Virat Kohli has scans for mystery ailment; disgraced cricket coach cops another misconduct ban

Superstar India batter Virat Kohli has undergone scans on a mystery injury just over a week out from the start of the first Test.

The visitors were dealt a fresh injury worry on Friday when opener K.L. Rahul, in the frame to replace skipper Rohit Sharma at the top of the order, left the field after being struck on the elbow during India’s match simulation at the WACA Ground.

Virat Kohli was sent for scans on Thursday.Credit: Getty Images

The nature of Kohli’s injury is unclear, but a source with direct knowledge of the matter has confirmed the batting great did have scans on Thursday.

The issue did not prevent Kohli from taking part in India’s internal practice match on Friday, though it was of sufficient concern for Team India to send him for medical imaging.

Kohli has been one of India’s most durable players. Since his Test debut in June 2011, he has played 118 of a possible 136 games, the most of any India player in that period. The next best is spinner Ravichandran Ashwin with 105.

Kohli’s more pressing concern is his form. The veteran batter made 15 before he was caught in the slips cordon off the bowling of three-Test seamer Mukesh Kumar. He then reportedly headed to the nets for half an hour of throw-downs.

The 36-year-old enters the Border-Gavaskar series in a lengthy form slump stretching back to the start of 2020.

Across his past 60 innings, he is averaging a modest 31.68 and has reached triple figures just twice.

His average this year is a meagre 22.72 from six Tests, though those matches have been played on ultra spin-friendly pitches.

Kohli has excelled in Australian conditions, averaging 54.08 from four tours here, though pitches on these shores have become more difficult to bat on in the past four years.

Former India coach Ravi Shastri, who was at the helm of the country’s historic series wins in Ausralia in 2018-19 and 2020-21, is backing Kohli to rediscover his best.

“Well, the king is back in his territory,” Shastri said on the ICC Review show.

“That’s all I will tell (the doubters). When you’ve earned that title after your exploits in Australia, it will be on your (opponent’s) mind when you go out to bat.”

Disgraced cricket coach hit with another misconduct ban

AAP

Cricket Australia has slapped former Sri Lanka Test player Dulip Samaraweera with another ban after allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a player while coaching.

Already suspended from any involvement in Australian cricket for 20 years after being found to have behaved inappropriately towards a female player, Samaraweera has since been accused of further misconduct towards a different player.

According to a statement from Cricket Australia, the allegation of inappropriate conduct took place while Samaraweera was employed by Cricket Victoria but relates to private coaching sessions outside this role.

Dulip SamaraweeraCredit: Getty Images

Samaraweera denied the allegations, but CA said he chose not to participate in the investigation and subsequent conduct commission hearing, so he was banned for 10 years for breaching the sport’s code of conduct.

The ban will be served concurrently with his initial 20-year suspension, meaning he is still not able to return to any coaching role with Australia or a state or territory body until 2044 when he will be 72.

The seven-time Test representative had been involved in Cricket Victoria’s women’s program for almost 16 years, including as a long-time assistant coach at the WBBL’s Melbourne Stars, before resigning in May.

Cricket Victoria chief executive Nick Cummins had previously labelled Samaraweera’s conduct “utterly reprehensible” and “a betrayal of everything we stand for” after CA released the findings of its initial investigation in September.

“The victim in this case has demonstrated incredible strength of character and courage in speaking up,” Cummins said after the initial charge.

“She will continue to receive our ongoing support to allow her to achieve her goals on and off the field.

“From an organisation perspective, the safety and wellbeing of everyone at Cricket Victoria is paramount.

“We will not tolerate any behaviour which compromises that position, or our people, and will always support our culture of speaking up.”

The Colombo-born Samaraweera opened the batting in seven Tests for Sri Lanka between 1993 and 1995, before later moving into coaching.

He was an assistant coach with the Stars from the inaugural WBBL season in 2015, and even served as Victoria’s interim head coach for most of last summer.

Samaraweera had been due to take over the role full-time, but resigned in May when Cricket Victoria’s conflict of interest policy prevented him from hiring his brother Thilan to the coaching staff.

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