Cricket

Cox, de Swardt dig deep as Leicestershire edge to two-wicket win

Thriller at Kibworth as Gloucestershire's low total nearly proves enough

He'll Find His Own Way: Maninder Backs Sooryavanshi To Overcome Short-ball Exam In Zimbabwe

The Harare Sports Club: At just 15, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already found himself under a harsh international microscope. Having stepped up from the U-19 circuit into the deep end of senior international cricket earlier this month, the teenage Sooryavanshi faces a stern test in Harare when India open their T20I series against Zimbabwe on Thursday. The Harare Sports Club, a place where he hit an unbeaten 175 to make India win the U19 World Cup final, has offered seam movement and bounce to Zimbabwes tall quicks like Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava, who are primed to test his resolve with short-pitched bowling something which Jofra Archer used to great effect. However, former India spinner Maninder Singh believes that while opposition teams will actively dissect and target the teenager's weaknesses, Sooryavanshi possesses the innate talent, work ethic, and support system to adapt on the fly and overcome the meagre returns of 42 runs in his first three international games in England. Yes, but then again, it comes to the conditions. When you start playing with men after being with the U-19 players, and according to that level, he is a very, very good cricketer. But when you start playing with men, and the conditions were like that in England, where there was a little bounce, there must be some weaknesses that the international teams will catch. Its because in today's time, so many videos are watched and attempts are made to find weaknesses. So, that will continue, and now that you have started playing international cricket, people will also wonder how this 15-year-old will make runs. So, you will get to see a little extra effort by the bowlers (to outsmart him), Maninder told IANS in an exclusive conversation facilitated by FanCode, the broadcasters of the India-Zimbabwe T20I series. Indias recent vulnerability against back-of-a-length bowling was laid bare across their games in Ireland and England, where larger playing dimensions gave pacers ample boundary riders to work with and outsmart them. If ever there was a time for Zimbabwe to capitalise, it is now. Zimbabwe find themselves better equipped than ever to exploit this exact weak link in Indias armour. Both Muzarabani and Ngarava are natural exponents of hard-length bowling via their formidable height and sky-high release points to extract awkward bounce, which means Zimbabwe have a genuine opportunity to make a massive statement against the three-time T20 World Cup champions. Despite that, Maninder rates Sooryavanshi as an exceptional talent who will find his own method of adjusting, and expects him to start actively working on the issue rather than let it linger. But I feel he is a very talented kid and he will find his own way to adapt himself in such conditions. I think he will start working towards that also. The advantage with him is that his coach follows him regularly. His father moves with him. So, his weaknesses will also be found, and they will start working on them. Its because if a parent starts giving his child cricket training from the age of 8-9-10, and he plays for India at the age of 15, then one thing is for sure: the child is talented. The second thing is that a lot of hard work has been done with him. The third thing, which I see in the coming time, is that he will start working on his weaknesses while playing international cricket, he added. Sooryavanshi isn't the only Indian batter seeking clarity and rhythm on this tour. For Rinku Singh, the series represents an opportunity to convert the frustration of being a frequent casualty during squad reshuffles into match-defining performances as a finisher, especially with Indias middle order failing to fire in recent games. See, they (the Indian batters) were struggling because of the conditions. Probably, if Rinku Singh had been there, he would have struggled too. The conditions are similar here as well. Now, I would like to see how much hard work Rinku Singh put in to make a comeback and how much he was hurt by it. Whenever there is a player to be dropped, Rinku Singh gets dropped from the middle order. So, I would like to see how much he has been hurt, and how much hard work he has put in to make a comeback. Then it will give us an idea of how much strength he has in himself like if he is hurt in this way, then he will perform in such a way that in the coming times, the selectors will not get a chance to drop him. So, we will have to wait and see with what attitude Rinku Singh is coming in this series, he added. In the bowling department, leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, drafted in as a late replacement for Varun Chakaravarthy, faces a crucial technical hurdle. On Bishnoi's recent struggles with back-foot no-balls, Maninder stressed that an angled, erratic run-up is causing him harm and that he needs to work on improving his run-up. Basically, when a spinner has a run-up, or whether its a spinner or a fast bowler, he runs straight to the wickets. But he has such a tedha-medha (crooked) run-up that his own focus falls off. If he thinks that the concentration of the batter on the back foot will get worse, then his own focus is becoming worse. So, I think he needs to work a lot on his run-up. See, he has played cricket in the IPL, for India too, and has shown glimpses that he has the qualities (to play for a long time). But if he doesn't fix his run-up, then this problem that came in England will keep coming. So, the trust that the selectors are showing in him, he will also have to justify and stand up to that faith. But I think somebody and someone will have to tell him that it is very important to fix this thing. Otherwise, he will keep struggling and his up-and-down rhythm will continue. Sometimes the rhythm will come, sometimes it won't. When this happens, he won't understand what to do. So, he needs to fix his run-up, elaborated Maninder. With Mayank Yadav returning to the set-up alongside uncapped options like Ashok Sharma and Yash Thakur, and Prince Yadav retaining his place, India's inexperienced pace engine holds immense potential. For all of them, Maninder believes the Zimbabwe tour represents a chance to show the selectors that they're mentally ready for international cricket, after a tough tour of England gave India little to celebrate in the fast bowling department. Look, it is very important because whoever is in Zimbabwe's team, even if it is a light team, but how mentally prepared a player is, the selectors keep an eye on him as well. Mayank Yadav had some injury problems. Ashok Sharma was talking about his speed in the middle - that he wants to bowl with a lot of speed. We saw Umran Malik earlier, and what is his condition? He said that he wants to bowl at a speed of 160 km per hour when he plays international cricket. So all his focus, the strength in his bowling, he lost that, and today we are not even able to hear his name. So I hope that Ashok Sharma will be a little grounded, as he has speed. Look, it is very important because whoever is in Zimbabwe's team, even if it is a light team, but how mentally prepared a player is, the selectors keep an eye on him as well. Mayank Yadav had some injury problems. Ashok Sharma was talking about his speed in the middle - that he wants to bowl with a lot of speed. Also Read: Live Cricket Score They will learn from the jhatkas (shocks) suffered in England. But I think the Indian selectors are looking for faster bowlers who can make an impact, and from that perspective, these players have a great chance to prove and tell the selectors that we are ready, concluded Maninder. Article Source: IANS

New county report warns of looming 'realities' as financial gulfs widen

Leonard Curtis report shows that Hundred equity sale has strengthened the hold of strongest clubs

Overconfidence Took A Hit, And That's A Good Thing: Maninder On India's Identity Crisis In T20Is

Indian T20I: On paper, four months can pass quickly in the blink of an eye in international cricket, but for the Indian T20I side set to begin their three-game series against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday, it has felt long enough to trigger a quiet crisis of identity. Fresh off a T20 World Cup triumph earlier in the year, India find themselves nursing the wounds of consecutive series defeats in Ireland and England under new skipper Shreyas Iyer. Former India spinner Maninder Singh believes the recent slide, while jarring, might be the reality check the Indian team needed to shake off the overconfidence, which in turn can be a good thing in the long run. Basically, I think conditions also (played a part in the defeats). Its because we won the World Cup in India and played the IPL in India. So, our boys are used to playing in conditions like that, and they are used to playing in such conditions. Like, if you talk about (playing in) India, the ball comes on the bat very well. But the conditions in England were a little different. So, it took some time to adjust to that, and that is why they struggled in those conditions. I think that's basically good at times (to go through it) because there were talks that there is so much talent in India that they can make three different teams. So, people will start thinking differently that we go to different conditions and struggle a little, and in such conditions, how quickly can a cricketer adjust himself to it? That will also be keenly seen by the selectors. In a way, it is good that there was a little shock like this, as the overconfidence that was coming from our bench strength is so strong that we can make three teams. So, they will come out of that, Maninder told IANS in an exclusive conversation facilitated by FanCode, the broadcasters of the India-Zimbabwe T20I series. In Ireland and England, Indian batters were consistently found wanting against movement and steep bounce, and repeatedly undone by poor shot selection against the hard lengths employed by the pacers. Compounding these technical woes was the relentless tinkering with the playing eleven, alongside a growing list of fitness concerns. The conditions at the Harare Sports Club promise another stiff test for the Indian batters, with open stands and early assistance for pacers in terms of seam and bounce. Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Brad Evans and Newman Nyamhuri can be a really good pace quartet to challenge the Indian batters. Maninder views this as an immediate opportunity for India's young batting core to prove that their recent struggles in Ireland and England were a temporary glitch. Look, in conditions there, the ball also moves around. The stadium there is very open, and so, the ball will move. I am also basically waiting to see how these cricketers will fare. Our batters who struggled a little in England- if you talk about Sooryavanshi, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, and Suryansh Shedge - we will get a little chance to see them more like when the conditions are like this, how quickly do they adjust themselves in it? Its because it is not that easy, but if I see Zimbabwes team, I don't think there should be so much trouble in taking them on. But it is certain that the way you have lost in England and even lost to Ireland, these boys will have something to prove - that it was just a one-off series in which they did not have any rhythm. This is another chance for these players to show that they can adjust themselves and do well in difficult conditions too, he added. One of the talking points leading up to this tour has been the relentless rotation and chopping and changing of personnel. Another baffling aspect was the overloading of all-rounders in the playing eleven, which also led to someone like Kuldeep Yadav missing out on game time in ODIs. Maninder suggested it as a deliberate audit and to nail down the players who are mentally ready for the long haul over the next 12-18 months. Look, as far as the constant changes are concerned, probably they are trying out cricketers. For the future, they are trying to keep an eye on the cricketers who are ready for international cricket and who are mentally ready. One of the talking points leading up to this tour has been the relentless rotation and chopping and changing of personnel. Another baffling aspect was the overloading of all-rounders in the playing eleven, which also led to someone like Kuldeep Yadav missing out on game time in ODIs. Also Read: Live Cricket Score So how is a player tackling that pressure? Maybe they are keeping an eye on it, which is why the chopping and changing is happening so much. When they settle a little, they will find out a little more about it in the next 1-1.5 years. So probably you will not see so much chopping and changing, he signed off. Article Source: IANS

Iyer: Need to 'adapt as soon as possible' after getting a 'reality check'

The India T20I captain said a lot of positives came out of the series losses against Ireland and England

They Shouldnt Fear Failure': Shreyas Urges His Young Team To Embrace Challenge Ahead Of Zimbabwe T20Is

Zimbabwe T20Is: India captain Shreyas Iyer on Wednesday called on his young side to play without the fear of failure as they prepare to take on Zimbabwe in the opening match of the three-match T20I series at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday, stressing that adaptability, awareness and collective effort will be key to turning around the team's recent fortunes overseas. Having endured a difficult run in England, where India struggled to produce consistent performances, Iyer acknowledged that the tour had exposed areas that require improvement but insisted the experience would prove valuable in the long run. Definitely, we had a rough patch in England. But a lot of positives out of that. We got to know what we have to build as a team going forward, what kind of presence of mind, awareness, and adaptability we need once we step onto the field. This is going to be a great challenge for us. Some of us are playing for the first time, so the quicker we adapt, the better result we would be getting, Iyer told the media at the pre-match press conference. The skipper described India's recent overseas assignments as an important learning curve, saying repeated exposure to unfamiliar conditions would eventually help the side grow into a stronger unit. We've had three series outside of India, and it's a great exposure for us as well, as a team, because you don't get this often. And this is a challenging phase, and the quicker you overcome this phase, the better you get as a team, and you get the results as well eventually, he added. With India arriving in Zimbabwe only a day before training began, Iyer admitted the schedule has left little time for preparation but maintained that adapting quickly is now part of international cricket. Not going to lie, it is definitely very challenging. Like we came yesterday, and today is practice, and tomorrow is a match again. So it is challenging, but it is fun. And if you give a good performance in this, then definitely you will be happy with yourself, and you will definitely get praise. We have to adapt as soon as possible. Because that's what happened with us in Ireland. We got a sort of a reality check. So here, as soon as we create awareness and execute things properly, definitely the results will go our way, Iyer stated. Iyer also backed the younger members of the squad to respond positively after their recent setbacks, expressing confidence that they would have worked on the shortcomings exposed during the previous series. All the youngsters have definitely practised. They have found a decent gap after the T20 series. So they must have rectified where they went wrong. They must have learnt from the last tournament what they can do better. And if they feel something, I can go to the ground and tell them, he said. The India captain reserved his strongest message for the team's mindset, urging his players to ignore external criticism and focus instead on playing fearless cricket for the collective good. All the youngsters have definitely practised. They have found a decent gap after the T20 series. So they must have rectified where they went wrong. They must have learnt from the last tournament what they can do better. And if they feel something, I can go to the ground and tell them, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India begin the three-match series against Zimbabwe on Thursday looking to bounce back from recent disappointments and build momentum with a young squad under Iyer's leadership. Article Source: IANS

Raichandani, Venkata leave India on verge of victory

Sri Lanka Under-19 finished the day needing 317 runs to win with six wickets in hand

LNS vs MSG Match 3, The Hundred Mens 2026 Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

LNSvs MSGMatch 3 , Cricket Tips :London Spirit are one of the few teams that have not made it to the final of the Hundred Men's Competition in the five seasons. They even finished the last edition in the bottom two of the table. As a result, the franchise has made necessary changes to the squad, including a new captain. Liam Livingstone will lead them in the new edition. They will face Manchester Super Giants in the third game of the season. This contest will be held at Lord's Cricket Ground on Thursday at 11 PM IST. The Super Giants have made Aiden Markram their captain, and they will also be aiming to win their maiden title this season. A win at the start will give them a lot of confidence. LNS vs MSG: Match Details Date : July 23, 2026 (Thursday) Time : 11 PM IST Venue : Lord's Cricket Ground, London LNS vs MSG: Live Streaming Details The LNS vs MSG clash will be televised live on the Star Sports Networks on cable TVs. Fans can access the live stream of the game on the Jio Hotstar app or website. LNS vs MSG: Head-to-Head in The Hundred Total Matches: 6 London Spirit: 2 Manchester Super Giants : 3 No-result : 1 LNS vs MSG: Ground Pitch Report Lord's is expected to produce a flat deck for this game. Early on, the new ball will pose some challenge for the batters. But the wicket is likely to get better with time. The chasing team will have ideal conditions to bat on. LNS vs MSG: Possible XIs London Spirit: Jonny Bairstow (wk), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Liam Livingstone (c), James Coles, Jamie Overton, David Willey, Adam Zampa, Adam Milne, Tymal Mills, Matthew Fisher Manchester Super Giants: Aiden Markram (C), Jos Buttler (wk), Tim Seifert, Heinrich Klaasen, Max Holden, Gus Atkinson, Tom Moores, Liam Dawson, Josh Tongue, Sonny Baker, Noor Ahmad LNS vs MSG: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius is coming off a good MLC season and is in red-hot form. For the Super Giants, Jos Buttler is the key, who was in excellent form against India in the recent series. Probable Best Bowler Josh Tongue and Tymal Mills are two underrated performers who do their work well. They are pretty good with new and old balls, which makes them lethal. Today Match Prediction: Both teams look pretty similar on paper, but the strong batting unit of Manchester Super Giants give them a slight edge over London Spirit going into this game. LNS vs MSG Match 3, The Hundred Men's Competition 2026, Today Match LNS vs MSG, LNS vs MSG Prediction, LNS vs MSG Predicted XIs, Injury Update for LNS vs MSG Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.

LNS-W vs MSG-W Match 3, The Hundred Womens 2026 Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

LNS-W vs MSG-W Match 3 , Cricket Tips :The next game in the Hundred Women's 2026 will be played between London Spirit Women and Manchester Super Giants Women (formerly known as Manchester Originals). This contest will kick off at 7:30 PM IST on Thursday at Lord's Cricket Ground. The Super Giants finished the last edition in sixth place. They won four matches and were not consistent. Veteran superstar Meg Lanning will lead the team, and the management will hope to make it their first final in this league. The franchise has signed some big names like Richa Ghosh, Maitlan Brown, and Paige Scholfield to fill the areas that they lacked. Meanwhile, London Spirit will be led by Charlie Dean, which has several big names like Marizanne Kapp, De Klerk, Deandra Dottin, and Amy Jones. So, it will be an interesting battle at Lord's. LNS-W vs MSG-W: Match Details Date : July 23, 2026 (Thursday) Time : 7:30 PM IST Venue : Lord's Cricket Ground, London LNS-W vs MSG-W: Live Streaming Details The live action of the LNSW vs MSGW will be available on Sony Sports Networks, whereas fans can watch the live stream on the Jio Hotstar app or website. LNS-W vs MSG-W: Head-to-Head in The Hundred Total Matches : 4 London Spirit Women : 3 Manchester Super Giants Women : 0 No-result: 1 LNS-W vs MSG-W: Ground Pitch Report Lord's produced a high-scoring game in the third ODI between India and England. So, we can expect another good batting surface for this game. There will be some help for the bowlers early on, but the wicket is expected to get flat as the game goes forward. LNS-W vs MSG-W: Possible XIs London Spirit : Amy Jones (wk), Grace Harris, Marie Kelly, Marizanne Kapp, Deandra Dottin, Nadine de Klerk, Charlie Dean (c), Charis Pavely, Katie George, Mahika Gaur, Josie Groves Manchester Super Giants: Smriti Mandhana, Meg Lanning (c), Grace Scrivens, Richa Ghosh (wk), Kathryn Bryce, Paige Scholfield, Joanne Gardner, Mady Villiers, Sophie Ecclestone, Maitlan Brown, Grace Ballinger LNS-W vs MSG-W: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Smriti Mandhana and Amy Jones are two batters that are coming off a great outing in the Women's T20 World Cup 2026. They will be the ones to watch out for. Probable Best Bowler Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone know these conditions in and out and have been successful in the shorter format. Today Match Prediction : Both teams will be playing their first game, and there will be some nerves. But London Spirit hold an edge because of their better combination and will be favorites for this game. LNS-W vs MSG-W Match 3, The Hundred Women's Competition 2026, Today Match LNS-W vs MSG-W, LNS-W vs MSG-W Prediction, LNS-W vs MSG-W Predicted XIs, Injury Update for LNS-W vs MSG-W Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.

Rahmat Appointed As Afghanistan's New Test And ODI Skipper, Gurbaz Appointed Vice-captain

The Afghanistan Cricket Board: Seasoned batter Rahmat Shah has been appointed as Afghanistan's new Test and ODI captain. Dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been appointed as Rahmat's vice-captain across both formats, said the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB). Shah, 33, is replacing Hashmatullah Shahidi, who previously stepped down from the leadership role after leading the side in 55 ODIs since taking over in January 2022, with 27 of them ending in victories. He moves into the top job after serving as the team's vice-captain in both red-ball and 50-over cricket since May 2021. The ACB appreciates Hashmatullah Shahidis valuable service, dedication, and leadership during his tenure as captain and wishes him continued success in his future endeavors. The Board also wishes Rahmat Shah Zurmati every success in his new role and looks forward to working with him towards achieving the teams objectives, the ACB said in its statement. Under Shahidi's leadership, Afghanistan enjoyed a remarkable run in ODI cricket, winning 27 out of 55 matches. His tenure was highlighted by a stellar sixth-place finish at the 2023 World Cup in India, marked by memorable wins against England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands. The ACB appreciates Hashmatullah Shahidis valuable service, dedication, and leadership during his tenure as captain and wishes him continued success in his future endeavors. The Board also wishes Rahmat Shah Zurmati every success in his new role and looks forward to working with him towards achieving the teams objectives, the ACB said in its statement. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With extensive experience in international cricket, leadership, and the teams overall structure, Rahmat Shah is well positioned to take on this important responsibility. The ACB is confident that his experience, leadership, and understanding of the team will help Afghanistan achieve further significant success. The Afghanistan Cricket Board wishes both Rahmat Shah Zurmati and Rahmanullah Gurbaz every success in their new leadership roles, added the ACB. Article Source: IANS

ZIM vs IND 1st T20I Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XIs

ZIM vs IND 1st T20I , Cricket Tips :After a horrible time in the UK, Team India have landed in Zimbabwe for a three-match T20I series. India are carrying their longest losing streak with them in the shorter format. Under Shreyas Iyer, India have now had seven winless matches, and everyone is desperate to get a win. The first T20I between Zimbabwe and India is scheduled for Thursday at Harare Sports Club at 4:30 PM IST. India have made a whole lot of changes to their T20I squad, and only four players from the T20 World Cup 2026 winning squad are part of the current team. That will give Zimbabwe a chance to put India under pressure. ZIM vs IND: Match Details Date : July 23, 2026 (Thursday) Time : 4:30 PM IST Venue : Harare Sports Club, Harare ZIM vs IND: Live Streaming Details The live action of the ZIM vs IND series will be available on Unite8 Sports and DD Sports, while the live stream of the game will be available on the FanCode streaming platform. ZIM vs IND: Head-to-Head in T20I Total Matches: 14 India : 11 Zimbabwe : 04 No-result : 00 ZIM vs IND: Ground Pitch Report Harare Sports Club offers a slow deck for the teams. It tends to break down as the game goes forward. The humid weather also plays its part, and the bounce here stays uneven at times. Batters can score runs when the ball is hard, as the old ball will stick onto the surface more. ZIM vs IND: Possible XIs Zimbabwe : Ben Curran, Brian Bennett, T. Marumani (wk), Sikandar Raza (c), Dion Myers, Ryan Burl, Brad Evans, Wessly Madhevere, Richard Ngarava, Milton Shumba, Blessing Muzarabani India : Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Harsh Dubey, Ravi Bishnoi, Prince Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav ZIM vs IND: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Abhishek Sharma has been India's top batter, and he has good memories in Zimbabwe, where he made his debut. He will be the one to watch out for. For Zimbabwe, Brian Bennett holds the key, who has excellent numbers against India. Probable Best Bowler Prince Yadav has shown glimpses of being a good T20I bowler, and he will be the one to watch out for. Blessing Muzarabani has been the pick of the bowlers across formats in the last year or so. Today Match Prediction : India have a young squad, and only Ravi Bishnoi has played more than 20 T20Is among the current bowling options. Can this bowling unit sustain itself in Zimbabwe? But the batting firepower gives India an edge. Hence, we predict India to win the first T20I. ZIM vs IND Match 1st T20I, Today Match ZIM vs IND, ZIM vs IND Prediction, ZIM vs IND Predicted XIs, Injury Update for Zimbabwe vs India Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.

Kusal Mendis Suffers Hamstring Injury Ahead Of India Tests, Ruled Out Of LPL 2026

National High Performance Centre: Sri Lanka have been dealt an injury concern ahead of next month's home Test series against India after white-ball captain Kusal Mendis was ruled out of the remainder of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026 with a hamstring injury. Mendis sustained the injury while representing Colombo Kaps during their six-wicket victory over Kandy Royals at the SSC in Colombo on Sunday. The wicketkeeper-batter, who was leading the franchise this season, will now begin rehabilitation under Sri Lanka Cricket's medical team. Mendis sustained a right hamstring injury while attempting a run during the Colombo Kaps' match against the Kandy Royals on 19 July at the SSC, Colombo. Accordingly, he will return to the National High Performance Centre to commence his rehabilitation program, an SLC media release said. The setback comes less than a month before Sri Lanka host India in a two-match Test series beginning on August 15, raising concerns over the availability of one of their most experienced players. While Sri Lanka Cricket has not specified a recovery timeline, Mendis is expected to be a key figure in the series, particularly in his role behind the stumps. India's tour, part of the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle, will begin at the Galle International Cricket Stadium before moving to the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo for the second Test. The setback comes less than a month before Sri Lanka host India in a two-match Test series beginning on August 15, raising concerns over the availability of one of their most experienced players. While Sri Lanka Cricket has not specified a recovery timeline, Mendis is expected to be a key figure in the series, particularly in his role behind the stumps. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Mendis has also enjoyed a productive 2026 in Sri Lanka colours. In T20Is, he has scored 408 runs from 14 innings at a strike rate of 130.35, while in ODIs he has accumulated 211 runs in four innings at an average of 70.33, underlining his importance to the national side heading into the high-profile series against India. Article Source: IANS

SOB vs WEF: Approaching Milestones and Records Ahead of Match 2, The Hundred Mens 2026

SOB vs WEF,Approaching Milestones and Records :The Hundred Men's 2026 will host the second game of the new season on Wednesday. This contest will be played between Welsh Fire and the inaugural season winner Southern Brave. This contest will kick off at 11 PM IST at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. A win at the start of the campaign will set the tone for these sides. Phil Salt will lead Welsh Fire, who are in search of their first appearance in the playoffs of one season. Rachin Ravindra, Joe Root, Matthew Short, Marco Jansen, and Lockie Ferguson. They will be keen to get to a winning start to this season. Meanwhile, Southern Brave have signed Chris Jordan at the auction and has given him the captaincy responsibility. Apart from him, Jofra Archer, David Miller, Adil Rashid, Jamie Smith, and Tristan Stubbs are key faces for them going into this contest. Here, we will talk about big records and milestones which are lined up and can be achieved in the SOBvs WEFMatch 2 at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. SOBvs WEF: Approaching Test Records and Cricket Milestones Ahead of the SOBvs WEFMatch 2 atThe Rose Bowl 5 - Only one bowler has taken 50 or more wickets in the history of The Hundred Men's competition. Adil Rashid can be the second bowler to do so. He currently has 45 wickets in 40 games and is just five away from becoming the second bowler and first spinner to achieve this feat. 2 - Chris Jordan is just two wickets away from entering the top five wicket-takers in the history of the league. 4 - Phil Salt is one of the four batters with 50 or more sixes in this league. He just needs four more to surpass Will Jacks and will have the second-most sixes in the league's history. 60 - Jordan Cox made his name by performing in this league. He has an exceptional record and is just 601 runs away from becoming only the sixth batter to complete 1,000 runs in this tournament. If he can do it in this inning, he will be the fastest to do so. 4 - Tom Kohler-Cadmore is just four boundaries away from completing 50 boundaries. Also Read: Live Cricket Score 1 - Phil Salt needs to score a half-century to equal the record for the second-most half-centuries in the Hundred Men's Competition.

Root back in top ten of ODI batting rankings; Rohit closes in on top three

Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli remain second and third, behind No. 1 Daryl Mitchell

England To Host Australia For First-ever Mixed Disability Ashes In 2027

The National Cricket Inclusion Championships: The Ashes rivalry is set to enter a new chapter in 2027 with England and Australia scheduled to contest the first-ever Mixed Disability Ashes, marking a landmark moment in the continued evolution of disability cricket. Australia's Men's Mixed Disability team will travel to England for a T20I series, with the inaugural contest forming part of England's 2027 Ashes summer. While the schedule and venues are yet to be announced, the series will ensure that the men's, women's and mixed disability teams from England all compete in Ashes contests during the same season. The announcement reflects the rapid growth of mixed disability cricket, which has gained momentum through bilateral series in recent years. England have already faced India in the format and are set to host another series this summer, while Australia will now become the latest nation to join the expanding international calendar. The historic series is expected to provide elite cricketers with disabilities an opportunity to compete in one of the sport's most celebrated rivalries, further strengthening efforts to integrate disability cricket into the mainstream international landscape. Head of Disability Cricket Ian Martin said, It really signals the next step of Mixed Disability Cricket to be able to introduce an Ashes, it's a hugely meaningful progression for the game. All cricket fans understand the importance of an Ashes series. England v Australia is for so many the peak of the game and I'm delighted that our Men's Mixed Disability squad will get a chance to compete in such a series. We've had a fantastic series against India, with another one due this summer, and we're keen to continue growing this format. I'm delighted we'll be able to welcome Australia to the UK next summer and I can't wait for our first Mixed Disability Ashes series. Cricket Australia Chief of Cricket James Allsopp believes the new competition represents another important milestone in the sport's inclusivity journey. We've had a fantastic series against India, with another one due this summer, and we're keen to continue growing this format. I'm delighted we'll be able to welcome Australia to the UK next summer and I can't wait for our first Mixed Disability Ashes series. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The National Cricket Inclusion Championships in Ballarat next January will be an important part of the selection process for the Mixed Disability Ashes, including our first feature match in the format. We cant wait to take part in the new Ashes series next year and have our elite cricketers with a disability take on our oldest rivals in England, James said. Article Source: IANS

Kuldeep signs up with Yorkshire for County Championship and One-Day Cup

His two-part stint will see him feature in eight games on either side of India's Test tour to Sri Lanka

Sooryavanshi stays confident amid 'several ups and downs'

The 15-year-old is excited to play in Harare, where he scored 175 off 80 balls in the Under-19 World Cup final

'Don't Think You're Bigger Than The Game': Harbhajan Reveals Sachin's Career-changing Advice

New Delhi: Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has revealed the most valuable piece of advice he received during his illustrious career, recalling how batting great Sachin Tendulkar urged him to stay focused on cricket and ignore the distractions that come with success. Harbhajan, one of India's greatest off-spinners, said Tendulkar's words have remained with him throughout his playing career and continue to shape the advice he now gives to the next generation of cricketers. I think our seniors were so good because they wanted us to play well and become better within our limitations. The best advice I ever got was from the great Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan told Jio Star. Sachin paaji told me, 'There will be many distractions, many things will come your way, but you have to keep your blinders on, so that you can't look left or right, and only look straight ahead. And what lies ahead? Cricket! If you stay on this path, no one in the world can stop you. Whatever you want to become, whatever you want to do, you will earn every kind of respect, honour, and fame, everything, if you keep walking on this path,' he added. The former spinner said the same principle is central to the message he now shares with young players breaking into international cricket. Sachin paaji told me, 'There will be many distractions, many things will come your way, but you have to keep your blinders on, so that you can't look left or right, and only look straight ahead. And what lies ahead? Cricket! If you stay on this path, no one in the world can stop you. Whatever you want to become, whatever you want to do, you will earn every kind of respect, honour, and fame, everything, if you keep walking on this path,' he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Harbhajan enjoyed a distinguished international career spanning nearly two decades and played a pivotal role in several of India's biggest triumphs. The off-spinner claimed 711 international wickets across formats, including 417 in 103 Tests, making him one of only a handful of Indian bowlers to cross the 400-wicket mark in the longest format. He also picked up 269 wickets in 236 ODIs and 25 wickets in 28 T20Is. Article Source: IANS

ZIM Vs IND: When And Where To Watch 1st T20I, Know All Details

The Harare Sports Club: India's young T20 side begins a crucial three-match series against Zimbabwe here on Thursday, with captain Shreyas Iyer looking to steady the ship after a difficult start to his leadership stint. Having managed just one win in his first seven T20Is as captain, Shreyas will view this tour as an opportunity to restore confidence and build momentum with a relatively inexperienced squad. The series also marks VVS Laxman's return to the dugout as stand-in head coach in the absence of Gautam Gambhir. His approach to team balance and selection will be closely watched, particularly with several positions still up for debate. One of the biggest attractions will be teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who is expected to partner Abhishek Sharma at the top. The Harare Sports Club has been a happy hunting ground for both batters. Abhishek announced himself in international cricket with his maiden T20I century at the venue, while Sooryavanshi scored a memorable hundred there during the Under-19 World Cup final earlier this year. Conditions, however, could test India's batting. The Harare surface generally offers pace and bounce, bringing Zimbabwe's experienced fast bowlers Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava firmly into the contest. India will need greater discipline against the new ball if they are to avoid another batting collapse. The middle order also poses selection headaches. Vice-captain Tilak Varma has yet to settle at No. 5, while Ishan Kishan currently occupies the preferred No. 3 position. Rinku Singh remains a strong finisher, making the batting combination an intriguing talking point. India must also decide between Harsh Dubey, Shivam Dube and Suryansh Shedge for the all-rounder's role, while the pace attack is expected to feature Prince Yadav and the returning Mayank Yadav, with Ashok Sharma and Yash Thakur competing for the remaining spot. Zimbabwe will be confident of exploiting home conditions, ensuring India cannot afford to take the series lightly. When: Thursday, July 23, 4:30 PM IST Where: Harare Sports Club, Harare Where to watch: The match will be shown live on Unite8 Sports channels and live-streamed on the FanCode app and website Squads Where to watch: The match will be shown live on Unite8 Sports channels and live-streamed on the FanCode app and website Also Read: Live Cricket Score India: Shreyas Iyer (c), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (vc), Ishan Kishan (wk), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Varun Chakaravarathy, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh (wk) Article Source: IANS

Sammy Confident Of Skipper Chase Being Fit For West Indies First Test Against Pakistan

ICC World Test Championship: West Indies head coach Daren Sammy is confident that Test captain Roston Chase will recover in time from a finger injury to lead the side in the opening Test against Pakistan, starting on July 25. Chase was forced to sit out the recently concluded three-match ODI series against New Zealand after sustaining an injury to his right index finger. Despite some lingering swelling, Sammy expressed optimism about the all-rounder's availability for the series opener. I spoke to Roston earlier today. He came to do his workout. Still a little bit puffy. But Roston is a fighter. I know he's not going to want to miss any Test cricket. I'm pretty sure Dr Byam (team physio Denis Byam) has a way of keeping guys on the park, so I'm pretty sure Roston will be ready for the first Test, Sammy told reporters at the conclusion of the ODI series. The upcoming two-match Test series forms an integral part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle. Both teams will be desperate to turn their red-ball fortunes around, as West Indies currently occupy the eighth spot in the nine-team WTC standings, while Pakistan sit at the bottom of the table. I spoke to Roston earlier today. He came to do his workout. Still a little bit puffy. But Roston is a fighter. I know he's not going to want to miss any Test cricket. I'm pretty sure Dr Byam (team physio Denis Byam) has a way of keeping guys on the park, so I'm pretty sure Roston will be ready for the first Test, Sammy told reporters at the conclusion of the ODI series. Also Read: Live Cricket Score It is followed by the second Test to be played from August 2-6 at the Queens Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago. With vital WTC points on the line, the presence of Chase, both as a primary spin-bowling all-rounder and captain, will be crucial to West Indies' chances to step up in the WTC standings. Article Source: IANS

Assam Premier League A Launchpad For State's Hidden Cricketing Talent, Says Abu Nechim

The Assam Premier League: Former fast bowler Abu Nechim has hailed the Assam Premier League (APL) as a vital launchpad for the states emerging cricketers, adding that the newly launched franchise T20 tournament in the state will provide much-needed visibility to undiscovered local talent. The Assam Premier League is very important, it is a genuinely good platform for our juniors. We had over 270 players in the auction, and I had knowledge of only about 120 of them. That tells you the sheer depth of undiscovered talent across Assam. The league gives every one of those players a stage to be seen, Nechim said in a statement issued by the tournament on Wednesday. Nechim played for India in the 2006 U19 World Cup and apart from playing domestic cricket for Assam, he had stints with Mumbai Indians (20102013) and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (20142016) in the IPL. Drawing parallels from his own journey in top-flight cricket as well as the rise of Rajasthan Royals captain and Indias batting all-rounder Riyan Parag, Nechim, who is a part of Guwahati Royals set-up, highlighted that the tournament bridges the gap between state-level cricket and elite platforms. Nechim played for India in the 2006 U19 World Cup and apart from playing domestic cricket for Assam, he had stints with Mumbai Indians (20102013) and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (20142016) in the IPL. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Organised under the aegis of the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) with the official motto 'Aamar Axom, Aamar Gourab' (Our Assam, Our Pride), the APL features eight franchise teams from across the state. The matches of the inaugural edition of the tournament will be shown live on Star Sports and streamed on JioHotstar. Article Source: IANS

Kuldeep Yadav Signs For Yorkshire For One-Day Cup And County Championship Games

Kuldeep Yadav: Premier Indian left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav has signed with English county side Yorkshire as an overseas player for the ongoing domestic season, the club announced on Wednesday. As per the deal, Kuldeep will feature in five One-Day Cup fixtures before returning to Headingley to play three of Yorkshire's final four County Championship matches in September. His stint begins from Fridays 50-over match against Glamorgan at Neath. Kuldeep was recently a part of Indias 2-1 ODI series defeat in England, where he didnt get to play a single game, a decision which left many baffled. Im really pleased to be joining Yorkshire and grateful for this opportunity. It will be a real privilege to represent a club with Yorkshires proud history. Ive always enjoyed the challenge of playing in English conditions, and after speaking with the management, I became really excited to join up with the team and Im looking forward to making a positive contribution during my time at Headingley, said Kuldeep in the clubs statement. He has taken 79 wickets in 18 Tests at an impressive average of 22, including a stellar 19-wicket haul against England in the five-match home Test series in 2024. In ODIs, he has picked up 194 wickets with best figures of 6-25. Gavin Hamilton, Yorkshires general manager of cricket, noted that Kuldeep's inclusion will bolster their bowling attack during the crucial final phase of the season. Kuldeep is an accomplished, international-quality player who will add incredible strength to our lineup for these blocks of fixtures. He has taken 79 wickets in 18 Tests at an impressive average of 22, including a stellar 19-wicket haul against England in the five-match home Test series in 2024. In ODIs, he has picked up 194 wickets with best figures of 6-25. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Apart from Kuldeep, Yuzvendra Chahal (Northamptonshire), Jaydev Unadkat (Sussex), Manav Suthar (Warwickshire), R. Sai Kishore (Gloucestershire) and Ashutosh Sharma (Hampshire) are the other Indian players with county deals in various stages of the ongoing season. Article Source: IANS

ICC Rankings: Gill Closes In On No.1 Spot; Kohli, Rohit Among Top Four

Mehidy Hasan Miraz: Shubman Gill has moved to within touching distance of the top spot in the ICC Men's ODI batter rankings after his prolific run against England, while Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have also strengthened India's presence at the top of the charts in the latest update. New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell continues to occupy the No.1 position with 802 rating points, but Gill is now just one point behind after amassing 188 runs during India's three-match ODI series against England. Kohli remains third with 767 rating points, while Rohit is fourth with 758, keeping three Indian batters firmly in contention for the top ranking. Despite India's batting exploits, England clinched the series 2-1, with Joe Root emerging as the standout performer. The experienced right-hander, who remained unbeaten throughout the series while scoring 249 runs, climbed four places to eighth in the ODI batter rankings. England also saw gains for Ben Duckett, who jumped 11 places to joint 19th, while Jacob Bethell rose five spots to 64th. New Zealand pair Michael Bracewell and Mark Chapman also progressed after strong performances in the ODI series against the West Indies, moving up to 54th and 62nd, respectively. In the ODI bowling rankings, Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan retained his place at the summit. England fast bowler Jofra Archer climbed one position to third after claiming five wickets against India and now sits just behind Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed. West Indies left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie entered the top 10 after rising seven places to joint ninth. His teammate Alzarri Joseph gained 10 places to reach 26th, while New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell climbed 14 spots to 29th. India's Axar Patel also made significant progress, jumping 10 places to joint 32nd. Bracewell's all-round performances were reflected in the ODI all-rounders' rankings, where he climbed two places to a career-best third. Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai continues to lead the category, with Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz occupying second place. The latest ICC update also featured notable movement in the T20I rankings following Bangladesh's series victory over Zimbabwe. Bracewell's all-round performances were reflected in the ODI all-rounders' rankings, where he climbed two places to a career-best third. Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai continues to lead the category, with Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz occupying second place. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Among bowlers, Bangladesh's Mahedi Hasan rose four places to 19th, and Rishad Hossain gained eight spots to joint 25th. Zimbabwe pacer Richard Ngarava registered one of the biggest improvements of the week, surging 37 places to 32nd in the T20I bowling rankings. Article Source: IANS

Australia could put India A four-day series ahead of ODIs

Selectors are debating whether some players could go to India with Australia A instead of playing ODIs in Zimbabwe and South Africa with the Border-Gavaskar tour in sight

SOB-W vs WEF-W: Approaching Milestones and Records Ahead of Match 2, The Hundred Womens 2026

SOB-W vs WEF-W,Approaching Milestones and Records :The second game of The Hundred Women's 2026 will take place between Southern Brave Women and Welsh Fire Women. These two sides will step on the field on Wednesday at 7:30 PM IST at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. Both teams will play their first game of the new campaigns. The live telecast of the game will be available on Sony Sports Networks in India. Southern Brave Women came very close to winning their second edition in 2025. They made it to the final by finishing the group stage at the top. But when it mattered, they lost the final to Sunrisers Leeds. Can they win this season? On the other hand, Welsh Fire Women were not at their best in 2025. They couldn't extract the performance from the team, and injuries also hurt them a lot. As a result, they finished the 2025 season at the bottom of the table with just one win. They will be hoping for a better show under the captaincy of Sophie Devine. Here, we will talk about big records and milestones which are lined up and can be achieved in the SOB-W vs WEF-W Match 2 at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. SOB-W vs WEF-W: Approaching Test Records and Cricket Milestones Ahead of the SOB-W vs WEF-W Match 2 atThe Rose Bowl 47 - Jemimah Rodrigues has an exceptional record in the Hundred Women's competition. She has played 18 innings and has scored 453 runs at an average of 26.64 and a strike rate of 137.68. She needs 47 more runs to become the fastest to 500 runs in the league's history. With one more fifty, she will be the fastest to achieve 5 fifties in this league. 30 - Laura Wolvaardt is the key batter for Southern Brave Women, and her contribution will be key in the first game. She is also nearing a big record. Wolvaardt is currently the fourth-highest scorer in The Hundred Women's competition. She needs 30 more runs to surpass Sophia Dunkley to become the third-highest scorer in the league's history. 5 - Emily Arlott has been a consistent performer in the Hundred Women's Competition. She is among the top five wicket-takers in this league. Arlott needs five more wickets to become only the fourth bowler to complete 50 wickets. She will be the fastest if she can do it in this game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score 5 - Sophie Devine has always been a dangerous batter. The veteran all-rounder is known for her big hitting and can stamp her authority with a good knock. If she can hit five sixes, she will have the most sixes in the Hundred Women's Competition's history.

Ups And Downs Have Been There, But Have To Follow Process: Sooryavanshi

Harare Sports Club: Acknowledging that the last four months have been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, teenage Indian batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi said his confidence still remains intact and he is focused on trusting his process ahead of the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe starting on Thursday. Sooryavanshi, 15, made history during India's 4-0 T20I series defeat in England by becoming the country's youngest-ever international cricketer and breaking Sachin Tendulkar's long-standing record. However, after failing to cross 20 in three innings, he was dropped for the final match of the series in Southampton. Yes, kaafi ups and downs aaye hain 4 mahine mein (there have been several ups and down in the last four months). It's part of cricket, it will keep happening. But I have to follow the process and give my 100 per cent for the team. It's an obvious thing that whatever I want (guidance etc), the coaches are making it available and whatever practice I require I am getting that. Feeling very good, there is confidence also, said Sooryavanshi in a video posted on bcci.tv. Through the upcoming series against Zimbabwe, Sooryavanshi is also making a return to the Harare Sports Club, where he smashed a match-winning 175 off 80 balls against England in the Under-19 World Cup final in February this year to help India lift the trophy. It's a very memorable ground for me. Just four months back, we had played the U-19 World Cup Final and won, so a very special ground. To represent India is everyone's dream and it's a very special moment. I'm playing on a ground where we won the U-19 World Cup four months back and made history (and) to return to the ground and play here will be an altogether different feeling... really enjoying it, added Sooryavanshi. With senior opener Sanju Samson rested, Sooryavanshi is expected to feature in the top order as India look to bounce back from consecutive T20 series defeats in Ireland and England. I'm playing on a ground where we won the U-19 World Cup four months back and made history (and) to return to the ground and play here will be an altogether different feeling... really enjoying it, added Sooryavanshi. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I will back my practice which I have done so far and try to back my game and whatever contribution I can make for the team I will try to give that. I have played two matches on this ground (and) it went well. I will try to carry it forward, concluded Sooryavanshi. Article Source: IANS

Struggling India Seek Redemption In Zimbabwe T20Is (preview)

Harare Sports Club: Under-fire skipper Shreyas Iyer will be desperate to halt a worrying slide and register his first victory as T20I captain when a youthful India face a spirited Zimbabwe in the first T20I here at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday. Having suffered consecutive series defeats in Ireland (2-0) and England (4-0), the pressure is squarely on Iyer to turn around India's fortunes. Despite his solid personal form in England, where he scored 218 runs at a strike rate of 157.97, Iyer has managed just one win in his last 13 completed matches as captain across international and IPL games. The three-match series also offers young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a prime opportunity to cement his place at the top of the order in the absence of Sanju Samson. Returning to the venue of his blistering U-19 World Cup final heroics, the teenaged Sooryavanshi will look to bounce back from a modest debut tour of England, where he was troubled by short balls. All eyes will also be on finisher Rinku Singh, who returns to the setup following a surge in form in the second half of IPL 2026, especially with India requiring muscle power in the struggling middle order. Additionally, the series provides a platform for India's largely untested pacers Mayank Yadav, Ashok Sharma and Yash Thakur, to step up. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will be no pushovers. Led by veteran Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe enter the series boosted by recent home success against Bangladesh, including a landmark Test victory and an ODI series win, though they conceded the T20I series. Armed with tall quicks Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava, alongside the recalled Wessly Madhevere and Newman Nyamhuri, Zimbabwe will aim to exploit India's vulnerabilities in Harare and extend their horrid run in the format. When: Thursday, July 23, 4:30 PM IST Where: Harare Sports Club, Harare Where to watch: The match will be shown live on Unite8 Sports channels and live-streamed on the FanCode app and website Squads Where to watch: The match will be shown live on Unite8 Sports channels and live-streamed on the FanCode app and website Also Read: Live Cricket Score India: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Varun Chakaravarathy, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, and Prabhsimran Singh (wk). Article Source: IANS

NZ Spinner Lennox Surpass Warne, Kumble With 14 Wickets In Windies ODIs

West Indies ODI: New Zealand left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox enjoyed a memorable breakthrough series against the West Indies, finishing with 14 wickets to guide the Black Caps to a 3-2 ODI series victory while matching one of the best bowling returns by a spinner in a bilateral mens ODI series. Lennox, who was named Player of the Series, claimed 14 wickets across the five matches, equalling Sri Lankas Akila Dananjaya for the 10th-highest wicket haul by a spinner in a bilateral ODI series. His tally surpassed the best returns achieved in a single bilateral ODI series by legendary spinners Shane Warne, Anil Kumble and Shahid Afridi, all of whom picked up 13 wickets. The 31-year-old reached the milestone in just his third bilateral ODI series after making his international debut against India earlier this year. Indias Amit Mishra holds the record with 18 wickets in a bilateral ODI series, followed by Kuldeep Yadav (17), while Afghanistans Rashid Khan and Indias Yuzvendra Chahal have taken 16 wickets in a series. Lennox acknowledged that the spin-friendly conditions in the Caribbean worked in his favour but said the tour had been an invaluable learning experience. Its been a lot of fun. Playing on pitches that are pretty spin-conducive has been a great learning experience for me, Lennox said. These bilateral series are all about learning and gaining experience in foreign conditions, so Ill certainly go home with my pockets full of knowledge. I think its just about the subtleties of the craft. Mitch Santner has been doing it for a long time now, so to be able to be here, watch what hes doing, see how hes operating, and use some of his tricks and subtle variations is what its all about when you come and play on these surfaces. Despite losing the series, the West Indies ended the contest on a winning note by clinching the fifth and final ODI by two wickets at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Tuesday. Shimron Hetmyer remained unbeaten on 69, while Sherfane Rutherford struck 61 as the hosts successfully chased down New Zealands 268/9 with 15 deliveries to spare. The pair appeared to have taken the game away from the visitors before a late collapse produced a nervy finish. Despite losing the series, the West Indies ended the contest on a winning note by clinching the fifth and final ODI by two wickets at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Tuesday. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I wasnt really thinking about getting a half-century. I was just thinking about how I could make sure the team crossed the line. Every time a new batter came out, I was just like, Make sure youre there at the end. Im just happy that I could be there to make sure we crossed the line, Hetmyer said. Article Source: IANS

Sammy: 'We didn't pick Lawes just out of our heart'

West Indies' head coach said the team management had followed rigorous processes to fast-track the left-arm wristspinner's selection

Madhevere, Nyamhuri Return As Zimbabwe Name Squad For T20Is Against India

T20 World Cup Super Eight: Uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Tafadzwa Tsiga has earned his maiden T20I call-up, while all-rounder Wessly Madhevere and pacer Newman Nyamhuri returned to the 15-member Zimbabwe squad for the three-match series against India, starting here on Thursday. The trio come into the squad in place of Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, and Tashinga Musekiwa, who were part of the side that recently faced Bangladesh. All three matches of the series will be played at the Harare Sports Club on July 23, 25, and 26. Tsiga, who has represented Zimbabwe in 10 Tests, is yet to make his white-ball international debut. Madhevere, a regular in the Test and ODI setups during the Bangladesh series, returns to the shortest format for the first time since July 2025, and has played 79 T20Is so far. Meanwhile, Nyamhuri makes a comeback after recovering from a niggle that curtailed his participation during the ODIs against Bangladesh earlier this month. Tanaka Chivanga, who was brought in as Nyamhuris replacement and featured in the third ODI, has managed to retain his spot. Sikandar Raza will continue to lead Zimbabwe, who secured a historic innings win in the sole Test and clinched the ODI series 2-1 before conceding the T20I series 1-2. The hosts will face a formidable task against reigning T20 World Cup champions India, who are coming off a 2-0 defeat in Ireland and a 4-0 loss in England. Meanwhile, Nyamhuri makes a comeback after recovering from a niggle that curtailed his participation during the ODIs against Bangladesh earlier this month. Tanaka Chivanga, who was brought in as Nyamhuris replacement and featured in the third ODI, has managed to retain his spot. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Zimbabwe squad: Sikandar Raza (captain), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Tanaka Chivanga, Ben Curran, Brad Evans, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Milton Shumba, Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk). Article Source: IANS

Smith Key To Australia's Transition Ahead Of Gruelling 12-month Test Cycle: Bailey

While Travis Head: Australia's chief selector George Bailey believes a highly motivated Steve Smith remains central to his team's transition in the longer format as they embark on a defining 12-month red-ball cycle. Smith, with 123 Test caps so far, still remains a critical figure for Australia ahead of a packed international calendar featuring at least 20 Tests, including three high-profile overseas trips. Despite speculation surrounding Smith's long-term future in recent years, Bailey revealed hes still very motivated for the upcoming challenges in Tests, starting with the home series against Bangladesh next month. Certainly, in my conversations with him over the last few months, I don't think I've seen him as excited or invigorated around the opportunities and challenges in particular this Test team have over the next period of time. He's probably not on his lonesome there. I think for a number of those guys that have played a lot of Test cricket and are at certain stages of their career, you look at some of the series that are coming up and what the opportunities are for this Test team to achieve, and it probably comes as no surprise as to how excited and focused they are. I've actually been really quite excited by how pumped Steve is, how much thought and time he's putting into what's coming up. So, yeah, I fully expect him to be a major part of it There are some really big key series, a chance, I think for this team to really lay down a marker across a number of different conditions as well. I think that's exciting for everyone but, yeah, in particular for him, Bailey was quoted as saying by Cricinfo on Wednesday. Following home Tests against Bangladesh in Darwin and Mackay, Australia face a stern examination in South Africa, followed by tours of New Zealand and a blockbuster Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in India early next year, before rounding off the cycle with the 2027 Ashes in England. Smith's presence at the crucial number four slot provides much-needed stability to an otherwise uncertain Australian batting lineup. While Travis Head continues to open and Alex Carey has provided solid middle-order support, questions remain over Marnus Labuschagne's recent red-ball form. Furthermore, the number five position remains vacant following veteran opener Usman Khawaja's retirement, with Cameron Green tipped to take over the role. The upcoming South Africa tour also holds emotional significance for Smith, as he returns to play Tests in the country for the first time since the 2018 ball-tampering saga. Smith's presence at the crucial number four slot provides much-needed stability to an otherwise uncertain Australian batting lineup. While Travis Head continues to open and Alex Carey has provided solid middle-order support, questions remain over Marnus Labuschagne's recent red-ball form. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I know everyone fixates on the age, but in terms of the actual growth of the guys, the athletes, they constantly want to learn. They're constantly trying to get better and they're constantly asking questions, particularly around some of those places that do provide different challenges around how they can be better and how they can make the entire team better the next time that we get that opportunity. I think all of that builds to something it's going to be a challenge, but it's going to be a really incredible, exciting 18 months, concluded Bailey. Article Source: IANS

David Warner Drink Driving Case: Former Australia Opener Pleads Guilty in Sydney Court

Former Australia opener David Warner on Wednesday pleaded guilty to a drink-driving charge in a Sydney court and will be sentenced later this year. Warner, who currently serves as the captain of the Sydney Thunder franchise in Australia's domestic T20 Big Bash League (BBL), did not appear in person during the court proceedings. Instead, his legal counsel Bobby Hill appeared at the Sydney court to formally enter a guilty plea on his behalf to one count of middle range drink-driving. The incident unfolded when on April 5, also Easter Sunday, Warner, behind the wheel of a van, drew attention after stopping short of a random breath-testing site. Warner had returned him mid-season from Pakistan, where he was captaining the Karachi Kings franchise in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Police officers then took his roadside breath test, where Warner recorded more than double the legal blood alcohol limit. He was arrested and then brought to a police station for formal processing. So many of us make those poor decisions. I think what's important is accepting and being accountable for those poor decisions. It doesn't matter if you're a tradesman, a doctor or one of the best opening batsmen in the world, that danger exists for every one of us. He knows what he did was wrong. He accepts that was a reckless decision, a foolish decision to get in his car instead of taking an Uber, lawyer Hill told a hearing earlier this year. Warner had returned him mid-season from Pakistan, where he was captaining the Karachi Kings franchise in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Police officers then took his roadside breath test, where Warner recorded more than double the legal blood alcohol limit. He was arrested and then brought to a police station for formal processing. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The allegations are of course concerning and we take them very seriously. At Cricket NSW, we are strong advocates for safe driving, not drink-driving, said Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon had said after his arrest. Thunder, along with Sydney Sixers and NSW Blues, are part of a state government campaign to deter drink-driving. Article Source: IANS

Hashmatullah Shahidi Steps Down As Afghanistans ODI Captain

The Afghanistan Cricket Board: Top-order batter Hashmatullah Shahidi has stepped down as the captain of Afghanistans ODI team with immediate effect. Shahidi, who took over the reins in January 2022, led the side in 55 ODIs until their 3-0 series defeat to India last month. After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as captain of our team. It has been a great honour to lead this team. I sincerely thank the management, coaches, my teammates, and our supporters for their trust and support throughout this journey. Although I am resigning as captain, I remain fully committed to serving the team as a player and wish the new captain and the team continued success, Shahidi wrote on his Instagram account. Under his leadership, Afghanistan enjoyed one of their most successful periods in 50-over cricket, including a stellar 2023 Mens ODI World Cup in India, where Afghanistan came agonisingly close to a semi-final berth after securing famous victories over England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands. A sixth-place finish in that tournament guaranteed led to them making their debut in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, where they recorded another victory over England, though a crucial wash-out against Australia eventually halted their progression to the semi-finals. Under his leadership, Afghanistan enjoyed one of their most successful periods in 50-over cricket, including a stellar 2023 Mens ODI World Cup in India, where Afghanistan came agonisingly close to a semi-final berth after securing famous victories over England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands. Also Read: Live Cricket Score His lone ODI century across 96 international appearances came in his final game in charge, where he struck a patient 102 off 131 balls against India in Chennai. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is expected to name his successor ahead of their upcoming tour of Ireland in August, featuring a five-match ODI series. Article Source: IANS

'Invigorated' Smith remains vital for uncertain batting order

While Australia have remained very successful in Test cricket, the batting has leaned on three key players for some time

Sport Min Mandaviya Meets Scotland's First Minister John Swinney Ahead Of CWG 2026 In Glasgow

Commonwealth Sport Donald Rukare: Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya met with the First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, at an official reception in Glasgow ahead of the start of the Commonwealth Games 2026, expressing optimism for both the upcoming Games in Scotland and Indias host role for the centennial edition in 2030. During his visit to the Scottish city, Mandaviya praised the local host team for their warm hospitality as preparations finalise for the quadrennial multi-sport event. Attended the reception hosted by the First Minister of Scotland, Mr. John Swinney. Grateful for the warm welcome by the team hosting the CWG 2026 in the beautiful city of Glasgow, Mandaviya shared in a post on X. The 10 sports being showcased at Glasgow 2026 are set feature top global talent, including multiple Olympic and Paralympic champions, as well as reigning Commonwealth gold medallists, competing across the 11-day quadrennial event. The sports minister also met with the president of Commonwealth Sport Donald Rukare and discussed the 100th anniversary of the Games, which will be held in India in 2030. Also had the pleasure of meeting the president of Commonwealth Sport, Donald Rukare. There is a lot of excitement in the Commonwealth community for the centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games being hosted by India in 2030, he added. The sports minister also met with the president of Commonwealth Sport Donald Rukare and discussed the 100th anniversary of the Games, which will be held in India in 2030. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Around 15-17 sports will be featured in 2030. The sports under consideration are:Archery, Badminton, 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball, Beach Volleyball,CricketT20,Cycling, Diving,Hockey,Judo, Rhythmic Gymnastics,RugbySevens,Shooting, Squash, Triathlon and Para Triathlon and Wrestling. The host can also propose up to two new or traditional sports. Article Source: IANS

Australia Cricket Great David Warner Pleads Guilty To Drink-Driving

Australia cricket great David Warner pleaded guilty on Wednesday to drink driving and will be sentenced later this year, court documents showed. Warner, who is one of Australia's best-known sportsmen, was accused of being at the wheel of a van and stopping short of a random testing site, before being breath-tested, arrested and taken to a police station. His lawyer appeared at a Sydney court to enter a guilty plea on one count of middle range drink-driving. Former opening batsman Warner, who captains Sydney Thunder in the domestic T20 Big Bash League, did not appear in court. So many of us make those poor decisions. I think what's important is accepting and being accountable for those poor decisions, lawyer Bobby Hill told a hearing earlier this year. It doesn't matter if you're a tradesman, a doctor or one of the best opening batsmen in the world, that danger exists for every one of us. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Warner will be sentenced on August 18.

Warner pleads guilty to drink driving

He was pulled over by police during Easter when on a break back home from the PSL

Mott Leaves WBBL Role To Join BBL As Sydney Sixers Head Coach

Glamorgan County Cricket Club: The Sydney Sixers have appointed Matthew Mott as Big Bash League head coach for the next two seasons after the four-time World Cup-winning coach left the club's WBBL coach position. Mott returned to familiar territory, having previously served as a Sixers BBL assistant coach, and he will now transition to lead the Sixers' BBL program, with a new WBBL head coach appointed and set to be announced this week. I've been part of the Sixers family for a long time, so to have the opportunity to step into the BBL head coach role is something I'm incredibly excited about. This is a club with a proud history and a winning culture, and I'm looking forward to building on the foundations that have been established over many seasons. Having worked closely with the men's programme, I've seen first-hand the talent and potential within this playing group. While it's disappointing that I won't be able to continue as WBBL Head Coach, I'm incredibly grateful for my time with the women's program and wish Ash Gardner, the players and support staff all the very best for WBBL 12, Mott said. Mott had coached England's men's white-ball side from 2022 to 2024, guiding the team to victory at the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup and further cementing his standing as one of the game's premier coaches. Previously, he spent seven years as head coach of the Australian women's team, overseeing one of the most successful periods in the games history, including consecutive T20 World Cup titles, the 50-over World Cup and four Ashes series victories. Having worked closely with the men's programme, I've seen first-hand the talent and potential within this playing group. While it's disappointing that I won't be able to continue as WBBL Head Coach, I'm incredibly grateful for my time with the women's program and wish Ash Gardner, the players and support staff all the very best for WBBL 12, Mott said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score As a player, Mott represented Queensland and Victoria during a successful first-class career. He played 66 first-class matches, scoring 3,723 runs at an average of 33.84, including seven centuries and 20 half-centuries. Article Source: IANS

Hetmyer, Rutherford haul West Indies home in tense chase

Duffy took two wickets in the 45th over to make things tense, but Hetmyer held his nerve to lead the hosts to a two-wicket win

Babar, Awais hit centuries and Mohammad Ali bags five-for in Pakistan's tour game

Not all the Pakistan batters could make the most of the opportunity in Tarouba ahead of the first Test against West Indies, which starts on July 25

Mott named Sydney Sixers BBL coach, leaves WBBL role

The former Australia and England coach was an assistant with the BBL side last season but both head coach jobs was considered unworkable

Pooran, Curran power MI London to opening-night romp

Gleeson takes four as Sunrisers fall short at the Kia Oval

SOB vs WEF Match 2, The Hundred Mens 2026 Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

SOBvs WEFMatch 2 , Cricket Tips :The inaugural season Southern Brave are set to start their campaign of the Hundred Men's Competition 2026 with a game against Welsh Fire. This contest will commence on Wednesday at the Rose Bowl in Southampton at 11 PM IST. Chris Jordan was signed by the Brave at the auction. He will lead the team in this tournament. They have a good mix of young and experienced players. Welsh Fire have not made it to the playoffs in five editions. Can they break this jinx this season? Captain Phil Salt will have the responsibility to take his team to their first playoffs. SOB vs WEF: Match Details Date : July 22, 2026 (Wednesday) Time : 11:00 PM IST Venue : The Rose Bowl, Southampton SOB vs WEF: Live Streaming Details Indian fans can watch the SOB vs WEF clash on the Sony Sports Networks. Fans can catch the live stream on the Sony LIV or FanCode mobile app or website. SOB vs WEF: Head-to-Head in The Hundred Total Matches: 9 Southern Brave : 7 Welsh Fire: 1 No-result: 1 SOB vs WEF: Ground Pitch Report The wicket in Southampton is good for fast bowlers. There is enough assistance with the new ball, and it will be a tough time for the batters. These conditions will get better as the game goes on. The toss will be important because batting first will be difficult. SOB vs WEF: Possible XIs Southern Brave : Tom Abell, Jamie Smith (wk), Thomas Rew, David Miller, Marcus Stoinis, Tristan Stubbs, Nikhil Chaudhary, Chris Jordan (c), Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Dan Worrall Welsh Fire: Jordan Cox, Phil Salt (c & wk), Rachin Ravindra, Joe Root, Matthew Short, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Marco Jansen, Chris Woakes, Jordan Clark, Lockie Ferguson, Sam Cook SOB vs WEF: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Jamie Smith has been an underrated batter in the shorter format. His ability to play all around makes him a difficult batter to bowl to. Phil Salt holds the key for Welsh Fire with the bat. Probable Best Bowler Jofra Archer has been in red-hot form and is taking wickets with the new ball. Marco Jansen will be key for the Fire, who can take wickets with the new ball. Today Match Prediction: Southern Brave are a well-rounded team with a strong bowling unit, which gives them an edge. Hence, we predict Southern Brave to win this game. SOB vs WEF Match 2, The Hundred Men's Competition 2026, Today Match SOB vs WEF, SOB vs WEF Prediction, SOB vs WEF Predicted XIs, Injury Update for SOB vs WEF Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.

Fernandes makes the difference as Middlesex see off Essex

Opener's century lays the foundations for Middlesex to launch Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign

West Indies bowl first and pick Hetmyer in the bid for consolation win

Meanwhile, New Zealand picked Kristian Clarke for his first game of the tour in place of Matt Fisher

Stokes Returns To 50-over Action With Gritty Century In Durham's Win

ODI World Cup: Playing his first competitive match since retiring from Test cricket, Ben Stokes defied severe cramps to score a fighting unbeaten century to help Durham beat Derbyshire in the One-Day Cup on Tuesday. The all-rounder, who led England in the 50-over format, displayed all his usual grit as he battled repeated bouts of cramps to score 108 not out and helped his side chase a target of 257 and secure victory. Stokes was playing his first List A game for his county in nearly 12 years and suffered cramps early in his knock, collapsing in pain as he reached his fifty. Stokes could not weave magic with the ball as he went wicketless in his nine overs, as Derbyshire Falcons rode on Martin Andersson's well-paced century to post 256/9 in their 50 overs. Durham were off to a poor start as Ben Aitchison's two early wickets pegged them back before Stokes came to their rescue. The former England captain got good support from Will Rhodes (45), Colin Ackermann and Ollie Robinson, as he hobbled past three figures to complete a stunning domestic return and seal a five-wicket win for his county. The 35-year-old all-rounder, who surprised everyone with his retirement from international cricket during England's third Test against New Zealand, returned to domestic one-day cricket on the same day the new version of The Hundred started. Stokes missed the second Test against New Zealand while an investigation took place into an incident at a London nightclub. During that time away from the England team, he played for Durham in the County Championship against Northamptonshire. He later admitted that this experience reignited his love for the game. After his One-Day Cup return, Stokes could play again for Durham in the County Championship before the season ends. His comeback lines up with the start of a new era for The Hundred, which is the first season since all eight franchises were sold to investors for around 520 million. This brought new branding, team identities, and higher player salaries. Stokes chose not to enter the player auction and had already agreed to represent Durham in the One-Day Cup before announcing his retirement from England duties. After his One-Day Cup return, Stokes could play again for Durham in the County Championship before the season ends. Also Read: Live Cricket Score His last 50-over appearance for Durham was in their winning 2014 One-Day Cup final against Warwickshire. Earlier that tournament, a then 23-year-old Stokes scored 164 in the semi-final against Nottinghamshire. His last domestic one-day match came while he was representing Canterbury in New Zealand in 2017, during the time he missed England's Ashes tour after the Bristol nightclub incident. Article Source: IANS

BCCI updates domestic rules for overthrows, deliberate no-balls

The BCCI has also implemented the MCC's revised wording relating to the wicketkeeper's position at the point of delivery

McSweeney trumps Hain as Northants maintain that winning feeling

Commanding 88 sets up a five-wicket victory against Warwickshire at Wantage Road

Tom Prest, Ashutosh Sharma thrive to see Hampshire past Yorkshire

Prest's 89-ball century was followed by a List A best of 3 for 48 for Ashtoush

Stokes' matchwinning hundred steals the thunder on Hundred's opening night

Former England captain defies leg injury to produce winning display in front of 1,300 crowd at Derby

SOB-W vs WEF-W Match 2, The Hundred Womens 2026 Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

SOB-W vs WEF-W Match 2 , Cricket Tips :Match 2 of the Hundred Women's Competition 2026 will be played between Southern Brave Women and Welsh Fire Women. It will kick off at 7:30 PM IST on Wednesday at the Rose Bowl at Southampton. Southern Brave have been the most consistent but unlucky team in this competition. Out of five seasons, they have made it to the finals four times but only won the 2023 edition. They ended the last season in the final, losing to Sunrisers Leeds by seven wickets. Meanwhile, Welsh Fire Women had a disastrous last edition. They only managed one win in the entire season and finished at the bottom. Can they start the new season with a win? SOB-W vs WEF-W: Match Details Date : July 22, 2026 (Wednesday) Time : 7:30 PM IST Venue : The Rose Bowl, Southampton SOB-W vs WEF-W: Live Streaming Details The live action of the SOBW vs WEFW will be available on the Sony Sports Networks, whereas fans can watch the game on the Sony LIV and FanCode mobile apps or websites. SOB-W vs WEF-W: Head-to-Head in The Hundred Total Matches : 9 Southern Brave Women : 6 Welsh Fire Women : 3 No-result : 0 SOB-W vs WEF-W: Ground Pitch Report The Rose Bowl will offer a pace-friendly wicket. It has good bounce and pace for the fast bowlers. The batting sides can use the pace and play shots on the up. It will be difficult to play back-foot shots. The square boundaries are also big, and the wind will play a big part in the game. SOB-W vs WEF-W: Possible XIs Southern Brave Women: Laura Wolvaardt, Lizelle Lee (wk), Jemimah Rodrigues, Maia Bouchier, Phoebe Franklin, Sophie Molineux (C), Rebecca Odgers, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Lauren Bell, Issy Wong, Sarah Glenn Welsh Fire Women : Georgia Voll, Sophie Devine (c), Ella McCaughan, Sarah Bryce, Rhianna Southby (wk), Freya Kemp, Georgia Wareham, Fi Morris, Sophia Smale, Heather Graham, Em Arlott SOB-W vs WEF-W: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Laura Wolvaardt and Geogia Voll are coming into this tournament with good international form. They will be the key batters for their teams. Probable Best Bowler Freya Kemp and Sarah Glenn can bowl with new and old balls, which allow them to take wickets. Today Match Prediction : Welsh Fire have a good bowling unit with several wicket-taking options, whereas SOB Women are overly dependent on their batters. Hence, we predict Welsh Fire women to win this game. SOB-W vs WEF-W Match 2, The Hundred Women's Competition 2026, Today Match SOB-W vs WEF-W, SOB-W vs WEF-W Prediction, SOB-W vs WEF-W Predicted XIs, Injury Update for SOB-W vs WEF-W Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.

I Play According To The Situation, Says Tilak Varma In Response To Slow Strike-rate Claims

Tilak Varma: The recent string of defeats in white-ball cricket has exposed a number of chinks in the Indian men's cricket team's armour, with the slow scoring rate of some of the players being a major cause for concern. Middle-order batter Tilak Varma is one of those facing mounting criticism of his strike rate in the recent tours. However, ahead of the opening T20I of the three-match series against Zimbabwe on Wednesday, Varma rubbished the criticism and said he plays according to the situation. Instead of going hammer and tongs at the bowling from the first delivery, Varma says he adjusts his approach according to the team's needs. The 23-year-old left-handed batter faced questions after his recent form across Ireland and England, where he managed to score runs but at a measured tempo compared to expectations of a specialist middle-order batter. In this format, you have to bat in different places, and especially in different conditions, it's not easy. At the same time, I always say that I do whatever is required for the team. If I have to stop and play for the team, then I stop and play. If I have to hit, then I hit and play. So I go as per the conditions of the team. If you look at it, from Ireland to England, you always had four wickets in your power play, and five wickets were falling in six overs. If I have to play for the team till the end, then our team planning keeps changing, said Varma in the pre-match press conference on Tuesday. In this format, you have to bat in different places, and especially in different conditions, it's not easy. At the same time, I always say that I do whatever is required for the team. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Honestly, it has been a big learning since the last series. And we are just looking forward, and we just want to follow our basics and do well in the coming series. Obviously, if you see everyone has played enough domestic cricket and A-series just before this, so they are ready to play the series and it's just it's just a different, it's the same thing, but just a bigger stage. Article Source: IANS

Thomas leads Surrey charge to topple Lancashire

Jennings is hosts' bedrock at Sedburgh School but stiff target proves insufficient

Hameed, McCann star as Notts hunt down Somerset

Lammonby makes 92 but 258-run target is overhauled with four wickets to spare

Cross shoulder scare overshadows Sunrisers win

Cricinfo has learned that she did not dislocate the shoulder but Sunrisers are waiting to learn the extent of the injury in the next 24 hours

Liverpools US owners in talks with Indian investors over stake valuing club at $6 billion: FT

Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group has confirmed discussions with an Amit Bhatia-led consortium, including members of the Mittal family, over a strategic minority stake

Lalit Modi Cleared In Key 2009 IPL South Africa Case After Tribunal Verdict

IPL South Africa: Former chairman Lalit Modi was cleared in the principal proceedings arising from the 2009 Indian Premier League's staging in South Africa after the Appellate Tribunal under SAFEMA set aside the penalties imposed on him, rejecting the Enforcement Directorate's core case that the foreign remittances were capital account transactions. Announcing the verdict after more than 16 years of investigations, proceedings, and litigation, Modi said the tribunal found that the main remittances related to IPL 2009 were current account transactions. It also determined that he was not responsible for the BCCI's statutory FEMA compliance or given the financial authority as alleged by the Enforcement Directorate. Calling it the end of the largest legal dispute stemming from the 2009 South Africa edition of the IPL, Modi said, This marks the end of what has been the single most significant legal matter arising from the 2009 South Africa IPL. He added, For over sixteen years, I have consistently maintained one simple position: I acted in good faith, in the best interests of Indian cricket and the IPL, and committed no personal wrongdoing. Modi explained that the decision to move the tournament to South Africa came under extraordinary circumstances when India's general elections made it impossible to host the event at home. The successful staging of that season ensured that the IPL survived and ultimately became one of the world's most valuable sporting properties, he said. Emphasising his full cooperation with the legal process throughout the proceedings, Modi stated, Throughout these proceedings, I have cooperated with the legal process and remained confident that the facts and the law would ultimately prevail. He expressed gratitude to my legal team, my family, my friends and the many people who continued to believe in me during what has been an extraordinarily long journey. Emphasising his full cooperation with the legal process throughout the proceedings, Modi stated, Throughout these proceedings, I have cooperated with the legal process and remained confident that the facts and the law would ultimately prevail. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Looking ahead, Modi mentioned that his focus had shifted beyond the case. My focus remains firmly on the future. I will continue pursuing opportunities in global sport, business, and philanthropy while leaving this chapter behind with dignity and gratitude. Article Source: IANS

England's Bethell Ruled Out Of The Hundred With Knee Injury

Metro Bank ODI Series: England all-rounder Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of this year's The Hundred with a right knee injury, casting doubt over his availability for next month's Test series against Pakistan and depriving the rising star of a valuable opportunity to captain Birmingham Phoenix. Bethell suffered the injury during England's recent ODI series win over India and withdrew from the tournament after an MRI scan on Monday morning. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has not shared a timeline for his recovery. England's opening Test against Pakistan at Headingley is set to start on August 19. Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of The Hundred due to a right knee injury, the ECB said in a statement. He sustained the injury during the Metro Bank ODI Series and had an MRI scan yesterday morning. He will start his rehabilitation, and we will provide updates as needed. This injury is a major setback for the 21-year-old, who was retained by Birmingham Phoenix on a 340,000 contract and named captain for the 2026 season. The franchise is now jointly owned by Warwickshire and US investment fund Knighthead Capital. England football star Jude Bellingham is also a minority stakeholder. Expressing his disappointment, Bethell said, It's frustrating to miss out on The Hundred, especially representing Birmingham Phoenix in front of our supporters at Edgbaston. Unfortunately, I need to take the time to get back to full fitness. My focus now is on completing my rehabilitation and returning fully fit. Bethell is seen as one of England's future leaders. He led the team to a T20I series win in Ireland last year while Harry Brook was rested. He is also considered a potential long-term successor to Ben Stokes as Test captain. He could be an option in the white-ball formats if Brook eventually takes over the Test leadership. After a tough start to the summer due to a finger injury from the Indian Premier League (IPL), Bethell had found his best form again. He scored 74 in England's third Test against New Zealand, hit an unbeaten 76 in the second T20I against India, and was named Player of the Match in the ODI series decider after scoring 91 and taking 1 for 49. Birmingham Phoenix have chosen South Africa's Donovan Ferreira as Bethell's replacement as captain for Friday's opening match against Trent Rockets. The franchise is also checking on the fitness of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who recently joined the squad after recovering from an injury while on international duty. After a tough start to the summer due to a finger injury from the Indian Premier League (IPL), Bethell had found his best form again. He scored 74 in England's third Test against New Zealand, hit an unbeaten 76 in the second T20I against India, and was named Player of the Match in the ODI series decider after scoring 91 and taking 1 for 49. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Bond expressed confidence in Ferreira stepping up, saying, We're lucky to have someone of his stature to take on the captaincy. The 28-year-old Ferreira led South Africa in four T20 Internationals late last year and is already a two-time Hundred champion with Oval Invincibles. Article Source: IANS

Bowlers leave SL U-19 in tatters after Manal and Ojha centuries

Sri Lanka Under-19 were eight down and 289 runs behind after India Under-19's 411

Jacob Bethell ruled out of Hundred with knee injury

Blow for Birmingham Phoenix on eve of new season; availability for Pakistan Tests also up in the air

WI vs NZ 5th ODI: Preview, Predicted XIs, Player Tips & Match Prediction

WI vs NZ 5th ODI, Cricket Tips :After losing the first ODI, New Zealand made a remarkable comeback in the five-match ODI series. They won the next three matches on the trot and have taken a 3-1 unassailable lead. The final ODI will be held on Wednesday at 12 PM IST at Kensington Oval in Barbados. West Indies have been pretty bad with the bat. They have been bowled out for 138, 140 and 188 in the last three matches. Though they made New Zealand grind for runs in the last game and Gudakesh Motie picked up a fifer. But West Indies have been poor on the field. WI vs NZ: Match Details Date : July 22, 2026 (Wednesday) Time : 12:00 AM IST Venue : Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados WI vs NZ: Live Streaming Details Indian fans can watch the live action of the WI vs NZ 5th ODI on the FanCode mobile app or website. WI vs NZ: Head-to-Head in ODIs Total Matches : 72 West Indies : 32 New Zealand: 33 No-result: 07 WI vs NZ: Ground Pitch Report Kensington Oval offers a slow and low deck. As seen in the last game, it is an excellent surface for slow bowlers, as the ball will grip and turn off the surface. Fast bowlers can extract early swing and movement, while the batting conditions will get tougher with time. WI vs NZ: Possible XIs West Indies : Ackeem Auguste, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope (c & wk), Keacy Carty, Sherfane Rutherford, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Matthew Forde, Vitel Lawes, Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales New Zealand : Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Mark Chapman, Tom Latham (wk), Nick Kelly, Michael Bracewell, Nathan Smith, Mitchell Santner (c), Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher, Jayden Lennox WI vs NZ: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Shai Hope and Will Young are two in-form batters for these sides. They will be key batters for these sides. Probable Best Bowler Gudakesh Motie picked up a fifer in the last game and used the conditions pretty well. Jayden Lennox is the leading wicket-taker for the series, and he has been tough to face. Today Match Prediction : West Indies have been poor on the field, while New Zealand have been pretty good under pressure. Hence, we predict New Zealand to win this game. WI vs NZ Match 5th ODI, Today Match WI vs NZ, WI vs NZ Prediction, WI vs NZ Predicted XIs, Injury Update for West Indies vs New Zealand Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.

ICC ODI Rankings: Hayley Matthews Leads West Indies Surge After Ireland ODI Clean Sweep

Captain Gaby Lewis: West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews and several of her teammates have made significant gains in the latest Womens ODI Rankings after their side completed a 3-0 series sweep over Ireland in the ongoing ICC Womens Championship. Matthews once again led from the front with outstanding performances with both bat and ball, earning the Player of the Series award. She amassed a series-best 265 runs across the three ODIs and also claimed seven wickets, further strengthening her position inside the top 10 across all three ODI rankings categories. The latest rankings update also brought rewards for experienced batter Stafanie Taylor, all-rounder Aaliyah Alleyne, spinner Afy Fletcher and all-rounder Deandra Dottin following their contributions during the series. Taylor climbed one place to 22nd in the ODI batting rankings after scoring a superb century in the third and final ODI against Ireland. Alleyne also made progress, moving up four places to 73rd among ODI batters after contributing an innings of 33 in the same match. In the ODI bowling rankings, Fletcher gained one spot to move into equal 21st after finishing the series with eight wickets, the highest tally by any bowler across the three matches. Dottin also enjoyed a notable rise in the bowling rankings, climbing six places to 75th following her performances during the series. The clean sweep lifts the Caribbean side to fourth in the ICC Women's Championship standings with eight points. Despite suffering a 3-0 series defeat, Ireland had a number of positives in the latest rankings update. Dottin also enjoyed a notable rise in the bowling rankings, climbing six places to 75th following her performances during the series. The clean sweep lifts the Caribbean side to fourth in the ICC Women's Championship standings with eight points. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Irelands bowling unit received further recognition as Jane Maguire rose four places to 47th among ODI bowlers, while Aimee Maguire jumped five positions to move into equal 71st. Article Source: IANS

ML vs SUL Match 1, The Hundred Mens 2026 Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

MLvs SULMatch 1 , Cricket Tips :The Hundred Men's Competition 2026 will begin with a blockbuster contest between Sunrisers Leeds and the current champion, MI London. This contest will kick off at 11 PM IST on Tuesday (July 22) at Kennington Oval, London. MI London (formerly known as Oval Invincibles) have won three consecutive seasons. They will defend their title in this edition and will look to win a fourth championship in a row. Star English all-rounder Sam Curran will lead the reigning champion. Sunrisers Leeds made it to the playoffs last edition, but the rain scrapped the chance to feature in the final for them. Zak Crawley has the responsibility to lead this team to their maiden title. ML vs SUL: Match Details Date : July 21, 2026 (Tuesday) Time : 11 PM IST Venue : Kennington Oval, London ML vs SUL: Live Streaming Details Indian fans need to switch to the Sony Sports Networks to watch the live action of the game. The live stream of the match will be available on Sony LIV and FanCode platforms. ML vs SUL: Head-to-Head in The Hundred Total Matches : 5 MI London: 2 Sunrisers Leeds : 3 No-result: 0 MLvs SUL: Ground Pitch Report This is the second game on this wicket on Tuesday. Hence, the conditions are expected to be good for batting. However, fast bowlers will get swing and pace early on and batters can use the bounce to good effect. The chasing team has been pretty effective at this venue in shorter format. MLvs SUL: Possible XIs MI London: Jason Roy, Ollie Pope (wk), Nicholas Pooran, James Vince, Will Jacks, Sam Curran (C), Tom Curran, Trent Boult, Rashid Khan, Richard Gleeson, Olly Stone Sunrisers Leeds: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Mitchell Marsh, Harry Brook, Tom Alsop, Zak Crawley (C), Benny Howell, Dan Lawrence, Brydon Carse, Nathan Ellis, Abrar Ahmed, Matthew Potts MLvs SUL: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Nicholas Pooran has been in good form and scored well in MLC 2026. Ryan Rickelton has been in excellent batting form at the top and can give flying starts. These two will be the ones to watch out for. Probable Best Bowler Nathan Ellis is one of the best white-ball bowlers, who comes with different variations to deceive the batters. Captain Sam Curran ended the ODI series against India as the leading wicket-taker and will be the key bowler for MI London. Today Match Prediction : Both sides are looking good with their combination. But MI London will start as favorites because of the good combination they have with bat and ball. ML vs SUL Match 1, The Hundred Women's Competition 2026, Today Match ML vs SUL, ML vs SUL Prediction, ML vs SUL Predicted XIs, Injury Update for ML vs SUL Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.

'Siraj Bhaiya Taught Me How To Handle Pressure And Set Up Batters: Ashok Sharma

Ashok Sharma: India pacer Ashok Sharma has credited senior fast bowler Mohammed Siraj for playing an important role in his development, saying the experienced seamer patiently answered his questions and helped him understand the finer aspects of fast bowling during their time together at Gujarat Titans. Ashok, who earned his maiden India call-up for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe, said he made full use of the opportunity to learn from Siraj whenever they trained or spent time together in the dressing room. I had a lot of talks with Siraj bhaiya as well. Whenever we were in the dressing room or bowling together in the nets, I would keep asking him questions throughout the day. I would ask him, 'Bhaiya, when you play a match, how much pressure do you feel? What do you think before bowling a delivery? If I have to bowl to someone, how should I set him up?' I would discuss all these things with him, he told JioStar. According to Ashok, Siraj never hesitated to share his knowledge and even analysed his bowling during practice sessions. Siraj bhaiya would explain everything to me very well. He would stand with me and watch two or three of my deliveries. Then he would tell me, 'Do this, make this change, try this.' So I learned a lot from him. I have carried all those learnings with me. Whenever I get time to practice in Jaipur, I focus on those things and try to do them even better, he added. Ashok was purchased by Gujarat Titans for Rs 90 lakh in the 2025 IPL auction. He finally made his IPL debut against Punjab, where he immediately grabbed attention by clocking 154.2 kmph, underlining his ability to generate genuine pace. The young fast bowler featured in six matches during IPL 2026 and picked up six wickets, with his best figures being 2 for 32, performances that strengthened his case for higher honours. Ashok also recalled a valuable piece of advice from veteran India fast bowler Ishant Sharma during his early days with Gujarat Titans, saying the conversation changed the way he looked at his bowling. Ashok was purchased by Gujarat Titans for Rs 90 lakh in the 2025 IPL auction. He finally made his IPL debut against Punjab, where he immediately grabbed attention by clocking 154.2 kmph, underlining his ability to generate genuine pace. The young fast bowler featured in six matches during IPL 2026 and picked up six wickets, with his best figures being 2 for 32, performances that strengthened his case for higher honours. Also Read: Live Cricket Score That was a big moment for me. Ishant bhai has played Test cricket for India and has taken more than 300 wickets. He has bowled to the best batters in the world. If he gave me that advice, he must have said it after watching me closely. That advice stayed with me. It reminded me that small improvements in the right areas can make a big difference, he added. Article Source: IANS

'My First Target Will Be To Wear India Jersey': Ashok Sharma Eyes Debut In Zimbabwe T20Is

Zimbabwe T20Is: Fast bowler Ashok Sharma opened up about the emotions of earning his maiden India call-up and stated that wearing the national jersey has been a long-cherished dream as he is targetting an international debut after earning his maiden senior team call-up for the T20I series against Zimbabwe, starting Thursday. The three-match series will be played in Harare from July 23 to 26, with the fast bowler in line to make his first appearance for India. Speaking about his immediate goals ahead of the series, Ashok said representing the country remains his biggest motivation. My first target will be to wear the India jersey. I am waiting for that moment to wear that jersey and represent my nation. I have waited for this for a long time. So that will be the first thing. The second thing is that I will keep doing what I know best. Whatever I have done till now- the hard work in domestic cricket, the preparation and the routines- I will just keep following that. I will stick to my strengths and not try anything extra, he told Jio Star. Ashok also outlined his ambitions for the Zimbabwe tour, saying he wants to make the most of the opportunity if he gets a chance to play. Now that I am in the squad for the series against Zimbabwe, my next target will be to take as many wickets as possible and try to play as many matches as I can. I want to make this opportunity count. My next goal after that will be to play red-ball cricket for India as soon as possible, he added. Before receiving his maiden senior India call-up, Ashok had also been drafted into the India A squad during the tour of Sri Lanka in June. He joined the side after pacer Yudhvir Singh suffered an injury while fielding, earning an opportunity to train and travel with the developmental squad. The young quick also spoke about the fast bowler who has had the biggest influence on his game, naming former South Africa great Dale Steyn as his role model. Before receiving his maiden senior India call-up, Ashok had also been drafted into the India A squad during the tour of Sri Lanka in June. He joined the side after pacer Yudhvir Singh suffered an injury while fielding, earning an opportunity to train and travel with the developmental squad. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I follow him in terms of his aggression, his run-up, his intensity and the way he used to set up batters. Everything about him is inspiring. He is someone I look up to as a fast bowler, he added. Article Source: IANS

ML-W vs SUL-W Match 1, The Hundred Womens 2026 Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

ML-W vs SUL-W Match 1 , Cricket Tips :The sixth edition of the Hundred Women's Competition will begin on July 22 (Tuesday). Sunrisers Leeds won the last edition, beating Southern Brave in the final, and they will put their title on the line. The first game of the sixth edition will be played between MI London Women and Sunrisers Leeds Women. This contest will kick off at 7:15 PM IST at Kennington Oval in London. Each team will play 8 group games, and the top sides will make it to the final, while the other two will face each other in the eliminator. Hence, every game is important. Both sides have several superstars, and it will be an exciting contest to start the new season. ML-W vs SUL-W: Match Details Date : July 21, 2026 (Tuesday) Time : 7:15 PM IST Venue : Kennington Oval, London ML-W vs SUL-W: Live Streaming Details The live action of the upcoming game will be on Sony Sports Networks. Fans can also watch the live stream on Sony LIV and FanCode mobile apps or websites. ML-W vs SUL-W: Head-to-Head in The Hundred Total Matches : 4 MI London: 0 Sunrisers Leeds : 4 No-result : 0 ML-W vs SUL-W: Ground Pitch Report The wicket in London is expected to be good for batting. There will be good bounce and pace in the wicket, and batters can use the conditions to their best effect. The new ball will do well, whereas the batting conditions will get better with time. ML-W vs SUL-W: Possible XIs MI London Women : Hayley Matthews, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Francesca Sweet, Hollie Armitage (C), Amelia Kerr, Kira Chathli (wk), Nicola Carey, Tara Norris, Alice Davidson-Richards, Kirstie Gordon, Alexa Stonehouse Sunrisers Leeds Women : Lauren Winfield-Hill (wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Bryony Smith, Deepti Sharma, Annabel Sutherland, Jess Jonassen, Kate Cross, Danielle Gibson (C), Hannah Baker, Rachel Slater, Cassidy McCarthy ML-W vs SUL-W: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Hayley Matthews and Phoebe Litchfield are two dangerous batters from either side. They did well in the recent Women's T20 World Cup on these pitches. Probable Best Bowler Nicola Carey is coming into this tournament with good international form, and she can work well at different stages of the game. Kate Cross brings her experience into play, and she is a wicket-taker with the new ball. Today Match Prediction: Both teams have a good squad on paper. But Sunrisers Leeds Women look more settled in both aspects of the game. Hence, we predict Sunrisers Leeds Women will win this game. ML-W vs SUL-W Match 1, The Hundred Women's Competition 2026, Today Match ML-W vs SUL-W, ML-W vs SUL-W Prediction, ML-W vs SUL-W Predicted XIs, Injury Update for ML-W vs SUL-W Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.

CPL: Ayub, Sadaqat headline strong Pakistani contingent at Jamaica Kingsmen

Jamaica Kingsmen's seven overseas signings all have links to their parent franchise Hyderabad Kingsmen in the PSL

'Sit Quietly And Clap: Samson On Early Struggles At T20 WC

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has revealed how he came to terms with missing out on the spot in India's XI at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 after a disappointing series against New Zealand, saying he knew his hopes were over once Ishan Kishan's explosive performances pushed him ahead in the selection race. Reflecting on the turning point in his international career, Samson admitted he could see the selectors' thinking change as Kishan grabbed his opportunity. After that, Ishan came in, and his story was completely different. He wasn't even in the team. He won Jharkhand the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy almost single-handedly, then came into the Indian team and was batting on a different level altogether. I could clearly see that Ishan was moving above me in the pecking order, Samson told JioStar. Kishan capitalised on his opportunity with a string of impactful innings, while Samson endured a lean run in the five-match series, leaving the Kerala batter convinced that the race for a World Cup berth had effectively ended. You get five matches and score 24, 6, 6, 10 and 0, then another guy comes in, scores 70-odd straightaway, gets a hundred later in the series, and the next match is directly in the T20 World Cup. Anyone would prefer an in-form batter. It was clear that the World Cup was done for me. Whatever had to happen had happened, and the only thing I could do was sit quietly and clap, he added. The 31-year-old said the disappointment was particularly painful because it came just when he believed he had finally established himself in India's T20I setup after a remarkable run of form. That's the spice of being an Indian cricketer, actually. Everything can change in a single day. The same thing happened with me as well. When I was given those seven matches, I don't think even I would have imagined that I would score three hundreds in those seven games, he expressed. Samson said that success had convinced many that his place in the side was secure, but he never allowed himself to think that way. The wicketkeeper-batter also admitted that the setback taught him an important lesson about balancing preparation with mental well-being. That's the spice of being an Indian cricketer, actually. Everything can change in a single day. The same thing happened with me as well. When I was given those seven matches, I don't think even I would have imagined that I would score three hundreds in those seven games, he expressed. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Samson revealed that it was during this difficult phase that he realised relentless practice alone was not the answer, as he said, I realised I was overdoing it, and my wife was right, being happy and mentally in a good space is much more important than putting in hours and hours of practice. The New Zealand series taught me that. Article Source: IANS

Sanju Samson Reveals How Rohit Sharma's Faith Helped Him Script T20 World Cup Redemption

India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has revealed that he initially struggled to believe Rohit Sharma's reassurance that he would still have a role to play in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 after missing out on the playing XI during the latter stage of the campaign before rediscovering his confidence and producing one of the defining innings of India's campaign against the West Indies. Looking back on the difficult period following the New Zealand T20I series, Samson admitted he was mentally drained and could not see the path that Rohit envisioned for him. To be honest, I didn't believe him at that time. Sorry. He might have spoken from his heart or from his experience, but that day I wasn't able to see what he was seeing. You could see it on my face; I was a bit off that day, Samson told JioStar. Samson explained that the disappointment of missing out lingered into the early stages of the World Cup, making it difficult for him to move on immediately. Our World Cup campaign started two days after the New Zealand series, and it takes me at least a week to recover. I don't like to bottle things up, so it shows on my face if I'm not feeling 100 per cent. I went through that phase for four or five days before getting myself back on track, he added. The Kerala batter said the setback eventually became an opportunity for self-reflection, prompting him to reassess both his mindset and the reasons that drove him to play the game. You know you've failed, so what's next? You're at the bottom, so from there, you can only go up. I started working on myself mentally. I started asking myself questions, why do I play cricket? What's my purpose? It was like I was rediscovering myself while the World Cup was going on. And then everything just came back, Samson said. That renewed perspective laid the foundation for Samson's match-winning innings in the virtual quarter-final against the West Indies, a knock he described as one of those rare days when everything clicked, as he said, I prepared much better for that game after the Zimbabwe one. There are days I've played in the IPL and for India, and I've scored those centuries, when everything just feels right. It was one of those days. You just enjoy, stay in the moment, stay in the process, and things start happening automatically. Although his natural instinct is to accelerate after the Powerplay, Samson said the match situation demanded a different approach as wickets kept falling at the other end. I also knew it was a very big game for India. After the powerplay, I usually go into fifth gear. I'm an opener, if I get through the Powerplay, and we bat till No. 8, my game plan is to take on the bowling. But in that game, every time I felt it was time to attack, a wicket would fall at the other end. That's when I realised the game is the biggest teacher. The game tells you what to do, he stated. Samson also opened up on the emotional celebration that followed the innings, saying it was an expression of gratitude rather than personal triumph, saying, It's a very private celebration, but it became very public. I'm a very strong believer. I believe in my God, and I know it wasn't me. I also knew it was a very big game for India. After the powerplay, I usually go into fifth gear. I'm an opener, if I get through the Powerplay, and we bat till No. 8, my game plan is to take on the bowling. But in that game, every time I felt it was time to attack, a wicket would fall at the other end. That's when I realised the game is the biggest teacher. The game tells you what to do, he stated. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I've played enough innings to know which shots I hit, and then there are some where I wonder, 'How did I hit that one?' I'm just very grateful that it happened through me, that I was able to help the team. That moment will stay with me till my last breath. It was very special, he mentioned. Article Source: IANS

'Both Teams Will Have Equal Chance Of Winning,' Says Sikandar Raza Ahead Of T20Is Against India

T20 World Cup: Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza has dismissed the thought of the 2026 T20 World Cup champions India being favourites in the upcoming three-match T20I series, saying the contest will not be one-sided and both teams will have an equal chance of emerging victorious. Zimbabwe are hosting the Shreyas Iyer-led side, with all three matches of the series to be held at the Harare Sports Club. The first match will be played on Thursday. India is coming to the contest after a poor show against Ireland and England. Under the new captain, Iyer, the team endured a 0-2 T20I series defeat to Ireland in Belfast before going down 0-4 in the five-match T20I series against England. India didn't impress in ODIs either as they lost the series by 2-1 under the captaincy of Shubman Gill. Both countries will have an equal chance in this series. But one thing I am very sure about is that because Zimbabwe has been playing very consistent and very entertaining cricket, I can say this for sure that this series will be very entertaining. I think, as far as winning or losing is concerned, which is important for both countries, I think both countries have an equal chance to win the series. Raza told Star Sports. According to Raza, just like India, Zimbabwe is also going through a transition phase, which will make the series interesting. Both countries will have an equal chance in this series. But one thing I am very sure about is that because Zimbabwe has been playing very consistent and very entertaining cricket, I can say this for sure that this series will be very entertaining. I think, as far as winning or losing is concerned, which is important for both countries, I think both countries have an equal chance to win the series. Raza told Star Sports. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India and Zimbabwe have played each other ten times in T20Is. India leads the head-to-head record with 7 wins. Zimbabwe has won 3 matches. The last T20I encounter between the two teams took place on February 26, 2026, during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, where India defeated Zimbabwe by 72 runs. Article Source: IANS

They Cannot Touch Virat, Rohit If They Want To Play: Ashwin Backs Senior Stars For 2027 WC

ODI World Cup: Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has thrown his weight behind Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli amid renewed debate over their future, insisting the veteran duo have earned the right to decide when they step away from the game. Speaking after Rohit's 138 in the series decider at Lord's against England, Ashwin said the two batting stalwarts remain untouchable as long as they are willing to continue representing India. They cannot touch Virat and Rohit if they want to play. It is because of their credentials. Rohit has scored almost 12,000 runs; they cannot touch him. The other thing is that they are batters, and if you touch them, they have an army. People come to see them. If you drop them, it will just break the roof down, Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. Praising the former India captain's approach, Ashwin said Rohit looked in complete control once he settled into his innings and believed an even bigger score was within reach. This is a phenomenal knock. He was set after hitting that pull to Josh Tongue. I feel that this is Rohit's road to a comeback after an injury. If he were in a slightly better state or were more confident, he could have scored 180 and won the match for the team. I felt like Rohit was in really good form, he added. Ashwin also suggested that Rohit's motivation now stems from his own desire to feature at the next ODI World Cup rather than from any need to answer critics or prove his credentials. Praising the former India captain's approach, Ashwin said Rohit looked in complete control once he settled into his innings and believed an even bigger score was within reach. This is a phenomenal knock. He was set after hitting that pull to Josh Tongue. I feel that this is Rohit's road to a comeback after an injury. If he were in a slightly better state or were more confident, he could have scored 180 and won the match for the team. I felt like Rohit was in really good form, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Despite Rohit's masterful 138, India were restricted to 360/7 as England held their nerve in the closing overs to register a 27-run victory at Lord's and clinch the three-match ODI series 2-1. Article Source: IANS

'All I Care About Is Winning': Hurdler Tejas Shirse Guns For CWG And Asiad Glory

Hurdler Tejas Shirse: In an era of elite sport where athletes often retreat behind soft platitudes about enjoying the process or gaining valuable exposure on participating in multi-sport events, Tejas Shirse comes across as a refreshingly honest sportsperson. Shirse, 23, the national record holder in the 110-metre hurdles does not run merely to participate, nor is he content with moral victories his sole focus is to just win the competition. Definitely winning is the only goal. I don't want to be there and say that the process is part of it. The process is very important, but that is for me. But for the world, it's winning. All I care about is winning. The world will care about winning. How am I going to get there is my process... but I want to be the best in the world. I want to be the best in what I compete in. If I don't have that mindset, I will never achieve that. I just want to go out there in the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games and just win - that is the only goal, recalls Shirse in an exclusive free-wheeling chat with IANS ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. That singular, unapologetic focus on victory comes at a pivotal moment. Having shattered the Indian national record with a blistering 13.27 seconds performance to lock in his CWG spot at the Indian Athletics Series in Ludhiana and then book his ticket to the Asian Games via clocking 13.43 seconds at the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Bhubaneshwar. With an aim to make the whole of India fall in love with hurdles, Shirses laser focus has been forged in the fires of immense adversity. Just as he was building peak momentum last year, disaster struck when a severe impact with a hurdle left his ankle injured in multiple places. Because of that, my ankle was almost broken from three-four places... it was just hanging by a thread basically. After that, I was feeling so depressed... despite doing everything right, even though I didn't do anything wrong, something like this has happened to me. Being sidelined for four months during a crucial CWG qualification cycle could have broken a lesser athletes spirit. Coming to terms with it, Shirse poured his raw emotion into a late-night Instagram post - not for public sympathy, but as a mental marker for the mountain he vowed to climb. His recovery became a collaborative masterpiece led by the Reliance Foundation sports science team, including coach James Hillier, physiotherapist Nilesh Makwana, and strength and conditioning coach Kshitij Bhoite. Initially, the goal was merely to get him running pain-free. The Commonwealth Games were deemed an unrealistic target, but then Shirse took a chance at it. When we had a meeting, we thought that we would not plan for the Commonwealth Games. We will just plan to stay and become healthy. I started training in the middle of April and qualification was due at the end of May and the start of June. Qualifying in such a short time and reducing the timing was not realistic. So, we said that we will not do it, but in my mind, it was like if it happens, it is going to be nothing less of a miracle. So, I gave it the name of Mission Miracle - just to keep myself motivated and it happened. Instead of succumbing to panic, Shirse stripped away all external expectations in Ludhiana, especially after clocking 13.67s and 13.50s at the Federation Cup in Ranchi. It was a do or die situation. I don't know, but I just dug deep into my mindset. I told myself that even if I lose from here, I can't go any lower than this. So, why not just give yourself an opportunity to perform at your own level and at your best? I just thought that this was a free hit and told myself, You know what, just do what you are capable of... Don't put pressure on yourself. When he crossed the finish line in Ludhiana, a quick glance at the trackside clock showed 13.27 seconds - well past the required standard of 13.39 seconds. The surge of emotion was instantaneous and a visceral reaction to months of gruelling rehabilitation and self-doubt. Yet, despite the euphoric high of breaking the national record, Shirse has cultivated a steady internal compass to survive the emotional volatility of elite sports. You expect that if I feel good here, I will qualify and then you make dreams for that. I think this is a very mental framing athletes take it in a very wrong way. When you don't perform well, you think everything is over. If you perform very well, it feels like now I am the best. But I have found that I have gone through a lot of turmoil - up and down, then again up and down. Of course, I was happy after that race. But after two-three hours, I was in the same condition. So, I am not very happy and I am not very sad if I win or lose and I think that is helping me perform better at my sport. Shirses hunger for podium finishes stems from humble origins. Growing up in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, facilities were sparse, forcing him to learn the sport through sheer improvisation and internet tutorials. When I used to train, we used to make wooden hurdles. We didn't have those hurdles which are there now. We made wooden hurdles, used to jump to overcome it and then run. It actually represents life as well. There are some obstacles that you have to overcome and then you just keep going. Growing up, I had a lot of issues - financial issues, home and family problems... Hurdles chose me, not me (choosing it). While flat sprints and field events like the javelin throw have historically commanded the spotlight in Indian athletics, Shirse believes the technical brilliance of the 110m hurdles is ripe for a cultural transformation in the country. In layman's terms, people think that 100 meters is the fastest, which is an interesting event. But the 110-meter hurdles is a very technical and interesting event as well. If you see, people didn't even know about javelin throw before. But since Neeraj Chopra has done huge throws and won an Olympics gold as well, then people came to know that there is a game called javelin throw. This thing motivates me - that if I can do something extraordinary for India, then people are going to recognize hurdles as well and that is my goal and mission - that people in India get to know that there is such a sport, which is really interesting. It's not something layman like any other sport. I don't want to compare, but it's a really interesting sport to watch. If you see people in stands, they really love watching 100 meters and hurdles as well. That motivates me to make a name for myself in that game. Cricket wasn't that famous in India before the World Cup was won in 1983. In India, I think we need heroes to worship. We need that person whom we can see and think that he has done it and we will follow him as he has come out of us. So we take really big pride in that situation. I think unless and until somebody goes out there and performs and gives their heart and soul to something for India or for these people who are from your place or from your country, they really love it and I think they will see soon that somebody has been working so hard to represent their country at the world stage, he elaborated. To achieve his dream of standing on the podium at the Commonwealth and Asian Games, Shirse will have to overcome formidable global competition right from the heats to the final race. The Commonwealth lineup features powerhouse hurdlers from Jamaica and the Caribbean, especially Demario Prince, while Asian giants like Japan and China present formidable challenges of their own. Rather than being intimidated by world-class rivals, Shirse relies on a simple tactical principle to manage the environment. The main challenge for me will be to focus more on myself. When I go on the track, I shut down myself - what is he or she doing, I just focus on myself... The more I focus on myself, the less pressure I will take. Pressure is a good thing - I have a quote that Pressure is good when diluted with process. So if I can dilute that pressure that there are so many good athletes here with the process, I think medal-winning chances are as high as they can be. Daily training in a high-performance bubble alongside top sprinters like Jyothi Yarraji, Gurindervir Singh, and Animesh Kujur keeps his competitive edge razor-sharp. You are a product of five people you surround yourself most with. So if you surround yourself with five champions, you become the sixth champion. As the major multi-sport events approach, Shirse is refusing to temper his ambitions or settle for mere participation. The goals are set, the national record is in his keeping, and the focus remains absolute winning and being on the podium. Daily training in a high-performance bubble alongside top sprinters like Jyothi Yarraji, Gurindervir Singh, and Animesh Kujur keeps his competitive edge razor-sharp. You are a product of five people you surround yourself most with. So if you surround yourself with five champions, you become the sixth champion. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Whatever it is, but you have to try and become your best self and to achieve your best performance and then think that nobody else runs faster than you. You have to run the fastest and win - that's the only thing you can control. I really hope it turns out to be exciting and I learn a lot from it, signed off Shirse. Article Source: IANS

Gaikwad to lead West Zone in 2026-27 domestic season-opening Duleep Trophy

Shams Mulani to be the team's vice-captain, while Prithvi Shaw and Musheer Khan have both been included in the squad

Cummins, Hazlewood, Lyon Return For Bangladesh Tests

Great Barrier Reef Arena: Australia have named a full-strength Test side for the first time in a year after captain Pat Cummins, along with Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, were all named in the 13-strong squad for the two-game series against Bangladesh. This will be Bangladesh's first Test tour of Australia since 2003 with the first match scheduled to take place August 13-17, Marrara Stadium Darwin, followed by the second from August 22-26, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay. Cummins is in line to play his first Test match since December last year. Spinner Lyon is set for his return after he missed much of the backend of Ashes tour against England due to a hamstring issue, with back-up pacer Scott Boland joined by all-rounders Beau Webster and Cameron Green. Hazlewood has missed significant time in recent years due to injuries. Hamstring and Achilles issues have been his latest concerns. Selectors will have to face an agonising call over which of Hazlewood, Lyon or Boland to leave out for the series opener at Marrara Stadium. Selection chief George Bailey said Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon had worked extremely hard, individually and with the (sports science) teams, over the past few months to return from their respective injuries. The NSP (National Selection Panel) look forward to the return of Pat, Josh and Nathan. They have worked extremely hard, individually and with the SSSM (sports science and sports medicine) teams, over the past few months to return from their respective injuries, Bailey said. While this is a 13-player squad, we have players prepared and available should any adjustments be required in the lead up to these matches. As previously stated, the volume of cricket and schedule across the next 12 months are likely to present further opportunities across all formats for many players, he added. Selectors will also be on the lookout for Usman Khawaja's replacement inside the top six following his retirement at the start of the year, with Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Jake Weatherald all included as batting options. Michael Neser, Todd Murphy and Brendan Doggett are the players to drop out of the squad that featured in Australia's most recent Test series against England at the start of the year. Selectors will also be on the lookout for Usman Khawaja's replacement inside the top six following his retirement at the start of the year, with Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Jake Weatherald all included as batting options. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Australia squad for Bangladesh Tests: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster. Article Source: IANS

Boland 'big three' debate reignites with full set of quicks available

Australia chair of selectors says there has been a discussion about the pecking order but the enormous Test workload ahead means the full depth will be needed

Cummins, Hazlewood, Lyon return to face Bangladesh

Australia's veterans named in a 13-man squad with Cameron Green and Beau Webster both included

England fightback falls short as fluctuating Youth Test ends in draw

England stutter to 144 for 5 in reply to 460 at end of second day in Hove

Katherine Sciver-Brunt joins Trent Rockets as assistant coach

Former England seamer will work alongside wife Nat in first cricket role since retirement

Stokes return adds intrigue as counties assemble for One-Day Cup

All the runners and riders as the domestic 50-over tournament gets underway in the Hundred's shadow

Roach To Be Honoured For Historic 300-Test Wicket Milestone At Kensington Oval

Cricket West Indies: Cricket West Indies (CWI) said on Monday that it will formally honour veteran fast bowler Kemar Roach for his historic achievement of claiming 300 Test wickets during the innings break of the fifth ODI against New Zealand, to be played at the Kensington Oval on Tuesday. The special on-field presentation will take place during the innings break, where CWI will be joined by representatives from the Government of Barbados and the Barbados Cricket Association to celebrate Roachs achievement. Roach recently became only the fifth West Indies and the second player from Barbados to reach the coveted 300-wicket landmark. He achieved the feat during the team's victory over Sri Lanka in Antigua and joined an elite club of Caribbean bowling greats that includes Courtney Walsh (519), Sir Curtly Ambrose (405), Malcolm Marshall (376), and Lance Gibbs (305). For the better part of two decades, Kemar has represented the West Indies with distinction, displaying extraordinary skill, heart and determination every time he has worn the maroon cap. He has been an outstanding ambassador for Caribbean cricket, and an inspiration to generations of young fast bowlers. I am personally heartened to witness a player of this generation whose unwavering commitment and exceptional contributions have earned him a rightful place among the legends of our game. On behalf of Cricket West Indies, I once again extend heartfelt congratulations to Kemar on this remarkable achievement. It is a richly deserved honour, and one that reflects the profound impact he has made on West Indies cricket, said CWI President Dr. Kishore Shallow in a statement. For the better part of two decades, Kemar has represented the West Indies with distinction, displaying extraordinary skill, heart and determination every time he has worn the maroon cap. He has been an outstanding ambassador for Caribbean cricket, and an inspiration to generations of young fast bowlers. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With free admission already announced at the venue in honour of the legendary late Sir Garfield Sobers, CWI has urged fans to fill the stands and join in saluting the premier fast bowler during the innings interval. Article Source: IANS

ECB relief as last-minute Hundred deals swerve gambling shirt-sponsors

Tournament MD blames 'challenging market' as outright ban on betting sponsorship is deferred

Ojha's Century, Fifties From Yashbardhan And Manal Rescue India U-19 On Day One

Sri Lanka Under: An unbeaten century from Kushagra Ojha, along with half-centuries from skipper Yashbardhan Chauhan and Manal Chauhan, helped India Under-19 recover from a disastrous start to reach a commanding 253/3 in 85 overs against Sri Lanka Under-19 on the opening day of the second Youth Test here on Monday. Electing to bowl first, Sri Lanka Under-19 enjoyed early success by reducing the visitors to a precarious 0/2 within the first six overs. New-ball bowlers Sethmika Seneviratne and Gimhan Mendis removed Indian openers Lakshya Raichandani and Sagar Virk respectively, without troubling the scorers. But a 122-run third-wicket partnership between Ojha and skipper Yashbardhan rescued the visitors from the early jitters. Only 65 overs of play was possible on day one due to interruptions caused by rain and subsequent bad light. At stumps, Ojha was unbeaten on a well-compiled 103, while Manal remained unconquered on 55, as the duo stitched an unbroken 131-run stand for the fourth wicket to put India U19 in the driver's seat. Earlier, India got their first runs off the bat only in the eighth over when Yashbardhan got off the mark. While Ojha anchored the innings with a patient approach, the skipper took the counter-attacking route, reaching his half-century off just 51 balls in the 21st over. At stumps, Ojha was unbeaten on a well-compiled 103, while Manal remained unconquered on 55, as the duo stitched an unbroken 131-run stand for the fourth wicket to put India U19 in the driver's seat. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: India Under-19 253/3 in 65 overs (Kushagra Ojha 103 not out, Yashbardhan Chauhan 78; Gimhan Mendis 2-42, Sethmika Seneviratne 1-46) against Sri Lanka Under-19 Article Source: IANS

Cricketer And DSP Mohammed Siraj Calls On Telangana DGP

DSP Mohammed Siraj: Indian cricketer and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mohammed Siraj paid a courtesy call on Telangana Director General of Police C.V. Anand here on Monday. This was Sirajs first meeting with Anand after the latter took charge as the DGP in May. Inspector General (P&l) Gajarao Bhupal and DSP ( Sports) Ramarao were also present during the meeting at the DGP Office. In October 2024, the India pacer officially took over as the DSP. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had announced a government job and a house site for Siraj after India won the ICC T-20 World Cup-2024. In August 2024, the State cabinet resolved to offer Group-1 posts of DSP cadre to Siraj and champion boxer Nikhat Zareen. The state government had amended the Telangana (Regulation of appointments to public services and rationalisation of staff pattern and pay structure) Act, 1994, to facilitate the appointments. The government also allotted 600 square yards of land to Siraj at Road Number 78, Jubilee Hills. Meanwhile, DGP Anand reviewed the functioning of the Police Welfare Society and Arogya Bhadratha (Health Protection) wings at the DGP Office and reaffirmed that the welfare of police personnel and their families remains one of the highest priorities of the Telangana Police. The meeting extensively reviewed the implementation of welfare schemes, their progress and future course of action. Addressing the officers, the DGP said the department has been implementing a wide range of welfare initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of police personnel and their families. He stated that the department has been encouraging meritorious children of police personnel through Merit Scholarships and Meritorious Scholarships. Financial assistance is also being extended to students preparing for JEE, NEET and other national and state-level competitive examinations, thereby promoting higher education and academic excellence. Addressing the officers, the DGP said the department has been implementing a wide range of welfare initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of police personnel and their families. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Reviewing the Health Protection Scheme, the DGP noted that 33,126 police personnel and their family members availed treatment under the scheme during 2025, while 12,392 beneficiaries received treatment up to June 2026. Expenditure under the scheme stood at Rs 181.74 crore during 2025 and Rs 73.61 crore up to June 2026, reflecting the department's continued commitment to employee healthcare. Article Source: IANS

Brendon Mccullum Confident He Can Work With New England Test Coach

Brendon McCullum insists he can work alongside England's next Test coach despite being sacked from the role. McCullum was dismissed as Test boss following England's 2-1 defeat by New Zealand in a series that culminated in the international retirement of red-ball captain Ben Stokes. But McCullum remains in charge of England's white-ball teams and oversaw a 4-0 T20 series whitewash of world champions India. On Sunday, there was more success for McCullum's team, with a 27-run win at Lord's to seal England's first one-day international series victory over India since 2018. England posted 387-3 -- the highest ODI total at Lord's -- thanks to Ben Duckett's 141, with both Jacob Bethell and Joe Root contributing fifties. But while England's white-ball teams are making progress, the Test side are on a run of seven defeats in nine matches heading into a home series with Pakistan starting next month. Asked how he would work with a new Test coach in a potential awkward situation, McCullum said: Collaboratively, I think. I think once the new coach is put in place, we'll have a good conversation around everything. I think ultimately as long as everyone wants what is right for English cricket, there will be some give and take on certain things. That is the way it is. Andy Flower, a former England coach, has ruled himself out of succeeding McCullum as Test boss. Jonathan Trott, an ex-England batsman, and former Australia coach Justin Langer are among the leading candidates to take over from McCullum. Former New Zealand captain McCullum has been buoyed by England's white-ball form ahead of next year's ODI World Cup in southern Africa. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I think we've seen some growth in the side over the last couple of series and there is some more growth to come, which is exciting and where my focus is on, he said.

India To Play Four-day Warm-up Game In Colombo Ahead Of Tests Against Sri Lanka

Galle International Cricket Stadium: The Indian mens cricket team will play a four-day warm-up game in Colombo starting on August 7 ahead of facing Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series starting on August 15. The Shubman Gill-led visitors are scheduled to land in Colombo on August 4 and will go through some practice sessions before playing the warm-up game at the Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC). Yes, the Indian team will have its practice game from August 7 to 10 at NCC, Colombo. It will help all players to adjust to the local conditions on offer before the main series gets underway, said a source familiar with the development to IANS on Monday. Following the conclusion of the four-day tour game, the Indian team will travel to Galle, where the opening Test match will be played at the picturesque Galle International Cricket Stadium (GICS) from August 15 to 19. The second and final Test is scheduled to be held at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo from August 23 to 27. Both matches are scheduled to commence at 10 am local time. The series is crucial for both teams as they look to climb the WTC standings. Following the conclusion of the four-day tour game, the Indian team will travel to Galle, where the opening Test match will be played at the picturesque Galle International Cricket Stadium (GICS) from August 15 to 19. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The tour will also mark India's return to Sri Lanka for playing Tests after 2017, when, under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, they managed to get a 3-0 victory. Indias last Test assignment saw them get an emphatic innings victory over Afghanistan in June, while Sri Lanka suffered a 2-0 series defeat to the West Indies. Article Source: IANS

Ojha century, and Yashbardhan and Manal fifties rescue India Under-19

Sri Lanka had reduced the visitors to 0 for 2, before Ojha and Yashbardhan added 122 for the third wicket

Will Work Collaboratively With Englands Next Test Coach, Says Brendon McCullum

Wales Cricket Board: England's white-ball head coach Brendon McCullum has expressed confidence in working collaboratively with the country's next Test head coach so that the side delivers good results in all three formats. McCullum bounced back remarkably from losing his Test coaching job with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) earlier this month to guide the side to twin white-ball series wins over India. The 2-1 ODI series triumph was sealed with a thrilling 27-run win in a dramatic finale at Lords, where England posted a record List A total at the venue of 387/3, courtesy Ben Duckett's 141 and half-centuries from Jacob Bethell and Joe Root. With the ECB expected to interview candidates for the Test coach vacancy this week, McCullum said, Collaboratively, I think once the new coach is put in place, well have a good conversation around everything. I think ultimately as long as everyone wants what is right for English cricket, there will be some give and take on certain things. That is the way it is. There will be situations where you do have to give and there will be situations where the Test coach will give as well and fundamentally you are trying to get what is right for English cricket. I look forward to those conversations when the time comes, he said in a press conference at the conclusion of the series. McCullum also revealed he will have no involvement in picking his replacement ahead of next months three-Test series against Pakistan. No, I have enough on my plate trying to work out the white-ball stuff. Ill respectfully stay in my lane there. I think weve seen some growth in the side over the last couple of series and there is some more growth to come (with the white-ball teams), which is exciting and where my focus is on. Former Australia head coach Justin Langer and former England batter Jonathan Trott are among the front-runners for the job after Andy Flower ruled himself out of it. McCullum also confirmed he will stay in England to watch the 100-ball tournament. I think weve seen some growth in the side over the last couple of series and there is some more growth to come (with the white-ball teams), which is exciting and where my focus is on. Also Read: Live Cricket Score It will be good to be able to see that up close over the next four weeks or so. Ill look to try and get around to those games to see that and hopefully we see some more talent, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

Series gone, but plenty at stake yet for deflated West Indies

West Indies are currently 10th in the ICC men's ODI team rankings and run the risk of having to play the Qualifier for the 2027 World Cup, should they not finish ninth at the very least

McCullum pledges to 'be around for the Hundred' in wake of Test sacking

White-ball coach says he will watch 'next talent' under 'brightest lights' during four-week tournament

Ashutosh Sharma joins Hampshire for One-Day Cup 2026

Ashutosh joins a Hampshire side that will look to go one better than their runners-up finish from last season's One-Day Cup