Spin-bowling all-rounder Ashar Zaidi has joined Essex for the 2016 season after being released by Sussex. The 34-year-old left-hand bat and slow left-arm bowler will be available in all three formats. Zaidi, a British passport holder, spent two full seasons at Hove and has impressive first-class averages of 36.89 with the bat and 30.32 with the ball. He was recently named player of the tournament in the Bangladesh Premier League….
Roderick targets glory after inking new deal
Gareth Roderick has set his sights on picking up further silverware after signing a new three-year deal with Royal London One-Day Cup winners Gloucestershire. The wicketkeeper-batsman, who made an important 39 in the final at Lord’s, has committed his future to the Bristol County Ground until the end of the 2018 season. Roderick, 24, said: “The stage I’m at in my career, the lads we have in the changing room,…
Australia’s Smith, Bailey chase down Indian total in 1st ODI
Perth (Australia) – Steve Smith and George Bailey both scored centuries as Australia cruised to a five-wicket win over India in the first one-day international at the WACA ground on Tuesday. Australia captain Steve Smith leaves the field after being dismissed for 149 runs during the first one-day international against India in Perth on January 12, 2016 © AFP Greg Wood Full Scorecard: India vs Australia 1st ODI After Indian…
'Still not convinced about DRS' – Dhoni
George Bailey was given a reprieve by Richard Kettleborough after he gloved his first ball down the leg side © Cricket Australia/Getty Images MS Dhoni, India’s limited-overs captain and a staunch cynic in DRS matters, has offered yet another trenchant defence of his stance. Just like in the first international of their last summer in Australia, India could, if DRS was in place, have easily overturned a critical decision that…
Spinners should have bowled better – Dhoni
Australia’s batsmen plundered India’s specialist spinners for 129 runs in 18 overs © Cricket Australia/Getty Images On the eve of India’s first ODI in the bilateral series against Australia, MS Dhoni expressed concern that none of his batsmen might be able to offer any overs should any of his specialist bowlers have a day off. As it turned out, India failed to defend 309 on a flat Perth pitch, and…
Hughes commits to Derbyshire
Derbyshire all-rounder Alex Hughes has signed a one-year contract extension to keep him at the 3aaa County Ground until the end of the 2017 season. The right-arm seamer appeared 24 times across all formats in 2015 and recorded his maiden first-class century against Northamptonshire. In total, the 24-year-old has made 86 appearances for Derbyshire, scoring 1,456 runs and claiming 60 wickets across three formats. Derbyshire elite performance director Graeme Welch…
Anderson puts Tests ahead of IPL swansong
James Anderson will commit the final years of his career to England’s Test team © AFP James Anderson has reiterated his commitment to England on the eve of the third Test in Johannesburg. Confirming that he will not be entering into the IPL auction, Anderson made it clear that, whatever overs he has left in his career, they will be bowled for his country in Test cricket. Other players may…
India vs Australia Perth ODI: Rohit Sharma Slams Brilliant Ton to Start Tour With Bang
Rohit Sharma’s average in Australia is highest among all batsmen. © AFP Rohit Sharma showed the way for India by slamming a brilliant ton against Australia in the first ODI in Perth on Tuesday. His century came in 122 balls. (Scorecard / Blog) Rohit, who has always been criticised for not doing justice to his talent, looked sure of himself in the first of the five ODIs. The India opener…
Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif Should Get Second Chance Like Mohammad Amir: Waqar Younis
Salman Butt scored a hundred in his first competitive match in five and half years on Sunday in the national one-day championship. © AFP Karachi: Pakistan’s national cricket coach Waqar Younis has backed an international comeback for convicted spot-fixers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, saying that they should not be treated any differently from the rehabilitated Mohammad Amir. “The way I see it if Butt and Asif perform well in…
Shanaka sets Sri Lankan record in Colombo sixathon
Dasun Shanaka set a Sri Lankan record for most number of sixes in a T20 innings, hitting 16 of them, for Sinhalese Sports Club in a clash against Saracens Sports Club in Colombo on Tuesday. Along the way, Shanaka waltzed to 123 off 46 balls and took his team to a massive 251 for 6 in 20 overs. It proved to be 66 too many for the opponents. Shanaka, who…