Mitchell Marsh picks county cricket over IPL

Surrey have signed Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh as their overseas player for 2018.

Australia allrounder Mitchell Marsh has chosen a full season of county cricket ahead of chasing an IPL deal, signing on as Surrey's overseas player for 2018. Mitchell Marsh, the son of former Australia opener Geoff, has played 21 Tests, 48 one-day internationals and nine T20s since making his debut in 2011.

Marsh asserted, "I am extremely excited to join Surrey for the 2018 season. The opportunity to challenge myself in English conditions is something I can't wait for. I have followed the team closely this year and hopefully, I'll be able to contribute to some silverware, along with helping a young squad grow and improve. The opportunity to work with Michael di Venuto (Coach) and Alec Stewart (Team Director) is also very exciting. Bring on 2018!"

Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart described Marsh as a "highly talented, exciting and motivated" all-rounder.

"His all-round abilities and experience will add great balance and depth to our squad," he added.

By making himself available for the full English season, Marsh will in all likelihood miss out on a lucrative IPL contract at next year's auction. The Western Australian had two forgettable years with Rising Pune Supergiant. In 2016, he returned home after three games due to a side strain. The following year, he picked up a shoulder injury while playing Tests in India and was replaced by Imran Tahir. Marsh is playing in the JLT Cup as a batsman only and is targeting a return to bowling in time for the Perth Scorchers' KFC Big Bash League campaign.

"It obviously gives me a chance to work on my batting, which has been great," Marsh said earlier this month. "As soon as I'm right to go I'll always be an allrounder as long as I play cricket.

"But at the end of the day if I'm going to play cricket for Australia I have to be the sixth best batsman for Australia batting at No 6. So I understand that."

Marsh is still recovering from shoulder surgery having been flown home from Australia's Tour of India in March.

AB de Villiers dethrones Virat Kohli from top position in ICC ODI Rankings

India lose top ODI spot to South Africa in latest ICC rankings

Ab De Villiers back as the No. 1 ODI batsman

Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been displaced as the number 1 ODI batsman by South Africa's AB de Villiers in the latest ICC ODI player rankings. An astonishing knock of 176 by Ab De Villiers in the second ODI against Bangladesh in paarl on wednesday - consisting of 15 fours and 7 sixes and off only 104 balls - saw the proteas take a 2-0 lead in 3 match series

Kohli, who had a mediocre series by his standards against Australia, has 877 points in the latest rankings while AB de Villiers, who leapfrogged both Kohli and David Warner to the top spot, has 879 points, two more than Kohli. The 33-year-old De Villiers, who has leapfrogged Australian David Warner and Kohli, had first attained top position on 30 May 2010 and the number of days he has spent at the top is second most after retired Windies great Vivian Richards. De Villiers has now been at the top for 2,124 days while Richards was number one for 2,306 days, ICC said. A surprise inclusion in the top five is of Pakistan’s Babar Azam after he achieved career-best ratings to get to the fourth spot. Rohit Sharma lost two positions as well moving to the 5th position as Quinton de Kock and Azam climbed up the list and on the flip side, MS Dhoni and Shikhar Dhawan retained the 12th and 14th position. There was one major change in the rankings as Mushfiqur Rahim took a giant leap forward jumping 5 spots after becoming the first Bangladesh batsman to score a century in South Africa.

ICC ODI BATSMEN:

1. AB de Villiers (RSA) - 879

2. Virat Kohli (IND) - 877

3. David Warner (AUS) - 865

4. Babar Azam (PAK) - 833

5. Quinton de Kock (RSA) - 802

6. Joe Root (ENG) - 802

7. Rohit Sharma (IND) - 790

8. Kane Williamson (NZ) - 779

9. Hashim Amla (RSA) - 770

10. Faf du Plessis (RSA) - 754

South Africa are the new number 1 side in the World after beating Bangladesh in the first two ODIs and are ahead of India on decimal points. If South Africa beat Bangladesh 3-0, then they will move to 121 points, who are right now tied with India on 120 points, just decimals ahead. However, if India beat New Zealand in the opening ODI of the three-match series in Mumbai, then they will reclaim the top spot.

On His 39th B'day, 'Twitter King' Virender Sehwag Gets A Taste Of His Own Medicine

Sachin Tendulkar trolls Virender Sehwag with 'ulta' birthday wish

Many cricket buffs also shared footage of Virender Sehwag's memorable tons and iconic innings. Remembering the star who became the first batsman to reach 300 with a six, that also earned him the title, 'Sultan of Multan' -- fans can't have enough of this legend.

Sehwag who has retired from the sport of cricket is enjoying his second innings on the microblogging site and like always, Viru is pretty much hitting everything out of the park.

The former India opener has made it a habit to tweet birthday wishes to his former teammates and friends in a rather unique manner. As Sehwag turned 39 on he was given a taste of his own medicine by some of his Twitter 'victims'. Check out some of these tweets below.

Cricket mein 1st innings ke baadshah aur zindagi mein 2nd innings ke shahenshah, @virendersehwag ko janamdin mubarak. Entertain karte rahiye

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)

Many Happy returns of the day @virendersehwag . Have a great year ahead!

— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074)

Happy bday @virendersehwag Thanks for teaching us the meaning of the word Fearless!Wish I could have seen one 300 from the non strikers end!

- Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88)

.ǝɯ ɯoɹɟ ǝuo s,ǝɹǝɥ os ˙😜pןǝıɟ uo noʎ pןoʇ ǝʌɐɥ ı ʇɐɥʍ ɟo ɐʇןn ǝuop sʎɐʍןɐ ǝʌ,noʎ ˙ɹɐǝʎ ʍǝu ǝɥʇ oʇ ʇɹɐʇs ʇɐǝɹƃ ɐ ǝʌɐɥ ¡nɹıʌ 'ʎɐpɥʇɹıq ʎddɐɥ

- Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt)