Alex Hales churned out the runs in the 50-over format and now has his eyes set on the same in T20 © Getty Images Whether Alex Hales remains England’s opener for all formats will not be decided until May when the next Test team is selected, but he has given himself every chance of a second crack after his prolific one-day series against South Africa. For now, though, the focus…
Balcombe calls it a day
Surrey seamer David Balcombe has retired from professional cricket in order to pursue a career away from the game. The 31-year-old, who also had a loan spell at Kent, took 196 wickets in 67 first-class matches during an 11-season career that also included 17 limited-overs appearances. A product of the Surrey Academy, he rejoined the Kia Oval outfit on a two-year deal from Hampshire in 2014 but did not make a first-team appearance. …
Allrounders could give SA some T20 bite
David Wiese will have an important role to play in the South Africa T20 side © Getty Images The South African squad have overcome being thrown to the wolves after they came back from 2-0 down in their ODI series against England to win 3-2, so now, they are diving with the sharks. The T20 squad are camping in Hermanus, the whale-watching town about 100 kilometres from Cape Town, in…
Balcombe retires to work for KP Foundation
David Balcombe enjoyed two productive seasons in 2011 and 2012 © PA Photos David Balcombe, the Surrey and former Hampshire pace bowler, has retired from professional cricket to take up a full-time role with the Kevin Pietersen Foundation. Balcombe, 31, joined Surrey from Hampshire in 2015 and although he did not make a first-team appearance during the season was preparing for the new summer before making his decision. “To play…
Can't perceive any potential conflict situation – Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly admitted he had a stake in the football franchise, Atletico de Kolkata, but denied any links to the owners of the Rising Pune Supergiants © AFP Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has denied conflict of interest with regard to his position on the IPL governing council. Ganguly was facing an allegation of a commercial tie-up with the RP Sanjiv Goenka group, which has a stake in the Atletico…
Ireland collapse in T20 defeat
Ireland suffered a major collapse as they succumbed to a five-run defeat in the second Twenty20 international against United Arab Emirates to draw the two-match series in Abu Dhabi. The tourists were coasting at 91 for one but they lost eight wickets for just 37 runs as they finished on 128 for nine. Warwickshire seamer Boyd Rankin, with 3-17, and Max Sorensen, who took 2-16, helped restrict UAE, who won the…
Brendon McCullum Blames Poor Batting, Not Umpire for Wellington Test Defeat
Adam Voges was bowled off a no-ball in the final over of the day but replays suggested that Doug Bracewell’s front foot was behind the crease. © AFP Wellington: New Zealand blamed their own poor batting and not a costly umpiring blunder for their heavy defeat in the first Test against Australia on Monday. But rival captains Brendon McCullum and Steve Smith agreed the method of ruling on no-balls needs…
Indian Premier League: Parvez Rasool And KL Rahul Move to Royal Challengers Bangalore From Sunrisers Hyderabad
Parvez Rasool, who will play for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier league, is one of the senior players in Jammu and Kashmir Ranji Trophy team. © BCCI New Delhi: Lokesh Rahul and all-rounder Parvez Rasool have joined Royal Challengers Bangalore from Sunrisers Hyderabad for the 2016 Indian Premier League (IPL). (Mahendra Singh Dhoni Says Indian Premier League Not a Yardstick to Select Players For Tests, ODIs) IPL Chairman…
Narine, Pollard and Darren Bravo withdraw
Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard and Darren Bravo have all withdrawn from West Indies’ World Twenty20 squad. The trio were named in the Windies’ initial 15-man party, announced on January 29, but have since opted to pull out. Narine, included despite being banned from bowling in international cricket, requires more time to work on his action, Pollard needs to focus on his rehab following an injury and Bravo wants to concentrate…
Ranji Trophy: Madhya Pradesh Have Mountain to Climb Against Mumbai
Abhishek Nayar scored an unbeaten 73 against Madhya Pradesh. © AFP Cuttack: Madhya Pradesh were left to chase a mammoth 571-run target after Mumbai’s Suryakumar Yadav and Aditya Tare completed their centuries on day four of the Ranji Trophy semifinal here on Tuesday. (Read more cricket stories here) Forty-time champions Mumbai Ranji Trophy are on the brink of entering another final after they reduced Madhya Pradesh to 99/2 at stumps,…