Australia all-rounder Shane Watson has announced he will end his international career following the ICC World Twenty20. The 34-year-old retired from Tests last year after Australia’s unsuccessful Ashes campaign in England but opted to continue playing in the limited-overs formats. While he has not featured in the one-day team since September 2015, the big-hitting batsman and seamer has been involved in both of Australia’s opening matches of the World T20….
England World T20 preview: Sri Lanka
The England team can ditch the calculators as the equation is a now simple one. With run-rates being crunched since the nervy win over Afghanistan, England’s path into the knock out stages was made a lot clearer on Good Friday when Darren Sammy’s West Indies edged past South Africa. If England win against Sri Lanka on Saturday then a place in the semi-final awaits. It sounds straightforward but England fans…
Cook, Compton and Winfield set for NatWest CricketForce
England stars Alastair Cook, Nick Compton and Lauren Winfield will be turning their hands to painting and decorating when this year’s NatWest CricketForce kicks off with a trio of showcase events next week. The England Test captain will be heading to Dymock Cricket Club, accompanied by former England captain Mike Gatting, to launch the annual volunteering initiative, which encourages clubs to rejuvenate their facilities ahead of the new cricket season. More…
Rampaul arrives at Surrey
Surrey have further bolstered their bowling attack ahead of the new county season with the signing of West Indian Ravi Rampaul on a two-year deal. The 31-year-old, who played 18 Tests, 92 one-day internationals and 23 Twenty20s for the Windies, follows young South African pacemen Conor McKerr and Mathew Pillans through the door at the Kia Oval in recent weeks. Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart said: “Ravi will add…
SA expect 'spinning deck' despite pitch change
Faf du Plessis says South Africa will be prepared for a significantly different surface in Nagpur © Getty Images Nagpur and pitches. It has always been a tetchy relationship and it grew a little more strained when, two days before it was set to host a World T20 match between South Africa and West Indies, the pitch for the game was switched. According to media reports, the move from the…
West Indies ponder over 'good headache' in batting order
Play 01:05 ‘Beating SA takes us one step closer to our goal’ – Sammy The forced absence of Chris Gayle from the batting crease against Sri Lanka – after he spent too much time off the field nursing a hamstring niggle to bat in his usual position – has given West Indies a batting-order puzzle to solve ahead of Friday’s clash against South Africa in Nagpur. Andre Fletcher, who had…
'Adaptable' Watson might not open, says Smith
Steven Smith called Shane Watson adaptable and said he has seen him bat well in a number of positions, indicating that Australia are open to the idea of changing their opening combination © Getty Images At around 3.15pm, with Australia’s pre-match press conference over, Shane Watson called his team-mates into a huddle. Not the kind they have with their arms around each other just before going out to field. A…
West Indies ponder 'good headache' in batting order
Play 01:05 ‘Beating SA takes us one step closer to our goal’ – Sammy The forced absence of Chris Gayle from the batting crease against Sri Lanka – after he spent too much time off the field nursing a hamstring niggle to bat in his usual position – has given West Indies a batting-order puzzle to solve ahead of Friday’s clash against South Africa in Nagpur. Andre Fletcher, who had…
Australia cruise to win after Lanning, Villani fifties
Australia Women 125 for 1 (Lanning 56*, Villani 53*) beat Sri Lanka Women 123 for 8 (Manodara 38, Atapattu 38, Schutt 2-25, Beams 2-25) by nine wicketsScorecard and ball-by-ball details File photo – Meg Lanning formed an unbeaten 98-run stand with Elyse Villani to take Australia home © Getty/ICC Meg Lanning and Elyse Villani feasted on a toothless Sri Lanka Women attack to convert a tricky chase of 124 into…
West Indies' chance to seal semi berth
Match facts Friday, March 25, 2016Start time 1930 local (1400 GMT) Play 02:07 Match Day – Drop Abbott or Rabada, play Phangiso Big Picture It has been talked up as the fixture that will decide Group 1, making the match-up between South Africa and West Indies perhaps the most intriguing of the group so far. West Indies hold the aces after two wins from their opening two matches. A third…