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The Ashes 2015 scheduled to take place from June 23, 2015 to Aug 14, 2015 in England. The Five-match test series will be played between England and Australia . The England and Wales Cricket Board have announced the complete fixtures for the Ashes 2015, with the first test to be played in Sophia Gardens, Cardiff while the last test (fifth match) to be played in The Oval, London. Here is a full Ashes Series 2015 fixtures, provided by Cricket Australia's official website . 1st Test: July 8-12 at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff 2nd Test: July 16-20 at Lord's, London 3rd Test: July 29- 2 Aug at Edgbaston, Birmingham 4th Test: Aug. 6-10 at Trent Bridge, Nottinghamshire 5th Test: Aug. 20-24 at The Oval, London

England ’s cricketers have fought out a thrilling test series with Sri Lanka and will consider themselves unlucky to lose at Headingley after the tourists took the final English wicket with just one ball to spare. In reality, the lack of a specialist spinner has cost Alastair Cook’s men and most pundits agree that the hosts would have taken that second test had the balance of the side been better. The retirement of Graeme Swann has given the selectors a real headache but they have to find a replacement quickly. Here are five candidates vying to fill Swann’s shoes. 1.Monty Panesar Essex’s Panesar would be the logical choice but for a string of disciplinary issues that saw the left armer described by national coach Peter Moores as ‘very difficult to select’. After a much publicised incident in a Sussex nightclub last year, Monty left Sussex and joined up with his new team mates at Chelmsford but at the start of June he was dropped after turning up late for a team meeting.

India vice-captain Virat Kohli has expressed his excitement on the five match Test series in England , starting next month. He wrote on his Twitter account that how excited and feeling proud he was ahead of the English tour. Off to England soon. Every trip feels like my first match for India! Proud, awesome, amazing. Goosebumps! Words can't describe the feeling. — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) June 21, 2014 The reason behind his excitement is the 25-year-old middle-order batsman will be playing Test Cricket for the very first time in England. He would definitely want to make an impact with his bat and help India to win this series after they suffered in 2011. See also: India Test squad for Tour of England 2014 Kohli has scored 1721 runs in 24 Tests at 46.51 average, his highest score is 119 against South Africa at Johannesburg in December 2013.

Sri Lanka batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan has joined English county Surrey as their overseas player. The 37-year-old, who is retired from Test cricket last year , will replace South Africa skipper Hashim Amla and will be available against Hampshire on June 27 in the Twenty20 Blast tournament. " It's a fantastic opportunity for me. They are one of the most historic clubs in the world and I very much hope to make a big impact whilst there, " Dilshan told the club website . It will be Dilshan's first time appearance in English county , he averages 28.74 at a strike-rate of 119.57 in T20Is. Delighted to say that Tillakaratne Dilshan has signed for Surrey! Available to debut vs. Hants next week. DETAILS: http://t.co/pSZdcZtUf2 — Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 20, 2014

New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder has joined the Big Bash League after signing with the Melbourne Renegades for the upcoming Australian summer.   Ryder, 29, has been granted leave from Otago cricket board, to play with Aussie Renegades . “Respect and appreciation to Otago cricket for their flexibility, ” Ryder said . “I’m stoked and grateful to be taking part in one of the best T20 competitions in the world. “The Renegades have some class players so I’m looking forward to contributing.” The left-hander averages 27.40 at a strike-rate of 145.90 in T20 format, he is currently playing for Essex in the English County Cricket and likely to be joining the Melbourne Renegades in mid-January for four matches and the finals.

Since Indian national cricket team made its debut as a Test playing country in 1932, it has produced some of the greatest opening batsmen in cricket history. Top Three Indian Test Opening Batsman of all time In these 82 years, we bring you the top 3 Indian test opening batsman of all time. 1) Virender Sehwag Sehwag made his test debut in late 2001 against South Africa as a middle order batsman. He has established himself as one of the most devastating opening batsman for India. His brilliant knocks were 195 against Australia on Boxing Day 2003 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The 35-year-old is the only Indian, who scored a triple century twice in his Test career (300 or more runs in an innings). He made 309 against Pakistan at Multan in 2004 and 319 against South Africa at Chennai in 2008. The right-handed batsman has scored 8586 runs in 104 Tests at 49.34 avg. 2) Sunil Gavaskar Gavaskar made his Test debut in 1971 against West Indies. He was widely regarded as one

Indian left-arm spinner Murali Kartik has retired from all forms of cricket with immediate effect. However, he confirmed his availability to play for Kings XI Punjab for the Champions League Twenty20 this year. The 37-year-old has made his Test debut against South Africa at Mumbai in 2000 and has represented India in 8 Tests, 37 one-dayers and one Twenty20 international. " I have decided to hang up my boots from all forms of competitive cricket but will honour my commitments for Kings XI Punjab during this year's Champions League T20, " said Kartik. In his English county career, he had also represented Middlesex, Somerset, Surrey and Lancashire. Although, he was a regular in the Indian Premier League , represented Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pune Warriors and Kings XI Punjab. Kartik claimed 24 Test wickets at an average of 34.16 and 37 ODI wickets at an average of 43.56.

Legendary South African allrounder Jacques Kallis has joined the Big Bash League after signing a two-year deal with the Sydney Thunder . Welcome to one of cricket's greats, @jacqueskallis75 to the #ThunderNation for the next two seasons! http://t.co/gEJMzRDJGa @BigBashLeague — Sydney Thunder (@ThunderBBL) June 12, 2014 The 38-year-old veteran, who retired from Tests cricket in December last year , has played 143 T20 internationals for his country, scoring 3673 runs and taken 95 wickets. “I’ve never played with Mike before and I’m looking forward to sharing a dressing with him,” Kallis said . After a stellar stint with IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders , Kallis will be looking to use the Big Bash League as a stepping stone for his 2015 World Cup selection.

England Twenty20 opener Alex Hales has signed for Hobart Hurricanes in the 2014-15 Big Bash League season. Get ready for some crowd catches Purple Army.....we can confirm we have @AlexHales1 on the #canetrain for BBL|04!!! pic.twitter.com/DiIqEVmzCI — Hobart Hurricanes (@HurricanesBBL) June 11, 2014 The 25-year-old has experience in the Big Bash League for the Melbourne Renegades in 2012-13 and the Adelaide Strikers last summer. He becomes the Hurricanes’ ninth signing of BBL season four. The Nottinghamshire batsman Hales has played 32 Twenty20 internationals for England, scoring 1022 runs at 37.85. Hales confirmed the signature on his Twitter. Excited to be joining @HurricanesBBL for the #BBL04 and working with @wrightmove6 ! — Alex Hales (@AlexHales1) June 11, 2014 The Big Bash season four will start from late December 2014.

The Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell has been named England's men Cricketer of the Year 2013-2014 for his outstanding performances in the Ashes series victory over Australia last summer. Bell , 32, became the first briton in 27 years to achieve a landmark of making three consecutive centuries and two fifties during England's 3-0 home Ashes win. “It means a lot (to win the award),” Bell told ecb.co.uk . “Over the years I’ve seen some really good England players win this award and some friends as well so it is nice to finally get up there and win one myself.” England middle-order batsman Ian Bell has scored 6722 runs in 98 Tests at 45.41 avg and scored 4832 runs in 146 ODI's at 37.16 avg. Elsewhere, England women's captain Charlotte Edwards won the women’s cricketer of the year. While England U-19s skipper Will Rhodes (Development Programme cricketer) and Stephen George (disability cricketer of the year) also win awards for excellence.

The Pakistani-born Australia Test batsman Usman Khawaja has joined Lancashire as their overseas player until the end of the season, Lancs confirmed on their official website . Khawaja, 27, likely to arrive at Old Trafford next week and will be available for all three forms of the game. The left-hander previously played for Derbyshire in county cricket between 2011 and 2012. "This is a great opportunity for me and a challenge I am really looking forward to getting stuck into," said the Aussie , who is expected to make his debut against Leicestershire on June 13. Khawaja has scored 4979 runs at an 41.14 average in 78 first-class matches including 12 centuries.

South African opener Hashim Amla has been appointed as the new Test captain after Graeme Smith's retirement from the international game, Cricket South Africa confirmed on Twitter. CSA announce @amlahash the Proteas new Test Captain. pic.twitter.com/I0p5nq8ElJ — Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) June 3, 2014 The 31-year-old batsman is the first Indian-origin South African and the fifth permanent captain of the Proteas to lead the national side. “It is an honour and a privilege to be given this responsibility,” Amla said. “I would like to pay tribute to the leadership Graeme Smith has provided throughout my international career." The World #4 Test batsman, Amla made his Test debut in November 28, 2004 against India. Since then he has played 76 Tests, scoring 6214 runs at an average of 51.35. Amla's first assignment will be to lead the team to Sri Lanka next month for a two-match series followed by a five-day game in Zimbabwe and a home series against West I

Image Source: BCCI IPL 7 Winner - Kolkata Knight Riders (Prize: Rs. 15 Crores) IPL 7 Runner up - Kings XI Punjab (Prize: Rs. 10 Crores) IPL Final Man of the Match - Manish Pandey from KKR (94 off 50 balls) IPL Final Maximum Sixes Award - Wriddhiman Saha from KXIP (Prize: Rs 1 Lakhs + Trophy) IPL Final Kanna Keep Calm Award  - Akshar Patel from KXIP Fair Play Award - Chennai Super Kings Orange Cap Award - Robin Uthappa from KKR (600 Runs) (Prize: Rs 10 Lakhs) Purple Cap Award - Mohit Sharma from CSK (23 Wickets in 16 Matches) (Prize: Rs 10 Lakhs) Pepsi Atom MVP Most Valuable Player - Glenn Maxwell from KXIP (286 Pts) (Prize: Rs 10 Lakhs) Emerging Player of The Tournament – Akshar Patel from KXIP (17 Wickets at an average of 23.32) Best Catch of the Season Award - Kieron Pollard from MI (Prize: Rs 10 Lakhs + Trophy) IPL Maximum Sixes Award - Glenn Maxwell from KXIP (36 Sixes) Highest Individual Score - Virender Sehwag from KXIP (122 Runs) Faste