Thursday, October 6, 2016

Kohli heaps praise on Jadeja, Saha after series win

On winning on non-turning tracks too...
Why didn't you come in so many press conferences? I was waiting (laughs). I feel all those questions are to take the focus away from the team. We don't believe in that. Because we have to go and play cricket ourselves. We can't think of external factors. We never do. Our aim is to win games of cricket anywhere and everywhere we play. We have shown that over the past one-and-a-half years. So we don't go out there to prove anything to anyone. That we have a challenging win and we have to win because people are asking questions. We are doing our job, people are doing theirs. That's how the balance goes. Its basically what you want to entertain and what you don't want to entertain. As simple as that. But when we go on to the pitch we have control of what we can achieve. We understand our abilities. We have enough belief in our abilities to play good cricket anywhere. Not putting pressure of winning on challenging wickets, but believing in ourselves to execute our plans to the best of our abilities.

Bangladesh have confidence and belief to bounce back: Mortaza

Mashrafe Mortaza, Bangladesh's captain for the abridged versions of the game, observed that the Asian country has put up consistent performances over a period of time and that one defeat against Afghanistan in the second One-Day International (ODI) played in Dhaka shouldn't erase all the good work done by Bangladesh in the recent past.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

ICC starts process to reinstate Cricket Association of Nepal

An International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation consisting of David Richardson, the ICC chief executive, and Imran Khwaja, the ICC chairman of Associate, met Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the prime minister of Nepal, on Sunday (September 4) to chart out a way to reinstate Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN).

Phehlukwayo among three uncapped players in South Africa's ODI squads

Andile Phehlukwayo, the 20-year-old Dolphins seamer, has been picked in South Africa's One-Day International squads for the forthcoming series against Ireland and Australia. Phehlukwayo is among three new caps, alongside top-order batsman Temba Bavuma and all-rounder Dwaine Pretorious, in line for an ODI debut during the upcoming limited-overs swing for South Africa. While Phehlukwayo finds a mention in both squads, Pretorious and Bavuma have been included only for the one-off game against Ireland.

Neesham back in New Zealand Test team for India tour

James Neesham has returned to the New Zealand Test squad for their three-Test tour of India. The 25-year-old has been reinstated for the first time since he left last year's series in Australia after suffering a back injury.

Very difficult to pick the googly under lights: Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara came up with a fluent 166 against India Green to power India Blue to 707 at stumps on Day 2 of the Duleep Trophy clash at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground on Monday (September 5). However, the right-hander acknowledged that it was little difficult to pick the variations under lights.

Whoever masters the mind-games will be the best: Ponting

Comparisons count for little and it all boils down to who "masters the mind games the best", which would eventually decide who is the best batsman in the world, said Ricky Ponting, when he was asked to pick the best batsman in world cricket currently. While Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Steven Smith and Kane Williamson are among the most-discussed batsmen in recent years, Ponting sees them all in the same boat.

Alzarri Joseph, Kraigg Brathwaite named in West Indies ODI squad

Chris Gayle won't be part of the West Indies squad for the limited-overs series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates after the burly left-hander made himself unavailable for selection for the tour. The West Indies selectors name Evin Lewis, Alzarri Joseph and Kraigg Brathwaite in the One-Day International (ODI) squad on Monday (September 5).

Taskin Ahmed, Arafat Sunny hopeful of getting their actions cleared

Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny, the Bangladesh bowlers, are upbeat that their action will be cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after they take the test in Brisbane on September 8. The duo will fly out to Australia with Chandika Hathurusingha, the Bangladesh coach.

Almost three-quarters of international cricketers are favouring separate windows for domestic Twenty20 competitions around the globe, a survey conducted by the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations has revealed. Almost 200 professional cricketers, including 111 internationals took part in the survey and 72% indicated that they would welcome 'the introduction of a divisional Test competition'. Perhaps the most worrying stat was that 52% of the players admitted that they would reject a national contract in order to play the domestic T20 leagues but 75% of them suggested that an increase in pay would help them commit to international cricket. "It is clear that there is a groundswell of opinion around the world that the current structure of international cricket is not serving the game globally, and that the status quo is not good enough for the long-term future success of cricket," Tony Irish, FICA executive chairman, said on Monday (September 5). "The entire cricket economy, including all professional players - both international and domestic - is highly dependent on international cricket. To ensure its survival, the game needs to evolve. "It has many strengths and its rich history must be protected, but it is time to significantly move the game forward. That is not an easy task, but thinking globally, and not based on regional or country interests, is a good place to start." Irish admitted that international cricket could start losing a lot of top players to the T20 leagues. "We know from our player surveys that they are facing a conflict between international cricket and domestic T20 cricket leagues," he said. "This is a fundamental issue that we want any future structure of the game to address. Our concern is that if nothing is done, international cricket may very soon lose more and more of its best players to free agency and the T20 leagues. It is time for global, collective thinking." South Africa's Test and One-Day International skipper AB de Villiers urged the need for Test matches to have some meaning to it and has given his nod for two-tier Test cricket. "We have already raised our intensity and urgency just knowing that a Test league might happen," de Villiers said. "There is nothing like the pressure and adrenaline that comes with knowing you need to win matches. It's time for all international matches to have more meaning." West Indies in the last few years have lost some of their leading cricketers to some of the biggest T20 domestic tournaments around the world and have been forced to field a weakened team. Jason Holder, the current ODI and Test captain, believes that separate windows for lucrative T20 tournaments can prevent players from making a choice between international cricket and domestic T20 leagues. "Creating windows [for T20 leagues] would make the whole situation a lot easier as players would not be forced to choose. If players could play both domestic T20 and international cricket, it would definitely help to keep players in international cricket." Australian captain Steven Smith believes that the players 'have a close up view of what's happening' and hence wants the ICC to listen to them. "We want our best players to be on the park as much as possible playing for our countries, and at the moment that isn't always happening," Smith conceded. "Players should absolutely have a say in the future of the game. We are the ones out there doing the job and it is important we are involved in decision making."

Joe Root, the mainstay of England's batting line-up across formats, has leapfrogged Kane Williamson, Martin Guptill and Rohit Sharma to climb to No.4 in the latest International Cricket Council's (ICC) rankings for One-Day International batsmen released on Monday (September 5). The 25-year-old top-order batsman compiled 274 runs in the five-match ODI series against Pakistan.

Players in favour of separate windows for T20 leagues

Almost three-quarters of international cricketers are favouring separate windows for domestic Twenty20 competitions around the globe, a survey conducted by the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations has revealed. Almost 200 professional cricketers, including 111 internationals took part in the survey and 72% indicated that they would welcome 'the introduction of a divisional Test competition'.

Thisara Perera, Senanayake recalled to Sri Lanka's T20I squad

All-rounder Thisara Perera and spinner Sachithra Senanayake were amongst a host of players who have been handed a recall to the Sri Lanka Twenty20 International (T20I) team for the upcoming two-match series against Australia at home. All-rounder Ramith Rambukwella, Danushka Gunathilaka and Niroshan Dickwella have all lost their spots in the side.

Three uncapped pacers make Australia squad for South Africa ODIs

Three uncapped pacemen have been named in Australia's One-Day International squad for the tour of South Africa staring later this month.

Century in Sri Lanka a 'sigh of relief': David Warner

David Warner, Australia's interim captain, admits scoring a drought-breaking century in the finale of the One-Day International series against Sri Lanka was a "sigh of relief".

The 30-year-old scored 106 to steer Australia to a five-wicket victory and a comprehensive 4-1 series win against Sri Lanka. It was Warner's seventh ODI hundred and the first by an Australian in an away one-day series against Sri Lanka.

We have shown lot of strength throughout this series: Eoin Morgan

Despite ending up on the losing side in the final One Day International (ODI) against Pakistan at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Sunday (September 4), England managed an emphatic 4-1 series win, and limited-overs skipper Eoin Morgan attributed it to "outstanding" performance from the team throughout the series.

Australia retain No. 1 spot, England remain at No. 5

Australia's 4-1 series win against Sri Lanka and England's similar finish in the series against Pakistan helped them consolidate their positions in the latest One Day International (ODI) rankings released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday (September 4).

Chris Lynn, Aaron Finch ruled out of Sri Lanka T20Is

Chris Lynn and Aaron Finch are the latest to join the list of injured Australians in their ongoing tour of Sri Lanka. Lynn has been ruled out of the two-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series with a dislocated shoulder, while Finch also won't participate in the T20I matches after fracturing his index finger on Sunday (September 4) during the final One Day International (ODI) in Pallekele, which the visitors won to seal a 4-1 finish.

See myself more as a mentor: Walsh

Courtney Walsh, the newly appointed Bangladesh bowling coach, has said he sees himself more as a mentor than a coach for the Bangladesh bowlers. Walsh, addressed the media in Dhaka on Sunday (September 4), after signing a contract with the Bangladesh Cricket Board till the 2019 World Cup.

Would love the chance to lead Australia's attack: Hastings

John Hastings, the recalled Australian paceman, certainly fits the hackneyed adage that a week is a long time in sports.

One week ago, the 30-year-old was in Sri Lanka preparing for the upcoming Twenty20 series but unexpectedly found himself drafted into Australia's One-Day International team after Nathan Coulter-Nile was sent home with a back injury.

Mohammad Irfan ruled out of remainder of England tour

Mohammad Irfan, the Pakistan left-arm pacer, has been ruled out of the remainder of the England tour due to fitness issues, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Saturday (September 3). Fellow paceman Hasan Ali, who is set to feature in the final One Day International (ODI) against England on Sunday, has been named Irfran's replacement in the Pakistan squad for the one-off Twenty20 International (T20I).