India is to get the world’s first professional “match poker” league, organisers said Thursday, as the card game follows in the footsteps of the hugely popular Indian Premier League. Cricket’s IPL spawned a host of similar leagues in the country featuring city-based teams, such as football’s Indian Super League and the Pro Kabaddi League. The … Read more
Australia must decide whether to unleash all of their ‘fearsome foursome’ of Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson in their Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand on Friday. Injuries have meant the quartet of fast bowlers have rarely all been fit at the same time and, even now, Australia may decide it’s … Read more
Cricket South Africa announced on Wednesday that its planned high-profile Twenty20 league will be named the T20 Global League. A logo was unveiled but details of team ownership will only be revealed in London on June 19. The league will be South Africa’s version of the Indian Premier League or Australia’s Big Bash League, with … Read more
Bangladesh suffered a dispiriting warm-up for their Champions Trophy opener against England as they crashed to a 240-run defeat against India on Tuesday. With the start of the Champions Trophy just two days away, this was a poorly-timed flop from Bangladesh, whose bowlers were swatted away by holders India as they piled up 324 for … Read more
Australia are relishing the prospect of uniting their “big four” pace attack for the first time at the Champions Trophy — and sending a message to England ahead of the Ashes. Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson are all fit and poised to bowl together given conducive conditions at the tournament in … Read more
Sri Lanka have turned to old warhorse Lasith Malinga to put fight into their Champions Trophy campaign and reverse their decline in the one-day game. The islanders have missed Malinga — one of the world’s great fast bowlers — through injury and their performances have suffered. Sri Lanka won a series against Zimbabwe and West … Read more
Virat Kohli says India will go out “to enjoy” their cricket as they aim to defend their Champions Trophy crown against the backdrop of a row over money with the international board. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) backed out of a threat to boycott the 50-over tournament in a revenue-sharing dispute … Read more
Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene was Friday named as the head coach of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) side Khulna Titans for the next two seasons of the Twenty20 tournament. Jayawardene, who has plied his trade across the globe after taking international retirement in 2015, played for BPL franchise Dhaka Dynamites last season. This … Read more
Moeen Ali insisted no one in the England camp was getting carried away after they underlined their Champions Trophy credentials with a comprehensive 72-run one-day international win over South Africa at Headingley. Wednesday’s success saw England go 1-0 up in a three-match series against South Africa, top of the International Cricket Council’s ODI rankings. The … Read more
Bangladesh still have two more warm-up matches before their Champions Trophy opener but captain Mashrafe Mortaza admits their five-wicket victory over New Zealand sends them to England with confidence high. “The warm-up games will be important, wickets will be different from here but we will learn something from the games against Pakistan and India, so … Read more
Indian skipper Virat Kohli said Wednesday his side would be ruthless in defending their Champions Trophy title next month, describing the competition as tougher even than the World Cup. India won the last Champions Trophy in 2013 and head into June’s tournament in England and Wales as favourites after a hugely successful home season with … Read more
England captain Eoin Morgan led from the front with a superb century as his side posted 339 for six in their day/night first one-day international at Headingley on Wednesday. His 107 was his 10th ODI hundred for England and came off 93 balls, including five sixes. Morgan’s innings helped England recover after they had slumped … Read more
Indian skipper Virat Kohli said Wednesday his side would be ruthless in defending their Champions Trophy title next month, describing the competition as tougher even than the World Cup. India won the last Champions Trophy in 2013 and head into June’s tournament in England and Wales as favourites after a hugely successful home season with … Read more
Veteran paceman Mitchell Johnson, who took key wickets in Mumbai Indians’ IPL final triumph over Rising Pune Supergiant, has been hailed as an influential force off the field too by captain Rohit Sharma. The 35-year-old Australian struck two crucial blows in the final over to drive Mumbai to a one run victory in Hyderabad on … Read more
Five things we learned from the 10th Indian Premier Premier league after Mumbai Indians beat Rising Pune Supergiant in Sunday’s final: Ben Stokes finally repaid the $2.16 million worth of faith Rising Pune Supergiant placed in him. The Englishman was the most expensive foreigner ever signed for the IPL and the best paid player this … Read more
New Zealand captain Tom Latham is still looking for improvement when the Blackcaps aim for a clean sweep of victories in the final match of the one-day international Tri-Series against Bangladesh in Clontarf on Wednesday. An emphatic 190-run success against hosts Ireland at Malahide on Sunday ensured the Blackcaps will win the trophy but for … Read more
Mumbai Indians beat Rising Pune Supergiant by a single run in a gripping Indian Premier League final on Sunday to claim their third title. Pune captain Steve Smith hit a crucial 51 that seemed to put Pune on course for victory in the chase for Mumbai’s 129-8 in Hyderabad. But he was then one of … Read more
Tom Latham hit a century as New Zealand smashed 72 runs off the last four overs to post 344-6 in the Tri-Series against Ireland in Malahide on Sunday. Colin Munro hit 44 off just 15 balls, with three fours and four sixes, and Mitchell Santner finished 20 not out from nine balls as the Irish … Read more
Rising Pune Supergiant coach Stephen Fleming has sought to dispel rumours of a rift between stalwarts Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Steve Smith as they chase their maiden Indian Premier League title in Sunday’s final against the Mumbai Indians. Fleming said the duo’s “outstanding” relationship was key to the Supergiant’s success this season, despite persistent grumblings … Read more
Rising Pune Supergiant might be packed with cricketing heavyweights, but skipper Steve Smith Saturday credited the youngsters for the team’s success in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament. Pune’s Indian talent in Washington Sundar and Rahul Tripathi have won crucial games for the side that boasts of star players like Smith, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and … Read more