We need to switch off from cricket and introspect: Dhoni

Despite being winless on the tour and not making it to the final of the tri-series, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels the team can lift itself by taking a break before the World Cup and introspecting rather than coming back every day to the ground and doing the same thing over and over. 

"We have been here for more than two months. So we know the conditions pretty well. What is important right now is a break. Completely switch off from cricket. Just do a bit of introspection on what needs to be done," Dhoni told the media after India's defeat on Friday. 

"It's not only me... everybody is looking forward to a break. Lock the kitbag. Keep it somewhere, you don't even want to see it. Completely switch off from cricket," Dhoni said about the team's plan over the next week before they assemble in Adelaide on December 6 and prepare to defend the World Cup with warm-up games against Australia (February 8) and Afghanistan (February 10). 

We need to switch off from cricket and introspect: Dhoni

Afghanistan and Ireland receive opportunity to qualify for 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup with Full Members

The ICC Board, on Wednesday, approved that Afghanistan and Ireland will join the 10 Full Members in the rankings based qualification system for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

The top eight-ranked sides on the Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings as on 30 September, 2017, will qualify automatically for the 2019 event, while the bottom four will play in the 10-team ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 that will determine the final two teams in the line-up.

As a result, Afghanistan and Ireland will no longer play in the ICC World Cricket League Championship, the ICC’s one-day competition for the leading Associate and Affiliate sides.

Afghanistan and Ireland receive opportunity to qualify for 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup with Full Members

ICC launches official ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 app

The ICC, in partnership with Reliance Communications, today launches the official ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 app - now available for free download from the App Store and Google Play. The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, the 11th edition of cricket's flagship event, gets underway on 14th February and will see 14 of the best teams in the world compete for cricket’s top prize.

The 2015 edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup promises to be the biggest and best in the event's history. Whether fans are on the ground in Australia and New Zealand or anywhere around the world, anybody can get closer than ever before to the event by downloading the new ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 app for free direct to their smartphone or tablet.

ICC launches official ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 app

Sunil Narine's World Cup participation in doubt

With less than 3 weeks to go for the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the participation of West Indies’ premier bowler Sunil Narine is in major doubt after former West Indies Players Association (WIPA) president Dinanath Ramnarine posted a tweet about the player soon announcing his withdrawal from the quadrennial event.

Narine had been reported for a suspect action during the Champions League Twenty20 (CL T20) in India last year, resulting in him being suspended from all BCCI-organised competitions. Since then, he has not been an active member of the national side, thereby preventing the International Cricket Council (ICC) from scrutinizing his action.

Sunil Narine's World Cup participation in doubt

A desperate experiment India could try out ahead of World Cup

Shikhar Dhawan 

As I write this, Shikhar Dhawan has customarily guided Mitchell Starc to first slip for yet another cheap dismissal in the ongoing tri-series. More than the disappointment of India’s apparent inability in stringing together something of substance at the top, it is the increasing sense of inevitability of failure that is a grave concern as India sets itself up for title defence of the greatest tournament in limited overs cricket.

Bowling was always expected to be India’s weaker link in the expedition, but when batting starts to compete for the same title, the inevitability complex starts assuming alarming proportions. 

Daniel Vettori becomes most capped Kiwi ODI player; confident of getting through World Cup

Daniel Vettori, who played his 280th ODI, on Sunday against Sri Lanka, to become New Zealand's most capped player, said that he was feeling confident and fit ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup that bowls off in Australia and New Zealand, starting February 14.

The left-arm spinner passed former captain Stephen Fleming to become the most-capped ODI player for New Zealand.

Fittingly, Vettori earned his first ODI cap against the same opposition in 1997, with figures of none for 21 from his two overs.

Daniel Vettori becomes most capped Kiwi ODI player

ICC Cricket World Cup timings a problem for Indian fans

When cricket World Cup is held in the Antipodes or in the Caribbean, it clashes with the examination time in India and this makes students unhappy. This time the fans are disturbed over the match timings in Australia and New Zealand, the joint hosts of the 2015 edition beginning from February 14, but there's no option for them.

The matches will start at different timings, and the big concern of the fans is to get up at unearthly hours to watch them, particularly some New Zealand games that will get underway at 0330 hrs Indian Standard Time (IST). Then there are day matches in Australia which start at 6.30 a.m, and day-night games at 9 a.m. or at noon, depending on the location.

ICC Cricket World Cup timings a problem for Indian fans