Tag: 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…

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…

Paine says Australia cricketers must adapt quickly after cutbacks

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“Tim Paine will lead Australia in their Test series against India later this year. ©AFP” /> Sydney (AFP) – Australia’s cricketers must forge a leaner, tighter Test team to cope with the coronavirus-related job losses forced on the sport, captain Tim Paine said Tuesday. Paine played down reports of tensions between the players and Cricket Australia but said the game’s elite had to come to terms with cutbacks related to the pandemic. That included losing long-time batting assistant Graeme Hick and other backroom staff when CA axed 40 jobs last…

West Indies’ Hope aiming for Test turnaround in England

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“West Indies batsman Shai Hope. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – West Indies batsman Shai Hope is aiming to achieve a “turnaround” in his Test career now he is back in England, the scene of his greatest triumph in the five-day format. Three years ago Hope became the first batsman to score two hundreds in a first-class match at Headingley as his side recorded a stunning five-wicket win over the hosts in the second Test. Yet those remain his only two centuries in 31 Tests, with Hope averaging a modest 27.23.…

Arthur says Sri Lanka back at match level

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“Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur (L, with Dimuth Karunaratne) says they are getting match ready after finishing their first post lockdown training session. ©AFP” /> Colombo (AFP) – Sri Lanka are raring to play international cricket again even though India have postponed a tour planned for this month because of the coronavirus, coach Mickey Arthur said Friday after his team completed a first post lockdown training session. The “return-to-play” programme begun at the start of this month had been a success, Arthur told reporters as he wrapped up the first…

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…

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.…

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…

Australian batmaker apologises to Tendulkar as lawsuit settled

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“Sachin Tendulkar retired in 2013 but he still makes huge amounts endorsing products. ©AFP” /> New Delhi (AFP) – Indian cricket great Sachin Tendulkar has settled a lawsuit with an Australian bat maker he accused of failing to pay him millions of dollars under a licensing agreement. Spartan Sports group apologised to Tendulkar for using his name and image after he terminated a deal with them, according to a joint statement. Tendulkar had claimed millions of dollars in damages in a civil lawsuit filed in a Sydney court last year.The…