Cricket News

Sam Billings has been ruled out of England's ODI against Ireland and the T20I against Pakistan early next month after dislocating his shoulder playing for Kent against Glamorgan in the Royal London One Day Cup on Thursday (April 26). Surrey's wicketkeeper Ben Foakes has been called up as his replacement. Billings will see a specialist on Friday to determine the severity of the injury but he is likely to be out of action for some time, putting his availability for the World Cup in question. He suffered the injury at the end of the first over of the game in Cardiff, diving to stop a ball in the outfield. He was treated with oxygen before being led from the playing area and was taken to hospital where the shoulder was put back into place. On Thursday evening, Billings posted a message on Instagram, which said: "Not ideal but life goes on, far worse things happen... More scans tomorrow wait and see what they have to say... wouldn't recommend dislocating you...

Experienced English umpire Ian Gould is set to quit umpiring after the upcoming World Cup that will held in his home country. Gould is a part of the 16-member panel of umpires that have been appointed for the tournament that will be also have six match referees. The 61-year-old, who started officiating in 2006, has been at the helm for close to 250 international games across formats. ICC's General Manager of Cricket, Geoff Allardice spoke highly of Gould's contribution to the game in the field of umpiring. "Ian has made an outstanding contribution to the game over a long period, particularly in the last decade as an international umpire for the ICC." said Allardice. "He has always put the interests of the game first, and in doing so has earned enormous respect from his colleagues and players across all countries. His presence on the field will be missed, but I am sure his lifelong association with the game will continue." While t...

Shane Watson will retire from the Big Bash League, to officially call time on his cricket career in Australia in order to spend more time with his family during the summer vacation. Watson, 37, skippered Sydney Thunder even after his retirement from international cricket in 2016, but confirmed that he won't make his fifth appearance for the club. "Shane Watson was one of the most exciting short-form players ever to grace a cricket field," Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts said on Friday (April 26). "Talented, skillful and powerful, Shane was a devastating batsman at his best. It was only a few months ago he scored a century from just 62 balls for the Thunder against the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba. "In a career which spanned almost two decades Shane made a major contribution to Australian cricket firstly at international level and then in domestic cricket as a significant contributor to the Big Bash. His greatest quality was persistence,...