Stokes becomes top-ranked Test all-rounder

Manchester: England vice-captain Ben Stokes’ match-winning performance in the second Test hoisted him above Windies skipper Jason Holder to become the top-ranked all-rounder in the game’s longest format, the ICC said today. Stokes followed up his 176 in the first innings with an unbeaten 78 in the second and also picked up three wickets in the contest to pull off a series-levelling win, earning the Player of the Match award. The 29-year-old became the first England player to reach the top spot since Andrew Flintoff in May 2006. His moving average of 497 rating points, the highest of any Test all-rounder since South Africa great Jacques Kallis racked up 517 in April 2008, ended Holder’s 18-month reign at the top. Stokes also climbed to a career-best third position among Test batsmen, behind Virat Kohli and Australia’s top-ranked Steve Smith.

BCCI seeks govt nod to host IPL in UAE

New Delhi: The Indian cricket board (BCCI) will seek government permission to stage this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) in the United Arab Emirates, league chief Brijesh Patel said today. “We are yet to finalise when it will begin, maybe sometime in September,” IPL governing council chairman Patel told Reuters. “We’ll discuss the issue in the next governing council meeting in 7-10 days.” Patel told PTI that “the plan is to have a full-fledged IPL comprising 60 games.” The BCCI has been looking for a new window in which to stage the league, which was postponed days before it was to begin in late March, and avoid a potential $536 million loss in revenue. The 2009 edition of the league, which coincided with India’s elections, was held in South Africa, and the UAE hosted the early matches of the tournament five years later for the same reason.

2-week quarantine for India before Oz series

Melbourne: India will have to undergo a two-week quarantine period, most likely in Adelaide, once they touch down in Australia for the much-anticipated tour later this year, said Cricket Australia acting chief Nick Hockley. Hockley’s statement is in complete contrast to the views of BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, who had already made it clear that he was not in favour of a two-week quarantine period for the Indian team once they disembark in Australia. The website reported that the Australian cricketers returning after playing in the IPL will also have to serve the mandatory quarantine period.

Tickets for T20 WC valid if Oz hosts in 2021: ICC

Dubai: The tickets sold for the now-postponed T20 World Cup will remain valid if Australia hosts the edition in 2021 instead of India. In case the event is shifted to 2022, all ticket-holders will be entitled to a full refund, the ICC said.

Need to show more fight: WI skipper Holder

Manchester: West Indies skipper Jason Holder bemoaned his team’s lack of grit in the second Test against England and felt their tentative batting allowed their opponents to level the series. The tourists needed to bat out 85 overs on the final day to secure a draw but lasted 70.1 overs before succumbing to a 113-run defeat. “…maybe (we need) a little bit more grit, a little bit more determination to get through one or two challenging spells,” Holder said. West Indies need a draw in the decider, beginning at Old Trafford on Friday, to retain the Wisden Trophy.

Archer rejoins England after 2nd negative test

Manchester: Fast bowler Jofra Archer rejoined England for the deciding Test after a second negative test for the coronavirus. Archer was removed from the squad on the eve of the second Test after he breached the bio-secure rules. He was fined about £15,000. Agencies