Category: International Cricket

Three West Indies cricketers turn down England tour

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“Darren Bravo has made nearly 200 appearances for the West Indies across all three formats. ©AFP” /> St. John’s (Antigua and Barbuda) (AFP) – Veteran bat ]]> <![CDATA[ sman Darren Bravo was among three West Indies cricketers to turn down a place in the squad for next month’s three-Test tour of England, Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced Wednesday. Also missing out are fellow batsman Shimron Hetmyer and fast-bowling all-rounder Keemo Paul. “Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul all declined the invitation to travel to England for the tour and…

No place for Hales or Plunkett as England name 55-man training group

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“Frozen out – Alex Hales was omitted from the England training group announced Friday. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – Alex Hales and World Cup-winner Liam Plunkett were both left out of a mammoth 55-man England training group announced Friday. But 14 uncapped players were selected as England look to stage a full Test and limited-overs programme against West Indies, Pakistan, Ireland and Australia, despite the coronavirus delaying the start of their home season until at least July. Among those recalled was David Willey, who lost his place in the one-day…

Uncertainty over next chairman as ICC denies T20 World Cup is postponed

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“International Cricket Council chairman Shashank Manohar . ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – Shashank Manohar is prepared to stay on as International Cricket Council chairman to oversee a “smooth transition” following reports that former India captain Sourav Ganguly is considering standing, the ICC said Wednesday. Indian administrator Manohar, who became the ICC’s first independent chairman in 2016, has ruled out a third term in office. The game’s global governing body said no final decision had been taken regarding the election process but the subject would be discussed further on Thursday. There…

Australia set dates for COVID-threatened India cricket tour

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“India played an ODI against Australia in in Melbourne in January 2019. ©AFP” /> Sydney (AFP) – Australia announced dates for India’s lucrative Test cricket tour as the centrepiece of a busy home season on Thursday, but admitted that plans remained in flux because of the coronavirus. Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts said the picture was “evolving every day” as he unveiled men’s fixtures against Zimbabwe, the West Indies and Afghanistan, as well as India. Australia are also due to host the men’s Twenty20 World Cup in October and November.…

No domestic cricket in England until August – ECB

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“Fresh delay — There will be no domestic cricket in England until August 1 at the earliest . ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – There will be no domestic cricket i ]]> <![CDATA[ n England until August 1 at the earliest, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Thursday. The start of the English season had already been twice delayed by the outbreak of the coronavirus, but the previous start date of July 1 has now been pushed back another month by the pandemic. England’s postponed Test series at home…

‘God of cricket’ Tendulkar looms over India prodigy Shaw

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“Prithvi Shaw is regarded as one of Indian cricket’s biggest talents. ©AFP” /> New Delhi (AFP) – Comparisons to India’s “god of cricket” Sachin Tenduldar. the domestic Ranchi and Duleep tournaments in 2017. He then led India to victory at the Under-19 World Cup, and burst into the Test team in 2018 with a match-winning 134 against West Indies, becoming the youngest Indian to score a century on debut at 18 years, 10 months and 25 days. But since then, the boyish batsman has followed a rocky path. An ankle…

Saliva ban may make cricket ‘boring’, says Starc

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“Mitchell Starc said more leeway should be given to bowlers while shining the ball with saliva is banned. ©AFP” /> Sydney (AFP) – Australian paceman Mitchell Starc warned Tuesday that cricket risks becoming “pretty boring” if ball-tampering rules are not relaxed in response to a coronavirus-linked ban on using saliva to shine the ball. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to implement the ban in June after receiving medical advice that spit poses a COVID-19 transmission risk. Bowlers traditionally get the ball to move in the air, deceiving the…

India’s Kohli says father refused to bribe way into team

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“Virat Kohli lost his father at the age of 18. ©AFP” /> New Delhi (AFP) – India captain Virat Kohli has told how his late father refused to pay a bribe to get him into a Delhi state junior team when he was a teenager. The world’s top ranked one-day batsman did not identify who had demanded the bribe but said he was rejected by the team, a rebuff that left him “broken”. “In my home state…sometimes things happen that are not fair,” the Times of India newspaper and other…

Saliva on ball, neutral umpires set to be axed due to virus

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“Former Australia bowler Ryan Harris shines the ball. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – Cricketers are set to be banned from using saliva to shine the ball due to the coronavirus pandemic, following recommendations by the International Cricket Council. The ICC’s influential cricket committee met via conference call on Monday and made the recommendations after a briefing from the governing body’s medical advisory committee. It was unanimously agreed that the “elevated risk of transmission” caused by polishing the ball using spit meant the traditional method must be shelved for now, though…

West Indies players will not be forced to tour England: chief

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“England Test captain Joe Root (left) and West Indies skipper Jason Holder. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – West Indies cricketers will not be “coerced” into touring England if they are reluctant to do so during the coronavirus crisis, according to West Indies chief executive Johnny Grave. The Caribbean side are due to travel to play a three-Test series, which has been postponed until July at the earliest. Grave said a “wide pool” of players had been consulted and none of them would be obliged to tour. “There will be no…