Day: May 31, 2019

Finch relishes return of Australia pair Smith and Warner

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London (AFP) – Australia captain Aaron Finch says disgraced stars Steve Smith and David Warner will use the World Cup to restore their “world-class” credentials after their role in the infamous ball-tampering scandal in South Africa. Smith and Warner served 12-month bans following the “sandpaper-gate” incident in the Cape Town Test in March last year and Smith lost the Australia captaincy as a result. Both players are back in the Australia squad for the World Cup in England and Wales and are set to start their country’s first match of…

Rashid Khan: from refugee to Afghan World Cup star

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  Peshawar (Pakistan) (AFP) – Groomed on dusty pitches as a refugee, record-breaking Rashid Khan will face his toughest examination yet at the World Cup, with former coaches confident the Afghan can “dismantle” top batting line-ups. The world’s top-rated Twenty20 bowler from the war-torn nation last year made history as the fastest to reach 100 one-day international wickets. Aged just 20, and after a remarkable cricket upbringing shaped by years of conflict and displacement, Khan will on Saturday make his World Cup debut against defending champions Australia. “I am sure…

Australia’s Langer calls on fans not to boo Smith and Warner

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London (AFP) – Australia head coach Justin Langer has called on fans to show Steve Smith and David Warner respect in the World Cup and not jeer them. The pair, who both recently completed bans for ball-tampering, were given a hostile reception by the crowd at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton during Australia’s World Cup warm-up victory over England. There were audible boos, jeers, and chants of “cheat”, but Langer has urged supporters not to repeat that behaviour during the tournament itself. “You (the media) talk about earning respect, and…

Thomas, Gayle lead West Indies World Cup rout of Pakistan

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Nottingham (United Kingdom) (AFP) – West Indies crushed Pakistan by seven wickets in a one-sided contest at Trent Bridge on Friday as the two-time champions laid down a marker in their first match of the World Cup. Pakistan had no answer to the West Indies’ fast bowlers and were bundled out for a paltry 105 in just 21.4 overs — their second-lowest World Cup total. Man-of-the-match Oshane Thomas took four wickets and captain Jason Holder chipped in with three as Pakistan folded without much of a fight on the second…

England register opening win

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MARGATE/FL – USA : Jofra Archer showed why England could not leave him out of their final ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup squad as he bowled them to opening win against South Africa. In just his fourth ODI, Archer struck the early blows and made a later incision in his team’s defense of 311, 23 runs fewer than what they made when they batted first in the inaugural World Cup match in 1975, where they totaled 334 /4 against India. Then, successful chases of over 300 were considered the exception;…