McCullum’s message to Kohli, ABD’s new record and more – Cricket News Today, 17th November 2018

While the much anticipated India’s tour of Australia is set to begin in another four days, the release of players by the IPL teams have upped the expectations over the IPL 2019 after some surprise release and transactions between the teams.

Although it was an off day for Indian cricket, the cricketing world was active as usual with numerous happenings.

Shrubsole’s hattrick in Women’s T20, Gilchrist’s excitement about Indian pace battery and Mike Hussey’s belief over the need of Hardik Pandya for India in Tests are some of the many titbits in the world of cricket.

Here is some top news from the world of cricket:

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#1 Faf du Plessis advices Australia

Du Plessis told the Aussies to give Kohli the "Silent Treatment"

Faf du Plessis asked the Australian team to avoid confrontations with Kohli.

The much-awaited Australia series gets underway next week as India will play their first T20 on 21st November at Brisbane. The two-month tour of India at Australia will see the teams playing three T20s, four Tests and three ODIs.

India had lost both their away series this year but with Australia lacking in many departments, India seem to have the upper hand.

Ahead of their T20 clash against Australia, du Plessis offered tips to the Australian side. He said that the team gave “silent treatment” to Kohli in an attempt to keep him silent.

"There are guys like that in international cricket (who enjoy the confrontation). We feel like that when we play against someone like Virat Kohli, he wants to get into the fight," the Protea said.

Du Plessis added,

"He's an amazing player. We gave him the silent treatment and he still scored runs in South Africa, but we felt like it was not huge runs he scored the one hundred there in Centurion when the wicket was slow. So every team will have what they think works for us, which was silent treatment”

Kohli, who is in the form of his life, hit 593 runs in the 5 match test series against England and he is expected to continue the fine run at Australia too. A lot will be expected from India's ace batsmen.

#2 ABD sets another record

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AB de Villiers who was playing his first professional game since IPL became the first player from South Africa to hit 300 sixes.

AB de Villiers announced his retirement from International Cricket earlier this year which shocked the fans as he was expected to play until the World Cup which is set to happen next year.

Though he retired from International Cricket, it was said that he will play in the domestic T20 leagues. Mzansi Super League, a T20 league featuring domestic teams from South Africa started yesterday.

AB de Villiers who was captaining the Tshwane Spartans hit a 30-ball 59 runs which included five sixes and three fours. He thus became the first player from South Africa and overall the 10th player to hit 300 sixes.

Chris Gayle tops the list with a whopping 890 sixes in 353 innings. With that half-century, de Villiers also became the second player from South Africa to hit four consecutive half centuries.

Despite AB de Villiers stunning innings, Tshwane Spartans lost the match by 49 runs to Cape Town Blitz while chasing 181.

#3 Indian Women into the semis

The women face a stern test before the semi-final as they are set to face Australian Women in their last league game

Indian Women reached the semi-final of the World Cup T20 with a comprehensive win over Ireland.

Indian Women’s team led by Harmanpreet Kaur are currently playing the World Cup T20 at West Indies.

India had already defeated New Zealand and Pakistan in their first two matches. They faced Ireland team and a victory would assure a spot in the semi-finals.

Indian Women were asked to bat by Ireland after winning the toss. Riding on solid knocks of Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur who hit 51 and 32 runs respectively,

India posted 145-6 at the end of their quota. In reply, Ireland women had a hard time at the middle as none of them got going.

They managed to score only 93 in their 20 overs thus falling short by 52 runs. Radha Yadav and Deepti Sharma scalped three and two wickets for India.

Mithali Raj was adjudged the player of the match. India became the second team after Australia from group B to reach semi-finals.

The women face a stern test before the semi-final as they are set to face Australian Women in their last league game.

#4 McCullum’s message for Kohli and RCB

Brendon McCullum was one of the players who was released but he doesn’t seem to have any hard feelings

Brendon McCullum leaves a heart-warming message for Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The deadline for the teams to finalize their transactions and list of players to be released ended on November 15.

Royal Challengers Bangalore retained 14 players and released 10 players ahead of the auctions which are scheduled next month. Brendon McCullum was one of the players who was released but he doesn’t seem to have any hard feelings.

He left a heart-warming message in his official twitter stating “Thanks to the skipper @imVkohli and all the team @RCBTweets for an enjoyable time in last season’s @IPL.

All the best for the season ahead fellas,” McCullum, one of the marquee players in the league had a mediocre season this year scoring only 127 runs in six innings.

He had featured for Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Lions in the previous editions. With age and form not in his favour, it remains to be seen if he can find a buyer at the auction.