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West Indies ‘flexible’ over England tour as ECB weigh overseas offers

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“West Indies beat England 2-1 in a three-match Test series in the Caribbean at the start of 2019. ©AFP” London (AFP) – Cricket West Indies have said they are “flexible” about rearranging their tour of England but will not risk their players’ health just to complete a three-Test series. The fixtures were all due to take place in June but Friday saw the England and Wales Cricket Board extend the delay to the start of its season until July 1. English officials remain hopeful they can reschedule all international fixtures…

Archer finds his World Cup medal at last

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“Medal find – Jofra Archer was a key figure in England’s 2019 World Cup triumph. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – England’s Jofra Archer said Sunday he’d finally found his World Cup winner’s medal after “going mad” looking for the prized possession following a house move. The 25-year-old Sussex fast bowler published a photograph of the medal on a bed with the caption: “Randomly searching the guest bedroom and boom.” Archer, when previously asked about the whereabouts of his medal, told BBC Radio on Saturday: “I had it hanging off a…

England cricket captain Knight concerned for women’s sport post-virus

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“Concerns – England captain Heather Knight (right) has worries about the future of women’s sport following the coronavirus outbreak. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – England women’s cricket captain Heather Knight revealed on Sunday her “worry” that all women’s sport could get left behind once the coronavirus pandemic ends. Sport around the world has been left in limbo by COVID-19 and now there are concerns that cash-strapped governing bodies, desperate to regain lost income, will prioritise money-spinning men’s events over generally less lucrative women’s fixtures when live action resumes. Asked if…

Dhoni won’t play for India again, says IPL teammate Harbhajan

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“India’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni hasn’t played since last year’s World Cup. ©AFP” /> New Delhi (AFP) – Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh said he doesn’t think Mahendra Singh Dhoni will play for India again, adding to the guessing game over the future of the superstar former captain. Dhoni, 38, has not appeared for club or country since last year’s 50-over World Cup and India’s coronavirus lockdown could threaten his chances of getting back into the national team. The Indian Premier League, the main platform before this year’s scheduled T20 World Cup,…

Tendulkar’s ‘Desert Storm’ voted his top ODI innings on birthday

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“A man walks past a mural of former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. ©AFP” /> New Delhi (AFP) – A blistering 143 scored against Australia in 1998 was voted Sachin Tendulkar’s greatest one-day innings in an International Cricket Council poll released for his 47th birthday. The 131-ball knock, with nine fours and five sixes, became known as the ‘Desert Storm’ after a sand storm in Sharjah interrupted India’s chase.Tendulkar took on the likes of Shane Warne, Damien Fleming and Michael Kasprowicz but his side lost. Tendulkar’s blitz narrowly edged…

Virus test key to English cricket season, says ECB chief

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“Will there be any cricket in England this summer?. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – England cricket chief Tom Harrison says the fate of the season depends on access to coronavirus testing as officials work to cushion the financial blow for struggling counties. But the England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive warned fans that the sport would be a long way down the pecking order in terms of getting hold of testing equipment. The ECB announced on Friday that the start of the 2020 season had been pushed back again…

England’s Anderson, Broad set Ashes target

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“England’s Stuart Broad (L) and James Anderson have their sights on one last Ashes series. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – England pace bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad have set their sights on a final Ashes series in Australia before they consider retirement. Anderson and Broad are first and second respectively in England’s list of all-time Test wicket-takers, but both are entering the twilight of their careers. Anderson is 37 and has endured a series of injury problems over the last 12 months. Although Broad is four years younger than…

Handscomb optimistic Australia will hold T20 World Cup

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“Peter Handscomb (R) said there were positive signs for Australian sport. ©AFP” /> Sydney (AFP) – Australia batsman Peter Handscomb said he was hopeful the Twenty20 World Cup would proceed as planned later this year, citing signs other Australian sports were preparing to end COVID-19-related suspensions. All sports including cricket are currently on hold in Australia and strict travel restrictions have cast doubt on whether the 16-nation tournament will go ahead in October and November. But Australia’s success in containing the virus has seen the National Rugby League and Australian…

Banned cricket hero Shakib auctions bat for Bangladesh virus victims

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“Former Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan is revered at home despite being banned for two years for failing to report a match-fixing approach. ©AFP” /> Dhaka (AFP) – Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan, banned in October for failing to report a match-fixing attempt, raised almost $24,000 for the country’s coronavirus campaign by auctioning the bat he used to score 606 runs at last year’s World Cup. The winning bidder at the online auction Wednesday was a New York-based Bangladeshi, said Arif R. Hossain, co-founder of an organisation established to…

Family man Woakes ready for ‘quarantine’ Tests

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“Restrictions – England’s Chris Woakes is prepared for behind-closed-doors Tests at ‘bio-secure’ venues . ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – England paceman Chris Woakes believes players will accept being “quarantined” if that helps Test cricket resume following the coronavirus outbreak. Cricket worldwide has been brought to a standstill by the spread of COVID-19, with the start of the English season delayed until May 28 at the earliest. England are meant to begin a three-Test series against the West Indies on June 4 but it now looks increasingly likely those matches will…