lehmann to step down in 2019
Melbourne: Australia cricket coach Darren lehmann will not seek to renew his contract when his current deal expires at the end of 2019, he said in an interview aired on Monday. lehmann outlined his plans to Fox Sports, declaring the English summer season in 18 months will be his last hurrah. Australia will seek to defend their World Cup title in the first half of the 2019 English season before playing an Ashes Test series. "That will be it," lehmann said when asked whether he will seek a new contract beyond 2019. "It will be a case of too much time, too much travel." lehmann has been at the helm since the 2013 Ashes when he replaced sacked coach Mickey Arthur following a disastrous tour of India.
Indian women to host England in April
New Delhi: India will host England for three ODIs in April as part of the ICC Women's Championship, the BCCI announced on Monday. The matches will be played on April 8, 11 and 14. The ODI series will be played after the T20 tri-series also involving England and Australia. India had narrowly lost to England in the World Cup final in June. It was announced earlier that India will host Australia for a three-match ODI series from March 12 to 18. India play their ICC Women's Championship opener in South Africa from February 5 to 10. They have not played since the loss in the World Cup final.
Smith, Afridi join other stars for ice cricket
New Delhi: Graeme Smith and Shahid Afridi have joined a host of former stars for the inaugural St. Moritz Ice Cricket in Switzerland from February 8-9. While Afridi is playing regularly post his international retirement, the two-day T20 event in St Moritz will be Smith's first since featuring in the Masters Champions league in February 2016. The other big names confirmed for the event are Virender Sehwag, Mohammad Kaif, Shoaib Akhtar, Mahela Jayawardene, lasith Malinga, Michael Hussey, Jacques Kallis, Daniel Vettori, Nathan Mcullum, Grant Elliot, Monty Panesar and Owais Shah. "I don't know what to expect but I am really excited to play in a beautiful part of the world. I hope the event is a huge success," said former South Africa captain Smith.
New Zealand aim to whitewash Windies in 3rd ODI
Christchurch: After clinching victory in the initial two matches against the West Indies, New Zealand will aim to clean sweep the One-Day International (ODI) series at the Hagley Oval here on Tuesday. The third ODI will be a dead rubber with New Zealand having already sealed the series 2-0 but there are enough reasons for the Windies to try and make something out of it. The visitors hope to welcome Chris Gayle back as they eye a rare ODI win in a year of disappointments after things have not gone their way. To make matters worse, newcomer Ronsford Beaton has been pulled up for a suspect bowling action. In the previous match, the Windies had folded for 121 inside 28 overs after letting New Zealand post 325 for six.
Robinho to play on despite rape conviction
Rio de Janeiro: Former Brazil international forward Robinho plans to continue playing in 2018 despite being convicted of rape. An Italian court last month sentenced Robinho to nine years in prison for participating in the 2013 gang rape of a woman in Milan, reports Xinhua news agency. The punishment will not be enforced until the appeal process ends but Brazil does not allow for the extradition of its citizens, meaning Robinho would only risk being arrested if he left his home country. The 33-year-old, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, said he would weigh offers from interested clubs after parting ways with Brazilian Serie A side Atletico Mineiro.