Category: International Cricket

Unwell Curran isolating after bowing out of England warm-up

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“Illness – England’s Sam Curran . ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – England all-rounder Sam Curran went into self-isolation and had a test for the coronavirus after illness forced him out of the team’s lone warm-up match on Thursday ahead of next week’s first Test against the West Indies. Curran was 15 not out at stumps on Wednesday’s opening day of three at the Ageas Bowl, also the venue for the first of a three-Test series. But he experienced sickness and diarrhoea overnight. Following medical protocols established for the bio-secure campaign,…

England-West Indies Test dedicated to Strauss charity

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“Former England captain Andrew Strauss and his sons dressed in red to show support for the Ruth Strauss Foundation at Lord’s in 2019. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – The third Test between England and the West Indies will be dedicated to the work of the Ruth Strauss Foundation, which raises money for families facing the death of a parent from cancer. The second day of the match at Old Trafford, July 25, will see the return of the #RedForRuth initiative, which began during last year’s Ashes clash at Lord’s and…

Australia revert to using Kookaburra balls only in domestic cricket

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“Australian bowler James Pattinson fields a Kookaburra ball during a Test against New Zealand in January this year. ©AFP” /> Sydney (AFP) – Australia on Thursday announced plans to ditch the English Dukes ball in domestic cricket and revert to using only the traditional Kookaburra for the next Sheffield Shield season. Cricket Australia introduced the Dukes ball in 2016 and they were used in the second half of each Shield season to try to accustom players to conditions in England, where Australian batsmen had often struggled. Dukes balls tend to…

India’s Manohar steps down as ICC chairman

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“Shashank Manohar’s tenure was marked by reforms to the ICC. ©AFP” /> New Delhi (AFP) – India’s Shashank Manohar stepped down as chairman of the International Cricket Council on Wednesday after four years in office. The 62-year-old successfully spearheaded efforts to restructure the ICC while in office, curbing the dominance of Australia, India and England — cricket’s three wealthiest nations. He became the ICC’s first independent chairman in 2016 and was elected unopposed for a second term two years later but said recently he was ready to step down. “On…

England Ashes hero Bresnan joins Warwickshire

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“Former England paceman Tim Bresnan has joined Warwickshire after leaving Yorkshire. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – Former England paceman Tim Bresnan has joined Warwickshire, it was announced on Tuesday. The 35-year-old, released by his native Yorkshire earlier this month, will spend the 2020 campaign on loan with Birmingham-based Warwickshire. Bresnan has also agreed a subsequent two-year deal with the Bears, subject to clearance by the England and Wales Cricket Board. “It’s happened very quickly, within a week really,” said Bresnan.”I’ve still got a desire to play and a desire to…

Pakistan cricket squad in UK test negative for coronavirus

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“Pakistan cricketers Sarfaraz Ahmed (left) and Asad Shafiq. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – All 20 players and 11 management personnel in the Pakistan touring party have tested negative for coronavirus since arriving in Britain, the England and Wales Cricket Board said Tuesday. The ECB added that England’s latest round of tests, for their training group and management conducted on Monday had also yielded a complete set of negative results. England players and staff have now had three COVID-19 tests. The ECB’s announcement followed a statement from Pakistan that six more…

English county cricket season to start on August 1

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“The English county cricket season will start on August 1. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – The English county cricket season will start on August 1, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Monday. The format has still to be decided, although the ECB said this was “due to be agreed” by the 18 first-class counties in early July. Officials had previously announced that the inaugural edition of the Hundred franchise competition had been scrapped because of the coronavirus pandemic. The first Test between England and the West Indies behind closed…

Broad uses sports psychologist to prepare for Tests without fans

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“Broad has spoken to a sports psychologist to prepare for matches behind closed doors. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – England pace bowler Stuart Broad has spoken to a sports psychologist to prepare for Test cricket’s return behind closed doors. England start a three-Test series against the West Indies in Southampton on July 8, but fans will be absent due to the coronavirus. Broad thrives on the tension of Test battles and, while he doesn’t think it will be impossible to shine in the silence of empty stadiums, he opted to…

Coronavirus-depleted Pakistan cricket squad leave for England

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“Pakistan cricketers Babar Azam (right), Imad Wasim (left) and Imam-ul-Haq (centre) arrive to check in at the Allama Iqbal International airport in Lahore before their departure for England. ©AFP” /> Lahore (Pakistan) (AFP) – The Pakistan cricket squad left Sunday for their England tour without 10 players who had tested positive for coronavirus. Test skipper Azhar Ali said Pakistan the tourists were looking forward to playing in what will be some of the first Test matches since the COVID-19 pandemic sparked a global lockdown. “All the players are excited after…

West Indies to wear ‘Black Lives Matter’ logo for England Tests

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Black Lives Matter” logos are being worn by Premier League players. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – The West Indies cricket team will wear “Black Lives Matter” logos on their shirts during next month’s Test series against England in a show of solidarity with the global movement. The tourists will follow the lead of English Premier League footballers during the three-Test series, which starts at the Ageas Bowl on July 8. The move comes after the death of African-American George Floyd in US police custody last month. The logo, which has…