Ravi Bopara believes Eoin Morgan is the perfect man to lead England into the World Cup.
Morgan, 28, will captain England in January’s Tri-Series against Australia and India before the tourmament begins in February, after replacing Alastair Cook as one-day skipper following a meeting of the selectors on Friday.
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The West Indies have followed England in replacing their one-day captain less than two months before the World Cup after replacing Dwayne Bravo with Jason Holder.
Holder, who turned 23 last month, has been named to lead the squad in the five ODIs in South Africa next month.
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South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock is a doubt for the World Cup after being ruled out of the rest of the series against the West Indies due to injury.
De Kock injured his left ankle while warming up before play on the third day of the first Test and a scan revealed a torn ligament.
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Mitchell Johnson was delighted to carry out his “job” and fire Australia to victory over India in the second Test in Brisbane.
The left-arm quick bulldozed India’s middle-order on Saturday morning – taking 3-10 in 11 balls – before finishing with figures of 4-61 as Australia dismissed the tourists for 224.
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Steven Smith heaped praise on Mitchell Johnson after the left-hander’s brutal 88 helped Australia secure a first-innings lead over India in the second Test.
“I said before the Test match that I wanted to lead from the front with my performances, so hopefully I’ve done that.”
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Gloucestershire and director of cricket John Bracewell have agreed to go their separate ways at the end of next month.
New Zealander Bracewell will be replaced by a head coach, who Gloucestershire expect to be in place before the end of January.
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Mahela Jayawardene plans to play with style and a smile in Tuesday’s one-day international against England – his final game on home soil before he retires.
The legendary Sri Lanka batsman will be retiring after next year’s World Cup and wants to enjoy his final international match in his native city Colombo, at the Premadasa Stadium.
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Fast bowler Liam Plunkett and batsman Sam Robson were in impressive form for an England Performance Programme XI in South Africa.
Yorkshire paceman Plunkett took 4-36 against North West Dragons in Potchefstroom while opening batsman Robson contributed an unbeaten half-century as the tourists made 103-1 before the close of play on day one of the two-day match.
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Opener Ahmed Shehzad made a fine century as Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 147 runs in Sharjah to go 2-1 up in the five-match series.
Shehzad contributed 113 and stand-in skipper Shahid Afridi smashed 55 off 26 balls as Pakistan posted a huge total of 364-7 before New Zealand were dismissed for 217.
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Nick Compton has rejoined Middlesex a month after leaving Somerset.
The England batsman has signed a three-year contract and returns to the county where he came through the positions and spent eight years before leaving in 2009.
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Steven Smith said Michael Clarke played “attractively” after the Australia skipper defied a back injury to score 128 on day two of the very first Test against India.
Clarke made a surprise reappearance in the crease on Wednesday morning having retired hurt soon before tea on day one after wriggling away from an Ishant Sharma bouncer.
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Pakistan are seeking a reassessment of Saeed Ajmal’s bowling action in a play to clear the off-spinner before next year’s World Cup.
Ajmal was suspended from bowling at international level after having a biomechanical investigation of his activity reported it as suspicious through the Galle Test against Sri Lanka in August.
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Jon Lewis continues to be named bowling trainer of Sussex after declaring his retirement in the playing positions.
The former England seamer joined Sussex from Surrey before the 2014 effort but harm restricted his looks on the 2nd half the season and he’s made a decision to create a move to the training positions.
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Australia are hopeful captain Michael Clarke will overcome a hamstring injury to lead the team in their series against India which begins next month.
The Aussies stage four Tests against India before co-hosting the 50-over World Cup with New Zealand.
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Bangladesh eased to a 186-run victory over Zimbabwe in the third and final Test in Chittagong on Sunday to sweep the series 3-0.
Resuming the day on 71-1 and chasing a formidable target of 449, the tourists were bowled out for 262 in their second innings just before tea on the fifth day, with Regis Chakabva (89no) the only batsman to offer much resistance as wickets tumbled around him.
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Mohammad Hafeez could miss the second Test against New Zealand with a hamstring injury.
The Pakistan batsman, who scored an unbeaten hundred in his side’s first-Test win, will be assessed before the start of play in Dubai on Monday.
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England fly out to Sri Lanka on Sunday for their final preparations before the World Cup.
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England batsman Sam Robson has signed a fresh deal with Middlesex which will keep him with the county before the conclusion of 2016 at least.
Sydney-produced Robson, who played for Australia’s U19 side before qualfiying for England obligation in 2013, has scored nearly 4,000 runs for Middlesex since joining in 2008.
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James Anderson believes England can develop their self-confidence for next year’s World Cup having an optimistic performance in Sri Lanka later this month.
England started the year having a substantial one-day international series defeat in Australia before rallying from an opening defeat against the West Indies to clinch a 2-1 triumph.
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Durham seam bowler Graham Onions has been granted a benefit year by the county in 2015.
The 32-year old came through the academy at Chester Le Street prior to making his first class introduction in April 2004.
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