Hit For Six: The latest cricket news from around the world

In the first of a regular round-up, LiveScore's Matthew Storey pulls together some of the biggest stories from the world of cricket. 

All eyes on The Hundred 

As the build-up towards The Hundred — England’s new franchise cricket tournament — continues, Sky Sports have announced a star-studded line-up to cover the action. 

Yet the impressive array of talent has been somewhat overshadowed by proposed changes to the language of cricket to attract a younger audience. 

Already splitting opinion among fans and traditionalists, it has been reported that wickets will be known as ‘outs’ in The Hundred — a phrase more commonly used in baseball. 

That is on top of doing away with overs in a bid to make it simpler for new viewers to understand the format, despite many feeling the organisers are continuing to alienate the existing audience. 

But the fuss around the proposed changes has not worried the big names involved in covering the tournament.

Some of the world’s best players are coming to England to play for new teams such as London Spirit and Manchester Originals, with England legends Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff and Stuart Broad set to commentate.

Broad, 34, said: "We've got the best players in the world playing on some of the best cricket grounds in the world. What's not to love?

"And off the field, there's some of the most recognisable names in cricket talking about the game. 

"The Hundred is all about getting new boys and girls playing the game we already love. We can go about it with a lot of fun, excitement and give some little insights.

"But as we always say, the talking is done on the field — and it's exciting we've got so many brilliant players to showcase the game." 

Already controversial despite not kicking off until July, it remains to be seen whether or not the big-money competition will be a hit.

Samson lights up the IPL

Just five games into the Indian Premier League season and we have already seen two last-ball finishes. 

Royal Challengers Bangalore overcame defending champions Mumbai Indians on the opening night by two wickets in dramatic fashion.

But it was the Punjab Kings' four-run victory over Rajasthan Royals on Monday that really set the tournament alight. 

Chasing a mammoth 221 to win, Royals skipper Sanju Samson smashed an astonishing 119 from just 63 balls, only to be caught on the boundary from the final delivery with his side needing five to win. 

The second part of my innings was my best IPL performance Sanju Samson

It was a brutal display from Samson, 26, who hit the fourth ball of the final over for six, turned down a single off the penultimate ball, then saw his efforts to hit over deep cover to win it fall agonisingly short. 

Arshdeep Singh was the hero with the ball, taking 3-35 as his final over saw the Kings edge over the line.

A gutted Samson said: "I don't think I could have done anything more than that [on the last ball].

"I thought I timed it well for a six but it somehow landed inside the rope. 

"I don't have words to tell that [explain my feelings]. It was a very close game and I would really loved to have finished it off for my team."

He added: "The second part of my innings was my best IPL performance."

Read more: Samson shows his strength but Royals denied by Punjab Kings

Championship controversy

Runs galore were scored in freezing conditions as the England and Wales County Championship started last Thursday — but a controversial dismissal took the headlines. 

Eagle-eyed viewers spotted that Hampshire wicketkeeper Lewis McManus claimed the stumping of Leicestershire’s Hassan Azad for 18, despite the ball being in the hand he held above his head appealing for a catch, rather than the one he used to knock the bails off. 

It meant Hampshire’s convincing victory by an innings and 105 runs, which included a brilliant 231 from former England batsman James Vince, was overshadowed and McManus, 26, was widely criticised. 

Skipper Vince said: "Lewis is pretty down about how it looks but from his and our point of view we weren't aware there was an issue until a few overs later.

"We're talking split seconds. Had we known instantly we would have called [Azad] back. And knowing Lewis, if he'd known exactly what he'd done he would have said something." 

While no blame was attached to his Hampshire team-mates, Foxes head coach Paul Nixon was less convinced by the action of McManus.

Nixon said: "We were disappointed with what happened and we've spoken to the match referee. 

"It's something we don't want to see in our game — I've never seen it before in all my years of cricket and we'll wait to see how the ECB handle it." 

Leicestershire have made a formal complaint to the ECB and McManus may face disciplinary action. 

Elsewhere, Billy Root scored 110 not out in Glamorgan's second innings as their match with Yorkshire ended in a draw.

Root, 28, reached his century with a single off the bowling of brother and England Test skipper Joe.