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/ 9 April 2008

Kallis scoops prestigious award

South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis was on Wednesday named as the Leading Cricketer in the World for 2007 by the 2008 edition of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, cricket’s major annual reference work. He became the fifth recipient of the award, introduced in 2004.

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/ 31 March 2008

McKenzie, Amla move up ICC rankings

Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla moved up the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings on Monday after outstanding performances in the drawn match against India. McKenzie, who made 94 and 155 not out, made his first appearance in the top 40 in four years and is ranked 36th in the world, while Amla’s 159 and 81 saw him shoot up 10 places to 24th position.

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/ 14 March 2008

Dale Steyn has arrived

Dale Steyn used to be a well-scrubbed bloke who wore a goofy grin that wobbled harmlessly under starry, starry eyes. He was polite and cheerful, and he could bowl a bit. He probably never said ”Well, golly gee.” But if he did, we would have chuckled heartily and ruffled his hair as if the lot of us were in a Spur commercial.

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/ 1 December 2007

Hoggard and Panesar help skittle Sri Lanka for 188

England’s pace-spin duo of Matthew Hoggard and Monty Panesar combined to destroy Sri Lanka for 188 on the opening day of the first cricket Test on Saturday. England replied with 49-1 by stumps after losing opener Alastair Cook to the third ball of the innings when he was trapped leg-before by 100-Test veteran Chaminda Vaas.

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/ 21 November 2007

Steyn rockets up ICC player rankings

South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn has left his mark on the LG International Cricket Council (ICC) player rankings following his man-of-the-series performances against New Zealand. Steyn, who took 20 wickets in two matches against the Black Caps, has rocketed up to third in the latest listings for Test bowlers, a reflection of his recent potency.

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/ 18 November 2007

Twenty20 will transform players, says Chappell

Twenty20 cricket will place higher physical demands and mental toughness on players than one-day cricket did when it began in the 1970s, according to former Australian skipper Greg Chappell. Chappell, who quit as India coach in March following their one-day World Cup debacle, is back in the country to head an academy for players discovered on a nationwide talent contest.

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/ 29 October 2007

Flintoff, the training session … and the bottle

Former England captain Andrew Flintoff turned up to a training session last winter under the influence of alcohol, the then England coach Duncan Fletcher revealed on Monday. The revelation which forced Fletcher to cancel the session comes in his new autobiography, which had widely been expected to lift the lid on the 5-0 Ashes debacle.

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/ 28 October 2007

Sri Lanka topple All Stars at Hong Kong Sixes

An All Stars team containing some of the greatest names in world cricket was beaten in the final of the Hong Kong Sixes on Sunday by a team of little-known Sri Lankans. Over two days of carnival cricket, the All Stars — featuring captain Shane Warne, Brian Lara, Glenn McGrath and Anil Kumble — had produced explosive cricket.

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/ 27 October 2007

World legends spark fireworks at Hong Kong Sixes

Cricketing greats Shane Warne, Brian Lara and Glenn McGrath on Saturday starred on the opening day of the Hong Kong Sixes — one of the sport’s most colourful tournaments. They led an All-Stars team competing in a weekend of quick-fire matches with innings of only five overs a side — a format that demands non-stop boundaries from the batsmen.