Staggering details emerge after Virat Kohli axed as ODI captain

It's been an open secret in the cricket world that Virat Kohli's days as India's limited overs captain were numbered after a tumultuous T20 World Cup campaign.

There's been tension between India's cricket officials and Kohli after he refused to step down as captain in the wake of the disastrous tournament, however the BCCI's move to install Rohit Sharma as their new skipper wasn't exactly communicated well.

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Kohli reportedly learned he had been ousted as ODI captain after seeing the announcement on social media.

The move was described as a 'fait accompli' by the BCCI following Kohli's refusal to relinquish the captaincy on his own terms.

However the ruthlessness of the announcement rubbed many Indian fans the wrong way, with the BCCI not even referring to Kohli by name when announcing Sharma was to take over the position.

“The All-India Senior Selection Committee also decided to name Mr Rohit Sharma as the Captain of the ODI & T20I teams going forward," the final line of their latest ODI team announcement read.

Wisden columnist Rohit Sankar said it was a disappointing outcome for Indian cricket fans, with the politics of the national team taking centre stage.

"What’s disappointing, more than the manner in which the news came out, is the fact that this power struggle and the lack of clarity from the board has denied Indian fans the chance to bask in a truly magnificent era," Sankar wrote.

"At a time we should be celebrating two unmistakable greats of the game, we are debating which side they are on, and the politics, not the cricket."

Many expected Kohli, who remains the Test captain, to lead India in the 50-overs World Cup on home soil in 2023 but the board has opted for a single white-ball skipper.

Under Kohli, India reached the semi-finals of the 50-over World Cup in 2019 but could not advance beyond the group stage at this year's T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

In further indication of Rohit's growing stature within the team, the 34-year-old also replaced fellow Mumbai player Ajinkya Rahane as vice-captain of the Test side.

CA close to locking in fifth Test venue

Cricket Australia (CA) could lock in a venue for the fifth men's Ashes Test as early as Friday, with Hobart still considered the front-runner.

The series finale was slated to begin in Perth on January 14.

However, CA has been forced to shift the final Test elsewhere because of Western Australia's border restrictions.

Every state and the ACT have expressed an interest in hosting the match, with the MCG and SCG looming as Bellerive's stiffest competition.

CA chief executive Nick Hockley, speaking on Thursday, played a straight bat when asked about the prospect off Hobart hosting its first Test since 2016.

But Hockley confirmed a decision about the Test, now set to be a pink-ball clash, would be made "in the not too distant future".

"We've had lots of interest. I won't go into specifics because we're just working through the details now," Hockley told SEN.

Western Australia police minister Paul Papalia sledged CA for being "completely inflexible" and a "pretty poor organisation" after talks regarding the fifth Test hit a brick wall.

Hockley argued that criticism was "entirely unfair".

"We've worked really constructively with governments right around the country, all throughout the last 18 months," he said.

"Including the Western Australia government.

"So that's certainly not reflective of the conversations and the spirit of the conversations that I've been having."

With AAP

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