ICC refuses request for early test

International cricket council rejected the request of Pakistan cricket board for early test of Hafeez's bowling action. PCB asked to ICC for bio mechanic test on 28th Jan but ICC remain the test date of 6th Feb. Official report regarding test will be issued after 14 days of test. In the case of clearance Hafeez's will be able to bowl in the match against West Indies.

Ronchi blasts again in world record partnership 2015

A world record sixth-wicket stand by Luke Ronchi and Grant Elliott has set up New Zealand's 108-run win in the fifth one-day international against Sri Lanka at Dunedin's University Oval.

The Black Caps racked up an intimidating 360-5, thanks to the pair's unbeaten 267-run partnership and although Sri Lanka started strongly, the asking run rate climbed steadily once mainstay Tillakaratne Dilshan was out for 116 early in the 37th over.

Sri Lanka were all out for 252 four balls into the 44th over.

Stand-in skipper Lahiru Thirimanne and Dilshan put on 93 for the first wicket before Thirimanne holed out to Ross Taylor in the deep.

Elliott claimed his second victim with the first ball of the 26th over, Kumar Sangakkara gone for nine when he chipped a slower ball over mid on for Nathan McCullum to safely gather.

Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene put on 70 for the third wicket, but once Jayawardene departed in the 36th over, clean bowled by Trent Boult, it was all downhill for the visitors.

Dilshan went three balls later, one of Mitchell McClenaghan's two victims, and the last six wickets fell for just 37 runs.

Boult was the best of the Kiwi bowlers, emerging with 4-44 off 10 overs while Elliott, Tim Southee and McClenaghan all picked up two apiece.

Earlier, Elliott played an invaluable supporting role to Ronchi's spectacular unbeaten 170 as the pair revived New Zealand's innings after they faltered to 93-5 after 20 overs.

If Ronchi was outstanding in belting 14 fours and nine sixes off 99 balls in his maiden ODI century, Elliott's more measured innings was no less valuable.

His 104 came off 96 balls, as he kept the run rate ticking over and rotated the strike to keep Ronchi facing.

Ronchi and Elliott came together in the 20th over, with New Zealand looking decidedly shaky at 93-5.

Ronchi took 38 balls to reach his first 50 and 36 for his second before letting fly to rack up his third 50 in just 18 balls.

Ronchi and Elliott's partnership for the sixth wicket beat the previous best mark for all countries of 218, set by MS Dhoni and Mahela Jayawardene for an Asian XI against an African XI in 2007.

It was also the second-highest partnership for any wicket set by New Zealanders, bettered only by Brendon McCullum and James Marshall's 274 against Ireland in 2008.

New Zealand lead the seven-match series 3-1, with one match remaining in Dunedin on Sunday before the final game in Wellington next week

Smith show his superb class contineously

Steve Smith has continued his winning ways as captain of Australia, guiding his men to what was ultimately a tense four-wicket ODI Tri-Series win over England at Blundstone Arena.

Smith finished unbeaten on 102 as the hosts chased 304 with one ball to spare to officially book themselves a spot in the final Waca, Perth on February 1.

The hosts’ victory overshadowed a magnificent 141 by England opening batsman Ian Bell, who became his country’s most prolific run-scorer in the 50-over format.

Australia now head to Sydney for the Australia Day clash against India, while England travel west to Perth meet India in what could be a do-or-die match for the remaining final spot.

Smith won his first toss as ODI captain, but the move looked to be a poor one when Bell and Ali creamed the new ball attack to all parts to bring up the England fifty inside nine overs.

Bell was classical on the front foot, lacing boundary after boundary through the covers and straight past the bowler to raise his own half-century off 42 balls with eight fours.

Ali at the other end was finding it hard to get bat on ball. Half a dozen balls flew past the left-hander's searching blade before the shackles were broken with a trio of sixes over mid-wicket off Pat Cummins.

The joy was short-lived for Ali, undone by James Faulkner for 46 to end the opening stand on 113, and one wicket quickly became two when James Taylor failed for five 19 runs later.

But Bell was unmoved, motoring to his century from 92 balls, and in the process becoming England’s highest run-scorer in ODI cricket, surpassing Paul Collingwood.

Together, Bell and Root put on 121, guiding England to 250 shortly after the 40th over, but when Bell and Eoin Morgan fell within three balls of each other, then Root 20 runs later, hopes for a score close to 350 quickly vanished.

Australia may have wasted the new ball, but with the old they were at their frugal best, restricting the visitors to just one boundary in the last six overs, finishing the innings with a team hat-trick to chase just over a run a ball.

On 76, Australia lost their first wicket in Finch for 32, bowled by Ali with one that dipped under the batsman’s attempted drive to the on-side.

Sixteen runs later Marsh’s drive found a thick outside edge and Bell at backward point, and when Cameron White returned to the ODI crease for the first time in four years, he was sent back two balls later without scoring to have Australia teetering at 3-92 in the 17th over.

However, around their captain, Australia rallied.

 

Smith combined with each of Maxwell (37), Faulkner (35) and Brad Haddin (42 off 28) for half-century stands as Morgan could only bump Australia’s chase and not derail it.

A towering six off James Anderson took Smith to 96, and a tuck off the hip next over brought up his third ODI century to become the only Australian to score a century on Test and ODI captaincy debut.

Brad Haddin’s 29-ball cameo took the wind out England’s sails, but a tense finish followed thanks to some crafty death bowling by Woakes.

Henriques was run out off the third ball of the final over with still two required for victory, but singles to Smith and Mitchell Starc iced the game for the Australia to remain unbeaten.

Pakistani captains in Worldcup

Here the list of all Pakistani skippers in ICC Cricket Worldcups.

#AsifIqbal in 1975 and 1979.
Imran Khan (official) in 1983, 1987 and 1992.
Wasim Akram Home Page in 1996 and 1999.
#WaqarYounis 2003
#Inzamam in 2007
#ShahidAfridi in 2011.

Petersen back in grounds

Former South African batsman Alviro Petersen signed two year contract with English county Lankashire as non overseas players. Contract will extendable for 1 year, Petersen required NOC from government for play in England.

34 year old Petersen scored 2093 runs in 36 tests with average of 34.88 and retired recently from international cricket.

Adam Milne injured

New Zealand's rising star Adma Milne out for 5th and 6th ODI's against Sri Lanka due to side strain injury. Both matched scheduled on Dunedin at 23rd & 25th Jan.

Steyn's new mark

Star fast bowler Dale Steyn completed his 150 ODI wickets in 96th match, and get a 7th place in the list of top bowlers for South Africa. Steyn's partner Morne Morkel also get this mark in just 89 matches.

Zimbabwe preparations for Worldcup

Zimbabwe cricket team will be finalize preparation for ICC CWC 2015 in Dubai from 28th Jan. Zimbabwean coach David Watmore have confidence on his team to give tough time against big teams. He says, team have ability to upset in showcase event. Zimbabwe's first match in Worldcup on 15th Feb against South Africa.

Confident Ajmal in India for test

Banned Pakistani off spinner Saeed Ajmal landed in Chennai, India for official bio mechanic test. He much confident to clear his bowling action, he says "I am working on my action and new deliveries for 5 months and get grip of many of other varieties, hopefully my all deliveries will be cleared in this test including doosra".

Pakistan check in Kiwi's land

Pakistan cricket team has been landed on New Zealand after the long journey of 35 hours. Team will start net practice on Friday, two practice matches scheduled on Sunday and Tuesday against president eleven.  One Day Internationals will be played on 31st Jan and 3rd Feb with home team.

Pakistani batsman M. Hafeez recalled his memory after reaching New Zealand, he confident  to perform well on tour. He was scored his first ODI century on New Zealand,

Steyn rest to next matches

South Africa decided to give the rest to fast bowler Dale Steyn for remaining matches of ODI series against West Indies. Hashim Amla and Ab dE Villiers also take rest in 4th & 5th ODI repectively.

South Africa already secured the five matches series with 3-0.

Practice matches before Worldcup

ICC announced the schedule and venues of warm up matches before worldcup, will be played from February 8 to February 13.

8 February: Australia v India, 2pm, Adelaide Oval.
9 February: South Africa v Sri Lanka, 11am, Hagley Oval.
9 February: New Zealand v Zimbabwe, 11am Lincoln Oval.
9 February: England v West Indies, 2.30pm Sydney Cricket Ground.
9 February: Pakistan v Bangladesh, 2.30pm Blacktown.
10 February: India v Afghanistan, 2pm, Adelaide Oval.
10 February: Ireland v Scotland, 2.30pm, Blacktown.
11 February: South Africa v New Zealand, 11am, Hagley Oval.
11 February: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, 11am, Lincoln Oval.
11 February: Australia v United Arab Emirates, 2.30pm, MCG.
11 February: England v Pakistan, 2.30pm, SCG.
12 February: West Indies v Scotland, 9.30am, SCG.
12 February: Bangladesh v Ireland, 9.30am, Blacktown.
13 February: Afghanistan v United Arab Emirates, 10am, Junction Oval.

Hafeez going to retest

Pakistan are seeking to have the bowling action of allrounder Mohammad Hafeez cleared by the International Cricket Council in time for next month's ICC Cricket World Cup.

According to sources, the Pakistan Cricket Board has officially requested the ICC re-test Hafeez's action in the first week of February in the hope that he will be cleared for the tournament, which starts on February 14.

The off-spinner was suspended in December when it was determined that his action exceeded the 15-degree limit set by the ICC. He had been reported during Pakistan's Test series against New Zealand in November and then failed an official test at an ICC-accredited biomechanics testing laboratory in Loughborough, England.

Hafeez has taken 122 wickets in 153 ODIs and, despite the ban, is ranked No.11 in the world ODI bowling rankings and 15th in Twenty20s.

Hafeez was this month included in Pakistan's 15-man squad for the World Cup and will likely be retained in the squad as a batsman even if he is not permitted to bowl.

Allrounder out for next match

Shane Watson has been out of Friday's ODI Tri-Series match against England with a tight right hamstring. Allrounder Moises Henriques has been called into the squad

National Selection Panel chairman Rod Marsh said: "Moises is one of our leading all-rounders, he has international experience, and in Shane Watson's enforced absence it made perfect sense to draft him in for this match

Watson had left Australia's net session in Hobart on Thursday after bowling but he did not bat.

He later returned to watch the remainder of the training run from the back on the practice area.

George Bailey (suspension) and David Warner (hamstring soreness) will also miss tomorrow's clash against England, with Shaun Marsh to open alongside Aaron Finch, and Cameron White to bat in the middle order.

Left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty could return to the side for his home ODI after missing Australia's last-start win over India in Melbourne on Sunday.

Australia squad: Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Cameron White, Steve Smith, Moises Henriques, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin, James Faulkner, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Gurinder Sandhu.

Worldcup 2015 Squads

Here is the final squads for ICC Cricket Worldcup 2015

Australia: Michael Clarke (c), George Bailey (v), Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson.


West Indies: Jason Holder (captain), Marlon Samuels (vice-captain), Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Christopher Gayle, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Jerome Taylor.


New Zealand: Brendon McCullum, Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Adam Milne, Luke Ronchi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Dan Vettori, Kane Williamson.


Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake.


South Africa: AB de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla (vice-captain), Kyle Abbott, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wkt), JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn


PAKISTAN: Misbah-ul Haq (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfraz Ahmed, Younis Khan, Haris Sohail, Umar Akmal, Sohaib Maqsood, Shahid Afridi, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Ehsan Adil, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz.


England: Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Joe Root, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes.


India: MS Dhoni (Captain), Virat Kohli (V Captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Stuart Binny, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ambati Rayudu, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Md. Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma.


Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Shakib Al Hasan (vice-captain), Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nasir Hossain, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Al-Amin Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Arafat Sunny.


Afghanistan: Mohammad Nabi (captain), Nawroz Mangal, Asghar Stanikzai, Samiullah Shenwari, Afsar Zazai, Najibullah Zadran, Nasir Jamal, Mirwais Ashraf, Gulbadin Naib, Hamid Hassan, Shapoor Zadran, Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Javed Ahmadi, Usman Ghani.


Ireland: William Porterfield (captain), Andrew Balbirnie, Peter Chase, Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Andrew McBrine, John Mooney, Max Sorensen, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig Young.


UAE: Mohammed Tauqir (capt), Khurram Khan, Swapnil Patil, Saqlain Haider, Amjad Javed, Shaiman Anwar, Amjad Ali, Nasir Aziz, Rohan Mustafa, Manjula Guruge, Andri Berenger, Fahad Al Hashmi, Muhammad Naveed, Kamran Shahzad, Krishna Karate.


Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (capt), Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Solomon Mire, Tawanda Mupariwa, Tinashe Panyangara, Brendan Taylor, Prosper Utseya, Sean Williams


Scotland: Preston Mommsen (captain), Kyle Coetzer, Richie Berrington, Frederick Coleman, Matthew Cross, Joshua Davey, Alasdair Evans, Hamish Gardiner, Majid Haq, Michael Leask, Matt Machan, Calum MacLeod, Safyaan Sharif, Robert Taylor, Iain Wardlaw

South Africa win the series

The West Indies have suffered a humiliating nine-wicket defeat having collapsed to 122 all out as South Africa clinched their five-match one-day series after just three games.

Marlon Samuels made 26 but no other West Indian batsmen reached 20 in a dismal performance on a good pitch at Buffalo Park on Wednesday.

Man of the match Vernon Philander took two wickets inside the first two overs and finished with 3-27, while leg-spinner Imran Tahir claimed a career-best 4-28.

South Africa needed just 24.4 overs to complete the series-clinching win.

Hashim Amla's unbeaten 61 not out took his runs tally for the series to 280 with just one dismissal, while Faf du Plessis made 51 not out.

It was another crushing defeat for the West Indies following a one-sided encounter in the second match in Johannesburg last Sunday when South Africa made 2-439 on the way to winning by 148 runs.

With the series secured, De Villiers said the remaining members of the World Cup squad would get an opportunity to play in the two remaining matches.

Wasim Akram shows believe on Starc

Australia’s lethal left-arm swing bowler Mitchell Starc is “almost there” amongst the world’s best fast bowlers according to Pakistan champion bowler Wasim Akram.

Akram spoke at the unveiling of the new Ricky Ponting and David Boon stands at Blundstone Arena today where he applauded the efforts of Starc and fellow southpaw Mitchell Johnson for their progression and performance with the swinging ball.

“I am very impressed with both of them,” Akram said in Hobart.

“Mitchell Johnson - unbelievable last couple of years and Starc is also looking good, he’s improving ever game.

“The more he plays the better he’ll become. He’s got the pace, he’s got the swing, he’s tall, he’s strong, and he’s the using the crease as well, bowling over the wicket, around the wicket.

“So he’s getting there. The other day he got wickets against India and to me it looks like he’s there now, he’s getting there.

“Bit more hard work and he’ll be up there.”

The 104-Test veteran first spoke to Starc during the 2012-13 New Year’s Test against India, alerting the Australian to the importance of a supple wrist when releasing the ball.

Starc’s ability to conventionally swing the new ball and reverse the old one has reaped 10 wickets at 8.5 runs apiece in Australia’s two Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series matches.

The 24-year-old was devastating up front in game one against England, trapping Ian Bell and James Taylor with two perfectly pitched inswingers to leave the tourists in tatters at 2-0 after three balls.

Akram also credits Johnson’s re-discovery of that elusive swing for his return to the summit as one of the world most feared bowlers.

Johnson claimed 37 Ashes wickets last summer in a year that saw him regain the fearsome pace and accuracy that had him crowned the ICC Player of the Year.

“Mitchell Starc’s natural swing is inswing. Johnson has learned (how to swing the ball) in the last couple of years, that’s why he’s been so consistent and so lethal because of his pace.

“145-150(kph) clocking every time. It shows the fitness of the man as well.”

Probable Aussies in IPL 2015

Australians in IPL8:

Retained players by IPL teams: Nathan Coulter-Nile (Delhi), George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh (KXIP), Chris Lynn, Pat Cummins (KKR), Josh Hazlewood (Mumbai), Shane Watson, Ben Cutting, James Faulkner, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith (Rajasthan), Mitchell Starc, Nic Maddinson (RCB), David Warner, Moises Henriques (Hyderabad).

Released players by IPL teams: Ben Hilfenhaus, John Hastings, David Hussey (CSK), Michael Hussey, Ben Dunk (Mumbai), Brad Hodge (Rajasthan), Aaron Finch (Hyderabad).

Pakistan on road to Worldcup

Pakistan cricket team take off from Lahore to New Zealand for two one day internationals before ICC CWC 2015. 1st ODI scheduled on 31st Jan and second will be on 3rd Feb. Pakistan's fast bowler Junad Khan did not go with team due to injury.

Bell makes history

35 – Number of fifty-plus scores for Ian Bell in One Day Internationals, the most by a batsman from England. Bell has three centuries and 32 fifties.

He trumped Kevin Pietersen, who had 34 fifty-plus scores (nine hundreds and 25 half-centuries). The 32-year-old Bell is also now just five runs away from becoming only the second English batsman -  after Paul Collingwood – to make 5,000 ODI runs.

Ronchi blasts for New Zealand victory

New Zealand wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi slammed 24 runs off the 48th over to secure a four-wicket win in the fourth one-day international against Sri Lanka in Nelson.

Chasing 277 after Sri Lanka won the toss and batted first at Saxton Oval, the Black Caps won with 11 balls in hand to take a 2-1 lead in the seven-match series.

Ronchi's unbeaten 32 off 15 balls provided the finishing flourish, but Kane Williamson set up Tuesday's win with his fifth ODI century after New Zealand's run chase looked shaky when they lost openers Brendon McCullum for 11 and Martin Guptill for 20.

Ross Taylor's dismissal for 8 left the Black Caps 63-3 after 15 overs, but an 88-run stand for the fourth wicket rebuilt the innings until Grant Elliott's dismissal for 44 early in the 33rd over.

Williamson then built another solid partnership with Corey Anderson, adding 79 for the fifth wicket before he was clean bowled by Thisara Perera for 103 with the last ball of the 44th over.

New Zealand still looked in a good position, needing 47 to win from 36 balls, but a direct hit left Anderson (47) short of his ground an over later and the pressure was back on until Ronchi let fly with three sixes in the 48th over.

The Kiwi bowlers had earlier reined in a strong Sri Lankan start, choking the lower order after a 102-run stand for the second wicket between Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara set them up for a 300-plus total.

The visitors looked set for a big finish, but lost six wickets in the final five overs for just 31 runs.

Dilshan, whose 116 off 127 balls set up Sri Lanka's six-wicket win in the second ODI, was dismissed for 44 by Williamson in the 21st over.

Adam Milne broke up a promising partnership when he removed Sangakkara for 76 then skipper Angelo Mathews without scoring with consecutive balls in the 34th over.

Mahela Jayawardene set about regaining the initiative, combining with Lahiru Thirimanne in a 65-run stand for the fifth wicket.

But it was all downhill for the visitors once Thirimanne was clean bowled by Mitchell McClenaghan for 19 halfway through the 45th over.

Jayawardene edged a faint touch from Corey Anderson to Ronchi's safe gloves an over later, out for 96 hunting his second century of the series after stroking 104 in the first ODI.

The final four wickets fell for 23 runs as Tim Southee finished with 3-59 off his 10 overs, with Milne (2-28) and McClenaghan (2-58) also providing valuable contributions.

Finn's five fires

Almost a year to the day after leaving Australia a shattered man, Steven Finn returned career-best one-day international figures to inspire England's nine-wicket romp over India in Brisbane on Tuesday night.

Finn (5-33) claimed his maiden ODI five-wicket haul, combining with fit-again James Anderson (4-18) to rout India for 153 within 40 overs.

England then cruised to a bonus point victory when Ian Bell (88 not out off 91 balls) and James Taylor (56 not out off 63 balls) shared an unbroken 131-run second wicket stand to reach 1-156 with a staggering 22.3 overs to spare.

Finn claimed man of the match honours barely a year after leaving the Ashes tour with a huge question mark over his career.

He wrapped up the innings with three wickets in eight balls.

When Anderson bowled Bhuvneshwar Kumar for five he notched wicket No.38 against India - a new record in India-England one-day clashes.

He then claimed India's top scorer Stuart Binny (44) and Mohammed Shami in consecutive balls to bring an end to their innings.

England lost Moeen Ali for eight before the break.

 

Bell and Taylor both went for ducks in England's opening Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series loss to Australia but looked in top form against India.

Bell clocked his first ODI half-century in 10 innings, while Taylor registered a third 50 in six matches.

England's thumping victory ensured India are winless in eight matches on tour in Australia.

England meet Australia in the next tri series clash in Hobart on Friday.

Craig Kieswetter's injury

There are fears that the cricket career of 27-year-old England wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter could be over.

Kieswetter broke his nose and damaged his eye socket and cheekbone when a ball went through the grille of his helmet in a English county match in July.

He underwent facial surgery and returned to action in September, but has since complained of impaired vision and will travel to Belgium this week for further assessment from a specialist.

His county Somerset expect him to miss at least the 2015 season and director of cricket Matthew Maynard fears the injury could even lead to a premature end to his career.

Kieswetter's comeback appeared to be on track after he returned for Somerset late in the season before heading to South Africa to play domestic T20 cricket for the Warriors.

But it was during his time in South Africa that Kieswetter realised his vision was still effected.

Kieswetter has played 46 one-day internationals and 25 T20s for England, including a match-winning 63 in their World T20 final triumph over Australia in 2010.

Smith lead to Australia in next ODI

Steve Smith has been named captain of Australia's one-day team for Friday's Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series match against England with George Bailey suspended after a second slow-over rate offence in Sunday's match in Melbourne.

Shaun Marsh and Cameron White have both been called up for the fourth match in the tri-series, with David Warner not travelling with the squad to Hobart to recuperate after picking up a slight hamstring strain earlier in the series.

Smith will become Australia's 22nd ODI skipper and his appointment was made following approval by the Cricket Australia Board of Directors.

"Steven's appointment was a straightforward decision given the excellent impression he made in charge of the side during the Commonwealth Bank Test series when he stepped in for the injured Michael Clarke," said National Selector Rod Marsh.

"It is unfortunate for George Bailey that he will miss the match in his home state but in Steven we have a dynamic player who leads from the front, by example, and we look forward to him doing so again on Friday."

SQUAD

Steven Smith (captain), Patrick Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Gurinder Sandhu, Mitchell Starc, Shane Watson, Cameron White

Sangakkara's new record

Sri Lanka's master batsmen Kumar Sangakkara make the new record in 3rd ODI against New Zealand. Now he is most successful ODI batsman for Sri Lanka with scored 13,490 runs.

Bad news for Bangladesh cricket

Bangladesh's slow left arm bowler Taijul Islam injured during practice camp for ICC CWC 2015. Taijul Islam started with his ODI cricket with hat trick. Team Bangladesh will fly to Australia on Jan 24, 2015.

James Anderson is back

England's fast bowler include in playing XI in the today's match against India for the 3rd match of Tri-series. Both team get defeat from the Australia side.

Team Pakistan takes a flight today for event

Pakistan cricket team will fly today to New Zealand for 2 one day internationals. After 2 ODI team will go to Australia and play two warm up matches against England and Bangladesh before world cup. Pakistan's world cup campaign will started on Feb 15, 2015 in the match against rivalry team India.  

Shirt numbers of Pakistani players

Shirts numbers revealed of Pakistan cricket team players for ICC CWC 2015 starting from Feb 14, 2015.

#AhmedShehzad - 19
#MHafeez - 8
#UAkmal - 3
#WahabRiaz - 47
#MIrfan - 76
#ShahidAfridi - 10
#YasirShah - 86
#EhsanAdil - 91
#YounusKhan - 75
#HarisSohail - 89
#JunaidKhan - 83
#SohaibMaqsood - 92
#Sarfaraz - 54
#Misbah - 22
#SohailKhan - 14

Stuart MacGill sues Cricket Australia

Cricket Australia says it is aware of media reports suggesting former player Stuart MacGill has issued a writ in the Victorian Supreme Court setting out a claim against the governing body of cricket in Australia.

Reports suggest MacGill is claiming he is owed $1.6 million in match payments and prize money.

The right-arm leg-spinner is also seeking costs and $984,534 in interest, bringing his total claim to more than $2.6 million.

“We are aware of the media reports but aren’t in a position to comment further,” a CA spokesman said on Monday afternoon.

MacGill took 208 test wickets for Australia at an average of 29.02.

George Bailey suspended for slow over-rate

Australia will need a new one-day captain for their third Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series match after George Bailey was suspended for his side’s slow over-rate in yesterday’s tense win over India.

International Cricket Council match referee Andy Pycroft ruled that Australia were one over short of their target at the conclusion of India’s innings when time allowances were taken into consideration, and in doing so suspended Bailey from Australia’s next ODI in Hobart on Friday.

It was Bailey’s second slow over-rate offence in the last 12 months after he was fined in the first ODI in Perth against South Africa on November 14, and pleaded guilty to the offence, accepting the sanction without the need for a formal hearing.

De Villiers blasts fastest ODI century

AB de Villiers smashed the fastest century in ODI history - from just 31 balls - to propel South Africa to 2-439 from their 50 overs in the second One-Day International in Johannesburg. 

Opening pair Hashim Amla (153 not out) and Rilee Rossouw (128) also made centuries, the first time three players have reached three figures in the same ODI innings. 

But it was all about De Villiers, who didn't arrive at the crease until the 39th over but went on to make an astonishing 149 from 44 deliveries, equalling the world record mark of 16 sixes in an ODI innings in the process. 

De Villiers and Amla put on 192 for the second wicket, from just 68 balls, as South Africa eclipsed their highest-ever ODI total by a single run.

Amla makes history

Amla made a run-a-ball 66 at the top of the order to reach the 5,000 ODI run mark in his 101st innings, comfortably quicker than the legendary Viv Richards and current Indian superstar Virat Kohli, both of whom took 114 innings to get to the milestone. 

Amla and de Villiers sets up easy SA win

Hashim Amla became the fastest South African batsmen to reach 5000 ODI runs a run-a-ball 66 in his 101st innings and set South Africa up to take the series lead. He starred in a 99-run third-wicket stand with AB de Villiers, in which runs were scored at 6.82 to the over before de Villiers and David Miller posted 123. That ensured even when South Africa fell away and lost 5 for 34, they still had enough despite the two-hour-45-minute rain interruption.

West Indies' target was adjusted to a 229 off 33 overs and then 226 off 32 overs when rain returned again but they were only in with a chance of chasing it when Chris Gayle was at the crease. He plundered 41 runs off 24 balls but his high-risk style of play left him vulnerable to an early dismissal. When it came in the sixth over, it sparked a top-order collapse of 4 for 38 which gave way to a lower-order folding of 6 for 46. Imran Tahir claimed three of those wickets chiefly through well-executed googlies and sliders to bring up his 50th ODI scalp.

Jason Holder, in his first match as captain, would have wanted more from the men he said were ready to show fight. He shouldered the bulk of that responsibility when he opened the bowling, brought himself back on at crucial times, tasked himself with targeting the South African lower-order and ran an impressive 9.8 kilometres in the field but he learnt that one man cannot do the job on his own. Just ask Gayle.

After missing out on Wednesday night's T20, also at Kingsmead, with a recurrence of his back problem, Gayle approached this innings as though it was two days' ago. He flung his bat at everything, despite the steep target. "I am trying to understand it, but I can't," Michael Holding lamented, when discussing Gayle's strategy, or lack thereof. It only took the introduction of Dale Steyn to cause Gayle to run out of luck and allow South Africa the only inroad they needed.

Gayle should have modelled his innings on Amla's to start with. He saw off a tricky opening period, when Jerome Taylor found the right length to dismiss both Rilee Rossouw, who racked up a fifth duck in 10 innings, and Faf du Plessis, a first duck in 61, in the Powerplay. But West Indies failed to cash in on their early breakthroughs and lost their lines.

They offered so much width. Amla was able to treble his score from 13 off the first 19 balls he faced to 39 by the time he'd faced 40. AB de Villiers, sent in earlier than usual at No. 4, was also off to a speedy start. 17 runs came off 15 balls.

Andre Russell tried to make the extra bounce work in his favour by holding back his length but the South African pair were quick to pounce on anything short. They brought up a hundred inside 17 overs and a massive total was looming but Amla was in such a hurry to get there, he underestimated Russell's arm. He was run-out but South Africa's momentum was not.

They promoted David Miller ahead of JP Duminy and de Villiers immediately adjusted his pace. He slowed down to allow Miller to settle and the pair formed the spine of South Africa's total. They shared the highest partnership of the innings of 123 runs and batted for a ball shy of 20 overs, to take South Africa to the brink of a flourishing finish as West Indies flagged in the searing heat.

It was only when both holed out that West Indies had the opportunity to come back into the match. Russell used fancy footwork to run Farhaan Behardien out - the second time on this tour his boot has ushered the ball on its way to breaking the stumps - had Duminy caught behind off a short ball and Philander in the deep before a storm swept through.

It was accompanied by gale-force winds, of the literal kind, which only made it more difficult for South Africa when they took the field and met the other Gayle-force. West Indies were off to a flier but they needed support from the rest of the line-up, particularly the experience.

But Marlon Samuels was run out lazily, Dwayne Smith was deceived by a slider and Jonathan Carter beaten by the googly. Vernon Philander was rewarded for consistent effort towards the end and Steyn cleaned up the tail as the inevitable outcome was completed.