The club's slim hopes of winning the County Championship First Division have all but evaporated after a bat, used by Feroze Khushi in April's match against Nottinghamshire, was found to have exceeded the permitted dimensions.

Unlike his fictional namesake, there is no need to use a flashlight or special telephone line to get hold of the bat-maker and repair specialist when the world's leading run-scorers need their favourite blades reconditioned while touring India or appearing in the lucrative Indian Premier League

Cricket bat-makers in Pirojpur’s Nesarabad upazila have gotten to work ahead of schedule with next month’s Cricket World Cup just around the corner, and they are hopeful of good sales during the showpiece event in neighbouring India.

Cricket officials Wednesday banned a black bat used by West Indian Andre Russell in Australia's T20 Big Bash League because its colour marks the ball.