Factbox-Cricket-India v Sri Lanka - first test
(Reuters) - Here is what you need to know about the first test between India and Sri Lanka, which starts on Friday.
Sri Lanka Sport News
Rohit takes over as India's test captain in Kohli's 100th
MUMBAI : Rohit Sharma will begin his reign as India's new test captain on Friday in a two-match series against neighbours Sri Lanka, hoping to keep the team's juggernaut rolling at home.
India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test: Can Team India Maintain Outstanding Record At Fortress Mohali?
The Indian men's cricket team played a Test match at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali for the first time in December 1994. The team went on to lose the match by a huge margin of 243 runs to West Indies. Since then, Mohali has hosted a total of 12 Tests and India have never lost a match there. What is even more impressive is that since 2000, the hosts have won 7 of the 10 Tests played at this venue, while the three other matches have been drawn.
Virat Kohli's 5 Dramatic Moments In Test Career
India's superstar cricketer Virat Kohli plays his 100th Test on Friday, but not as captain following his shock resignation from one of world sport's top jobs in January. Leading from the front as one of the modern game's best batters, India under Kohli became a force to be reckoned with outside the subcontinent but never won a multinational tournament. The brash social media star and advertising hot property -- married to a Bollywood actress -- had his share of run-ins with umpires and opponents alike along the way.
Shreyas Iyer jumps 27 places to 18th in ICC T20 rankings
Shreyas Iyer has jumped a massive 27 spots in the latest ICC T20I rankings, even as Virat Kohli fell out of the top 10. India's recent home series win against Sri Lanka has had major ramifications on the player rankings aiding attacking top-order batter Iyer to make a massive jump to reach the 18th position in the list for batters. Iyer scored three unbeaten half-centuries during India's 3-0 win against Sri Lanka in February, with the 27-year-old amassing an impressive 204 runs at a strike rate of 174. Iyer's teammate pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar jumped three spots to 17th on the bowler rankings.
Too hot to handle: The current speed merchants from countries other than Pakistan
Lahiru Kumara," said commentator Harsha Bhogle on air as Ishan Kishan copped a blow to his head courtesy a ferocious 146-clicks plus bouncer rom the Lankan pacer during the India-Sri Lanka second T20I. Kishan was later taken to the hospital for a precautionary CT scan and was fortunate to get away without any major damage. Express pace bowling can be dangerous sometimes but it also brings with it a sheer adrenaline rush and is a treat to watch in international cricket. Over the decades, Pakistan was the only subcontinental cricket team which produced multiple outright quicks who made batsmen dance to their tunes. The supply chain of fast bowlers seemed endless for Pakistan. But with time, other subcontinental teams too have developed or are in the process of developing an arsenal of speed merchants. India, for example, in the last 4-5 years has developed some serious pacers across formats and more and more youngsters are cropping up and advancing to the higher levels. Teams like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan too are eagerly investing in young talents, who can clock above 140 kmph at will and rattle the batters. TimesofIndia.com here takes a look at some of the current highly rated quicks from the subcontinental teams other than Pakistan who are constantly clocking 140kmph plus on the speed guns: Jasprit Bumrah (India)
Shreyas Iyer Jumps 27 Places To 18th In ICC T20I Rankings, Virat Kohli Out Of Top 10
Riding on his splendid run against Sri Lanka recently, India batter Shreyas Iyer has jumped a massive 27 spots in the latest ICC T20I rankings, even as Virat Kohli fell out of the top 10. India's recent home series win against Sri Lanka has had major ramifications on the player rankings aiding attacking top-order batter Iyer to make a massive jump to reach the 18th position in the list for batters. Iyer scored three unbeaten half-centuries during India's 3-0 win against Sri Lanka in February, with the 27-year-old amassing an impressive 204 runs at a strike rate of 174.
Nathan Lyon targets clean sweep for Australia in Pakistan Tests
Nathan Lyon said on Wednesday he was proud to be involved in the team's first tour of Pakistan in 24 years and hoped for a 3-0 Test series win to make the trip even more memorable. Australia completed a 4-0 Ashes series victory over England earlier this year and while they face vastly different conditions in Pakistan Lyon said the goal was to win every match. "My mindset is every game we go into, we will look to win, not draw or lose. My mindset is to win 3-0 in Pakistan," Lyon told reporters ahead of the first Test, which begins on Friday in Rawalpindi. Major teams have shunned Pakistan since an attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009 that killed six policemen and two civilians but international sides have recently started touring the country again. "Pakistan haven't had the opportunity to have a lot of international cricket here over a number of years so to be able to be the first Australian team to come here to play ... It's a pretty proud moment," Lyon said. "We've spoken as a group about how big it is for the people of Pakistan to see the likes of Steve Smith, David Warner, Pat Cummins and Marnus Labuschagne ... these guys are proud to come out here and play to be role models."