BCCI plans grand felicitation for Mithali Raj & Co for good show at World Cup 2017

New Delhi, July 24: The BCCI is planning a grand felicitation for the Indian women's cricket team, which won a billion hearts despite a heartbreaking loss in the World Cup final at Lord's on Sunday (July 23). 

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 The team is scheduled to return home in batches from Wednesday (July 26) onwards.

The date and venue for the felicitation has not been finalised yet and will be done after checking the availability of the players.

At the ceremony, the players will be presented with cheques of Rs 50 lakh each while the support staff will receive will Rs 25 lakh each, as announced by the BCCI before the final. 

Efforts are also on for a players' interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who richly praised the women for taking India to their first final in 12 years.

"They lost the final but made the nation proud with their performance. The BCCI will organise a felicitation for the team and we are also trying to fix up a meeting with Prime Minister Modi," a BCCI official close to the development, told PTI.

"There is a feeling (among the BCCI and COA) that the surge in popularity of the women's game should be cashed in on. One way to build on the World Cup gains is by having a women's IPL. 

"The focus now should immediately turn to the World T20 next year," the official added.

Soruce:One India

India implodes in thrilling finale

Shrubsole swings it England’s way with a superb spell

England beat India by nine runs in a pulsating final to win the Women’s World Cup at Lord’s on Sunday.

India, set 229 for victory, was on course at 191 for three but Punam Raut’s dismissal for 86 sparked a dramatic collapse.

Pace bowler Anya Shrubsole took five wickets for 11 runs in 19 deliveries as India slumped to 219 all out with eight balls to spare. India lost its last seven wickets for 28 runs. Shrubsole finished with six for 46 in 9.4 overs.

Earlier, India had restricted the host to 228 for seven with veteran pace bowler Jhulan Goswami enjoying an excellent return of three for 23 in 10 overs.

The 34-year-old pacer dismissed England’s star batter Sarah Taylor (45) and top-scorer Natalie Sciver (51).

England, which opted to bat, was struggling at 164 for six in the 38th over. But its tailenders kept it in the game, batting out the full 50 overs and ensuring India would at least have to chase a total in excess of 200 in front of a full house of around 26,500 spectators.

Jenny Gunn (25 not out) and Laura Marsh (14 not out) added an unbroken 32 runs off 25 balls.

Steady start

England made a steady start against India which had won the opening pool match between the two teams by 35 runs at Derby.

But, from 47 for no loss, England lost three wickets in quick succession to be 63 for three in the 17th over with leg-spinner Poonam Yadav (two for 36) taking two for one in five balls.

Lauren Winfield (24) was bowled round the legs trying to sweep left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad before Poonam had opener Tammy Beaumont hole out to Jhulan at deep-midwicket for 23.

Sweep proved to be captain Heather Knight’s undoing as she fell leg before for just one to PoonamYadav.

Taylor and Sciver put on 83 before Jhulan struck in her second spell. Taylor was caught low down the legside by wicket-keeper Sushma Verma. And 146 for four became 146 for five when Fran Wilson was leg before off the next ball.

Sciver on song

Sciver, on the other hand, completed her half-century off 65 balls with five fours. But she too fell leg before to Jhulan. England was 164 for six in the 38th over with all its top-order dismissed after Jhulan took three for two in 10 balls.

Brunt made a useful 34 before she was brilliantly run out by Deepti’s direct hit from cover.

Who will be Team India's next coach?

Ravi Shastri, Virender Sehwag and Tom Moody are the frontrunners to become India's next head coach.

The Cricket Advisory Committee will convene in Mumbai this afternoon to interview six candidadtes for the India coach's job and it increasingly looks like a three-way race between former team director Ravi Shastri, Virender Sehwag and Tom Moody.

UPDATES FROM CRICKET CENTER:


Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman arrived at the Cricket Center some time back. The start of the interview process got delayed because Ganguly took a 9.15 AM flight out to Mumbai. However, both men reached the venue. Virender Sehwag has also arrived. Lalchand Rajput will be the first to be interviewed via Skype. 

BATTLE BETWEEN SHASTRI, SEHWAG AND MOODY

Shastri had applied after Anil Kumble's shock resignation following differences with skipper Virat Kohli. Sehwag and Moody were among the original five shortlisted candidates after the BCCI had issued an advertisement for the coveted post.

As team director from 2014 to 2016, Shastri had a good run as India won an ODI series against England, reached the semi-finals of the World Cup and World T20, won a T20I series in Australia and clinched the Asia Cup.

The players, especially Kohli, were also reported to be in favour of Shastri but it is now learnt they would not have a problem with Sehwag or Moody either.

The Committee of Administrators has left the onus clearly on CAC and there would be no interference from the board.

Sehwag is well-liked and respected by the team and is understood to have good backing from sections of the BCCI.

However, it could all come down to who Kohli wants as coach. In case he does put his foot down for Shastri, the CAC might have to pick him. Otherwise, there is little to choose between Shastri and Sehwag as of now.


Experience and credentials as coach may also matter little since Kumble showed what a sharp cricketing brain in the dressing-room could do. The former India captain had no prior coaching experience but took the team to the top of the ICC Test rankings and preceeded over series wins against West Indies, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia.

Source:India Today

Ravi Shastri most likely to be next India head coach

Ravi Shastri has overwhelming support to become the next India head coach. Interviews of the shortlisted candidates will be held in Mumbai at 1pm.

As the date for the selection of the next India head coach nears, it's becoming more and more likely that former captain and team director Ravi Shastri will scoop the job.
Before Shastri had applied, Virender Sehwag and Tom Moody were the front-runners for the top job.

The interviews, which will be conducted by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) comprising Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, for the selection of the head coach will start in Mumbai at 1 pm India time on Monday, July 10. They were initially scheduled to start at 12:30 pm but Sachin Tendulkar, who is in London, had requested for an 8:30am start London time.

The clear message from the BCCI to the CAC is that the captain and the team should not find it difficult to work with the new coach. Considering the healthy relationship Shastri shared with Virat Kohli and rest of team member, the overwhelming support is in his favour even though Sehwag was asked to apply by BCCI members and continues to be the second favourite choice.

It will be a surprise, however, if Shastri is not appointed coach. The shortlisting will be done on Sunday and candidates will be informed of interview timings.

Kumble's one-year tenure came to a controversial end when he resigned following differences with skipper Virat Kohli. In a statement, hours after tendering his resignation, Kumble said he was told by the Indian board that Kohli was not satisfied with his 'style of coaching'.

Even before the Champions Trophy had started last month, reports of a rift between Kumble and Kohli had emerged in the media. Earlier, on May 25, the BCCI had invited applications for the position of the head coach - five candidates had been finalised - Tom Moody, Virender Sehwag, Richard Pybus, Lalchand Rajput and Dodda Ganesh.


However, the BCCI invited fresh applications and the deadline was extended to July 9.

Source:India Today

Chris Gayle to take field against India in T20 on Sunday

Chris Gayle replaces Lendl Simmons, who had struggled for runs in the T20 series against Afghanistan.

Big-hitting batsman Chris Gayle has been recalled to the West Indies squad for the lone Twenty20 International against India on Sunday.

Gayle, who is West Indies’ most successful batsman in the T20 format with 1,519 runs at an average of 35.32, replaced Lendl Simmons, who had struggled for runs in the T20 series against Afghanistan.

It will be Gayle’s first T20 match at his home ground, Sabina Park. The marauding batsman, who has two T20 centuries, last played an international match for the West Indies in the 2016 World T20 final against England at Eden Gardens.

All-rounder Jason Holder, who leads the side in Tests and ODIs, has been rested again and the side will be led by Carlos Brathwaite.

“We welcome Chris back to the T20 squad. He is the most prolific batsman in this format and will add value to our team at the top of the order,” Courtney Browne, Cricket West Indies’ chairman of selectors, said.

“He will get the chance to play on his home ground and against a top-quality Indian team,” Browne added.

The hosts are trailing 1-2 in a five-match ODI series with India and will strive to equal the rubber by winning the final match tomorrow.

West Indies T20 squad:

Carlos Brathwaite (C), Samuel Badree, Ronsford Beaton, Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Rovman Powell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton and Kesrick Williams.

Source:The Hindu

India beat hapless West Indies by 93 runs, take 2-0 lead in ODI series

India beat West Indies by 93 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series. With three matches having already been played, West Indies can now only draw the series.

MS Dhoni led a late surge that helped India cross the 250-run mark. (Source: AP)

Two trends have dominated international cricket over the past few years. One has been the rise of the Indian team as an all-round force in world cricket and the other has been West Indies’ free fall. The second has only accelerated in the past two years and this trend has been a theme so far in this series. In keeping with this, West Indies could not capitalise on a good start they got at Antigua to surrender the third ODI by 93 runs to India. It means that India now have a 2-0 lead in the series with one match being abandoned.

West Indies never got going with their chase. They lost their first wicket in the form of Evin Lewis in the second over. Shai Hope was then joined by elder brother Kyle in the middle and the two gave West Indies some stability. But the runs were too few and in between and India were able to build pressure on the hosts. It had its desired effect as Kyle Hope succumbed to Hardik Pandya in the 12th over. Roston Chase was then dismissed in the very next over. The younger Hope was soon to depart and once again, it was clear that West Indies would not be troubling the Indians anymore in the match. Captain Jason Holder was once again stumped by MS Dhoni.

The big hitting Rovman Powell and Jason Mohammed then gave West Indies then gave a sliver of hope as the two put up a 50-run partnership. But yet again, India tightened the noose and made runs hard to get. Soon Powell was dismissed and Jason Mohammed followed suite, both falling to Kuldeep Yadav.

India got off to a rocky start in their innings as they lost Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli before the end of the first 10 overs. Ajinkya Rahane then stabilized the Indian innings along with Yuvraj Singh but the latter was dismissed at 39. MS Dhoni then stood strong with Rahane who managed to make 72 before falling to Miguel Cummins. Kedar Jadhav then joined Dhoni and the two then championed a late surge and managed to take India beyond the 250-mark.


With a series win now being completely ruled out for West Indies, their chances of securing an automatic qualification spot for the 2019 World Cup looks bleaker than ever.

Source:Indian Express