India will play New Zealand and Bangladesh in their warm-up matches before the starting of the ICC ODI World Cup starting May 30 in England. All 10 competing nations will play two official warm-up fixtures ahead of the tournament, which will take place at four venues across England and Wales. “The fixtures will be held over five days between May 24-28, and will be played at the Bristol County Ground, Cardiff Wales Stadium, Hampshire Bowl and The Oval,” the ICC said in a statement. India will take on New Zealand on May 25 at the Oval followed by a game against Bangladesh on May 28 in Cardiff. The warm-up fixtures will be 50-over affairs but will not carry official ODI status as teams would be able field all members of their 15-strong squads during the match. “These games provide another opportunity for fans to see world-class players at their local venue,” said World Cup 2019 managing director Steve Elworthy.
ICC asks Lanka to come clean on corruption
The International Cricket Council has urged Sri Lanka’s scandal-ridden sporting community to come forward with information about corruption before an amnesty expires or risk expulsion from the game. Sri Lankan cricket has been mired in corruption allegations in recent years, including claims of match fixing ahead of an international Test against England last year, and the sport’s world governing body is in the middle of a major inquiry into the island nation. The ICC said it had received a “positive response” after granting a 15-day amnesty this month for players, coaches or anyone else linked to the sport to come clean, free of the threat of punishment. Council anti-corruption chief Alex Marshall said new cases had come to light and urged others to come forward before the amnesty expires. The ICC considers Sri Lanka the world’s most corrupt cricketing nation and the sport’s governance riddled with graft “from top to bottom.”
Lankan opener hurt after bouncing ball hits him
Sri Lanka opener Dimuth Karunaratne was hit by a bouncing delivery on his helmet and was taken off the field on a stretcher on the second day of the test match against Australia. Karunaratne crumpled to the ground after ducking into a Pat Cummins bouncer which rocketed into the back of his helmet. The 30-year-old Karunaratne, who retired hurt on 46, left the ground on a stretcher. He was later taken to a hospital. He appeared to be conscious, although medical staff appeared concerned about his neck.
Kohli is an unbelievable player: England pacer Curran
Young England fast bowler Tom Curran has described Virat Kohli as an “unbelievable player” and hopes to dismiss the Indians when the two teams come to play in the future. Curran spoke to media after the ICC announced the fixtures of the T20 World Cup in Australia next year. India and England are clubbed in the same pool. When asked how he hopes to get the prized scalp of Kohli, the 23-year-old right-arm pacer said: “Hopefully not with a no-ball! We’ll see. He's an unbelievable player.”
Greg Chappell set to retire from Cricket Australia
Greg Chappell, who is considered one of Australia’s most influential voices in the field of cricket, is set to exit the stage as the selector and national talent manager following the end of the Ashes later this year. In the midst of extensive debate about the role of the national selection panel also comprising Trevor Hohns and Justin Langer, Chappell informed colleagues of his intention to depart Cricket Australia, ending his long and eventful involvement with the governing body, stretching over more than 30 years since his retirement from playing in 1984. The 70-year-old served as a selector of the formerly known Australian Cricket Board from 1984 to 1988, 2010 to 2011 and 2016 until this year. He also worked as the head coach at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane before his appointment as Cricket Australia’s national talent manager in 2010.
