Nick Compton is hoping both himself and England can finish their Test series against South Africa with a flourish. The number-three batsman has contributed 220 runs at an average of 36.66 in three Tests on his return to the England side following more than two-and-a-half years away from international cricket. Despite the tourists having already won the series heading into the match at Centurion, following convincing victories in Durban and…
England's Test prospects for 2016
England’s impressive Test series victory against South Africa will move them above New Zealand to fifth in the ICC Test rankings, regardless of the outcome of the fourth and final match at Centurion. Just how far Alastair Cook’s emerging side can go remains to be seen, but beating the top-ranked Proteas on their own patch, allied with last summer’s Ashes triumph and a feelgood factor around the team, means further…
Mixed feelings for Craig Overton
Craig Overton relished his return to the England Lions on the day his bad luck with injuries spread to his twin brother Jamie. Craig had been ruled out of the five-match Twenty20 series against Pakistan A before Christmas with an elbow injury, and was also forced home from the Lions tour of South Africa in early 2015 with calf and ankle problems. So he had some mixed feelings as his…
Vince leads by example in Lions win
James Vince led from the front as England Lions bounced back from a double injury blow to claim a comfortable win in the first game of their one-day series against Pakistan A in Dubai. The Lions were without two members of their pace attack after Jamie Overton was ruled out for the whole series with a foot injury, and Liam Plunkett was also unavailable for the opener because of a…
Madras High Court dismisses plea challenging CSK suspension
A plea from Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd that the Lodha committee suspended Chennai Super Kings on unfair grounds was dismissed by the Madras High Court © BCCI The Madras High Court dismissed a petition from Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd challenging the Lodha Committee order to suspend IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings for two years. The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice PS Sivagnanam, who…
Waller brings cheer back to ZImbabwe
Malcolm Waller 23-ball 49 buoyed Zimbabwe to 187 for 5 in the death overs © AFP Bangladesh struck more fours, but Zimbabwe were way ahead in the sixes tally in the third T20I in Khulna. The home side were not able to get any boundaries for 36 balls since the start of the 11th over. They had eight wickets in hand at the time, and needed to go after the…
Raina and spinners hand UP maiden T20 title
Uttar Pradesh 163 for 7 (Prashant 49, Raina 47, Bhargav 2-12) beat Baroda 125 for 7 (Rajpoot 3-30, Kuldeep 2-12) by 38 runsScorecard and ball-by-ball details File photo: Kuldeep Yadav and his variations were too much for Baroda © ICC Uttar Pradesh brushed Baroda aside to win their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy by 38 runs. Defending a par score of 163, UP snatched control and never lost it in…
'I have many overs left' – Steyn
Dale Steyn insisted he has plenty of miles left in his legs © Getty Images Dale Steyn has said that the notion he is coming towards the end of his international career due to his recent run of injuries is “absolutely ridiculous” and added he is desperate to help lead the recovery of South Africa’s fortunes. With Steyn being ruled out of the final Test against England in Centurion, due…
Torrid Footitt presses for a Test debut
Mark Footitt must wonder how many chances he will have for a Test debut © Getty Images Had a stranger wandered into England’s net session in Centurion on Wednesday, they could have been forgiven for concluding that Mark Footitt was the outstanding bowler in the squad. Footitt, bowling with pace and skill, made life torrid for all the batsmen. Jonny Bairstow, arguably England’s man of the series, was twice drawn…
SA coaches deserve 'a lot more respect' – Elgar
South Africa’s coach Russell Domingo is under pressure after a string of poor results © Gallo Images Dean Elgar has provided a forceful defence of South Africa’s coaching staff, who have taken a public battering in the aftermath of the team’s back to back series defeats. Head coach Russell Domingo and his slew of support staff were most heavily criticised by former captain Graeme Smith who questioned whether the management…