The Buzz
Cricket breaks new ground in Rwanda
Makhaya Ntini was present to help mark the beginning of construction on Rwanda's first international cricket stadium
ESPNcricinfo staff
18-Dec-2015
Work has begun on building the first international cricket stadium in Rwanda. Former South Africa quick Makhaya Ntini was present at the ground-breaking ceremony in Gahanga, just outside the capital Kigali, as the first stone was laid.
The construction of two pitches, a training facility and pavilion has been funded by the work of the Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation, a British charity which counts Brian Lara, UK prime minister David Cameron and England's Heather Knight among its patrons. Last year, Ntini took part in an expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro to break the record for the highest game of cricket and help raise money for the project.
"It is great to see the RCSF investing in Rwanda's future, enhancing its sporting landscape and helping to spread the game I love," Ntini said.
Full postTaxi driver parks on awkward length
A cricket match in Queensland was interrupted by a pitch invasion at the weekend
ESPNcricinfo staff
06-Dec-2015
A cricket match in Queensland was interrupted by a pitch invasion at the weekend. The unusual four-wheeled protest was a result of a taxi driver having his windshield cracked by a six and then deciding to express his anger by parking up mid-pitch.
The Saturday fixture between Macgregor and Griffith University was held up for an hour until the police intervened. The car's window was reportedly broken by a straight six from Macgregor player Nigel Sherborne.
The Warehouse Cricket Association Queensland posted on Facebook: "Weird events at cricket. This cabbie had his front windscreen damaged by a cricket ball today at DM Henderson Park, unhappy with the outcome he decided to park on the middle of pitch, he stayed for an hour and had to be moved on by the Queensland Police Service."
Full postWeddings stop play
Why was Uttar Pradesh forced to shift the venue of their Ranji Trophy match against Baroda?
ESPNcricinfo staff
20-Nov-2015
The weather. Stadium issues. General elections… The reasons for shifting the venue of a cricket match are many, but rarely a laughing matter. Not so in the case of the Uttar Pradesh's upcoming Ranji Trophy game against Baroda.
"The venue of the UP v Baroda Ranji Trophy match scheduled to be held in Kanpur from December 1 to December 4, 2015, is shifted to Greater Noida Cricket Stadium," the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association said in a statement. But why? Well, because of all the weddings in Kanpur at the time, ESPNcricinfo understands.
Yes, the hotels are all booked out by wedding guests, leaving no space for the visiting cricketers. On the upside, at least this way the players will not be tempted to ditch their diets by the wedding feasts all around.
Full postIndia's "team ambulance"
When India's Test cricketers found an alternate ride to the team hotel...
ESPNcricinfo staff
19-Nov-2015
What happens if you are an Indian Test cricketer left behind at the ground? Turns out there's a spare set of wheels you can borrow. Yes, the ambulance that is mandatory at every top-level cricket match. Or, at least, such was the case with Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul and Stuart Binny at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, where rain washed out four days of the Test against South Africa.
The three, along with batting coach Sanjay Bangar, had remained at the stadium to spend a little extra time in the nets, even while the team bus transported the rest of the squad to the hotel. Once they were done, the four decided it was better to not wait for the bus to return - probably wise, given Bangalore's infamous traffic issues - and reportedly hopped into the ambulance parked at the ground instead to make the short ride to the team hotel. Smart thinking or needless impatience?
Full postNo cricket field? Try a beach, says CA chief
Chief executive James Sutherland thinks beach cricket at the Olympics is not a silly idea
Brydon Coverdale
06-Nov-2015
Cricket Australia occasionally do things from left field - day-night Tests, for example - but on this occasion they left the field entirely. Chief executive James Sutherland on Friday declared that beach cricket at the Olympics was not a silly idea, due to the lack of cricket fields available in some parts of the world where the Olympics may be held.
Cricket administrators have often been either lukewarm about the sport's potential involvement at the Olympics or, in the case of Giles Clarke, implacably opposed to it altogether. But Cricket Australia is supportive, and in a radio interview with ABC Grandstand on Friday, Sutherland was asked if Twenty20 was the form most likely to be seen at the Olympics in future.
"I think so but cricket on a traditional field will be a challenge in some parts of the world," Sutherland said. "There are other ways in which it can be played. Beach cricket is not a silly idea, nor is indoor cricket. All of those things are perhaps in some ways more practical and achievable than big cricket fields like we're on now."
Beach volleyball is one thing, but beach cricket? Perhaps indoor cricket is Sutherland's preference of the two ideas he floated. It would be a guaranteed gold medal for Australia, who have won all nine Men's Indoor Cricket World Cups and all eight Women's Indoor Cricket World Cups that have ever been contested.
Full postShakib's paternity leave cut, by wife
Shakib Al Hasan was supposed to miss the Zimbabwe series to be with his pregnant wife, till she sent him back to work
Mohammad Isam
02-Nov-2015
Shakib Al Hasan was not scheduled to play Zimbabwe at home. He was granted paternal leave to be with his wife Umme Ahmed Shishir in the USA - the couple is expecting their first child later this month. But there has been a change of plan: Shakib was back in Dhaka on Saturday evening, to play the Zimbabwe series, on the instructions of his wife.
"My wife told me to come to Bangladesh," Shakib said on Monday. "I am here because of her. I had the option [of staying back] but she told me, 'I wouldn't like the look on your face when you sit here and watch the matches on TV. It is better you go play.'"
Now Shakib is hoping things all go to schedule - the Zimbabwe series ends on November 15, a week before Shishir's due date.
"If it happens at the due time, I can finish the Zimbabwe series and reach there to be with her," he said. "I am talking to her constantly. She is healthy. There's nothing to worry about. I would feel good if I can finish the series properly."
Full postA Twitter wish for a Sehwag fairytale
Can Virender Sehwag sign off his first-class career with a triple-hundred? VVS Laxman would love it if he could, but what does Sehwag himself think about it?
ESPNcricinfo staff
23-Oct-2015
Two days after announcing his international retirement, Virender Sehwag made a festive day in Mysore even more memorable, scoring 136 for Haryana against defending Ranji Trophy champions Karnataka. It caught the attention of Twitterati, and among them Sehwag's former India team-mates.
1st Match after announcing his retirement @virendersehwag gets a brilliant 100.Wld love if he can sign off with a 300 #MemoriesForever
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) October 22, 2015
A lot of other Sehwag fans would have agreed with Laxman, whose 281 against Australia at Eden Gardens had only been bettered by Sehwag for India in Tests. But the man with two Tests triple-hundreds thought otherwise.
@VVSLaxman281 laxman ji domestic mein 300 banana it's not easy . They put all the fielder on the the line after my 50.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 22, 2015Sarah Taylor enters preserve of the Australian male
Sarah Taylor, the England women's wicket-keeper batsman, has broken into what was previously a jealously-guarded male preserve by becoming the first woman to play Australian first grade cricket
ESPNcricinfo staff
17-Oct-2015
Sarah Taylor, the England women's wicket-keeper batsman, has broken into what was previously a jealously-guarded male preserve by becoming the first woman to play Australian first grade cricket. She gatecrashed what reputedly has been one of the last bastions of the macho Australian male by making her debut for Northern Districts in the South Australian Premier Competition on Saturday.
Not all statisticians seem entirely happy to let a Pom to take the accolade, with references also made to a T20 match in Victoria once played by Cathryn Fitzpatrick, who stepped down as coach of the Australian women's team in May, but Taylor's achievement in being selected for a two-day game will gain universal recognition.
SACA Premier Cricket is a two-day competition and represents the highest level of cricket played in South Australia outside first-class cricket.
Full post'Proud to have a tram named after me' - Broad
Stuart Broad railroaded Australia at Trent Bridge, but a tram named after him will make sure the people of his hometown in Nottingham stay right on track
ESPNcricinfo staff
16-Sep-2015
Stuart Broad railroaded Australia at Trent Bridge, but a tram named after him will make sure the people of his hometown stay right on track.
Nottingham's city council had invited nominations from locals and Broad received the highest number of votes. His name will go up on the 237 tram, which will be unveiled on Thursday.
Broad follows football manager Brian Clough, Olympic and world champion ice skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean and boxer Carl Froch to have a tram named after him.
Full postSan Marino boss just wants a little respect
ESPNcricinfo staff
05-Sep-2015
The Ashes success has been the highlight of the season for many England players, but judging by their reactions it was a close-run thing alongside the appearance of Roy Hodgson, the England football manager, at their training session at The Oval.
A pre-match kickabout - which is taken very seriously among the squad - was reintroduced by Paul Farbrace earlier this season having previously been banned amid concerns over the injury risks.
However, while the cricketers enjoyed impressing - well, sometimes impressing - Hodgson, his suggestion that there could be "one or two places available" for the Euro qualifier match against San Marino has ruffled a few feathers with their manager.
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