Beyond the Test World: Big room for Canadian improvement

The Surfer: A pace renaissance begins

Be it Vernon Philander, Pat Cummins or James Pattinson, Doug Bracewell or Umesh Yadav, pace has dominated in the most recent Test series, says Andrew Alderson, writing in the New Zealand Herald. Subsequently, in the age of Twenty20, batting techniques look brittle. Observations indicate pace bowling’s resurgence could be a trend; at least in places where grass grows willingly. Evidence of pace bowling dominance has come with the wickets taken in the last five series. In the first test of the Australia-India series, quick bowlers took 88 per cent of…

The Buzz: Goodbye team buses, hello helicopters

By Mohammad Isam Players arriving for Twenty20 matches in a helicopter is an often-used gimmick. But for Shahriar Nafees, Mushfiqur Rahim and Alok Kapali, a chopper will actually be necessary to get them to the logo unveiling ceremony of the Bangladesh Premier League on time. The three players are icon players for their respective sides in the upcoming Premier League but will all be involved in matches in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League on December 29, and could have less than an hour to make it to the Radisson…

Beyond the Test World: Three teams vie for African title

Franklyn Najjumba put the skids under the Kenyans

The Surfer: Purists be damned, the T20 circus hits town

Experts world over are slamming national boards for scheduling Twenty20 bashes before important Test series. If the scheduling of the Big Bash League in Australia ahead of the India Tests isn’t questionable enough, the scene isn’t very different down in New Zealand, writes Dylan Cleaver in New Zealand Herald. The truncated format has always had its detractors, most things that are new and popular come with naysayers. The venom is more pointed this time, aimed at national boards who have succumbed to its commercial appeal at the cost of the…

Warne, world T20 stars clamour to Big Bash

SYDNEY: The glitzy Big Bash League blasts off on Friday with some of the biggest stars of international Twenty20 c

Beyond the Test World: Campbell takes over in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea have appointed former Australia cricketer Greg Campbell as their general manager. Campbell was previously operations manager at Cricket PNG and takes over from Bill Leane. Campbell, 47, played four Test matches for Australia from 1989-1990 and will be in the role for the next 12 months. His first priority is to oversee the World Twenty20 qualifying matches in Dubai in March. “The position was advertised globally and it is absolutely amazing that over 40 applicants expressed interest,” said the PNG chairman Mick Nades. “The board unanimously selected…

Pakistan looks to continue winning streak in Dhaka

KARACHI: A day after thrashing Bangladesh in a low-scoring Twenty20 game, Pakistan will once again be hunting for a big win in the opening game of its three-match One-day International series …

Good times for Pakistan, says Misbah after Pakistan beat Bangladesh

Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates, where they won in all three formats of the game, proved their mettle once again. The tourists, playing their 50th Twenty20 match, fought back after being …

Pakistan wins toss, opts to bat vs. Bangladesh

Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and opted to bat first against Bangladesh in their one-off Twenty20 at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday.Bangladesh hasn't …