Welcome to Thursday’s live cricket blog.
The Sport360 team is in place bringing you the latest news from around the world as we follow and build up to some big matches.
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7:00pm – Patel confident of another good display
Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel led New Zealand to a superb win in the first Test against Pakistan and is eager to maintain pressure on the opposition.
2:33pm – Joe Root reflects on England’s amazing turnaround in 2018
Joe Root registers his 15th Test ton.
Joe Root intends to see off 2018 in style after banishing memories of a bruising start to the year.
When the third Test against Sri Lanka begins in Colombo on Friday, Root’s side know victory would make them just the third England team in history to complete an overseas whitewash in a series of three or more matches.
Read what the England skipper has been saying here.
1:29pm – India’s 2011 World Cup winner Munaf Patel rolls back the years
Munaf Patel – at one time, India’s answer to Brett Lee.
Some of you might not remember that former India international fast bowler Munaf Patel is a World Cup winner.
He hasn’t featured for his country since his heroics in lifting that 2011 crown, but that hasn’t meant the end for the 35-year-old.
The lanky quick is one of eight Indian players playing in the second edition of the T10 League in the UAE and he got things rolling in the first match of the tournament in Sharjah on Wednesday with a superb bowling effort.
Read the full story here.
11:56am – Sandeep Lamichhane’s rise continues in UAE
Sandeep Lamichhane’s star continues to rise.
Nepal leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane continued to prove his worth in white-ball franchise cricket as he kicked-off his T10 campaign with a superb three wicket haul.
Playing for Kerala Kings, Lamichhane picked up 3-17 from his two overs as he helped restrict Pakhtoons to 109-5 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Read more on his storming showing in Sharjah here.
10:00am – Jonny Bairstow urged to grab England recall “by the scruff of the neck”
England captain Joe Root has challenged Jonny Bairstow to grab his recall “by the scruff of the neck” and end the Test team’s revolving door policy at number three.
Bairstow arrived in Sri Lanka as England’s first-choice wicketkeeper but was ruled out of the series opener in Galle due to injury and overlooked in Kandy following Ben Foakes’ fine debut with the gloves.
Read the full story here.