Top Stories: Things that made new in the cricket world today

Adam Voges admits that his Test career might well be over already

• Adam Voges recently divulged that his Test career is in the twilight and might be coming to an end pretty soon. The revelation came after the veteran right-hander missed the 3rd Test against South Africa which the hosts won.
• Speaking about his recovery to news.com.au, Voges said, “I think it’s going to be tough, to be honest. I always felt that at my age if I missed any games through injury or form, getting my spot back was always going to be tough.”
• (Read more about the story)

Ashwin is a top quality spinner, his results are for all to see: Mushtaq Ahmed

• In a recent conversation with PakPassion.net, Mushtaq Ahmed spoke about the various prospects of spin bowling in the modern day cricket. He also gave his opinion on the leading spinners in world cricket today. The most notable of all mentions was of Indian off-spinner R Ashwin.
• “Ashwin’s progress is amazing and he is playing an important role for India, not only as a bowler but even as a batsman. He is equally effective from round and over the wicket and is making good use of the crease.
• On top of that he can literally “play” with the batsman, set fields to perfection and has great situation awareness. All these qualities make Ashwin a top-quality spinner and his results are there for all to see,” said Mushtaq Ahmed.
• (Read more about the story)

KL Rahul set to return for the 4th Test in Mumbai

• India opener Lokesh Rahul who missed the Mohali Test due to a finger injury is fit and set to take the field in the next Test in Mumbai which begins on Thursday.
• He will now open the batting with Murali Vijay if the latter is declared fit. KL Rahul had earlier injured himself during the Test series against New Zealand which kept him out from the 1st Test against England in Rajkot. 
• (Read more about the story)

England cricketers enjoy their break in Dubai

• The English cricketers and the team management have been putting their best efforts together to put the struggles of the consecutive Test defeats behind them by enjoying their much-needed break time in Dubai.
• The likes of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Joe Root and Jos Buttler were all seen relaxing in the sunny metropolis ahead of their must-win encounter against India which begins in Mumbai on Thursday. 
• (Read more about the story)

Former Pakistan cricketer Zulqarnain Haider turns to tennis ball cricket

• A professional cricketer who has earned the reputation of being a good player can still earn his living playing some form or the other. Former Pakistan Test wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider, who all of a sudden made an exit and sought asylum in the United Kingdom is now playing private Twenty20 tournaments the United States of America while also playing tennis ball cricket tournaments.
• He also played the 10 Premier League in Dubai that offers the highest prize money (250,000 Dirhams) for a tennis ball tournament. “Tennis ball cricket can also be a career option. One of my friends was a part of the organising committee. So I came here for a few matches.
• (Read more about the story)

Rubel Hossain to replace Mohammad Shahid in the preliminary squad for the New Zealand tour

• Pacer Rubel Hossain has replaced the injured Mohammad Shahid in the 22-member preliminary squad for the New Zealand series. Rubel will, therefore, travel with the team to Australia next week in order to prepare for Bangladesh’s tour of New Zealand. The squad will train in Sydney from December 11 before leaving to New Zealand.
• (Read more about the story)

BCCI is like a spoilt child: Kirti Azad

• Former India cricketer Kirti Azad has expressed his unhappiness regarding the attitude of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Azad mentions that the board operates like political parties do and that the recommendations were the best thing to have happened to the sport.
• “BCCI is like a “spoilt child”. When Lodha Committee said that enough is enough and the game can’t be run like this, this spoilt child, after his toys have been taken away from him, is crying,” Azad was quoted by the Times Of India.
• (Read more about the story)

Ajinkya Rahane irons out technical flaws under Pravin Amre ahead of the 4th Test

• Ajinkya Rahane has decided to use the break ahead of the Mumbai Test to meet coach Pravin Amre to work on his batting. With India leading the 5-match Test 2-0 series against England, the team is enjoying a well-deserved break before the fourth Test begins at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on December 8th.
• The prolific right-hand batsman was seen at the MCA’s Bandra-Kurla Complex ground in Mumbai where he met his coach and mentor Pravin Amre who was seen helping Rahane with his batting.
• (Read more about the story)

Shane Warne feels Glenn Maxwell must play all three formats of the game

• Former Australian great Shane Warne stated that swashbuckling all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is a match winner in his own rights and should be representing Australia in three formats of the game.
• Warne urged the selectors to simply “get him in” after the hard-hitting batsman was left out from Australia’s Playing XI for Sunday’s opening ODI against the Black Caps.
• Warne said that Maxwell’s all-round capability will be vital for Australia’s chances in the upcoming 4-match Test series against India and the selectors should embrace his match-winning abilities.
• “Glenn Maxwell is a super talent and I’d like to see him in Australian colours in all forms of the game,” the Aussie legend said. 
• (Read more about the story)

Mohammad Asif feels there is nothing special about the current Pakistan pacers

• Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif who was involved in the spot-fixing debacle in 2010 gave a brief assessment of Pakistan’s current crop of bowlers. He feels that the current bunch aren’t very talented and there is nothing ‘special’ about them.
• “We talk about talent…but this is all the talent that we have. I don’t think there is anything special about our pacers. It is an average sort of attack,” Asif told the Dawn.
• “To develop something special, you must work hard. And of course, some have abilities which are God-gifted. I’ve played a full season now but I didn’t see anything special, be it Rahat [Ali] or Imran Khan or Sohail Khan.”
• (Read more about the story)

Glenn Maxwell will be available for selection in 2nd ODI: Steven Smith

• After being overlooked for the 1st ODI in the ongoing Chappel-Hadlee Trophy, Glenn Maxwell will be available for selection in the 2nd ODI, Aussie skipper Steven Smith said ahead of the 2nd match to be played in Canberra on Tuesday.
• “I think they’re OK. I made some comments the other day about the comments he made were disappointing and disrespectful towards Matty and we’ve moved on from that now,” Smith said when asked if everything was OK between Wade and Maxwell.
• (Read more about the story)

America left mesmerised by Steve Smith’s jaw-dropping catch

• Smith’s face smashing, strained, sweet left-handed pluck from the air in the point region to remove Kiwi keeper BJ Watling enthralled the sports fans across the USA and saw non-cricket audience celebrating the beauty.
• Americans surely seems to be impressed byt the fielding effort. This appears to be a great sign, especially at a time when Cricket is looking forward to gain its foot in the US shores.
• The highlight video of Smith’s ripper featured on several national sporting websites in The States, leading to some fascinating commentary from clueless cricketing first-timers.
•  (Read more about the story)

Sohaib Maqsood and Umar Amin escape unhurt from fire in Karachi hotel

• Fire broke out in the Regent Plaza hotel in Karachi and has resulted in the death of 11 people while more than 75 have been injured.
• Three fire trucks were rushed to the spot and the injured were taken to the Jinnah hospital. Among those affected were Pakistan internationals Sohaib Maqsood and Umar Amin.
• (Read more about the story)

Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan gets roasted on his birthday by Sehwag

• Virender Sehwag once made his presence on Twitter today after he trolled Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan on his birthday. The Nawab of Najafgarh wished Dhawan in his typical ‘mazakiya’ style.
• In fact, the joke seemed a bit like roast where he indirectly mocked the latter’s poor form. Dhawan obviously won’t mind and would perhaps take this as a motivation do more Nagin dance than Bhoomi Poojan the next time he comes out to bat.
• (Read more about the story)

Mike Hussey likely to be appointed Australia T20I coach for series against Sri Lanka

• It is believed that CA might appoint Mike Hussey as the caretaker head coach of the team. There are other prominent names in discussion in the likes of Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne as well as Shane Watson and Brad Haddin.
• CA is believed to have been keen on roping in Ponting, its most successful skipper ever but his professional commitments don’t allow him time to take up the role and thus it is quite likely that Hussey who was also with the team as batting consultant during the World T20 in India will be handed over the short-term responsibility.
• (Read more about the story)

Wankhede wicket to turn from 2nd day evening, or by the 3rd day says curator

• Ramesh Mamunkar, the curator of the Wankhede Stadium, is expecting the pitch to start turning from the last part of day two or early on the third day.
• “It should turn from second day evening, or at least by the third day. There’s heavy dew these days, so we’re watering the pitch less.
• We’ve cut the grass a bit too, so that the wicket bears a fresh look for the Test,” Mamunkar was quoted by TOI on Sunday.
• (Read more about the story)

BCCI will not protect any problem association: Ajay Shirke

•  The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all tangled now while the Lodha committee and the Supreme Court have been holding a tight grip over anything and everything that the board does on the other hand, with audit reports confirming financial bluffs and wrongdoing by the state associations the BCCI probably is pinned from both sides. Secretary Ajay Shirke has made it quite clear that the board will not back any association that isn’t clean.
• (Read more about the story)