Marylebone Cricket Club have added England international Samit Patel to their XI for the Champion County clash against Yorkshire in Abu Dhabi next month. The Nottinghamshire off-spinning all-rounder, who has made 60 appearances for his country, has replaced Scott Borthwick on the trip after the Durham man opted to prolong his stay playing for Wellington Cricket Club in New Zealand. Patel is one of five players included in the squad…
Asia Cup: I Can't Hit Big Sixes, Says Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli is a prolific boundary hitter and a treat to watch when in full flow. © AFP Mirpur: He is among the most dreaded batsmen in international cricket right now but Indian swashbuckler Virat Kohli says he has made peace with one short coming in his game, that he can’t strike big sixes. (Kohli Says Asia Cup Gives India Chance to Assess Strengths and Weaknesses) Kohli has hit only…
Kane Williamson Joins Elite Club, Shatters Records in Christchurch Test
Kane Williamson became the fastest New Zealand batsman to go past 4000 runs in Tests, beating Martin Crowe’s record. © AFP Kane Williamson enhanced his reputation as the best batsman in the world currently by breaking records on the fourth day of the second Test against Australia in Christchurch. Williamson, who has enjoyed a remarkable run of form in the past couple of years, once again played a gritty knock…
New Zealand's Tom Latham Joins Kent For 2016 English Season
Tom Latham due to join the Kent squad before the first-class County Championship season starts on April 10. © AFP London: New Zealand batsman Tom Latham is to play for Kent in all formats during the upcoming English domestic season, the county club announced Tuesday. (Click here for latest Cricket stories) The 23-year-old left-hander has scored three Test hundreds and can also keep wicket. “I’m delighted to have joined Kent…
Durham continue association with Emirates
Durham’s ground will now be known as the Emirates Riverside after the club agreed a new seven-year contract with the Airline. The new deal will see Emirates sponsor the north-east county until the end of the 2022 season. Durham chief executive David Harker said: “We have enjoyed a fantastic partnership with Emirates over the past six years and are thrilled to be able to extend that to 2022. “Emirates is…
Bird's five-for edges Australia closer to series win
Australia require 131 runs on the final day in Christchurch to clinch a 2-0 series win over New Zealand and move to number one in the International Cricket Council Test rankings. David Warner was the sole batsman to depart as he was caught down leg side on 22 off Neil Wagner before Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja finshed on 27 and 19 respectively to help Australia close out day four on…
Bowlers, Ellis set up easy Canterbury win
File photo – Andrew Ellis smashed 143 in 170 balls © Getty Images Andrew Ellis smacked a fast-paced 143 in Canterbury‘s first innings to shape his side’s eight-wicket win over Northern Districts in Hamilton. Ellis also chipped in with the ball, taking five wickets in the match, including 3 for 43 in the second innings. Ellis’ 170-ball knock, which included 13 fours and eight sixes, reinforced Canterbury’s advantage after they…
Young trio land Warkwickshire academy deals
Warwickshire have handed Mark Adair, Sunny Singh and Ed Pollock academy development contracts for the 2016 campaign. All-rounder Adair made his first-class debut in the final County Championship Division One fixture of last term, against Somerset at Taunton. Left-arm spinner Singh, also 19, has been a regular in the club’s second XI for the past two seasons while 20-year-old Pollock, a middle-order batsman, has played first-class cricket for Durham MCCU…
Bird pleased to make impression after nervous return
Jackson Bird: ‘I was a little bit nervous on day one [in Wellington]. I don’t usually get nervous for cricket so that was something different’ © Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images Jackson Bird completed the first five-wicket haul of his Test career on the fourth day at Hagley Oval, but he thought the opportunity might never come. Before this series, Bird had last played Test cricket on the 2013 Ashes tour of…
Asia Cup: Mahendra Singh Dhoni Skips Practice as India Fret Over His Fitness
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s availability for the Asia Cup opener at Mirpur is not clear and a final call on his fitness will be taken before toss. © AFP Fatullah: Uncertain for Wednesday’s Asia Cup opener against Bangladesh, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni skipped the entire training session of the Indian cricket team here even though he accompanied the side to the ground. Nursing back spasms, Dhoni’s availability for the match at…