Category: International Cricket

All-rounders Stokes and Holder to lead from the front

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“Captaincy challenge – England’s Ben Stokes. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – Two of the world’s best all-rounders in Ben Stokes and Jason Holder will be cap taining their respective sides when England face the West Indies in the first Test at Southampton starting Wednesday. Holder tops the ICC’s Test all-rounder rankings, with fellow paceman Stokes in second place as international cricket resumes for the first time since March 2 following the coronavirus lockdown. They both average in the 30s with the bat, with Holder’s bowling mark of 26.37 slightly more economical…

Lara warns West Indies ‘won’t last five days’ in England Tests

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“Former West Indies captain Brian Lara. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – West Indies great Brian Lara says the Caribbean side must try and beat “overwhelming favourites” England in four days because their batting is not strong enough to last five days. The three-Test series, which marks the return of international cricket after the coronavirus shutdown, starts on Wednesday in Southampton behind closed doors. Jason Holder’s tourists boast a powerful pace attack but their batsmen have struggled to post challenging totals in recent years. “They have to be able to pounce…

Stokes to follow Root advice and captain England ‘his way’

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“Ben Stokes will lead England in the first Test against the West Indies. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – Ben Stokes says he will captain England his own way in the first Test against the West Indies following advice from regular skipper Joe Root. Yorkshire batsman Root is missing the opening match of the bio-secure series starting on Wednesday — the first major international cricket fixture since March — to attend the birth of his second child. Vice-captain Stokes, who will lead the side in his absence, was asked by reporters…

England confirm Pakistan Test dates

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“Test cricket is returning in England after the coronavirus lockdown. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – England cricket chiefs on Monday confirmed dates and venues for Pakistan’s three-Test tour, with the series starting at Old Trafford on August 5. International cricket returns on Wednesday following the coronavirus lockdown when England play the first match of their three-Test series against the West Indies at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, followed by two matches at Old Trafford, in Manchester. The first match of the Pakistan series will also take place at Old Trafford, with…

West Indies unleash latest ‘Fab Four’ in England

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“Past and present – Former West Indies fast bowler Joel Garner in conversation with current captain Jason Holder. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – West Indies are set to field their latest fast-bowling quartet during this week’s first Test against England in Southampton, with the likes of Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach, captain Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph all vying to make an impact. The Caribbean has a long and proud history of producing top-class fast bowlers. AFP Sport looks back at some previous West Indies pace attacks in England: 1980: Andy…

India cricket captain Kohli faces conflict of interest probe

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“India captain Virat Kohli faces an inquiry into a potential conflict of interest regarding two business ventures. ©AFP” /> New Delhi (AFP) – India captain Virat Kohli faces an inquiry into a potential conflict of interest over his positions in two business ventures. DK Jain, ethics officer for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said late Sunday that a complaint by a state association member will be examined. Sanjeev Gupta, a member of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, has alleged that Kohli’s various posts are in violation…

Ganguly credits fitness for India’s fast bowling rise

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“Leading pace bowler: India’s Mohammed Shami. ©AFP” /> New Delhi (AFP) – India’s cricket chief Sourav Ganguly says improved fitness standards and a change in culture have led to the country developing one of the world’s best pace attacks. Spearheads Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah are part of a battery of five formidable quick bowlers that have helped change India’s traditional reliance on spin bowling. “You know culture has changed in India that we can be good fast bowlers,” Ganguly said in a chat hosted on the Board of Control…

De Kock named South African cricketer of year

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“De Kock (L) has been named South African cricketer of the year for the second time. ©AFP” /> Johannesburg (AFP) – Limited-overs captain Quinton de Kock was on Saturday named South Africa’s men’s cricketer of the year for the second time. The left-handed De Kock, 27, was comfortably South Africa’s best batsman in a year in which the national team won only one out of seven series across all formats. Wicketkeeper-batsman De Kock was South Africa’s leading run-scorer in five out of seven series and was the team’s top scorer in…

Moeen and Bairstow miss out on England squad for Windies opener

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“Missing out – Moeen Ali was omitted from England’s 13-man squad for the first Test against the West Indies. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow were both left out of England’s 13-man squad announced Saturday for next week’s first Test against the West Indies, with neither experienced player even among a list of nine reserves. Off-spinner Moeen had made himself available for Test cricket again after taking a break from the red-ball game. But although Moeen was included in England’s 30-strong training squad, England went with…

Sri Lanka drops WC cricket fixing probe for lack of evidence

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“Former Sri Lanka cricketer Mahela Jayawardene arrives to be interviewed by police in Colombo . ©AFP” /> Colombo (AFP) – Sri Lankan police on Friday dropped a criminal investigation into the 2011 cricket World Cup final, saying they found no evidence of match-fixing by players to let their Indian opponents win. The world governing body of the sport, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said it had also looked into the recent allegations and found no reason to doubt the integrity of the 2011 final, won by India. Former chief selector…