Brendon McCullum hasn’t batted for New Zealand since the first ODI against Sri Lanka on Boxing Day © Getty Images Captain Brendon McCullum is on the verge of returning from the back issue that has sidelined him December after he was named to lead a 13-man New Zealand squad for the home ODI series against Australia beginning February 3 in Auckland. McCullum hasn’t played since the second ODI against Sri…
Buttler relishing Proteas test
Jos Buttler believes England face their toughest limited-overs challenge of the last 12 months in the upcoming one-day international series against South Africa. Since Eoin Morgan’s side overhauled their approach to white-ball cricket last spring, England have beaten World Cup runners-up New Zealand, been pipped in the decisive rubber by champions Australia and thrashed Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates. Buttler believes the Proteas will prove an equally tough nut…
England U19s on verge of quarter-final place
Essex team-mates Dan Lawrence and Callum Taylor hit half-centuries to set up England’s second consecutive win in the ICC Under-19s World Cup, by 61 runs against West Indies, which keeps them on course for the quarter-finals. Lawrence followed his record-breaking 174 in England’s opening win against Fiji with 55 off 56 balls, and Taylor continued the impressive form he showed in the warm-up games by top-scoring with 59 from 67…
Bishop eulogises England youngsters
Ian Bishop hailed England as one of the teams to watch in the ICC Under-19 World Cup after seeing them stay on course for the quarter-finals with a 61-run win over West Indies. Bishop, the former West Indies fast bowler who has become a respected media pundit, was especially impressed by the composure shown by England’s bowlers and fielders when they were defending a total of 282 for seven. “I…
Buttler sets out stall for IPL deal
Jos Buttler’s 46-ball hundred against Pakistan will have increased his prospects of an IPL deal © Getty Images Jos Buttler has set his sights on a stint in this year’s Indian Premier League after losing his place in the England Test team to Jonny Bairstow. After carrying the drinks throughout England’s 2-1 Test series win over South Africa, Buttler will return to centre stage this week as the ODI and…
Right place, right time for Hannon-Dalby
Oliver Hannon-Dalby hopes that his unexpected taste of touring with the England Lions will end in a series victory over Pakistan A in Dubai tomorrow. The Yorkshire-born Warwickshire seamer found himself in the right place at the right time, both personally and for the Lions, having signed up for a training programme at the ICC Global Cricket Academy this winter. The Lions quickly made plans to use him as an…
ICC to establish advisory groups for USA cricket development
ICC global development manager Tim Anderson (right) had told stakeholders earlier in the week that the four advisory groups were in the process of being formed during the month of February © Peter Della Penna The next steps in the ICC’s efforts to help chart a path forward for cricket in the USA are in the works, with the formation of four advisory groups to guide the implementation of the…
Dwayne Bravo joins Surrey for T20
Dwayne Bravo could be involved in West Indies’ World T20 side © AFP Surrey have signed West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo as one of their overseas players for the NatWest Blast. He will be available for six Blast matches in June. Bravo has just finished a spell with Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League and has plenty of T20 experience, regularly taking part in the IPL – where he…
Parnell out of South Africa A warm-up match
Hardus Viljoen is hoping to win a call up to South Africa’s ODI squad © Getty Images South Africa’s selectors will name additional bowlers for the ODI squad to take on England on Sunday, with Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander unavailable, but Wayne Parnell will not be in contention after an injury forced him out of Saturday’s tour match. While Philander was not in the original group as he continues…
West Indies pick Narine in World T20 squad
Sunil Narine was earlier picked for the 2015 World Cup squad before he withdrew citing the need to work on his action © AFP Offspinner Sunil Narine, who was suspended from bowling in international cricket due to an illegal action in November last year, has been named in West Indies’ squad for the upcoming World Twenty20, which will start from March 8 in India. The squad will be led by…