Kohli, de Villiers fight to be No 1 in ODIs
Dubai: The fight for the number one ODI batsmen between India’s Virat Kohli (left) and South Africa captain AB de Villiers (right) could get exciting in the coming weeks with the upcoming fixtures offering them an opportunity to either retain or reclaim the top spot on the ICC Player Rankings. Only eight rating points separate the No.1 ranked Kohli from de Villiers. While India play the West Indies in a three-match series from November 21 in Kochi, South Africa play host to Pakistan in a three-match series from November 24. The series in India finishes on November 27 and the series in South Africa finishes three days later. This means both Kohli and de Villiers can potentially make the most of the home conditions in their quest.
Sreesanth to marry on December 12
Kochi: Banned India cricketer S Sreesanth will tie the nuptial knot on December 12 with a girl from a royal family in Rajasthan at the famous Sri Krishna temple at Guruvayoor. Sreesanth will be marrying Nayan next month at the Guruvayoor Sri Krishna temple, his mother Savithri Devi said. “The wedding is scheduled for December 12,” she said. The couple has been dating each other for the past few years and Nayan stood by Sreesanth when the pacer was jailed following his alleged involvement in the spot-fixing scandal which took place during the sixth edition of the Indian Premier league.
Issue of next year’s IPl venue discussed
Mumbai: The IPl Governing Council members had an informal discussion on Sunday about alternative country that could host the seventh edition of the popular Twenty20 league next year. The discussions were primarily based on the fact India will be going for the general elections next year and it will happen in phases across the country. It will be very difficult for the state governments to deploy security for the matches prior or just after the election dates. “Although our first preference is certainly India keeping in mind interest of sponsors and cricket lovers but if the general election dates clashes with IPl dates, then we have no option but to think of other alternatives,” a BCCI official told said.
Australia stronger for Ashes loss: Siddle
Brisbane: Australia have a better strategy to defeat England in the Ashes this time round after learning hard lessons from their defeat earlier this year, paceman Peter Siddle said on Monday. Michael Clarke will be looking to reverse his team’s fortunes in the first Test starting at the Gabba on Thursday after their 3-0 defeat on English soil, and Siddle said the pace trio of the recalled Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and himself were “ready to go”. “Our plans have got a lot stronger,” Siddle told reporters. “We know what to do differently. We know how to approach it and we’ll attack it hard. “We know there’s a few players we need to work on and no doubt we’ll have them covered starting on Thursday.” Johnson is set for his first Test since Australia’s loss to India in March, while Harris will be hoping to build on his success in the last Ashes series in which he was Australia’s best bowler, taking 24 wickets in four Tests. “I think his experience is going to be great throughout this series,” Siddle said of Johnson.
‘Real test for SA will be home series vs India’
Johannesburg: The Proteas’ performance in the recent series against Pakistan in Dubai augured well for the 2015 World Cup but their real test will be the upcoming home series against India, according to former captain Kepler Wessels. Wessels said he was happy at what he saw of the performance of South African team against Pakistan in which the Proteas drew the two-Test series 1-1 and won the five-ODI series 4-1. “But I’m interested to see how South Africa will go against India,” he said, when asked about the home series against India which will have two Tests and three ODIs. “I have no doubt South Africa will score a lot of runs against India because their bowling attack in South Africa will be limited. But I think the Indian batsmen, particularly the younger ones, have performed well of late and will do well,” he said. “They will be more of a test for our bowlers than they’ve had here.” PNS/Agencies