Skipper Lasith Malinga and vice-captain Angelo Mathews have been named in Sri Lanka’s World Twenty20 squad after overcoming injury. Malinga, who has not played since last November against West Indies, captained Sri Lanka to their first World T20 title in 2014. The defending champions also welcome back Nuwan Kulasekara and Rangana Herath, both having missed their recent three-match T20 series defeat against India. Right-arm seamer Kasun Rajitha, who starred against India, misses…
Danish Kaneria Lashes Out at Pakistan Cricket Board, England After Mervyn Westfield is Cleared to Play
Danish Kaneria has played 68 Tests and 18 ODIs. © AFP Karachi: Pakistan’s banned leg spinner Danish Kaneria has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after it was announced on Thursday that fast bowler Mervyn Westfield has been allowed to play lower-level cricket with one year of his spot-fixing ban remaining. (Cash-Strapped Danish Kaneria Seeks BCCI Help To Get Ban Lifted) “If anything,…
South Africa, England Aim To Put On Good Show In Twenty20 Series Ahead of World Cup
South Africa will be riding high on momentum after their come-from-behind victory in the ODI series against England which they won 3-2. © AFP England’s lengthy tour of South Africa winds up with two Twenty20 internationals which are effectively a rehearsal ahead of their clash in the World Twenty20 in India in March. (Neil McKenzie Appointed South Africa’s Batting Coach) It will be the last chance for England to settle…
Peter Siddle Ruled Out of Christchurch Test Against New Zealand
Peter Siddle bowled only eight overs in the second innings of the Wellington Test due to a back injury and his place is expected to be taken by James Pattinson. © AP Australia fast bowler Peter Siddle has been ruled out of the second Test against New Zealand with a back injury. (Doug Bracewell Ruled Out of Second Test) Team physiotherapist David Beakley said Siddle “experienced some discomfort in his…
Westfield cleared to play Second XI and Minor Counties cricket
The Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) today announced that the former Essex cricketer Mervyn Westfield will be allowed to play Minor Counties and First Class Second XI cricket from the start of this season. The decision follows an appeal by the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) on behalf of Westfield who is currently serving a five year ban from all First Class cricket for breaching the ECB’s Anti-Corruption Directives while playing for Essex…
Malinga, Mathews back for World T20
Twenty20 captain Lasith Malinga and vice-captain Angelo Mathews are back from injury for Sri Lanka, for the Asia Cup and the World T20 that follows. Both were included in the 15-man squad Sri Lanka Cricket named for both tournaments. Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and seamer Nuwan Kulasekara were also back, but 22-year-old quick Kasun Rajitha who had destroyed India in the first T20 of the recent series missed out. Squad:…
One-Test wonder Andy Ganteaume dies aged 95
Andy Ganteaume, the former West Indies and Trinidad & Tobago wicketkeeper batsman, has died at the age of 95. He passed away on Wednesday in Santa Margarita, St Augustine, T&T. Ganteaume scored 112 on Test debut against England in 1948, but never played for West Indies again. He had added 173 for the first wicket with George Carew, who had hit a century of his own, in that drawn match…
Ready-to-go Pattinson buoyed by Christchurch pitch
James Pattinson: “I got through a fair bit, I think I bowled close to 35 overs last week in the nets, which is a substantial amount in the nets.” © AFP James Pattinson is licking his lips at the prospect of returning to Australia’s Test team on a pitch that should offer him – and his sore shins – some assistance. Pattinson appears almost certain to replace the injured Peter…
Test-match intensity a 'step up' – Henry Nicholls
Henry Nicholls showcased his potential as a Test batsman during his 59 on debut in Wellington © Getty Images The day after Australia won the first Test in Wellington, New Zealand coach Mike Hesson was asked to nominate the positives he would take from the defeat. Trent Boult’s improving consistency was one, in Hesson’s reckoning, but the other was the impressive debut of Henry Nicholls. New Zealand might have lost…
Farrant in England women World T20 squad
The ECB has today announced England’s 15-player squad for the ICC Women’s World Twenty20, which will be played alongside the men’s competition in India next month. Charlotte Edwards will captain the side, which includes her Kent team-mate Natasha Farrant, who has been called-up for an ICC world event for the first time. Farrant, a young left-arm seamer, arrived in Johannesburg on Sunday (14th February) to join the England women’s squad…