Smith relishes Australia's 'scrap', identifies area of improvement

Australia won their second final of a tournament held in West Indies

Pollard's experience counted for a lot: Jason Holder

Kieron Pollard scored 205 runs and bagged five wickets from seven games in the series

BCCI wants venues to shape up or ship out

BCCI is seeking to provide the unmatched fan experience during the home season. © BCCI

Kohli-Kumble partnership will serve India well, believes Greg Chappell

Greg Chappell, the former India coach, said on Sunday (June 26) that Anil Kumble's selection as the national team's coach is an 'inspired choice' and he will bring the same fighting spirit to the team as a coach that he brought as a player.
Chappell, who headed the reigns of Indian cricket as a coach from 2005 to 2007, said that Virat Kohli is lucky to have a man of Kumble's strengths as his ally and added: "It will be a powerful partnership that I expect will serve India well."

Dynamic Finch happy to live in the now

It's a tricky job - opening the batting. The demands of the role were irreversibly altered when Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana began attacking the new ball bowlers simultaneously in the mid 1990s. Yet, even in an era of flattened-out pitches, along comes a surface like the one at the Providence Stadium in Guyana that tests the good old opening batsman's virtues - patience, an adaptable technique and knowing where the off-stump is.

James Anderson doubtful starter for first Test against Pakistan

James Anderson, England fast bowler, is a doubtful starter for the first Test against Pakistan next month after picking up an injury in his right shoulder.

Eoin Morgan pleased with England's approach

Eoin Morgan, the England captain, was understandably pleased after his team's ten-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second One-Day International on Friday (June 24). Chasing 255, Alex Hales and Jason Roy, the openers, scored centuries to take the hosts over the line with 15.5 overs to spare.
"That chase was absolutely remarkable," gushed Morgan. "I've never experienced anything like it. We were so in control without being reckless. The two boys were outstanding. They were very imposing and they played brilliant, very entertaining cricket."
Morgan also praised his bowlers for keeping Sri Lanka to a par score. "I said after Trent Bridge that we were way-off with the ball," said Morgan. "Here, I didn't think we did anything exceptional, but we did the basics well. It didn't swing or nip off the seam and there are always huge challenges in one-day cricket when that doesn't happen.
"But we starved them of runs. We banged out a length and we used our bouncers well. We built pressure that way which resulted in us taking wickets. It was brilliant. It was a lesson for us last year when we played against Australia. They are a really good at doing that and we picked up that we needed to be better at it."
Roy, who scored his second ODI ton, said this century has helped his confidence. "That was a lot of fun," he said. "We wanted to get off to a good start and next thing you know we've crossed the line.
"Sri Lanka bowled pretty well at the start, but after that we wanted to get close and we got a bit lucky I guess. I love being back with the England boys, there's a lot of love in there and I'm stoked for the win. For me to get a 100 is a huge confidence booster, definitely. I was telling Alex to chill out [hitting sixes] so I could get my 100 too. He's having an incredible summer and I'm really happy for him and to be out there with him too."

BCCI to change its name?

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), one of the richest sports bodies in the world, could soon change its name.The new name, in fact, could be decided by all the cricket fans of the country in a poll on the BCCI website.
The revolutionary proposal to change the name of the Board, which was launched back in 1928, was floated by Anurag Thakur, the BCCI president, at the Board's Working Committee meeting on Friday (June 24).
"Yes, I had put forward this idea in the meeting today," Thakur told the Times of India. I think the word 'Control' should be replaced by 'Care'.
"We want to do away with the word 'Control.' We want to care for our fans, players, coaches, selectors, administrators and all the other stakeholders who matter in cricket."
The proposal met with a positive response from some Board members, while there were a few other old-time members who seemed a bit resistant to the idea of changing the name of an organisation which has existed for 88 years now. The matter is set to be discussed in the future in the next board meetings.

N Srinivasan spells out 'Mission Ranji'

The performance of the state team at the country's premier domestic competition - Ranji Trophy -may not have been up to the mark, but N Srinivasan, the president of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), was hopeful that the upcoming season could see the former champions script a turnaround.
However, Srinivasan minced no words in asking the state players to pull their socks up with the new season just months away. "In spite of outstanding stars in the side and players being extremely committed - for some reason or other - it (the trophy) seems to elude us. Unless you win the Ranji Trophy, I am not going to recognise and say that X or Y represented India (from our state) and played these many games for the country. Winning the trophy should be our aim, and I am sure that would be the approach of the coach and the team in the coming year," Srinivasan said during the TNCA's 86th annual day at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday (June 24).
Srinivasan felt TNCA took the disappointment of not getting a chance to host men's matches in the ICC World Twenty20 earlier this year in its stride. "If we had one men's match the people of Chennai would have been happy. However, whatever matches (women's games) were assigned to us were played in great spirit," he said.
Srinivasan was optimistic about the success of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) which will kick-off from the final week of August. "We have had a fantastic response from the broadcasters, and from our franchises. I am sure the tournament will take cricket to each and every corner of the state and be a big success," he said.
The gathering saw Prabhakar Rao, the TNCA vice-president, who called time on his administrative career, being assigned the task of giving away the awards. Srinivasan heaped praise on Rao for his outstanding service to the association. "If there is one name synonymous with TNCA right from the time I was a young person it has to be U Prabhakar Rao. He brought laurels to our association as a player, as an able administrator for so many years," said Srinivasan. The occasion also saw S Raghavan being named the vice chairman of TNPL.
The TNCA Annual General Meeting which will be held on Saturday will elect three new vice-presidents. K Murali, G Srinivasan and G Bhaskaran will be the new vice-presidents of TNCA, coming in place of U Prabhakar Rao, Raghavan and Albert

Family played a huge role, admits Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble, who has worn many hats since retiring from all formats of cricket in 2010, has taken over the national coaching role a year after former teammate Rahul Dravid was roped in to groom the India Under-19 and 'A' teams.
That he put his hand up for the top job was a surprise, but once in, his application was immensely hard to ignore. And not just for his exploits on the field. In tune with his character, his application for the coaching role was well thought out and planned. A man devoted to his family and home, the decision was taken in consultation with his family. "I took a conscious decision of staying away from IPL this season," Kumble told Times of India on Friday (June 24) when asked when he made up his mind to apply. "The family went on a holiday in April-May and we had a lot of discussions there about the role. Around the time we were heading back home, I saw BCCI had called for applications. I spoke to my wife and family and they said I should go ahead. At the end of the day, it is they who I have to ask and not anybody else. For me to commit again to be back on the road it is a huge sacrifice the family is making and it is challenge for them as well."
Kumble also pointed out that he had applied well before the June 10 deadline. "I looked at the application process and filed a formal application well within the stipulated time. Then the process took over and I was one among the 57 applicants," he said.
Although he had his plate full with being an entrepreneur, ICC cricket committee chairman and commentator, the former India Test skipper believes the time is right for him to give back to the sport."I've always loved challenges and this is a huge one," Kumble said. "I thought this was the right time for me to give back to Indian cricket. I believe in being among the youngsters and sharing experience with them. I have the energy and the will to go through the grind again. This team has quality players and great potential and has already achieved wonderful results."

Owners 'surprised' by mini IPL announcement

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise officials woke up to a 'surprise development' on Friday (June 24) morning when they learnt from the media about the BCCI's plans to host 'IPL Overseas' in September this year and make it an annual affair.
On May 23, Times of India had reported about the cricket board's plans to host a 'mini-IPL' in September, following which a few IPL franchise representatives had expressed surprise and said they'd not been informed of any such development yet.
On Friday, they had a similar reaction except that this time, Anurag Thakur, the BCCI president, was the one revealing the plans.
September is a rare month in the international cricket calendar when almost all cricket nations find space for a breather. It is for that reason that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is also in talks with a giant broadcaster to fit in a once-in-two-years World Twenty20 during the same time.
"Either way you look at it, it's going to build up into another battle for the September slot between the BCCI and the ICC," said a cricket industry executive tracking the developments.
The space for an overseas IPL was first created last year when BCCI, in agreement with Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa, scrapped the Champions League T20 which was bleeding money for broadcasters Star India. Shashank Manohar, the former BCCI president, had also asked a couple of state cricket associations to not plan their own T20 leagues (on the lines of the Karnataka Premier League) and assured that BCCI would float the 'mini-IPL' soon.
After that, given the onus on the Lodha Committee report and the ongoing Supreme Court mandate in the backdrop of the spot-fixing scandal, all plans were swept aside.
Now that the BCCI is once again busy talking about 'IPL overseas', the question is when will they find the time to speak to the franchises about it. "We have no clue. All we know is what the media's reported," said two franchise officials while one franchise owner's reaction was a simple "what's that?" when asked for a reaction on the 'IPL overseas'.
Franchise representatives say that if the BCCI is indeed serious about conducting such a tournament from this year, they have to let them know the details in terms of finances, operations, player availability player fees and more. The general feeling among most stakeholders, including the franchises, is that the BCCI is ignoring them while it is busy trying to appease potential broadcasters.
"Champions League earned franchises half-a-million dollars as appearance fees every year and in turn, franchises had to pay their players 10% of the IPL fee per season if the team qualified. The entire operations were also managed by the BCCI, logistics included. Is it going to work on the same lines or any different, we have no clue," the franchise official said.

NatWest T20 Blast wrap: Brendon McCullum's blazing half-century helps Middlesex register massive win

NORTH GROUP
Durham vs Yorkshire (Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street)
In a rain-affected tie, Durham came up with an all-round performance to register a six-wicket win (D/L method) against Yorkshire. The visitors just about managed to get past 130 before being bowled out. Alex Lees (43 off 24) and Jack Leaning (48 off 36) top-scored for Yorkshire, but the rest of the batsmen were a let-down. Barring the two knocks in excess of 40 and Tim Bresnan's 19, the rest were all single-digit scores as the visitors ended up with a below-par total after being asked to bat. In reply, Mark Stoneman (25 off 17) and Ryan Pringle (20 not-out off 15) guided Durham in the chase before a storm forced the players off the field in the 10th over. Durham were ahead of the D/L par score, which helped them register a narrow win.
Brief scores: Yorkshire 134 in 19.3 overs (Jack Leaning 48, Alex Lees 43; Chris Rushworth 3-14, Paul Coughlin 2-27) lost to Durham 68/3 in 9.5 overs (Mark Stoneman 25, Ryan Pringle 20*; Adam Lyth 1-2) by 6 runs (D/L method).
Lancashire vs Worcestershire (Old Trafford, Manchester)
Alviro Petersen scored a half-century before Stephen Parry and Nathan Buck ran through the Worcestershire batting order to help Lancashire register a 96-run win. Petersen's unbeaten knock of 68 in 54 deliveries helped Lancashire to a total of 149 for 5 after being inserted. Martin Guptill was dismissed early but Petersen was involved in useful partnerships with Karl Brown and Liam Livingstone to help put on a steady platform. The hosts lost a few wickets in the latter half of the innings, but Petersen remained till the end to help Lancashire post a competitive total. In reply, the visitors suffered a collapse with Buck decimating the top-order with a three-wicket haul before Parry picked up a fifer as Lancashire secured a big win by bowling out Worcestershire in the 14th over for a total of 53.
Brief scores: Lancashire 149/5 in 20 overs (Alviro Petersen 68*, Liam Livingstone 28; Joe Leach 2-34) beat Worcestershire 53 in 13.5 overs (Brett D'Oliveira 16; Stephen Parry 5-13, Nathan Buck 3-12) by 96 runs.
Derbyshire vs Nottinghamshire (County Ground, Derby)
Harry Gurney's fine bowling performance and unbeaten knocks from Riki Wessels and Daniel Christian helped Nottinghamshire register a seven-wicket win against Derbyshire. Gurney picked up a four-wicket haul and received good support from the rest of the bowlers as Nottinghamshire bowled Derbyshire out for 114 after choosing to bowl. The hosts kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were reduced to 60 for 5 at one stage. The middle-order batsmen tried to stabilise the innings, but more wickets meant that Derbyshire ended up being bowled out for a below-par total. In reply, Nottinghamshire got off to a steady start before losing Michael Lumb, Greg Smith and Andre Russell. However, an unbeaten 58-run stand for the fourth wicket between Wessels and Christian helped the visitors win with 33 deliveries to spare.
Brief scores: Derbyshire 114 in 19.3 overs (Chesney Hughes 26, James Neesham 23; Harry Gurney 4-20, Jake Ball 2-18) lost to Nottinghamshire 120/3 in 14.3 overs (Daniel Christian 38*, Riki Wessels 35*; Wayne Madsen 1-10) by 7 wickets.
Leicestershire vs Warwickshire (Grace Road, Leicester)
A disciplined bowling performance by Warwickshire was complemented by an unbeaten half-century by Laurie Evans as the visitors secured an eight-wicket win against Leicestershire. A top-order collapse meant that hosts could only manage a total of 125 for 7 after being asked to bat first. Mark Pettini, Mark Cosgrove, Cameron Delport and Kevin O'Brien all fell for single-digit scores as the hosts were reduced to 25 for 4 at one stage. Umar Akmal, Lewis Hill and Tom Wells then provided some stability to the innings, which helped Leicestershire finish with a total of some respectability. In reply, Sam Hain and Ian Bell put on a 51-run opening stand to get Warwickshire off to a good start in the chase. While Hain and William Porterfield fell in quick succession, Evans ensured there weren't any more setbacks as he cracked a 29-ball 52 and put on an unbeaten 68-run stand with Bell to help Warwickshire over the line with 27 deliveries to spare.
Brief scores: Leicestershire 125/7 in 20 overs (Umar Akmal 31, Tom Wells 26*; Mark Adair 2-18, Oliver Hannon-Dalby 1-14) lost to Warwickshire 126/2 in 15.3 overs (Laurie Evans 52*, Ian Bell 36*; Ben Raine 1-31) by 8 wickets.
SOUTH GROUP
Glamorgan vs Surrey (Sophia Gardens, Cardiff)
Glamorgan came up with a clinical performance to post a nine-wicket victory against Surrey. A fine bowling performance by Dale Steyn, complemented by Dean Cosker, Graham Wagg and the rest of the bowlers, helped Glamorgan bowl out the power-packed batting line-up of Surrey for only 110. Top-scorer Rory Burns's departure for 22 meant that Surrey had lost half their side for only 56 runs. Dwayne Bravo scored 20 while Tom Curran hung around for a while for his 12, but wickets kept tumbling as the visiting side were skittled out in the final over. In reply, the hosts lost David Lloyd for a duck. But the South African pair of Colin Ingram and Jacques Rudolph ensured that the Glamorgan lost only one wicket, putting on a 114-run stand to take the team over the line with 25 deliveries to spare.
Brief scores: Surrey 110 in 19.2 overs (Rory Burns 22, Dwayne Bravo 20; Dale Steyn 2-20, Graham Wagg 2-5) lost to Glamorgan 114/1 in 15.5 overs (Colin Ingram 73*, Jacques Rudolph 40*; Sam Curran 1-18) by 9 wickets.
Essex vs Hampshire (County Ground, Chelmsford)
Graham Napier and Ravi Bopara starred with the ball while Ashar Zaidi scored a crucial half-century to help Essex beat Hampshire by five wickets. Hampshire could not capitalise on promising starts from their top-order batsmen as they ended up with a total of 135 for 8 in their available quota of 20 overs. Michael Carberry, who top-scored with 34, was the first to be dismissed when Tom Westley ended an opening stand worth 49 runs, while Tom Alsop followed soon after. Liam Dawson and Joe Weatherley added 40 runs for the third wicket before Hampshire lost quick wickets in the death as they just about managed to get past 130. Dawson then came up with a fine bowling performance, picking up wickets at regular intervals to put the pressure on the visitors. But Zaidi, who was involved in a 59-run stand for the fourth wicket with Westley, helped Essex past the 100-run mark before Ryan ten Doeschate saw the team through in the penultimate over.
Brief scores: Hampshire 135/8 in 20 overs (Michael Carberry 34, Liam Dawson 26; Graham Napier 3-31, Ravi Bopara 2-15) lost to Essex 136/5 in 18.5 overs (Ashar Zaidi 52, Tom Westley 27; Liam Dawson 3-24) by 5 wickets.
Kent vs Middlesex (St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury)
Blistering knocks from Brendon McCullum and Dawid Malan, and a good bowling performance from Toby Roland-Jones helped Middlesex register a 40-run win against Kent. McCullum bludgeoned the Kent attack with an unbeaten 87 off 57 deliveries and was supported well by his opening partner Malan (60 off 34) as their century stand provided the platform for Middlesex's massive total of 210 for 6. McCullum was on 33 off 19 when Middlesex lost their first wicket in the ninth over. The former New Zealand captain, witnessed wickets go down at the other end, but that did not dissuade him from playing his natural game as he sent the bowlers on a leather hunt to help the visitors post a commanding total after choosing to bat. In reply, Kent lost their openers early before Fabian Cowdrey and Sam Northeast staged a fightback with a 57-run third-wicket stand. However, the hosts kept losing wickets at regular intervals and ended up managing only 170 in their available 20 overs for the loss of seven wickets.
Brief scores: Middlesex 210/8 in 20 overs (Brendon McCullum 87*, Dawid Malan 60; Darren Stevens 4-31) beat Kent 170/7 in 20 overs (Fabian Cowdrey 71, Sam Northeast 41; Toby Roland-Jones 3-24) by 40 runs.

Kumble's valuable insights will take Indian cricket forward: Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane, India's stylish middle-order batsman, hailed the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision to appoint Anil Kumble as the new coach of the national team. Rahane, who has been a pivot of India's batting line-up in the longest format of the game in the recent past, also said that he is looking forward to working with Kumble and gain valuable insights from him.
"This will be my first experience with Anil bhai [Anil Kumble]. When I was with Mumbai Indians, he was not there. He came after the third year. A player like him becoming India's coach is big and a good news for Indian cricket going forward.
"He has so much of experience, he has played international cricket for so many years, definitely his tips, his importance will take Indian cricket forward," the 28-year-old middle-order batsman said on Friday (June 24).
Kumble is scheduled to take charge of the Indian side at the preparatory camp ahead of the upcoming tour of the West Indies next month. Rahane admitted that they need to adjust to different conditions quickly in order to do well in unfamiliar climes. Moreover, the Duke ball is used in West Indies for Test matches, which in turn permits more conventional swing than the Kookaburra and SG brands. India are set to play four Tests during their tour of West Indies.
"The pre-tournament camp is definitely of importance because as a team we are coming together after a long time. As you [reporter] said, it is a long tour and right now focus is on the West Indies tour.
"This camp is of seven days, we will go there and play practice games. I believe it [the camp] will be important to get the momentum for the first Test match and the practice games. So, as early as we adjust to those conditions and become mentally prepared, it will be good for us," Rahane concluded.

BCCI not in hurry to play day-night Tests: Anurag Thakur

Anurag Thakur, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has stated that the board will take a decision on hosting the first ever day-night Test in the country only after receiving the feedback from the players. Some of the key members of the Indian Test team are expected to participate in the Duleep Trophy, which is slated to be held under lights and with the pink ball later this year.
"Let us wait for the players to decide on that (pink-ball cricket)," said Thakur, after the BCCI's working committee meeting on Thursday (June 23). "Let us take the feedback during the upcoming Duleep Trophy. There have been experiments going on all over the world with the pink ball. We are not in a hurry. We want to take a decision once the BCCI is sure that they want to go with the pink ball."
Last week, the first pink-ball game under lights was played in India between Mohun Bagan and Bhowanipore Club at Eden Gardens. The match was scheduled to be held with a red ball, but Sourav Ganguly, president of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), took the initiative to host the encounter under lights. Incidentally, the ambitious venture turned out to be a success.
Mohammed Shami, India pacer, was the wrecker-in-chief for Mohun Bagan as he picked up a rich haul of seven wickets in the match, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings. On his part, the fast bowler was pleased with the new experience. "I'll prefer pink ball any day, hope this pink ball match prospers. The best thing is you got to bowl only one session under sun. Then the ball starts doing the talk once the lights are on," Shami, noted.
"I got reverse swing in the first innings. I think if the condition is dry, the ball will reverse. The seam usually does not remain intact after 40 overs, but it's not the case with the pink ball," Shami said of his experience of bowling under lights with the pink ball.

Interview with Ganguly, Laxman, Tendulkar was nerve-racking: Kumble

Anil Kumble, the newly-appointed India coach, labelled the experience of being interviewed by Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar (via teleconference) as 'nerve-racking'. Speaking to bcci.tv on Thursday (June 23), following his appointment, the former India captain said it was a strange experience when he had to face his former colleagues at the opposite end of the table while submitting his presentation during his job interview for the post of coach of the Indian team.
"It was very different because this was the first interview that I was attending. My colleagues who I have played with throughout my career were on the other side of the table. It was very strange. It was quite nerve-racking."
Kumble said improving the team's overseas record will be his primary goal and conceded that the team has been comfortable playing at home, whichnecessitatesa change in the mindset.
"The first four Tests will be in the West Indies where the conditions are not that different to India," he said. "But the Indian conditions are something we are all comfortable with. The focus will be on (improving) our overseas record and the mindset is something we need to address from home itself. When we sit down that's something we'll need to make a plan and ensure we train towards achieving those goals."
Having led the Test side at the fag end of his career, the 45-year-old stressed on the importance of taking the pressure off the captain a bit by creating more leaders in the camp. "[It is] important as a coach to take the burden off the captain," he said. "Captain has a lot of things on his head, all cricketing decisions and non-cricketing as well. When I was captain I realised that it's not just taking decisions on the field but off it as well. Those are quite stressful.
"Having been with the Indian team for such a long time and having had various experiences of not just conditions, but outside the cricket field, when you're a coach, you're not just coach on the field but also off it. You're trying to build personalities, trying to build leaders. That's how I'd like to look at this team. There is some wonderful talent, you need to make leaders out of them, try and understand what ticks them. It's not a quick fix, you have to understand and then take a call."
Kumble stated that working behind the scenes in a background role would suit him, citing Gary Kirsten's tenure as an example and also went on to hail the former India coach John Wright as an inspiration. "I played a lot under John Wright, he's been a great influence on how I'll go about, in terms of being in the background. When I became a mentor for Mumbai Indians, I brought John in because he understood a lot about Indian culture and then the way coaches work. So I'll pick his brain," he said.
"I was involved with Gary Kirsten only for the Test matches, (for) a very short period. He was, again, someone who worked in the background and didn't make himself visible. (That's) exactly how I'd like to work as well. Not in the front, but behind the scenes. The team comes first, the coaches play the background role, you are just trying to prepare the team for the best of their ability, for all conditions and all eventualities. You can't really plan for adversity, but to try to prepare the team to handle those adversities. That's exactly what we'll try and address."
The former leg-spinner is excited about his first series in charge, against the West Indies next month, and mentioned that he has already spoken to the Test skipper Virat Kohli. "We have the West Indies Test series coming up, so that's something our focus will be on. I've spoken to Virat [Kohli] and MS [Dhoni] must be on the flight back from Zimbabwe. It's nice to have a camp here in Bengaluru before we tour. We'll sit down and iron out and get ready for the West Indies tour.
Kumble stressed that his focus will be on bowling, which he feels is the most important aspect in winning Test matches. "Bowling, getting 20 wickets in Test cricket will win you matches. That's the focus and we'll take it from there. Batting, we have some great talent there. I believe this team has the potential. It's a young team and driven by young leaders. Looking forward to working with Virat and MS."
With former players like Rahul Dravid and Michael Hussey rejecting a chance to become the coach, considering the time they would have to devote away from their family, Kumble admitted that he took the 'major decision' after having a lengthy discussion with his family. "I had a long chat with the family, 18 years on the road, they've taken the stress and the burden. My wife and kids have been really supportive. Not easy travelling again so that was a major decision. Once those two were clear, I put my hat in the ring.
"I felt it was the right time for me to get involved. I'm still fit enough to run around. It's a young team so I believe you have to get your hands dirty, you need to be with the players, train with them, be amongst them. If it was a senior team, you can sit back, strategise and address that. But as a young team, you need to be in the middle and that's something I can do at this stage," Kumble said.

Harmanpreet Kaur signs path-breaking deal with Sydney Thunder

Harmanpreet Kaur inked a path-breaking deal with the defending Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) champions Sydney Thunder on Friday (June 24), becoming the first Indian women cricketer to be signed by a foreign Twenty20 (T20) franchise. Harmanpreet's deal has been confirmed by Anurag Thakur, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
As per reports, three franchises were in the race to sign the aggressive middle-order batter before Sydney Thunder sealed the deal. It is the first formal signing since the BCCI gave the green signal for women cricketers in India to participate in the foreign leagues, and agreed to issue the required no-objection certificate (NoC).
Incidentally, Adelaide Strikers were keen on signing Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami for the 2015 edition of WBBL. However, Cricbuzz understands that their domestic teams did not give the consent.
"I think we saw in the Indian team some very dynamic players, including Veda Krishnamurthy and Harmanpreet Kaur, I think these two stood out," Alex Blackwell, the Thunder captain, had noted. "We have a pretty solid team... but we have an opportunity to bring another overseas players in and we'll be looking to spend that spot wisely. Hopefully we'll get one of the best players around the world."
Harmanpreet's ability to crunch powerful blows first came into prominence, when she netted a quick-fire innings of 33 against England in a T20I game played in Mumbai in 2010. Since then, she has been a consistent performer for India across formats.
Earlier this year, Harmanpreet also essayed a flamboyant knock of 46 off mere 31 balls against Australia in a T20I game that took place at Adelaide Oval, propelling India to a historic win. She also contributed both with bat and ball in the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 played in India.

BCCI approves Ranji matches at neutral venues

The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Friday (June 24) approved the technical committee's recommendation to hold the Ranji Trophy matches at neutral venues. The decision was one among the many that were taken at the first Annual BCCI four-day conclave in Dharamsala.
The consensus was that the move should at least be tried for a season, and would help eliminate the possibility of teams churning out rank turners, which saw many games finish inside three days last season. In this new system, a team is likely to play all its games till the knockouts in a particular zone. The wickets at all the venues will be prepared by the curators appointed by the board.
It was also decided that the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy would be scrapped in favour of a new Twenty20 league which will see five zones selecting a zonal side to play an Inter Zonal League. Initially, the state teams will play an league within their zones, and the best players will make the team from that zone. Such a format will reward an in-form player and allow him to continue playing in the tournament, even if his state side fails to win regularly.
The Junior Committee's suggestion regarding the Under 19 players were also approved by the working committee. Under the new suggestions, an under 19 cricketer can represent India only once in the ICC Under 19 World Cup. Also, any player entering the system at the under 19 stage can only play two seasons of Under 19 cricket. This would ensure a fresh influx of players every year.
The BCCI is also keen on promoting Test Cricket by collaborating with the state units and hence will have a separate marketing budget in the upcoming season. The associations hosting international matches this season will have venue agreements with the BCCI so that their roles, responsibilities and the minimum standards that are required are well defined. The board will also start annual awards for state associations in the following categories: Best Website, Best Facebook page, Best Twitter Handle, Best Instagram, Best Media Facility, Best Media Operations. This will encourage state associations to be more transparent and professional.
Finally, the Media Committee's proposal to issue an Annual Season Media Accreditation card to journalists wanting to cover cricket games was also approved by the working committee during the meeting. Through this move, the board could screen the applications from journalists only once before the start of a season, and then approve the ones interested for a particular tour, rather than having to go through the entire list ahead of every series.

BCCI to conduct mini IPL overseas

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has announced on Friday (June 24) that a mini Indian Premier League will be conducted overseas. The tournament which will feature all eight teams is to be played in the month of September.
BCCI president Anurag Thakur made the announcement at the end of the board's working committee meeting in Dharamsala, terming it the 'mini IPL' or 'IPL overseas'.
"In the month of September, the BCCI is willing to host a mini IPL or IPL overseas with all the eight teams participating," Thakur said. "[It will be] a shorter format, not home and away matches but a lesser number of matches; in a two-week window we will be able to complete it."
Since the Champions League T20 got scrapped last year, a small window has been left vacant and hence the decision to conduct this tournament every year in September has been taken. But this time, India's home season is set to begin in September as well with the Duleep Trophy scheduled to be played under lights with a pink ball.
It was already announced that some of India's biggest names would be featuring in it in order to get used to the ball before they play their first ever day-night Test. It will be interesting to see how the board manages this situation.

WICB name Courtney Browne as new chairman of selectors

Courtney Browne, the former West Indies wicketkeeper, on Thursday (June 23), was named West Indies' new chairman of selectors. He replaced the former captain Clive Lloyd who held the position since August 2014. It is not clear whether Lloyd shown the door or stepped down voluntarily.
Browne, who played 20 Tests and 46 One-Day Internationals for West Indies, will officially begin his two-year tenure on September 30. He was also a member of the selection panel for almost six years prior to this.
Lloyd, meanwhile, will serve as the West Indies Cricket Board's 'special ambassador'. He will be "responsible for being a spokesperson for the Board at special events in and out of the region".
"The time as Chairman was quite rewarding and I am hoping my contribution would have added value to the current system," Lloyd said in a statement.
"I made every attempt to serve with distinction and I was pleased to contribute to the game again. I look forward to the new role. The details of that arrangement will be discussed and will be released shortly."
The 71-year-old who has played 110 Tests and 87 Tests will start in his new role from October 1.
"We are satisfied that Clive's upcoming role will serve as another great opportunity to promote the best of West Indies Cricket," said Dave Cameron, the WICB president

R Prasanna set for coaching role with Coimbatore team

Tamil Nadu middle-order batsman R Prasanna is likely to take up a coaching role for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), scheduled to be held in the last week of August.
It was reliably learnt that the dependable southpaw will be the assistant coach of the Coimbatore franchise along with former TN batsman C Hemanth Kumar, who will be chief coach of the team."Both of them have been finalised and will sign the contract within this week," a source close to the development told TOI on Thursday . Prasanna, who is still one of batting mainstays in the Tamil Nadu team, did not feature in the T20s in the last six years.
He played his last T20 match against Maharashtra in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2010. Prasanna, who has played 59 first-class and 16 list A matches so far, has been not considered for the shortest format and it was a conscious decision by the left-hander to take up a coaching role which will help test his skills. Prasanna will continue to play for Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy and local TNCA league.
"Prasanna has not been playing T20s for years and he did not want to turn up for a team straightaway. It would have been a difficult and risky move, so he decided to coach a team. Since this league will only feature local players, it will be a great advantage for a current state player like Prasanna to contribute as he is aware of players' strengths and weaknesses. We think he will emerge as a good hand when it comes to finalising the squad and planning strategy ," the source added.
Both Hemanth and Prasanna are childhood friends and have played plenty of cricket together.
Hemanth, who last played for Tamil Nadu in 2005, has represented several state sides including Kerala, Assam and Himachal Pradesh. He has played 39 first-class and 20 list A matches and is currently a member of the Tamil Nadu selection committee.
"Hemanth has played game for a long time and has good knowledge of local cricket. As a state selector he has been interacting with the players directly and has also been involved in the youth development programme in the state. "Moreover, Hemanth and Prasanna are good friends and we all hope their combination helps us give get great results in the TNPL," the source added.

BCCI ready to shift Ranji to neutral turf

For the first time in its 82-year history , the Ranji Trophy is set to be played at neutral venues. The revolutionary idea to do away with the home-and-away system, which saw a few teams doctor pitches to gain home advantage, received a thumbs up at the Ranji captains and coaches conclave of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday here at the HPCA Stadium. It is now likely to be ratified by the working committee of the Board here on Friday .
The innovative idea was first mooted by BCCI's technical committee, which is headed by former India skipper Sourav Ganguly . In this new system, a team is likely to play all its games till the knockouts in a particular zone. The wickets at all the venues will be prepared by the curators appointed by the Board. "There's no harm in trying something new. It offers a different, exciting challenge to all the teams," former India stumper and Delhi coach Vijay Dahiya told TOI on Thursday.
"Playing on neutral venues is a good idea. You want every domestic player to be ready for international cricket," said India discard and Gujarat stumper Parthiv Patel after the conclave. "We will be taking the home advantage away but what we have seen last year in the domestic season isn't good for our cricket. When you go abroad or on tours you don't get to choose the conditions. It's a step forward in the endeavour to produce quality players," said ex-India seamer and current Vidarbha coach Paras Mhambrey.
The consensus was that the move should at least be tried for a season, and would help eliminate the possibility of teams churning out 'akharas' (rank turners), which saw many games finish inside three days last season in the Ranji Trophy ."It's not going to be completely viable option, but there's no harm in trying it for a year and see how it goes. At least we won't have matches which will get over in two-and-a-half days," felt Patel. "We need to implement this on a trial basis and see has worked positively . Home advantage is not being used in the right manner," Mhambrey agreed.
"The majority was in favour of it (neutral venues). We've to see the larger picture. There're pros and cons of everything and we've to find a balance," said Patel. While everyone felt that it would kill local interest in the Ranji Trophy , Patel said that it was concluded that it's not such a large issue, since "everybody was more or less on the same track about playing on neutral venues."
Apart from Ganguly , who missed the meeting (both were slightly late in arriving here), BCCI president Anurag Thakur and BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke too have backed the concept.

Focus, determination Anil's strength: Sujith

Former Indian cricketer and mind coach Sujith Somasundar singled out Anil Kumble's focus, determination and ability to bring individuals together as the key factors that would come to the fore in his tenure as the coach of the Indian team.
Somasundar highlighted Kumble's grace and tact during the infamous 'Monkeygate' incident in the 2008 series against Australia; his grit and determination when bowling with a broken jaw against the West Indies in 2002; and his courage to lead out a nervous Royal Challengers Bangalore team into a 2010 Indian Premier League clash following explosions outside the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru as signs that Indian cricket had chosen a true leader.
"It is the right choice simply because he is a capable, well respected individual," the 43-year-old Somasundar, also a mental toughness coach who has studied under noted US-based sports psychologist Dr Patrick Cohn, said of Kumble.
"As a captain of India, he excelled in the tough tour of Australia in 2008. The team needs somebody of that stature now. Being an engineer, he is a good strategist and an organized individual," said the 43-year-old, who added that Kumble possessed the qualities you would normally associate with a foreign coach.
Somasundar suggested Kumble's ability to stay in the moment was something the young players in the Indian team could learn from. "He has the ability to let go of the past and focus on the result. He lays emphasis on the job at hand and looks to get it done. This is an important quality . Against the Windies in 2002, he realized his job was to bowl for India. He could have easily focused on his injury and the consequences of bowling with a broken jaw but he didn't," said Somasundar, who captained Kumble on his return from a shoulder injury in a Ranji Trophy match in 2005.
Somasundar said relationship management would be another area Kumble would excel in. "He is a well-respected individual simply because of how he has conducted himself and how he has worked hard and performed for India. In terms of emotional quotient, I have observed that he is one who respects others and accepts people the way they are. These traits will come in handy ," he added.
A fellow coach himself, with stints managing the Kerala team in Ranji cricket, Somasundar admitted Kumble's task would not be easy despite all his abilities. "It is a big challenge because all eyes are on him and an Indian team."

BCCI plans to hold 'Mini IPL' abroad in September

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is seriously considering launching the 'Mini IPL' in September this year, to exploit the overseas market for the popular T20 tournament. The idea was floated at a meeting of the IPL Governing Council on Thursday here at the HPCA Stadium. TOI had reported last year in October about the possible move.
"There's a 'window' which has been left vacant in September after the Champions League T20 was discontinued from last year. The Mumbai Indians wanted to play a few games against another franchise. Their request has been turned down and instead a proposal to launch a mini IPL was floated.We're now considering the possibility of playing a short duration (10-15 days) tournament in the UAE or the US, in which all the eight teams can take part," a senior Board official told this paper on Thursday. The proposal will now be discussed in the Board's Working Committee meeting here on Friday .
One big glitch here is that India's home season will begin in September this time, with the Duleep Trophy set to feature all big stars, since it would be played with a pink ball under lights.

Nick Compton takes immediate break from cricket

Nick Compton, the under-pressure England top-order batsman, will take an immediate break from cricket, Middlesex and England management announced on Thursday (June 23). Nick, grandson of England batting great Denis Compton, will take a leave of absence for an unspecified length of time to allow himself to 'recharge' after a 'challenging start' to his 2016 season.
"Middlesex County Cricket Club and the England cricket team management have agreed for Nick Compton to be given a period of time away from cricket. Following a challenging start to the 2016 season, both physically and mentally, it has been agreed that the best way forward is for Compton to spend some time away from the game," Middlesex said in a statement.
Compton, who himself had admitted recently that he was battling for a place in the England Test team, managed only 51 runs in the three Tests against Sri Lanka while batting at the number three position. The right-handed batsman, who turns 33 on Sunday, has a modest average of 29 in 16 Tests. His underwhelming performance in recent times, in both international and first-class cricket, had put him in doubt for selection for the four-Test series against Pakistan.
Lack of motivation seems to be the issue that forced him to take a break. Angus Fraser, an England selector and Middlesex managing director of cricket, backed Compton's decision to take a break and believes that the time away from cricket would do him a world of good.
"Nick sets himself very high standards and makes a huge commitment to cricket," said Fraser. "We all believe that some time away from the game now will allow him to refresh, recharge and return to play the sort of cricket we all know he is capable of producing. During this period Nick will receive the full support of Middlesex CCC and the England cricket team management."
Compton's decision to take some time off could pave the way for an England recall for either Scott Borthwick or Ian Bell for the Test series against Pakistan that starts on July 14 at Lord's.

County Championship wrap: Bell, Trott slam half-centuries as Warwickshire draw against Lancashire

DIVISION ONE
Lancashire vs Warwickshire
In a seesaw battle at Old Trafford in Manchester, the game between Lancashire and Warwickshire ended in a draw on the fourth and final day with the latter scoring 195 for 2, with unbeaten half-centuries from Ian Bell (55) and Jonathan Trott (50).
Lancashire ended the third day on 170 for 5 and ended up declaring for 266 for 8 on the fourth day. Haseeb Hameed was the first wicket to fall on the final day, but not before he could score a century. Rikki Clarke, however, was not satisfied with the big fish. He struck twice more in the same over and dismissed Arron Lilley and Neil Wagner for ducks, finishing off with a triple-wicket over. When Lanashire declared, Liam Livingstone remained unbeaten on 106, leaving their opponents with 311 to win.
Varun Chopra and Andrew Umeed struck a fifty-run opening stand before the latter edged one to the wicketkeeper. Chopra followed with 84 runs on the board after which Bell and Trott shared an unbeaten 111-run stand before the match was called off for a draw.
Brief scores: Lancashire 308 and 266/8 dec (Haseeb Hameed 103, Liam Livingstone 106*; Keith Barker 3-62, Rikki Clarke 3-54) drew with Warwickshire 263 and 195/2 in 70 overs (Ian Bell 55*, Jonathan Trott 50*).
Durham v Yorkshire
Despite a much-improved performance with the bat from Durham in the second innings against Yorkshire, the fixture ended in a draw on the final day on Thursday (June 23) at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street.
Durham ended day three on 452 for 8 and declared on 507 for 8, setting Yorkshire a target of 356 on the final day. Adam Lyth and Alex Lees, the Yorkshire's openers, started off with respective half-centuries amidst a century stand before the former and Kane Williamson were dismissed off successive deliveries.
Gary Ballance's 40-ball 32 showed intent, but Andrew Gale's innings, coupled with Jack Leaning and Tim Bresnan's trudging, meant the game was headed towards a draw, which it eventually did as Yorkshire finished on 238 for five at the close of play.
Brief scores: Durham 172 and 507/8 dec (Keaton Jennings 221*, Paul Collingwood 61, Usman Arshad 84; Tim Bresnan 2-145, Steven Patterson 2-77) drew with Yorkshire 323 and 238/5 in 82 overs (Adam Lyth 50, Alex Lees 74; Ryan Pringle 2-35, Barry McCarthy 2-27).
DIVISION TWO
Derbyshire vs Worcestershire
Worcestershire's middle-order batsmen came up with crucial contributions as the visiting team managed to draw the encounter at the County Ground in Derby.
Resuming on 24 for 1 in their second essay, after being asked to follow on, Worcestershire lost Brett D' Oliveira early. Ed Barnard and Joe Clarke then came up with a patient 146-run stand for the third wicket, batting more than 40 overs in a partnership that kept the Derbyshire bowlers at bay.
The half-centurions departed in quick succession, renewing Derbyshire's hopes. But Alexi Kervezee and Tom Kohler-Cadmore continued the defiance with a 64-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Although the hosts managed to send back the two batsmen, Kohler-Cadmore's stay until the 98th over along with Ross Whiteley and Ben Cox's unbeaten presence meant that Worcestershire denied Derbyshire an outright victory.
The hosts earned 12 points from the game which helped them vacate the bottom spot on the points table, moving up to seventh, while the six points for Worcestershire helped them consolidate their fifth position.
Brief scores: Derbyshire 467/5 dec. (Billy Godleman 204, Wayne Madsen 109; Joe Leach 2-90) drew with Worcestershire 164 (Ben Cox 40; Ben Cotton 4-28, Tony Palladino 4-32) & 294/6 f/o (Ed Barnard 73, Joe Clarke 63; Ben Cotton 2-34).
Sussex vs Northamptonshire
Persistent rain after the lunch break meant that only 29.1 overs were possible on day two of the County Championship Division Two game between Sussex and Northamptonshire at Arundel.
Resuming on their overnight score of 43 for 1, having bowled out Sussex for 178, Northamptonshire managed to reduce the deficit to 36 runs before rain consumed the second and the third sessions of play.
Ben Duckett (72) was involved in a 96-run stand for the second wicket with Alex Wakely before being the only batsman to be dismissed for the day. Wakely and Rob Keogh added 24 runs for the third wicket before the play was abandoned on day two.
Brief scores: Sussex 178 lead Northamptonshire 142/2 (Ben Duckett 72, Alex Wakely 46*; Ajmal Shahzad 1-14) by 36 runs.

Brian Vitori cleared to bowl after successful retest

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday (June 23) cleared Brian Vitori, the Zimbabwe pacer, to bowl in international and domestic cricket after his action was found to be legal, following the remedial work and retest performed at the University of Pretoria on June 10.
Vitori was reported by the on-field umpires for having a suspect action during the third Twenty20 International (T20I) against Bangladesh in Khulna in January 2016, and was subsequently banned from bowling.
A press release issued by the ICC stated, "At the retest, it was revealed that the amount of elbow extensions in Vitori's bowling action for all his deliveries that were tested was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC regulations for the review of bowlers reported with suspected illegal bowling actions."
However, the Zimbabwean pacer can be reported by the umpires in the future if his bowling action is found to be suspect.
The 26-year-old has played four Tests, 19 One-Day Internationals and 11 T20Is, bagging 42 international wickets.

I've always put my hand up for challenges: Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble, the former India captain, who was appointed as head coach of the Indian cricket team on Thursday (June 23), said it was 'a great honour' to take up the role and mentioned that he was eager to be back in the Indian dressing room, albeit in a different capacity.
Speaking after his appointment, the leading wicket-taker for India in Tests and One-Day Internationals (ODIs) said: "It's a great honour, to be back in the Indian dressing room, in a different role, in a different capacity, and I'd like to thank BCCI for showing faith in me and the cricket advisory committee (CAC) for showing faith in me.
"It's a huge responsibility, like I mentioned, but I've always put my hand up for challenges and I'm ready to take up this role. Coach's role, in my opinion, is always done in the background, players come first and that will be my approach. It's always the players first and the coaches come later," he added.
When asked if he has any strategies on taking Indian cricket forward, the 45-year-old said it's still early days but mentioned that he did have some plans in place and was eager to discuss them with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid as well as the stakeholders of Indian cricket and the current players.
"It's a bit too early for me to speak on all of that. Yes, there is a certain plan, obviously, and the immediate series that is coming up is the West Indies. Obviously the strategy is to win. I haven't really spoken to the players yet, this is just the first reaction. There's time to think about that, sit with the players and work out how to go about it.
"It's a great thing for Indian cricket (the CAC). Sourav [Ganguly], Sachin [Tendulkar] and [VVS] Laxman, the three of them have been in advisory roles. Sourav, of course, is in an administrative role as well. And then Rahul [Dravid] is in charge of the junior team. The five of us have had a wonderful relationship on the field, and off it as well. And I think all five of us will have to sit down and do what is needed for the best interests of Indian cricket. Of course, stakeholders as far as cricket is concerned will also come in. I'm certainly looking forward to working with all of them," he said.
Appointed as head coach for a period of 12 months, Kumble's first assignment will be the tour of West Indies, where India will play four Tests. The former legspinner will also have an important role to play during India's 2016-17 home season, that will feature as many as 13 Test matches apart from eight ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals.
"The plans are there. There is a short-term plan and long one as well. I have plans for the series ahead. But I cannot plan alone, I have to share my thoughts with the entire team. The players will also share their ideas. I'll also sit discuss with the CAC, Dravid and stake holders of Indian cricket on how to take the Indian team forward," said Kumble, who took over the role that was vacant since Duncan Fletcher's tenure came to an end after the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
Kumble admitted that the coach's job will not be an easy one, considering all the travel and the time away from family, and he thanked his family for being supportive when he first decided to apply for the job.
"I'm really honoured. I certainly felt this was the time for me to give back (to the game). I spoke about it with my family as well, it's not easy travelling 365 days. It's tough on the family, we had a long chat and they've been very supportive. It's not easy to travel again, I've been on that for 18 years. So that was the major decision and once that came about I thought this was the right time to give back," he said.
On the conflict of interest issue, that arises with Kumble owning a player-management firm, the former India skipper said it will be resolved before he officially assumes his role with the Indian team. "We have already discussed that and whatever needs to be done will be done before I take up this role officially. That's been discussed and it's clear with the BCCI as well, it's something that can be resolved," Kumble said.

Ireland to make Lord's debut in 2017

Ireland are set to make their maiden One-Day International (ODI) appearance at Lord's when they take on England on May 7, 2017, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) declared on Thursday (June 23).
The encounter will be the second of the two-match ODI series between the countries, with the first scheduled to be played at Brightside Ground in Bristol on May 5.
England and Ireland have faced off seven times in the format with only one bilateral series that the two have engaged in, played in Ireland in 2015. The more renowned of their encounters was the ICC World Cup 2011 clash where Kevin O'Brien belted a 50-ball century to help Ireland chase down 327 in Bangalore and stun their neighbours.
Ireland recently lost a two-match ODI series to Sri Lanka at home before the tourists kick-started the five-match ODI series against England - the first of which, ended in a tie.
Ireland's next assignment is a five-match ODI series against Afghanistan, which is set to begin on July 10.

Anil Kumble appointed head coach of India

Legendary spinner Anil Kumble has been appointed the new head coach of the Indian cricket team for a period of 12 months, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Thursday (June 23) at the board's inaugural cricket conclave in Dharamsala. The 45-year-old former legspinner fended off competition from 56 other applicants, including Ravi Shastri, India's former team director, to the top post.
After Duncan Fletcher's contract had expired following the ICC World Cup in 2015, the post of head coach was left vacant with Shastri being appointed team director for subsequent tours. Kumble takes over the side from Shastri, whose contract expired after the World Twenty20.
Kumble's name for the role was put forth by the three-member advisory committee comprising of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, headed by Sanjay Jagdale, the former BCCI secretary, who interviewed the shortlisted applicants about their goals and ambition for the future of Indian cricket. Kumble's presentation on taking Indian cricket forward and potential steps to achieve top ranking in every format is said to have been the clincher in his appointment.
"He (Kumble) has been a match winner of India," board president Anurag Thakur said during the announcement. "It was not about Indian or foreign coach. It was about who is the best for Indian cricket. We have kept it very transparent. Their presentations... how they can take Indian cricket forward. We have the largest cricket fans in the world. We have the strongest economies. I think Indian cricket deserves the best and we have Kumble with us. His record speaks for himself, as far as winning matches for India is concerned. "
Despite not meeting two important criteria set for the aspirants - not having any previous coaching experience at first-class or international level and not being a certified coach - Kumble brings with him a wealth of international experience, having featured in 132 Tests and 271 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) during an illustrious career than spanned 18 years. He has also served as a mentor for Indian Premier League franchises Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians besides serving in administrative roles as the president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and the chairman of the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
Thakur confirmed that the composition of the support staff, including the batting, bowling and the fielding coaches will be revealed later. BCCI secretary, Ajay Shirke also ensured that Kumble's appointment will lead to no conflict of interest repercussions pertaining to his role with 'TenVic' - Kumble's player management firm that manages the interests of several Karnataka players among others.
"Conflict of interest has become a fashionable word. All the concerns regarding that have been addressed. There will be no conflict of interest when he takes over," Shirke said.
Kumble's first assignment will be India's four-Test tour of West Indies, starting July 21. He will join the team at the pre-tour camp at the NCA, starting June 29.

Champions Trophy likely to be scrapped after 2021

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is contemplating scrapping the Champions Trophy after the 2021 edition, according to reports on ESPNcricinfo. The tournament was set to be abolished in 2013, but following its success, it was decided to stage another edition in 2017 in England instead of the inaugural World Test Championship.
If the new One-Day International (ODI) League does crop up from 2019, next year's tournament in England could be the last time we see teams fighting it out for what is usually termed as the 'mini World Cup'. The league could see 13 teams playing each other over a period of three years with the top teams clashing in a play-off in 2022.
Since the ICC is not in favour of having three competitions for the 50-over format, the 2021 edition in India might not take place. In such a scenario, India might get to host the 2022 or the 2024 World Twenty20 since the recommendation to stage the competition every two years once is likely to be approved at the ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh. And hence the ICC will not look at the potential commercial loss by scrapping a tournament which was quite popular last time.
The Champions Trophy is usually played across three weeks and consists of 15 matches. Next year's edition will see Bangladesh playing in the tournament at the expense of West Indies. India are the defending champions after they beat hosts England in the final in 2013. India also won it back in 2002 when they shared the trophy with Sri Lanka. Australia have also won it twice, winning it in 2006 and then becoming the first team to retain it successfully in 2009.

Minhajul Abedin appointed Bangladesh chief selector

Minhajul Abedin as the new chief selector two days after Faruque Ahmed announced his resignation from the post. Abedin has been a selector since 2011. Habibul Bashar, who was to take care of women's selection, has been brought back to his old position as selector for the men's senior team.
The BCB appointed
"We have appointed Minhajul Abedin as the chief selector," BCB president Nazmul Hassan said. "We have also brought back Habibul Bashar to this panel after we had asked him to be the women's selector, because we have lost Faruque."
At a board meeting on Sunday, the BCB expanded the selection panel to also include include head coach Chandika Hathurusingha, team manager Khaled Mahmud and cricket operations chairman Akram Khan.
Faruque had been named chief selector, but stepped down hours after the announcement saying the new system wouldn't help Bangladesh cricket. He felt involvement of board members in the selection process would be too much of an interference.
BCB chief Nazmul Hassan defended the change saying, "there wasn't a single time that I didn't have to interfere with the team Faruque submitted to me. We had to sit with them every time. So I have created this new system so that I have minimum interference in selection."
Abedin was happy to take on the mantle of chief selector. He was considered one of Bangladesh's best batsmen prior to their achieving Test status in 2000. He has played 27 ODIs as well and led the team in the 1990 Asia Cup.
"If there were any interferences we wouldn't be able to work in the last five years," Abedin said. "I think it is better not to think about these things and try to take Bangladesh cricket forward. I think the new system is more like what we have been doing previously where we have to approve the team from the cricket operations chairman and then to the board president."

Mahmud conduit between players and coach - Hassan

Nazmul Hassan has said the decision to include Bangladesh team manager Khaled Mahmud in the selection committee was a result of lack of communication between the players and coach Chandika Hathurusingha. In a heated press conference in Mirpur on Wednesday, Hassan said he was tired of explaining why he changed the selection structure from a three-member to a six-member committee.
BCB president
Explaining the reason behind the manager's inclusion, Hassan mentioned an incident during the World T20, when he attended a team meeting and found the Bangladesh players not challenging Hathurusingha. He said the players often used Mahmud as their envoy to push for suggestions regarding team selection but they were not approaching Hathurusingha directly.
Hassan said Mahmud, after informing him of these suggestions, would relay the message to Hathurusingha. To relieve himself of getting too involved in selection matters, Hassan has included Mahmud in the selection committee, where he will act as the captains' representative.
"I have to explain this out of disappointment," Hassan said. "You know that I am very much involved with the players. During the World Cup and the World T20, I attended the team meetings. I saw there that the coach gives a strategic plan for every aspect of the match, in a lot of detail.
"Unfortunately, I saw that our players didn't challenge the coach but when I got out of their meeting room, couple of the players walked out with me. They told me that there has to be some changes made, mainly about selection. I asked them, 'Why didn't you tell him in the meeting?' But they don't get into any argument with the coach, whether it is the captain or the other players.
"When I don't attend these meetings, they communicate via the manager Sujon [Mahmud], who conveys it to me and I have to tell the coach. I don't want to be involved in these things. So I thought that I should have lesser involvement in these matters. We can't run things in this way so this is why I have included the manager in the selection committee. The only person who could have a problem with the manager in this committee is the captain. But he is fine with it, so why does the selector have a problem with it?"
It is extremely rare for a BCB president to reveal such details from within the Bangladesh dressing room. Hathurusingha has been hailed as instrumental to the team's successes in 2015, with many players suggesting he has given them freedom to express themselves in every match situation.
While Hathurusingha has had public fallings-out with the chief selector Faruque Ahmed and former cricket operations chairman Naimur Rahman, he has never publicly criticised any Bangladesh player. Nor has any player spoken of communication difficulties with Hathurusingha.
When contacted, a number of Bangladesh players refused to comment on the board president taking about the team's private matters. Hassan admitted he wasn't supposed to reveal such information in a press conference but he succumbed to the continuous questioning about Mahmud's inclusion in the revamped selection committee.
"Is it a good thing that I just said that our captains and players are scared of the coach?" Hassan said. "This news will now spread around the world but you won't leave me alone until I say all these things."

Six appeal marks brave new era for focussed England

Over the next month, expectations will be tempered through the usual stutters that cricket serves up to keep its incumbents in check. But, for today at least, England's women were flawless in their execution of an attacking approach that looks to be moving away from PowerPoint presentations and straight into their veins. Today, new era meant new records.
Their total of 378 for 5 was the third highest score they have managed in ODI cricket and the fourth-highest for any team. No England team had scored more sixes in an ODI (11 today), while not one England player had hit more than one six in their innings before three did so here. Lauren Winfield and Tammy Beaumont registered maiden ODI hundreds and, in the process, scored 235 to set a new record for the highest opening stand in the format. Their partnership was also the sixth-highest for any ODI wicket. No team, male or female, has scored more in 50 overs at New Road.
Winfield and Beaumont showed their intent from the start, sent in to bat after Pakistan won the toss. The first ODI was the first time they had opened together at the highest level, despite spending their undergraduate years defacing the record books at Loughborough University. Where previously they took turns stating their case for the same England spot with the other watching on, here for 231 deliveries, they united to dispel past frustrations.

Beaumont and Winfield thrive in new era

England centurion Tammy Beaumont admitted she was pleased to put to one side a turbulent few weeks for England's women and launch a new era in style.
"There has been a lot of talk outside of our camp about this series and it is nice to go out there and just let our cricket do the talking," she said.
"Obviously we have got a very young bunch of players here but we are really looking forward to the future at the moment. Heather (Knight) has got off to a flying start [as captain] and we are glad to be a part of it."
Lauren Winfield, who made 123, added: "We are playing good cricket. It's not always necessarily about getting the results. It's how you go about getting those results.
"It's about scoring a lot of runs and bowling sides out and that's what we've managed to do in the last two games and it's important we keep playing our cricket that way."

Beaumont had shed some baggage at the World T20, and it showed: the post-boundary swaggers might well have been set to music. Winfield, however, has had to wait until now for that moment. Her 32 internationals before today had reaped just one half-century.
For a punchy, straight-shooting individual, a timidity had crept into her game. Head coach Mark Robinson was almost bemused by her poor record after seeing her at close quarters.
When she failed to make the World T20 squad, Robinson took her to one side: "Somehow, we have to get you in this team," he told her. Winfield's beaming smile at the end was only matched by Robinson's.
There was an element of ruthlessness to the approach of both openers. Perhaps the moment that typified the callousness of the opening assault was the muted tip of the helmet from Winfield as she brought up three figures. There was nothing in her reaction to suggest this was her first international hundred, or that she was carrying a diamond duck from the first ODI in her back pocket.
The pair were watchful for the first six overs, scoring 19 while assessing the pitch and sharing notes. Satisfied, they brought up England's century just 10 overs later. Greeted with a lack of pace off the pitch, as Pakistan cycled through their bowling options to frustrate, they did not resort to swinging across the line. Instead, they waited: Beaumont in particular used her wrists to dollop an extra serving on her shots through cover, while maintaining a strong base.
Going stroke for stroke, it was Winfield who won the race to 100, off 106 balls. Beaumont followed 11 deliveries later, taking a slightly risky single to cover off her 114th ball that had her cursing from the start then dusty and elated as she dived for the crease before raising her arms to salute the crowd and embrace her opening partner.
While the manner in which the runs were scored spoke of freedom, everything around them reeked focus. During the World T20, England's first six of the competition, against Bangladesh in Bangalore, was cheered raucously by the dug-out. In their final group match in Chennai, against Pakistan, Charlotte Edwards punched the air sarcastically after stepping across her stumps and lapping over her shoulder - a shot she had been honing in the build-up to the tournament and subsequently pulled off perfectly.
Perhaps another time twin tons and breaching 300 in such devastating fashion would have broken out the bunting. Instead, the assault kept going as Nat Sciver walked in to lead the heist of 132 from the last 10 overs.
The numbers tell Sciver's story: 80 off 33 balls, 22 for the fifty (the fastest recorded in women's ODIs) and seven sixes. Most were down the ground, but her second, off Nina Dar, was obscene: a slog sweep taken on the up which threatened Worcester Cathedral at midwicket. Sciver, like most of this England team, struggles to talk herself up. With striking like that, she can let the stats do the singing.
Without wishing to be the one that brings warm milk to the house party, England did benefit from 55-yard boundaries and a woeful effort in the field from Pakistan. In the estimation of Sana Mir, Pakistan's captain, this was a chastening performance that needs to be learned from rather than forgotten.
Three changes were made from the side that lost the opening rubber at Grace Road, most notably Anam Amin, one of the world's top left-arm spinners, who sat out this match after sustaining a hand injury in that match. Without her, there was no threat in the middle overs: no fear of either of these right-handers being done on the outside edge. Pace bowler Maham Tariq arrived in the UK yesterday and was drafted in to take the second over.
That the 235 opening stand was the highest partnership for any wicket in the last seven years - a period in which the women's international game has improved exponentially - speaks volumes. Mismatches like this are harder to come by nowadays. Pakistan were never a part of this contest. If this were a boxing match, they would have had to pay at the door.
What limited resistance they offered came from the bat of Bismah Maroof, as they fell 212 short chasing a target they were never going to reach, in the midst of an opposition fielding effort that was never going to reciprocate their generosity.
Vice-captain Anya Shrubsole and Katherine Brunt dovetailed with 4 for 19 and 2 for 27 respectively. Sciver nabbed two herself, while Danni Wyatt marked her territory at backward point with direct-hit run outs of Nahida Khan and Mir. Maroof managed a tenth ODI fifty, but when she caved, that was that.
To step back from this match, England needed a performance to justify high-profile turnovers and Robinson's faith in youth. As far as statements go, this was emphatic.