KLUSENER NAMED CONSULTANT OF DELHI RANJI TEAM

NEW DELHI: Former South Africa all-rounder Lance Klusener has been named as the consultant coach of Delhi’s Ranji Trophy team for the upcoming 2018-19 season. While former Delhi skipper Mithun Manhas will be the chief coach, Klusener’s appointment is the most high profile among the support staff across domestic teams. “Lance Klusner will be Cricket Consultant of Ranji Team of DCCA for One day tournaments starting from 19th September (Vijay Hazare trophy and Deodhar Trophy) and domestic T20 tournament scheduled in February 2019,” DDCA president Rajat Sharma said.

Kohli retains top spot in ICC Test rankings

DUBAI: India skipper Virat Kohli maintained his top spot in the latest ICC rankings for Test batsmen, while pacer Mohammed Shami climbed up three places to return to top-20 in the bowlers’ table. Kohli achieved a careerhigh 937 rating points after innings of 46 and 58 in the fourth Test. Cheteshwar Pujara remains the second highest-ranked India batsman as he retained the sixth position. Jasprit Bumrah moved to a career-best 487 points while retaining 37th position after his fifth Test.

Smith out of CPL with abdominal strain

SYDNEY: Suspended Australia cricket captain Steve Smith is returning home from the Caribbean Premier League after suffering an abdominal strain. Smith was due to play for the Barbados Tridents on Monday against the St Lucia Stars and his banned Australia teammate David Warner, but was a late withdrawal. Tridents captain Jason Holder told the host broadcaster Smith had pulled an abdominal muscle and will not play again in the tournament, which has two rounds left.

Bawne stars for India A against Australia A

BENGALURU: An unbeaten 91 by Ankit Bawne helped India A reach 274 against Australia A, who had scored 243 in the first innings of the first unofficial Test in Bengaluru on Tuesday. At stumps on Day 2, Australia A reached 42/1, taking a lead of 11 runs.

Brief scores, after Day 2: Australia A 243 & 42/1; India A 274 (Bawne 91*)