England dominate ICC Test team of the year

Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott were included in the ICC's Test team of the year, but Ian Bell missed out Five English cricketers were named in the ICC's Test team of the year, reflecting England's rise to the No. 1 spot, achieved during their 4-0 whitewash of India earlier this month. Two batsmen, Alastair Cook and Jonathon Trott, and three bowlers, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann and...

Pietersen rested for ODIs

Ben Stokes has been included in England's ODI squad to face India England have rested Kevin Pietersen for the upcoming ODI series India and called-up Durham allrounder Ben Stokes. Pietersen, who was the highest scorer in the Test series against India, has been left out as part of the selectors' ongoing policy of 'managing player workloads'. While Pietersen has recovered his Test form in fine style,...

Foreign coach the way forward for Pakistan - Lawson

Geoff Lawson insists that the language barrier won't be an issue for a foreign coach Former Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson has suggested that the Pakistan Cricket Board should replace the outgoing coach Waqar Younis with a foreigner, free from the influence of Pakistan's domestic politics. "I said it when I left as well, Pakistan need a foreign coach," Lawson, who was sacked as Pakistan coach in 2008,...

Malinga takes third ODI hat-trick

Lasith Malinga became the first man to take three one-day international hat-tricks as Sri Lanka secured a consolation victory in the final ODI in Colombo. Australia might have won the series 3-2 but with the first Test just over a week away, it was important for Sri Lanka to finish on a high, and they did that through Malinga with the ball, and then Mahela Jayawardene and Chamara Silva with the bat. Chasing...

Sehwag and Ishant ruled out of ODIs

Ajinkya Rahane replaces Virender Sehwag in the limited-overs squad  Virender Sehwag and Ishant Sharma have been ruled out of the limited-overs leg of India's tour of England. Mumbai batsman Ajinkya Rahane and Jharkhand fast bowler Varun Aaron will replace them. Sehwag had not fully recovered from the shoulder surgery he underwent after the IPL, and is also suffering from a ear problem, while...

Waqar Younis resigns as Pakistan coach

Waqar Younis has resigned as Pakistan coach citing personal reasons that include his and his wife's health. The upcoming tour of Zimbabwe will be his last assignment with the national team. "I have tendered my resignation to the [Pakistan Cricket] board last week and the tour to Zimbabwe will be my last," Waqar Younis said at a press conference in Karachi. "I have taken this decision on personal...

Morgan named captain for Ireland match

Eoin Morgan will captain England with Alastair Cook one of a number of senior players being rested  Eoin Morgan will captain England for the first time in career when he faces his former countrymen, Ireland, in a one-off ODI in Dublin next week. Morgan, who did not play in England's sensational World Cup defeat against Ireland in Bangalore due to injury, will lead a new-look 13-man squad including...

Dilshan named captain till end of the year

Tillakaratne Dilshan has been named as Sri Lanka captain in all formats until the end of the year. This means he will stay in charge for the three-Test home series against Australia and at least the first two Tests of the South Africa tour that kicks off in December. The appointment was ratified by the Sri Lankan sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage. Dilshan took over the reins from Kumar Sangakkara...

Chandimal and Herath dropped

 Legspinner Seekkuge Prasanna impressed on Sri Lanka A's tour of England Sri Lanka have dropped promising batsman Dinesh Chandimal, allrounder Thisara Perera and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath from the squad for the final two one-dayers against Australia, who lead the series 2-1. Seekkuge Prasanna, the 26-year-old legspinner, has been called up and has to fly back from England, where he was representing...

Onions called up to England squad

Graham Onions has been called up to the England squad for the final Test against India at The Oval after Chris Tremlett was ruled out due to his back injury while concerns emerged over James Anderson.Tremlett has failed to recover from the problems that ruled him out of the second and third Tests, meanwhile Anderson has experienced tightness in his right quadriceps since the victory at Edgbaston,...

Tremlett available but Trott still injured

Jonathan Trott has not recovered from the shoulder injury he sustained at Trent Bridge Jonathan Trott will not make it back in time for the fourth Test against India, so Ravi Bopara will have another opportunity in the England side at The Oval. England have named the same 13-man squad as they did for the Edgbaston Test, and Chris Tremlett is available for selection, leaving England with the dilemma...

Test cricket returns to Sharjah

Sharjah will host its first Test in nine years this November, after Pakistan and Sri Lanka reached an agreement to play the last of their three Tests in the UAE at the venue. The Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium has hosted more ODIs than any other ground but has not had any international cricket between top teams since 2003. With international stadiums being built in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, it had...

England reach number one with emphatic win

James Anderson did the early damage for England as he removed key batsmen in his first spell It had been inevitable for much of the previous three days but England officially became the No. 1 Test team in the world shortly after 3pm, ending India's stay at the top with one of their most crushing victories, by an innings and 242 runs. The fourth day didn't even last until tea as the visitors were...

McCallum to retire

McCallum was regular since 2006. Neil McCallum, the Scotland batsman, will retire from international cricket after the one-day game against Hampshire on Sunday. McCallum, who held a full-time job in teaching through his career, said he could no longer devote sufficient time for the game. He first represented Scotland in 2000 but became a regular only around 2006 and played in a national record...

Foster secures Essex future

James Foster has committed his future to Essex after signing a three-year deal to end the chances of him joining Hampshire. He had been given permission to speak to Hampshire but has resisted any move away from his life-long club and will remain at Chelmsford. "When another club expresses an interest in you it is tough not to listen, but ultimately I did not want to leave Essex," Foster said. "I...

Roach to join Worcestershire

Kemar Roach has become the latest West Indian signing in county cricket and will be joining Worcestershire for the remainder of the season as they scrap to stay in Division One of the County Championship. Roach will replace Worcestershire's current overseas international Saeed Ajmal, who is returning to his national side earlier than scheduled next week, to participate in a training camp prior to...

Darren Bravo joins Nottinghamshire

Darren Bravo, the West Indies batsman, has joined Nottinghamshire for the remainder of the season as a replacement for David Hussey and Adam Voges. Bravo, the half-brother of allrounder Dwayne, will go straight into the squad for Friday's CB40 match against Glamorgan after Nottinghamshire undertook an extensive search. "We scoured the world to find an overseas batsman to reinforce our top order and...

Kamran vows to make a comeback

Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has expressed his disappointment at losing his central contract for the second half of 2011, but said he is determined to prove his worth in domestic cricket and make a comeback. "I'm extremely disappointed," Kamran told PTI." I admit that it was my mistake but I think I deserve another chance. Somehow it's the board's decision and I don't want to say much. I've...

Lumb signs three-year Nottinghamshire deal

Michael Lumb will get the chance to kick-start his first-class career at Nottinghamshire Michael Lumb's move from Hampshire to Nottinghamshire has been confirmed after the signing of a three-year deal at Trent Bridge. Lumb, who was part of England's World Twenty20 winning team, will miss the rest of this season with injury but already has Twenty20 deals lined up with Sydney Sixers in Australia's...

Malinga to miss first ODI

Lasith Malinga, the Sri Lanka fast bowler, was named in the 16-member squad for the first three One-Day Internationals against Australia but is likely to miss the series opener at Pallakele Stadium on Wednesday. Chairman of cricket selectors Duleep Mendis said that although Malinga has been named in the squad, he is has been advised to rest. "We have been advised by the team physio to rest Malinga...

Tremlett ruled out of third Test

Chris Tremlett has been ruled out of the third against India at Edgbaston having failed to recover from the back injury that forced him to miss the previous match at Trent Bridge. He had been included in the 13-man squad for Wednesday's Test but wasn't able to train on Monday or Tuesday, so there was no chance of him being considered. An ECB update added he "will receive ongoing treatment ahead of...

Abberley dies at 67

Neal Abberley, the former Warwickshire opening batsman and influential batting coach, has died in hospital of a heart and lung condition aged 67. Abberley was a mentor to England batsman Ian Bell, who will wear a black armband in the upcoming Test against India at Edgbaston. Over a career that spanned 15 years at Warwickshire, Abberly amassed over 10,000 first-class runs at 24.47. His best season...

Kasprowicz joins Cricket Australia board

Michael Kasprowicz will become the youngest member of the Cricket Australia board following his elevation to replace Matthew Hayden as a director. Kasprowicz, 39, will step down as president of the Australian Cricketers’ Association to take on the role as one of the two Queensland directors of the CA board - joining Bryan Phelan OAM. Under a change in the Queensland Cricket constitution last year,...

Zimbabwe triumphant on Test return

Brendan Taylor was adjudged Man of the Match for his century, after leading Zimbabwe to a memorable win A dominant all-round performance by Zimbabwe, capped by their bowlers slicing through the Bangladesh line-up on the fifth day saw them win their comeback Test, after an almost six-year exile from the format. It took just 15 balls after lunch for Zimbabwe to complete their victory after a near...

No central contracts for Afridi, Kamran Akmal

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal do not figure in the latest list of PCB central contracts. Younis Khan, who was banned for disciplinary reasons following a winless tour of Australia in 2009-10 and was out of last year's list, has been awarded a Category A contract this time along with current captain Misbah-ul-Haq, allrounder Mohammad Hafeez, spinners Saeed Ajmal...

Zaheer ruled out of series

Zaheer Khan, the India fast bowler, has been ruled out of the remainder of the series against England. He will return to India and will be replaced by left-arm seamer RP Singh. Zaheer picked up a hamstring injury during the first Test at Lord's, but the BCCI has now said he not only has a recurring hamstring problem but also a right ankle impingement that will require surgery, followed by a 14-16...

Bopara fills in for injured Trott

Essex's Ravi Bopara has been recalled to England's squad for the third Test against India at Edgbaston, starting on Wednesday, after Jonathan Trott failed to recover full fitness after landing heavily on his shoulder while fielding during last week's Trent Bridge Test. Bopara, who played the last of his ten Tests against Australia in August 2009, was reportedly unlucky to miss out on selection against...

Dravid announces limited overs retirement

Rahul Dravid has announced his retirement from international limited-overs cricket following the England series. In his announcement, which came hours after he was handed a shock recall to the one-day side for that tour, he said he wanted to retire from the shorter forms and concentrate on Test cricket. Dravid, 38, is the seventh highest run-getter in ODIs, with 10,765 runs in 339 matches, averaging...