New Zealand captain to retire in February

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum is to retire from international cricket. The 34-year-old batsman has confirmed that the two-Test series against Australia in February will be his last. McCullum is second on the Kiwi's all-time Test run scorers, with 6,273 runs from 99 matches, including 11 hundreds. "I've loved my opportunity to play for, and captain the Black Caps. But all good things have to come to an end, and I'm just grateful for the wonderful experience," he said. Kane Williamson will captain New Zealand at the World Twenty20 in India, which starts on 8 March.

New Zealand captain to retire in February

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum is to retire from international cricket. The 34-year-old batsman has confirmed that the Test series against Australia in February will be his 101st and last. McCullum is second on New Zealand's all-time Test run scorers, with 6,273 runs from 99 matches. "I've loved my opportunity to play for, and captain the Black Caps. But all good things have to come to an end, and I'm just grateful for the wonderful experience," he said on Tuesday. Kane Williamson will captain New Zealand at the World Twenty20 in India, which starts on 8 March. McCullum, who made his Test debut in 2004 against South Africa, became the first New Zealander to score a triple century when he reached 302 against India in February 2014. He led the Black Caps to their first ever Cricket World Cup final this year, where they lost to Australia.

Mohammad Amir promises to respect Pakistan team honour

Mohammad Amir has promised to respect the Pakistan team's honour after being selected for a national camp in the next stage of his return from a ban. The 23-year-old left-arm fast bowler was jailed and banned from cricket for five years for his part in spot-fixing during Pakistan's 2010 tour of England. He returned to action in March after the sanction was reduced by a year. "I promise that I will do my best to respect the prestige of the green cap and Pakistan shirt," Amir said. Amir made his Test debut aged 17 and took 51 wickets in 14 matches before his suspension for offences during the fourth Test against England at Lord's. His return was opposed by some current players, including former Twenty20 skipper Mohammad Hafeez, who said he would not play in the same team as Amir. Amir said he hoped he could win them over "with my performances and with my acts". The 26 players selected for the fitness camp will be eligible for team's limited over series in New Zealand starting next month, which features three one-day and Twenty20 internationals.

Scotland name Brad Wheal in squad for Hong Kong tour in January

 Teenage Hampshire pace bowler Brad Wheal is in Scotland's 15-man squad for their upcoming tour of Hong Kong. The Scots open their tour with an Intercontinental Cup match from 21-24 January, before one-day internationals on 26 and 28 January. They then play two Twenty20 internationals on 30 and 31 January in the lead-up to the ICC World Twenty20 in India, which begins on 8 March. "Hong Kong are going to be tough opponents," said coach Grant Bradburn. "We know them well and respect them as a strong fellow associate nation. "As a squad this Scotland team are determined to continue showing a growing strength in our performances in all three formats of the game. "We have had some precious time together reflecting on 2015 and planning ahead for the first quarter of 2016. I am hugely impressed with the skills within this squad and the desire to continually improve. "The players have embraced the variety of skill development in the off season which has included boxing, pilates and hot yoga to compliment specific skill enhancement". South Africa-born Wheal, 19, who has a Scottish mother, took seven wickets as a Scotland XI beat Marylebone Cricket Club in August. Sussex batsman Matt Machan returns to the squad after missing Scotland's successful World T20 Qualifier campaign in July. Gavin Main misses the Hong Kong tour after electing to play in New Zealand early next year while Ruaidhri Smith has exams in January and also misses out, but both are available for selection for the World T20. Scotland squad for Hong Kong: Preston Mommsen (capt), Alasdair Evans, Bradley Wheal, Calum MacLeod, Con de Lange, George Munsey, Josh Davey, Kyle Coetzer, Mark Watt, Matt Machan, Matthew Cross, Michael Leask, Richie Berrington, Rob Taylor, Safyaan Sharif.

'Sri Lanka minister suggests 'conspiracy' over doping charge'

Kusal Perera's failed drugs test could be part of a "conspiracy" against the wicketkeeper-batsman, according to Sri Lanka's sports minister. The 25-year-old tested positive for a banned substance and was sent home from the tour of New Zealand last week. Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera told parliament that authorities will send a B sample to the International Cricket Council for testing. "We are doing all we can to defend him," said the minister. "We are wondering if this allegation is a conspiracy to keep him out of next year's T20 World Cup."

Marlon Samuels given 12-month West Indies bowling ban

West Indies all-rounder Marlon Samuels has been banned from bowling in international cricket for 12 months because of an illegal action. Match officials reported the spinner, 34, during his side's first Test defeat by Sri Lanka in October. An independent assessment revealed his elbow extension exceeded the permitted 15 degrees while bowling. He was handed a year-long ban because he had already been banned from bowling his faster deliveries in December 2013. An International Cricket Council statement read: "As this report constitutes the player's second suspension within a two-year period, he is now automatically suspended from bowling in international cricket for a 12-month period. "Samuels is entitled to appeal any procedural aspect of the independent assessment that has led to this automatic suspension. However, only after the expiry of this one-year period will he be entitled to approach the ICC for a re-assessment of his bowling action." Samuels has taken 145 wickets in 279 matches for his country across Test, one-day and Twenty20 formats.

Steven Finn joins England squad for South Africa Tests

Steven Finn has been brought into England's Test squad in South Africa after recovering from a foot injury. The 26-year-old Middlesex fast bowler missed the series against Pakistan in October and November because of a bone stress injury. But he returned to action this weekend for England Lions in the United Arab Emirates, playing in two Twenty20 matches. Finn is not expected to feature in the first Test in Durban on Boxing Day. "I've been really pleased with the way things have gone with the Lions," he said. "I've bowled my overs and my foot has come through fine. I'm excited by the prospect of linking up with the team out in South Africa." England play the first of two warm-up matches on Tuesday against a South Africa Invitational XI, starting at 08:30 GMT.

World T-20 2016: England to face champions Sri Lanka

From the section Cricket Sri Lanka celebrate winning the World T20 Sri Lanka won the 2014 World Twenty20 in Bangladesh England have been grouped with defending champions Sri Lanka for the 2016 World Twenty20 in India. Eoin Morgan's men will also face South Africa, West Indies and a qualifier in the second group stage of the tournament which begins on 8 March. Ireland and Scotland enter at the first group stage, but have been drawn in separate pools of four teams. In the women's competition, England are in the same group as India, and Ireland will face champions Australia. Pakistan, who had threatened to boycott the tournament over a delay in agreeing a bilateral series with India, have been placed in the same group as their bitter rivals.

World Twenty20 2016: Can England win the tournament?

An ignominious defeat by the Netherlands and a limp exit from a tournament they had won four years earlier, the 2014 World Twenty20 marked one of the lowest points in England cricket history. Thanks to a stunning change of approach, Eoin Morgan's side can now be considered serious contenders for the 2016 competition in India starting on 8 March. A historic 3-0 series whitewash of Pakistan in the UAE in November extended England's winning T20 run to six games - and they have lost only once since their Dutch humiliation. After the draw for the World T20 was made on Friday, England batsman Joe Root and former spinner and 2010 winner Graeme Swann assess the reasons behind their resurgence and discuss whether they can become the first side t From the section Cricket England celebrate winning the T20 series against Pakistan in the UAE England have won seven and lost four T20s under Eoin Morgan's captaincy An ignominious defeat by the Netherlands and a limp exit from a tournament they had won four years earlier, the 2014 World Twenty20 marked one of the lowest points in England cricket history. Thanks to a stunning change of approach, Eoin Morgan's side can now be considered serious contenders for the 2016 competition in India starting on 8 March. A historic 3-0 series whitewash of Pakistan in the UAE in November extended England's winning T20 run to six games - and they have lost only once since their Dutch humiliation. After the draw for the World T20 was made on Friday, England batsman Joe Root and former spinner and 2010 winner Graeme Swann assess the reasons behind their resurgence and discuss whether they can become the first side to win the competition twice. A shift in focus Joe Root bats for England against Pakistan Joe Root averages 37.87 at a strike-rate of 132.31 in 12 T20s for England Andrew Strauss won only four T20 caps as a player, but the decision by England's director of cricket to concentrate more on limited-overs cricket this year was a vital factor in their T20 resurgence this year, according to Swann and Root. "The greatest thing that's happened is Strauss getting in charge and completely separating the Test and one-day cricket formats, getting specialists in, people who have grown up playing the game," says Swann, who played 39 T20s between 2008 and 2012. "In my time if you were a centrally contracted player you played ahead of guys that played a lot more T20 cricket. "I don't think it's any surprise that the upturn in results is due to guys who are just better at the game playing for England." Yet with separation has come a greater sense of unity between the ODI and T20 sides. "The way we've approached one-day cricket recently has definitely helped the T20 team with more consistency in the overlap between the sides," says Root. "You've got guys like Alex Hales and Jason Roy getting a lot more international experience. "Having that opening partnership go across both formats and that understanding of batting with one another, that's very important."o win the competition twice.