Wellington – Pioneering cricketer Martin Crowe, widely acknowledged as New Zealand’s greatest batsman who laid the foundations for Twenty20 cricket, was hailed a “hero” Thursday after he died of cancer aged 53. New Zealand’s greatest batsman Martin Crowe has died at the age of 53 after a long battle with lymphoma © AFP/File Michael Bradley Diagnosed in September 2014 with terminal double-hit lymphoma, a rare form of blood cancer, he…

Martin Crowe was one of the premier batsmen of his generation © ESPNcricinfo Ltd Martin Crowe, the former New Zealand captain, writer, broadcaster and mentor, has died in Auckland at the age of 53. Crowe had suffered from lymphoma since 2012, and withdrew from public life in his final months. “It is with heavy hearts that the family of Martin Crowe, MBE advise his death,” his family said in a…

With the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 on the horizon, England head to India seeking to become the first team to win two sprint-format titles. In the lead-up to the tournament, ecb.co.uk takes a look back at England’s 2010 triumph in the West Indies. Group D England v West Indies – lost by eight wickets (D/L) Following their successful tour of Bangladesh, England set down a marker ahead of the tournament,…

Andre Russell could face suspension © Getty Images West Indies allrounder Andre Russell has committed an “anti-doping whereabouts” violation, according to the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO), and could face a lengthy ban from cricket. Russell, who is part of the West Indies squad for the upcoming World T20, has reportedly missed three such tests in a 12-month period, which equates to a failed test under doping laws. “We received notification…

“I wanted him to hit the winning runs. In the dressing room he said that this meant a lot for him.” – Mashrafe Mortaza on Mahmudullah © Associated Press The 18th over had just begun with Bangladesh needing 26 runs to win. The captain Mashrafe Mortaza, wearing his pads, thigh-guard and gloves with the bat in hand, was pacing around the viewing area of the Shere Bangla National Stadium. The…

Central Broward Regional Park will play host to two CPL matches under floodlights © Peter Della Penna The first six Caribbean Premier League matches to be played on US soil will include two games under floodlights at the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida as well as two weekend doubleheaders to round out the league phase of the tournament, from July 28 to 31. The CPL organizers announced plans…

The BCCI has reservations on recommendations like ‘one state, one vote’, the age cap on office bearers and officials and a limit on the tenure of elected office-bearers © AFP The BCCI has expressed strong reservations against the exhaustive recommendations proposed by the Lodha committee and the Indian board will present its views before the Supreme Court during a hearing on Thursday. In a 55-page counter-affidavit submitted in the court…

Mohammad Asif made a return to competitive cricket after his suspension by playing the National One Day Cup in January © AFP Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Asif, who completed a five-year suspension for spot-fixing in September last year, will captain the Sialkot Region team in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy grade-2 tournament, which starts from Saturday in Bahawalpur. Asif’s contract with the grade-1 side, Water and Power Development Authority [WAPDA], is unaffected…

Will Pawan Negi be handed an international debut? © BCCI Match facts Thursday, March 3, 2015Start time 1930 (1330 GMT) Big picture This is the deadest of rubbers. India are through to the Asia Cup final. UAE have no chance of joining them. What’s more, the result of this match, no matter which way it turns out, won’t even matter to the other teams in their bid for the trophy…