Trending!!Sachin Tendulkar Greets Childhood Coach Ramakant Achrekar on Guru Purnima : England Thrash Australia in Three Days to Grab Series Lead

Sachin Tendulkar Greets Childhood Coach Ramakant Achrekar on Guru Purnima

Sachin Tendulkar himself though bows his head to one man who has played a huge role in making him the legend that he is - coach Ramakant Achrekar.

On the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima - an Indian festival dedicated to spiritual and academic teachers -- Tendulkar greeted 83-year-old Achrekar and once again thanked him for teaching him all he knows about cricket.

"Sought blessings of my Guru on this auspicious day - A happy #GuruPurnima to all," Tendulkar tweeted on Friday. He also posted images on his official Facebook page which showed him touching Achrekar's feet and sharing a smile with him.

 England Thrash Australia in Three Days to Grab Series Lead

Ian Bell delighted a capacity crowd at his Warwickshire home ground with a sparkling unbeaten fifty as England beat Australia by eight wickets to win the third Test at Edgbaston on Friday. 

Victory, achieved with more than two days to spare, saw England go 2-1 up in the five-match Ashes series. 

England, set a modest victory target of 121, finished on 124 for two after lunch on Friday's third day.

There was a moment of concern for England when captain Alastair Cook (seven) was bowled by a superb swinging delivery from left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc to leave the hosts seven for one.

But Bell, roared on by England fans in a sun-drenched crowd, then took charge with a flurry of four fours in seven balls off Starc, including one down the ground and a classic cover-drive.

Bell, arguably England's most elegant batsman, then late cut off-spinner Nathan Lyon to the third man rope.

TRENDING!! Bangladesh confident of upset win against SA:Steven Finn's Fifer Puts England in Firm Control vs Australia

Bangladesh confident of upset win against SA

                Captain Mushfiqur Rahim said. Speaking to reporters in Dhaka on Wednesday, Rahim said his players dominated the last Test against the Proteas in Chittagong before rain forced a draw.

              "It is an opportunity against the world's number one team and  put them under pressure,"We almost dominated them in every sessions of the last match and we have the capability to pick up 20 wickets. But it's not that we can win in one day, so we need to be consistent and that is a big challenge.

Steven Finn's Fifer Puts England in Firm Control vs Australia

              Steven Finn took England to the verge of a stunning victory in the third Test against Australia at Edgbaston on Thursday and a 2-1 Ashes series lead. 

             At the close of a remarkable second day, Australia were 168 for seven in their second innings -- a lead of just 23 runs with three wickets standing and three days left to play.

            Fast bowler Finn, recalled for his first Test since 2013, had taken five wickets for 45 runs in 13 overs following his two for 38 in Australia's meagre first-innings 136.

TRENDING!! James Anderson Sets Edgbaston on Fire as Aussies Reel : Virat Kohli Fails as Hosts Skittled Out for 135 on Day 1

James Anderson Sets Edgbaston on Fire as Aussies Reel

James Anderson returned the best Ashes figures of his career as England took charge on the first day of the third Test against Australia at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

Anderson took six for for 47 as Australia slumped to 136 all out inside 37 overs after winning the toss and batting in the overcast conditions that the Lancastrian has relished throughout his career.

At stumps, England were three runs adrift of Australia at 133 for three.

Joe Root, who hooked fast bowler Mitchell Johnson for a fortunate six was 30 not out and recalled Yorkshire team-mate Jonny Bairstow one not out.

The under pressure Ian Bell had made a fluent 53 before giving his wicket away with a rash shot against off-spinner Nathan Lyon, whose two for three in two overs helped Australia limit the damage.

Earlier, Australia were indebted to opener Chris Rogers's 52, with their next best score Adam Voges's 16.

This was Rogers's ninth fifty in 11 Test innings and came after he was cleared to play following a balance problem in the inner ear.

It also proved the value of the 37-year-old Rogers's experience of seaming conditions gained during several seasons in county cricket.

 Virat Kohli Fails as Hosts Skittled Out for 135 on Day 1

Indian Test captain Virat Kohli's woeful form continued as hosts India 'A' were shot out for a paltry 135 by Australia 'A' in the second unofficial 'Test' match, here on Wednesday.

India A captain Cheteshwar Pujara opted for batting but it took Australia 'A' only 68.5 overs to bowl out the hosts as Kohli, on whom lay entire focus, struggled badly during his hour-long innings of 16 that came off 42 balls.

In reply, Australia 'A' safely negotiated the final hour reaching 43 without loss in 13 overs with Cameron Bancroft (24 batting) and Usman Khawaja (13 batting) at the crease.

S Sreesanth Contemplated Suicide in Tihar, Wants BCCI to Drop Ban

He contemplated "suicide" during his time at Tihar Jail but pacer S Sreesanth is now hoping to sing the redemption song and would approach the BCCI for lifting the life ban imposed on him from playing cricket by the Board.

Sreesanth was exonerated in the IPL 2013 spot-fixing scandal by a Delhi Court.

"I have sought an appointment with BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur. He has told a TV channel that I can file an application requesting to lift the ban."

"I am hopeful after indication from the higher-ups of the BCCI that it would consider my request. So I want to file an application. I am waiting for his (General Secretary Anurag Thakur) call. I hope the next meeting of the BCCI would take a favourable decision," Sreesanth told reporters here

.

The cricketer, who has played Tests and ODIs for India, spoke about the trauma he went through when he was arrested and put in Tihar jail after being accused of having nexus with a cricket betting racket, allegedly run by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aide Chhota Shakeel.

"Initially I thought about suicide. I could overcome because of my devotion to Lord Ettumanoorappan (Lord Shiva in Kerala's famouse Ettumanoor Mahadevar temple) and the support given by my family," Sreesanth said.

Asked if he expects a favourable response from BCCI, in which former Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar is Chief advisor to the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), the cricketer said, "After all he is also a human being. He has also got a heart."

Sreesanth said that if Kumar, who ordered his arrest, along with Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan when he headed the Delhi police, recalled the circumstances which led to his arrest in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal, he would get a clearer picture.

"I don't think he would put any hindrance on my path. After all, BCCI is a body, not an individual," he said.

The cricketer also said he would not approach the court in case BCCI is reluctant to lift the ban.

"I will wait. I don't want to challenge any one. I want to play cricket," he said.

The cricketer rejected reports that he had a net session at Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium yesterday evening.

He said he would start practising in the ground only if his life ban is lifted.

The stadium at Kaloor, owned by Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), has been partially leased out to the Kerala Cricket Association, a member of the BCCI, for 30 years for hosting Test matches.

Sreesanth Returns to Training After Court Drops Spot-Fixing Charges: Kerala Cricket Association to Ask BCCI to Lift Ban on S. Sreesanth

Kerala Cricket Association to Ask BCCI to Lift Ban on S. Sreesanth

                       Kerala Cricket Association on Sunday decided to write to the BCCI seeking lifting of the life ban imposed on pacer S. Sreesanth, who has been discharged by a Delhi court in the IPL-6 spot-fixing case.

                      KCA president T C Mathew, who is also a BCCI vice-president, will write to the Board regarding this after a Delhi court on Saturday dropped charges against former India pacer Sreesanth and two others in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing and betting scandal. 

                    "We will appeal to BCCI to lift the ban. We will soon write to BCCI as the court has discharged Sreesanth (in the IPL spot-fixing case)," KCA Secretary T N Ananthanarayanan told PTI.

Sreesanth Returns to Training After Court Drops Spot-Fixing Charges

                     A day after he was exonerated by a court in Delhi in the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) spot-fixing case, former Indian pacer S. Sreesanth on Sunday started his first workout in the nets here

                   

                     Cheered by a good number of his friends and cricket enthusiasts, Sreesanth turned out on Sunday evening in a blue track suit at the Edapally High School ground where the Ernakulam Cricket Club, his former club, has a net.

                   

Before starting his first full net session in almost two years, Sreesanth said it will take him about three weeks to become match-fit

S. Sreesanth Discharged in Indian Premier League 2013 Spot-Fixing Case

Rajasthan Royals pacer S. Sreesanth and 41 others have been discharged by a Patiala House Court in New Delhi in the Indian Premier League 2013 spot-fixing scandal. The entire case has been dropped due to lack of evidence. 

"No regrets, no complains against anybody, god-willing I will return to cricket. Hopefully I can take permission from BCCI to use their facilities again and regain fitness," Sreesanth told NDTV, who was in tears following the verdict.

"I know I have got movie offers but I am a cricketer first. I went through a lot. That's

 all in the past. I would love to go to the national stadium tomorrow and just run there. (Discharged by Court, Sreesanth wants permission to use BCCI facilities soon)

I will make sure I am fully fit and bowl those outswingers again. I would like to thank my lovely daughter, wife and parents for their support," Sreesanth told media outside the court in New Delhi.

"I have been saying charges (against Sreesanth) are false from Day 1. Today is proof that Delhi police wrongly framed the players," said Sreesanth's lawyer.

Sreesanth's Rajasthan teammate Ankeet Chavan, who was also charged by the Delhi Police, said he was confident of coming back to cricket again.

"I want to play cricket. I know I have been in the news for movies and all that, but everybody knows that I am a cricketer first. I was just waiting, I was just making sure I don't get bogged down in life, I want to play cricket."

He promised that his trademark delivery will soon make an appearance: "I will make sure I am fully fit and bowl those outswingers."

Chris Gayle to Have Back Surgery, Sidelined for Three Months&Who will replace MS Dhoni the wicketkeeper?

Chris Gayle to Have Back Surgery, Sidelined for Three Months

The booming bat of Chris Gayle will fall silent for about three months. The burly Jamaican, who can treat the world's best bowlers with utter disdain on his day, will be out of action due to a back surgery.

Gayle has often been laid low by a recurring back problem. He has missed IPL matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore and even during the Cricket World Cup earlier this year, he missed the group match against United Arab Emirates and needed pain-killing injections to play the crucial quarterfinal against New Zealand.

Gayle said: "I have a charity game on the 2nd, but after that I will be out of cricket for two to three months. I am going to do a surgery on my back.

"So I need some time for recovery. Maybe December, before I actually get back in cricket as well. You have got to wish me luck with that surgery and then I will be back strong. Who knows, we will see what happens." 

Who will replace MS Dhoni the wicketkeeper?

After grappling for more than half-a-decade with the seemingly impossible task of replacing its “golden generation” of batsmen, Indian cricket will soon be posed another huge question: How do you handle life after Mahendra Singh Dhoni?

While finding understudies for the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid

 was daunting, it pales in comparison to the issue of Dhoni’s replacement.

And a look at the options to replace Dhoni makes for a sombre read. Here are the options that the BCCI and Indian cricket currently have to choose from.

WRIDDHIMAN SAHA

ROBIN UTHAPPA

SANJU SAMSON

AMBATI RAYUDU & KEDAR JADHAV

everyone waiting to see the person who is  replacement for dhoni ,we will see what happens next !!!

Virat Kohli to play second India A game: Amit Mishra makes comeback after four years

Virat Kohli to play second India A game

Virat Kohli, India's Test captain, will play in the second 'unofficial' Test between India A and Australia A in Chennai from July 29 as practice ahead of the tour of Sri Lanka next month. The BCCI confirmed the news on Wednesday after announcing the squad for the three-Test tour, saying that Kohli had requested the board to select him in the A squad as a means of getting practice after a gap away from cricket.

Kohli was not part of the Indian team that played three ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals in Zimbabwe recently, with the BCCI resting most of the first-choice players. Ahead of what will be his first full series in charge of the Test team - he led in the one-off Test in Bangladesh recently - the 26-year-old has sought to get into match mode with India A against Australia A.

Amit Mishra makes comeback after four years

The selectors again ignored veterans such as Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Pragyan Ojha. Ravindra Jadeja, who has not been in good form of late, was again left out from the Test squad.

"Amit Mishra was always in the scheme of things. Last year also he was in reserves. The final XI though is decided by the captain. Looking at the conditions we have picked him for this tour," Chief selector Sandeep Patil said at a press conference.

Squad:

Virat Kohli (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Harbhajan Singh, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra and Varun Aaron.

IPL VERDICT-2-year bids likely for Chennai, Jaipur teams:KL Rahul, Pujara shine for India A

                              A majority of Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council (GC) members favour calling bids for two new teams for Chennai and Jaipur, to replace Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals, according to sources.

This bid will be for two years. In 2018, IPL will call for fresh bids for all teams as the franchises were sold for 10 years in the first auction in 2008. However, the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) could face a challenge in attracting credible buyers for two new teams for just two years, especially as CSK and RR would likely legally challenge any such move. BCCI, on Monday, appointed a five-member working group to study the implications of the 59-page Lodha Committee report and draw a roadmap for IPL from next year. This panel will have six weeks to submit their findings to BCCI after which a final call will be taken in a working committee meeting in September. 

"IPL will be held with a minimum of eight teams. There will be no change in that.How we will proceed will be recommended by the working group which will have discussions with all the stakeholders like the sponsors, broadcasters, franchisees and state associations," he said.

Opener Lokesh Rahul missed out on a hundred while captain Cheteshwar Pujara struck a solid fifty to take India A to 221 for six on a rain-affected day one of the first 'unofficial' cricket Test against Australia A, in Chennai on Wednesday.

Rahul (96 off 185 balls) and Pujara (55 off 122) held the innings together before the touring Australians fought back on day when 77.1 overs were bowled due to rain towards the end of day's play.

India hopefuls look to impress-Rahul Dravid Backs Struggling Cheteshwar Pujara to Find Form and Confidence

Cheteshwar Pujara-led India A, under their new coach Rahul Dravid, will be hoping to start on a positive note when they face Australia A in the first of two unofficial Tests starting on July 22. The series provides an opportunity for both senior players, who are out of favour with the Indian Test side, as well as upcoming cricketers to showcase their prowess and make a strong case for selection to the national side. 

India A and U-19 teams coach Rahul Dravid has said it is just a matter of time before out-of-form Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara gets back into his run scoring ways, insisting he is just a big innings away from regaining his confidence.

Pujara, India's usual No.3 Test batsman, has endured a prolonged batting slump that saw him lose his position in the team. Pujara is currently the captain of the India A team. India A are scheduled to play two four-day matches, slated between July 22 and 25 and from July 29 to August 1 in Chennai against the visiting Australia A side.

"A player like Pujara will find the way, he has got the desire, the hunger, he is looking to get better, he has got the technique, and he is keen to improve. It is just matter of time that he comes back and get a chance to play in the eleven and one or two scores will change things for him," Dravid was quoted as saying by bcci.tv on Sunday

Team News:

India A:

Pujara will be eager to get amongst the runs and earn his place back in the senior Test side. The series will also be an ideal platform for batsmen KL Rahul and Abhinav Mukund, spinners Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha, as well as pacers Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron, who struggled in the recent tours, to prove their worth. Youngsters like Shreyas Iyer, Karun Nair, Baba Aparajith, Vijay Shankar and Shardul Thakur will also be eager to make an impression, provided they get an opportunity.

Aaron will not feature in the first game because of a viral fever. One of Abhimanyu Mithun and Shardul Thakur, who impressed in the previous Ranji season, are likely to take Aaron's place. Pujara also indicated that both Mishra and Ojha are likely to feature in the eleven.

Probable XI: KL Rahul, Abhinav Mukund, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shreyas Iyer, Karun Nair, Baba Aparajith/Vijay Shankar, Naman Ojha, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Shardul Thakur/Abhimanyu Mithun, Umesh Yadav

IPL SUCCESS - It's still a dream to play IPL: Martin Guptill

There might be a lot of controversy around the Indian Premier League, but it still remains the "dream" destination for top players around the world. Martin Guptill, whose life changed during the World Cup when he smashed a double hundred against West Indies in the quarterfinals, didn't get an IPL contract this time around. But the Kiwi, who is currently playing in the Caribbean Premier League, hopes that the call will come next time.

In the lead up to the World Cup, you averaged below 28 in your last 28 matches. But there was massive turnaround in the World Cup, as you scored 547 runs at an average of 68.37. Has life changed after the World Cup?

It has. I have more confidence in my batting now. There was a time when I was scoring runs in patches. But the New Zealand selectors and my captain (Brendon McCullum) and coach (Mike Hesson) supported me. And I am really happy to repay the faith.

You were in tremendous form, but still missed out on an IPL contract...

Like everyone else, it is a dream to play in the league.The league is one of the best and it offers you so much exposure. Hopefully, if I can perform well this year and can score runs at a brisk pace in other T20 leagues like the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), where the pitches are similar to the Indian subcontinent, I might get a contract next year.

You also got a Test call-up for the England series after almost two years...

The call came much quicker than I expected. I was not expecting it at all since I hadn't played firstclass matches for the past 14 months. But I guess my form in the World Cup and scoring runs for Derbyshire helped me in getting the call-up.

TRENDING!!!- Crowd trouble at Premadasa Stadium interrupts match

A Pakistan player was reportedly hit by a projectile during the Sri Lanka-Pakistan third ODI after a small riot broke out in the stands as play came to a stand-still at the R Premadasa stadium in Colombo. The incident took place when Sri Lanka were reeling at 158/7 in a chase of 317 in the third ODI, which Pakistan went on to win by 135 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Visuals were shown of a fight that broke in the crowd between two groups even as the Pakistan players, as a safety measure, formed a huddle and sat in the middle of the ground as they waited for security to take appropriate measures.The players later were back in the safety of their dressing room and waited for nearly 20 minutes before the game resumed.

"We can't blame everyone for an individual wrong our support is still with SL & their fans," Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul Haq said in a tweet.

Ex-player and commentator Shoaib Akhtar added in his own tweet: "We can't blame everyone for an individual wrong our support is still with SL & their fans!"

Former Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene was indignant, however."We should take results incorrect spirit and enjoy the game," he tweeted. "Very poor from some spectators. Hope it doesn't reflect on all SL fans."

Trending !!! India look to complete clean sweep in T20 against Zimbabwe

India are on the verge of completing a total clean sweep against Zimbabwe. The second and final T20I offers the hosts their only chance of redemption. They were whitewashed in the three ODIs preceding the first T20I, where they were completely outplayed again. Ajinkya Rahane would count on the hunger of the players to make a mark in the last game of the tour.

Zimbabwe would desperately seek to restore some pride, but their batting was disappointing in the first game, as admitted by skipper Elton Chigumbura. That India had five debutants in the previous T20I did little to breach the difference in class between the two sides. The hosts will need to make most of all the chances that come their way if they are to square the series.

In fact, India fielded as many as five T20 international debutants in the previous game but their experience of playing in Indian Premier League made the transition look like a cake walk.
     
Come tomorrow, the Indians would be aiming to be a lot more aggressive with their bats though. In the last match, India were cruising smoothly at 123 for two in 15 overs and it looked as if they would reach the 200-run mark comfortably, but medium-pacer Chris Mpofu took three quick wickets to arrest the visitors' run flow and restrict them to 178 for five.
     
The Indian batsmen, therefore, would not be taking things lightly against the home bowlers, who did a decent job even in the ODIs as well. It would up to the opening duo of skipper Ajinkya Rahane and Murali Vijay to give India a solid start, followed by previous tie's highest scorer Robin Uthappa, who remained unbeaten on 39 to take the team to a competitive total. 

Teams (from):
     
India: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Robin Uthappa (wk), Murali Vijay, Stuart Binny, Manoj Tiwary, Harbhajan Singh, Kedar Jadhav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Manish Pandey, Axar Patel, Sandeep Sharma, Sanju Samson and Mohit Sharma.
     
Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (c), Regis Chakabva (wk), Chamu Chibhabha, Graeme Cremer, Neville Madziva, Hamilton Masakadza, Richmond Mutumbami (wk), Tinashe Panyangara, , Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller and Sean Williams.