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New Delhi, Jan 26 (Ians) Mark Waugh, Mitchell Johnson and Aaron Finch will be the replacements for Michael Clarke for commentary during Australia’s upcoming tour of India.

A report in The Sydney Morning Herald says Clarke, the 2015 Odi World Cup winning captain of Australia, was passed over by the Bcci following a video of his altercation with his girlfriend going viral on social media.

The report adds that Waugh is set to accompany Matthew Hayden as the Australian commentators for the first two Tests of the series, to be played for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, in Nagpur (February 9-13) and New Delhi (February 17-21).

Johnson will then take over from Waugh for the third and fourth Tests of the series in Dharamshala (March 1-5) and Ahmedabad (March 9-13). For the three ODIs that follow after the four-match Test series, Johnson will be joined by Finch, who recently retired from ODIs.

Jaipur, Oct 5 (Ians) India Capitals were crowned the champions of the Legends League Cricket (LLC), which was being held in India for the first time.

In an entertaining final, played at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium here on Wednesday, the Capitals beat Bhilwara Kings by 104 runs to lift the trophy.

The Capitals, captained by Gautam Gambhir, made an excellent recovery after stumbling early to post 211/7 in 20 overs. The Kings crumbled under pressure of the tall target and were all out for just 107 in 18.2 overs.

While Ross Taylor (82 off 41 balls) and Mitchell Johnson (62 off 35 balls) were the architects of the Capitals’ innings, sharing a 126-run stand for the fifth wicket, the Kings did not manage to get any meaningful partnership from their batters.

The Kings’ openers, Morne van Wyk (5) and William Porterfield (12), were out inside the first four overs. A lot depended on the broad shoulders of Yusuf Pathan (6), but he did not last long.

Jodhpur, Oct 3 (Ians) India Capitals’ pacer Mitchell Johnson has been handed a warning and a fine of 50 per cent of his match fees for involving in a heated argument during the Legends League match at the Barkatullah Khan Stadium on Sunday.

The incident took place during the qualifier match between India Capitals and Bhilwara Kings where Johnson got engaged in a verbal exchange with Bhilwara Kings’ batsman Yusuf Pathan and was seen pushing the latter away before the umpires intervened.

Following a detailed investigation of the incident, a disciplinary committee, headed by Legends League Cricket Commissioner Ravi Shastri, decided to punish the bowler and also send him an official warning.

“We are here to promote serious and competitive cricket through this league. What happened yesterday on the ground during the qualifier match shouldn’t have happened. We have closely gone through the video multiple times before coming to any conclusion.

Jodhpur, Oct 2 (Ians) The 2022 Legends League Cricket on Sunday witnessed an ugly fight between all-rounder Yusuf Pathan and Mitchell Johnson during the match between Bhilwara Kings and India Capitals at the Barkatullah Khan Stadium, here on Sunday.

The video of the incident is now getting viral on social media. In the video, Yusuf can be seen arguing with Johnson and then the pacer pushed him. Immediately, the umpire intervened and took Johnson to the other side.

Sources told Ians that the organisers are not at all happy with what happened and are planning to ban Johnson for a match as per Icc laws.

Meanwhile, the former New Zealand skipper Ross Taylor and West Indies star Ashley Nurse smashed blazing half-centuries to help India Capitals enter the final after beating Bhilwara Kings by four wickets.

Taylor struck a quick-fire 84 off 39 which included nine fours and five massive sixes while Nurse hit...

Cuttack, Sep 30 (Ians) Hamilton Masakadza’s blazing bat, with able support from fellow Zimbabwean Solomon Mire (28) and New Zealander Ross Taylor (29), helped the India Capitals inflict a seven-wicket defeat on the Manipal Tigers in the 10th game of the Legends League Cricket (LLC) on Thursday.

Masakadza’s explosive knock of 68 not out off 39 balls (seven fours and four sixes) was crucial as the Capitals chased down a 162-run target with 16 balls to spare. That innings from the 39-year-old overshadowed the effort of Jesse Ryder and Mohammad Kaif from the rival team earlier in the match.

Ryder and Kaif played like they never went away from competitive cricket as they shared a 126-run partnership to help the Tigers post 161/5. While the left-handed Ryder made 76 off 56 balls with five fours and an equal number of sixes, Kaif’s contribution of 67 off 48 balls was no less important. Kaif hit nine boundaries and a six.

New Delhi, Sep 23 (Ians) The second edition of Legends League Cricket has recorded 16 million-plus unique viewers on the digital streaming platforms in India and its digital footprints have also crossed 600 million fans across the world.

According to the latest Broadcast Audience Research Council (Barc) TV ratings, the opening match of the season between India Maharajas and World Giants, played at Eden Gardens with the world’s greatest players taking part in it, has garnered higher ratings than any other on-going cricket league in the country. It is also five times more than the ratings of the entire last season of the Legends league Cricket.

“It’s amazing to see such great numbers. We all know Star Sports being the premium broadcaster and is the biggest Sports platform, it has helped create wider reach for us and we have the second highest viewership in India for any T20 league after Ipl.

Lucknow, Sep 20 (Ians) Soon after Yusuf Pathan helped India Maharajas beat World Giants in a special benefit match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on September 16, Irfan Pathan shared a video of his brother Yusuf with the groundsmen on social media. The caption read: “There is still a lot of cricket left in you, Yusuf.”

Irfan’s comments weren’t totally off the mark.

Yusuf has hit a purple patch in the Legends League Cricket (LLC), which is being played in India for the first time.

After scoring a half-century against World Giants, the big-hitting Bhilwara Kings batter followed it up with a 44 against Manipal Tigers. He peppered the ground with his shots, hitting mammoth sixes and sumptuous boundaries at will, the organisers informed in a release on Tuesday.

The former India all-rounder will aim to continue the same form when his side Bhilwara Kings face India Capitals at the Brsabv Ekana Cricket Stadium,...

Lucknow, Sep 19 (Ians) Former Australian cricketer Mitchell Johnson has had an interesting encounter at his hotel room here after he spotted a snake near the door of his room here.

The former left-arm seamer, who is currently in India to play in the Legends League Cricket, shared the image of the snake on his Instagram handle, saying, “Anyone knows what type of snake this is?? Just hanging out in my room door.”

Johnson (40), who retired from international cricket in 2015 after claiming 313 Test wickets and 239 Odi scalps from 73 and 153 outings, respectively, is playing for the Jacques Kallis-led India Capitals in the Legends League Cricket, and featured in the game against Gujarat Giants in Kolkata on Saturday.

In another post, Johnson wrote: “Found a better pic of this snake’s head. Still unsure what it is exactly. Interesting stay so far in Lucknow, India.”

The Legends League Cricket has brought former...

Lucknow, Sep 19 (Ians) Former Australian cricketer Mitchell Johnson has had an interesting encounter at his hotel room here after he spotted a snake near the door of his room here.

The former left-arm seamer, who is currently in India to play in the Legends League Cricket, shared the image of the snake on his Instagram handle, saying, “Anyone knows what type of snake this is?? Just hanging out in my room door.”

Johnson (40), who retired from international cricket in 2015 after claiming 313 Test wickets and 239 Odi scalps from 73 and 153 outings, respectively, is playing for the Jacques Kallis-led India Capitals in the Legends League Cricket, and featured in the game against Gujarat Giants in Kolkata on Saturday.

In another post, Johnson wrote: “Found a better pic of this snake’s head. Still unsure what it is exactly. Interesting stay so far in Lucknow, India.”

The Legends League Cricket has brought former...

New Delhi, Sep 10 (Ians) The Legends League Cricket will kickstart with a benefit match involving Indian Maharajas and World Giants at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on September 16.

The Indian Maharajas will be led by India’s most successful opening batter, Virender Sehwag, while the World Giants will be led by South African cricketing great and revered allrounder, Jacques Kallis.

Meanwhile, the countdown for the Legends League Cricket has started as the Cricketing greats from 10 nations are set to descend on Kolkata with the league.

With the urge to watch the Legends in action again, there has been a demand for the tickets as fans are gearing up to watch their heroes dominate the 22 yards once again.

Tickets for all matches are currently available on Bookmyshow.

Raman Raheja, Co-Founder & CEO, of Legends League Cricket, said, “There has been huge demand from fans and we have already started feeling the excitement too.

New Delhi, Sep 7 (Ians) The Legends League Cricket is all set to kick off with a fierce battle between former India openers when India Capitals’ Gautam Gambhir and Gujarat Giants’ Virender Sehwag will square off against each other to initiate the 20 days long League starting from September 16 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

The action will shift to Lucknow next, where in Harbhajan Singh’s Manipal Tigers will take on Irfan Pathan’s Bhilwara Kings on September 18.

Legends League Cricket will feature these four teams who will be playing twice against each other during the 12-match league stage. There will be 4 rest days in between the matches.

The top two teams at the end of the league stage will play in the Qualifier at the Barkatullah Khan Stadium in Jodhpur on October 2 with the winner directly advancing to the final to be played on October 5.

However, the loser of the...

New Delhi, Sep 7 (Ians) The Legends League Cricket is all set to kick off with a fierce battle between former India openers when India Capitals’ Gautam Gambhir and Gujarat Giants’ Virender Sehwag will square off against each other to initiate the 20 days long League starting from September 16 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

The action will shift to Lucknow next, where in Harbhajan Singh’s Manipal Tigers will take on Irfan Pathan’s Bhilwara Kings on September 18.

Legends League Cricket will feature these four teams who will be playing twice against each other during the 12-match league stage. There will be 4 rest days in between the matches.

The top two teams at the end of the league stage will play in the Qualifier at the Barkatullah Khan Stadium in Jodhpur on October 2 with the winner directly advancing to the final to be played on October 5.

However, the loser of the...

Townsville, Sep 3 (Ians) There was something to cheer for Australia amid the gloom of losing the third and final One-day International against Zimbabwe here on Saturday, with pace bowler Mitchell Starc claiming his 200th Odi wicket to break a 23-year-old record, and become the fastest ever to reach the milestone.

Starc, 32, has become the quickest-ever bowler to 200 Odi wickets, eclipsing the 23-year-old record set by Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq.

Playing in his 102nd Odi here, Starc dismissed tail-ender Ryan Burl when the batter spooned a catch to Cameron Green at mid-off. Starc achieved the feat in two fewer matches than the former Pakistani cricketer (104), according to cricket.com.au.

Starc has reached a double-century of wicket in fewer matches than the likes of Brett Lee (112 ODIs), the late Shane Warne (125), Mitchell Johnson (129) and Glenn McGrath (133).

Starc was also the quickest ever to 100 Odi wickets (after 52 matches) in 2016, though Afghanistan spinner...

New Delhi, Sep 2 (Ians) Four franchises — Adani Sportsline owned Gujarat Giants, Gmr Sportss India Capitals, Manipal Group’s Manipal Tigers and Bhilwara Group’s Bhilwara Kings — on Friday picked 59 cricketers from the players’ draft held virtually with a combined purse of Rs 32 crore, for the upcoming Legends League Cricket (LLC).

The players’ draft included 79 cricketers (20 went unsold) and each team had a purse of Rs 8 crore each. Each team will now have three more days to submit their final squad wherein they can buy more players with the available purse.

“Among the teams, Manipal Tigers spent the most amount of Rs 6,91,20,000 and have a remaining purse of 1,08,80,000. Tigers were followed closely by India Capitals as they spent Rs 6,38,80,000 and Gujarat Giants who splurged Rs 5,51,80,000 on their stars. Bhilwara Kings were the most economical as they spent Rs 5,62,20,000,” said Raman Raheja, CEO and Co-Founder Legends League Cricket, in a media release.

Townsville (Queensland), Aug 31 (Ians) Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc grabbed three wickets as the hosts thrashed Zimbabwe by eight wickets in a low-scoring match to win the second One-day International here and take an unassailable lead in the three-match series on Wednesday.

Following figures 3/24, the 32-year-old Starc is just one wicket short of becoming the sixth Australian bowler to reach 200 men’s Odi wickets even as the Kangaroos leap-frogged West Indies on the path to automatic qualification for the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India.

Starc led the charge here as Australia bundled out Zimbabwe for just 96 runs in 27.5 overs with the pacer accounting for Innocent Kaia, Wesley Madhevere and Tadiwanashe Marumani in his first four overs and consigning the tourists to 14/3. Regis Chakabva’s side were unable to recover, eventually bowled out for a sub-100 total.

In reply, Australia lost David Warner and Aaron Finch early before they managed to...

New Delhi, Aug 14 (Ians) Daniel Vettori, Russel Arnold and Vernon Philander on Sunday were among the former international players who committed themselves to Legends Cricket League (LLC) Season Two.

The tournament further announced that about 80 international and Indian players committed their availability for participation in the second season of league.

“They will be available for pick up by the franchisees for the drafting event to be held in Mumbai soon,” stated an official release from the LLC.

Others who have committed to LLC season two are Fidel Edwards, Ricardo Powell, Tino Best, Nick Compton, Ryan Sidebottom, Phil Mustard, Jade Dernbach, Richard Levi, Hamilton Masakadza, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Samit Patel, John Mooney, Nawroz Mangal, Manvinder Bisla, Amit Bhandari, Rajat Bhatia and Sudeep Tyagi.

“With so much enthusiasm around the league, it is going to be exhilarating experience for everyone, whether fans or players, all will have a life time experience,” said Ravi Shastri,...

Mumbai, Aug 12 (Ians) Former India head coach Ravi Shastri on Friday said that the second season of the Legends Cricket League (LLC) will be dedicated to the celebrations of the country celebrating its 75th year of independence.

The first match of the LLC Season Two will be played on September 15 at Eden Garden, Kolkata. Termed as a special match, it will be played between India vs World as India Maharajas vs World Giants.

Former India captain and current Bcci president Sourav Ganguly will lead India while the World Team will be captained by 2019 World Cup-winning skipper and England’s former white-ball captain Eoin Morgan. Players from across 10 foreign countries will be participating in this match.

“This is a proud moment for us that we are celebrating 75th year of our independence. As a proud Indian, it gives me immense satisfaction to share that we have decided to dedicate this year...

New Delhi, July 15 (Ians) The upcoming Season 2 of Legends League Cricket continues to attract former players and legends as six more former stars confirmed their participation in the event. Ace Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson and recently retired former India wicketkeeper batter Parthiv Patel have also confirmed to be part of season 2. […]...