ab’s book draws huge response
johannesburg: South Africa cricket team captain AB de Villiers is "incredibly humbled" by the huge response his autobiography has been getting in India even before its launch there next week. Asked at the South African launch of the book here last night whether this was because of his huge popularity among Indian cricket fans, de Villiers said he had never expected the kind of response he gets in India every time he plays there. "It was probably the most humbling experience of my life walking out there in the final ODI against India at Wankhede Stadium (in 2015)," De Villiers said. "I walked out there to bat and the entire crowd was cheering 'AB! AB!' and chanting so loud that I could not even hear myself talk."
arthur issues odi warning
leeds: Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur made it clear some members of his one-day side were on borrowed time after another defeat by England raised fears the team might not qualify automatically for the 2019 World Cup. Pakistan started this series ninth in the International Cricket Council ODI rankings, with only tournament hosts England and the top seven in the standings come the end of September next year qualifying automatically for the 2019 World Cup.
Hamilton shades Rosberg
monza: Championship leader lewis Hamilton bounced back to top the times ahead of his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg in Friday's second free practice for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix. The defending three-time world champion, who leads Rosberg by nine points in the title race, was second behind him in Friday's opening session. On a hot late summer's afternoon at the old Autodromo Nazionale in Monza's former royal park, lewis clocked a best lap in one minute and 22.801 seconds to outpace Rosberg by 0.193 seconds
Maddocks passes away
sydney: Australia's oldest surviving Test cricketer, len Maddocks, has passed away aged 90, Cricket Australia said on Friday. Maddocks, a batsman and wicket-keeper, played seven Tests for Australia between 1954 and 1956, and managed the Australian cricket team on its 1977 tour of England. He played 112 first-class matches, representing Victoria and Tasmania, and was also a national selector and a Victorian Cricket Association board director.