Moeen banned by ICC from wearing wristbands
England all-rounder Moeen Ali was banned from displaying political messages on the field by the International Cricket Council, after wearing wristbands supporting Palestinians during the third test. Ali wore wristbands with "Save Gaza" and "Free Palestine" while batting against India at the Rose Bowl. Match referee David Boon told Ali, a Muslim, to not wear the wristbands anymore, an ICC release said. Ali was not cited. "Whilst he is free to express his views on such causes away from the cricket field, he is not permitted to wear the wristbands on the field of play, and warned not to wear the bands again during an international match," the statement said. ICC clothing rules do not allow displays of messages relating to political, religious or racial activities during internationals. The England and Wales Cricket Board didn't believe Ali was committing an offence for his act of solidarity with Gaza's Palestinians, who are in an ongoing war with Israel.
SA regains top spot with series win
South Africa frustrated Sri Lanka's spin attack with a defensive batting strategy to earn a draw in the second test and win the two-match series 1-0, launching them back to No. 1 in the world test rankings. South Africa finished the day on 159-8 as Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath bagged five wickets — the 18th time he has taken five or more in an innings. But Herath couldn't prevent the draw after Sri Lanka set a 369-run target for the visitors on the final day of the test. The series win gives the South Africans 124 ranking points, one above Australia, according to the International Cricket Council. The South Africans were defensive from the start, scoring just 159 runs in 111 overs in nearly six hours of batting at the Sinhalese Sports Club. Sri Lanka hit back strongly in the last session by claiming three wickets, but could not quite get there. Herath finished with 5-40, while off-spinner Dilruwan Perera was 3-60. Sri Lanka made 421 in its first innings and declared its second innings on 229-8. South Africa scored 282 in its first innings. South Africa won the first test by 153 runs in Galle.
Phillip Hughes enters domestic record books
Phillip Hughes set a domestic batting record when he plundered an unbeaten 202 in Australia A's one-day game against South Africa A. Hughes, who was dropped from Australia's first XI last year, hit a six off the last ball of the innings to raise his double-century. It was the highest score by an Australian batsman in a List A one-day game, beating David Warner's 197 for New South Wales against Victoria last October. The 25-year-old lefthander averages 32.65 in 26 tests and 36.66, with two centuries and a high of 138 not out, in 20 ODIs. His 202 against South Africa's second-string lineup came off 151 balls and contained 18 boundaries and six sixes.
England, India teams observe minute’s silence
England players commemorated cricketers who gave their lives in World War I by wearing on their shirts the logo of Help for Heroes, a charity helping military personnel wounded in conflict. Along with Team India, they also stood for a minute's silence before the start of play on day three.
Disappointed but confident
Ajinkya Rahane expressed his disappointment in the manner he got out playing in the first innings of the third Test match against England. He was dismissed by Moeen Ali. "I was really disappointed in the manner I got out. I was concentrating really well at that point of time. I thought it was a loose delivery and played it, but the shot was a miscued one. In the end, it was a bad shot. I just need to learn from this and bat well in the second innings," he said. However, he was still confident that Team India can avoid the follow-on. "England's bowlers bowled really well," Rahane said. "They bowled in good areas and it was tough to get runs. We need a good partnership tomorrow, then anything can happen."
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