read More >>