Brad Hogg quits Perth Scorchers

Australian spinner Brad Hogg has quit the Perth Scorchers after spending the glorious five year spell with the club and will start afresh with a different Big Bash League outfit.

He is tipped to join the Melbourne Renegades. However, no official announcement has been announced from the club, but the Scorchers head coach Justin Langer confirmed that the 45-year-old was leaving the WACA Ground.


Hogg has started his Big Bash career in 2011-12 season, since then has been a leading wicket taker with 46 wickets at 21.82.

"Very disappointing," Langer told reporters. "I know [where he's going], but I can't tell you where he's going. But he's leaving the Scorchers. I'm really disappointed about that. What can I say? I'm personally disappointed, professionally disappointed, but it's his decision and life goes on.

"In my opinion he's made a wrong decision, that's okay, that's not my business. But I can go to bed at night knowing we offered him more money than we offered him last year, we think we've had as good deal with him for the last few years and it could have been a real win-win situation for him and us.

"But we wish him the best, we've been friends since we went to school together. I think he's been brilliant for the Scorchers. I think on and off the field he is fantastic, he's a good friend of mine but it's disappointing."

Hogg, who already retired from cricket in 2008, has made a comeback in cricket when the BBL started in 2011, helming the Scorchers to back-to-back titles in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Worcestershire: Ben Cox pens new four-year deal

Worcestershire wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Cox has committed his long-term future by signing a new four-year contract, that will keep him at New Road until at least 2020.


The 24-year-old, who had left one year on his existing deal has now agreed to remain with Steve Rhodes’s side for the next four years.
"I'm a Worcester boy through and through - to sign for another four years is brilliant," Cox said.

"I've been here since I was nine-years-old and never thought of leaving. I want to play my cricket here."

Cox becomes the 10th player to extend a new long-term contract at New Road in the last 10 months.

Twitter reacts as Anil Kumble named as India’s head coach

Former Indian leg spinner Anil Kumble has been appointed as the new coach of the national side for the next 12 months.


The 45-year-old first assignment will be India's four-Test series against the West Indies in the Caribbean.

The BCCI President Anurag Thakur confirmed the news in a press conference at Dharamsala.


The Bengaluru-born former cricketer now fills the void left by Duncan Fletcher following the end of the ICC World Cup 2015.

In his 18-years of glorious career, Kumble has appeared in 132 Tests and 271 ODIs. He claimed a combined total of 956 wickets in Tests and ODIs, which is the third highest in the planet after Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan.














Misbah-ul-Haq doubtful on Test retirement

Pakistan Test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq has stated that he is currently focussed on leading his side well during their forthcoming tour to England.


Asked about the announcement regarding his Test cricket future, Misbah-ul-Haq insisted that his only focus, for now, is to guide his side well on their tour to England. 

However, according reports, the 42-year-old has held talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding his future and is expected to make a final call after completing the tour. 

"He has informed the PCB he will decide on whether he will continue to play Test cricket after the series in England," the source said.

"Right now, I am just focusing on the four Tests in England because if we want to show everyone our top three ranking in Test cricket is not based around our wins in the UAE we need to put up a good show against England,” the skipper said in an interview.



Sri Lanka ODIs squad for England Tour

Sri Lanka Cricket have announced the following national players to join the ODI squad on the ongoing tour of England.

  1. All-rounder Farveez Maharoof
  2. All-rounder Danushka Gunathilaka
  3. Leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna
  4. Off-spinner Suraj Randiv and
  5. Batsman Upul Tharanga

They will fly to the UK to join the current Sri Lankan squad for the ODI series, starts from June 21.

Sri Lanka: Nuwan Kulasekara retires from Test to focus on ODIs, T20s

Sri Lankan seamer bowler Nuwan Kulasekara has announced his retirement from Test cricket in order to concentrate his attention on the shorter formats ODI and T20 cricket.

“I would like to retire from playing test cricket with immediate effect,” the 33-year-old said in a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

“After much thought, I believe it is the right time to retire and I hope it will allow me to better prepare for ODI and T20 cricket, which I would like to continue playing for Sri Lanka subject to good performance and selection.”



Kulasekara has claimed 48 test wickets from 21 matches since making his debut against New Zealand in 2005.





NZ Coach Mike Hesson extends contract until 2019 World Cup

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson, whose contract was due to expire in April 2017 - has extended his contract until after 2019 World Cup, to be played in England and Wales from May-July 2019.

The 41-year-old will now be with the Black Caps after the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.

He was appointed as head coach after replacing John Wright on 20 July, 2012 and has shown an outstanding success, guided New Zealand to finish runners-up in the 2015 World Cup that was held in Australia-New Zealand and as semi-finalists in the World T20.



"Mike's the most successful coach in New Zealand cricket history and, in my opinion, the best selector we've ever had," NZC chief executive David White said.

"To have him committed to the Black Caps until after the next World Cup is great news for all concerned."

Black Caps are currently ranked number one in T20s, ranked number two in ODIs and fifth in Test cricket.

New Zealand's next assignment will be in July-August when they travel to Africa to play two Tests each against South Africa and Zimbabwe.



West Indies ODI squad against England

The Left-handed batsman John Campbell has been called up to the West Indies ODI squad for next week’s first two matches against England. Car...