Rajiv Shukla to be elected BCCI Vice-Prez unopposed

Warne wants ‘rubbish’ Red Ball to be replaced by the Pink one in all Tests

Australian spinner Shane Warne believes that the Red Ball, the original Test ball, which has been in use since the start of the game should be replaced by the Pink Ball altogether, even in day Test matches. "I've been saying this for the last few years. I believe the pink ball should be used in all Test matches. Day games, not just day-night games," Warne was heard saying while commentating on Fox Cricket during the first Australia-India Test in Adelaide. Recounting the advantages of a Pink ball over the Red one, Warne said, "The pink ball, you can actually see the ball easier, the crowd can see the ball easier.” He further asked, “It generally does more than the red ball and it looks fantastic on TV. So why not use a pink ball the whole time?” "Maybe change it at 60 overs because it goes soft, but I'd be using the pink ball for every Test match so more of it I would say," he added. Vehemently opposing the use of teh Red cherry, the 51-year-old said, "No more red ball, it doesn't swing, it doesn't do anything, goes soft after 25 overs. It has been pathetic for so long now. Except for the Dukes ball in England, it has been rubbish." The man with more than 700 Tets scalps with the Red ball itself believes that now the time of r the change has come. "The pink ball can't be any worse than what the red ball has been for Test cricket. We haven't seen swing, we haven't seen seam. Absolutely nothing. Pink ball has generally offered more help to the bowler sand in five years since it's the first use, no Pink Ball Test match has ended in a draw.

He builds pressure: Ponting reckons Lyon can be decisive in second innings

Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting believes that off-spinner Nathan Lyon could be a decisive factor going into the third of the Adelaide Test, especially against the Indian right-handers (which is all the batsmen). "He's had as much success as any spinner, I think, against India over the years. He's got Virat Kohli out (in Tests) more than anybody in the history of the game, he looked like he troubled Pujara a lot today," Ponting was quoted as saying to cricket.com.au. Explaining how he gets nasty against the right-handers, Ponting said, "The right-handers that come out to bat against him - he gets so much over-spin on the ball when you've got fielders around the bat - they must feel like they're going to get out every ball.” "He builds pressure, he bowls very few bad balls so he'll be a massive threat for them," added the 45-year-old. However, Punter believes that there is still room for improvement and 33-year-old Lyon could do much more if he could go wide of the crease and try and challenge both the edges of the bat instead of just one. "I think it's more about trying to challenge both edges of the bat. When he creates the angle from wide and angles back in, that really only challenges the inside half of the bat and a glove whereas if he can get it out a little bit wider (off the crease), it brings the catch at slip in play,” Ponting said. Lyon, into his 97th Test, has taken 397 wickets so far and with India at 9/1 and a 62 run second innings lead in their favour, it would be up to him to help Aussies fight back.

NZ vs PAK 1st T20: Duffy on debut takes Kiwis past the Pakistan challenge

New Zealand started the three-match T20 series against Pakistan in style as they defeated the Men in Green by five wickets with seven balls to spare in the 1st T20I that took place at Eden Park, Auckland on 18th December. Skipper Mitchell Santner hit the winning six off Wahab Riaz. However, before that, it was the efforts of wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Siefert (57 off 43) and middle-order batsman Mark Chapman (34 off 20) who took the game away from the green brigade even after some inspired bowling by Haris Rauf (3-29 in four overs). Pakistan had a chance to sneak in when Tim Siefert was dismissed and there was a chance to catch Mark Chapman too, but Ashraf dropped a dolly at fine leg to give the hosts an easy pass. At 119/4 the match could have swung to Pak’s favour had that catch been taken. After that, it was all formalities which were done away with ease by James Neesham and the skipper Santner. Debutant fast bowler Jacob Duffy was the star of the match as he picked up four wickets for 33 runs in his four overs, thereby becoming the New Zealander with the best ever figures in a T20I match. Prior to him, the record belonged to all-rounder Nathan Astel who held for 15 long years with figures of 3/20 that he had achieved against South Africa in 2005. His figures would have been way better had he not been hit for 20 runs in his last over. Duffy was declared Man of the Match for his record-breaking effort. Earlier in the day, Pakistan had a shocking start to their campaign as they were reduced to 39-5 in 8.2 overs with all of the top order except skipper Shadab Khan back in the hut. Shadab then paired up first with fellow spinning all-rounder Imad Wasim and then with Faheem Ashraf to take Pakistan to 114 in 17 overs. After that, some lusty blows from Faheem (31 off 18 balls) and Shaheen Afridi took the total to respectable amounts i.e. 153-9. The next game would be played at Seddon Park in Auckland itself on 20th December with Pakistan needing to win the game to stay alive in the series.

Ravindra and Abbas impress in 'unofficial' Test against New Zealand A

Upcoming all-rounder Rachin Ravindra made another good impression by scoring 70 for New Zealand A against Pakistan Shaheens (Pakistan A) in the ongoing one-off unofficial Test at Whangerei. At the end of play on day 2 of the match, Shaheens were 15/1 in their second innings after the home side scored 226 in response to the visitors' 194, leading by 47 with two days to go. Opening the innings for his team, Ravindra, who is coming off a fantastic all-round showing against West Indies in the recently-concluded series agianst that team, ended up as the top scorer for his side. The day began with the hosts at 23/1 in response to Shaheens' 194. Ravindra didn't receive much support from the rest of the batting line-up with only one other batsman reaching half-century. That was wicketkeeper Cam Fletcher with 57. The only other score of consequence was Nathan Smith's 40. For Pakistan, seamer Mohammad Abbas picked up four wickets for 40 runs in 21.5 overs. Three wickets each were taken by Yasir Shah and Amad Butt. In Shaheen's second innings, with only seven overs bowled till the close of the play, the batting side lost one wicket in the form of Abid Ali who was dismissed by Ed Nuttall, the bowler who picked up five wickets in the first innings. Shan Masood was batting on 10 while Azhar Ali was not out on 2.