South Africa go one-up against India
South Africa beat India by 31 runs in the first ODI, at Boland Park, Paarl to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. They were reduced to 68/3 after opting to bat before Temba Bavuma (110) and Rassie van der Dussen (129*) helped them post 296/4. Jasprit Bumrah returned 2-48 and R. Ashwin 1-53.
Coming to chase, India lost K.L. Rahul early. Shikhar Dhawan (79) and Virat Kohli (51) kept India in the hunt, adding 92 for the second wicket. But once Dhawan fell to Keshav Maharaj in the 26th over, wickets kept falling in regular intervals. In the end, Shardul Thakur’s unbeaten 43-ball 50 helped India finish on 265/8.
Yorkshire appoint Ottis Gibson as head coach
Yorkshire CCC appointed Ottis Gibson as their new head coach for three years. Gibson will take charge in end of February after his contract with Multan Sultans ends.
He will replace Andrew Gale, who was sacked in the aftermath of the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal. Gibson will work under interim managing director Darren Gough.
Australia-New Zealand series postponed over quarantine concerns
The limited-overs series between Australia and New Zealand, scheduled to start on 30 January, had to be postponed due to quarantine concerns for New Zealand. They were due to play three ODIs and a T20I.
In order to slow down the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, plans to relax New Zealand's 10-day quarantine by the time the series finished on 8 February had been delayed.
It is the third successive Australian summer that the limited-overs series against New Zealand has been cancelled.
Babar, Sciver named captains of ICC T20I teams of 2021
ICC have named Babar Azam and Nat Sciver captains of the 2021 T20I teams for men and women respectively. Three South African men – Aiden Markram, David Miller and Tabraiz Shamsi – have made the cut, as have three Pakistani players – Babar, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan.
In the Women’s category, five English players – Sciver, Tammy Beaumont, Danni Wyatt, Amy Jones and Sophie Ecclestone – have been named in the lineup. Smriti Mandhana is the Indian in either list.