John Hastings: ‘I’d love to be playing for the Melbourne Stars, but any chance you get to represent your country is the pinnacle’ © Getty Images Australia’s cricketers are adamant that international fixtures should retain primacy over the Big Bash League, despite a growing tide of questions about the availability of players for the knockout phase of the Twenty20 tournament in what has become its most successful season yet. John…
Hesson happy with how New Zealand's T20 XI is stacking up
Corey Anderson and Grant Elliott are among the ‘multi-skilled’ players New Zealand are leaning towards in T20 cricket © Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images New Zealand were mindful their recent T20 series wins against Pakistan and Sri Lanka may not mean much for their World T20 campaign in India, but were grateful for having found pieces of their T20 “puzzle”, coach Mike Hesson said. Four comprehensive victories in those five T20s have…
Rishi Dhawan replaces injured Bhuvneshwar in T20 squad
Bhuvneshwar Kumar fractured his left thumb during the fourth ODI in Canberra. © AFP A fractured left thumb has ruled Bhuvneshwar Kumar out of the T20 series against Australia. Rishi Dhawan, who is part of India’s ODI squad, will stay on in Australia as Bhuvneshwar’s replacement. Bhuvneshwar picked up the injury while trying to stop a David Warner straight drive off his own bowling during the fourth ODI in Canberra….
Chanderpaul retires from all cricket
Shivnarine Chanderpaul finishes his career as West Indies’ second-highest run-scorer in Tests, behind only Brian Lara © WICB Media After 22 years and 164 Test matches, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, one of West Indies’ finest batsmen, has retired. This means Chanderpaul remains the second-highest West Indian Test run-maker until now, 86 runs short of Brian Lara: Lara got 11,953 (11,912 for West Indies and the rest for the ICC World XI), while…
Munro, Watling return to ODI squad
BJ Watling last played an ODI in February 2013 © Getty Images Colin Munro has been named in New Zealand’s squad for the ODI series against Pakistan. Wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling also finds a place almost three years after he last played an ODI, putting Luke Ronchi’s place in contention. Injuries to three first-choice players have depleted the squad, however. Ross Taylor is the latest to be ruled out of the…
Chanderpaul retires from international cricket
After 22 years and 164 Test matches, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, one of West Indies’ finest batsman, has retired. This means Chanderpaul remains the second-highest West Indian Test run-maker until now, 86 runs short of Brian Lara: Lara got 11,953 (11,912 for West Indies and the rest for the ICC World XI), while Chanderpaul ends with 11,867 runs (all for West Indies). More to follow Nagraj Gollapudi is an assistant editor at…
Bumrah debuts, India send Australia in
Toss India chose to field v AustraliaLive scorecard and ball-by-ball details Play 03:44 Agarkar: Difficult for India to motivate themselves India’s captain MS Dhoni won the toss and chose to send Australia in to bat in the fifth and final ODI between the two sides at the SCG. The visitors left out Ajinkya Rahane after he split the webbing in his right hand during the fourth match of the series…
England battle back on intriguing opening day
England fought back strongly in the evening session after centuries from Hashim Amla and debutant Stephen Cook handed South Africa the early initiative on day one of the fourth and final Test at Centurion. Another stunning James Taylor catch at short-leg handed the tourists, who with a 2-0 lead already have the series in the bag, an early breakthrough after AB de Villiers won the toss and chose to make…
Root pleased with late fightback
[embedded content] Vice-captain Joe Root hailed England’s fighting spirit after they overcame an indifferent start to peg South Africa back in the final session on day one of the fourth and final Test against South Africa at Centurion. Debutant Stephen Cook and Hashim Amla made good on Proteas skipper AB de Villiers’ decision to make first use of a flat surface with impressive centuries. Cook and Amla, joined at the…
Broad replaces Plunkett in ODI squad
Stuart Broad will replace Liam Plunkett in the five match ODI series against South Africa starting early next month. Plunkett, who had been called into the squad earlier this week, has a thigh strain and will now remain with England Lions in UAE for the remainder of their series against Pakistan A. Plunkett remains in the England T20 squad for the two match series against South Africa provided he recovers…