Australia hits close win over New Zealand in historic day-night Test

Australia earned a stunning three-wicket win against New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday within three days in the historic first ever day-night Test match. Shaun Marsh had steered Australia close to win before losing his wicket on 49 and the fighting Kiwis stretched the match to a tense finish under the lights by also removing Peter Nevill leaving Australia seven wickets down.

The crowd took a sigh of relief when Peter Siddle smashed winning runs with Mitchell Starc as his batting partner to take a 2-0 series win over the fearless Black Caps. The first Brisbane Test was won by Australia by 208 runs and the second Perth Test was ended in a draw. The match was an opportunity for Marsh whose inconsistent batting performances over his four years at Test level were hindering him to secure a place in the Australian team.

The pink ball especially made for day-night Tests left the bat behind in a three-day Test which attracted total viewers of 123,736. The objective of day-night Test is to attract the crowds back to the long form of the game. It was the first Test at the Adelaide Oval in 64 years that ended in three-days since the West Indies defeated Australia by six wickets. The hosts lost their key batsmen Smith and David Warner within seven balls after they were set a target of 187 to win.

Smith played a pull shot off Doug Bracewell towards Santner on the leg-side but he missed the skied chance when Australian skipper was on two. However Southee caught Warner off Bracewell 12 balls later. Kiwis got another breakthrough when Boult trapped Smith leg before seven balls later. Australia still needed 121 for victory when Smith was dismissed after scoring just 14 with his team on shaky 66 for three. New Zealand was earlier bowled out for 208 taking a lead of 186 in the day’s first session.

Pakistan set to combat England to maintain second T20 spot in rankings

Pakistan side will be looking to defend its second Twenty20 rankings of International Cricket Council under captaincy of Shahid Afridi when they face England in the three-match series commencing from Thursday in the UAE. The Misbahul Haq-led Pakistan side bagged the Test series 2-0 while England defeated Pakistan 3-1 in the ODI series. The ultimate winner of the series will be decided how T20 series comes out. Pakistan is leading 8^th place England by 14 points which means Pakistan must win the series to stay on the second position.

The top position is in possession of Sri Lanka as the current world champions. If Pakistan defeats England 2-1 then status of rankings of both the teams will remain the same. However if England defeats Pakistan 2-1 then they will climb to the 6^th position and Pakistan will fall to fourth place. If Pakistan win the series 3-0 they will sit on the top with Sri Lanka with 125 points but still will occupy the second position by a fraction of a point. However if England defeats Pakistan 3-0 then England will rise to the 4^th position and Pakistan will drop down to 6^th position.

Pakistan registers comprehensive win over Hong Kong with Rizwan fifty

Comprehensive win of Pakistan over Hong Kong in Dubai warms them up to face England in their three-match T20 series. It was only Mark Chapman whose fifty kept his side’s hopes alive on the day Hong Kong was allowed to host the first ODIs but Pakistan finished the game when almost three overs were to go. Only three Hong Kong players entered into double figures and they were left behind the required run rate after they lost two wickets in the first three overs. Chapman and opener Anshuman Rath put on 52 but they were separated after first of three run-outs and then wickets kept on falling regularly after that point.

Chapman who hit a hundred in ODI on his debut last week, scored a fifty off 39 with the help of 5 fours and two sixes but he was 6th batsman out in the 13th over as the lower order of Hong Kong abated. Pakistan were not comfortable after electing to bat until Mohammad Rizwan empowered the innings with an unbeaten 55. Hong Kong captain Tanwir Afzal who was born in Pakistan delivered the first over of the innings maiden and Haseeb Amjad got Ahmed Shehzad lbw for golden duck from the first ball of the second over.

Rafatullah Mohmand who is near to start his international debut struck 3 fours and a six in his 25 but Pakistan declined to 88 for 5 in the 14th over before they really accelerated. Aamer Yamin accompanied Rizwan for a 50 partnership off 26 balls and although Rawalpindi-born Haseeb took two more wickets, a total of 167 for 7 was sufficient for Pakistan to trouble Hong Kong. Pakistan’s next assignment is three T20 matches with England in UAE. Pakistan has won the recent Test series against England while England is the winner of ODI series. Both the sides are equally confident and have equal chances to win the T20 series.

Pakistan interested in day-night Test offer by Cricket Australia

Pakistan Cricket Board is eager to give consent to Cricket Australia’s suggestion to play a day-night Test when the two sides face in December 2016 but wants to know opinion of players before making the decision. Cricket committee of PCB will prepare a comprehensive report on playing with the pink ball in Australia next year. PCB cricket committee chairman Shakeel Sheikh said that PCB chairman has advised us to consider the offer by Cricket Australia. He added that detailed research on pink ball has been conducted and we seek a copy to discuss pros and cons of it because some players including Misbah-ul-Haq have pointed some objections and we would like to give them chance to register their view as well.

Cricket Australia invited a top PCB official to observe the day-night Test between Australia and New Zealand staring November 27. This invitation was sent with a view to help their Pakistani counterparts to understand the idea of playing with pink ball. But PCB did not accept the invitation because the official has to attend Asian Cricket Council meeting during the same time. There is however another option under consideration to send another member of the cricket committee Zakir Khan who will already be visiting Australia as manager of the Pakistan Under-16 team.

 

An improved version of the pink ball is likely to be purchased by PCB and will be distributed among the teams to test it during training sessions and feedback will be taken afterwards. PCB is not considering the option of day-night Tests for the first time because Pakistan offered Sri Lanka to play first ever Test under lights in UAE two years ago but Sri Lanka did not accept saying their players’ lack of practice with the pink ball.

Younis Khan decides to retire from one day international cricket

Pakistan seasoned batsman and the leading Test run-getter of the country Younis Khan has announced his exit from One Day Internationals (ODI) on Wednesday following disagreement over his inclusion in the ODI team. Younis said that he would play his last one day international match today against England in Abu Dhabi. He said that I am feeling proud to announce my retirement and I made consultation with my close friends and family members before making this decision. He added that I played positive cricket for the country in one-days and now I feel it is time for me to quit limited overs cricket.

The veteran batsman further said that he expects the young player who comes in my place will continue the custom I have established that is never comprise over discipline and fitness. He thanked his team-fellows and management for extending their cooperation throughout his career. According to news Younis Khan informed the management of PCB about his retirement before the one-dayer against England. Younis Khan said he will not play the remaining matches of the series. He said it is not easy decision always for a player to retire and I played my cricket sincerely and with discipline and I can see future of Pakistan is bright. The seasoned batsman declared his retirement after a controversy over his inclusion in the one-day squad against England.

Pakistan recalled him last week for series against England since he played a ODI in the World Cup in March 2015. The senior batsman has been enjoying record-setting form in Test cricket since 2013 but could not find permanent place in the ODI squad and has played just 11 matches in the past 2.5 years. Younis Khan will be playing his last game nearly after 16 years since he made his debut against Sri Lanka in Karachi in February 2000. Younis Khan has smashed 7 hundreds and 48 half-centuries in his total 7,240 runs for One Day Internationals.