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Zimbabwe have named a 16 man squad for their upcoming tri-series against Sri Lanka and West Indies which begins on Monday at the Harare Sports Club as they take on Sri Lanka in the opener. Carl Mumba, who impressed everyone in the Test series against Sri Lanka would be given a chance to make a debut in the ODI squad.
The host nation have made a lot of changes since their side lost 3-0 to India at home. Tendai Chatara, Neville Madziva, Timycen Maruma, Wellington Masakadza, Tawanda Mupariwa, Richmond Mutumbami, Taurai Muzarabani all miss-out, as the team welcomes back Brian Chari, Chris Mpofu into their squad.
Squad: Graeme Cremer (C), Brian Chari, Tarisai Musakanda, Carl Mumba, Christopher Mpofu, Hamilton Masakadza, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Peter Moor, Donald Tiripano, Tinashe Panyangara, Sikandar Raza, Tendai Chisoro, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura
Former India fast bowler Tinu Yohannan has been promoted from bowling coach to the head coach of Kerala after the side sacked coach P Balachandran midway through the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy season. Kerala are one of only two teams in Group C to not have won a game this season.
KCA official said: "It isn't [a kneejerk reaction]. For the last six or seven seasons, we are coming close but still missing out a place in the knockouts. We cannot spoil one more year."
After being sacked, Balachandran said: "I am not disappointed or upset though. After the Haryana match, I got a message from the secretary [TN Ananthanarayanan] saying that my services were no longer required. I said 'fine'. I did not ask for the reason.
"Last year, our team did well in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the association gave good support. I don't have any grievance, because I have done my work. The association expected more from me which I couldn't deliver; I keep it as simple as that."
Australian skipper Steven Smith has hinted that Callum Ferguson may make his Test debut tomorrow against the South Africans. While attending a pre-match press conference, Smith said that the team was looking to play six genuine batsmen in order to sort out their middle order dilemma.
"There's possibilities that we could go in with six genuine batsmen but we'll wait and see in the morning when we can have another look at the wicket and what the weather's doing," he said.
Ferguson and Joe Burns were roped in as replacements for the injured Shaun Marsh who opened for Australia in the first Test. The second Test is scheduled to start from tomorrow at Hobart.
Former Australian cricketer Mitchell Johnson has blamed the Australian team's hectic schedule for its poor show in the first Test against South Africa in Perth.
"When you're playing Test matches, you're playing them back-to-back, and then you've got a one-day series two days later and then 20-20s and then you fly out, and then you're overseas playing back-to-back tours, it sort of all just flows into one thing," Johnson was quoted as saying by ABC News.
Earlier, some of the current Australian players had complained about heavy workloads and asked the national board to cut-short some of the tours. However, few former players lashed back with pretty strong comments claiming the current crop of players to stop playing in the IPL.
Gilchrist felt that India need not fast-track exit of players and added in the meanwhile that Dhoni was at the helm, Virat Kohli could continue to develop as a leader in his own right.
“I don’t think he (Dhoni) needs to step aside from captaincy. I don’t think India need to fast-track the exit of any players. MS Dhoni is still providing great leadership and batsmanship apart from being a reliable wicketkeeper,” The former keeper told the Hindustan Times.
"Virat Kohli’s development as a leader has been profound and has been very exciting to watch. He’ll continue to rise into that role of complete captain of India in all forms at some time,” he added.
Former Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist has said that one of the reasons for Australia's loss in the Perth Test against South Africa last week was them not capitalising on the big moments in the game.
"They were very much in the dominant position in that Test match (at Perth against South Africa). Even in at least two of the Test matches in Sri Lanka, they were really in dominant positions and then they let the opposition make a comeback. So that's their biggest concern and they need to work hard on this aspect.
"That's what all the good teams do in any nation. Australia can take confidence from the fact that they are good enough to compete with all their opponents and they are doing that, but then they are losing the big moments," Gilchrist said.
The Australian team management have decided to go ahead and feature Mitchell Starc in the playing XI for the Hobart Test, despite an uncertainty over his full fitness.
"If we were going to do that [rest Starc], I wouldn't have thought he would've bowled today.You're speaking to the bowler first and foremost as well, if the player's uncomfortable they'll tell us, tell the medical staff first and then the selectors. That's how open we are. Both players were really comfortable getting through the Test match, obviously that didn't happen. That's not an ideal scenario but we're all happy to take that risk," head coach Darren Lehmann told reporters on Thursday.
"We make the final call at the end when we're selecting them, but obviously we take all the information into account for that. We've just got to make sure we do the best we can. We just try to pick the best side each and every time," he added.
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Mohit Sharma blames receding hairline for poor form
Out of favour Indian pacer Mohit Sharma, who has not had an international limited overs game since October last year has said his lack of form is due to excessive hair fall.
Mohit was in the World T20 squad earlier this year but did not get to play a game. In his last international game, the right-arm pacer was smashed for 84 runs in seven overs as South Africa posted a total of 438 runs in 50 overs.
“I realised I was losing hair, and it really affected my confidence big time, which in turn affected my bowling,” the 28-year-old said at an event .
The Haryana speedster, however, has had some powerful performances in the ongoing Ranji Trophy where he has picked up 16 wickets in five outings.
He went wicketless in the last match, against Kerala, but has so far picked up two five-wicket hauls against Hyderabad and Chhattisgarh.