Steven Smith has eliminated any doubts over his captaincy credentials by guiding Australia to victory over India in the second Test at The Gabba, says Mark Butcher.
Smith stood in as skipper for the injured Michael Clarke and as well as leading his side to a four-wicket triumph also plundered his second century of the four-match series.
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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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Pakistan coach Waqar Younis will be looking for a pre-World Cup boost when his side take on New Zealand in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
The five-match one-day international series is tied at 2-2 after the Black Caps’ seven-run victory in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, and Waqar is keen to wrap up a series win in the decider ahead of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand which starts on February 14.
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New Zealand drew level in their five-match ODI series with Pakistan after Kane Williamson’s century helped them to a thrilling seven-run victory in the fourth match in Abu Dhabi.
Skipper Williamson (123) crunched 12 fours in a brutal 105-ball knock as The Black Caps reached 299-5 from their 50 overs, with openers Martin Guptill (58) and Dean Brownlie (42) also chipping in.
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Australia captain Michael Clarke will undergo surgery on his right hamstring in a bid to save his career, Cricket Australia have announced.
The 33-year-old limped out of his side’s first Test victory against India last week and will go under the knife in Melbourne on Tuesday.
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Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee from their victory over England on Saturday.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) imposed the penalty after deciding Sangakkara was “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision”.
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Australia coach Darren Lehmann believes injured skipper Michael Clarke will continue to play for his country.
Clarke’s immediate playing future is up in the air after he suffered a torn right hamstring during Australia’s 48-run victory over India in the first Test in Adelaide on Saturday.
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Pakistan have called up Yasir Shah and Anwar Ali for the remaining one-day matches against New Zealand to replace wounded bowlers Umar Gul and Bilawal Bhatti.
Gul injured his left tendon during Pakistan’s success in the very first ODI last Monday, while Bhatti injured his hand during training.
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Captain Kane Williamson hit an unbeaten 70 to lead New Zealand into a four-wicket triumph over Pakistan in Sharjah and level their one day series at 1-1.
Williamson stood firm in a Kiwi fall and was still in the crease with former skipper Daniel Vettori as four leg byes saw them past Pakistan’s goal of 253 for success with four overs to spare.
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Australia will feel confident of wrapping up victory over India in the initial Test on Saturday – and it is possible to see if that self-confidence is warranted with exclusive coverage live on Sky Sports.
David Warner’s two hundreds, coupled with centuries for skipper Michael Clarke and Steven Smith and a few superb spin bowling by Nathan Lyon, have set the Baggy Greens 363 runs ahead of India heading into day five at Adelaide.
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Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews insists England are still the team under pressure heading into Saturday’s sixth one-day international in Pallekele.
England cut the hosts’ lead in the seven-match series to 3-2 with the impressive five-wicket success in the exact same place on Thursday.
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Chris Woakes is convinced that England can level their one day series against Sri Lanka having a triumph in Pallekele on Saturday.
The tourists cut Sri Lanka’s lead in the seven-match series to 3-2 by winning the fifth match of the series in Pallekele to the reservation day.
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England stand in captain Eoin Morgan was left to rue the lack of another specialist spinner after his side lost the fourth ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Morgan filled the emptiness left as routine skipper Alastair Cook served a one-match suspension and he nearly oversaw a second consecutive victory in the seven-match series.
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Sir Ian Botham is backing England to square the series with Sri Lanka with success in Sunday’s fourth ODI in Colombo.
England trail 2-1 in the seven-match series but stopped a losing run using a five-wicket triumph in Hambantona on Wednesday.
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England stand in captain Eoin Morgan considers the defeat of Sri Lanka in the third one-day international has given his side a much needed confidence boost for the remaining series .
Jos Buttler’s 55 not outside led England into a five-wicket success however they still trail the hosts 2-1 in the seven-match series.
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Alastair Cook demonstrated he’s plenty more to offer after placing England on course for an late triumph over Sri Lanka in the third one-day international, says David Lloyd.
Cook contributed 34 to an opening stand of 84 with Moeen Ali (58 off 40 balls) as the tourists successfully chased down a revised Duckworth-Lewis objective of 236 in 35 overs.
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Michael Carberry was impressed by Jos Buttler’s mindset as the wicketkeeper-batsman powered England to success in the third ODI with Sri Lanka.
Buttler (55 not out) arrived in the crease with England 152-5, still 84 runs unsure of the goal of 236, but invented an outstanding partnership with Joe Root (48) to begin to see the tourists house and reduce their arrears in the seven-match series to 2-1.
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Ian Bell insists England would like to play a “favorable, competitive” brand of cricket as they get prepared for the start of one day series against Sri Lanka.
The tourists head to the opening match on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports, having recorded a comfortable victory in the sole warm up match they have managed to play in between extended spans of rain.
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Recall the collapses, the controversy as well as the astounding strokeplay? It’s not even six months since Sri Lanka secured a 3-2 triumph over England but here’s a refresher of the activity – and what our pundits made of it…
First ODI: Eng 247-6 bt SL 144 by 81 runs (D/L system)
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England’s middle-order batsmen would be the envy of the world if they weren’t under pressure to turn in ‘super-human’ performances so often, says Mark Butcher.
Alastair Cook’s side began their tour of Sri Lanka with a confident 56-run Duckworth Lewis victory over Sri Lanka A on Friday, the skipper sharing a 94-run opening stand with Moeen Ali, who blasted a 21-ball fifty in Colombo.
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