Australia ball-tampering: Matt Renshaw backs Cameron Bancroft to recover from ban

Matt Renshaw has backed Australia team-mate Cameron Bancroft to return stronger from his nine-month ban for his part in the ball-tampering scandal. Renshaw, 22, has replaced Bancroft as overseas player at Somerset after the 25-year-old was suspended. "It's a tough scenario to be in and I feel for Cameron, but I think he'll be back at some point," Renshaw said. Ashes aspirations - Middlesbrough-born Renshaw, who has played 11 Tests, is available to play for Somerset in all formats of the game until 30 June and will then return to Taunton on 19 August for the remainder of the season. He hopes he can impress during his time in county cricket as he aims to cement a place in the Australia squad, with an Ashes series in the United Kingdom on the horizon in the summer of 2019. "A lot of Australians talk about coming over here and it being a really good challenge," the left-hander said. "I'm looking forward to playing against some guys who I have been following over the last couple of years. I will embrace every opportunity I get ahead of what could be an Ashes tour next year. "It is important to try to get experience on certain grounds which play differently to others. "Getting as much experience as I can at such a young age will be really important to those aspirations of playing in the Ashes."

Overseas captains in IPL history

Australia: Outside India, IPL has had most captains from Australia (12). They have also been the most successful. In fact, other than Rohit, Dhoni and Gambhir, only Australian captains (Warne, Gilchrist, Warner) have won the IPL. Of Australians, Steven Smith has the best record as captain (win percentage 66.7 from 24 matches). Gilchrist has led in most IPL matches (74). Hopes, former Delhi Daredevils (DD) captain, is coaching them this season.

Pick Gillespie as Aussie coach: Chappell

Jason Gillespie would make a better Australian cricket coach than Justin Langer, former captain Ian Chappell says. Chappell has weighed into the debate over Darren Lehmann's successor after Cricket Australia (CA) rejected speculation ex-Test batsman Langer was set to be appointed. Western Australia and Perth Scorchers coach Langer has previously filled in for Lehmann, who quit after the ball-tampering controversy in South Africa. Langer has long been raised as a candidate alongside Sussex and Adelaide Strikers mentor Gillespie. Chappell said Gillespie's integrity as a player, along with the former Test bowler's success at the helm of Yorkshire where he won two County championships, should make him the preferred candidate. "He's got a good understanding of cricket," Chappell told Macquarie Sports Radio. "When you talked to him while he was playing he was very interested in the history of the game. "So I thought he played the game with a lot of integrity. He was obviously a very good bowler. "He's had a lot of success in that position in some different position. Yorkshire obviously, a hell of a lot of success there." Integrity could be an important criterion given Australian cricket's took a battering with the tampering scandal."I just find him a decent bloke," Chappell said of Gillespie.

Justin Langer might be favourite to become the next Test coach, but Jason Gillespie the dark horse

JUSTIN Langer will be the next coach of the Australian Test team ? at this point, that much seems a foregone conclusion. But Cricket Australia is wise to not rush anything, with an ongoing review into the breakdown of team culture which led to last month?s ball-tampering fiasco expected to shine a light on a team which is roundly viewed as the most hated in the sport. The outrage and vitriol levelled at the Australian camp ? much of it from ex-players around the globe ? in the wake of the Cape Town tampering scandal proved that this team is far from popular on the world stage. Outgoing coach Darren Lehmann, who stepped down after the fourth-Test defeat in Johannesburg as the weight of the sandpaper saga took a personal toll, took ownership of the flaws in the Australian culture which he?s been in charge of shaping since taking on the head role ahead of the 2013 Ashes. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting was prepared to sacrifice a 2006 Test in South Africa rather than put his good friend in the firing line ? with Langer, suffering from concussion and warned that he faced death if he was struck again, determined to take the field.While Gillespie was also a crucial member of those teams, he is viewed in a slightly different light ? as a thinker and potentially a less abrasive character than Langer. Gillespie, too, has enjoyed considerable success in his coaching career ? having led Yorkshire to two County championships while also guiding the Adelaide Scorchers to their maiden BBL title last summer. He has the backing of former Australian captain Ian Chappell. ?He?s got a good understanding of cricket,? Chappell told Macquarie Sports Radio. ?When you talked to him while he was playing he was very interested in the history of the game. ?So I thought he played the game with a lot of integrity. He was obviously a very good bowler.

Aussie legend rejects Langer coach call

JASON Gillespie would make a better Australian cricket coach than Justin Langer, former captain Ian Chappell says. Chappell has weighed into the debate over Darren Lehmann?s successor after Cricket Australia (CA) rejected speculation ex-Test batsman Langer was set to be appointed. Western Australia and Perth Scorchers coach Langer has previously filled in for Lehmann, who quit after the ball-tampering controversy in South Africa. Langer has long been raised as a candidate alongside Sussex and Adelaide Strikers mentor Gillespie. Chappell said Gillespie?s integrity as a player, along with the former Test bowler?s success at the helm of Yorkshire where he won two County championships, should make him the preferred candidate. ?He?s got a good understanding of cricket,? Chappell told Macquarie Sports Radio. ?When you talked to him while he was playing he was very interested in the history of the game. ?So I thought he played the game with a lot of integrity. He was obviously a very good bowler. ?He?s had a lot of success in that position in some different position. Yorkshire, obviously, a hell of a lot of success there.?

Captain Paine says Australia will ?tweak? on-field behavior

HOBART, Australia (AP) New captain Tim Paine says the Australian cricket team needs to make ?a few tweaks? to its on-field behavior to win back the support of the Australian public. Paine admitted that in recent times the team ?got carried away? in the way it conducted itself on the field and that came to a head with the ball-tampering incident in South Africa which resulted in the suspension of Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft. But he revealed former captain Smith had already raised the issue of the team?s behavior and set in motion a plan to improve it months before he participated in the attempted ball-tampering at Cape Town. Cricket Australia has now appointed former test opener Rick McCosker to head a panel which will review the culture of the Australian team. Paine insisted Thursday that major change isn?t needed. ?Obviously we?ve had this incident which has brought everything to a head,? Paine said. ?But during the Ashes there wasn?t a lot said about our culture. ?Looking back it?s just a few little things that we can tweak and do a little bit better as a team. If we do that I think the Australia public will jump back on board pretty quickly.? Paine said Australia would definitely tone down the verbal abuse of opponents which has been an integral part of it team conduct. ?In the last couple of years at times as a team we?ve probably been a touch too emotional and got carried away,? he said. ?There?s always a time and a place to talk to your opposition. But what?s said and how it?s said will be very different going forward.? Paine said Smith had already been determined to change the approach of the Australian team before he and Warner received 12 months bans and Bancroft a nine-month suspension. ?We had these discussions a few months ago and Steve was keen to start playing a different style,? he said. ?For me it?s about carrying that on.?

No sledging: Paine's promise to Aussies

New Test captain Tim Paine says sledging won't be a part of the Australian team under his leadership, the Tasmanian vowing to clean up the side's image and win back the public's support following the ball-tampering scandal. As players await the announcement of their new head coach following the resignation of Darren Lehmann, and the outcome of a review into the team's culture, Paine has already promised a fresh approach for their next Test campaign, against Pakistan in October. The 33-year-old revealed the Australian team had already begun some introspection about their aggressive style of play in the weeks leading up to the Cape Town Test and, now that the team's behaviour has come to a head, it's his job to lead a positive change. "No, I don't think it will, not a lot," Paine said when asked if sledging will remain a part of the Australian team's tactics. "I think there's always a time and a place to talk to your opposition, but I think what's said and how it's said will be very different going forward. "A lot of this stuff we were actually starting to speak about under Steve (Smith?s captaincy) already. A lot of the players had their head around the fact we needed to change the way we play. Some of those conversations were already being had. "I'm really looking forward to playing that role and winning back the trust and respect of our fans and the Australian public first and foremost. That's a really exciting thing for our playing group. "(Smith) is someone I'll certainly be speaking too quite closely about how we go about it and keeping him in the loop. Because we'd started to have these discussions a few months ago and Steve was keen for the team to start playing a different style. So for me it's about carrying that on." With six months until their next Test series, Paine says his players have time to get away from the team environment and think more about how they want to play the game.

David Warner filmed working on the building site of his new luxury home in Maroubra

Warner has traded the white collar of his cricket shirt for blue collar work on a building site ? his own building site, to be exact. The Aussie batsman ? who was banned from international and state cricket for a year for his part in the ball tampering scandal in South Africa ? is spending his free time helping build his house in the eastern Sydney suburb of Maroubra. Wearing a black singlet and white hard hat with the words ?Project Manager? and ?Apprentice Celebrity? written on it in black marker, Warner was filmed chipping in as construction continues on his beachside mansion. According to The Australian, Warner has built a property portfolio worth $10 million, and quotes him as saying in an interview two years ago: ?My financial adviser told me: ?If you have to work after cricket, I haven?t done my job properly.?? Warner purchased the 900sq m oceanfront property for $4 million in December 2015. In May 2016, a planning application was lodged to demolish the existing building and construct a new five-level home, which was approved in February 2017. It was thought Warner and wife Candice were going to move into this property and turn it into their family home. The project has been stuttering along and 14 months later is still a building site as development has been so slow moving.

Shane Watson smashed his 3rd IPL hundred as CSK posted 204 against RR

17.2 over for Unadkat to Watson, 1 run, hundred for Watson. Two in two days in this IPL. Gayle yesterday and Watson today. The helmet comes off and the bat is up in the air to acknowledge the applause of the traveling fans. There was also a little fist pump as soon as he placed it in the gap. He scored a hundred for Royals while playing against CSK and now he's done the vice versa - the first player to do that. Coming to the ball: Back of a length around off, Watson knocks it wide of point and reaches the milestone...

Matt Renshaw scores unbeaten century on county debut

Matt Renshaw made an unbeaten century on his Somerset debut as 18 wickets fell on a busy first day against promoted Worcestershire at Taunton. "People keep telling me that Somerset have never won the County Championship and I would love to play a part in it happening. Of course, a good summer over here would help my ambitions to play more for Australia, but I am really not thinking that far ahead at the moment. "It was really tough out there in the morning session. The ball was moving around a lot and I kept getting hit on the inner thigh. "I just tried to play as straight and as late as possible, while trying to enjoy the experience. I had heard the Taunton crowd were good and now I have experienced that myself."

Shane Watson stamping his authority against his former team

Former Australian cricketer Shane Watson has been much maligned and criticised for various reasons and after last year?s IPL, it was looking like that his career would come to an end. Watson proved his doubters wrong and scored a majestic 106 runs off 57 balls and gave CSK a terrific start. Watson after getting reprieve early in his innings played with authority and imposed his big frame on Royals? bowlers. The knock completely knocked out Royals and it would have been extra special for Watson because it came against his former team and like Chris Gayle proved that age is just a number and there is no substitute for experience.

Shane Watson slams fourth T20 hundred, second of IPL 2018

Shane Watson, the Man of the Match says: "There's no doubt I had some extra motivation, playing against Rajasthan. Incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to play for CSK, so happy to repay the faith. (on the dropped catch), I'm not sure. It's just how it goes sometimes, but the other little things fell my way tonight. I'm always looking to get better, when it's time you're not learning, it's time to stop, so I'm still trying to improve certain aspects of my playing. MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming know really well how to set a team dynamic, and seeing the inner workings of the team is great."

IPL 2018: 36-year-old Shane Watson joins elite IPL list with third hundred

All-rounder Shane Watson roared back to form on Friday as the smashed his third hundred against Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League. Playing their first home game in Pune since the matches got shifted out of Chennai due to the Cauvery water dispute, Watson entertained the crowd hitting six maximums and nine boundaries during his 51-ball knock. The former Aussie star, who was bought by CSK for a whopping Rs 4 crore, started hitting the ball from the middle of his bat from the word go scoring two fours in the first over to get his team off to a flying start. Watson's hundred is the second by a batsman this season after Chris Gayle's swashbuckling 104 not out in 63 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad just 24 hours ago in Mohali. Interestingly, Watson's first ton in the IPL had come while playing for the Royals against the Super Kings when he scored 101 in a losing cause at the MA Chidambaram stadium in 2013. He then slammed 104 not out against Kolkata Knight Riders in Royals' 9-run victory at the Wankhede stadium in 2015. Overall, the 36-year-old has scored a total of 2754 runs in 107 matches at an average of over 31 and has picked up 91 wickets at 27.62 with one four-wicket haul.

IPL 2018: Shane Watson returns to haunt Rajasthan Royals, smacks 51-ball century

Dhoni, the winning captain says: "It's like an unknown territory for us. We're usually behind, but this time we're ahead. Most of us are over 30, so it's important to stay fit. Experience really counts, and we do have good fielders. Just need people to stay fit. The change of venue, to be frank, the people over here, they supported me when I played for Pune, so you could say that it was good that I could return the favour. Yes, it's Chennai Super Kings and not Pune Super Kings, but by the end of the seventh game, we'll see more yellow here. As for the pitch, I wasn't 100% sure. There was variable bounce, spongy bounce, and hitting from back of a length is difficult sometimes. The batsmen made the life for the bowlers easy. Whenever you score 200+, the spinners still had to vary their pace, line and length to stay in the game. The first six overs of the chase were important. Today also there was a bit of dew later on, and if the wicket is good not many teams will mind batting first."

Warne: Cricket Australia guilty of financial 'greed'

Cricket great Shane Warne has hit out at what he believes is a divide between Cricket Australia and its players, declaring "greed" is the reason why the Big Bash League will expand next summer. The angst between the Australian Cricketers Association and CA continues almost a year after the two parties fought a bitter dispute over pay and conditions. Warne, who took to social media on Saturday to vent his displeasure, has suggested a rush for cash is the reason why the BBL will leap from a 43-game competition this season to 59 next summer, including finals, as part of the sport's overall $1.2 billion broadcast rights deal. "Australian Cricket should be an equal partnership between the players & the board, then everyone would be on the same page, sure they won?t always agree - but if both parties attitude is - what?s best for Australian Cricket & not themselves - then Cricket & the fans would b happy," Warne said on Twitter. "Ps And hopefully greed would then be thrown out the door too ! For example - it?s ridiculous that the BBL will have a lot more games next season & beyond - It?s a great comp & less is more should be the attitude - not let?s put more games on for $$ - diluting a wonderful product."The eight-team BBL has become the jewel in the summer crown, and a full home-and-away competition will ensure regular nightly ratings of more than one million viewers for new broadcasters, Channel Seven and Fox Sports. Players last summer gave mixed private responses when asked whether they were in favour of more BBL matches. Warne is in India where he is a mentor for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, and has lost his commentary role at Channel Nine in the wake of CA's new deal with Seven and Fox Sports. However, he is expected to find a new commentary home.

Shaun Marsh century puts Glamorgan on top

Shaun Marsh displayed his class with an imperious century to put Glamorgan on top at the halfway point of their County Championship Division Two clash with Gloucestershire. The Australian international registered 18 fours in a classy innings of 111 at Bristol on a wicket that still has a degree of life left in it as Glamorgan reached 5-296 in response to their opponents' 236 all out. In reaching three figures midway through the final session, Marsh joins compatriots Matthew Elliott and Mark Cosgrove in having scored a first-class century on debut for the Welsh county. He is the 10th Glamorgan player to achieve the feat. It was not all plain sailing for the visitors as, resuming on 26 without loss, opening batsmen Nick Selman and Jack Murphy struggled for rhythm in a morning session eventually cut short by light rain. Although they were seldom in real trouble, they crept forward at a snail's pace as Gloucestershire, aided by the overcast conditions, bowled a decent line and length.The pair were prised apart with the score on 57 when Selman was bowled by Ryan Higgins for 28 off 66 balls.Thereafter, the day belonged to Marsh. Gloucestershire toiled in the afternoon sunshine as Murphy and the seemingly indomitable Marsh set about their task.The pair were cautious but positive in their approach and added 67 for the second wicket before Murphy was adjudged lbw to Graeme van Buuren for 47.

Australia cricket captain Steve Smith laying low in USA

Former Australia cricket captain Steve Smith is laying low and 'bonding' with his fianc?e in New York in the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal, his father has revealed. Smith, 28, has been concentrating on his wedding to Dani Willis, who has been his 'complete and absolute rock', according to dad Peter.During a press conference last month, Smith crumbled under intense criticism from former players, fans and even the prime minister after saying he was 'deeply sorry' for letting the country down by authorising the cheating plot. Peter told The Daily Telegraph the scandal has been 'tough mentally on him' but he is now focusing on Dani. 'She has been incredibly supportive and is his complete and absolute rock,' he said. 'It's fair to say the wedding is still on - that's their priority now.'He added: 'Steve is trying to relax away from Australia. He has to be away from things at the moment to get back to where he was, slowly and surely.'Peter also said cricket was not a priority for Smith, who is believed to be considering a move to England to play county cricket, but he is keeping up his fitness while 'trying to draw a line under the past'. Smith was spotted in New York earlier this month, unwinding in a bar in the city's Chinatown precinct. He was given a 12-month ban along with vice captain David Warner for his role in the ball-tampering affair. The couple, who have been together since 2011, are thought to have made detailed plans for their wedding. Smith proposed to Willis, a 27-year-old lawyer, in New York City just under a year ago. The cricketer was set to earn up to $10 million this year in wages and multiple sponsorship until he allowed Cameron Bancroft to cheat in the third test against South Africa last month.Smith and Warner were set to be Australia's highest paid players in the lucrative Indian Premier League this year and would have earned $2.4million each for the Rajasthan Royals and the Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively.

Cricket Australia: Lights not out on Adelaide Test - yet

Cricket Australia remains hopeful the day-night Test in Adelaide will go ahead this summer despite claims India has rejected the proposal. The Times of India has reported the Board of Control for Cricket in India has no interest in either staging a home pink-ball Test against the West Indies in October, nor accepting Cricket Australia's invitation to begin the four-Test series against Australia under lights.Fairfax Media reported this month the BCCI had yet to respond to CA, with a growing feeling the request would be rejected.CA could yet announce the summer schedule with Adelaide as a day-night Test and hope a deal can be done with the BCCI before what shapes as a December starting date."We are working through the details. We will announce it when we announce it," a CA spokesman said. India is the only major Test nation yet to play in a pink-ball Test.The BCCI is reportedly against the entire proposal because it will not play a day-night Test in the new Test championship, beginning late next year. Therefore, India reportedly does not "see any future for the concept".However, the counterargument is that day-night Test cricket is a playing condition, not a format, so it will work in fine with the Test championship. CA still has plans to hold day-night Tests under the new system.India's players had felt Australia would have an unfair advantage, particularly in dealing with the swinging pink ball, had the Adelaide day-night Test gone ahead and they had not at least had one previous match under lights. That the BCCI appears set to reject an initial plan of a Test in Rajkot in October means there is unlikely to be a reversal of thinking for Adelaide.CA would have given India at least one warm-up match under lights. Australia has played in four day-night Tests.

Shane Warne lashes out at Cricket Aurstralia

Cricket great Warne  believed that Australian cricket board's greed is the reason  of a divide between Cricket Australia and its players. It is learnt that the angst between the Australian Cricketers Association and CA continues almost a year after the two parties fought a bitter dispute over pay and conditions. The World's on of the best spinner, Warne, who took to social media to vent his displeasure, has suggested a rush for cash is the reason why the BBL will leap from a 43-game competition this season to 59 next summer, including finals, as part of the sport's overall $1.2 billion broadcast rights deal. Former leg-spinner in his tweet said; "Australian Cricket should be an equal partnership between the players & the board, then everyone would be on the same page, sure they won?t always agree - but if both parties attitude is - what?s best for Australian Cricket & not themselves - then Cricket & the fans would b happy." BBL, in 2017, moved to an expanded 43-game competition as the eight franchises played 10 matches each and fans will be treated to even more T20 domestic action next summer. It has been reported that an expanded BBL, with more focus on the finals, would offer more value to broadcasters. Earlier this month, Channel Seven and Fox Sports clinched the broadcast rights to Australian cricket for the next six years, in a deal worth AUD 1.2 billion with CA.

David Warner?s brother-in-law charged with allegedly smashing paparazzo?s car windscreen

DAVID Warner?s brother-in-law has been charged after allegedly smashing the car window of controversial paparazzo Jayden Seyfarth with a shovel. Tim Falzon, the brother of Warner?s wife Candice, was charged with wilfully damaging and destroying property and will front court in June. The 21-year-old photographer was staking out Warner?s family home when Falzon approach the vehicle with a shovel in hand before allegedly smashing the windscreen. ?I was in disbelief. I was shocked and shaken up,? Seyfarth told Channel Seven news. The Aussie paparazzo is no stranger to controversy. Seyfarth was backlisted by Virgin Australia after a major breach of Sydney Airport security when he printed Bachelorette star Sophie Monk and her then partner Stu Laundy?s boarding passes and waited for the couple in the Virgin lounge. ?Virgin Australia considers the safety, security and comfort of all of our guests and staff as our top priorities, and ?regards any incident that compromises these values as a serious matter,? the airline?s Group Security team wrote in a letter sent to Seyfarth.?Virgin Australia reserves the right to refuse carriage of any person for any reason as per the terms and conditions listed on our website.?As a result of your behaviour, it is our intention to exercise this right and deny you carriage on all services provided by the Virgin Australia Group of Airlines indefinitely.?

There's no way Chris Lynn isn't in the Test team if he plays red ball cricket

Robert 'Crash' Craddock believes that T20 master blaster Chris Lynn would walk into the Test team if he really wanted to. The bans on Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft due to the ball-tampering saga have opened up three different batting spots in the Australian line-up. Matthew Renshaw, Joe Burns and Glenn Maxwell flew over to replaced the disgraced trio of Aussie players, but only the two Queensland openers and back-up batsman Peter Handscomb were brought into the final eleven for the fourth and final Test against South Africa. Lynn is struggling with shoulder injuries currently and has always prioritised white ball cricket instead of the longer forms of the game. But, if he put his mind to it, could the master blaster adapt to the Test format? Crash thinks so."If Chris Lynn rang up Cricket Australia today and said I?ve decided I?m back playing red ball cricket, there?s no way he wouldn?t be in that first Test team," Craddock told SEN's Whateley."It is happening under our nose ? Chris Lynn is that sort of player."Sure he has a dodgy shoulder which struggles in the four-day game. I?m most interested this season because with these three players banned, there is a cast iron place for Chris Lynn if he wants it."It?s a provocative thought, because if he did want to play then next season he would. Literally, it would be a couple of innings and I think he would be straight in." In 41 first-class matches for the Bulls, Lynn has an average of over 43 and has hit six centuries.

Shane Warne 'downsizes' to a $5.5 million luxury pad in Melbourne

It was reported just last month that cricket legend Shane Warne had sold his sprawling Melbourne mansion for a cool $20 million. And now the 48-year-old has reportedly splashed out $5.5 million on a new Brighton pad, in a bid to downsize. The Herald Sun reports the new luxurious home is right around the corner from his old pad, and features five bedrooms and three bathrooms, a large pool, a theatre room, a bar, and an underground garage with space for four cars. Shane, who often travels around the world, reportedly bought the smaller pad in a bid to downsize as his $20 million mansion was too big. 'Shane is in and out of the country so much, the other one was too big,' Jonathan Dixon of JP Dixon agency told the publication. He added: 'It's got underground garaging, it's in a top spot and its pool (was another drawcard). It's everything he needs but on a smaller scale, which is ideal for him, so he can shut it up and walk away, travel. 'The other one was pretty big and a lot of work.'The new home also features a study, a master spa ensuite and a balcony.It was reported last month that Shane sold his old Melbourne home for a whopping $20 million.The six-bedroom Brighton mansion was purchased by an overseas buyer, 7 News reported at the time. The pad has expansive grounds, which included a sparking pool, sprawling tennis courts and even a private gym.The Australian Spin King bought back the property in 2016 for $14 million, giving him a $6 million windfall on the recent sale. The cricketer originally bought the house in 2000 with then-wife Simone Callahan for $3.6 million, investing around the same amount into renovating the property. After an extensive upgrade, the former cricket power couple sold the house for $8.8 million in 2007.The exclusive mansion boasts an array of features, including a movie theatre, six bedrooms, seven bathrooms and a four car garage. Shane's Brighton home was a regular feature on his social media, with the cricketer hosting an infamous 'Back to School' New Year's Eve party there in 2016. Shane shared a video to social media last year, taken as he walked from the property's main house to his gym.

Joe Root vs Virat Kohli in ICC T20 World Cup 2016

Virat Kohli: Undoubtedly the best batsmen in the edition of T20 World Cup, Kohli has been the man for all seasons. Kohli has batted in pressure situations for the team, be it his knock against Pakistan, Australia or West Indies. He has only grown as a player and earned the utmost respective from players and fan alike. Against Pakistan, he weathered the Mohammad Aamer-storm and took apart James Faulkner to get India past to the semi-final stage.  With an astounding average of 136.50 and strike rate of 146.77, Kohli was with a iota of a doubt judged the Man of the Tournament. ALSO READ: T20 World Cup 2016: Virat Kohli named Man of the Tournament

Joe Root: Call him a doppelg?nger or not, Root has in his very own way emulated Kohli?s performance, specially in the final against West Indies. Root made a 36-ball 54 to rescue his team to a par total of 155,  Root miraculously picked up the wickets of Johnson Charles and Chris thundering Gayle in his first over. Root, will mostly be remembered for his 83 run knock against South Africa, which inspired England chased down 229. Root has shown that Test cricketing shots can yarn runs and that too plenty of them.

Virat Kohli vs Other Indian batsmen in ICC T20 World Cup 2016

Virat Kohli was on Sunday named Man of the Tournament of 2016 ICC World Twenty20, even though the Indian vice-captain was not personally present to collect the award at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Kohli, 27, scored 273 runs in five innings with a highest score of 89 not out. He scored in a sequence of 23 vs New Zealand, 55* vs Pakistan, 24 vs Bangladesh, 82* vs Australia and 89* vs West Indies, at an average of 136.50. His grand total was 22 runs behind tournament's top run getter Tamim Iqbal, who scored 295 runs in six innings with an average of 73.75. Kohli's classic batting and hare-feet like running have helped create a larger than life image for himself with cricket world praising the right-handed batsman for his batting prowess. England's Joe Root, who scored 249 runs in six innings was a close contender for the award. Despite Kohli's heroics, India failed to make the final, after losing to West Indies in the semi-finals by seven wickets. In the match, he scored an unbeaten 89 off 47 balls, and also took a wicket. Windies defeated England in the final by four wickets to become the first team to win two ICC World Twenty20 titles today.

Steven Smith is the best average factor since 2010 January 1

Since the start of 2010, the average for a batsman in Tests at home is 34.9 while outside home it comes down to 29.4. Based on this, by equating the players? averages at home, outside the home and their overall averages, Steven Smith tops the list with an average factor of 1.753 which is a value of his every run irrespective of home or away. The remaining three players had similar factors only to be separated by decimals. In fact, Smith?s average outside home of 53.95 is higher than Kohli, Root and Williamson?s career batting averages.

Smith, Kohli, Williamson, Root and others in Test cricket since 2010

The hottest debate among the cricketing circles at the moment is regarding the best batsman in the Test cricket among the current generation. Some like to pick out the best based on the batting averages, few look towards player?s conversion rates of the 50s to 100s and big centuries while some others consider player?s performances at home and outside home. The debates got spiced up with Virat Kohli, Steven Smith, Kane Williamson and Joe Root, who are considered to be the best in the world among the lot, are in the action as captains of their respective teams at the moment.

Smith and Root are part of the Ashes series while Kohli leading India against Sri Lanka. Williamson will be on the field this week when New Zealand takes on West Indies. With the Ashes series lasting till January and India touring South Africa, the discussions regarding the best batters of this generation might peak up. Ahead of these, CricTracker brings a statistical comparison of the batsmen since January 2010 considering their home and away records, conversion rates and batting averages.

Leading Run Scorer in ODI since 1st January 2015

There is no doubt that David Warner is a destructive batsman; however despite making his ODI debut 3 years before his Test debut, he was never the accomplished ODI opener and was more successful at test level. That is quite ironic given his style of play, but his record shows how he excelled in tests and never really did as well in ODIs in the initial part of his career. In 42 ODIs since the start of 2015, Warner has amassed over 2,000 runs at a phenomenal average of 58.6. He smashed 10 centuries during this period and 6 half centuries. Warner is averaging almost double of what he did in his first 5 years of ODIs, in ODIs over the past 2 years. He has taken his ODI average from 31.4 at the end of 2014 to just over 43. His turnaround has been so awesome that he is the leading run scorer in all ODIs played in the past two years, since 1st January 2015. No one has scored more runs or more centuries in ODIs than Warner has in the past two years; and only AB de Villiers has a higher average and strike rate than he does.

Steve Waugh led one of the most iconic Australian sides ever

Australia and England are bitter rivals and the former can hold the fact that they have registered 26 more wins despite playing almost 200 Tests less against the latter. The Windies have enjoyed both incredible highs and bitter lows and even though their total of 165 wins is the third highest in history, they would feel that they should have had more.There is great news for Indian fans as they hold the edge over Pakistan 138 ? 130 but Pakistani fans can take heart from the fact that they have played 100 Tests less than India but have nearly registered the same number of wins.

New Zealand cricket fans have had plenty to cheer about, but they also hold the record for lowest innings score

It is unfortunate to highlight the lowest innings score as it almost makes for comical reading. At the same time, it is a tribute to the bowlers who deserve as much credit as the batsmen when their records are highlighted. The Kiwis hold the record for the lowest score of all time when they managed just 26 against England at Auckland in 1955. South Africa have the second lowest total with 30, which they managed against England in 1896. The Proteas embarrassingly also recorded scores of 30, 35 and 36 in the early part of their Test cricket journey. India?s lowest score is an almost respectable 42 given the context, when they were outclassed by the English at Lords in 1974.

Leading Averages of the Next Test Generatiuon

Soon after England secured the Ashes to seal their decade long dominance over Australia at home, they were met with some more positive news. Joe Root was the new world number 1 ranked test batsman, overtaking AB De Villiers. Root has been magnificent for England in both limited overs and tests since his debut about two and a half years ago. So much so, that he is now not only England's most reliable batsman but among the best in the world. We have seen a number of great batsmen in test cricket. Each decade has provided us with some of the game's greats like Border, Gavaskar, Miandad, and Richards in the 80s; Waugh, Sachin, Lara, and Inzamam in the 90s, Ponting, Dravid, Sangakkara, and Kallis during the first decade of the new century; and also Younis Khan, De Villiers, Amla, Clarke, Cook, and KP over the past decade. Similarly, the past 5 years has seen the rise of a new generation of batsmen. Like Joe Root for England, there have been a few others who have emerged to become their team's most reliable batsmen in the recent few years. There has been Virat Kohli for India, Steven Smith for Australia, Azhar Ali for Pakistan, Kane Williamson for New Zealand, and Angelo Matthews for Sri Lanka.

IPL 2018: Steve Smith more successful as captain than Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni? Check big stat surprises

IPL 2018: The stage is all set for auctions for the 11th edition of the Indian Premier League. On Tuesday, Boards of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the dates for the auction. The set dates are January 27 and 28 next year and the venue is Bengaluru. So as per the common myth, former Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni is believed to be the most successful captain in the T20 league. However, in reality, Rising Pune Supergiants captain and ?Don Bradman? of the 21st century Steve Smith has a better win rate than that of even Dhoni. Smith tops the table with 16 wins in 24 games at a win rate of 66.67 percent. Second to Smith is Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma. He has 45 wins in 75 games at a win percentage of 60 percent. Interestingly, third is on the list is the legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar?s has 30 wins from 51 games at a percentage of 58.82. Virat Kohli is not even on list! Dhoni finds a place on the fifth spot behind Australian Cameron White. On one hand, where White has seven wins from 12 games at a rate of 58.33 percent, on the other hand, Dhoni has 83 wins from 143 games at 58.04 percent. This year?s auction will see teams having an increased budget of Rs 80 crore from previous Rs 66 crore. In all five players can be retained by a franchise, which includes two Right to Match cards.

Here?s Smith vs Kohli?s records in Tests in 2017

Virat Kohli: The Indian skipper too had a good year, scoring 1059 @ 75.64 with five tons and one fifty. Three of his five tons (including three double tons) came in wins, while the remaining two in draws. However, all his tons came in the home conditions or in the sub-continental conditions of Sri Lanka. He is the fourth highest run-getter in Tests in 2017, but averages the second best after Smith in 2017 among players with at least 1000 runs last year. Smith helps Australian regain the Ashes: In a high-voltage series against England, Smith cracked three tons and one fifty in four Tests last year. He aggregates 604 runs @ 120.80 per innings in 4 Ashes Test last year. Smith was the difference in Australia winning the Ashes series 4-0. In comparison, Kohli made three double tons against lower-ranked teams ? Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in home and sub-continental conditions. And hence, despite a record equalling Smith?s, Kohli lost out on the ?Test player of the Year? award. However, he has the consolation of bagging ICC Men?s Cricketer of the Year which is usually given to the player who bags the Test player of the year award.

England were ?curious? about potential Australia ball-tampering: Alastair Cook

Alastair Cook has revealed England?s players were ?curious? about Australia potentially engaging in ball-tampering during the recent Ashes series.Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were hit with long suspensions by Cricket Australia after they plotted to use sandpaper on the ball in their third Test with South Africa last month.The shamed trio claimed that was their first instance of ball-tampering.But the spotlight has now been put on the Ashes, with television footage since emerging of Bancroft putting sugar in his pocket.Australia?s consistent ability to get reverse swing had England?s bowlers scratching their heads during their 4-0 series defeat. Cook was part of the England side and he admitted on Tuesday that there were questions among his squad about the third Test in Perth.Asked at a Chance to Shine event in Tunbridge Wells whether England suspected Australia of ball-tampering during the Ashes, he said: ?Yes a little bit, certainly in Perth when the outfield was wet with rain they got the ball reversing.?I didn?t see anything. We have been pretty good at managing the ball to see if we can get it to reverse swing but then there?s the thing with the quicker you bowl the ball it reverse swings more.?That was the thing in 2005, we had Simon Jones and Freddie (Andrew Flintoff) who were quicker than the Australian bowlers.?We have to be very careful, we were curious at certain moments but then we couldn?t get the ball up to 90mph where they consistently could.?Australia?s actions in Cape Town were widely criticised, with Smith and Warner both receiving year-long suspensions.Cook insisted that should be a timely reminder for the game to be played in the right way.?It?s not for me to comment on punishment, but the whole thing is a reminder that people want to see,? he said.

Alastair Cook fears for future of Test cricket as he closes in on Allan Border record

This will be his 13th summer as a Test cricketer and his 16th overall. He made his Championship debut the summer T20 was launched and, all being well, at Lord?s next month, he should equal Allan Border?s record for the most successive Test matches, 153. Cook remembers playing alongside the man charged with deciding whether he matches Border?s record, England?s new national selector, Ed Smith. He has been a constant as the game has changed rapidly and radically.Three days from the start of another summer, Cook is chatting and playing cricket with schoolkids as he launches the Yorkshire Tea National Cricket Week with the charity Chance To Shine, which takes place from the June 18-22. "They?d been told well,? he jokes, when asked if any of them knew who he was, a nod to the ECB?s infamous nugget of marketing research that found more children recognised the wrestler John Cena than Cook. But then again, none of his 12,000 Test runs have been scored on free TV. However, the kids are in thrall of him, asking for autographs and giving him a guard of honour on arrival. ?It?s daunting,? he says of his responsibilities as a flag-bearer for a sport that constantly convinces itself that it?s in crisis. ?Those memories of sitting in assemblies. But if I?d been eight years old and an England cricketer had come to the school I?d have been, like? gawp. It?s weird being that bloke who can do it.?Cook concedes his fears for the future of long-form cricket and wonders whether his like, the long-former, will be seen again.

Dates revealed for Canberra Test between Australia and Sri Lanka

Canberra's historic cricket fixture is set to avoid a nightmare timeslot clash with the Australian Open tennis tournament when the capital hosts Australia's first February Test match in 21 years.Fairfax Media can reveal Cricket Australia is poised to announced the dates for the summer of cricket as early as Friday, with officials putting the finishing touches on the schedule.It's understood Canberra will likely take centre stage from January 31-February 4 when Australia plays against Sri Lanka in a perfectly timed match for new broadcaster Channel Seven.It will be the first time Australia has played a home Test so late in the summer since 1998 and is a bonus for Cricket Australia's $1.2 billion broadcast deal with Channel Seven and Fox Sports.Channel Seven has the rights to the Australian Open for one more year and the extended summer of Tests has caused a schedule headache for officials.The tennis has been Channel Seven's marquee event and the network will be determined to go out with a bang when the tournament finishes on January 27.The timing of Canberra's cricket content will ensure the capital gets bang for its buck in terms of national exposure when the city hosts its first international Test.Cricket Australia is still ironing out the kinks of its six-Test summer and working with its new broadcast partners to reach suitable agreements for all parties.India's governing cricket body, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, has thrown a spanner in the works by reportedly rejecting the proposal for a day-night fixture in Adelaide.

Shakib Al Hasan achieves magnificent T20 double of 4000 runs, 300 wickets

Only one other player has reached 4,000 runs and 300 wickets in the format. Caribbean all-rounder Dwayne Bravo is the highest wicket-taker in T20 cricket, with 414 scalps to his name. He has also scored 5,582 runs. A regular in T20 matches in leagues across the world, the West Indian has 378 matches under his belt. Shakib has played 260. Playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL this year, Shakib crossed the 4000-run milestone against his former team Kolkata Knight Riders on Apr 14. He was only one shy of the 300-wicket mark, but could not manage it in the next two matches, lengthening his fans? wait for the celebration. On Tuesday, against the Mumbai Indians, he picked up Rohit Sharma?s wicket as the batsman was caught by Shikhar Dhwan while trying to drive through cover. Pakistan?s Shahid Afridi is the only other player to have 300 wickets and 3,000 runs in T20s. In 274 matches, the veteran allrounder has taken 300 wickets and scored 3,893 runs. Only two other bowlers have broken the 300-wicket barrier ? Mumbai Indians Bowling Mentor Lasith Malinga who has 348 wickets in 256 matches, and Sunil Narine, who has 324 wickets from 276 matches.

Was Steve Smith more deserving than Virat Kohli for ?Test Player of the Year? award?

The ICC results were announced today and Indian skipper Virat Kohli managed to bag the two top awards in Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy as Cricketer of the Year and also ODI Player of the Year award. Australian skipper Steve Smith won ?Test Player of the Year? award. But was it a deserving one and better than Virat Kohli?s performance in Test cricket in 2017? The Australian skipper cracked six tons in 11 Tests with the best score of 239 against England at Perth in 2017. He scored three tons against England at home and three against India in India in early 2017. Three of his tons yielded in a win for Australia, while two ended in a draw and one in loss. Smith averages 76.76 in 11 Tests in 2017, aggregating 1305 runs, the best by any player in the last calendar year.

Let banned trio play county cricket: Arthur

Former Australia cricket coach Mickey Arthur believes "it would be good" for shamed trio Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft to be given the chance to play county cricket this year. Smith and Warner are serving one-year bans, with Bancroft out for nine months, for their part in the ball-tampering scandal in Australia's series in South Africa last month.Bancroft was due to be Somerset's overseas player this season but his deal was terminated in the fall-out of the furore which saw him use sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball in Cape Town.But Arthur, who coached Australia between 2010 and 2013, hopes they will be given a chance to resume their career in the English domestic game."In a way I feel sorry for them," the current coach of Pakistan said. "I can understand they were really stupid, they have paid a massive price."Steve will be absolutely gutted, Bancroft is a new guy on the block and that will be really hard to swallow and Davey too ... for them to be missing the amount of cricket they are missing will be tough on them."So if the ECB allowed it, it would be good for them to carry on playing because they have paid a big price already."Although he left his position soon after, then-coach Darren Lehmann was cleared of knowing anything about the plot to tamper with the ball, a fact which raised many eyebrows.Asked whether it was unusual for a coach to be unaware of such things going on in the dressing room, he replied: "I'm not sure, I couldn't tell you what happened. I am not 100 per cent sure of the plan so I can't comment."On the scandal he added: "It was a shock to me. I was really disappointed when I saw it go down. "Australia always play their cricket really hard, they play it tough and they push the line. I just want to know where the line is and what it is."

Chris Rogers has the character Cricket Australia might be looking for but limited coaching experience

If the decision makers at Cricket Australia are true to their word of seeking a clean break from the machismo and aggressive demeanour of past iterations of the national team, they could make no greater statement to that effect than employing Rogers. They have already put some faith in his expertise. Rogers has recently been installed as a high-performance coach, geared towards youth development and long-term planning. A lack of coaching experience makes his candidacy a long shot on the scale of a Glenn Maxwell straight six, however. Only in the past two years has he started on what many see as a natural path towards top-level coaching, with work undertaken with English county championship sides Gloucestershire and Somerset. Rogers' greatest assets are his character and evidently expansive cricketing brain. Only becoming a permanent fixture in the national team late in his playing career, he was always a man apart from the boys' club of an in-your-face squad.A quiet, considered, educated man, he was ? and is ? well-liked, and respected for making the most of his talent and opportunity when it finally came.Australian cricket would be foolish to let his cricket knowledge be employed in the commentary box more than the training paddock. Though one for the future more likely than the present.But with Australia looking for a new way forward, handing the reins to a man of old-school values of respect and honest hard work might be seductive to some.