Sri Lankan wicket-keeper and batting legend Kumar Sangakkara bagged another world record under his name when he surpassed Adam Gilchrist’s 472 dismissal’s record in ODIs during the 1st week of December.
Sangakkara currently stands on 476 victims in 387 matches and he steered Sri Lanka to victory in the 4th ODI as well with a well-constructed 86.
Michael Clarke declared fit for the 1st Test; Phillip Hughes named 13th man
Michael Clarke has been declared fit to play the first Test against India after overcoming a hamstring injury to lead the Australians in the series opener at Adelaide Oval. Phillip Hughes, the Australia batsman who died after being hit by a bouncer, has been named 13th man for the match and it has been declared as a celebration of his life.
Australian players will also wear the number 408 – Hughes’ Test number – on their shirts. Players and fans have been requested to give 63-second applause instead of a minute’s silence observed traditionally in the face of a tragedy.
Team:
Australia – Michael Clarke (captain), David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon. Josh Hazlewood (12th), Phillip Hughes (13th)
MS Dhoni out; Virat Kohli to lead India in the 1st Test
Virat Kohli will lead India for the first time in Tests after regular skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was ruled out due to a thumb injury as the Adelaide Tests starts on December 9th. Kohli, who recently led India to an ODI whitewash over Sri Lanka at home, will be in-charge of the team for the first time in the five-day format.
England sneak win in a rain-hit game in Hambanthota
England powered past Sri Lanka by 5 wickets (D/L method) in a rain-hit evening at Hambanthota on 3rd December.
Thanks to efforts of Jos Buttler (55*) and Joe Root (48), England chased down 236 in little less than 34 overs. Earlier in the day, Lahiru Thirimanne (62*) and Kumar Sangakkara (63) helped Sri Lanka post a competitive score of 242. Moeen Ali’s destructive 58 set the tone for the visitors. The game was a 35-over affair due to heavy rains in the evening.
Sangakkara stars as Sri Lanka beat England by 6 wickets
Kumar Sangakkara hit 86 as Sri Lanka squeezed past England by six wickets in the 4th ODI on 7th December to take a 3-1 lead in the seven-match series.
James Taylor missed a maiden one-day century by 10 runs as England, electing to take first strike, scored 265 before they were all out in the last ball of their 50 overs in Colombo. Sangakkara’s 90th one-day half-century laid the foundation that enabled Sri Lanka to pass the target with Angelo Mathews guiding the team home with an unbeaten half-ton.
Mohammed Hafeez’s bowling action found illegal
Off-spinning all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez was suspended by the ICC after his bowling action was found to be illegal in bio-mechanic tests.
“The International Cricket Council on 7th December confirmed that an independent analysis has found the bowling action of Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez to be illegal and, as such, the off-spinner has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect,” the ICC said in a statement.
The 34-year-old Hafeez was tested last month at the Loughborough testing center, one of ICC’s latest accredited laboratories, after being reported for an illegal action during the first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand in Abu Dhabi.
South Africa name Test squad to face West Indies
Three uncapped players have been named in a 14-man South African Test squad to face the West Indies later this month, while left-arm spinner Robin Peterson has been recalled. Left-handed batsman Stiaan van Zyl looks set to make his Test debut in the first Test starting at Centurion on December 17 and he is likely to replace fellow left-hander JP Duminy, who will the first Test because of a knee injury.
Squad:
Hashim Amla (captain), AB de Villiers (vice-captain), Alviro Petersen, Dean Elgar, Faf du Plessis, Stiaan van Zyl, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Vernon Philander, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Abbott, Kagiso Rabada.
UAE win their home ODI series over Afghanistan
United Arab Emirates sealed the 4-match series against Afghanistan beating the visitors 3-1 at ICC Academy grounds in Dubai.
Match Results:
1st match – United Arab Emirates won by 5 wickets.
2nd match – United Arab Emirates won by 6 wickets.
3rd match – Afghanistan won by 2 wickets.
4th match – United Arab Emirates won by 30 runs.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar unavailable for the first two Tests
Indian fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been ruled out of India’s first two Tests in Australia due to a left ankle injury. Bhuvneshwar had come good with the bat on India’s tour of England, and taken 19 wickets in the five Tests. He is expected to be fit for the Boxing day match in Melbourne.
