The month of July ended with a bang with one of the finest all-rounders, Jacques Kallis retiring from international cricket while South Africa blocked their way to reclaim their place in the top of the ICC Test team rankings beating Sri Lanka in the 2-match series.
South Africa saved by the bell
South Africans drew the 2nd Test match at SSC and won the 2-match Test series beating the hosts, 1-0 and went up the ICC Test team rankings to number 1.
Mahela Jayawardene laid the platform for Sri Lanka with a brilliant century at his favourite ground while debutant Niroshan Dickwella impressed with a fine half-century as Sri Lanka posted 421 runs on the board in their 1st innings. Hashim Amla scored a fighting century for the Proteas in the 2nd innings as Dilruwan Perera captured a five-wicket haul to dismiss the visitors for 282. Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews played out ODI like half-centuries in the 2nd innings as Sri Lanka gave a daunting target of 369 runs for South Africa in the final 4 sessions. Partial rains on day 5 prevented Sri Lanka from bowling out the visitors though they managed to bowl 111 overs as South Africa battled hard and saved the Test. South Africa defended all the way through as they scored 159 for 8 wickets at close of play.
England end 10-match Test win drought
Moeen Ali and James Anderson led England’s surge to a series-levelling 266-run victory with more than two sessions to spare in the third Test against India at the Ageas Bowl as England ended their 10-match Test win drought.
Skipper Alastair Cook got his batting form back with two exciting half-centuries while Gary Ballance continued his purple patch with another ton. Ian Bell punished the lackluster Indian bowling attack with a top-score of 167. India was bowled out for 330 in the 1st innings while they were dismissed for 178 runs in chase of 445. England dominated the game from day 1 onwards as their 1st innings total of 569 proved vital in their victory.
Jacque Kallis bids adieu to International Cricket
South Africa legend Jacques Kallis has announced his retirement from all formats of international cricket. The 38-year-old all-rounder withdrew from the Test scene in 2013 – scoring a century in his final Test against India in Durban – but has now called time on his international career as a whole. Kallis is the third highest Test run scorer of all time with 13,289 and the seventh highest ODI run scorer of all time with 11,579 and took 292 wickets in Test matches and an additional 273 in ODIs, ensuring his legacy as one of the greatest all-rounders to have played the game.
In a statement released by Cricket South Africa, Kallis said: “I realised in Sri Lanka that my dream of playing in a World Cup was a bridge too far. “I just knew on that tour that I was done. The squad that was in Sri Lanka is an amazing one and I believe they have a good chance of bringing the trophy home in March.
Kevin Pietersen joins Melbourne Stars
Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has signed a two-year deal with Australia Twenty20 franchise the Melbourne Stars.
Pietersen has primarily played as a T20 specialist after being sacked by England following the fallout of their Ashes whitewash last winter.
The 34-year-old captained the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League earlier this year, he has turned out for Surrey in the NatWest T20 Blast and is set to feature for St Lucia Zouks in the Caribbean Premier League, which has already started.
Malinga picks Mumbai Indians for CLT20
Lasith Malinga has chosen Mumbai Indians over his Sri Lankan side, Southern Express in the Champions League Twenty20 cricket tournament, scheduled to be played in September.
Issuing a media release, SLC states that Malinga had written to CEO Ashley De Silva, requesting to represent the Mumbai Indians in the Champions League T20 – 2014. SLC states that the request letter had been tabled at the Exco meeting held July 22nd, as per the Team Participation Agreement of CLT20 – 2014, stating that the decision on which team a player should represent is the sole prerogative of the player himself.
Afghanistan draw ODI series against Zimbabwe
Associate nation, Afghanistan claimed another plus point in their dream run as they drew an ODI series against a Test playing nation for the first time as Zimbabwe failed to beat the South Asian minnows in their 4-match ODI series. Zimbabwe won the first two matches comprehensively. Afghans came back strongly to beat the hosts in the final two matches.
Sri Lanka name Test squad to face Pakistan
Sri Lanka has dropped spinner Ajantha Mendis and retained wicketkeeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella for the two-test series against Pakistan starting next week.
Sri Lanka Cricket on July 31st announced a 15-member squad which also includes seam bowler Nuwan Pradeep, who was not part of the squad for the concluded series against South Africa. Dinesh Chandimal who was sent to England has not been named in the squad. Sri Lanka has also named five pace bowlers in the squad, with the inclusion of Suranga Lakmal and Shaminda Eranga in the playing eleven dependent upon their fitness.
Full Squad – Angelo Mathews (captain), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Kithruwan Vithanage, Niroshan Dickwella, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Shaminda Eranga, Suranga Lakmal, Chanaka Welagedara, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep.
South Africa retain winning Test squad for Zimbabwe
South Africa have retained the squad that won the Test series in Sri Lanka recently for their tour to Zimbabwe. South Africa will play Zimbabwe in the only Test at Harare on August 9.
Full Squad – Hashim Amla (captain), Alviro Petersen, Dean Elgar, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn. Dane Piedt, Stiaan van Zyl, Kyle Abbott, Wayne Parnell.
Bangladesh announce their ODI squad for West Indies series
The Bangladesh Cricket Board announced their ODI squad for the tour of West Indies on 24th of July. Bangladesh cricket team will arrive in the West Indies on August 13 and they will start their West Indies campaign through a one-day practice match on August 17. Bangladesh will take on West Indies in the first ODI on August 20th.
Full Squad – Mushfiqur Rahim (Captain), Tamim Iqbal Khan, Anamul Hoque Bijoy, Shamsur Rahman, Mominul Hoque, Rubel Hossain, Nasir Hossain, Mahmud-Ullah, Md Mithun, Abdur Razzak, Masrafe Bin Mortaza, Sohag Gazi, Taskin Ahmed, Imrul Kayes, Al-Amin Hossain.
