McCullum and Taylor out of Sri Lanka tour

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“Both players are vital to our success and fine-tuning their red-ball skills before the West Indies series starting in early December is paramount”

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum and flamboyant batsman Ross Taylor have both been ruled out of the upcoming limited overs tour to Sri Lanka, which gets underway on November 10, in order to get some much-needed rest and relaxation ahead of the Black Caps’ home series against the West Indies in December.

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‘This series against India gives us an opportunity to see where we are as a Test side’, says Ottis Gibson

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“We have to be focused on our job, which is to get there and give India a good fight”

With the West Indies’ last three Test series having come against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and an inexperienced New Zealand side, head coach Ottis Gibson believes “this series against India gives us an opportunity to see where we are as a Test side”.

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‘My main goal is to play for New Zealand again’, says Jesse Ryder

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“The main aim is to try and earn a call-up in time for that Indian tour [in January] if they don’t pick me for the West Indies tour”

Troubled opening batsman Jesse Ryder has announced that his “main goal is to play for New Zealand again” after he recently received a six-month ban for testing positive for a banned substance in March.

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I would like to captain Pakistan again, says Shahid Afridi

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“If the Cricket Board (PCB) deems it fit and offers me the captaincy again I will accept it as a challenge”

Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has announced that he would like to lead the national team once again after their disappointing series against Zimbabwe, which saw them lose an ODI and a Test match as well.

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West Indies reach top-five in Test rankings after 13 years

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“This is a massive step in the right direction and we will continue to strive for excellence for the cause of putting West Indies cricket back on top of World cricket”

West Indies captain Darren Sammy was all smiles as his side reached the top-five in the latest Test team rankings for the first time since August 2000.

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BCCI planning tri-series if South Africa tour fails to go ahead

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India’s tour of South Africa may become significantly shorter or even cancelled if the proposed tri-series goes ahead

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have announced that they are working on scheduling an ODI tri-series with Sri Lanka and Pakistan in December if the national team’s tour of South Africa fails to go ahead.

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