Herath doubtful for WC quarters
Sydney: Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath was rated as only “fifty-fifty” by captain Angelo Mathews for Wednesday’s World Cup quarter-final against South Africa in Sydney. The 36-year-old Herath needed four stitches in the spinning finger of his left hand after he tried to stop a full-blooded drive from England’s Jos Buttler during Sri Lanka’s nine-wicket win in Wellington on March 1 and hasn’t played since. Herath’s left-arm spin would be a useful addition to Sri Lanka’s attack on a Sydney Cricket Ground pitch taking turn But Mathews speaking before practice at the SCG on Tuesday, said of Herath: “He’s still fifty-fifty. He hasn’t had a bowl yet. The physio has to have a look at him once again today (Tuesday). “If he bowls at practice today (Tuesday) he’ll be in contention for selection. If not, he won’t be playing.” (AFP)
Pakistan’s Irfan ruled out of WC
ADELAIDE: Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Irfan has been ruled out of the World Cup with a stress fracture, the team said on Tuesday. The tall fast bowler had a scan on Monday which proved inconclusive and was asked to undergo more detailed scans on Tuesday. The second scan confirmed a stress fracture in the pelvis of the bowler, who had also missed Pakistan’s last Pool game against Ireland. ‘This injury rules Irfan out of the World Cup,’ team physiotherapist Brad Robinson said in a statement. (Reuters)
Umpire communications to be on air for knockout stages
Sydney: The ICC on Tuesday confirmed that TV umpire communications during decision-making will be put to air for the knockout stages of the cricket World Cup. With the first quarter-final between Sri Lanka and South Africa scheduled to begin on Wednesday at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the audio feed of the onfield officials with the third umpire will be made available to the host broadcasters Star Sports, said a media release. The International Cricket Council held a successful trial during the ODI series between Australia and South Africa in November last year, and it will be introduced for the final seven matches – 4 quarters, 2 semi-finals and the final – of the 50-overs showpiece event. The umpire communications can be aired during umpire referrals, consultations and DRS player reviews. (PTI)
Kohli unwinds by watching Anushka’s latest flick
Melbourne: Star batsman Virat Kohli decided to unwind before the cricket World Cup quarterfinal against Bangladesh by watching Bollywood’s latest suspense thriller NH 10, which features his girlfriend Anushka Sharma in lead role. “Just watched #NH10 and i am blown away. What a brilliant film and specially an outstanding performance by my love @AnushkaSharma. SO PROUD:),” Kohli wrote on his twitter handle on Tuesday. (PTI)
Collingwood credits India for turnaround, hails batsmen
Melbourne: Ahead of Thursday’s India vs Bangladesh quarterfinal, former England captain Paul Collingwood credited the players and the team management for India’s turnaround in the World Cup after their dismal tour Down Under. “India has been awesome and full credit goes to the players and management for turning it around. They have been in Australia for a long time now and they had a really tough ODI series against Australia and they could have been mentally shot when the tournament started but they have turned things around,” Collingwood wrote in a column for the International Cricket Council (ICC) website. He heaped praise on India’s batting order, saying the team has adjusted to the conditions pretty well and have come out in flying colours. “They are playing good quality cricket. They have adjusted to the conditions really well. They were tested by Morkel and Steyn on bouncy tracks and they came out with flying colours because they have got such a strong batting line-up,” Collingwood said.(IANS)