CA suspends flame throwers at T20 games
Sydney: Cricket Australia on Friday suspended the use of flame throwers used to signal boundaries or when a wicket falls at Twenty20 internationals after a close call in a match this week. Australia captain Aaron Finch was shocked when he came within a metre of a burst of the pyrotechnic display as he went to get the ball from just over the Adelaide Oval boundary line against South Africa on Wednesday. Finch had deliberately stalled collecting the ball, knowing that flames are shot to mark boundaries. After the seven-wicket loss to the Proteas, Finch called for more care to be taken with boundary line gimmicks. “We were very concerned by what took place at the Adelaide Oval and as a result we’re now reviewing the operating and safety protocols of the flame units,” he said in a statement.
Color-blind Rogers withdraws pink ball trial
Sydney: Cricket Australia on Frinday said that color-blind batsman Chris Rogers’ decision to withdraw from a match in which a pink ball will be trialled would not jeopardise the opener’s Test career. Rogers has pulled out of Victoria’s day-night Sheffield Shield clash against Tasmania, starting tomorrow, citing his difficulties in detecting the experimental pink ball. But Rogers, who had a successful season with English county side Middlesex, said a one-game break should not impact on his chances of Test selection. CA have pushed ahead with pink ball trials as they aim to stage a proposed day-night Test match against New Zealand in Adelaide next year. “I just haven’t had the opportunity to practice with (the new ball) because I’ve been playing so much,” Rogers said.
Clarke welcomes return of fit-again quicks
Sydney:: Skipper Michael Clarke Friday welcomed the likelihood of Australia having a surfeit of fit pacemen ahead of a demanding season of cricket climaxing with next year’s World Cup. The gruelling schedule of international matches at home began on Wednesday, with the first of three Twenty20 matches against South Africa. That will be followed by five one-day internationals against the Proteas, a four-Test series against India and a limited overs tri-series involving England and India before the one-day World Cup in February-March. Pat Cummins, who has played little in the last three Australian seasons through injury, made an encouraging return to international cricket in Wednesday’s T20 loss to South Africa. Josh Hazlewood, whose last international appearance was over nine months ago, starred for his New South Wales state side in the recent domestic one-day tournament. Test paceman Ryan Harris, meanwhile, returned to action this week, and James Pattinson, who hasn’t played a first-class game since that Cape Town Test, is also on the comeback trail. “That’s a real positive sign for Australian cricket, moving forward. Over the next 12 months, I think we’re obviously going to need them all.”Clarke said.
RCB acquire Bisla in IPl trading window
New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bangalore have acquired Manvinder Bisla from Kolkata Knight Riders as part of the first trading window which was opened on October 6. The Window is open till December 12 and four players have been traded so far.”The latest two trades both involve Royal Challengers Bangalore. They have acquired Manvinder Bisla from Kolkata Knight Riders and have traded Parthiv Patel to Mumbai Indians,” the BCCI said in a statement. Earlier this week, Mumbai Indians had acquired Unmukt Chand from Rajasthan Royals and R Vinay Kumar from Kolkata Knight Riders. The IPl will be played from April 8 to May 24.
Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by 162 runs
Khulna (Bangladesh): Shakib Al Hasan became the third cricketer in test history to score a century and haul in 10 wickets as he steered Bangladesh to a 162-run win over Zimbabwe on the last day of the second test on Friday. Shakib claimed 5-44 in the second innings to help bowl out Zimbabwe for 151, clinch the three-match series 2-0, and send Zimbabwe to the bottom of the test rankings. Shakib, who hit 137 in the first innings, joined England’s Ian Botham and Pakistan’s Imran Khan to take 10 wickets and score a century in a test.”I had my eye on taking 10 wickets and scoring a hundred. I was lucky,” Shakib said. “It was turning a lot on the last day. I put the ball in the right areas and it worked. It’s a great feeling to lead a series 2-0 and hopefully we’ll keep on doing this in the future series as well.”