The Buzz
The biggest cricket lesson in the world
Cricketers in Australia have successfully set a new Guinness World Record
ESPNcricinfo staff
02-Dec-2016
Five hundred schoolkids, 30 minutes, international cricketers, and the Sydney Cricket Ground. That's what it took to set a new Guinness World Record for the "largest cricket lesson".
The players present at the event, a "MILO in2CRICKET lesson", included Australia coach Darren Lehmann and national players Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Hilton Cartwright and Meg Lanning among others. As per Guinness' requirements, the kids had to participate in a 30-minute pre-approved coaching session, where they all took part in the same activity at the same time. And they did, batting, bowling and fielding their way through the half an hour, overseen by the coaches and Guinness adjudicators.
"It was a lot of fun out on the SCG today," Lehmann said. "It was certainly the most cricketers I've ever coached at one time. To help set a new world record is great, but it was just as exciting to see so many kids getting involved in our great sport."
Full postAmir's tainted Wisden goes under auction
A 2011 leather-bound copy of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, that was withheld from Mohammad Amir following his conviction for spot-fixing, is expected to break records
ESPNcricinfo staff
30-Nov-2016
A 2011 leather-bound copy of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, that was withheld from Mohammad Amir following his conviction for spot-fixing, is expected to break records as it goes under auction this week.
Although Amir was never officially named as the player in question, it is widely known that he was the absentee when Wisden's then-editor, Scyld Berry, took the unprecedented step of naming four Cricketers of the Year for the 2011 publication, instead of the usual five.
Amir, then 18, had been one of the stars of Pakistan's Test tour of England the previous summer, claiming 19 wickets at 18.36 in four Tests, only to be exposed by a News of the World sting midway through the final match of the series at Lord's.
Full postMarvellous! A coin for Benaud
The Royal Australian Mint has announced the release of the coin in honour of Richie Benaud
ESPNcricinfo staff
24-Nov-2016
Richie Benaud has been recognised with a commemorative Australian 50-cent coin. The Royal Australian Mint has announced the release of the coin, which was used for the toss in the third Test at Adelaide Oval on Thursday.
The coin has a limited product mintage of 95,929 coins, a number inspired by adding various statistics from Benaud's cricket career.
"Featuring Benaud's portrait surrounded by the atmosphere of a match, with a focus on the fan group 'The Richies', the coin design commemorates his reputable career in the many layers, from the Australian cricket team captain to his renowned status in the commentary box," Ross MacDiarmid, the Australian Mint CEO, said.
Full postChannel 9 pundits busted for no seatbelts
Shane Warne, Kevin Pietersen and Michael Slater have been fined by Tasmanian police for failing to wear seatbelts in a moving car, after being ticked off by viewers of their Facebook video
ESPNcricinfo staff
22-Nov-2016
The Channel 9 pundits, Shane Warne, Kevin Pietersen and Michael Slater, have been fined by Tasmanian police for failing to wear seatbelts in a moving car, after being ticked off by viewers of their Facebook Live video.
The trio recorded a four-minute close-of-play update while being driven back to their hotel by Australia's former Test captain, Mark Taylor, at the end of the third day of last week's second Test against South Africa.
While reading out comments from users of the site, they were reminded to belt up, and though they responded promptly, Tasmania Police were soon alerted to the infringement and fined each man Aus$300 (£177).
Full postClub launches appeal to save Afghan refugee
A cricket club in South London has launched an appeal to save one of their youth team players, an Afghan refugee, from deportation
ESPNcricinfo staff
11-Nov-2016
A cricket club in South London has launched an appeal to save one of their youth team players, an Afghan refugee, from deportation.
Ashoquolla Sultankhil, affectionally known by his team-mates as Shuk, arrived in the UK as a 14-year-old in 2014 following a perilous journey via Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Hungry, Serbia, Italy, and France.
At the age of 10, Shuk's mother and elder brother had been killed in a Taliban attack, and so he made the brave decision to follow in the footsteps of his father, with whom he has never had any contact, who left Afghanistan to seek work in Europe when Shuk was a baby.
Full postRadio station fined for tricking Stokes mum
Ben Stokes' mother has been awarded compensation after her defence of her son's performance was broadcast live on air without her knowledge
ESPNcricinfo staff
10-Nov-2016
Ben Stokes' mother has been awarded $4,000 in compensation by a New Zealand radio station after her defence of her son's performance in the World T20 final was broadcast live on air without her knowledge.
Deborah Stokes contacted Hauraki Breakfast Show in the wake of England's defeat in Kolkata in April, in which Ben had been struck for four consecutive sixes in the final over of West Indies' victory.
After requesting to speak to someone off-air about the criticism being levelled against her son by presenters Jeremy Wells and Matt Heath, Mrs Stokes was instead put straight through to the live broadcast, where she went on to defend his performance.
Full postDizzy's seven-year-old successor
A seven-year-old Yorkshire fan has applied to be the county's new head coach, following the recent departure of Jason Gillespie
ESPNcricinfo staff
07-Nov-2016
A seven-year-old Yorkshire fan has applied to be the county's new head coach, following the recent departure of Jason Gillespie.
Isaac Zabrocky, who has Asperger Syndrome and suffers with ligamentous laxity in his wrists, wrote to Martyn Moxon, the director of cricket, stating: "I would like to replace Dizzy as coach. I think I can help us win."
His application was rejected on the grounds of insufficient experience, but it prompted Yorkshire's chief executive, Mark Arthur, to send a personalised reply.
Full postA new home for Mehedi
A sensational debut series against England has given Bangladesh offspinner Mehedi Hasan another reason to celebrate: the gift of a new house from Bangladesh's prime minister
ESPNcricinfo staff
04-Nov-2016
When photos and footage of Bangladesh offspinner Mehedi Hasan's Khulna home emerged in the media following his heroics against England recently, it moved fans in the country. So much so that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken it upon herself to ensure a new house for the offspinner and his family.
According the Dhaka-based The Daily Star, construction of the new home for Mehedi and his family will begin as soon as a suitable location is found.
"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already directed the authorities concerned and accordingly her Principal Secretary Md Abdul Kalam Azad conveyed the directives to the deputy commissioner of Khulna," said Ashraful Alam Khokan, the PM's deputy press secretary.
Full postHis excellency Prime Minister McCullum
When did he become New Zealand's prime minister?
ESPNcricinfo staff
28-Oct-2016
Given the huge draw that cricket is in India, it was no surprise that Brendon McCullum was part of New Zealand's prime minister John Key's trade delegation during his recent visit to the country.
But did the presence of the inspirational captain create too much of an impression?
At an event to promote New Zealand tourism, in New Delhi, India's minister of culture Mahesh Sharma made a gaffe by addressing Key as "his excellency Prime Minister McCullum". Perhaps it was in the air: Bollywood star Sidharth Malhotra, who was also in attendance, later failed to recall Sharma's name while addressing the audience.
Full postGroundsman loses length on extra-long pitch
Red faces in Melbourne match after teams compete on incorrectly measured wicket
ESPNcricinfo staff
18-Oct-2016
A Victorian Premier Cricket match between St Kilda and Footscray-Edgewater ended in farce on Saturday, after it was discovered that the pitch they were playing on was eight feet too long.
The true length of the strip at the Harry Trott Oval in Melbourne's Albert Park was only discovered after the match when the umpires ran a measuring tape over it.
Glenn Lalor, St Kilda's coach, admitted his team had had their doubts throughout the game.
Full post