Bangladesh bowl out South Africa for 248 on day 1

Bangladesh left-arm quick Mustafizur Rahman took 4-37 on debut and just missed a hat trick as South Africa was bowled out for 248 on the first day of the first test on Tuesday.

Legspinner Jubair Hossain, with 3-53, also dented the progress of the Proteas, who slumped from 136-1, and scored at less than three runs per over.

Another big contributor was fast bowler Mohammad Shahid, who was wicketless but brought pressure by conceding only 34 runs in 17 overs, and notching nine maidens in his fourth test.

Temba Bavuma top-scored for South Africa with 54, the only half-century. Faf du Plessis made 48, and opener Dean Elgar 47.

Bangladesh was 7-0 in two overs by stumps.

Fresh from a first series loss to Bangladesh in one-day internationals, the visitors made fluent progress in the first session after winning the toss, posting 104-1 by lunch.

Opener Stiaan van Zyl scored a brisk 34 in an opening stand of 58, the only wicket to fall in the morning. Elgar and Du Plessis took South Africa to lunch, after which they stalled.

They added 78 for the second wicket and were then removed within three balls.

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam delivered one with extra bounce, and Elgar nicked behind. Wicketkeeper Liton Das dived to his right to take the catch at his second attempt. Elgar hit three fours in his 111-ball knock.

In the immediate next over, another left-arm spinner, Shakib Al Hasan, dismissed Du Plessis with a straighter delivery which trapped him. Du Plessis sent the ball five times across the boundary rope in his 122-ball stay at the crease.

South Africa had to claw for runs in the session, but captain Hashim Amla and Bavuma appeared settled and reviving the side until Mustafizur sparked a collapse, taking three wickets in just four deliveries.

Amla was his maiden test wicket with an edge behind on 13, and JP Duminy was hit on his front pad next ball for a duck, and didn’t survive Bangladesh’s video appeal. Quinton de Kock blocked the hat-trick ball, then was late to the next one and lost his off stump. South Africa was 173-6.

Bavuma occupied the crease for a career-best score, while his teammates regularly departed.

England 64 for 5 chasing a target of 509

England, chasing an unlikely 509 for victory, reached 64 for 5 at tea on the fourth day of the second Ashes test against Australia at Lord's on

Sunday.

The Australian bowlers removed Alastair Cook (11), Lyth (7), Ballance (14), Ian Bell (11) and Ben Stokes (0) before the tea interval.

Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Marsh bowled brilliantly to restrict England for 64 for 5. Starc, Johnson, Marsh and Lyon took one wicket apiece.

Earlier, the touring side had declared on 254 for two after piling up 146 runs in the sunshine at the home of cricket to set up a commanding

position from which to secure a series-levelling win.

The only concern for Australia was the retirement of Chris Rogers on 49 after the opening batsman suffered a dizzy spell.

The left-hander had added five runs to his overnight score when he signalled to the dressing-room that he was feeling unwell and, looking groggy, he

was led off the field by medical staff.

It did little to disrupt the momentum of the Australians, however, as David Warner and Steve Smith made hay.

Warner struck 12 fours and was closing in on a century when he was well caught at short cover by Alastair Cook off spinner Moeen Ali.

Smith, who made 215 in the first innings, plundered 58 off 48 balls including nine boundaries to continue his remarkable run of form.

The right-hander came up with some outrageous improvised shots and hit Stuart Broad for three successive fours before he charged down the pitch to

Moeen and was bowled.

Michael Clarke (32 not out) and Mitchell Marsh (27 not out) lashed a few more boundaries before Clarke declared.

Keywords: Australia's tour of England, England-Australia Test series, Ashes Test series, Ashes 2015

Zimbabwe beat India

Zimbabwe beat India by 10 runs in 2nd T20

India, who had won the ODI series 3-0, thus ended with a 1-1 stalemate in the two-match Twenty20 series.

India’s quest to maintain a clean slate in their short cricket tour of Zimbabwe went up in smoke as they suffered a 10—run loss to the hosts in the second and final Twenty20 international here today.

Chasing 146 for win, India were looking down the barrel at 69 for five in nine overs. Stuart Binny (24) and debutant Sanju Samson (19) played cameos, but the visitors still fell short at the Harare Sports Club.

India, who had won the ODI series 3-0, thus ended with a 1-1 stalemate in the two-match Twenty20 series.

For Zimbabwe, Graeme Cremer snapped up three wickets for 18 runs in his four overs, while SC Williams (1/31), Taurai Muzarabani (1/23) and Chris Mpofu (1/26) took one each.

Earlier, Indian bowlers produced an impressive performance to restrict Zimbabwe to 145 for seven, riding on Chamu Chibhabha’s fourth T20I half-century.

India suffered an early blow, losing skipper Ajinkya Rahane only in the third ball. He was run out after a mix—up with his partner Murali Vijay.

Vijay (13) and Robin Uthappa (40) then added 53 runs in 34 balls before the former was sent packing by leg—spinner Cremer, who beat him for pace and toppled his off-stump in the seventh over.

Three balls later, Cremer struck again when he trapped new man Manish Pandey in front of the wicket with a googly that pitched on middle and leg and skidded on to beat the batsmen, leaving India at 57-3.

In the next over, Sean Williams bowled and caught Uthappa, who was looking good till then. The batsman popped a return catch as Williams stretched his hands over his head to latch onto it.

Jadhav too was run out when Muzarabani produced a direct hit as India lost half their side in nine overs.

Binny and Samson raised hopes with a 36-run partnership, but the former was sent back into the hut by a stunning catch by Chibhabha as Cremer picked up his third wicket.

In the 18th over, Samson holed out at long-on with Malcolm Waller taking the catch off Chris Mpofu as India slipped to 117-7.

Axar Patel (13) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (9), too, perished in the process as India ended their campaign with a loss.

Earlier, the Indians took wickets at regular intervals to deny momentum to the home side, but opener Chibhabha ensured that Zimbabwe put up a respectable total with a superb 51-ball 67 after his side elected to bat on a slow pitch.

For India, pacers Mohit Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar grabbed two wickets each while Sandeep Sharma, Stuart Binny and Axar Patel took one apiece. For Sandeep, it was his maiden international wicket after getting his first India cap in the first T20 two days back.

Zimbabwe did not start brightly as they lost opener Hamilton Masakadza (19) in the fourth over off the bowling of Sandeep, who induced a faint edge off the bat for Robin Uthappato do the rest behind the stumps.

The home side were soon 48 for two as Sikandar Raza (8), who captained Zimbabwe in the absence of Elton Chingumbura, could stay at the crease for just two overs before becoming Sharma’s second victim. Zimbabwe were 48/2 in the sixth over.

With India gaining the upper hand, captain Rahane gave the ball to part-timer Vijay to bowl his off-breaks. Vijay, bowling for the first time in T20Is, did a decent job by conceding nine runs in his two overs as Zimbabwe could reach 76 for 2 at the halfway mark.

Zimbabwe needed to push the scoring rate and in doing so, lost the wickets of Sean Williams (17) and Charles Coventry (4) in the 12th and 16th overs without much contributions.

It was left to Chibhabha to take Zimbabwe to a respectable total and he did it to quite an extent before he was out in the penultimate over. Ultimately, Zimbabwe failed to give the final push as they lost three wickets in the last two overs. They added just 33 runs in the last five overs and lost four wickets.

Bangladesh crush South Africa to win series

Bangladesh thrashed South Africa by nine wickets to take a three-match one-day international series 2-1 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowd-hury Stadium in Chittagong on Wednesday.

Set an easy target of 170 runs in 40 overs according to the Duck-worth/Lewis method after South Africa were restricted to 168/9, Bangladesh reached home with nine wickets and 83 balls to spare.

The teams will now play a two-Test series, with the first Test starting in Chittagong on July 21.

Scores: SA 168/9 in 40 overs (D/L) (J.P. Duminy 51, D. Miller 44, Shakib al Hasan 3/33) lost to Bangladesh 170/1 in 26.1 overs (S. Sarkar 90, T. Iqbal 61 n.o., Imran Tahir 1/37)

Ton-up Jadhav, Pandey help India complete 3-0 clean sweep

Young Kedar Jadhav struck his maiden international century as India thrashed Zimbabwe by 83 runs in the third and final cricket ODI to complete a 3-0 series whitewash, here today.

Jadhav smashed a career-best 105 not out off just 87 balls to enable India recover from a top-order collapse and post a competitive 276 for five after being asked to bat at the Harare Sports Club.

Jadhav, in the able company of Manish Pandey (71), put on a crucial 144-run stand for the fifth wicket to revive India after a sloppy start.

Chasing the target, Chamu Chibhabha kept Zimbabwe in the hunt with an 82-run knock but the hosts kept on losing wickets from the other end to be eventually bowled out for 193 in 42.4 overs.

Chibhabha, the most successful batsman for the hosts in the series with two consecutive half centuries, played a gritty knock that came off 109 balls with the help of seven boundaries.
Zimbabwe's chase never got going after the early dismissal of Hamilton Masakadza (7), who fell LBW to Mohit Sharma (2/33) in the sixth over.

Chibhabha and Regis Chakabva (27) then put on a 70-run second wicket stand to keep Zimbabwe afloat before Indian bowlers picked up two wickets in quick succession to derail the hosts' chase.

Chakabva was cleaned up by left-arm spinner Axar Patel (2/39)in the 23rd over before skipper Elton Chigumbura (10) fell LBW to part-time spinner Murali Vijay (1/19).

Wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami (22) played a good hand and shared a 53-run fourth-wicket stand with Chibhabha before he departed LBW by Stuart Binny (3/55).

ENG SETS RECORD CHASE FOR AUS OF 412

England was 411 runs ahead in the first Ashes Test at stumps on day three Friday, a lead auspicious for the host and ominous for Australia.

The day finished with the English all out for 289 under floodlights at Sophia Gardens, on top of an eye-opening 122-run lead on the first innings after Australia collapsed in the morning to be all out for 308.

In a test edged by the English over the first two days, they finally achieved separation on a remarkable third morning, when Australia withered in the face of outstanding bowling by the pacemen and was all out for 308.

Australia began day three needing to score big. It didn't happen. Then it needed to take wickets, rather quickly, and that didn't happen either.

The day began horribly for the visitors, as England took 5-44 in less than 15 overs to dismiss them.

Bolstered by a first-innings lead in an Ashes opener for the first time since 1997 at Edgbaston, 10 series ago, England piled on the misery in two big, rapid-fire partnerships involving Ian Bell, the last person anybody expected to play a starring role.

Bell, averaging six in his last nine innings, including 1 in the first here, rediscovered his touch to score 60.

He shared 51 runs with opener Adam Lyth (37), and 97 runs with Joe Root (60) to lead England almost to a lead of 300 after tea.

Through it all, the sun-drenched English in the capacity crowd celebrated their team on top with songs and chants.

It took until only the second over of the day for England to spike the Australians, when Shane Watson, their last recognized batsman, was lbw for a sixth time to Stuart Broad. Umpire Marias Erasmus took a long time to raise his finger, and Watson inevitably asked for a video review, which confirmed his leg stump was clipped.

Watson added only four to his 26 overnight, and triggered a stunning collapse from 265-6.

Nightwatchman Nathan Lyon (6) was caught plumb by Mark Wood, and in successive overs went wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (22), Mitchell Johnson (14), and Mitchell Starc (0).

All four England bowlers, plus allrounder Ben Stokes, shared in the wickets with James Anderson taking 3-43 and producing remarkable movement with the second new ball.

When Gary Ballance was out for a duck straight after lunch, Bell joined opener Adam Lyth with England on 22-2.

They suddenly tore into Australia, hitting 41 runs, including seven boundaries, in four overs off Josh Hazlewood and Starc. The surge was the last thing Australia needed, and both fast bowlers were replaced at the same time.

The double change worked. Offspinner Lyon had Lyth out for 37, the thick edge forcing Michael Clarke back to his left to make a great, diving, one-handed catch.

Since his century in the first innings of the first test against the West Indies in mid-April, Bell's scoring had suddenly dried up. But his confidence didn't appear to have deserted him, and his 10th boundary brought up his 16th Ashes half-century.

The wheels fell off the England train after that, apart from entertaining cameos by Moeen Ali and Wood, 32 off 26 balls, to help push England's lead past 400 into rarefied Ashes air.

Brief Scores

Eng: 430 (Root 134, Ali 77, Ballance 61; Starc 5/114), and 289  (Bell 60, Root 60, Ben Stokes 42; Lyon 4/75, Josh Hazlewood 2-49, Starc 2/60), lead Aus: 308 in 84.5 overs (Rogers 95; Anderson 3/43, Wood 2/66) by 411 runs.

EXPECTING TOUGH FIGHT FROM ZIM’

Acknowledging the progress Zimbabwe has made in One-dayers, India’s stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane says they respect the hosts and will not take them lightly in the three-match series, beginning on Friday.

Rahane, who is leading India for the first time, insisted that the team has moved on from the debacle in Bangladesh and is “here to win games” in the short tour comprising three ODIs and a couple of Twenty20 Internationals.

“Bangladesh is in the past now for us. We are thinking about the present series and our plan will be to back our strengths and back our games, rather than looking at Zimbabwe’s strengths. Give our best and play to our potential. We are here to win games,” said Rahane.

India won all their games when they toured Zimbabwe in 2013 but the young skipper is expecting tougher competition this time around.

“We all know that Zimbabwe is a good side. They have been playing pretty well recently and we are expecting a good series here. The boys are looking forward to the series and we are not taking Zimbabwe lightly. We are respecting them, and respecting their cricket. We have got to play good cricket.

“They have got a pretty balanced side. They played pretty well in Pakistan, and they have good, experienced batsmen. Good all-rounders and bowlers. And they are getting better day by day. So we respect them, but at the same time we will play our own cricket,” he said.

Asked about the new ODI rules being implemented in the series, Rahane said they would take the “wait and watch” approach.

“It is the first game with the new playing conditions. After the first game we will develop an idea about what sorts of strategies we need to use for the new rules. But it is quite exciting, with new fielding restrictions and free hits off all no-balls. It is very exciting, but we have to wait and watch how these new rules will go forward.”

The Mumbai cricketer is also excited about captaincy, a responsibility given to him after he was dropped from the playing eleven in Bangladesh.

Australia to host India in ODI, T20 series in January

World champions Australia will host India in five one-day internationals and three Twenty20 internationals in January, it was announced Thursday. 





ODI series:

January 12 - Australia v India, WACA Ground, Perth

January 15 - Australia v India, Gabba, Brisbane

January 17 - Australia v India, Melbourne Cricket Ground

January 20 - Australia v India, Manuka Oval, Canberra

January 23 - Australia v India, Sydney Cricket Ground

T20 Internationals:

January 26 - Australia v India, Adelaide Oval

January 29 - Australia v India, Melbourne Cricket Ground

January 31 - Australia v India, Sydney Cricket Ground

Indian squad for Lanka tour to be picked on July 23

The Indian squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka featuring three Tests would be selected on July 23 in New Delhi. “The meeting is scheduled on the 23rd in Delhi,” a Cricket Board source informed PTI when queried about the scheduled date and venue of the meeting.

The full strength India squad, with Virat Kohli expected to be named as its captain, will be available for the tour, barring those who would be unavailable through injuries.

The tour is slated to start with a three-day warm-up game against Sri Lanka Chairman’s XI, from August 6-8 at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

This would be followed by three Test matches with the games scheduled to be played at Galle (August 12-16), Tamil Union Oval (August 20-24) and SSC, Colombo (August 28 to September 1).

This would be India’s first visit to Lanka for a Test rubber after five years. The two countries split a three-Test rubber 1-1 in 2010 on India’s previous tour to the Emerald Isle.

Viv Richards: Future Of Indian Cricket Looks Bright in Kohli's Hands

He has always admired Virat Kohli's batting qualities and Sir Vivian Richards feels that one should not be too critical of the Indian Test captain's on-field aggression as he possesses the "quality" to match his attitude. 

"I see nothing wrong in Virat's attitude. He is very different from (MS) Dhoni. I believe if you are showing passion and aggression on the field, you should have the game quality to match that. Virat has the quality. He can give back as good as he gets. I like people who have stomach for a good fight and Virat is one of them," Richards, one of the greatest to have ever played the game, told PTI during an interview.

ആഷസിന് നാളെ തുടക്കം

ഇംഗ്ളണ്ടിലെ ക്രിക്കറ്റ് മൈതാനങ്ങള്‍ ബുധനാഴ്ച മുതല്‍ തീപ്പൊരി പോരാട്ടത്തിലേക്ക് വീണ്ടും കണ്ണുതുറക്കുകയാണ്. എതിരാളികളെ ചാരമാക്കി ആഷസ് കിരീടം സ്വന്തമാക്കാന്‍ ആജന്മവൈരികളായ രണ്ട് രാജ്യങ്ങള്‍ നടത്തുന്ന ജീവന്മരണ പോരാട്ടം. 69ാമത് ആഷസ് പരമ്പരക്കായി ഇംഗ്ളണ്ടും ആസ്ട്രേലിയയും നേര്‍ക്കുനേര്‍ പോരിനിറങ്ങുമ്പോള്‍ ക്രിക്കറ്റിന്‍െറ ചരിത്രപുസ്തകത്തില്‍ എഴുതപ്പെട്ടേക്കാവുന്ന അധ്യായങ്ങളെക്കുറിച്ചാണ് കളിപ്രേമികള്‍ ഉറ്റുനോക്കുന്നത്.

ഇംഗ്ളണ്ട് ക്യാപ്റ്റന്‍ അലസ്റ്റര്‍ കുക്കിനും ആസ്ട്രേലിയന്‍ ക്യാപ്റ്റന്‍ മൈക്കല്‍ ക്ളാര്‍ക്കിനും ഇക്കുറി ജയിച്ച് കപ്പ് സ്വന്തമാക്കിയേ പറ്റൂ. കഴിഞ്ഞ തവണ ആസ്ട്രേലിയയില്‍ നടന്ന പരമ്പര 5^0ത്തിന് സമ്പൂര്‍ണമായി അടിയറവെച്ചതിന്‍െറ നാണക്കേടിലാണ് ഇംഗ്ളണ്ട് നിര മറ്റൊരു ആഷസിനായി കളമിറങ്ങുന്നത്. കുറച്ചുകാലമായി പ്രതിസന്ധികളില്‍ ആടിയുലയുന്ന ഇംഗ്ളണ്ടിന് എല്ലാ അപമാനവും മറക്കാന്‍ ഈയൊരു പരമ്പര ജയത്തിലൂടെ കഴിയും. ഇംഗ്ളണ്ട് നിരയിലെ സ്റ്റാര്‍ ബാറ്റ്സ്മാന്‍ കെവിന്‍ പീറ്റേഴ്സണ്‍ ഇല്ലാതെയാണ് അവര്‍ ആഷസിനിറങ്ങുന്നത്. ഫോമിലേക്കുയര്‍ന്നിട്ടും ടീമില്‍ ഇടംപിടിക്കാന്‍ കഴിയാതെപോയ പീറ്റേഴ്സന്‍െറ അന്താരാഷ്ട്ര കരിയറിനുപോലും ഏതാണ്ട് അന്ത്യം വന്നിരിക്കുകയാണ്. ഒരു കാലത്ത് തന്‍െറ സഹകളിക്കാരനായിരുന്ന ആന്‍ഡ്രൂ സ്ട്രോസ് ഇംഗ്ളീഷ് ക്രിക്കറ്റ് ടീമിന്‍െറ ഡയറക്ടറായതോടെയാണ് പീറ്റേഴ്സന്‍െറ കരിയറിന് വിലങ്ങുതടിയായത്.

ആഭ്യന്തര ക്രിക്കറ്റില്‍ ട്രിപ്ള്‍ സെഞ്ച്വറി അടിച്ചിട്ടും പീറ്റേഴ്സന് മുന്നില്‍ ടീമിന്‍െറ വാതില്‍ കൊട്ടിയടയ്ക്കുകയായിരുന്നു. പരാജയത്തിന്‍െറ ചാരത്തില്‍നിന്ന് വിജയത്തിലേക്ക് പറന്നുയരാന്‍ വെമ്പുന്ന ഇംഗ്ളണ്ടിനെയാണ് ഇക്കുറി ആഷസില്‍ കാണാനാവുക.
മറുവശത്ത് മൈക്കല്‍ ക്ളാര്‍ക്ക് തന്‍െറ കരിയര്‍ സുന്ദരമായ അധ്യായത്തോടെ അവസാനിപ്പിക്കാന്‍ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുകയാണ്. മുമ്പ് മൂന്നു തവണ ആഷസിനായി ഇംഗ്ളണ്ടിലത്തെിയപ്പോഴും തോല്‍വിയായിരുന്നു ക്ളാര്‍ക്കിന്. ഇക്കുറി ടീമിനെ നയിച്ചത്തെുമ്പോള്‍ ജയമല്ലാതെ മറ്റൊന്നും ക്ളാര്‍ക്കിന് ലക്ഷ്യമില്ല.
അടുത്തിടെ ന്യൂസിലന്‍ഡിനെതിരായ രണ്ട് ടെസ്റ്റുകളുടെ പരമ്പര 1^1ന് സമനിലയിലാക്കാന്‍ ഇംഗ്ളണ്ടിന് കഴിഞ്ഞിരുന്നു. ടെസ്റ്റ് ക്രിക്കറ്റിലെ ത്രസിപ്പിക്കുന്ന നിമിഷങ്ങള്‍ക്കാണ് ന്യൂസിലന്‍ഡ്-ഇംഗ്ളണ്ട് പരമ്പര സാക്ഷ്യംവഹിച്ചത്.
ആഷസിലെ ഇതുവരെയുള്ള റെക്കോഡുകളില്‍ ഏതാണ്ട് ഒപ്പത്തിനൊപ്പമാണ് ഇരു ടീമുകളും. എങ്കിലും നേരിയ മുന്‍തൂക്കം ആസ്ട്രേലിയക്കുതന്നെയാണ്. 68 പരമ്പരകളില്‍ 32 എണ്ണം ആസ്ട്രേലിയ ജയിച്ചപ്പോള്‍ 31 എണ്ണം ഇംഗ്ളണ്ടും നേടി. അഞ്ചെണ്ണം സമനിലയില്‍ അവസാനിച്ചു. മൊത്തം 320 ടെസ്റ്റുകളില്‍ 128 എണ്ണവും ആസ്ട്രേലിയ കൈപ്പിടിയിലൊതുക്കി. 103 എണ്ണത്തിലേ ഇംഗ്ളണ്ടിന് ജയിക്കാനായുള്ളൂ.
എന്നാല്‍, സ്വന്തം മണ്ണില്‍ നടന്ന ആഷസിലെ 158 മത്സരങ്ങളില്‍ 47 മത്സരങ്ങള്‍ ജയിച്ച് നേരിയ മുന്‍തൂക്കം നേടാന്‍ ഇംഗ്ളണ്ടിനായിട്ടുണ്ട്. 46 എണ്ണം ആസ്ട്രേലിയ ജയിച്ചപ്പോള്‍ 65 എണ്ണമാണ് സമനിലയില്‍ അവസാനിച്ചത്.
ആസ്ട്രേലിയക്കാരനായ ട്രെവോര്‍ ബെയ്ലിസ് ആണ് ഇംഗ്ളണ്ടിന്‍െറ കോച്ച്. ന്യൂസിലന്‍ഡിനെതിരായ പരമ്പരയില്‍ ബാറ്റിങ് ഫോമിലേക്കുയരാന്‍ കഴിഞ്ഞതിന്‍െറ ആത്മവിശ്വാസത്തിലാണ് അലിസ്റ്റര്‍ കുക്ക് ടീമിനെ നയിക്കുന്നത്. ബുധനാഴ്ച കാര്‍ഡിഫിലാണ് അഞ്ച് മത്സരങ്ങളുടെ പരമ്പരയിലെ ആദ്യ ടെസ്റ്റ്.

Zimbabwe tour: Ambati Rayadu ruled out due to injury samson in

Wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson was today named as a replacement for injured Ambati Rayudu for the remainder of India’s tour of Zimbabwe.

“The BCCI medical team confirms that Ambati Rayudu has been ruled out of the remaining part of the India’s tour of Zimbabwe due to an injury he has sustained while playing the 2nd ODI. Rayudu has pulled his right quadriceps muscles and will require 2 to 3 weeks of rehabilitation,” said the BCCI in a statement.

“The All India senior selection committee has named Sanju Samson as Rayudu’s replacement for the rest of the tour,” it added.

Rayudu showed top form in the two ODIs to have taken place so far, scoring 124 not out and 41 respectively.

The injury to him gives Samson an opportunity to make his India debut. The Kerala cricketer rose to prominence with his exploits for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. He has played 21 First-Class games, besides 29 List A matches and 67 T20s.

The third ODI will be played at the Harare Sports Club tomorrow and will be followed by T20 Internationals on July 17 and July 19 at the same venue.

(This article was published on July 13, 2015)

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Indian team for Zimbabwe tour announced  Ajinkya Rahane named captain

 New Delhi, June 29: The BCCI's selection committee today appointed young batsman Ajinkya Rahane as the captain of a second-string Indian team for next month's tour of Zimbabwe. Regular skipper MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli were among the many key players rested.

New odi rules announced

The selection panel headed by Sandeep Patil decided to give a break to Dhoni, Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma and Umesh Yadav while recalling veteran offspinner Harbhajan Singh and others. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was dropped.

India Squad for Zimbabwe series 

Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Murali Vijay, Ambati Rayudu (wicketkeeper), Manoj Tiwary, Kedar Jadhav (wicketkeeper), Robin Uthappa (wicketkeeper), Manish Pandey, Harbhajan Singh, Axar Patel, Karn Sharma, Dhawal Kulkarni, Stuart Binny, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Sandeep Sharma. 

Rested: MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Umesh Yadav, R Ashwin 

Dropped: Ravindra Jadeja

Tour Schedule (all matches in Harare) 

July 10: 1st ODI (12.30 PM IST) 

July 12: 2nd ODI (12.30 IST) 

July 14: 3rd ODI (12.30 IST) 

July 17: 1st T20I (4.30 PM IST)

July 19: 2nd T20I (4.30 IST)

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                     Sangakkara to retire after second India Test

Legendary Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara, on Saturday, announced he would retire from international cricket after the second Test against India. Sangakkara will not play the third Test of the ongoing Pakistan Test series at Pallekele before finishing off with the first two Test of the India series.

In a special press conference conducted after the third day's play of the second Test, the 37-year old made public his decision to quit the longest format, ending weeks of speculation. The prolific left-hander revealed that he had intended to retire from all forms of cricket after the 2015 Cricket World Cup but had agreed to play four more Test matches at the behest of Sri Lanka's previous selection committee.

"I've had the time of my life playing for Sri Lanka," Sangakkara said. "It has been a great honour. Growing up as a kid, watching players like Aravinda de Silva play for Sri Lanka and then one day to get a chance to play with them. I've thoroughly enjoyed playing every format, but donning the whites for Sri Lanka has been a different feeling altogether. There have been so many ups and downs. I've had bad days as well but the good times outweigh the bad. I know, it's disappointing to say goodbye to something you've done for over 15 years, but I know this is the right time to leave."

Sangakkara, who made his Test debut in 2000 in Galle against a visiting South African side, holds several records in Test cricket. His tally of 12271 Test runs at 58.43 (as of the first Test against Pakistan) makes him the the highest run-getter for Sri Lanka in the five-day format. Only Sachin Tendulkar (15,921), Ricky Ponting (13,378), Jacques Kallis (13,289) and Rahul Dravid (13,288) are above him in the all-time run-getters list.

Sangakkara's 38 Test centuries comprise 11 200+ scores, which is only one behind Sir Don Bradman's tally of 12. Sangakkara, who earlier this year was named CEAT International Cricketer of the yearbesides being named the Leading Cricketer of 2014-15 by Wisden's Almanack, was only recently upstaged by Steven Smith to the top-spot in the ICC Test Rankings.

Sangakkara, however, reckoned that personal milestones never influenced his retirement decision. "If that (personal milestones) is the only driving ambition, then it is time to say 'thank you very much'. I've prided myself in doing well individually, but I should be able to look at my teammates in the eye and say I really went out there for the country and not individual records."

While Sangakkara bids farewell to the international scene, he stated that he would still feature in various domestic competitions around the globe. He recently penned a two-year contract to represent Surrey in the county circuit and said he'll honour that. The veteran batsman, however, ruled out the possibility of taking up a coaching role in the immediate future. "I will make a bad coach. Coaching is a toughJOB. I don't think I have the patience to deal with individuals on a consistent basis," he said.

The former Sri Lankan captain retired from the T20 format after guiding the island nation to the World T20 title in 2014 and earlier this year, Sangakkara scored four consecutive hundreds in the 50-over World Cup, a tournament after which he quit the limited overs format. He was requested by the board to carry on until the India series in Tests in a bid to facilitate a smooth transition to the new era of Sri Lankan cricket.

When asked if he'd like to finish off at his hometown of Kandy, a stoic Sangakkara said: "I'd love to be allowed to choose the location of my final Test but i'll play where the matches are. Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) was also from Kandy but he finished off in Galle. I can't ask for everything. If i don't get to play my last Test in Kandy, so be it."

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