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Former India captain Anil Kumble has been appointed coach of the national side for one year, the BCCI announced on Thursday. His first assignment will be India’s four-Test tour of the West Indies

Nagraj Gollapudi in Dharamsala23-Jun-20162:17

‘My approach will always be players-first’ – Kumble

Former India captain Anil Kumble has been appointed coach of the national side for one year, the BCCI announced on Thursday. His first assignment will be India’s four-Test tour of the West Indies.The question of who would take over as India coach has been a talking point since Ravi Shastri’s tenure as team director ended after the World T20. Some of the uncertainty was addressed when Anurag Thakur, after his appointment as BCCI president, said the vacancy would be filled before the Tests in the Caribbean.The BCCI put out an advertisement for a new coach in the first week of June and received 57 applications, including Kumble’s. However, it appears he was not among the 21 names shortlisted by the BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke’s office. The Cricket Advisory Committee, comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, assigned to pick India’s next coach asked for Kumble’s name to be included, at which point he became an instant favourite.The committee interviewed Kumble and a handful of other candidates in Kolkata on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, they made their recommendations to the BCCI. Thakur, along with Shirke, made the final call.”The CAC recommended a few names to the BCCI. After discussions with various stakeholders, we have taken the final call that for next one year Anil Kumble will be the head coach.” Thakur said at a media briefing in Dharamsala. He added the support staff would be appointed after consulting with Kumble.Kumble applying for the job was a surprise to many in the BCCI, considering he has not coached a cricket team before. The BCCI had preferred their candidates to have had that experience, but his pedigree as a player and two stints as mentor in the IPL worked in Kumble’s favour.The BCCI offered Kumble a one-year term to help him acclimatise to the job better and to give themselves the cushion to reassess if needed.”As for the one-year period, Kumble is now transforming himself from being a great on the cricketing field to probably becoming a great coach that we expect him to be. That transition has to be smooth. This is professional appointment. All professional appointments try to cover all bases. Therefore that is the reason we want to be able to be in a position to review our options should there be any need. I am confident that we will not have that need to address that need. That is the exact reason behind the one-year appointment.”A senior official privy to the selection process said a long-term contract was not a viable option considering the lengthy interval between now and the next World Cup in 2019. But he felt Kumble was in “the driver’s seat” to prove his credentials.”We have 13 Tests at home and then there is the Champions Trophy next year,” the insider said. “He is now in the driver’s seat. We have given him the keys and he has to now prove himself.”Kumble’s lack of experience is made up for by his standing as a player and captain in an 18-year-long international career. He finished as India’s highest wicket-taker in Tests, and the third-highest overall, with 619 wickets, including a best of 10 for 74 against Pakistan in Delhi in 1999.After being appointed Test captain in November 2007, he led India in 14 matches, winning three, losing five and drawing six, until his retirement a year later. Among his notable victories as captain was the Perth Test in January 2008, which was played after the controversial Sydney Test where, among other issues, India faced allegations of racism from the Australia side.Kumble is the first Indian to be appointed full-time India coach since Kapil Dev resigned in September 2000.According to Shirke, there were four overseas candidates who had made the shortlist of 21, including Tom Moody and Andy Moles, who, it is understood, were among those interviewed by the in Kolkata.”It’s not about Indian or foreign coach,” Thakur said. “There was no such limitation that we have to look for only Indian coach. We wanted the best for Indian team. We deserve the best. We have Anil Kumble with us. He has been a match-winner for India.”There has been speculation that the delay in choosing India’s head coach – the appointment was expected on Wednesday, but a subsequent BCCI press release said some “finer points” needed to be discussed – was the result of the Cricket Advisory Committee being unable to contact India’s Test captain Virat Kohli for his inputs.Without confirming as much, Thakur said that various “stakeholders” had been consulted.”The CAC looked into all applications. They have shortlisted few names which were suggested to the BCCI. When the names came to us we discussed with other stakeholders in the board, in the team and then you finally take a call on the various experiences [of the candidates]. All of the shortlisted names worked with various teams, in IPL, in various cricket boards, as well as the state units. So you take feedback not only from one sector, you take feedback from all stakeholders. We have taken little more time, but we wanted to be more transparent and wanted to pick the best.”Kumble has also served in administrative roles since his retirement. He was elected president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association in November 2010, served as chairman of the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore and also headed the BCCI’s technical committee from 2012 to 2015.

Veteran spinner Brad Hogg has left the Perth Scorchers and at the age of 45 will start afresh with a different BBL club, believed to be the Melbourne Renegades

Brydon Coverdale08-Jul-2016Veteran spinner Brad Hogg has left the Perth Scorchers and at 45 will start afresh with a different Big Bash League club, believed to be the Melbourne Renegades. No official announcement has been forthcoming from the Renegades, but Scorchers coach Justin Langer confirmed on Friday that Hogg was leaving the Scorchers.Hogg, a cult figure with the Scorchers since coming out of retirement to play with them from the start of the 2011-12 season, has been their leading wicket taker with 46 wickets at 21.82. Only Ben Laughlin (60 wickets for Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes) has more BBL wickets, although Hogg had a leaner campaign last year, with just six wickets in nine games.”Very disappointing,” Langer told reporters in Perth on Friday of Hogg’s departure. “I know [where he’s going], but I can’t tell you where he’s going. But he’s leaving the Scorchers. I’m really disappointed about that. What can I say? I’m personally disappointed, professionally disappointed, but it’s his decision and life goes on.”In my opinion he’s made a wrong decision, that’s okay, that’s not my business. But I can go to bed at night knowing we offered him more money than we offered him last year, we think we’ve had as good deal with him for the last few years and it could have been a real win-win situation for him and us.”But we wish him the best, we’ve been friends since we went to school together. I think he’s been brilliant for the Scorchers. I think on and off the field he is fantastic, he’s a good friend of mine but it’s disappointing.”Hogg originally retired from all cricket in 2008, but made a comeback when the BBL started in 2011. He helped the Scorchers to back-to-back titles in 2013-14 and 2014-15, and unexpectedly returned to Australia’s T20 side in 2014, becoming their oldest T20 international player at 43. This year, at 45, he became the oldest man ever to play in the IPL.

An unbeaten 108 from Ajinkya Rahane pushed India’s lead to 304 on the third day of the second Test in Kingston, but rain made sure India didn’t have a go at the West Indies batsmen on day three

The Report by Alagappan Muthu01-Aug-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:21

Manjrekar: Rahane will be proud of his workman-like innings

A Test match can be a bit like a pup: great players can lead it wherever they want. This West Indian XI does not have great players. They have great triers. Captain Jason Holder and coach Phil Simmons put the men on defence – understandable considering the opposition had a fat lead. Their best efforts have taken the Test to a point where the weather can threaten what once looked a certain victory for India. A tropical storm has been forecast to hit the region on the fourth day with India declaring 304 runs ahead and West Indies yet to bat in the second innings.Ajinkya Rahane found himself part of a pattern, one that has been central to India’s success on this tour of the Caribbean. They have batted eleven-and-a-half sessions in this series. And a set batsman had been out there most of the time. Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli and R Ashwin began the trend in Antigua. It continued with KL Rahul on day two and Rahane on day three, who went on to score his seventh Test hundred. This is the eighth straight series that he has scored a score of at least 90 in.India were not panicking about the weather. The mountains on the horizon were obscured by heavy cloud. The rain break came 10 overs after lunch and spirited 52 minutes out of the game. Offspinning allrounder Roston Chase took two wickets in two balls and had them eight down soon after play resumed. The run-scoring stayed sedate.Virat Kohli, sipping a hot beverage in the dressing room, was still in his training gear. He was clearly not thinking about the declaration. Perhaps Rahane approaching a Test century away from home had something to do with that. And with only Nos. 10 and 11 for company, he began to farm the strike. This was where West Indies’ discipline paid off. They had given away only 142 runs in 46.1 overs. They made India bat long for a lead they liked.Rahane squirted an outside edge between slip and the wicketkeeper in the 170th over to reach his third hundred in four innings, captured on camera by the coach Anil Kumble and celebrated vigorously by his team-mates. The locals at Sabina Park had something to cheer too when Chase induced a top edge from Umesh Yadav to wrap up his first five-for in his second Test. With a high-arm action resembling Nathan Lyon, he got the ball to dip and bounce. Earlier, Amit Mishra failed to get to the pitch of one and was caught at short leg. Seconds later Mohammed Shami was bowled playing down the wrong line. Chase wore a sheepish grin on day two when he conceded he hadn’t liked going without a wicket on debut. Now he was leading his team off.While it will be debated if India needed to bat on after the first rain break, or if they batted on to let Rahane reach his hundred – he was 83 when the rain came down – the fact remains that India had now batted West Indies out of the match. It remained to be seen if India would give enough time to register their first set of consecutive wins outside Asia since 2006, but they were assured they were not going to lose this one.

Andrew McDonald, the former Australia allrounder, has been confirmed as the new coach of the Melbourne Renegades

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Aug-2016Andrew McDonald, the former Australia allrounder, has been confirmed as the new coach of the Melbourne Renegades. McDonald has impressed as coach of Leicestershire over the past two seasons and has been linked with the job of Victoria coach, which like the Renegades position has been vacated by Australia’s new assistant coach David Saker.”I’m delighted to have been appointed head doach at the Melbourne Renegades and it’s a role I’m very much looking forward to,” McDonald said. “The Big Bash League is extremely competitive and you do need some luck in this league but you create that as well. The smarter we play as a team and the more pressure we can put on our opposition, the more we’ll find ourselves in winning positions.”McDonald, who played four Tests for Australia during 2009, began his BBL career with the Renegades before moving to the Sydney Thunder. He played one game for the Thunder last summer but at 35, coaching appears to be the future for McDonald.”We had a good field of people who were very interested in this role and we’re really pleased Andrew has agreed to come back to the Melbourne Renegades as our next coach,” Stuart Coventry, the Renegades CEO, said.”Andrew has a wide breadth of experience playing for Australia and from a T20 perspective in the Indian Premier League, the BBL and now in his coaching role at Leicestershire. He obviously knows plenty of the players in our squad so he’ll be a great fit to inspire our team towards a finals appearance this season.”

West Indies Women cricketers on retainer contracts with the WICB are set to receive enhanced compensation packages from October 1, including increases in annual retainer fees and match fees

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Sep-2016West Indies Women cricketers on retainer contracts with the WICB are set to receive enhanced compensation packages from October 1, including increases in annual retainer fees, sponsorship payments, match fees and captains’ allowances. The number of women on retainer contracts will also be increased to 15, from the current 11. The estimated increase will cost the WICB just under US$600,000 for the upcoming year.Captain Stafanie Taylor, who led their victorious World T20 campaign earlier this year, welcomed the move.”I believe we are stepping in the right direction. England and Australia are the two top teams where women’s cricket is concerned and I think we can mirror what they are doing and get on their level,” Taylor said. “It’s good that the retainers and match fees have been increased and the girls love it. We hope that, as time goes by, more things will be improved.”Former captain Merissa Aguilleira also lauded the development. Noting the team’s hard work and success, Aguilleira added that “an increase like this will only encourage [the team] to work harder and continue representing the people of the Caribbean to the best of [their] abilities.”The new packages, which emerged from negotiations between the WICB and the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA), were hailed by both parties. WICB CEO Michael Muirhead said that the packages would “serve as an additional incentive for the current set of women” and also “serve as a drawing card to more women to be attracted to cricket”. WIPA president and CEO Wavell Hinds said the enhanced packages were “well deserved” given the women’s teams’ performances over the past decade.West Indies Women’s next international assignment is a home five-match ODI series against England in October. The last three ODIs of the series will count towards Women’s Championship points, offering the sides the chance to seal their spot in next year’s World Cup in England. West Indies are currently second in the Women’s Championship, behind Australia.

Mohammad Amir, Pakistan’s left-arm quick, has signed as overseas player for Essex for the first half of the 2017 season

George Dobell08-Nov-2016Mohammad Amir has signed as overseas player for Essex for the second half of the 2017 season.Amir, the Pakistan left-arm swing bowler, is expected to be available from the end of the Champions Trophy in mid-June. Essex hope he will help them adjust to life in Division One of the County Championship – they were promoted at the end of 2016 – and Amir, who married recently, now has family in the London area.Essex had been in particular need of pace-bowling reinforcements, after the retirements of Graham Napier – their leading wicket-taker in 2016 – and David Masters. The attack is likely to be led by Jamie Porter, 23, who has only played two full seasons of Championship cricket.Chris Silverwood, Essex coach, said: “We are thrilled that Mohammad has decided to join us for half of the 2017 campaign. He showed a real desire to be a part of the Club and the fact we have him for two competitions is a real bonus. He is still only young but has proved himself at International level already, so it is a real coup to get this signing completed.”Amir returned to Test cricket in England earlier this year, having served a five-year suspension for spot-fixing. He took 12 wickets in the series against England, but often bowled better than his final tally suggested, as he confirmed that his lengthy ban had not unduly undermined his potential.”I am very excited about becoming part of the Essex family,” Amir said. “Chris Silverwood and Ronnie Irani have both been very supportive over the summer. I’m hoping I can carry on Essex’s success this season and achieve more for the club in 2017.”

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has said day-night Tests are likely to be the future of cricket, just the way Twenty20s have gained popularity over ODIs in the last few years

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Oct-2016Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has said day-night Tests are likely to be the future of cricket, just the way Twenty20s have gained popularity over ODIs in the last few years. Misbah also expressed reservations about the visibility of the pink ball, but said it would probably lead to “a fair competition between bat and ball”.”At the moment, it looks like [the future] keeping in mind the interest of the audience, who want to watch Test cricket,” Misbah said a day before Pakistan’s first day-night Test, against West Indies in Dubai. “After they [spectators] come from work, it’s a good opportunity and you will see it mostly in future. Let’s see how it goes with the pink ball, it’s an experiment. First the one-day came, then Twenty20 came, so [day-night Test] is a good step to keep the Tests alive.”When asked about the pink ball in particular, Misbah’s main concern related to the timing of the Test; he said the players would have to readjust to the pink ball once the lights come on later in the day. Misbah also did not hesitate to crack a joke, when asked if the pink ball needed more grass to survive on.”The only difference is the different timing [of the matches], just the visibility because it’s different for red ball and white ball,” he said. “Maybe when the pink ball gets older, you have to look at it carefully as a batsman because it could be difficult at times [under lights]. You need to make a few adjustments here and there. Overall, it’s good playing under lights also. It’s not like it’s terribly difficult for the batsmen. It’s a fair competition between bat and ball.”Maybe the pink ball survives on grassy pitches but we also have to make sure that we survive as a team,” Misbah said with a laugh. “You look at your strengths and I believe that it’s up to the team; the better team performs well in all conditions and that is the bottom line. I think if you are a good team, then you do well irrespective of the circumstances. Forget about the pink ball and lights, just go out and perform.”Pakistan had recently moved to No. 2 in the ICC Test rankings after drawing 2-2 in England, and rose to the top for the first time since the current ranking system was introduced when India’s last Test in the West Indies was washed out. Now No. 2 again after India’s home series win against New Zealand, Misbah said they would rather focus on the upcoming series against West Indies than the rankings.”That’s not important for us,” Misbah said. “The most important thing is to do well; we are more attentive to our performance in this series. You can’t take West Indies lightly because they are a young side and they have everything to prove and such a side is more motivated. We have done well in the last six years, did well on the England tour so the expectations are high.”Misbah on Babar Azam’s chances: ‘I think there could be no better time than this to make his Test debut’•Getty Images

Pakistan would, however, be without Younis Khan for the first Test as the batsman was advised 10 days of rest to recover from a bout of dengue fever. That would probably mean a debut for an in-form Babar Azam, who struck three straight centuries in the recent ODIs, and maybe a shuffle in the batting order too. Pakistan had already moved Azhar Ali to No. 3 during the England tour after Shoaib Malik’s Test retirement last year, and tried Asad Shafiq ahead of Younis only for the fourth Test, in which Shafiq shone with a century.”I think at the start it was tough, we had to do that in England and considering the conditions it was tough. Not only promoting Azhar but also Asad for No. 3,” Misbah said. “Once we did that and it was successful, we know can do that again. It was a chance to bring in the fifth bowler and bring in a youngster at No. 7. I think a window has opened. I think opening and batting at No. 3 here is a good opportunity before the [upcoming away] New Zealand series, so it’s an advantage to do this before a tough series and settle down on a structure and a balance.”I think there could be no better time than this to make his Test debut,” Misbah said of Azam. “He has played mature innings and has developed well. He has played well not only here but also in New Zealand and looks a good prospect. He is lucky to get a chance at this time, unfortunately because of Younis’ absence due to ill health, but I think this is the best time.”Pakistan will be playing their 400th Test starting Thursday and Misbah said it would be a source of “motivation” for the players to make the historic match “memorable” for them.

A lot of drama unfolded in Coffs Harbour where Australia and South Africa played out only the fifth tie in the history of women’s ODIs

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Nov-2016
Scorecard and ball-by ball- detailsMasabata Klaas’ run-out on the last ball led to the tie•Getty Images

A fourth straight ODI fifty for Ellyse Perry, second consecutive for Nicole Bolton, a four-for from Suné Luus, and a match-changing all-round performance from Dane van Niekerk combined to a dramatic tie in the fourth ODI in Coffs Harbour. South Africa women needed eight off the last over and later five off two, when Masabata Klaas slapped a four but was run-out on the last ball as both teams were all out for 242 in only the fifth tie in women’s ODIs. South Africa have still not beaten Australia in any format.South Africa were reeling in their chase at the score of 40 for 4, rattled by the Australian quicks and left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen. After Jonassen broke the opening stand, Perry bowled Lara Goodall, Rene Farrell bowled Luus and debutant Amanda-Jade Wellington had Mignon du Preez stumped with her very first ball. Kapp and van Niekerk joined forces that only steadied them but also brought the chase on track with a massive partnership that lasted 30.3 overs. Wellington would have had her second wicket, of van Niekerk, in the 16th over but Meg Lanning could not hold on to a low chance at slip after the ball flicked the keeper’s glove on the way.Kapp and van Niekerk scored 144 runs together, the third-highest stand for the fifth wicket overall, and took South Africa towards 200. While Kapp was more circumspect in her sixth ODI half-century, van Niekerk scored at more than run a ball against Jonassen, Perry and Farrell.It took a run-out to break the stand when Kapp backed up too much at the non-striker’s end and walked back for a 104-ball 66, starting Australia’s fight back. South Africa needed 57 off eight overs and Van Niekerk’s fours during her third ODI fifty brought the asking rate under six before Jonassen bowled her for 81. Another run-out and nine runs later, the visitors needed eight from six but Elyse Villani, bowling for the first time in her international career, conceded seven. When they needed one to win, Klaas struck a full delivery to midwicket but could not reach the non-striker’s end on time.Australia had opted to bat and Bolton and Perry, who missed the last match with a groin injury, steered them for over 16 overs after Beth Mooney, who was promoted to open, and Lanning fell cheaply. Bolton and Perry’s partnership yielded 80 runs before Luus dismissed Bolton, for 63, and Jonassen in her consecutive overs.Alex Blackwell then allied with Perry with a quick 35 off 30 but van Niekerk disturbed their lower order. Perry helped them cross 200 and took them to the last five overs before Luus sent her back too and van Niekerk struck on consecutive balls with the wickets of Alyssa and Villani. The stutter meant Australia struck only 26 runs in their last five overs as debutants Wellington and Tahlia McGrath were dismissed off consecutive balls in the last over.Luus finished with 4 for 37 from her 7.5 overs and Van Niekerk returned figures of 3 for 52 from nine overs.

Former BCCI presidents N Srinivasan and Anurag Thakur were part of a group of office bearers from 24 states associations that met in Bangalore on Saturday evening to discuss their next step following the latest Supreme Court order

Nagraj Gollapudi07-Jan-2017Former BCCI presidents N Srinivasan and Anurag Thakur were part of a group of office bearers from 24 states associations that met in Bangalore on Saturday evening, for an informal meeting, to discuss their next step following the latest Supreme Court order. The judgement had effectively put an end to the administrative careers of a majority of the office bearers, given it disqualified those who had exceeded nine years in office – as per the Lodha Committee’s interpretation, at BCCI or state level or both combined – from staying on.The meeting reportedly had been called by Srinivasan and was attended by prominent office bearers from various state associations, including Ajay Shirke, Rajiv Shukla, Anirudh Chaudhry, Amitabh Choudhury and Niranjan Shah. Representatives from Delhi & District Cricket Association, Vidarbha Cricket Association, Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, Cricket Club of India, Railways, Services and National Cricket Club (Kolkata) were not present at the meeting.One of the senior office bearers present at the meeting, who is part of an east zone state association, said that the Bangalore gathering was a move to show solidarity. “It was basically to show we are united [still] after the court verdict. Everybody put forth ideas going forward,” he said, without divulging any details.He pointed out that a firmer stance will be revealed once the court appointed the panel of administrators to run the BCCI, which is likely to be done the next hearing on January 19. The official also stressed that there were no “negative” plans in the works that might disrupt the cricket, international or domestic.The Lodha Committee, meanwhile, remained unconcerned about the Bangalore meeting. It is understood that it will meet on January 11 to discuss the roadmap for both the BCCI and states in the wake of the January 2 court order. The Committee has received emails from 18 state associations asking what should be their next step.

Cobras continued their strong show in the second half of the Sunfoil Series to complete a 151-run win over Knights in Paarl inside three days

Firdose Moonda04-Feb-2017Cape Cobras‘ stunning second-half-of-the-season surge continued as they beat log-leaders Knights in Paarl to lie in second-place with one round to play. Cobras were last on the points table at the halfway stage, with little over half the points of their nearest rival, but have reeled off three wins in a row under new coach Ashwell Prince and new captain Dane Piedt, and are now serious title-contenders.On a juicy surface, Cobras chose to bat against the competition’s best attack and struggled to cope. Duanne Olivier (4 for 43) and Shadley van Schalkwyk (4 for 40) sliced through them to dismiss the hosts for 154 in 52.2 overs. Justin Ontong’s 38 was the top score with only four other batsmen getting into the 20s.Knights’ joy was shortlived, though. They finished the first day on 137 for 6 with wickets shared among four of Cobras’ frontlines including franchise debutant Kyle Simmonds. Things did not get easier for Knights on the second morning – they lost their last four wickets for 16 runs and were bundled out for 153, giving Cobras a one-run lead.Play was briefly interrupted by smoke from a nearby bush fire which allowed Cobras to compose themselves after they slipped to 22 for 2 in their second innings and they went on post the highest total of the match. Kolpak signings Stiaan van Zyl and Dane Vilas made 106 and 62 respectively and contributions in the 40s from Ontong and Jason Smith pushed their total over 300.Olivier was among the wickets again and finished the match with seven to extend his lead at the top of the bowling charts but Knights were given a tough target of 332 to win. With more than a day to play, time was on their side but Piedt had other ideas. He took 6 for 87, while Simmonds chipped in with the other four, to dismiss Knights for 180 on the third afternoon and dent their hopes of claiming the first-class cup.