Johannesburg – AB de Villiers faces the biggest challenge of a glittering career when he captains South Africa in the third Test against England, starting at the Wanderers Stadium on Thursday. AB de Villiers will captain South Africa in the remaining two Tests against England © AFP/File Indranil Mukherjee Arguably the world’s best batsman – he is ranked third in Tests and first in one-day internationals – De Villiers, 31,…
Amir's return will take pressure off me, says Wahab
“We will pose a tougher challenge to New Zealand than Sri Lanka did because we have more variety and experience in out pace attack,” says Wahab Riaz © ICC Pakistan already have a bowler who is quick and hostile, and another who specialises in yorkers and reverse swing, but the return of Mohammad Amir may help round out the pace attack’s threat, Wahab Riaz said. The visitors have brought a…
Amir's presence will reduce pressure on me, says Wahab
“We will pose a tougher challenge to New Zealand than Sri Lanka did because we have more variety and experience in out pace attack,” says Wahab Riaz © ICC Pakistan already have a bowler who is quick and hostile, and another who specialises in yorkers and reverse swing, but the return of Mohammad Amir may help round out the pace attack’s threat, Wahab Riaz said. The visitors have brought a…
Khawaja keen to establish white-ball credentials
Play 01:23 ‘Matador Cup form worked in my favour’ – Khawaja At a time when Australia’s ODI fast-bowling depth is being tested, they seem to have no shortage of quality batsmen to call on. Centuries to George Bailey and Steven Smith won Australia the first ODI against India in Perth on Tuesday, and for the second game they will likely bring in a bloke with a List A batting average…
Williamson hopes to build on McCullum's groundwork
Kane Williamson believes captaincy would not have a major impact on his batting, which he sees as a “different thing” © Getty Images New Zealand would seek to emulate the freedom and aggression that had defined their cricket under Brendon McCullum, new Twenty20 captain Kane Williamson said. The board has not announced a long-term successor to Brendon McCullum in any format, but Williamson has been handed charge of the T20…
Beating South Africa "huge" for Anderson
James Anderson has told his England team-mates to capitalise on an “amazing position” when the third Test against South Africa starts on Thursday. The tourists lead 1-0 in the four-match series after their comprehensive win in Durban was followed by a draw in Cape Town. The focus now switches to the Wanderers in Johannesburg, where England can wrap up victory over the world’s top-ranked Test side. “It would be massive…
Zimbabwe rope in Ntini, Atapattu as coaches – reports
Former South Africa fast bowler Makhaya Ntini has been contracted as Zimbabwe’s bowling © Gallo Images Zimbabwe have recruited Makhaya Ntini and Marvan Atapattu to be assistant coach and batting consultant respectively, according to a report published today on the Zimbabwe Cricket website. The report says Ntini has been given a two-year contract, while Atapattu has been roped in for the duration of Zimbabwe’s tour to Bangladesh starting from January…
Holder disallowed from playing PSL
Jason Holder was chosen by Quetta Gladiators in the draft held on December 21 © Associated Press West Indies Cricket Board has not granted a no-objection certificate (NOC) to Jason Holder for the inaugural Pakistan Super League (PSL) on the grounds that he is a contracted player and his primary objective is to serve West Indies cricket. Holder, who is the captain of West Indies in all formats, was picked…
Christian re-joins Notts for T20 Blast
Daniel Christian has hit the headlines in Australia’s Big Bash © Getty Images Dan Christian, the hard-hitting Australia batsman whose exploits have been a talking point of the Big Bash, has agreed terms to play for Nottinghamshire again in this summer’s NatWest T20 Blast. Christian featured in the final seven T20 matches of the 2015 before helping the Outlaws reach the semi-finals of the 50-over Royal London Cup, where they…
Focused Shuvagata returns in new avatar
‘I am a strokeplayer so I think that’s why they picked me in T20s. I enjoy this format’ – Shuvagata Hom © Bangladesh Cricket Board Shuvagata Hom, the Bangladesh allrounder, has found his way back into the Bangladesh team for the first time in six months. But questions of his faltering Test career do not go away. At the first mention of it, he broke into a wide smile. It…