Hashim Amla’s career-best T20 international score could not prevent South Africa from losing their three-match series with Australia 2-1 ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 in India. The opening batsman, in the side for the rested AB de Villiers, staked a claim by thrashing eight fours and four sixes, carrying his bat for an unbeaten 97 from just 62 balls in Cape Town. Amla shared an opening stand of 47…
McCullum created a lot of leaders in the group – Williamson
Kane Williamson on Brendon McCullum’s influence: “He has built a lot of leaders within the team. The change in leadership is a very small thing in the team.” © Getty Images New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said that the side’s aggressive style of cricket, cultivated under the leadership of Brendon McCullum, had been effective but they would have to adapt that to suit the conditions for the World T20 in…
Big names revel in lesser roles for India success
Play 01:06 Harbhajan targeting hat-trick of World Cups India finally find themselves in the possession of a luxury they have craved for some time now – a settled combination topped up by a bunch of all-rounders. The presence of like-for-like replacements in the squad is exactly what captain MS Dhoni desires as India head into the World T20. But the inevitable upshot of such squad dynamics is that a few…
Upbeat Sammy motivated by West Indies U-19 success
Play 03:52 ‘Indian conditions no stranger to us’ – Sammy “The message is cricket.” “Kaun Banega [who will become] champion.” “In it to win it.” There is no shortage of catchy one-liners in Darren Sammy‘s press conference. Or animation for that matter. Four of his team-mates – Jason Holder, Denesh Ramdin, Samuel Badree and Carlos Braithwaite – who turn up after Sammy are relatively coy to begin with but eventually…
Domestic evolution makes for clearer summer
The 2017 cricketing summer was always set to be a busy and significant one, with England and Wales staging the ICC Champions Trophy in June, followed by the ICC Women’s World Cup. Now we know that it will also herald a new look for county cricket, after Monday’s confirmation of changes to the structure, format and timing of all three domestic competitions next year. The theme is one of evolution…
Phangiso set for World T20 after action cleared
Aaron Phangiso is set to resume his international career © AFP Aaron Phangiso, the South Africa left-arm spinner, has had his action cleared and is now set to take part in the World T20 but will not be rushed back into action for the deciding T20 against Australia in Cape Town on Wednesday. He had been reported for a suspect action following Lions’ win against Warriors in the semi-final of…
Phangiso cleared but won't play final T20
Match facts Wednesday, March 8, 2016Start time 1800 local (1600GMT) Play 01:47 ‘My goal to have a century in each format’ – De Kock Big picture For the second time this summer, a limited-overs series enters the final match with the sides locked all-square. This one will cap off a blockbuster season of international cricket that has captured the imagination of the country’s cricket-lovers. Australia’s visit follows England’s and while…
A hard slog for the Associates, again
Peter Borren: ‘I feel for those of us who have already gone through a qualifying round, which was pretty difficult’ © ICC/Sportsfile Visitors to India are amazed at how many reruns of old cricket matches Indian TV can show. Yet this one couldn’t have been planned. When Netherlands captain Peter Borren walked in for his pre-tournament press conference, the TV in the press room was playing the highlights of their…
Zimbabwe, Afghanistan register opening wins
Nagpur (India) – Zimbabwe and Afghanistan got off to winning starts on the opening day of the World Twenty20 after respectively overcoming a scandal-hit Hong Kong and a spirited Scotland in Nagpur Tuesday. Zimbabwe’s Vusi Sibanda acknowledges the crowd afer scoring a half-century during the opening match of the T20 World Cup against Hong Kong in the central Indian city of Nagpur on March 8, 2016 (AFP Photo/) Vusi Sibanda…
Pakistan wants India match shifted out of Dharamsala
Members of a Pakistan security delegation inspected the preparations in Dharamsala on Monday © AFP Pakistan have asked the ICC for a change of venue of their World T20 match against India, scheduled to be held in Dharamsala on March 19, after receiving a report from its three-man delegation that ‘security is not assured’ at the venue. ESPNcricinfo has learned that the report was handed over to the board and…