The Sport360 team is in place bringing you the latest cricket news on Wednesday.
There is plenty of action to look forward to with day four of the First Test between Pakistan and Australia currently underway in Dubai.
11:30pm – Jason Holder defiant in the wake of Windies criticism
The criticisms levelled against the West Indies side following their defeat by an innings and 272 runs in the first Test against India has not gone down too well with skipper Jason Holder.
Holder pointed to West Indies’ dismal record of late in India as he sought to defend his side’s display in Rajkot.
Read what the Windies skipper had to say to his side’s critics here.
10:00pm – Eoin Morgan reveals weather frustrations in Sri Lanka
England captain Eoin Morgan was left crossing his fingers for kinder weather after the first one-day international against Sri Lanka was washed out in Dambulla.
Eyebrows have been raised at the decision to schedule the series before the end of the island’s rainy season – with tour operators in the region typically advising against holiday in October due to the weather.
Read what Morgan had to say on the subject here.
9:30pm – Chris Gayle backed to play in 2019 World Cup
Chris Gayle shocked one and all by opting to decline selection for his side’s upcoming ODI series against India but skipper Jason Holder is backing the stalwart to turn out for the West Indies in the 2019 ICC World Cup in England.
Read what the West Indies skipper had to say about future plans for Gayle here.
8:00pm – Gautam Gambhir says Prithvi Shaw still has a long way to go
Prithvi Shaw’s electric start to his international Test career has seen the youngster earn rave reviews from former and current players alike.
The Mumbai batsman’s free flowing game has seen him being compared to Virender Sehwag, one of the finest Test openers produced by the country. However, Sehwag’s former India and Delhi opening partner Gautam Gambhir believes such comparisons are premature.
Read what Gambhir had to say on Shaw’s rise here.
7:30pm – Adam Gilchrist backs Steve Smith to become Australia skipper again
Steve Smith is just halfway through serving his one-year ban from international cricket but former Australia wicketkeeper batsman Adam Gilchrist is backing him to retake the captaincy of the men’s team in the future.
Smith, along with his deputy David Warner, was served with a one-year ban from international and domestic cricket by Cricket Australia following the ball-tampering episode which occurred in Cape Town earlier this year.
Read what Gilchrist had to say about Smith’s comeback trail here.
7:00pm – Mohammad Abbas targets Pakistan record on final day
On a Dubai pitch where other fast bowlers have struggled to get much movement either with the old or new ball, Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas has been on top snaring seven wickets across two innings with a promise of more on the fifth and final day of the first Test against Australia.
The fast bowler is now on 49 wickets in his ninth Test, on the verge of becoming the fastest Pakistan pace bowler to the mark.
Read what the seamer had to say about attaining that record here.
6:45pm – First ODI between Sri Lanka and England washed out
Heavy rainfall at Dambulla halted proceedings in the first ODI between Sri Lanka and England with only 15 overs of play possible so far. With no respite in sight after several hours, the match was ultimately called off without any result.
Read more on the washed out result here.
5:00pm – Mohammad Abbas rocks Australia in Dubai Test
The penultimate day in the first Test between Pakistan and Australia at Dubai has drawn to a close with the hosts inching towards a commanding win. Having set Australia a stiff target of 462 to get on a deteriorating pitch, Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas claimed three wickets inside seven deliveries to put the hosts on top.
The Aussies ended day four at 136-3 with Usman Khawaja and Travis Head unbeaten at the crease. Read more on the day’s play in our live match report here. Our man Ajit Vijaykumar has been covering the action from the stadium. Read how he rated the two team’s on day four in his report-card here.
For a closer look at Abbas’ sensational spell on Wednesday, click here.
4:00pm – Rain halts play in first ODI at Dambulla
Heavy rainfall at Dambulla has halted proceedings in the first ODI between Sri Lanka and England with only 15 overs of play possible so far.
Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal won the toss and elected to field first on an overcast day. Stay updated with the proceedings at Dambulla by following our live ball-by-ball updates here.
3:00pm – Pakistan spinner Abdur Rehman retires from international cricket
Pakistan left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday.
The left-arm spinner is best known for his sensational 2012 Test series in the UAE against England when Pakistan blanked the then world No1 team 3-0.
Read more on this breaking story here.
1:00pm – Aussies strike but Pakistan on top
Pakistan took lunch at 155-5 but remained in control of the first Test against Australia in Dubai in Wednesday.
Pakistan stretched their lead to 461 after lunch and declared with the total on 181-6.
Catch all the live updates here.
12:30 pm – ICC acts tough
New T20 leagues are likely to find it tougher to get sanctions from the International Cricket Council in the future, while Test minnows like Afghanistan and Ireland can expect to play four-day Tests.
ICC manager Geoff Allardice said the vetting process will be stricter moving forward.
Read more here.
10:30 am – Olly Stone plays
England handed Olly Stone a debut as they began their winter travels with a one-day international in Dambulla.
The Warwickshire paceman has impressed during his first week with the senior international squad and made the XI for the first of five ODIs in Sri Lanka.
Read more here.