When Dhoni drove Team India’s bus, England complete a rare series win in Sri Lanka and more- Cricket News Today, 18 November 2018

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England has completed a famous series win in Asian conditions by beating Sri Lanka by 57 runs in the second Test at Kandy. Shakib Al Hasan has been passed fit for the West Indies tests while Head Coach Ravi Shastri has stated that India will dearly miss Hardik Pandya during the Australian tour.

Here are the headlines in the cricketing world today:

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#1 Dhoni drove Team India’s bus during Laxman’s 100th Test

Former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of the coolest cricketers around. The 37-year-old is also known for his cool and composed demeanour on and off the field.

Former India cricketer VVS Laxman has told us something new about the wicket-keeper batsman in his autobiography ‘281 and Beyond.' Laxman has revealed that back in 2008, when he completed 100 Test matches personally, Dhoni drove the team bus to the hotel.

“One of my abiding memories is of MS (Dhoni) driving the team bus to the hotel in Nagpur, during my 100th Test. I couldn’t believe my eyes — the captain of the team driving us back from the ground! It was his first Test in charge after Anil’s (Kumble) retirement, and he didn’t seem to have a care in the world. But he was like that, playful and grounded. MS never lost the joy, the playfulness. I have never met anyone quite like him," Laxman wrote in his autobiography '281 and Beyond.'

Laxman has also stated that Dhoni was remarkably calm and was never flustered even when the team was not doing too well.

"MS Dhoni’s calmness and equanimity are legendary. He had seen nothing but success until the tour of England in 2011. We had lost 4–0 in England and had already lost the first three Tests in Australia by the end of that year, and were heading for another whitewash. I was a mess, as were most of the guys, but MS was unbelievably composed. Not once did he lash out, and at no stage did he give the impression that he was frustrated or helpless," Laxman wrote.

#2 Hardik Pandya will be missed says Ravi Shastri

Hardik Pandya had sustained a hamstring injury during the Asia Cup

India’s head coach Ravi Shastri has stated that team India will miss the services of allrounder Hardik Pandya in the upcoming tour of Australia. Hardik Pandya had sustained a hamstring injury during the Asia Cup.

“One player we’ll really miss is Hardik Pandya, who’s had an injury because he gives that balance to the side as a bowler and a batsman which allows you to play that extra bowler. Now we’ve got to think twice, but hopefully our fast bowlers do well and we don’t miss him that much,” Shastri said during India’s practice session at the Gabba.

Indian team has already lost two important test series against South Africa and England this year and the Virat Kohli led side is under pressure to prove their mettle against a weakened Australian side that is yet to recover from the ouster of David Warner and Steve Smith from the team.

Shastri also stated that India needs to grab the key moments to record their maiden Test series win on Australian soil.

“It’s about seizing the big moments. The scoreline really doesn’t tell you the real story. There were some very tight Test matches and we lost some big moments badly which cost us the series. It could have been just an over in a session over four days which made all the difference, whether it was South Africa or England. So you’ve got to learn from that and see what happens after that.”

#3 Shakib set to return for West Indies Tests

Shakib had injured his finger in January and missed the series against Zimbabwe to get a surgery done

Having recovered from a complicated finger injury, Shakib Al Hasan has been named as Bangladesh’s captain for the upcoming test series at home against the West Indies.

Shakib had injured his finger in January and missed the series against Zimbabwe to get a surgery done.

After a month-long rehabilitation, Shakib returned to training earlier this week, signalling he was fit and ready to go.

Chief selector Minhajul Abedin has stated that Shakib is fit but needs some game time under his belt. Shakib last played for Bangladesh during the Asia Cup but had to leave the tournament midway for his finger treatment.

Joining Shakib in the squad is Soumya Sarkar and 17-year-old offspinner Nayeem Hasan. A squad of 13 players has been named for the first Test against the West Indies starting on November 22.

Pacers Abu Jayed and Shafiul Islam, batsman Nazmul Hossain Shanto and left-armed spinner Nazmul Islam have been dropped from the squad that faced Zimbabwe.

Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Mithun, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Ariful Haque, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Naeem Hasan

#4 England beat Sri Lanka for a rare series win

This is England's first series win in Sri Lanka since 2001

A maiden five-wicket haul from left-arm spinner Jack Leach ensured that England beat hosts Sri Lanka by a 57-run margin in Kandy to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

This is England's first series win in Sri Lanka since 2001. Also, this is England’s first series win away from home since they defeated South Africa three years ago.

Sri Lanka started the day needing 75 runs for victory with just three wickets in hand. Wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella tried to keep the scorecard moving by picking up the singles at hand but fell to a beauty of a delivery by off-spinner Moeen Ali.

Ali then cleaned up Suranga Lakmal two balls later. Left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara pushed a simple catch back to Leach to hand England a famous series win.

It was a win engineered by England’s spinners who picked up 19 wickets out of the 20 to fall in this test. Captain Joe Root was adjudged the man of the match for his superlative ton in the second innings.