Sports

England toppled former world champion Australia at the top of the ICC ODI ranking table, following an annual update on Wednesday. Australia has fallen to fourth spot, which is its lowest ranking since the ODI table was launched in 2002 as its outstanding record of 30 wins and eight defeats from 40 ODIs in 2009-10 does not reflect any longer after the update. England lead second-placed South Africa

Pakistan's flamboyant all-rounder, Shahid Afridi has described Indian Premier League as the best foreign Twenty20 league that he has ever played in. The 32-year-old cricketer, who will be playing in the Sri Lankan Premier League from August 12, said that his experience of playing in the IPL in 2008 had been the best of his career. Afridi was responding to a question at the Moin Khan academy about

Colombo, August 8: Having lost both the five-match ODI series 4-1 and one-off Twenty20 International, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said inconsistency was the main reason behind his team's dismal performance against India. Following a dominating 4-1 triumph in the One-dayers, India to beat Sri Lanka by 39 runs last night in the one-off T20 International also at Pallekele. "We lost our grip

Kevin Pietersen enjoyed rare success as a bowler and Stuart Broad took four quick wickets to give South Africa some anxious moments on the fifth and final day of the second Test against England at Headingley on Monday. Despite their efforts, the match was almost certain to end in a draw. South Africa were 239 for seven at tea, a lead of 233 with a possible 44 overs remaining. Pietersen followed up

India defeated Sri Lanka by 39 runs in the one-off T20 match here on Tuesday. Set to score 156 for a win, the host did not have a single decent partnership. Sri Lanka’s opening pair was separated in the first over itself, with Irfan Pathan swinging the ball through the defence of Tillakaratne Dilshan (0). Pathan, in fact, set the stage for India’s comeback, trapping Mahela Jayawardene (26) in

Pallekele, August 7: The world number two ranking clinched following a dominating 4-1 triumph in ODIs, India will now look to stamp their authority against Sri Lanka in the only Twenty20 international on Tuesday. India's domination was reflected in the margin of victory and they would look to carry their rampaging form to the shortest version of cricket as well. Sri Lanka and India have played

England star Kevin Pietersen on Monday dropped a bombshell by suggesting that the third and final Test against South Africa might be his last. "I can't rule out that my next Test may be my last," he said after winning the man of the match award in the drawn second Test at Headingley after a superb innings of 149, which he followed up by taking three wickets. Pietersen's future was a major issue

Virat Kohli achieved his career-best ranking as he gained one position to be at second spot in the latest ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen, which was released today. Kohli, who entered the India-Sri Lanka five-match ODI series as the third-ranked batsman, climbed to no. 2 following his player-of-the-series performance, in which he scored 296 runs. The former India Under-19 captain, who led his

There was little to suggest from India’s aggression and application that this was a dead rubber. They were given a scare alright by a new-look Sri Lanka, but they kept their wits about them to finish the One-Day International series in the manner in which they had begun it – with an exciting victory. Their 20-run win in the final game of five at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium gave

England fast bowler Steven Finn fell foul of a seldom used law of cricket when umpire Steve Davis called dead ball to a delivery which South African captain Graeme Smith edged to slip on the first day of the second Test at Headingley. Davis' call came when for the fourth time in the morning Finn's right knee clattered into the stumps at the bowler's end, which the South African batsmen claimed was