Australia skipper Steve Smith will replace Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the Rising Pune Supergiants captain in this year&#39;s Indian Premier League (IPL), the franchise said on Sunday.

Former India captain Dhoni led the now-suspended Chennai franchise to Twenty20 league title victories in 2010 and 2011 but under his captaincy Pune finished second last in their maiden IPL season last year.

&quot;I have the highest regard for MS Dhoni as a leader and a person. Dhoni will continue to be an important part of our team,&quot; Pune franchisee owner Sanjiv Goenka said in a statement.

&quot;He is supportive of the decision keeping the franchisee&#39;s best interests in mind.&quot;

Dhoni, who quit test cricket in 2014, stepped down as India&#39;s limited-overs captain last month, having led the team to World Cup triumphs in both the 20-overs and 50-overs format.

Smith&#39;s Australia team mate and fast bowler Mitchell Starc has pulled out of this year&#39;s IPL which begins on April 5.

&quot;After a long summer and with a big tour of India still ahead I think it is in my best interests, both physically and mentally, for me to have a break, spend time with my family and take the opportunity to work on getting back to full fitness,&quot; Starc said.

(Reuters)

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has pulled out of this season's lucrative Indian Premier League

Australia skipper Steve Smith will replace Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the Rising Pune Supergiants captain in this year's Indian Premier League (IPL), the franchise said on Sunday. Former India captain Dhoni led the now-suspended Chennai franchise to Twenty20 league title victories in 2010 and 2011 but under his captaincy Pune finished second last in their maiden IPL season last year. "I have the highest regard for MS Dhoni as a leader and a person. Dhoni will continue to be an important part of our team," Pune franchisee owner Sanjiv Goenka said in a statement. "He is supportive of the decision keeping the franchisee's best interests in mind." Dhoni, who quit test cricket in 2014, stepped down as India's limited-overs captain last month, having led the team to World Cup triumphs in both the 20-overs and 50-overs format. Smith's Australia team mate and fast bowler Mitchell Starc has pulled out of this year's IPL which begins on April 5. "After a long summer and with a big tour of India still ahead I think it is in my best interests, both physically and mentally, for me to have a break, spend time with my family and take the opportunity to work on getting back to full fitness," Starc said. (Reuters)

IPL: Steve Smith replaces Dhoni as Pune skipper

Mitchell Starc shone with bat and ball as Australia dismissed Pakistan for 163 to secure an innings and 18 run victory in the second test on Friday, the win giving the hosts an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Home captain Steve Smith smashed an unbeaten 165 and gave his bowlers 68 overs on the fifth and final day to run through their opponents after declaring their first innings at 624 for eight before lunch, a lead of 181 runs.

In the end, they only needed 53.2 overs of the quota as pace spearhead Starc tore through the tail after tea, finishing with 4-36, with Pakistan crumbling on a benign Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch bathed in brilliant sunshine.

Pakistan lost the first test in Brisbane by 39 runs but won admiration for their dogged fourth innings resistance.

However, much of that acclaim evaporated on Friday as their shambolic batting display followed an abysmal effort in the field in the morning.

Pakistan&#39;s 52-year wait for a maiden series win in Australia goes on and they have now lost four matches in succession heading to the series finale in Sydney on Jan. 3.

&quot;It&#39;s fantastic for us to get that result. We always thought that if we could find a way to get ourselves ahead of the game we&#39;d find a way to win,&quot; said Starc, who smashed seven sixes in an MCG record during a swashbuckling knock of 84 in the morning.

&quot;Everyone (was) going out there and believing that if we took those chances we would create enough to get 10 chances today.

&quot;It was a fantastic way to finish the Boxing Day test.&quot;

Pakistan resumed on an already precarious 91-5 after tea, with opener Azhar Ali and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed tasked with surviving 36 overs to usher their team to safety.

But their partnership lasted less than three overs after the break when Josh Hazlewood trapped Azhar, Pakistan&#39;s last specialist batsman, lbw for 43.

Lyon strikes

At 143-6, Jackson Bird thudded a delivery into Amir&#39;s pads when the tail-ender was on 11 but Smith wasted a review after the lbw appeal was turned down.

It changed little, however, as Bird bowled him two balls later.

Sarfraz Ahmed had battled doggedly as his partners disappeared around him but he was bowled for 43 through the gate with a sizzling Starc inswinger.

Starc then gave the same treatment to Wahab Riaz, bowling the paceman for a duck with another fiery delivery that beat the outside edge.

He wrapped up the win by having Yasir Shah sky an easy catch to Bird at mid-on.

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who was under pressure to retain his spot in Sydney after a run of mediocre performances, set Australia on course for the win when he captured three wickets in the middle session, including two in three balls.

The tourists were already one wicket down at lunch, with Hazlewood having bowled opener Sami Aslam for two and Babar Azam soon departed for three off the first ball after the interval, trapped lbw by Starc.

Azhar and Younus Khan dug in for an hour but Lyon removed the latter two overs after the drinks break for 24, when the veteran coughed up a catch to Peter Handscomb at short leg.

Captain Misbah-ul-Haq then departed for a duck two balls later, caught at fine leg by Nic Maddinson following an appalling sweep shot off Lyon.

Lyon grabbed his third victim late in the session when Asad Shafiq deflected a catch off his body for Handscomb to take a fine catch at short leg.

Smith and Starc hammered Pakistan&#39;s bowlers in a 154-run partnership after Australia had resumed on 465-6 in the morning.

(Reuters)

The match was heading to a tame draw but Pakistan's dramatic collapse leaves them winless in Australia for 52 years

Mitchell Starc shone with bat and ball as Australia dismissed Pakistan for 163 to secure an innings and 18 run victory in the second test on Friday, the win giving the hosts an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Home captain Steve Smith smashed an unbeaten 165 and gave his bowlers 68 overs on the fifth and final day to run through their opponents after declaring their first innings at 624 for eight before lunch, a lead of 181 runs. In the end, they only needed 53.2 overs of the quota as pace spearhead Starc tore through the tail after tea, finishing with 4-36, with Pakistan crumbling on a benign Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch bathed in brilliant sunshine. Pakistan lost the first test in Brisbane by 39 runs but won admiration for their dogged fourth innings resistance. However, much of that acclaim evaporated on Friday as their shambolic batting display followed an abysmal effort in the field in the morning. Pakistan's 52-year wait for a maiden series win in Australia goes on and they have now lost four matches in succession heading to the series finale in Sydney on Jan. 3. "It's fantastic for us to get that result. We always thought that if we could find a way to get ourselves ahead of the game we'd find a way to win," said Starc, who smashed seven sixes in an MCG record during a swashbuckling knock of 84 in the morning. "Everyone (was) going out there and believing that if we took those chances we would create enough to get 10 chances today. "It was a fantastic way to finish the Boxing Day test." Pakistan resumed on an already precarious 91-5 after tea, with opener Azhar Ali and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed tasked with surviving 36 overs to usher their team to safety. But their partnership lasted less than three overs after the break when Josh Hazlewood trapped Azhar, Pakistan's last specialist batsman, lbw for 43. Lyon strikes At 143-6, Jackson Bird thudded a delivery into Amir's pads when the tail-ender was on 11 but Smith wasted a review after the lbw appeal was turned down. It changed little, however, as Bird bowled him two balls later. Sarfraz Ahmed had battled doggedly as his partners disappeared around him but he was bowled for 43 through the gate with a sizzling Starc inswinger. Starc then gave the same treatment to Wahab Riaz, bowling the paceman for a duck with another fiery delivery that beat the outside edge. He wrapped up the win by having Yasir Shah sky an easy catch to Bird at mid-on. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who was under pressure to retain his spot in Sydney after a run of mediocre performances, set Australia on course for the win when he captured three wickets in the middle session, including two in three balls. The tourists were already one wicket down at lunch, with Hazlewood having bowled opener Sami Aslam for two and Babar Azam soon departed for three off the first ball after the interval, trapped lbw by Starc. Azhar and Younus Khan dug in for an hour but Lyon removed the latter two overs after the drinks break for 24, when the veteran coughed up a catch to Peter Handscomb at short leg. Captain Misbah-ul-Haq then departed for a duck two balls later, caught at fine leg by Nic Maddinson following an appalling sweep shot off Lyon. Lyon grabbed his third victim late in the session when Asad Shafiq deflected a catch off his body for Handscomb to take a fine catch at short leg. Smith and Starc hammered Pakistan's bowlers in a 154-run partnership after Australia had resumed on 465-6 in the morning. (Reuters)

Pakistan snatch defeat after Starc's all-round heroics in Melbourne Test

Australian paceman Mitchell Starc on Sunday claimed his 100th one-day international wicket in his 52nd ODI match, beating the previous record set by Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq of 100 wickets in 53 matches. 
 
Starc dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva during the first match in the ODI series against Sri Lanka to reach the milestone. 
 
The left-armer earlier bowled opener Kusal Perera with the fourth ball of the match, after Australia elected to bowl first at Colombo&#39;s R Premadasa Stadium. 
 
Starc also overtook former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee, who reached the mark in 55 ODIs. 
 
The 26-year-old paceman from New South Wales, who made his debut against India in 2010, claimed 24 wickets in the just-ended Test series, which saw Australia whitewashed by the home side. 
 
Starc has taken a total of 115 wickets in 28 Test matches. 
 
(AFP)

Starc claimed his 100th one-day international wicket in his 52nd ODI match, beating the previous record set by Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain

Australian paceman Mitchell Starc on Sunday claimed his 100th one-day international wicket in his 52nd ODI match, beating the previous record set by Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq of 100 wickets in 53 matches. Starc dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva during the first match in the ODI series against Sri Lanka to reach the milestone. The left-armer earlier bowled opener Kusal Perera with the fourth ball of the match, after Australia elected to bowl first at Colombo's R Premadasa Stadium. Starc also overtook former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee, who reached the mark in 55 ODIs. The 26-year-old paceman from New South Wales, who made his debut against India in 2010, claimed 24 wickets in the just-ended Test series, which saw Australia whitewashed by the home side. Starc has taken a total of 115 wickets in 28 Test matches. (AFP)

Australia's Mitchell Starc sets ODI wicket record

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc toiled hard against Sri Lanka&#39;s top order today to leave the hosts on 216 for five at tea on the opening day of the second Test in Galle. 
 
Sri Lanka were looking confident after Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera&#39;s 108-run stand, but their departure after lunch saw the hosts in some trouble. 
 
Skipper Angelo Mathews, with his unbeaten 49, then ensured Sri Lanka stay in the hunt after electing to bat first on a bright sunny day. 
 
He has Dhanajaya de Silva (9 not out) for company. 
 
Starc (3-44), who marked the day with his 100th Test wicket, denied first-match centurion Mendis his second consecutive ton after getting the in-form batsman caught behind for 86. 
 
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon got the first wicket of the afternoon session after sending Perera (49) trudging back to the pavilion. 
 
Mathews came to the crease with a positive mindset as he made the reverse-sweep his stock shot against Lyon. His 55-ball stay was laced with two fours and three sixes. 
 
Earlier Mendis 137-ball stay was laced with 10 fours and two sixes as he entertained a lively home crowd at the Galle International Stadium. 
 
(AFP)

Skipper Angelo Mathews, with his unbeaten 49, ensured Sri Lanka stay in the hunt after electing to bat first

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc toiled hard against Sri Lanka's top order today to leave the hosts on 216 for five at tea on the opening day of the second Test in Galle. Sri Lanka were looking confident after Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera's 108-run stand, but their departure after lunch saw the hosts in some trouble. Skipper Angelo Mathews, with his unbeaten 49, then ensured Sri Lanka stay in the hunt after electing to bat first on a bright sunny day. He has Dhanajaya de Silva (9 not out) for company. Starc (3-44), who marked the day with his 100th Test wicket, denied first-match centurion Mendis his second consecutive ton after getting the in-form batsman caught behind for 86. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon got the first wicket of the afternoon session after sending Perera (49) trudging back to the pavilion. Mathews came to the crease with a positive mindset as he made the reverse-sweep his stock shot against Lyon. His 55-ball stay was laced with two fours and three sixes. Earlier Mendis 137-ball stay was laced with 10 fours and two sixes as he entertained a lively home crowd at the Galle International Stadium. (AFP)

Aussie bowlers chip away against Sri Lanka

Veteran spinner Rangana Herath grabbed a five-wicket haul to help Sri Lanka stun top-ranked Australia by 106 runs on the fifth and final day of the first Test in Pallekele on Saturday. 
 
Australia, chasing a challenging 268 for victory, were bundled out for 161 before tea to trail the three-match series 0-1. Steven Smith top-scored with 55. 
 
The left-arm spinner sent back Adam Voges and Mitchell Marsh before dealing the biggest blow when he trapped Steven Smith leg-before, ending the Australian captain&#39;s dogged resistance. 
 
Left-arm chinaman bowler Lakshan Sandakan chipped in with the wicket of Mitchell Starc on the stroke of lunch under darkening skies in Kandy. 
 
Sri Lankan batsman Kusal Mendis set up the win for the hosts with his superb maiden ton in his team&#39;s second innings after the home side overcame an 86-run deficit. 
 
The weather-hit first match of the three-test series got off to another delayed start following steady morning drizzle and Sri Lanka attacked with spin from both ends to unsettle the visitors, who have looked unconvincing against the slow bowlers. 
 
Herath (4-49) had proved a thorn in Australia&#39;s side with the ball as well as the bat in this match and the stocky spinner took a return catch to send back Voges (12) after Australia resumed what promised to be an intriguing final day on 83-3. 
 
Marsh (25) hit three boundaries before Herath struck him on the pad and a convinced home captain Angelo Mathews successfully reviewed the original not-out decision to send back the batsman. Smith (55), however, battled on, his doggedness underlined by the lone boundary he hit in his 17th test fifty, which was also only the second 50-plus score in the bowler-dominated contest. 
 
In the over prior to his dismissal, Smith was adjudged caught behind off Sandakan but the Australian captain reviewed the decision and managed to prolong his stay when replays showed the ball had clearly missed the edge of his bat. 
 
Nine balls later Herath trapped him leg before and this time, Smith was unable to reverse the decision with another review. 
 
(AFP, Reuters)

The left-arm spinner sent back Adam Voges and Mitchell Marsh before dealing the biggest blow when he trapped Steven Smith leg-before

Veteran spinner Rangana Herath grabbed a five-wicket haul to help Sri Lanka stun top-ranked Australia by 106 runs on the fifth and final day of the first Test in Pallekele on Saturday. Australia, chasing a challenging 268 for victory, were bundled out for 161 before tea to trail the three-match series 0-1. Steven Smith top-scored with 55. The left-arm spinner sent back Adam Voges and Mitchell Marsh before dealing the biggest blow when he trapped Steven Smith leg-before, ending the Australian captain's dogged resistance. Left-arm chinaman bowler Lakshan Sandakan chipped in with the wicket of Mitchell Starc on the stroke of lunch under darkening skies in Kandy. Sri Lankan batsman Kusal Mendis set up the win for the hosts with his superb maiden ton in his team's second innings after the home side overcame an 86-run deficit. The weather-hit first match of the three-test series got off to another delayed start following steady morning drizzle and Sri Lanka attacked with spin from both ends to unsettle the visitors, who have looked unconvincing against the slow bowlers. Herath (4-49) had proved a thorn in Australia's side with the ball as well as the bat in this match and the stocky spinner took a return catch to send back Voges (12) after Australia resumed what promised to be an intriguing final day on 83-3. Marsh (25) hit three boundaries before Herath struck him on the pad and a convinced home captain Angelo Mathews successfully reviewed the original not-out decision to send back the batsman. Smith (55), however, battled on, his doggedness underlined by the lone boundary he hit in his 17th test fifty, which was also only the second 50-plus score in the bowler-dominated contest. In the over prior to his dismissal, Smith was adjudged caught behind off Sandakan but the Australian captain reviewed the decision and managed to prolong his stay when replays showed the ball had clearly missed the edge of his bat. Nine balls later Herath trapped him leg before and this time, Smith was unable to reverse the decision with another review. (AFP, Reuters)

Sri Lanka wins Pallekele test by 106 runs against Australia

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IPL: Steve Smith replaces Dhoni as Pune skipper

Pakistan snatch defeat after Starc's all-round heroics in Melbourne Test

Australia's Mitchell Starc sets ODI wicket record

Aussie bowlers chip away against Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka wins Pallekele test by 106 runs against Australia