Nimrat Kaur quashes link-up rumours with Ravi Shastri, Cook retires from international cricket, and more - Cricket News Today, 3rd September 2018

With India losing the fourth Test against England with a day to go, International cricket got its break extended by another day. But that does not mean that things were silent in International cricket circles, as we saw the whole cricketing world abuzz with some real news-making headlines.

Here we bring you some of the top stories from the day. Read on, to know more:

#5. Rumours: Is Ravi Shastri dating Nimrat Kaur?

Cricket and Bollywood have formed some of the most heated amalgamations over a long time. Apparently, the latest in the list is former Indian player and current national coach Ravi Shastri, who has been rumoured to be in an alliance with Bollywood actor Nimrat Kaur.

A report published in the Mumbai Mirror says that Shastri has been together with the Airlift actress for more than two years now, albeit discreetly. The use the launch campaigns of a popular German luxury carmaker, to validate their claims – both the cricketer and the actor has been roped in several times to launch automobiles, since 2015.

Meanwhile, the 36-year old actress apparently quashed all the rumours with a very cheeky tweet. She said: "Fact: I may need a root canal. Fiction: Everything else I read about me today. More facts: Fiction can be more hurtful, Monday blues exist and I love ice cream. Here's to trash free happy days."

#4. Ankit Bawne gives India-A first-innings lead over Australia-A

Ankit Bawne

A patiently-made 91 by batsman Ankit Bawne helped India A relapse and take a very fragile first-innings lead against Australia-A, after nearly suffering from a middle-order breakdown. In reply to the visitors' first innings' score of 243 runs, India-A were at 127/5, after which Bawne's innings helped his side compile another 147 runs before going all-out. In the process, they also made a lead of 31 runs.

Australia has started with their second innings, and at the end of the day's play, they were at 42/1, getting back the lead by 11 runs.

Bawne hit six fours and three sixes and made a 51-run stand with K.Gowtham (31) and a 47-run stand with Kuldeep Yadav (18), for the sixth and seventh wickets, respectively.

The match will continue tomorrow.

#3. "This India will do better in Australia": Shane Watson

Shane Watson

India's 1-3 loss in Test series against hosts England has still not stopped former Aussie all-rounder Shane Watson from believing in the capabilities of the side, as he opined that the current contingent from India can still do a better job in Australia, even as the side is preparing for an upcoming tour Down Under.

“It is not easy to play swing bowling. Trust me when Australia travel to England for Ashes next year, it won’t be easy for them also. England is the only place where the ball swings that much primarily due to conditions. You just can’t land in England once every three years and be successful,” said Watson according to reports in News18.

“In Australia, the Kookaburra will stop swinging after first 10 or maybe 15 overs, unlike Dukes which can swing all day. I don’t think bounce would be that much of a problem," he further explained.

While all batsmen except Virat Kohli failed to create enough impact yet again, India found themselves succumbing to a harrowing loss, after being on the brink of victory. Hopefully, the side can come up with a better performance during the upcoming Australian tour.

#2. India "over-dependant" on Kohli, feels Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev

The Indian contingent has surrendered the Test series 1-3 to England, even with a game to go. As the match ended prematurely, Kapil Dev felt that while England played a better game, India was overly dependant on Virat Kohli.

“Cricket is a team game. Kohli is an important player. You do rely on important players, but when you start depending on one player, you make things difficult. Important players do matter but collectively you have to play like a team to win,” he said.

At the same time, he was not miserly in showering praise on England, either. "You must give credit to England. I think they played much better than us even though I still believe our team was far better. You have to learn from your mistakes, and the only way you can become the best is if you don't make mistakes more often. This series, you gave England the chance to bounce back. And they bounced back,” he explained.

#1. Alastair Cook retires from international cricket

Alastair Cook

Alastair Cook, England's leading run-getter in Test cricket, has announced that he will retire from international cricket at the end of the ongoing England-India Test series.

In a statement, the England captain said: “After much thought and deliberation over the last few months I have decided to announce my retirement from international cricket at the end of this Test series against India. Although it is a sad day, I can do so with a big smile on my face knowing I have given everything and there is nothing left in the tank.”

He also spoke on the privilege of having represented the country, and how proud he was, for having had the opportunity. He also issued gratitude over the huge support he's had, over the years.

Cook's current tally is at 160 Tests, 92 ODIs, and four T20Is, having amassed over 15,000 runs across the three formats in an international career that started back in 2006.