World Cricket News and Events Thread - 2016

I'll post regular updates on here of news / events in World Cricket in 2016 - please feel free to comment / add anything as we go along

 

Fast bowler Mohammad Amir has been selected in Pakistan's ODI and T20s squads for the upcoming limited-overs tour of New Zealand. This is Amir's first national selection since serving out his ban for spot-fixing in the Lord's Test of 2010. His inclusion is subject to his visa coming through

 

The 4th ODI between New Zealand and Sri Lanka was abandoned as a draw

 

An incredible crowd of 80,883 were at the MCG to see the Melbourne derby between the Stars and the Renegades.
An unbeaten 109 from England's Luke Wright saw the Stars to an 8 wicket victory

 

West Indies 6 for 207 at the end of a rain affected 1st Day of the 3rd Test against Australia in Sydney
West Indies 6 for 207 (K Brathwaite 85, C Brathwaite 35*, Ramdin 23*)

 

West Indies are 7 for 248 at the end of another rain hit day at the SCG against Australia
West Indies 7 for 248 (K Brathwaite 85, C Brathwaite 69)

 

Australia have pulled out of the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh starting on January 27 due to security concerns. Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the decision was taken after advice from the government stated that the threat to Australian interests in Bangladesh was as high as when the senior team had pulled out of their tour in October last year.
The ICC has invited Ireland, who were runners-up in the qualifying tournament in Kuala Lumpur in October, to replace Australia in the tournament.

 

A draw in the third Test between Australia and West Indies at the SCG appears almost inevitable after the third day's play was abandoned without a ball being bowled

 

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 36 runs in the 5th ODI in Mount Maunganui
New Zealand 294 for 5 (Guptill 102, Williamson 61, Taylor 61) - Sri Lanka 258 (Mathews 95, Chandimal 50, Henry 5-40)
New Zealand win series 3-1

 

Gulbadin Naib played the most important innings of his international career to hand Afghanistan a sensational comeback win that not only lifted them to their second 3-2 series win against Zimbabwe, but also ensured the team broke into the top 10 in the ODI rankings.

 

Opener David Warner hit an unbeaten 122 as Australia drew a rain-affected third and final Test against West Indies.
A draw was inevitable after only 86.2 overs were possible on the first four days after heavy rain in Sydney. The West Indies, who resumed on 248-7, were 330 all out before Warner hit an 82-ball century, the quickest ever at Sydney, as Australia reached 176-2.

 

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by three runs in the 1st T20 in Mount Maunganui
New Zealand 182 for 4 (Guptill 58, Williamson 53) - Sri Lanka 179 for 9 (Gunathilaka 46, Siriwardana 42, Boult 3-21)

 

West Indies' Twenty20 captain Darren Sammy has not been contracted by the WICB for 2015-2016, along with all-rounder Andre Russell and spinner Sulieman Benn. Chris Gayle, who had previously turned down West Indies contracts more than once, is not on the list of centrally contracted players which was increased from 12 to 15. Sunil Narine, who had also turned down a contract last year and is currently suspended from bowling in internationals due to an illegal action, also does not feature on the list.
The other two to miss out from the list issued for 2014-15 are Shivnarine Chanderpaul and the out-of-favour Dwayne Bravo.

Add all those names together and it would be some team!!

 

Australian Big Bash once again hugely entertaining
So far all teams have played 6 games and with 2 group games to play for each, the table is headed by the Adelaide Strikers who have 10 points. The Melbourne Stars and the Perth Scorchers are in joint second with 8 points.
Chris Lynn of the Brisbane Heat currently leads the way in runs scored with 321. Luke Wright is 5th in the list (236)
Adil Rashid has the most wickets with 12 for the Adelaide Strikers

 

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by nine wickets in the 2nd T20 in Auckland
New Zealand 147 for 1 (Guptill 63, Munro 50) - Sri Lanka 142 for 8 (Mathews 81*, Elliott 4-22)
New Zealand got the runs in just 10 overs, and win series 2-0

 

West Indies have claimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC T20 rankings after Sri Lanka, who had largely occupied the top rung since they won the World T20 in 2014, were caned by New Zealand on Sunday.

The top ten teams in T20Is
1. West Indies (118 rating points)
2. Sri Lanka (118 rating points)
3. Australia (118 rating points)
4. England (117 rating points)
5. South Africa (115 rating points)
6. New Zealand (114 rating points)
7. Pakistan (114 rating points)
8. India (110 rating points)
9. Afghanistan (80 rating points)
10. Bangladesh (69 rating points)

 

Yasir Shah, the Pakistan legspinner, has decided to appeal against his suspension for testing positive for a banned substance. He has informed the ICC through the PCB that he will contest the case. The ICC will now form an independent tribunal within two weeks to hear the case.
According to the details compiled by the PCB after an investigation by a medical panel, Yasir had reportedly taken his wife's blood pressure medication, unaware of the banned substance contained in the drug.

 

Here is a list of tours this year:

Pakistan in New Zealand (January 2016)
Zimbabwe in Bangladesh (January 2016)
England women in South Africa (February 2016)
Australia in New Zealand (February 2016)
Australia in South Africa (March 2016)
ICC World Twenty20 2016 (8 March-3 April 2016)
ICC Women's World Twenty20 2016 (15 March-3 April 2016)
Sri Lanka in England (May-July 2016)
Australia & South Africa in West Indies (June 2016)
Pakistan women in England (June-July 2016)
Pakistan in England (July-September 2016)
New Zealand in South Africa (August 2016)
Australia & Ireland in South Africa (September-October 2016)
England in Bangladesh (October-November 2016)
England in India (November-December 2016)
Sri Lanka in South Africa (December 2016-February 2017)

* more to be announced when dates fixed

 

Australia beat India by five wickets in the 1st ODI in Perth
Australia 5 for 310 (Smith 149, Bailey 112, Sran 3-55) - India 3 for 309 (Rohit 171*, Kohli 91, Faulkner 2-60)

 

Gulam Bodi, the left-hand batsman who played two ODIs and a T20I for South Africa, has been charged under CSA's anti-corruption code for "contriving to fix, or otherwise improperly influence aspects of the 2015 Ram Slam T20 Challenge Series." Bodi has been suspended from all cricket activity, and is currently co-operating with Anti-Corruption officials.