Cricket news round-up – December 14: Bhuvneshwar Kumar out of West Indies ODIs

Bhuvneshwar Kumar will join Shikhar Dhawan in the sick bay of the Indian squad after doing his groin during the T20Is against West Indies. Elsewhere, Mark Boucher is being lined up as the next South Africa coach, Dwayne Bravo has decided to reverse his international retirement, and Mitchell Starc is on a rampage.

Bhuvneshwar out of West Indies ODIs

India paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series against the West Indies. He will be replaced in the squad by Shardul Thakur.

Bhuvneshwar injured his groin during the 67-run win in the third T20I against West Indies, and will play no further part in the series. Thakur, who last played an international in 2018, will replace him in the side.

Bhuvneshwar joins Shikhar Dhawan in the sick bay for the series.

Mark Boucher in line to be interim South Africa coach

As part of the massive overhaul in Cricket South Africa, Mark Boucher is reportedly set to be announced as interim coach of the side soon, according to ESPNcricinfo.

Graeme Smith, the acting CSA director of cricket, will unveil him on Saturday. The news comes two days after Smith was announced as CSA’s acting director of cricket, and part of his immediate tasks was to appoint a coach for the side ahead of the upcoming series against England.

According to the report, Jacques Kallis is also in line to be named batting coach in the near future.

Dwayne Bravo reverses West Indies retirement

Dwayne Bravo, the West Indies all-rounder, has decided to reverse his decision to retire from international cricket, and is eyeing T20 World Cup with the side.

Bravo had, in October, stated his decision to quit international cricket, given his injury problems as well as problems with the Cricket West Indies chiefs, particularly former head Dave Cameron. However, with Cameron no longer part of the board, and the side doing well under the captaincy of Kieron Pollard, Bravo is keen to join them.

“They [Pollard and coach Phil Simmons] understand and listen, they will have dialogues going back and forth, that’s the difference,” said Bravo. “And that’s why it was so easy for me to make a decision to come back and represent West Indies again. I speak to the captain, coach, the president, director of cricket and chairman of selectors, and I’ve confirmed that I’ll be available for T20I selection.”

Starc gives Australia upper hand in Perth pink-ball Test

Mitchell Starc took a four-wicket haul under lights as New Zealand were reduced to 109/5 in the final session in Perth on Friday, in response to Australia’s first-innings 416.

Australia had moved on from their overnight 248/4 to post a healthy total, but the damange to New Zealand was done by a rampaging Starc under the floodlights. He took 4/31, dismissing all of Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls and nightwatchman Neil Wagner. New Zealand remain 307 runs adrift of Australia’s total, and their hopes rest on Ross Taylor, who is unbeaten in the middle at 66*.