Mahmudullah, Taskin create history, thread together second-highest ninth-wicket partnership in Tests

This series is very important to me: Yuzvendra Chahal on playing senior spinner role

Indian leggie Yuzvendra Chahal would be playing ODI cricket after eight months and he is excited to be back in the longer white-ball format. The Haryana born said that he has been asked by coach Rahul Dravid to play as the senior spinner in the team and guide the rest of the guys along with him. "You can't perform in every match. I will try my level best. This series is very important to me," said Chahal. "I keep having conversations with the bowling coach. My main focus at the moment is just this series - there's been lesser cricket over the last year, but that's not in our hands. Whatever series happens, we want to perform," added the 30-year-old. Talking about his future plans and how he is focussing series by series, Chahal said, "After this series, my focus will be on the IPL, and only then the [T20] World Cup. Right now, I'm focusing on this tour only." The rules of the ODI have become demanding for the spinners over the years and with only four players allowed outside the 30-yard circle in overs 11-40, the runs flow easily. For Chahal who has mainly been bowling with five players outside the circle in the T20s, it would be challenging. However, the RCB player begs to differ saying, "I've played for five years, 50-plus matches, so I'm used to all this. This is not an excuse or something. Now, when I bowl, I just focus on how to get batters out. That's it." Asked about what's new in-store from the always chirpy and happy go lucky player on the field, Chahal said, "I have a couple of variations and I'm focusing on that only, not using other deliveries. You will see a more confident Yuzi in this series. I'm just working on my angles and in general trying to bowl more." It would be interesting to see who compliments Chahal in the team, especially with Kuldeep Yadav and Krishnappa Gowtham offering completely different things with the ball. India plays its first game on the tour on July 13 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Kyle Mayers signs for Birmingham Bears in T20 Blast for a short stint

Swashbuckling West Indies batsman Kyle Mayers has been roped in by the Birmingham Bears for a short stint in the Vitality T20 Blast. He has been signed to play the final three games of the T20 Blast. His participation was confirmed by Warwickshire on Wednesday. The left-handed batsman will be available to play in their next game against Worcestershire on Friday. "I'm very excited by this opportunity to join up with the Bears and I hope that I can contribute with the bat and ball during these final three important games of the Blast," Mayers was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz. "I understand that the Bears have enjoyed a good association with West Indies cricketers and I'm very proud to join this list of players. Hopefully, I can make some important contributions, which secure our path through to the knock-out stages,” he added. Mayers hogged the limelight earlier in the year when the southpaw tore apart Bangladesh with an unbeaten double century on his Test debut. He scored an unbeaten 210 to ensure West Indies chased down the target of 395. Mayers who is a skilful medium pacer as well has been quite impressive in the CPL last year. Warwickshire sports director Paul Farbrace feels that Mayers’ inclusion will be a great boost to the team. "Kyle played superbly in last year's CPL, which helped him to break into the Windies ranks across all formats," Director of Cricket Paul Farbrace said. "Being able to add Kyle, as a hard-hitting batsman and skilful seam bowler, to our squad as we bid for a quarterfinal place is a great boost. We also recognise how motivated Kyle is by this opportunity to feature in another leading T20 tournament with an ICC T20 World Cup just around the corner."

Happy birthday Sourav Ganguly: Wishes pour in on 'true leader's' special day

Former India captain and present BCCI president Sourav Ganguly celebrated his 49th birthday on Thursday (July 8, 2021). The left-handed batsman has been one of India’s most successful skippers leading them to NatWest Trophy win in 2002 and first-ever Test series win on the Pakistan soil. Apart from this, The Men in Blue ended as runners-up in the Knockout trophy in the year 2000 and during the 50-over World Cup in 2003 under Ganguly’s captaincy. They lost to New Zealand in the Knockout trophy final while suffering a defeat against Australia in the title clash of the World Cup. Ganguly is one of the Indian batsmen to have scored a century on a Test debut. He achieved the feat back in 1996 against England at Lord’s and was capped 113 times in the longer format for the side, scoring over 7000 runs during the course. He played 311 ODIs for India and notched up a total of 11363 runs at an average of 41.02. The left-hander hung his boots from international cricket in 2008 and was later appointed as the president of CAB in 2015 and held the post October 2019 before becoming the president of the BCCI.

Hashim Amla etches name in record books

Former South Africa batsman Hashim Amla has been making headlines after he saved his County side Surrey from suffering a defeat against Hampshire. Surrey, who were handed over a follow-on, resumed the batting on the final day with 6/2. The right-handed batsman scored just 37 runs off 278 deliveries and remained unbeaten to eventually help his team end the match in a draw. Earlier, Hampshire after batting first posted a mammoth 488, courtesy a ton from Colin de Grandhomme. While De Grandhomme notched up a century, Holland and Felix Organ struck individual fifties and Wheal chipped in with 45. For Surrey, it was Jordan Clark who was the pick of the bowlers after he returned with figures of 4/110. In reply, Hampshire bowlers Barker, captain Kyle Abbott and Wheal rattled the Surrey batting line up in the first innings to bundle them out for just 72. Amla top-scored with 29 during the course while Barker scalped a four-wicket haul. Abbott picked up three wickets. Hampshire then enforced a follow-on on Surrey and the Rory Burns-led side once again had a disappointing start to the proceedings in the second innings. They lost early wickets and were reduced to 60/5 but Amla held the innings from one end. Surrey eventually ended up scoring 122/8 when the stumps were called on the final day. This was Amla’s second slowest innings in First-class cricket in terms of strike-rate after a batsman had faced a minimum of 200 balls since 2008. He scored 25 off 244 against India back in 2015 in Delhi.