Du Plessis unlikely to recover for NZ ODIs

Faf du Plessis appears unlikely to recover from the knee injury - which kept him out of South Africa's T20 series against New Zealand - in time for the ODIs and could sit out the entire three-match series, which starts on Wednesday. The team management is mulling adding an extra batsman to the squad as cover with Farhaan Behardien to take du Plessis' place in the starting XI.

"Faf seems to be struggling at the moment. We are considering bringing an extra batsman into the group but that batsman will be a stand-in in case someone else gets injured because Farhaan was the stand-in," Russell Domingo, the South Africa coach, said. "That means Farhaan will play now if Faf isn't fit and we'll probably be reshuffling our batting order."...

Source :   Fantasy Cricket

Zimbabwe bowl in series decider Taylor injured

Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbara elected to bowl in the series decider on a surface that has remained dry for the most part of the three-match series. The hosts made two changes to their XI from the second ODI with offspinner John Nyumbu and seamer Neville Madziva coming in for Prosper Utseya and Christopher Mpofu.

New Zealand were dealt a blow after Ross Taylor was ruled out of the remainder of this tour as well as the South Africa series with a groin injury. Taylor had to undergo a minor surgery after suffering a blow to the groin in training on the eve of the game. While James Neesham was drafted into the XI for Taylor, Ben Wheeler replaced Matt Henry....


Source :  Fantasy Cricket.

Record breaking Read seals Nottinghamshire win

Chris Read enjoyed a day to remember as Nottinghamshire Outlaws maintained their unbeaten start in the Royal London Cup with a four-wicket win over Sussex Sharks at Hove.

Having earlier become the first Nottinghamshire wicketkeeper to take six catches in a one-day innings, the 36-year-old calmed his side's nerves when they lost their sixth wicket with 53 runs still needed, contributing an unbeaten 22 to a stand of 56 with Steven Mullaney, who won the game with a six as he finished on 42 not out, Nottinghamshire securing their second Group B victory with 22 balls to spare.

Sussex had earlier squandered the advantage of winning the toss on a flat pitch. Openers Luke Wright and Chris Nash put on 96 in 12 overs but after they fell in successive overs to Jake Ball they struggled for momentum and their total of 282 for 9 never looked like being enough, even though Thomas trapped Rikki Wessels leg before with the first ball of the reply and Alex Hales (23) spliced a pull at Tymal Mills in the sixth over.

Source :    Fantasy Cricket News.

SL begin grooming process for 2019 World Cup

Sri Lanka will send a young team to participate in the Moin-Ud-Dowla Gold Cup cricket tournament in Hyderabad from September 1 to 15. The tour will be part of Sri Lanka's preparations to have a strong team ready for the next World Cup, which will be held in England in 2019.

"The need to bring in young blood into the side nobody is going to deny that it is a must," Kapila Wijegunawardene, the SLC's chief selector, said. "When the next World Cup comes around four years from today, there has to be youngsters inducted into the team and nurtured and developed to be the leading players, that process we will systematically do.

"We have a very busy calendar leading up to July next year. We clearly want to make those adjustments in the side as we go forward. As a precursor to what our line of thinking is, we have inducted five young players into the T20 side for the two internationals against Pakistan commencing on Thursday.

 Source : Fantasy Cricket.

Middlesex bring in Junaid Khan

 Middlesex have signed Junaid Khan as their latest overseas player. The Pakistan left-armer will be available to play in the Royal London Cup as well as the Championship, if required.

Junaid replaces Joe Burns, who was brought in after Adam Voges, initially signed as captain, was selected in Australia's Ashes squad. Junaid has previously played county cricket with Lancashire, for whom he took 31 T20 wickets at 14.58 during two spells between 2011 and 2014. His first game for Middlesex could come against Lancashire at Blackpool on Wednesday.

Junaid has not played since Pakistan's defeat to Sri Lanka in the Colombo Test last month. A regular in the side since his debut in 2011, he has struggled since returning from a knee injury sustained in late 2014.

"We are delighted to have got a bowler of Junaid's quality at such short notice," Angus Fraser, Middlesex's director of cricket, said. "I would like to than the Pakistan Cricket Board for their help in getting this deal through. With over 80 international appearances and over 150 international wickets he will bring variety, experience and further quality to our bowling attack.

Source :   Fantasy Cricket News