Claude Henderson

South African batsmen may have criticised the pitch on offer during the ongoing first Test at the PCA Stadium here, but the visiting team spin coach Claude Henderson on Friday said he also would have preferred a turning track had he been part of the Indian team management.

Ajinkya Rahane has joined Leicestershire in place of Wiaan Mulder, who is expected to travel to the West Indies with South Africa in August. Rahane has accumulated over 26,000 runs across formats (First-Class, List-A and T20), having struck 51 hundreds with a top score of an unbeaten 265.

Tuesday was Day 65 of South Africa's current tour of India. Over two months later, the Proteas were still trying to simulate match conditions while practicing for what is essentially a dead rubber the final Test here at the Ferozeshah Kotla.

With the opening Test delicately poised after two days of intense action, South Africa have suffered a big blow as pace spearhead Dale Steyn is unlikely to take field on Saturday due to a groin strain.

The end of the Kolpak system in England will be a major boost for South African cricket’s attempts to keep its best talent at home in a more competitive domestic scene, according to seam bowler Kyle Abbott. South African cricketers have been major beneficiaries over the years, signing lucrative contracts with English counties that automatically disqualified them from representing the national team.

Adrian Birrell, who had previously coached Ireland, will be working as the deputy of chief coach Russell Domingo till ICC World Cup 2015.

Mumbai, the leicestershire county cricket club, on Tuesday announced the signing of former India captain Ajinkya Rahane for the 2023 season. Rahane, 34, will arrive in June after playing in the IPL with the Chennai Super Kings and will be available for eight county championship matches as well as the entire Royal London Cup one day tournament in August. Rahane is Leicestershire's latest overseas signing for 2023 after Wiaan Mulder and Naveenulhaq. This will be Rahane's second stint in county cricket after he became the first Indian cricketer to play for Hampshire in 2019. Currently out of the Indian team, Rahane has scored 4931 runs at an average of 3852 including 12 hundreds in tests and 2962 runs at 3526 including three centuries in ODIs. He has also scored 12865 runs 4712 in firstclass cricket including 39 centuries and 54 fifties. Speaking about Rahane's signing, Director of Cricket Claude Henderson said, "I'm extremely excited to welcome Ajinkya to Leicestershire. He comes with a lot of experience and a tremendous work ethic, and is a great opportunity for us to tap into that. I had conversations with Assistant Coach Alfonso Thomas

Ajinkya Rahane will not play for English county team Leicestershire as originally anticipated because he wants to take a break from cricket following his busy international schedule, the club announced.

The Leicestershire County Cricket Club on Tuesday announced the signing of former India captain Ajinkya Rahane for the 2023 season. The club revealed on its website that the 34-year-old Mumbaikar is set to arrive in June after playing in the IPL with the Chennai Super Kings, and will be available for eight County Championship matches, as well as the entire Royal London Cup (One Day tournament) in August. The Indian batsman is Leicestershire’s latest overseas signing for 2023 after Wiaan Mulder and Naveen-ul-Haq.

On Thursday, TOI learnt that the former India and Mumbai offspinner Ramesh Powar had been roped in by Cricket Australia (CA) to coach its young spinners.

South African cricket officials have expressed concern over the flight of their players to England and subsequently playing for their adopted country.

Wicket-keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow and spin bowling all-rounder Moeen Ali were on Thursday named in England's 24-member training group for the three-match ODI series against Ireland starting later this month.