Rajasthan Royals release Steve Smith, starts new chapter with Sanju Samson as skipper

Daily Round up | Jan 20: Suresh Raina to stay at CSK

CSK batsman Suresh Raina has been retained by the franchise for the IPL 2021 while Harbhajan Singh has said that his contract is over. Here we take a look at the day’s updates from the cricketing world. Suresh Raina to stay at CSK Former India player Suresh Raina who retired from international cricket on August 15 last year will stay at Chennai Super Kings. According to the official there are few players who are going to be released. Earlier, spinner Harbhajan Singh confirmed that his contract with CSK is over. “As my contract comes to an end with “Yes, we will retain Raina and Dhoni will be the captain. Apart from Harbhajan Singh, we might release a few more players,” the CSK official told The Indian Express. Harbhajan Singh to leave CSK Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh confirmed that his contract with CSK is over. “As my contract comes to an end with @ChennaiIPL, playing for this team was a great experience..beautiful memories made &some great friends which I will remember fondly for years to come..Thank you @ChennaiIPL, management, staff and fans for a wonderful 2years.. All the best..,” Harbhajan tweeted. Rishabh Pant attains highest rank India wicket-keeper batsman played some phenomenal cricket in Australia and the left-hander has been rewarded for the same. He has climbed to 13th spot—the highest by any wicket-keeper batsman in the latest rankings released by ICC. There can be a huge fall out: Shane Warne Former Aussie spinner Shane Warne feels that there cane be a “huge fallout” after the defeat in the Australian team. "I think there'll be a huge fallout from this. There's not too many times that you lose to the second or third (choice) side," Foxsports.com.au quoted Warne as saying. "That's not taking anything away from those Indian guys that played but their first selection side, there's probably only two or three players in that side who would play," he added. Melbourne Renegades beat Melbourne Stars Melbourne Renegades took the perfect revenge of the previous encounter against Melbourne Stars. Chasing 159 in 20 overs, renegades rode on Mackenzie Harvey 47* to go over the line. Harvey who was adjudged man of the match expressed his delight and said, “Can't put it into words, playing a derby at home. It was a good effort from the bowlers, it came off well today. A complete team performance. Like I said before, it's absolutely outstanding playing at home and winning.” Stars are now placed at number three with 24 points from 12 matches while Renegades are bottom placed with 13 points in 12 matches.

BBL10: Renegades make it 1-1 against Stars in Melbourne derby

Melbourne Renegades defeated Melbourne Stars at Docklands stadium by 5 wickets on Wednesday after chasing down 159 in 19.4 overs. Renegades lost some early wickets and were 48/3 when Sam Harper alongwith Jack Prestwidge stitched a stand of 40 runs. But the Renegades then lost a couple of more wickets and were 97/5 when Mackenzie Harvey joined hands with Beau Webster to take the team to victory. Harvey remained unbeaten at 47 while Webster scored 22*. Nathan Coulter-Nile scalped three wickets at the expense of 42 runs in 4 overs. Earlier, riding on Nick Larkin’s 61*, Stars scored 158/6 in 20 overs. Apart from Larkin, Marcus Stoinis with a quick-fire 37 off 27 while Maddinson scored 21 in 18. Zak Evans and Peter Hatzoglou picked up couple of wickets apiece. Evans with a figures of 2/23 in three overs while Hatzoglou gave 34 runs in 4 overs and took 2 wickets. Imad Wasim had a decent outing as he returned with figures of 1/24 in 4 overs. Harvey who was adjudged man of the match expressed his delight and said, “Can't put it into words, playing a derby at home. It was a good effort from the bowlers, it came off well today. A complete team performance. Like I said before, it's absolutely outstanding playing at home and winning.” With the loss, Stars are now placed at number three with 24 points from 12 matches while Renegades are bottom placed with 13 points in 12 matches.

ICC Test Rankings: Rishabh Pant attains highest rank for a wicketkeeper batsman

An unbeaten 89 runs at the Gabba has helped Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant jump to his highest position on the ICC Test Rankings for batsmen. He has climbed to 13th spot—the highest by any wicket-keeper batsman in the latest rankings released by ICC. He is closely followed by the South Africa stand-in captain Quinton de Kock who is at 15th spot. Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne who scored s splendid century in the first innings of the Gabba Test has surpassed Virat Kohli to the third position on the rankings after attaining his career-best rating points at 878. Apart from the Gabba Test between India and Australia, the first Test between Sri Lanka and England too left its effect on the ICC Rankings as the tourists’ captain Joe Root has reclaimed a position in the top five batsmen with his highest rating points—738 in two years. The ICC Rankings for batsmen in Tests is still dominated by Blackcaps skipper Kane Williamson who is significantly ahead than his competitor Steve Smith. Williamson has 919 rating points while Smith stands at 891 points. The duo is followed by Labuschagne, Kohli and Root. The ICC Rankings for bowlers in Tests are topped by Pat Cumins, who is followed by Stuart Broad, Neil Wagner and Josh Hazlewood.

Why a cricket fan cannot afford to miss the last week of BBL 2020-21 group stage

The Big Bash League 2020-21 has been fought with so much competitiveness even without the top Australian players being there, that it has made a lasting impact on those who have watched it since the beginning. The brilliant catch and extraordinary ground fielding from the likes of Jordan Silk and Max Bryant, eventful batting with sixes hit as far as out of the stadium and onto the road by Ben McDermott, classy shots of Josh Phillippe, and the usual run-getters in the form of Alex Hales and Alex Carey. It hasn't just been about runs in this tournament, some exciting spells have also been bowled and there have come bowlers who have been terrific with their economy rate, one of them being Englishman Danny Briggs. Spinners, like Adam Zampa, Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman, the ever accurate Rashid Khan, and even young guns like Peter Hartzogolu and Tanveer Sangha have impressed one and all. But there is one guy who has been among wickets like none other, the paceman from Western State- Jhye Richardson. He has so far taken 21 wickets in just 11 innings and hit lengths that are hard to negotiate for the batters. But it isn't just the talent of all these players that would be at your display in the last seven days, including today, of the BBL. It is rather the situation of the Points table which is the key to ultimate excitement. As of 19th January, all eight teams have played 11 games each and apart from Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Renegades, nobody is secure in their positions. While Sixers have gathered up 32 points, which is more than enough to take them through, the Renegades are out of the race with just 10 points from their 11 games. Therefore the situation for the remaining six teams can and will change with every match in the next seven days, including today. Among the six, only three can get through to the Playoffs. The direct fight scenario The Scorchers with 24 points from 11 games are in a direct fight with Thunder, Stars, and Hurricanes as these teams have 23 points each from the same number of games. Also among these four teams, Scorchers play the two of them in their next three games. Thus making their two games a must-win while in the third game they face Heat who also have an outside chance at qualification. Apart from the Scorchers, the other teams have relatively easier games. For example, Thunder play Strikers twice, who are at 20 points. But if Strikers manage to beat Thunder in both the games, they would come in the race automatically. The other match of the Thunder is the Sydney Derby. Melbourne Stars, who are playing Renegades today, have to play Sixers and Scorchers. Out of the two only Scorchers are in a direct flight with them, so they can afford to take the other two games easily, but that doesn’t mean they can lose the two games. Because losing is really not an option for any of the six teams. Hobart Hurricanes have the same opponent as Stars, so it’s basically a race between the two as to who can get one of the three available seats for the Playoffs first. Outsiders in the race Brisbane Heat and Adelaide Strikers are separated by just one point as Heat have 21 and Strikers 20. Both are in with a very good outside chance to make it to the Playoffs, but as with the top four teams in the race, they cannot afford a loss. The game between the two of them on 21 January will clear a lot of things. The winner of that game will move to at least 23 and at max 25 points and will then enter the direct flight scenario with two matches to go. The loser will not be rendered useless, but apart from winning its own two matches, it would also have to depend on their results. Bash Boost's importance The real importance of the Bash Boost point is going to be evaluated now as from now onwards, every point matters. One point could be the difference between making it to the Playoffs or not and hence we might see teams defending or chasing that Bash Best way more aggressively than they did before. What's with Sixers and Renegades? In the above scenarios, we discussed how each team can beat Sixers and the Men in Pink wouldn’t mind. Actually, they can afford to do that. As even after losing their three matches, they would have 32 points. And with 32 points they are secure as four teams will never be able to cross that mark, no matter how much they tried. Though Renegades cannot reach the Playoffs themselves but can very well spoil the chances of the rest of the teams thus they become the most dangerous side. They have their matches left against Stars (Ongoing), Hurricanes, and Heat, all of whom are in contention for the Playoffs.