Phil Hughes remains in critical condition, Sheffield Shield round called off

Australian opener, Phil Hughes, who was knocked out by a Sean Abbott bouncer in a freak incident at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday, remains in a critical condition.

Dr Bruckner, who addressed the media said that the batsman was still in a critical condition. "Phillip's condition is unchanged and he remains critical." It was added that a further update will be provided should his condition change.

Earlier, he underwent surgery and was in an induced coma in the St Vincent's Hospital intensive care unit. Test captain, Michael Clarke, was one of the first to arrive at the hospital on Wednesday, resuming a vigil at his close friend's bedside and comforting Hughes' mother and sister.

Up-and-coming bowler Sean Abbott, who made his one-day and Twenty20 debut for Australia in October, was seen cradling the injured player immediately after the incident.

"It says a lot about Sean doesn't it," Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland said, calling it a "freak, freak accident".

"Sean will have all the support he needs around him."

CA also said that they would abandon the ongoing round of the Sheffield Shield games following the tragic incident.

"We've spoken to players and the ACA, and given how players across the country are feeling right now, its just not the day to be playing cricket and we understand that," CA's team performance manager Pat Howard said.

"We are continuing to offer all players and match officials counselling and support at this difficult time. Phillip Hughes continues to receive the best possible medical care. The thoughts of his teammates and the wider cricket community are with Phillip and his family and friends," Howard concluded.

N Srinivasan questioned on conflict of interest by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court (SC) has raised some serious questions to N Srinivasan and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in the aftermath of the Mudgal Committee findings regarding the Indian Premier League (IPL) spot-fixing saga. The apex court was quite harsh in its observations of BCCI and N Srinivasan during the course of the hearing and even said that the fans' faith in the game of cricket will be lost if there was no clean-up action taken immediately. 

The SC bench asked Srinivasan to explain his role - both as an office bearer of the BCCI as well as a franchise owner in the IPL. "You (Srinivasan) will have to address question of conflict of interest as head of BCCI and also as owner of an IPL team, whose official is found to be involved in betting," the court said.

"Your duty as a president is to keep the show running and to keep it clean. What is your duty as a team owner? To win the tournament. When a decision is taken in the BCCI (during IPL committees), is the President a mute spectator? Does he not have any say in the matter?" the court pointed out. 

The SC was also visibly disturbed by some of the recent antics by the members of the BCCI and worried that their actions would prove detrimental to the sport itself. "Some people who are in BCCI now own a team. Now, it has become a mutual benefit society. If you allow these things to happen, then you are killing the game of cricket. The sport must be played in its true spirit and should remain a gentleman's game," it said.

JS Thakur and FM Kalifullah, who were in charge of the hearing, are also reported to have told Srinivasan that his return to the BCCI fold and his plans to contest for elections will not be straight forward as the Mudgal committee has not cleared him of all wrongdoing.

"You are assuming that the [Mudgal Committee] report has cleared you. You can't use BCCI rules to say that you will stand for elections, because the doctrine of public trust will apply."

Arguing its case before the SC, the BCCI once again stuck to its stand that Srinivasan, in his individual capacity, wasn't the sole owner of Chennai Super Kings(CSK). Srinivasan is the managing director of India Cements, the owners of CSK. The Chennai IPL franchise is a subsidiary of the company.

The lawyers representing the BCCI have also promised to go by the rule book and labelled the findings of the Mudgal Committee as 'gospel truth'. "We take the findings of Justice Mudgal Committee's report as gospel truth," the BCCI lawyers reiterated.

Asked about the future course of action, the BCCI promised to take 'criminal action against the guilty members'. It also requested the apex court not to make public the findings of the report as it will affect the careers of the cricketers named by the probe committee.

Prior to the hearing today, N Srinivasan, Sundar Raman (IPL COO) and Raj Kundra had filed affidavits in the Supreme Court countering some of the points made in the Mudgal report, which had been made public. The Mudgal report had stated that Srinivasan had not taken any action despite knowledge that a certain player had been involved in betting. The report also added that Sundar Raman had been in touch with a contact of a bookie as many as 8 times during a single IPL season.

In his affidavit, Srinivasan had claimed that action was taken by BCCI against the individual mentioned in the Mudgal report and that the incident had not happened during the IPL or under his tenure.

Sundar Raman, on the other hand, had defended himself by saying that he was in touch with various people including celebrities and that was a part of his job as the IPL Chief Operating Officer. The contact of the bookie mentioned in the report was a celebrity, added Sundar Raman, and said that it should not be held against him.

The hearing will resume on 25 November with the Supreme Court set to hear the arguments of the petitioner, Aditya Verma, before the final verdict is passed.

Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals should be terminated: Lalit Modi

Moments after the Supreme Court (SC) filed strictures against BCCI President-in-exile as well as the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman, N Srinivasan, former Indian Premier League (IPL) Commissioner, Lalit Modi, has launched a scathing attack on the current members of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Modi took to twitter as soon as contents of the SC's comments on Srinivasan became public. The SC came hard on the ICC Chairman and wondered if, 'he being an office bearer of the BCCI could also be an owner of a franchise in the IPL.' It also observed that the Indian board had become a 'mutual benefit society' and asked Srinivasan to explain his 'conflict of interest'.

"I agree conflict of interest must go. Further the guilty must be punished and made example off, (We) can't sweep it under the carpet," Lalit Modi tweeted.

Modi, who was thrown out of the IPL in 2010 on charges of financial irregularities, threw the rule book back at BCCI and demanded the immediate banning of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), the two franchises whose owners have been named by the Mudgal panel.

The SC had formed the Mudgal panel to investigate charges of 'spot-fixing and betting in IPL 2013'. It concluded that Gurunath Meiyappan, the son-in-law of N Srinivasan and 'team official' of CSK, as well as Raj Kundra, co-owner of Rajasthan Royals, were guilty of being actively involved in betting.

"CSK and RR must be cancelled. If owners indulge in betting activity the rule book must be thrown at them," Modi tweeted.

The Mudgal Panel noted that Sundar Raman, the Chief Operating Officer of the IPL, was in close touch with a bookie during the 2013 IPL and had spoken to him as many as eight times during the course of the tournament. Modi, who had worked with Raman during his stint with in the IPL, had no kind words about his ex-colleague. "Raman should be locked up, too", was his blunt tweet.

Modi also went on to ask for the dismissal of all the BCCI board members who were perceived to be close to N Srinivasan. "All BCCI members who prematurely voted in favour of Srini and gang must be disallowed or banned to participate in cricket activity," he wrote.

Saying that today was a sad day for Indian cricket, Modi hoped this would be a lesson for the future generation of cricketers and administrators.

Australia regain No. 1 ODI ranking

The Australia team pose with the trophy as they celebrate a 4-1 series win against South Africa

Australia dethroned India from the top position of the ICC ODI Team Rankings after defeating South Africa 4-1 in the five-match series which concluded in Sydney.

Four-time world champions Australia, who started the series in third position with 114 ratings points, finished on equal points with India on 117 ratings points.

However, when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point, Australia are 0.2 clear of India and five ratings points clear of South Africa, who dropped one place to third.

World champions, India however, have a chance to regain the top spot when they take part in the triangular ODI series, also featuring Australia and England, starting in Melbourne on January 16.

Fourth placed Sri Lanka host fifth placed England in a seven-ODI series which starts in Colombo on Wednesday and just one rating point separates the two teams.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh, who are placed 9th, are currently facing Zimbabwe in a five-match ODI series.

Gary Kirsten's best moments in cricket

A sturdy left handed opening batsman and a world class coach ,who has served two top nations,Gary kirsten turns 47.Here's a look at some  of his best moments in cricket,both as player and as a coach.

A record ODI knock 

Gary Kirsten in action in the 1996 world cup
In the 1996 World Cup, South Africa's match against UAE was a foregone conclusion even before the match started. However not many expected Gary Kirsten to come up with the best individual score (188) in World Cups. This knock also remained second-best in ODI cricket for three years, before Saeed Anwar overtook Viv Richards.    Ending in style                                                                                                                                       

Gary Kirsten may not have ended his Test career with a ton but he finished in style as he helped his team in a winning cause. he scored an important 76 in the second innings to help South Africa reach the target of 234 against New Zealand in 2004 to end his Test career on a winning note.

Taking India to new heights                                                                                                                   

Gary Kirsten, as coach, took India to great heights and one of the best moments as coach came when the Indian team reached the pinnacle of the ICC Test rankings for teams.

World Cup-winning coach                                                                                                                    

             

Kirsten's unforgettable moment a coach came when the Indian team, under his able guidance, won the 2011 World Cup.

 Taking South Africa to numero uno                                                                                                         

                                                                                       

Not only did he help India to No. 1 but he also helped his home country to the top of the Test rankings. South Africa won the coveted mace by defeating the formidable England team in 2013.

 

                                                                                                                                            

Virat Kohli assures that India will play positive cricket in Australia

On the eve of India's tour to Australia, stand-in skipper, Virat Kohli appeared quietly confident of beating the Australian team in their own backyard and urged fans and the media to get behind the Indian team in support.

The last time India toured Australia in 2011-12, they lost all the four Test matches without putting up a fight. India's credentials as a touring side took a beating after that tour. However, Kohli, standing in for injured skipper, MS Dhoni, believes that a team can learn from such experiences rather than surrounding itself with the negatives. "I hadn't witnessed such a hostile environment before. My takeaway from that tour was that we always need to be positive. That is what I'll take forward this time. My experience will help me," Kohli said in a press conference ahead of the tour.

While acknowledging the presence of Australia's fast bowling trio, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle, Kohli stressed that it was important to be mentally prepared against the kind of bowlers one was expected to face and yet play positive cricket. Kohli also praised the influence of team director Ravi Shastri on the team. "When a youngster looks at Ravi Shastri and hears him speak, there is a big, positive impact," he said.

Sharing his captain's energy, Team Director, Ravi Shastri also underlined the importance of playing positive cricket and stressed that on long-tours such as the one India are about to undertake, it is important to remain in a fresh state of mind and 'switch off' whenever needed.

"I think it's very important that when you have a long tour, you have the ability to switch off...You don't have to be thinking overtime. You need to focus on what you have to do but when you are not playing, you switch off. You have got to have a way of relaxing, you have got to have hobbies. Australia is a great county, there are enough places to go to, get your mind off cricket," the Indian team director said.

The Indian team is scheduled to play two practice matches in Adelaide before heading to 'The Gabba' in Brisbane for the first Test beginning December 4th.

Rohit Sharma: India need to be mentally strong against Australia

After having carved a sublime 264, the highest score by any cricketer in One Day Internationals (ODIs), in the fourth ODI against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India's middle-order batsman, Rohit Sharma, has set his eyes on the upcoming four-Test tour of Australia.

Rohit has struggled to nail down a permanent spot in the Test squad and featured in just one Test during the tour of England. Having battled fitness issues, he is now looking forward to the challenge of facing up to the mighty Australians on their own home soil.

"I have prepared well and I am looking forward to the challenge. When you're playing a Test series against Australia, you have to take them head on and be confident in your approach," Rohit said, in an interview with dna india.

Speaking about the approach to playing in Australian conditions, Rohit said one needs to be mentally strong and play positively. "Mentally, you have to be strong but you also have to be positive. You have to be on top of your game and not let the opposition get the upper hand," he said.

India haven't won a series in Australia previously and they were whitewashed by a 4-0 margin on their last tour down under. The inexperienced team will also be missing some of their iconic players over the years. Rohit said they will try to adhere to the seniors' advice during the upcoming tour. "They (Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman) were there the last time we toured Australia and they gave us a lot of advice on the conditions there. So I will try and keep those points in mind and use them as guidelines," Rohit noted.

The Australian tour will be followed by the 2015 World Cup, to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. India will be entering the tournament as the defending champions and Rohit was optimistic about retaining the crown. "Of course, we are serious contenders in any competition. We are the No. 1 side in ODI cricket," he signed off.