Renshaw agrees Kent deal
London: Australia batsman Matt Renshaw will play for Kent at the start of English season, featuring in the One-Day Cup as well as early County Championship fixtures. The opener is hoping his spell with Kent will help force his way into Australia's Ashes plans ahead of their tour to England later this year. Renshaw, who was given his Australia debut at the age of just 20 in 2016 and has made one Test century to date but has struggled to regain his place since making way for Cameron Bancroft before the 2017-18 Ashes. Paul Downton, Kent's director of cricket, told the club website: "Matt is a young talent who is very hungry for success. He has the ability to strengthen our batting line-up, which will be key at the beginning of the season with both Sam (Billings) and Joe (Denly) away playing in the IPL. We look forward to welcoming Matt into the squad."
Heat part ways with Vettori
Brisbane: The Big Bash League's Brisbane Heat were on the lookout for a new coach on Saturday after former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori opted not to renew his contract. His decision came soon after fellow ex-Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum confirmed that this would be his last season playing for the Heat in the Australian Twenty20 tournament. Vettori has been coach since 2015 and will end his tenure when the season finishes. The Heat has won their last three games and remains in contention for the semi-finals. "I have loved my time at Brisbane, firstly as a player and then as coach, and the experience of being part of the growth of the BBL has been personally rewarding," said Vettori. "I would like to thank the players for their efforts and wish them all the best in their respective careers."
Galaxy to unveil Beckham statue
Los Angeles: A statue of former England and Manchester United star David Beckham will be unveiled next month by the Los Angeles Galaxy at the club's home stadium, the team announced on Friday. The iconic midfielder — who also had stints at Real Madrid, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain before retiring in 2013 — will receive the honor before the Galaxy's March 2 Major League Soccer opener against Chicago. Beckham moved to MLS with the Galaxy in 2007 and played six seasons with the team, winning MLS titles in 2011 and 2012 and expanding the sport's popularity in America. The 43-year-old Englishman remains involved with MLS as a co-owner of future expansion club Inter Miami, which is set to take the field in 2020.
Shakib ruled out of NZ ODIs
Dhaka: Bangladesh suffered a fresh injury blow ahead of next week's one-day international series against New Zealand on Saturday, after the Bangladesh Cricket Board said all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan had been ruled out with a finger fracture. Shakib sustained the injury to his left ring finger while batting in the final of the sixth edition of Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 tournament on Friday evening, said the BCB. An X-ray following the match confirmed a fracture, and the finger will "have to be immobilised for around three weeks," said senior BCB physician Debashis Chowdhury. This was the second injury blow for Bangladesh ahead of the visit, which featured three one-day internationals and three Tests. Pace bowler Taskin Ahmed was earlier ruled out for the entire series with a torn ligament.
Coulter-Nile suffers vertigo bout
Perth: Nathan Coulter-Nile, who was picked this week for Australia's one-day and Twenty20 tour of India, was taken to hospital on Saturday after a bout of vertigo during a Big Bash League game. The Perth Scorchers fast bowler had delivered the fifth ball of his final over late in the Twenty20 match against the Adelaide Strikers when he signalled that all was not well. After consulting with Perth captain Mitchell Marsh, he bowled the sixth ball, which was hit for six, before sinking to his haunches and sitting on the ground. Scorchers physio Chris Quinnell said Coulter-Nile had suffered a "bad bout of vertigo". "He was taken to hospital after the game as a precaution and will be monitored over the next few hours," Quinnell said on the BBL website.
India clinch 4 medals in Bahrain tt
New Delhi: India's young paddlers stole the limelight in the Bahrain Junior and Cadet Open table tennis tournament, clinching four medals, including Gold, in Manama. Besides the Gold, India won two Silver and a Bronze. India fielded three teams in the cadet girls' team event and swept all the three medals on offer. India A team won the Gold, the India B the Silver and the India C the Bronze. In the junior girls' competition, which was played in a round robin format, the Indian team of Manushree Patil and Swastika Ghosh beat three teams before losing to eventual champions Russia. The Indian team collected seven points to win the Silver medal.