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Cuttack will host the first ODI between India and Sri Lanka on November 2 while Ranchi will host the fifth and final game on November 16, according to the schedule released by Sri Lanka Cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Oct-2014Cuttack will host the first ODI between India and Sri Lanka on November 2 while Ranchi will host the fifth and final game on November 16, according to the schedule released by Sri Lanka Cricket.Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Kolkata will host the second, third and fourth ODIs on November 6, 9 and 13. All the five matches will be day-night. The Sri Lanka team will begin the tour in Mumbai on October 30 with a practice day game against India A at Brabourne Stadium. They will be back in Colombo on November 18.SLC had agreed to step in when West Indies pulled out of their India tour after the fourth ODI in Dharamsala. In return, the BCCI agreed to tour Sri Lanka in July-August 2015. Sri Lanka were scheduled to tour India for Tests next year, but the BCCI accepted SLC’s proposal of swapping countries for that trip.Cuttack was scheduled to host the only T20 international against West Indies while Kolkata had been allotted the fifth ODI to celebrate 150 years of Eden Gardens. Hyderabad, Bangalore and Ahmedabad were to host the three Tests against West Indies. While two of those Test venues were accommodated with an ODI each against Sri Lanka, Ranchi was preferred over Bangalore for the remaining slot. The BCCI follows separate rotation systems for ODIs and Tests.

Round-up of the QEA Trophy Gold League matches that ended on December 2, 2014

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Dec-2014Eleven wickets from Sohail Khan and nine from Abdur Rauf lifted Port Qasim Authority to the top of the table with an eight-wicket win against United Bank Limited at the Gaddafi Stadium.The victory was set up by Sohail and Rauf when they routed United Bank for 84 in the first innings after Port Qasim opted to field. United Bank were 14 for 5 before the lower order saved them briefly by taking them past 50. Sohail took 6 for 26 and Rauf finished with 4 for 49. Port Qasim replied with a score of 276 led by fifties from Azam Hussain (77*), Umar Amin (57) and Kamran Younis (50), despite a five-for from medium-pacer Prince Abbas. United Bank were stuttering at 13 for 3 again but got rid of their deficit through a hundred from Naved Sarwar (127). But they were all out for 254, with five wickets apiece from Rauf and Sohail, and Port Qasim chased down a target of 63 within 11 overs after losing two wickets.Lahore Lions registered their second win in nine matches by beating Multan Tigers by nine wickets.Tigers, asked to bat, were restricted to 162 by a five-for from left-arm pacer Bilawal and three wickets from Mohammad Saeed after Ammar Ali scored 62. Lions were given a healthy lead of 138 runs with the help of middle-order contributions from Farhan Khan (51), Yasir Ajmal (49) and Raza Ali Dar (49), who helped them to 300.Multan were confined to under 200 again, this time with six wickets from left-arm spinner Mustafa Iqbal and four from medium-pacer Malik Aftab. Ammar scored 54, but the side could not score more than 181. Lahore chased down their target of 44 in 9.1 overs after losing Arsalan Arshad for a duck.

New Zealand batsman Jamie How will retire from all forms of cricket after the 2014-15 Ford Trophy to pursue a career in the corporate sector

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Dec-2014New Zealand batsman Jamie How will retire from all forms of cricket after the 2014-15 Ford Trophy, the domestic one-day competition, to pursue a career in the corporate sector.How, 33, played 19 Tests, 41 ODIs and five Twenty20 internationals for New Zealand during an eight-year career that began in March 2006. He averaged 22.70 in Tests and 29 in ODIs. His last Test for New Zealand was in 2009 and he has not played ODI cricket since 2011.”These are never easy decisions to make but the time has come to embrace an opportunity outside cricket,” How said. “The role with Toyota New Zealand was too good to pass up. I really thank them for the opportunity they’re providing, and I’m looking forward to the new challenge.”Most importantly I’m looking forward to spending more regular time with my young family and to establishing a career after cricket. I am very proud to have played for my country and was very fortunate to play alongside and against some of the very best players in the world.”How played 130 first-class matches, most of them for Central Districts, and he said that the team had been a big part of his life. He captained Central Districts for six seasons and led them to victory in the 2008 HRV Cup and 2013 Plunket Shield. “I wish the Central Districts team all the best for the remainder of the season and thank them for understanding the need for me to take up this new opportunity.”New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said How had been a fine ambassador for the game and a popular team-mate. “It’s always a poignant time when someone like Jamie decides to retire but I’m delighted he’s found a career outside cricket and wish him well in his endeavours.”Central Districts board member Campbell Furlong described How’s contribution to the association as “immense”. “Quite apart from all his on-field achievements Jamie was, and is, a great bloke,” Furlong said. “When he has time to sit back and consider his career, he should feel particularly proud of the respect in which he’s been held by team-mates, opponents and supporters of cricket alike.”

A newly-formed committee will decide on the punishment to be imposed on Raj Kundra and Gurunath Meiyappan, both of whom were found guilty of betting by the Supreme Court

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jan-2015A newly-formed committee will decide on the punishment to be imposed on Raj Kundra and Gurunath Meiyappan, both of whom were found guilty of betting by the Supreme Court. The court said that “the order passed by the committee shall be final and binding upon the BCCI and the parties concerned.”Headed by former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha and including former Supreme Court judges Ashok Bhan and RV Raveendran, the committee will also examine the role of former IPL chairman Sundar Raman “and if found guilty, impose a suitable punishment upon him on behalf of BCCI”.The court said that it contemplated whether to impose suitable punishment itself or leave it to the BCCI, but decided that “neither of these two courses would be appropriate”. The formation of an independent committee, the judgment said, was to ensure the transparency of investigation and address “any apprehension of bias and/or influence”.”We do not consider it proper to clutch at the jurisdiction of BCCI to impose a suitable punishment,” the order said. “At the same time we do not think that in a matter like this the award of a suitable punishment to those liable for such punishment can be left to the BCCI.”The trajectory of the present litigation, and the important issues it has raised as also the profile of the individuals who have been indicted, would, in our opinion, demand that the award of punishment for misconduct is left to an independent committee to exercise that power for and on the behalf of BCCI.”Apart from investigating the roles of the three individuals, the committee has been asked to make recommendations and suggest amendments to the processes followed by the board “with a view to preventing sporting frauds, conflict of interests, streamlining the working of BCCI to make it more responsive to the expectations of the public at large”.A grey area that the court has suggested the committee to examine and resolve is the conflict of interest in case of “persons, who by virtue of their proficiency in the game, were to necessarily play some role as coaches, managers, commentators.”The court also directed the board to bear the fees and all the expenses of the committee, and hoped the investigations could be concluded “within a period of six months”.

A round-up of the Momentum One-Day Cup matches played on February 8, 2015

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Feb-2015Two days after gunning down a record 354 against Titans, Warriors’ batting line-up pulled off another exceptional chase to overhaul a target of 286 in 39.2 overs and pick up a bonus point against Lions in East London. The two-wicket win wasn’t enough to secure Warriors a semi-final spot, though, as Titans beat them to third place on the basis of their net run-rate.As he had done against Titans, JJ Smuts got the chase off to a rousing start, putting on 126 with his opening partner Michael Price in just 17.3 overs. Both fell in the space of 14 balls, but Colin Ingram, the centurion against Titans, took control of the chase, scoring an unbeaten 70-ball 90 to guide Warriors home even as wickets kept falling at the other end. Legspinner Eddie Leie was Lions’ best bowler, with figures of 4 for 56.Having chosen to bat, Lions were 46 for 2 before centuries from Rassie van der Dussen and Neil McKenzie powered them to a total of 285 for 4. Van der Dussen made an unbeaten 129 off 133 balls and McKenzie 112 off 114, the pair adding 209 for the third wicket in 34.4 overs.A century from Vaughn van Jaarsveld laid the platform for Dolphins to beat Titans by 26 runs in Durban. The two teams, who finished second and third in the table, will face each other again in the semi-final on Tuesday.Sent in to bat, Dolphins lost wickets regularly, with seamer Juan de Villiers removing both openers early in the process of picking up a four-for, but van Jaarsveld held their innings together before he was seventh out for 101. He had faced 118 balls, and struck six fours and two sixes.Titans lost both their openers early, before a 150-run partnership between Theunis de Bruyn and Dean Elgar – who had also picked up three wickets with his left-arm spin – brought their chase back on track. They then lost four wickets for five runs, with medium-pacer Andile Phehlukwayo running through their middle order, and were in trouble at 169 for 6, with 93 required to win off the last eight overs. David Wiese smashed a 38-ball 50, but it wasn’t quite enough to get Titans in touch with their target.

Kevin Pietersen’s deal to play for Surrey this summer has been confirmed. It had long been anticipated that he would return to The Oval after securing a release from his IPL contract.

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Mar-20152:33

‘World class KP signing a massive boost’ – Stewart

Kevin Pietersen’s deal to play for Surrey this summer has been confirmed. It had long been anticipated that he would return to The Oval after securing a release from his IPL contract. He will now be available for Surrey’s opening County Championship match of the season, against Glamorgan, on April 19 in Cardiff.Despite some cynicism over whether Pietersen would go through with his intention to commit to county cricket, he is now targeting an England recall. A significant weight of runs will be required to state his case, particularly considering Surrey are in Division Two of the County Championship, but Tom Moody – coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad who agreed to release Pietersen from IPL duty – said England “would be foolish” not to consider a fit and in-form Pietersen.Writing in the Pietersen said: “All I am looking for is a fair opportunity to play for England again. I just want a blank sheet of paper and to be judged on merit. Even if this does not work out and I do not get back in the England team, I will at least end my career knowing I gave it another shot. I would kick myself for a long time if I walked away now without having a go.” He also said his Surrey wages would go to charity.Surrey have fixtures against Glamorgan, Essex and Leicestershire before England’s first Test of the summer against New Zealand on May 21. But perhaps July 8 is a more realistic date for a return – the start of the Ashes.”I’m absolutely thrilled to be back at Surrey,” Pietersen said. “It’s a club very close to my heart and Alec Stewart, Graham Ford and everyone at the club has been exceptionally supportive. There is a fantastic group of lads here and hopefully we can deliver what the great Surrey fans want to see – lots of runs and comprehensive victories.”Pietersen release from the IPL came with a clause that Hyderabad could recall him should they reach the knockout stage, which begins on May 19. That would see Pietersen miss Surrey’s Championship match with Northamptonshire.Alec Stewart, Surrey director of cricket, added: “A Kevin Pietersen with ambitions to play for England and a real determination to score big runs for Surrey will be a huge asset to us. He will play predominantly championship cricket to begin with. That’s not to say we won’t see him in the shorter versions of the game, but to begin with it’s very much championship cricket.”

New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill, who last played a Test in May 2013, has been recalled to the Test squad for the side’s tour to England

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Apr-2015New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill, who last played a Test in May 2013, has been recalled to the Test squad for the side’s forthcoming tour to England. Fast bowler Matt Henry has received a Test call-up, while uncapped allrounder Mitchell Santner has been added to New Zealand’s ODI and T20 squad.Guptill played the last of his 31 Tests during New Zealand’s tour of England in 2013, featuring in only one match of the two-game series. He scored 1 and 3 in New Zealand’s 247-run defeat to England at Headingley and was subsequently excluded from the Test side, including home series against West Indies, India and Sri Lanka.Mike Hesson, the New Zealand coach, said Guptill had been picked for his ability to cover several batting positions and would have a chance to further his claims during the two warm-up games ahead of the first Test at Lord’s on May 21.”This is a stable, established Test side but there will be opportunities for contenders,” Hesson said. “Martin’s a classically styled batsman and there’s really no reason why he can’t be as influential in the longer game as he is in the short.”James Neesham’s injury was one of the factors that prompted Henry’s selection and Hesson said the bowler was ready for the challenges of the longer format.”It’s another step up for Matt but we’ve been impressed by the maturity and skill-set he’s already shown in the ODI format,” Hesson said.Fast bowler Adam Milne, who had been ruled out of the World Cup due to a heel injury, has been picked in the limited-overs side. Milne was ruled out two days before the semi-final against South Africa and Henry was picked as a substitute for the bowler.Santner, meanwhile, has been picked following a good run in this season’s Ford Trophy. The left-handed batsman was one of the leading run-scorers for Northern Districts in the tournament – 326 runs in nine innings at 36.22 – and also picked up 11 wickets with his left-arm spin at an average of 36.09 and an economy rate of 4.98.With a few New Zealand players set to miss the warm-up matches due to IPL commitments, BJ Watling will captain the side in the four-day games against Somerset and Worcestershire, which start from May 8 and May 14 respectively. The New Zealand selectors have included pacers Jacob Duffy and Ben Wheeler, and Santner for the warm-up matches.The first Test against England will be played at Lord’s from May 21, while Headingley will host the second Test from May 29. The five-match ODI series will begin on June 9 and the only Twenty20 international of the tour will be played at Old Trafford on June 23.New Zealand Test squad: Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Luke Ronchi, Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane WilliamsonNew Zealand ODI and T20 squad: Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson

Just selecting a team was demanding enough for Derbyshire in Cardiff. Five injuries and a two-match suspension for Billy Godleman meant five changes from the side that dismissed Gloucestershire with such confidence

Press Association03-May-2015
ScorecardMartin Guptill’s next match will be with the New Zealand tourists•Getty ImagesJust selecting a team was demanding enough for Derbyshire in Cardiff. Five injuries and a two-match suspension for Billy Godleman meant five changes from the side that dismissed Gloucestershire with such confidence, a legspinning debutant among them.Perhaps there were worst days to sit and watch it rain down upon the Swalec Stadium and take stock. Only 15.5 overs were possible and when play was called off Derbyshire had reached 47 for 2, with opener Ben Slater undefeated on 25. There had been a lengthy delay before play got underway at 2.40pm and, although most of the ground and pitch was dry and perfectly playable, water had seeped under the covers in the bowler’s delivery stride at the Cathedral Road end of the ground.Among the absentees was Martin Guptill, who struck 227 last week, but who has a side injury and after consulting with New Zealand Cricket, was left out of the Derbyshire team before joining up with the tourists next week.Derbyshire’s attack is so depleted – they are without Tony Palladino and Tom Taylor – that they included 19-year-old Matt Critchley, a legspinner born in Lancashire who is with Derbyshire’s Academy and had to be registered in time for this game.The former Derbyshire seamer Graham Wagg, in his fifth over, had Chesney Hughes driving too early and giving Craig Meschede a simple catch at mid-off. They soon lost their second wicket when Andy Carter, who had replaced Michael Hogan at the River End, trapped Derbyshire’s skipper Wayne Madsen leg before for a single.

Chris Gayle has signed with the Melbourne Renegades for the 2015-16 Big Bash League

ESPNcricinfo staff15-May-2015Chris Gayle has signed with the Melbourne Renegades for the 2015-16 Big Bash League. Gayle last played in the BBL during the 2012-13 season, when he turned out for the Sydney Thunder, and he had previously been part of Western Australia’s side in the tournament’s previous incarnation as the Big Bash.”It’s exciting to be coming to the Melbourne Renegades in the sporting capital of Australia,” Gayle said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the fans, getting to know the city a little more and helping the team into the finals in BBL 05.”The Renegades’ coach, David Saker, said Gayle’s experience and ability at the top of the order would be a valuable asset for the team.”Chris’s abilities and experience goes without saying,” Saker said. “He has tremendous skills both as an explosive T20 batsman but also as that genuine all-rounder you need. He’s someone who can inspire the squad, particularly among our batsmen, with his confidence and his ability to back himself and flick the switch when the time is right.”

Mashrafe Mortaza bemoaned the lack of big scores from the top and middle order, and lack of wickets in the last 15 overs of the chase for the 77-run defeat against India in the third ODI

Mohammad Isam in Mirpur24-Jun-2015While India’s 317 never looked like a threatening score, Bangladesh, at the same time, never looked to be in the game in the third ODI. Leading 2-0 against a higher-ranked side should have given the hosts more confidence of bowling them out for a third consecutive time, but their failure to do so also contributed to giving away runs at crucial times.This year Bangladesh have bowled out opponents six times in 12 ODIs, winning each time. This is no coincidence as they have looked formidable against reputed batting line-ups. In the third ODI against Pakistan as well, Bangladesh were playing with a 2-0 lead in the series. They had very little at stake but Mashrafe Mortaza shuffled his bowlers beautifully to bowl Pakistan out for 250 before the 50-over mark.On Wednesday, except for Shakib Al Hasan’s nine overs and Mustafizur Rahman’s middle spells in the batting Powerplay, the bowling lacked sting. Mashrafe conceded 76 runs for his three wickets while Arafat Sunny and Rubel Hossain conceded lots of runs for no rewards. Shakib and Nasir Hossain didn’t bowl their full spells.But it seemed Bangladesh were half-expecting India to bounce back with a 300-plus score after conceding the series. Mashrafe bemoaned the lack of big scores from the top and middle order, and lack of wickets in the last 15 overs of the chase for the 77-run defeat. But it was always an uphill task to chase such a score on this slow and lifeless pitch.”I will not name a particular batsman because everyone made mistakes,” Mashrafe said. “Most of the top and middle order made 25, 30 or 40. We needed a 60 or 80. Until the 35th over we were ahead of India, it was just the number of wickets in hand that was the difference.”We would have had lesser problems while chasing if we had wickets in hand. The pitch was really good. After 35 overs when we lost six wickets, we were definitely on the back foot. So overall this was a big mistake from our side. Hopefully next time it will be much better.”Two batsmen got out in the 40s, 30s and 20s each. Much of the focus was on Mushfiqur Rahim today as the other two top batsmen in the side – Tamim Iqbal and Shakib – had already made runs in this series. Mushfiqur has been dealing with a finger injury and didn’t keep wickets in the second and third ODIs. Mashrafe, however, said that they were not at all concerned about him and expected him to bounce back soon.”I don’t think there is any problem with Mushfiqur’s mentality,” Mashrafe said. “If you always expect something from a player it will be difficult. Sometimes he is bound to do badly. I am concerned if he is a little over-focused. There is no chance for him to be less focused.”He didn’t keep wickets because of his finger. If it breaks and he is out for two or three months, it will be bad for us. He is an amazing batsman and he can have a bad patch. The way he sees the game as a part of his life, it is obvious that he will score big soon.”Mashrafe also rued the lack of rain, which was no surprise as he had decided to field under leaden skies, to get the most out of the DLS method.”We fielded because of the rain,” he said. “There was 51 per cent chance of rain and the DLS is favourable when you are chasing. But unfortunately it didn’t rain.”