Let us take a look at some of the important developments from the cricketing world that took place on Thursday, 13 May.
Paine favours Smith as Test captain
Australia Test captain Tim Paine has backed his predecessor Steven Smith to regain the captaincy after the Ashes 2021-22. Paine, 36, has faced widespread criticism following a home series loss to India earlier this year.
Smith was barred from the captaincy role for two years following his involvement in the infamous ball-tampering scandal in March 2018. Since then, he has publicly expressed eagerness to lead the Test squad again.
Paine lauded the tactical astuteness of Smith and said that the latter has got his back for this role: ‘Certainly tactically he is as good as you get. Then obviously South Africa events happened and he's not doing it anymore. But, yeah, I would support him getting that job again.’
India retain No. 1 spot in ICC Test Rankings
India have retained the top spot in the latest ICC Test Rankings, released on Thursday, 13 May. India gained one rating point following a series victory over Australia and England. New Zealand, with an aggregate score of 120, is at the second position.
The teams will meet in the final of the World Test Championship, slated to take place next month in Southampton.
Further, England jumped to the third, while arch rival Australia slumped to fourth place. Pakistan's victory over Zimbabwe helped them maintain the fifth spot.
BCCI appoints Ramesh Powar as Indian women’s head coach
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Ramesh Powar as the head coach of the Indian women's team, on Thursday, 13 May. Powar will replace WV Raman, under whose tenure India reached the final of the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup 2020.
Raman has come under intense scrutiny after Team India lost both the ODI and T20I series to South Africa at home.
Powar's previous stint with the Indian women's team lasted for just five months, as he was sacked after a fallout with Mithali Raj. His first assignment in the new role will begin next month with a tour to England. India are supposed to play one Test, three ODIs and as many T20Is.
Shafali Verma set to make Women’s Big Bash debut
Shafali Verma, 17, is all set to make her Women’s Big Bash debut with two-time champion Sydney Sixers later this year. Verma will become the fourth Indian to feature in this tournament, after Smriti Mandhana, Veda Krishnamurthy and Harmanpreet Kaur.
Verma has also signed a contract with Birmingham Phoenix to feature in the inaugural edition of The Hundred. She has replaced Sophie Devine, who withdrew her name owing to personal reasons.