South Africa captain AB de Villiers believes England all-rounder Ben Stokes has taken his game to the “next level” in the Indian Premier League but stressed the tournament had improved many of his players too. The Proteas are set to come up against Stokes in a three-match one-day international series starting next week that will … Read more
National coach Darren Lehmann admitted Thursday a bitter pay dispute will be a distraction for Australia at next month’s ICC Champions Trophy, but played down a boycott of this year’s Ashes series. Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association are locked in a tense stand-off over the long-running talks, with vice-captain David Warner warning of … Read more
Sri Lanka leaves for the Champions Trophy in England Thursday after intense training and with the team hoping for an upset, coach Graham Ford said Wednesday. Speaking to reporters in Colombo ahead their departure, the South African head coach of middle-ranked Sri Lanka said preparing for the tournament was one of his biggest challenges. “We … Read more
Pace spearhead Mitchell Starc said Thursday Australia’s fast bowling quartet is ready to “wreak havoc” at next month’s Champions Trophy one-day tournament in England. Starc, who has recovered from a foot injury that cut short his India Test tour in March, said he is excited by the prospect of combining with his fellow speedsters at … Read more
Exactly two years after his appointment, Ireland coach John Bracewell finally comes up against his native New Zealand in a triangular one-day international series, also involving Bangladesh, in Dublin. Former off-spinner Bracewell played 41 Tests and 53 ODIs for New Zealand so it promises to be a special couple of days for the 59-year-old Aucklander … Read more
India recalled fit-again fast bowler Mohammed Shami on Monday as they belatedly unveiled a squad to defend their Champions Trophy title after a row over sharing out world cricket’s revenues. Pace spearhead Shami and batsman Rohit Sharma are the only two changes from the team that played England in a three-match one-day series in India … Read more
Defending champions India will take part in the Champions Trophy next month, the country’s cricket board said on Sunday, ending weeks of speculation over the team’s participation in the premier tournament. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the decision after a special general meeting held in New Delhi amidst a row … Read more
Pakistan’s selectors Tuesday dropped opener Kamran Akmal from the 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy to be held in England in June but recalled his younger brother Umar. 35-year-old Kamran was part of Pakistan’s squad which won a three-match one-day series 2-1 in the West Indies earlier this month but managed scores of 47, 21 … Read more
Fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson were Thursday named in Australia’s 15-man squad for next month’s ICC Champions Trophy in England and Wales. Starc has recovered from a stress fracture in his right foot which sent him home from Australia’s Test series in India last month, while Pattinson is fit again after serious shin … Read more
New Zealand were left frustrated on Wednesday after rain washed out the last day’s play of the final Test against South Africa, denying them a series-levelling win. At the start of the day, South Africa were on the ropes at 80 for five in their second innings, still 95 runs short of making New Zealand … Read more
Opening batsmen Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla both hit centuries as South Africa completed a 5-0 series sweep against Sri Lanka in the fifth and final one-day international at SuperSport Park on Friday. South Africa’s 88-run win will take them to top place in the International Cricket Council one-day rankings. “We follow the small … Read more