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Both players have had stints in the middle order before, but India’s team management does not want to resume those experiments

Vishal Dikshit at the Wankhede21-Oct-20171:42

‘Don’t want to force Rahul into middle-order role’ – Kohli

KL Rahul is missing from India’s ODI squad for the New Zealand series because the hosts are looking at him purely as an opener and don’t want to forecefully make him another middle-order option. Captain Virat Kohli explained on the eve of the first ODI in Mumbai that India were already carrying three openers – Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane – so it was decided to give Rahul more time in the first-class circuit.

Kohli wary of India’s ‘hectic’ schedule

Virat Kohli is concerned about the lack of rest Indian players have been getting because of the “hectic” schedule they are made to play in. Kohli emphasised the importance of getting adequate rest as it could be the difference between good and bad performances, and said every player needed a break irrespective of the high fitness levels they maintain these days.
“It’s become quite hectic, that’s something we definitely have to sit and discuss in the future,” he said. “Look at New Zealand, they haven’t played any cricket after Champions Trophy, there’s been such a good layoff and it can be the difference between doing well in a big tournament and not doing well. We are expected to perform on a consistent basis but I think the rest and the time to prepare should be adequate for athletes as well.
“This shouldn’t be an area where players are just chipped and changed according to form. You need to look at all the aspects, in terms of how many games you are playing, how much rest you are getting, whether you are able to maintain that consistency for 12 months given the number of matches that we play. Physically, are you able to keep up with it.
“How much ever fitness you do, but everyone needs rest. Everyone needs time to come back from training, especially the fast bowlers. We are doing that now with Umesh and Shami, we want them fresh for the Test season coming up. We don’t want to overtire players. Even some of the key batsmen will definitely get some rest in the future weeks because of the importance of the away tours that are coming up.”

For the middle order, India opted for Dinesh Karthik, who has amassed runs across formats in recent times. Even though Rahul was in the squad for the recently-concluded ODI series against Australia, he was dropped without being given a single chance.”This series, Dinesh Karthik has come in for KL. We felt KL, because he opens mostly, we don’t want to have a situation like Jinks (Ajinkya Rahane) was going through in between – having to play in the middle order forcefully because of what the top order was doing,” Kohli said. “We thought it’s better that he (Rahul) gets some game time in the first-class level so we got in Dinesh who has always played in the middle order. He is more comfortable and more aware of how to bat in the middle order. We need to strike that good balance, bring in guys who have the ability, who have done well in domestic cricket, who have done well for India A, you know track their performances and give them chances accordingly.”It’s not a situation where you just start giving chances to people so much that you compromise on winning the series because of lack of experience. We need to strike that good balance regularly.”Soon after being dropped for the ODIs, Rahul got a chance to open when he was drafted in for the warm-up matches against New Zealand. In the first match , he scored 68 off 75 balls in an opening stand of 147 with Prithvi Shaw but was only made to carry the drinks in the second match, for which Karun Nair moved up from No. 3.Rahul had started his ODI career in impressive fashion when he became the first Indian to score a century on ODI debut, against Zimbabwe in June 2016. He got to open against England too, earlier this year, when Rohit was injured but only managed low scores of 8, 5 and 11, falling to early swing two out of the three times. Rohit opened in the Champions Trophy once he recovered, and now the only way to slot Rahul in the XI was somewhere in the middle order.When India toured Sri Lanka in August, Rahul got opportunities at Nos. 3, 4 and 5 in the ODIs but the runs still didn’t come as he scored 4, 17 and 7, perishing to offspinner Akila Dananjaya all three times. Time was running out for Rahul because of the fierce competition in the Indian batting line-up. There could have been another chance to open for him when Australia arrived for five ODIs and Dhawan opted out of the series, but Rahane had been sitting on the sidelines for so long that he was given a go and he shone with four consecutive half-centuries. Coincidentally, he may also sit out of some of the New Zealand ODIs as the Dhawan-Rohit combo is set to reunite.”He’s definitely grabbed his opportunities as the third opener,” Kohli said of Rahane. “As I mentioned, there was KL as well competing for the spot for a bit, but Jinks has really performed well, he stood up and taken his chances. That’s how the dynamics of the team work, when you have four guys who play in a similar position, then obviously one of them will have to miss out. Even in the three, only two can play in the XI. Again, as I mentioned, we don’t want to confuse him too much making him play in the middle order.”You need to find your game in ODI cricket, you need to understand how to go about things in ODI cricket and he’s always been very solid at the top order because of his technique. And he likes playing there as well, it gives him freedom to go after the bowlers. We don’t want to confuse him, he’s in a happy space, he knows whenever someone is not going through a good phase or there is an injury coming up, he’s there, he is right at the doorstep waiting to play a game whenever the team requires him to. He’s pretty happy with his batting at the moment.”Since Dhawan and Rohit have collected nearly 3000 runs while opening together, at an average of over 48, it only means Rahane is going to be the back-up opener. And Rahul, will be the back-up’s back-up.

Luke Ronchi was destroyer-in-chief in the chase, smashing 70 off 33 to hasten Guyana Amazon Warriors’ victory

The Report by Peter Della Penna07-Sep-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsRashid Khan claimed the first hat-trick in CPL history•Getty ImagesIn a rematch of the 2016 CPL final, Guyana Amazon Warriors exacted revenge behind Rashid Khan’s hat-trick and Luke Ronchi’s cold-blooded 70 off 33 balls to knock out the defending champion Jamaica Tallawahs at Brian Lara Stadium. Tallawahs were on the back foot throughout Amazon Warriors’ chase of 169 courtesy a splendid second-wicket stand of 67 in 5.1 overs between Ronchi and Chadwick Walton, before victory was sealed by a six from Assad Fudadin with 13 balls to spare.Opening questionFor the second night in a row, the decision to open the batting with a player who hadn’t played through the tournament produced underwhelming results. On Tuesday night, it was William Perkins with Trinbago Knight Riders and on Wednesday night, it was Kennar Lewis with Tallawahs.The Tallawahs management decided to drop Glenn Phillips despite four 30-plus scores in seven innings in the competition. Captain Kumar Sangakkara said at the post-match presentation that the reason to include Lewis was because the Tallawahs “had gone soft in the Powerplay”. Lewis managed 15 before he was bounced out by Rayad Emrit, caught at deep square leg in the fifth over.The riddle in the middleSangakkara and Andre McCarthy, a consistent performer for the Tallawahs this season, were pushed down two spots. Rather than giving their two leading scorers the most time to bat, their delayed entry may have cost the side 20-plus runs, particularly since Sangakkara finished unbeaten on 57 off 38 balls.Steven Jacobs benefited most. The offspinner pinched two early wickets in the seventh over, snapping up Lendl Simmons at cover for 34 and then had Mahmudullah four balls later as his sloppy swat to the leg side found Veerasammy Permaul at midwicket to make it 59 for 3.Rashid’s googly hat-trickOn Wednesday night, Rashid created CPL history with the tournament’s first ever hat-trick.First was McCarthy, beaten driving by a googly to begin the 15th over. Jonathan Foo lunged at another googly next ball and was beaten easily as the ball knocked into leg stump.Rovman Powell’s dismissal was the worst stroke of the three, teased into chasing a flighted delivery well outside off that spun back sharply to hit off stump. At 116 for 7, Tallawahs were left with a struggle to get to a defendable total on a night where heavy dew made gripping the ball increasingly difficult as the night wore on.Ronchi the ravagerThe Amazon Warriors’ playoffs chances were hit when captain Martin Guptill left the tournament due to a family emergency. But the Warriors have seemingly been galvanized with the arrival of his replacement Ronchi, who has scored more runs in three matches (149) than Guptill did in the first seven (142).A harbinger of the savage display to come arrived on his third ball when he effortlessly lofted Mahmudullah back over his head for six. After the Powerplay, Ronchi feasted on poor angles offered by the Tallawahs bowlers, as he used nothing but wrist to whip Rovman Powell for a pair of sixes off the first two balls of the seventh over. Kesrick Williams wilted under pressure too. Ronchi soon brought up the second-fastest fifty of CPL 2017, off 20 balls.Ronchi finished with 70 off 33 balls, setting up Thursday night’s showdown with Trinbago Knight Riders for a chance to return to the CPL final for the fourth time in five seasons.

The 25-year old middle-order batsman has been ruled out of the tournament having hurt her right hand

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jun-2017Bismah Maroof, Pakistan’s second-most experienced player in ODIs, has been ruled out of the ongoing Women’s World Cup due to a hand injury. She has been replaced in the squad by allrounder Iram Javed.Maroof had hurt herself in the field on Tuesday when England thrashed Pakistan by 107 runs. A capable middle-order batsman – 11 fifties at an average of 26 – her loss has come at a difficult time, with her team at the bottom of the points table with no wins in two matches.Nevertheless, it represented an opportunity for the 25-year old Iram, who has played only seven ODIs since her debut in 2013. She has scored 37 runs and has taken three wickets with her seam bowling. She last played 50-over cricket for Pakistan in November 2016.The ICC’s event technical committee – comprising Geoff Allardice (ICC, chairman), Campbell Jamieson (ICC representative), Steve Elworthy (Tournament Director), Alan Fordham (host representative), Anjum Chopra and Alison Mitchell (both independent nominees) – has approved the change.Pakistan squad: Sana Mir (capt), Asmavia Iqbal, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Ghulam Fatima, Iram Javed, Javeria Khan, Kainat Imtiaz, Marina Iqbal, Nahida Khan, Nain Abidi, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Yousuf, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Waheeda Akhtar

The Schön Group, a Dubai-based enterprise well-established in the real estate business, has won the rights to the sixth franchise of the Pakistan Super League, and chosen Multan as its team. The deal has been confirmed by the PCB, pending legal formalities, and the contract is for eight years. The Schön Group’s owners have roots in Pakistan.As many as 30 companies, according to the PCB, showed interest in the franchise, with about 12 submitting bids. Out of these bids, only Schön made a bid high enough to meet the base price of USD 5.2 million per year. The highest bidder had the right to choose the base city for the new franchise out of Multan, Faisalabad, Dera Murad Jamali, FATA and Hyderabad.The PCB had been considering adding a sixth team to the tournament after its first season in 2016, but a contract between the PCB and the five franchises meant the expansion could take place only after the second season. The first two seasons of the PSL featured Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi.These original five franchises were sold for USD 93 million for a ten-year period. Karachi became the most expensive team with the ARY Group shelling out USD 26 million to gain ownership. Lahore sold for USD 25 million to Qatar Lubricants Company (QALCO), while the Haier Group paid USD 16 million for Peshawar. The franchise from the capital, Islamabad, went to Leonine Global Sports, which is an entity created specifically for the PSL by a group of Pakistani investors, for USD 15 million. Omar Associate, a Karachi-based building company, secured Quetta for USD 11 million.In 2016, Najam Sethi, the PSL chairman, had floated an idea to have a Kashmir team in the tournament, but it was rejected after opposition from some of the franchises on financial grounds and the potential for controversy given Kashmir’s sensitive status vis-a-vis India. The opposition from the franchises back then was centered around the potential cut in their share of the central revenue pool if a sixth franchise were to be created.Pakistan have been hosting the PSL in the UAE due to the security concerns of the overseas players. However, in 2017, the final was played in Lahore at the Gaddafi stadium amid presidential-style security and went off without incident. Last month, Sethi revealed plans to host as many as eight matches in Pakistan in 2018, with four each to be held in Lahore and Karachi.

The Sweden international has become a slightly-forgotten figure in recent weeks, but she was the hero against the Cityzens on Sunday

Alessia Russo might've been Arsenal's star signing this summer but it was Stina Blackstenius, the centre forward whose place the England star has taken, who was the Gunners' timely match-winner in a huge clash with title rivals Manchester City on Sunday. Introduced at the expense of Russo with 75 minutes on the clock, there were just three minutes of normal time remaining when Blackstenius capitalised on a costly defensive error to roll the ball into an empty net, securing a 2-1 win that will be a massive confidence boost for a team whose start to the new season has bordered on disaster.

Elimination in the first round of Women's Champions League qualifying was followed up by a shock opening weekend defeat to Liverpool, with Arsenal six points off table-topping Chelsea coming into this fixture. It proved to be a topsy-turvy afternoon. The Gunners started poorly but City didn't punish them, with Steph Catley instead giving the hosts an early lead through a wonderful strike. That could've been doubled with only 20 minutes on the clock but Khiara Keating stepped up to save Kim Little's penalty brilliantly instead.

City continued to look the side more in control of affairs and it meant that the only surprising thing about their equaliser in the second half, through in-form England winger Chloe Kelly, was that it didn't come sooner. They looked to have the bit between their teeth from then on, until Keating made a devastating mistake. The teenager misjudged Katie McCabe's long ball forward and her headed clearance had plenty of height but no distance, allowing Blackstenius to pick it up with ease and put it into the back of the net.

It was a crushing blow for Keating and City, with the young goalkeeper in tears at full-time as she replayed the incident over and over in her mind. There will be plenty of chances for her and her team to make up the ground lost in the title race by this defeat, there's no doubt about that, but it's a result that offers Arsenal a way back into the battle at the top, one that was certainly not expected to open up for them based on the opening stages in Borehamwood.

GOAL runs through the winners and losers from a chaotic afternoon at Meadow Park…

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  WINNER: Stina Blackstenius

  When will Blackstenius get the credit she deserves? Arsenal's Swedish striker has come up with so many big goals for the club since her arrival last January but it often feels like praise is hard to come by.

  So far this season, head coach Jonas Eidevall has opted for Russo ahead of Blackstenius in a system with a lone striker in every WSL game except the draw at Manchester United in which the pair started together.

  It could be argued that the latter game brought with it the Gunners' best performance of the season, with the qualities of each complementing the other and making the attack look more dynamic.

  The strength of the case to start Russo and Blackstenius together only increased on Sunday. Russo was isolated throughout the game, with team-mate Victoria Pelova the only starter on either team to have fewer touches, and Blackstenius hardly got a look in either until Keating's error.

  But, after scoring the opener against Man Utd last month, she was there in the right place at the right time again to give Arsenal a huge win. There is a lot that Blackstenius can bring to the Gunners and that shouldn't be forgotten.

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  LOSER: Khiara Keating

  Keating has been outstanding in the first few weeks of this new season. She's asserted herself as City's first-choice goalkeeper ahead of two senior internationals, she has come up big to help her team make a fantastic start to the campaign and she earned her first senior England call-up as a result of all of that last month, too. But Sunday was a day for her to forget.

  The teenager didn't make a great clearance in the build-up to Arsenal's first goal and then, after a poor back pass from Esme Morgan, she brought down Cloe Lacasse to give the Gunners a penalty. There, though, Keating came up big – huge, even – making a remarkable save to deny Little, the hosts' usually clinical captain.

  Confident and commanding in collecting crosses and strong in her distribution from then on, it appeared the young shot-stopper had made a decisively-positive contribution in what was looking more and more likely to be a City win.

  But it all changed in an instant. McCabe's long ball was misread by Keating, her ineffective attempt at a clearance allowed Blackstenius in and the Gunners were 2-1 up. The City 'keeper was devastated as she pondered what might've been. It was a tough day for her but she is young and she will absolutely learn from it. There is still so much to be excited about when it comes to her potential and her future.

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  WINNER: Lotte Wubben-Moy

  If there is one area of Arsenal's that has looked particularly weak this season it has been in central defence. Eidevall's side have constantly looked suspect to mistakes, failed to deal with crosses effectively and made costly errors, regardless of the personnel chosen or whether they are playing as a back four or a back three.

  On Sunday, though, after surviving some difficult early moments, the Gunners looked much better and that was largely thanks to the performance of Lotte Wubben-Moy. The England international dealt brilliantly with the imposing threat of City striker Bunny Shaw, she was reliable in her passing and she constantly got in the way to block and clear any danger.

  Despite being a regular in squads and an ever-present for Arsenal, it's not been easy for Wubben-Moy to force herself into Sarina Wiegman's thinking when it comes to the Lionesses' starting XI. This performance won't have done her chances of changing that any harm, though.

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  LOSER: Man City's defence

  Alex Greenwood's head injury on England duty was a massive blow to the Lionesses in a game that they would go on to lose to Belgium, taking their UEFA Women's Nations League and Olympic fates out of their own hands. But Sunday highlighted, bright and bold, just how big a loss she was for her club, too.

  Usually so composed with the ball at the back, Man City looked all at sea at times without the player that excels at that the most. They were far from convincing in playing out, with mistakes in doing so leading to Arsenal's opening goal and to the penalty incident, and they missed Greenwood's ability to start attacks with her excellent passing range, too.

  If anyone needed a perfect example of how important the England star is to her club team, then this performance was exactly that.

Anthony Martial was spotted making a flying visit to Manchester United’s training centre on Thursday morning that lasted just five minutes.

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French forward got his times wrongBattling for starting berthRed Devils set to face Brighton on SaturdayWHAT HAPPENED?

Having arrived at Carrington at 8:56am, the France international forward was seen departing again just after 9am. Erik ten Hag’s squad had been due in at that time during their previous session on Tuesday, but the schedule has been tinkered with since then.

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As a result, the reports that Martial only spent five minutes on site as he was informed that training would not take place until 12:30pm. The rest of the Red Devils began arriving for that session at 11:30am.

DID YOU KNOW?

It remains to be seen whether Martial will have a leading role to play for United in their Premier League meeting with Brighton at Old Trafford on Saturday. He has started the club’s last two games, but questions continue to be asked of his value to the collective cause.

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Martial was not moved on during the summer transfer window, but United did spend £72 million ($90m) on Denmark international striker Rasmus Hojlund and it is he – fresh from making his debut off the bench away at Arsenal last time out – that is expected to lead the line for the Red Devils heading forward.

The Sri Lanka captain, who has come under fire, following the team’s poor showing in Tests in South Africa, has said he is ready to continue as a player even if he is removed as captain

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jan-2017

Angelo Mathews, who is nominally in charge of Sri Lanka until after the 2019 World Cup, has said that he would have no protests if he was sacked from the captaincy following his side’s horrendous Test showing on their tour of South Africa.Sri Lanka lost all three Tests by heavy margins, leading for calls for Mathews to resign even though the limited-overs leg of the tour is barely underway.Mathews, who became Sri Lanka’s youngest Test captain, at 25, left the tour after the second T20 in Johannesburg on Sunday after suffering a sprained ankle but he dismissed suggestions that he had given serious consideration to stepping down after four years in charge.”I haven’t thought about it,” he said in an interview in the Colombo . “I will not run away from pressures. Anyone can say anything. If I feel this is the time or if the selectors say, I’m open to it. Whatever others say, I’m not bothered.”It’s not in my control. If the selectors or Sri Lanka Cricket think they need a change and believe someone else is ready to do the captaincy, it’s not at all a problem for me. As long as I enjoy the game, I will keep playing. I just want to try and perform well as a team and I will always help whoever is captain in the future as well.”Sri Lanka Cricket’s CEO Ashley de Silva also stated that prior to the tour Mathews had indicated he might need time off for family reasons. His wife Heshani is expected to give birth to the couple’s first child shortly. Injury had brought the date of his departure forward a little.After a third T20 in Cape Town on Wednesday, with the series tied at 1-1, Sri Lanka and South Africa embark upon a five-ODI series, with Upul Tharanga taking over from Mathews. A stronger performance over 50 overs would leave Sri Lanka in better heart ahead of the Champions Trophy in England later this year.”I know I am answerable but, as captain, I have done the best possible,” Mathews said. “I worked closely with the coach [Graham Ford]. I always discussed with the selectors when it came to the team. It has been a collective effort. But if someone wants to put the blame on me, so be it.”Mathews’ early experience of the job was a good one. He led Sri Lanka to a first Test win against England and had support from players of the calibre of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. Those senior players have gradually retired from view, leaving him to lead a largely inexperienced side which struggled to compete in the South Africa Test series.”Players like Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva have not played much Test cricket, forget about playing outside Sri Lanka,” Mathews said. “So, we need to give them opportunities. Let everyone blame me, it’s fine. I can take it but let’s not blame the other players. They need support and encouragement and not to be put down.”For the moment, he continues to lead in typically pugnacious style, tries to win matches and awaits his fate in philosophical fashion.”I’m not here to be captain forever and I will never be captain forever,” he said. “This is just a passing cloud. I am not afraid to lose it and I don’t need it forever. I’m not afraid to step down or lose it or to keep it. I can play under any captain no matter who he is. As long as I perform, I have a lot more to give to the team and the country.”

The Netherlands defender has arrived at Arsenal and signed a long-term contract with the Gunners after moving from Ajax.

Arsenal's summer has got off to a busy start. After missing out on the Premier League title to Manchester City last season, it was quickly identified that the first-team squad needed more depth if the Gunners were ever going to return to the summit of English football.

The headlines have largely been dominated by the club's pursuit of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz in recent weeks. However, quietly in the background, Arsenal have been working hard to hammer out a deal to sign Jurrien Timber from Ajax.

That deal has now been agreed, with the Gunners sealing a transfer worth €46 million (£40m/$52m) to bring the Netherlands international to north London and add to Mikel Arteta's options.

The only question now he's officially through the door is how Timber will slot into the Arsenal backline. There are a number of different options, which GOAL takes a look at below…

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  The story so far

  Timber is not a new face on the scene. Despite being just 22 years old, he has already made well over 100 appearances for Ajax and earned 15 caps for the Netherlands.

  Continuing a fine tradition of world-class youth development in the Dutch capital, Timber flew through the age groups at the Johan Cruyff ArenA, before making his senior debut in 2020. He has scarcely been out of the starting XI since, helping Ajax to Eredivisie titles in 2021 and 2022.

  While the 2022-23 season was a torrid one for the Amsterdammers, Timber's reputation remains sky high. No one in the Ajax squad made more appearances than him last campaign, and he was picked in various outlets' Eredivisie team of the season.

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  A blow for Manchester United?

  Timber had long been expected to turn up in the Premier League at some point. However, Manchester United had always seemed like his most likely destination. It was under Erik ten Hag at Ajax that Timber developed into a top-class defender, and the United boss made no secret of his desire to bring him to Old Trafford last summer. “I think that all top clubs in Europe have Timber in their sights," he said.

  This kickstarted a frantic few months of rumours, but in the end the two clubs could not agree a deal. Louis van Gaal, a huge fan of Timber, might have played a role in the move failing to materialise, as he seemed to warn his golden boy off joining the Red Devils in June.

  Regardless of whether Van Gaal influenced proceedings, Ten Hag's hopes of signing Timber have now been extinguished.

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  The details of the deal

  That's because Arsenal have swooped in to secure Timber's services this summer. Personal terms were not an issue, due to the player's enthusiasm for the move and the Gunners' generous offer.

  Reaching an agreement on a transfer fee has been significantly harder, though. Timber has two years left on his deal, so Ajax could feasibly have held onto him for another season before selling him on.

  That is likely why they rejected the Gunners' initial bid of £30 million ($38.1m) in June. However, a deal has now been struck, and Timber has now signed a long-term contract in north London.

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  What will Timber bring to Arsenal?

  So, why exactly have Arsenal been convinced to spend all that money on Timber? His greatest attribute is his zen-like composure on the ball. Following in a long line of Dutch defenders before him, Timber is superb technically, with no Eredivisie player completing more short passes than him during the 2022-23 season.

  For a possession-heavy side like Arsenal, this will be a priceless asset. It's worth noting that Timber's 74.7 completed passes per 90 minutes was comfortably higher than what any Arsenal player managed last campaign too, though this should be taken with a pinch of salt, considering how dominant Ajax are in the Netherlands.

  In addition, his patience on the ball should suit him well to the Gunners' style of play. As Timber is so confident retaining possession he often waits until the opposition has committed as much as possible before firing his pass through the lines.

  Arsenal lit up the Premier League with their lightning-quick transitions last term, and it's easy to see Timber playing a quarterback-like role from the heart of the defence.

India limited-overs captain MS Dhoni has worked with his state team, Jharkhand, as mentor in the lead up to the Buchi Babu All-India Invitational Cricket Tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Aug-2016

India limited-overs captain MS Dhoni has worked with his state team, Jharkhand, as mentor in the lead up to the Buchi Babu All-India Invitational Cricket Tournament. He also might join the team in the same capacity during the latter stages of the Buchi Babu tournament, which is a pre-season competition run by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA).”Dhoni was with the boys during the camp in Ranchi,” Rajesh Verma, the secretary of Jharkhand State Cricket Association, told . “The boys are thrilled as it gives them a chance to tap into his experience. The original plan was for him to be there from the beginning [of the tournament], but he now has a meeting in Delhi. So, he will most probably join the team around August 12.”This year, apart from Jharkhand, the Buchi Babu tournament will feature Hyderabad, Chhattisgarh, Railways and Uttar Pradesh as invitational teams, alongside three local teams in TNCA President’s XI, TNCA XI and TNCA Districts XI. The tournament is set to run from August 5 to 18.

AB De Villiers’ 200th ODI for South Africa ended much the same way his 100th Test did; with rain forcing an abandonment, after just one over, at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Sunday

The Report by Firdose Moonda19-Jun-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsA washout in Bridgetown on Sunday meant Australia face a do-or-die clash against West Indies in their final league game•Getty Images

AB de Villiers’ 200th ODI for South Africa went much the same way his 100th Test did, as Sunday’s tri-series fixture was the first to be washed out, with only an over possible.Just as November’s Bangalore Test involved long periods of watching and waiting, the first game of the series in Barbados dragged on for over five hours because of intermittent rain, which denied South Africa an opportunity to qualify for the final. Instead they shared points with Australia, who now face a must-win clash against hosts West Indies in their final league fixture at the same venue on Tuesday.The damp squib ended the possibility of what could have been the first battle of the quicks in this tournament. Both sides bolstered their seam stocks in anticipation of a surface with more pace and bounce. South Africa handed Morne Morkel his first opportunity on tour, at the expense of left-arm wristspinner Tabraiz Shamsi, while Australia included Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc in their XI. Australia also dispensed with a specialist spinner in Adam Zampa to bring back Glenn Maxwell.Steven Smith decided to let his attack loose on a fresh surface, perhaps mindful of the impact rain could have on the chase. Starc bowled the first and only over of the match: an affair that included three wides, a half-volley that Quinton de Kock drove for four and two well-directed inswingers. Heavy rain swept through the ground seconds after he finished the over.The downpour lasted three hours and 20 minutes before abating. There was a possibility of play resuming when covers were peeled off at 4.30pm local time. But an inspection, and an hour and 15 minutes later, the match officials felt the outfield and the pitch were too wet for the game to resume. The final call was made at 6.25pm.