India, who had reclaimed the top spot in the Test rankings after taking an unassailable 2-0 series lead in Kolkata, won the third and final Test by 321 runs Tuesday to consolidate their position.

Batting legend and ICC Hall of Famer Sunil Gavaskar presented Kohli with the mace on behalf of the International Cricket Council at Indore’s Holkar Stadium.

Kohli was only the second India captain after Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the 10th overall to receive the mace since its introduction in 2001.

The others are Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Steve Smith (Australia), Andrew Strauss (England), Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla (South Africa) and Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan).

India are now four points in the ratings above arch-rivals Pakistan, who enjoyed the top spot only briefly after Misbah received the mace last month in Lahore.

“I’ve got a few Man of the Match awards, so have the boys. This is much more special. The last time India got the mace, I was watching on TV,” said a delighted Kohli.

“The key right now is maintaining our game. We’re working really hard on the areas needing improvement and we’ve been able to correct the wrongs quickly and we’d like to continue that and give the people what they want to see.”

India had replaced Australia at the top of the rankings after their series win against the West Indies in August, only to be leapfrogged by Pakistan later.

“The number-one ranking has changed hands three times in as many months, indicative of the current competitiveness of Test cricket,” ICC chief executive Dave Richardson was quoted as saying in a release

Perera was withdrawn from the current tour of New Zealand when the ICC informed Sri Lanka Cricket that his A urine sample when tested was positive following a random test carried out by their Anti-Doping Committee during the one-day series between Sri Lanka and West Indies in October. The ICC had found that Perera’s urine sample contained a banned substance.

Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva said that Perera will have to follow the ICC process on such cases individually.

“With the tests comes the immediate suspension from international and domestic cricket. Kusal will now have to basically decide what he wants to do and let the ICC know about it,” said De Silva.

“He can either go for litigation or for an inquiry. It is something that cannot be challenged. If Kusal decides to go for an inquiry he will face the ICC Anti-Doping Committee for which he will be given a date to appear.”

De Silva said that Sri Lanka Cricket cannot get involved in it because the charge sheet has been issued personally to Perera.

“The only thing what we can do is to educate the players which is what we have done. They are aware of it from the age of 19 years.”

“Kusal says he doesn’t know how it has happened. He has completely denied taking anything illegally. He is not aware of any medication he has taken other than what was cleared by the local physios and doctors. He is a bit alarmed about the whole thing,” said De Silva.

“Kusal will have to convince the ICC Anti-Doping Committee whether he has taken it deliberately or not. He will be judged on what he can come up with to defend himself.

“If Kusal can prove it that he had not taken it deliberately then of course the suspension will be lenient maybe a year or two, we don’t know,” he said.

“Generally the suspension for such cases is upto four years. It is up to the ICC Anti-Doping Committee to decide on the length of the suspension.”

Perera burst into international cricket two years ago and within that short period had proved to be a devastating batsman in the mould of former captain Sanath Jayasuriya whom he resembles mostly in his stroke play.

The 25-year-old left-hand bat and wicket-keeper had a promising international future ahead of him when this unfortunate career threatening incident occurred.

Four years ago another Sri Lankan left-handed batsman Upul Tharanga was also random tested during the 2011 World Cup and found to be positive. Although he was banned for three years

Tharanga managed to convince the ICC Anti-Doping Committee of his innocence and his suspension was backdated so that he missed only one match.

“ICC has reviewed the decision and acknowledged that it was incorrect,” it said on Twitter, adding that it had replied to New Zealand Cricket’s questioning of the decision. “ICC confirms the umpire followed the correct protocol, but made an incorrect judgement.”

The decision was hotly debated and criticised by television commentators and the media at the time, and drew unhappy but guarded reactions from New Zealand players Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum, and the coach Mike Hesson because it had a significant impact on the Test.

Australia were 8 for 118 in reply to New Zealand’s 202 on the second day when Lyon top-edged an attempted sweep off left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner into his shoulder and up to slip. New Zealand’s appeal was denied on field by umpire S Ravi, and McCullum asked for a review.

After five minutes of replays, Llong upheld Ravi’s decision though there was a clear Hot Spot on the top edge of Lyon’s bat, and the batsman had walked halfway to the dressing room. There also seemed to be a deviation in the ball’s course, but nothing showed up on Snicko, which also failed to read the impact of the ball on Lyon’s shoulder.

Lyon had not scored at the time of his reprieve, and he eventually went on to make 34. Australia’s last two wickets added 108 runs in all, and earned a first-innings lead of 22. New Zealand were dismissed for 208 in their second innings, and Australia chased down the target of 187 with only three wickets in hand.

Unlike some similar committees of the past Wettimuny and Co can leave with their heads held high.When the interim committee took over on April 1, they started with a Rs. 207 million overdraft and owed US$ 7.8 million to the ICC and the Bank of Ceylon.

“I can proudly say that today we have over Rs. 200 million in the bank plus another US$ 4.6 million in reserve with the ICC to come. It’s a very healthy financial situation,” said Wettimuny.

He also revealed that the amount they owed Bank of Ceylon has been brought down to US$ 370,000 which they plan to pay shortly.

Making some startling revelations Wettimuny stated, ” In the first five months of our operation from an expenditure budget of over Rs. 1.4 billion approximately we saved Rs. 438.7 million, nearly 30 percent by being cautious and going slow because the next year is not going to be a good one.

“We have cut at every turn and stopped unnecessary expenditure. We want to make sure that when we go we leave a healthy balance sheet.”

On the cricket side Wettimuny said that the national cricket team was “well under control” and that the players were happy with Jerome Jayaratne as the head coach.

“We have a superb trainer and you’ll see the fielding standards have gone up and we have a happy dressing room because we have a very good team now,” said Wettimuny. “The selectors are doing a great job and cricket is going in the right direction.”

Wettimuny expressed confidence the way the Sri Lanka under 19 cricketers were shaping up for the upcoming under 19 World Cup in Bangladesh.

“We have a very good crop of players this time and we should do well in the under 19 World Cup,” said Wettimuny.

“Roger (Wijesuriya) and Avishka (Gunawardene) are working really hard. I am sure we will do much better than in the recent past. The key there is not to peak too early.”

Wettimuny said that they were very mindful not to pick bowlers with suspect actions for the world event. “We are very much in focus and have sent a few of them to Chennai for testing.”

On the infrastructure part Wettimuny said, “Whatever we wanted to do I have done. We have started indoor facilities at Khettarama, Dambulla and Pallekele. We have also ordered indoor facilities for all the international stadiums – Hambantota, Khettarama, Dambulla, Pallekele and Galle.

Trainer Michael Main is co-ordinating it and we will have qualified trainers, physios, managers, coaches etc at every centre.”

Wettimuny also stated that payments for players had been increased hugely and added, “We put the payments into a different level where if you play you earn. There is a new payment structure in place and there is an ongoing soft skills program going on in 11 different areas where players are being educate from under 19 to national level. It’s a vital thing to educate our players so that they become confident men”.

A psychologist from Australia has been working for the past three months on SLC employees, men’s and women’s teams, under 19 team and the coaches making it a very happy environment for cricket.

At the conclusion of the ICC’s Annual Conference concluded in Barbados the ICC issued the following statement:

“The ICC Board received an update on Sri Lanka Cricket and reiterated its earlier position that the appointment of an Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) by the Government of Sri Lanka was a breach of the ICC’s constitution.

“The ICC Board urged the Sports Minister of Sri Lanka to hold free and fair elections before the next ICC Board meeting in October, adding that the ICC reserved the right to take further action against the SLC in the event of further non-compliance.

Sri Lanka was represented at the meeting by Sri Lanka Cricket interim committee chairman Sidath Wettimuny who was given only observer status.

Sri Lanka Cricket Coaching Department’s request to the International Cricket Council (ICC) seeking international recognition for the home developed ‘Level 2 Cricket Coaching Course’ was accommodated when the ICC decided to send one of their nominated staff as an observer during the delivery of a said course which is to be conducted in June 2015. The Education Unit of SLC Coaching Department made this application a few months ago to the ICC seeking its endorsement and classification to the existing SLC Level 2 Cricket Coaching Course syllabus which was developed by our own local coaching staff who are currently assigned and working at the SLC National Coaching Department in Khettarama.

The application made, if successful in obtaining this endorsement by the ICC the SLC Accreditation Coaching Course Certificate, will hold International value to all coaches who have this status. Over the years cricket coaching worldwide and in Sri Lanka has become a lucrative form of employment with schools, clubs, mercantile firms and other business establishments throughout the country hiring cricket coaches to help develop their players, most of whom are involved at some level of cricket being played nationwide in which cricket is seen as the most popular sport in the country. Up to this time all Sri Lankan coaches seeking the Level 2 qualification travel overseas to countries such as Australia and England for this purpose, which costs the individual a colossal amount of money with regard to the course fee, air fare, accommodation and other expenses.
The existing SLC Level 1 Cricket Coaching Course is classified and holds the ICC endorsement on its certificates which is internationally recognized. Many take to coaching on a professional basis through the structured pathway to certain standards and protocols set by the SLC Coaching Department. It also has been noticed that many local cricketers who currently travel overseas seeking to play professional cricket also follow coaching courses of this nature as conducted by SLC, which helps them engage in some form of structured coaching overseas, and in some countries the coaching certification is mandatory prior to receiving a contract to play cricket.

The chairman of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) interim committee Sidath Wettimuny…

Other issues to be discussed are the balance between bat and ball in all three formats, ICC Playing Conditions, the use of technology in umpiring and Code of Conduct, including player behaviour.
The committee is chaired by former India captain Anil Kumble and includes representatives of the game’s various stakeholders. The Committee has 12 members, including Kumble.
‘The Cricket Committee’s remit is to discuss cricket-playing matters and to make recommendations to the ICC Chief Executives Committee and the ICC Board that will meet in Barbados during the ICC’s annual conference week, from 22-26 June,’ an ICC release said.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the team of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 with Brendon McCullum as its captain.

McCullum was chosen as the captain following his aggressive, innovative and inspirational leadership during the 44-day tournament that was the cornerstone of his team’s progression to the final where it lost to Australia by seven wickets.

In doing so, McCullum also scored 328 runs in nine matches with four half-centuries at a strike-rate of 188.50.

The team was chosen by a select group of experts* who were given the task of picking a balanced side on the basis of performances in the tournament. Statistics were used but were not the sole basis for selections.

In addition to McCullum, the side includes four New Zealanders – Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Martin Guptill, Daniel Vettori – three Australians in Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith and Mitchell Starc, two South Africans, AB de Villiers and Morne Morkel, with Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara as wicketkeeper-batsman.

Zimbabwe’s Brendan Taylor, who finished with 433 runs in six matches, was named as the 12th man.

Team of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in batting order:

Brendon McCullum (New Zealand (captain)

Martin Guptill (New Zealand)

Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) (wicketkeeper)

Steven Smith (Australia)

AB de Villiers (South Africa)

Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

Corey Anderson (New Zealand)

Daniel Vettori (New Zealand)

Mitchell Starc (Australia)

Trent Boult (New Zealand)

Morne Morkel (South Africa)

Brendan Taylor (Zimbabwe) (12th man)

ICC General Manager – Cricket, Geoff Allardice, chairman of the panel, said: “The panel had an extremely difficult choice of selecting a 12-member squad at the back of an outstanding tournament, highlighted by some eye-catching individual performances including two double-centuries, 38 centuries, two hat-tricks and 28 four-wicket hauls.

“There were a number of other players that were discussed as possible selections in the team. These included batsmen Mahmudullah (Bangladesh) and Shaiman Anwar (UAE), fast bowlers Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami (both India), Wahab Riaz (Pakistan) and spinners Imran Tahir (South Africa) and R.Ashwin (India).

“But there were so many brilliant individual performances during the tournament that it was not possible to fit them into the team. The panel eventually came up with this side, which, in their view, was the most balanced outfit that is capable of beating any side on any given day.”

*The selection panel that chose the player of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 consisted of:

Geoff Allardice (ICC General Manager – Cricket)

Andrew Alderson (Journalist, New Zealand Herald)

Harsha Bhogle (Broadcaster)

Richard Kettleborough (Member of Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and ICC Umpire of the Year 2014)

Chloe Saltau (Journalist, The Age)

Michael Vaughan (Former England captain and broadcaster)