Cricket

Brook targets England No.1 ranking after sealing series win

Captain surprised by progress but says score is fair reflection after strong run of form

Brook and Salt blow India away as England romp to series win

Shreyas scored an unbeaten 80 but didn't find support with Archer and Tongue among the wickets again

Middlesex name Harrington as interim chief executive

Statement makes no mention of Andrew Cornish, who was placed on gardening leave in late 2025

4th T20I: Brook, Salt Crush India As England Seal Series With Emphatic Nine-wicket Win

Captain Harry Brook: Captain Harry Brook produced a scintillating 79 not out off just 35 balls while Phil Salt remained unbeaten on 59 off 42 deliveries as England thrashed India by nine wickets with 37 balls to spare in the fourth T20I at the County Ground in Bristol, to clinch the five-match series 3-0 with one game to spare. Chasing a modest target of 159, England lost Jos Buttler early, but thereafter India had no answers as Brook and Salt stitched together an unbroken 151-run stand for the second wicket. Brook dominated the attack with a flurry of boundaries and sixes, while Salt played the perfect supporting role as England raced to 159/1 in just 13.5 overs, winning with 37 balls to spare. Earlier, India once again endured a batting collapse before skipper Shreyas Iyer rescued the innings with a fighting 80 off 49 balls. Walking in after the fall of early wickets, Iyer anchored the innings almost single-handedly, striking four fours and five sixes. Shivam Dube chipped in with 22, but no other Indian batter managed to make a significant contribution as the visitors finished on 158/7 in 20 overs. Englands bowlers laid the foundation for victory with disciplined spells. Jofra Archer claimed 2-20 while Josh Tongue also picked up two wickets to ensure India never built any sustained momentum despite Iyers resistance. Indias bowlers failed to defend the below-par total after dismissing Buttler cheaply. Brook seized control from the outset, attacking both pace and spin with ease, while Salt kept the scoreboard ticking as England completed one of their most dominant chases of the series. The victory gives England an unassailable lead in the five-match series, continuing Indias disappointing tour in which their batting has repeatedly depended on skipper Iyer. At the same time, the bowling attack has struggled to contain Englands aggressive batting lineup. After the first match was abandoned, England won the next three. Indias bowlers failed to defend the below-par total after dismissing Buttler cheaply. Brook seized control from the outset, attacking both pace and spin with ease, while Salt kept the scoreboard ticking as England completed one of their most dominant chases of the series. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India 158/7 in 20 overs (Shreyas Iyer 80*, Shivam Dube 22; Jofra Archer 2-20, Josh Tongue 2-36) lost to England 159/1 in 13.5 overs (Harry Brook 79*, Phil Salt 59*) by 9 wickets Article Source: IANS

Muchova pips Gauff in a thriller, sets up title clash with Noskova

It will be the first womens singles final at SW19 between compatriots since Serena Williams met sister Venus in 2009; Indias Arnav bows out in boys singles quarterfinal

TG20 Season 1: Khammam Aces End Hyderabad's Unbeaten Run, Storm Into Final

Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium: Anvita Khammam Aces booked their place in the final of the Hyderabad Cricket Association's TG20 with a thrilling 10-run victory over Hyderabad E-Champions in Qualifier 1 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday. Powered by Mickil Jaiswal's unbeaten 76 and a disciplined bowling effort led by Sahendra Mallu (3/31) as well as Harshith Sais disciplined final over, the Aces successfully defended 200 to hand Hyderabad E-Champions their first defeat of the tournament, ending the league leaders' unbeaten run. While Anvita Khammam Aces advance directly to the final on Sunday, July 12, Hyderabad E-Champions will have another opportunity to qualify when they face EIPL & eleve Karimnagar Diamonds in Qualifier 2 on Friday, July 10, after the Diamonds defeated Ranga Reddy Risers by 75 runs in Thursday's Eliminator. Aces made a steady start after being put in to bat, with Paras Raj (32 off 18) leading the early charge despite the loss of Wafi Kachchhi (3 off 5). Paras took the attack to Akhil Rathod with two towering sixes before continuing his aggressive approach against Shanmukha Ashwin, striking a six and a four to help the Aces race to 49/1 after five overs. However, Ajay Dev Goud struck immediately after the Power-play, dismissing Paras to peg the innings back. G Sai Krishna Reddy (40 off 30) and Ananth Prateek Reddy (18 off 11) then rebuilt calmly, rotating the strike while keeping the scoreboard ticking. Sai Krishna broke the shackles with a six off Anvith Reddy before Ananth shifted gears, launching Pranav Varma for a six and a four in the opening deliveries of the 10th over. Pranav, however, responded with the crucial wicket of Ananth off the very next ball, leaving Anvita Khammam Aces well placed at 87/3 at the halfway stage. Mickil Jaiswal and Sai Krishna ensured Aces maintained the momentum after the halfway stage, adding quick runs against the Hyderabad E-Champions attack. Sai Krishna accelerated with a six before Akhil Rathod ended his impressive knock, having him caught by Ganesh Gadugu for 40 off 30, leaving the Aces at 98/4 after 11 overs. Mickil then took charge alongside skipper CV Milind (17 off 12), steadily rebuilding the innings with regular boundaries. Milind struck a six and a four off Shanmukha Ashwin and Pranav Varma, respectively. At the same time, Mickil matched him stroke for stroke with a six off Ashwin and consecutive boundaries against Ajay Dev Goud to bring up a brilliant half-century off just 26 balls. After Ashwin dismissed Milind, Sahendra Mallu (9 off 8) joined Mickil as the duo added crucial late runs, with Mickil smashing two sixes off Ajay Dev Goud in the 18th over before finishing in spectacular fashion with three more sixes in the final over. The unbeaten Mickil Jaiswal finished on 76 off 34, anchoring the innings with seven sixes and four boundaries, as the late assault helped the Aces pile on 113 runs in the final 10 overs to finish with a formidable 200/6. E-Champions began their chase aggressively despite an early setback as skipper Abhirath Reddy (1 off 3) fell in the second over. Sai Vikas Reddy (69 off 27), however, took charge immediately, smashing back-to-back sixes off Harshith Sai before adding another maximum and a flurry of boundaries to propel the E-Champions to 37/1 after three overs. Sai Vikas continued his assault through the powerplay, finding regular boundaries against Milind and Vidyananda Reddy, while Anvith Reddy (16 off 16) played the supporting role. The pair guided E-Champions to a commanding 71/1 at the end of the Power-play. Aces struck back soon after as 16-year-old Ved Reddy dismissed Anvith, but Sai Vikas remained unstoppable, bringing up a breathtaking half-century before hammering another boundary to race to 69. Ved eventually ended his whirlwind knock in the ninth over, leaving E-Champions at 100/3. Ganesh Gadugu ensured there was no further wobble, taking the attack to Shaik Azhar with two towering sixes in the 10th over. Their late flourish lifted E-Champions to 114/3 at the halfway stage, firmly in control of the chase. Ganesh and Pranav Varma rebuilt cautiously after the halfway stage, rotating the strike well. Pranav found the boundary off Sahendra Mallu before Ganesh's steady knock ended on 123/4, caught by Ananth Prateek Reddy off Sahendra Mallu for 27 off 16. Ajay Dev Goud then injected momentum into the chase, striking a towering six and a boundary off Ved Reddy against Sahendra Mallu. However, Sahendra produced another crucial breakthrough by dismissing Ajay for 13 off 10, reducing E-Champions to 140/5 after 14 overs. Pranav Varma (26 off 22) and Vaishnav Reddy (21* off 16) stitched together a useful partnership, with Pranav launching Sahendra for a six before Vidyananda Reddy removed him in the 17th over. The Aces tightened the screws further as Sahendra dismissed P Arvind (0 off 4) and Milind trapped Shanmukha Ashwin (1 off 4) LBW, leaving the E-Champions struggling at 176/8. Vaishnav fought till the very end, striking a six off Sahendra Mallu before adding a boundary in the final over off Harshith Sai. Akhil Rathod remained unbeaten on 8 off 4 and chipped in with a six in the closing stages, but E-Champions could only reach 190/8, falling 10 runs short despite Vaishnav's unbeaten effort. Pranav Varma (26 off 22) and Vaishnav Reddy (21* off 16) stitched together a useful partnership, with Pranav launching Sahendra for a six before Vidyananda Reddy removed him in the 17th over. The Aces tightened the screws further as Sahendra dismissed P Arvind (0 off 4) and Milind trapped Shanmukha Ashwin (1 off 4) LBW, leaving the E-Champions struggling at 176/8. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Anvita Khammam Aces 200/6 in 20 overs (Mickil Jaiswal 76*, G Sai Krishna Reddy 40, Paras Raj 32, Akhil Rathod 2/33, Pranav Varma 1/32) beat Hyderabad E-Champions 190/8 in 20 overs (Sai Vikas Reddy 69, Ganesh Gadugu 27, Pranav Varma 26, Ved Reddy 2/33, Sahendra Mallu 3/31) by 10 runs Article Source: IANS

Varun, Harshit Rana out of rest of T20I series against England

Both players had suffered hamstring injuries during the third T20I against England

'Historic' Lord's Test offers chance at redemption for India and England

Both teams look to move on from T20 World Cup heartbreak as Harmanpreet and Sciver-Brunt call for more women's Tests ahead of Lord's clash

4th T20I: Reigning World Champions India Feeling The Heat After Ordinary Show, Says Dinesh Karthik

T20 World Champions: Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik on Thursday said that the reigning T20 World Champions are feeling the heat after a very ordinary performance in the ongoing series against England, adding that constant chopping and changing hasnt really helped their cause. After a shock 2-0 series defeat to Ireland, India are 2-0 behind in the five-game series and need a win to keep themselves alive. In their last game at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, India were bowled out for 76, their second-lowest total in mens T20Is, and suffered a massive 125-run defeat. India have been very ordinary so far in this series, so there are a lot of questions being asked about the XI they are choosing, the players left out, the bowling changes, and, most importantly, the batting order. India will be feeling the heat. They are reigning world T20 champions and have set a certain standard for themselves that they are not standing up to. They are a side in transition, bringing in a lot of new faces and a new captain in Shreyas, so I believe they are focused on the ODI World Cup in 2027, and that T20 is about bringing youngsters in, said Karthik on Sky Sports Cricket. Echoing Karthik's sentiments, Englands 2019 ODI World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan stated that the hosts have comprehensively outplayed India with their balanced approach and tactical discipline. India are wounded, and England are absolutely flying. They have batted with an element of temperament that has perhaps not been there before, and bowled with a huge amount of confidence that has put India on their backsides. Now it is about adapting to conditions. If England win the final two games of this series, they will go to world No 1, leapfrogging India, so that is a huge opportunity they can't take for granted. This format is becoming England's best numbers-wise, he added. India are wounded, and England are absolutely flying. They have batted with an element of temperament that has perhaps not been there before, and bowled with a huge amount of confidence that has put India on their backsides. Now it is about adapting to conditions. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I don't think the England fast bowlers will get the bounce they got at Trent Bridge, but the line will be similar, into the rib cage. It is pretty clear they want India's batsmen to leave their driving licence in the dressing room. Article Source: IANS

Ashwin ruled out of rest of MLC 2026 with knee injury

Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle has been approved as Ashwin's replacement

India bat; Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy ruled out of the series

Prasidh Krishna and Washington Sundar came into India's XI in Bristol

4th T20I: Injured Rana, Chakaravarthy Ruled Out Of Remaining Games Against England

The BCCI Medical Team: In a major blow to the Indian team, seam-bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana and wrist-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy have been ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing T20I series against England due to hamstring injuries. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the development shortly after the toss for the crucial fourth T20I at the County Ground, with India electing to bat first in a must-win clash. Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy sustained hamstring injuries in the third T20I against England at Trent Bridge. The BCCI Medical Team has assessed them and ruled them out of the 4th and 5th T20Is, said the BCCI in an official statement. Rana recently returned to the setup after a knee injury requiring surgery kept him out of the victorious T20 World Cup campaign and IPL 2026. Chakaravarthy, meanwhile, had missed the 2-0 T20I series defeat in Ireland due to foot injury rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. In the duos absence, pacer Prasidh Krishna and off-spin bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar have found their way back into the playing eleven for the fourth game. The injury setback also means that Rana is likely to be out of the subsequent three-match ODI series against England, starting on July 14. Rana recently returned to the setup after a knee injury requiring surgery kept him out of the victorious T20 World Cup campaign and IPL 2026. Chakaravarthy, meanwhile, had missed the 2-0 T20I series defeat in Ireland due to foot injury rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Fast bowler Prince Yadav, who has been a bright spot for India on the ongoing tour, will be in the frame to be his replacement in the Shubman Gill-led ODI team. Following the series opener at Edgbaston in Birmingham, India and England will play further ODI games in Cardiff (July 16) and Lords (July 19). Article Source: IANS

4th T20I: Washington, Prasidh Return As India Elect To Bat In Must-win Clash With England

Washington Sundar: Off-spin bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar and pacer Prasidh Krishna returned to Indias playing eleven as captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bat first in their must-win fourth T20I against England here at the County Ground in Bristol on Thursday. India are 2-0 behind in the five-game series and need a win to keep themselves alive. After the toss, Iyer said Washington and Prasidh would come in for Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy being ruled out due to hamstring injuries. The match also marks left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Axar Patels 100th T20I appearance. It is a must-win game, and we are going to play like that. We have had fearlessness, but have not been able to execute the plans as much as possible. Today is a fresh day, a fresh start, and the boys are in high spirits. We want to be positive, but you have to read the environment and see how the game is going - adapt to the wicket and the way the wind is blowing. If we sort these, we will definitely get the results, he said. England skipper Harry Brook said leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed replaces left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Liam Dawson in the playing eleven. We would have batted. There's a nice, even spread of grass. We played awesome in the last game, adapted to conditions, and communicated really well. It was a very good team performance. It would be lovely to win the series, and it is more of the same from the other night. Adapt, communicate, and back ourselves. Everyone can contribute on our side. Playing XIs: We played awesome in the last game, adapted to conditions, and communicated really well. It was a very good team performance. It would be lovely to win the series, and it is more of the same from the other night. Adapt, communicate, and back ourselves. Everyone can contribute on our side. Also Read: Live Cricket Score England: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (captain), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, and Josh Tongue Article Source: IANS

T20 WC Heartbreak Behind Us, Looking Forward To A Special Week At Lord's, Says Sciver-Brunt

T20 World Cup: Asserting that the disappointment of their T20 World Cup final defeat is behind them, England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt on Thursday said the squad is looking forward to a special week as they gear up for the historic first-ever women's Test match against India at Lord's starting on Friday. The match marks the first time the England women's team will play a Test match at the iconic venue, and its importance is highlighted by a UK-record ticket sale of over 30,000 for a women's red-ball game. There's some disappointment about the ICC Women's T20 World Cup final. The beauty of being here now is that it's a change of format and the polar opposite of T20 cricket. We've got some fresh faces in our squad who are bringing some great energy as well. I'm sure the disappointment of the final won't have left lots of people, but we are looking forward to such a special week here at Lord's, doing something that we dreamt of as kids. It's a great time to be a women's cricketer, she said in the pre-match press conference. With potential Test debuts on the horizon for Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, and Mady Villiers, Nat warned her team about the challenges of navigating a gruelling four-day game against a formidable Indian line-up. The basics of the game don't change, whatever format you're playing in. It might just be the mental battles you have with yourself throughout the game. There's a lot of resilience that needs to be shown during a Test match, and riding the waves of energy that you'll have, but some proper determination will go into every day that we'll be playing. Acknowledging the distinct defensive batting strengths that the visiting Indian batters possess, Nat noted that breaking down Indias resistance will be a game of patience. India have had lots of success and some very experienced top batters that love batting for a long time. It's really drilled into the Indian batters that 'the value of your wicket is so important'. They will pose some great challenges for us to navigate. I'm sure we'll be thrown lots of different things while we are out there, and hopefully we can throw some things back. The match will also serve as an emotional farewell for veteran opening batter Tammy Beaumont, who will retire from international cricket at the conclusion of this Test match. Nat paid an extensive tribute to her longtime teammate, who ended her 17-year international career as England's highest century-maker in the 50-over format. It's really drilled into the Indian batters that 'the value of your wicket is so important'. They will pose some great challenges for us to navigate. I'm sure we'll be thrown lots of different things while we are out there, and hopefully we can throw some things back. Also Read: Live Cricket Score She is someone who has got great determination and resolve in that, 'no one's going to get me out today, this is my day, and I'm scoring runs'. That attitude will certainly be missed. Personally, as a friend, she will be missed in the team as well. I hope that we can send her off with a great week here at Lord's, she concluded. Article Source: IANS

The World Cup America needed

For the U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT), their performance in FIFA, which began with so much promise, ended earlier than millions of American fans had hoped.

Wimbledon 2026: Battle-hardened Djokovic, Sinner set for an intriguingshowdown

FIFA World Cup advertising rates hit 20-25 lakh during knockout stage

The company confirmed commitment of over 95 per cent of premium advertising inventory for FIFA World Cup 2026

Women's Maharani Trophy: Prathyusha Challuru Fetches Top Bid Of Rs 4.5 Lakh In Auction

Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters: India all-rounder Prathyusha Challuru emerged as the most expensive buy in the auction for the women's section of the Maharani Trophy by fetching a top bid of Rs 4.5 lakh from Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters. On Thursday, the four franchises spent heavily to get their desired players and complete their teams for the upcoming tournament. The marquee tournament is scheduled to be played at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium from July 22 to August 2 and will be contested between four teams -- Mysore Warriors, Gulbarga Mystics, Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters, and Hubli Tigers. The Blasters, Mysuru Warriors, and Hubli Tigers were not too far behind in the bidding war. The Warriors shelled out Rs 4.2 lakh for India Test batter Shubha Satheesh, while the Tigers grabbed highly-rated Karnataka prospect and India A batter Vrinda Dinesh for an identical amount of Rs 4.2 lakh. The auction featured a maximum purse of Rs 20 lakh per franchise, with players divided into four categories. Pool A comprised capped WPL and international players with a base price of Rs 1 lakh, while Pool B (Rs 75,000), Pool C (Rs 50,000), and Pool D (Rs 30,000) featured state seniors, juniors, and local league performers, respectively. Apart from breaking the bank for Prathyusha, Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters also consolidated their squad by picking up Chandasi K (Rs 2 lakh), U-19 World Cup winner, all-rounder Mithila Vinod (Rs 1.9 lakh), Namita D'Souza (Rs 1.9 lakh), and Ananya Hegde (Rs 1.1 lakh). The Mysuru Warriors made several smart purchases to build a robust unit. Besides securing Shubha, they spent a whopping Rs 4.1 lakh on Shishira A Gowda and bought all-rounder Sahana S Pawar for Rs 2.8 lakh. They also added Pooja Kumari (Rs 1.1 lakh) and Pushpa Kiresur (Rs 1 lakh) to their roster. The Gulbarga Mystics focused heavily on experienced heads, snapping up veteran Indian left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad for a modest Rs 3.3 lakh. They also bagged wicketkeeper-batter Shreya Chavan for Rs 3.2 lakh, alongside useful reinforcements in Prerana GR (Rs 2.6 lakh), Soumya Verma (Rs 2.4 lakh), Roshini Kiran (Rs 1 lakh), and Aditi R (Rs 90,000). Hubli Tigers successfully built a formidable core around Vrinda the franchise roped in all-rounder and U19 World Cup-winning captain Niki Prasad for a handsome Rs 4.1 lakh, while also adding wicketkeeper-batter Prathyoosha K (Rs 2.3 lakh), experienced batter Divya Gnanananda (Rs 1.9 lakh), and left-arm seam all-rounder Monica C Patel (Rs 1.5 lakh) to complete a well-balanced squad. Full squads: Mysuru Warriors: Shubha Satheesh (Rs 4.20 lakh), Shishira A Gowda (Rs 4.10 lakh), Sahana S Pawar (Rs 2.80 lakh), Pooja Kumari (Rs 1.10 lakh), Pushpa Kiresur (Rs 1.00 lakh), Yashika K Gowda (Rs 0.90 lakh), Ahlam Fareeha Syed (Rs 0.90 lakh), Deeksha J (Rs 0.90 lakh), Vandita K Rao (Rs 0.90 lakh), Sheetal Santosh (Rs 0.55 lakh), Tanushree M (Rs 0.55 lakh), Stuthi M (Rs 0.50 lakh), Shreya Ajay Mishra (Rs 0.35 lakh), Kusuma Gowda N (Rs 0.30 lakh), Prathiksha C (Rs 0.30 lakh), Advika D Gowda (Rs 0.30 lakh), Vaishnavi BH (Rs 0.30 lakh). Gulbarga Mystics: Rajeshwari Gayakwad (Rs 3.30 lakh), Shreya Chavan (Rs 3.20 lakh), Prerana GR (Rs 2.60 lakh), Soumya Verma (Rs 2.40 lakh), Krishika Reddy (Rs 2.10 lakh), Roshini Kiran (Rs 1.00 lakh), Aditi R (Rs 0.90 lakh), Nynisha Patil (Rs 0.85 lakh), Harshitha K (Rs 0.85 lakh), Trisha D A (Rs 0.60 lakh), Veda Varshini V (Rs 0.50 lakh), Poojitha G (Rs 0.50 lakh), S Sreeka Chathura (Rs 0.30 lakh), Karishma Gowda U J (Rs 0.30 lakh), Aadya S Mane (Rs 0.30 lakh), Kinjal B Patel (Rs 0.30 lakh). Mysuru Warriors: Shubha Satheesh (Rs 4.20 lakh), Shishira A Gowda (Rs 4.10 lakh), Sahana S Pawar (Rs 2.80 lakh), Pooja Kumari (Rs 1.10 lakh), Pushpa Kiresur (Rs 1.00 lakh), Yashika K Gowda (Rs 0.90 lakh), Ahlam Fareeha Syed (Rs 0.90 lakh), Deeksha J (Rs 0.90 lakh), Vandita K Rao (Rs 0.90 lakh), Sheetal Santosh (Rs 0.55 lakh), Tanushree M (Rs 0.55 lakh), Stuthi M (Rs 0.50 lakh), Shreya Ajay Mishra (Rs 0.35 lakh), Kusuma Gowda N (Rs 0.30 lakh), Prathiksha C (Rs 0.30 lakh), Advika D Gowda (Rs 0.30 lakh), Vaishnavi BH (Rs 0.30 lakh). Also Read: Live Cricket Score Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters: Prathyusha Challuru (Rs 4.50 lakh), Chandasi K (Rs 2.00 lakh), Inchara C U (Rs 2.00 lakh), Mithila Vinod (Rs 1.90 lakh), Namita D'Souza (Rs 1.90 lakh), Rachitha Hatwar (Rs 1.90 lakh), Ananya Hegde (Rs 1.10 lakh), Karnika Karthick (Rs 1.10 lakh), Lavanya Chalana (Rs 0.90 lakh), Nandani Chauhan (Rs 0.50 lakh), Reethu R Gowda (Rs 0.50 lakh), Srinithi P Rai (Rs 0.50 lakh), Sakshi Doijode (Rs 0.30 lakh), Andrea Michelle Lobo (Rs 0.30 lakh), Aqfin Ruhi K (Rs 0.30 lakh), Pranathi KS (Rs 0.30 lakh). Article Source: IANS

TG20 Season 1: Tanmay's Blistering 137, Ashish's Five-for Power Karimnagar Diamonds To Qualifier 2

Though Nitin Sai Yadav: Skipper Tanmay Agarwal led from the front with a sensational 61-ball 137 before spinner Ashish Srivastav scalped a five-wicket haul as EIPL & Eleve Karimnagar Diamonds routed Ranga Reddy Risers by 75 runs to storm into the Qualifier 2 of the Hyderabad Cricket Association's TG20 in Hyderabad on Thursday. By virtue of this victory, Karimnagar Diamonds will now face the losing team of Qualifier 1, to be played between Hyderabad E-Champions and Anvita Khammam Aces, in the do-or-die Qualifier 2 fixture scheduled for Friday. Electing to bat first, Karimnagar Diamonds, riding on a batting masterclass from Tanmay and a fine half-century from Hrishikesh Simha (50), posted a mammoth 238/7 in their allotted 20 overs. In reply, Ranga Reddy Risers chase fizzled out for 163 runs in 16.3 overs despite fighting fifties from skipper Tanay Thyagarajann (63) and Nitin Sai Yadav (50), courtesy of Srivastavs brilliant spell of 5-16. The day, however, belonged to Tanmay, who slammed his second consecutive and third overall century of the tournament. His explosive innings was laced with 11 boundaries and 10 towering sixes, propelling him to the top of the 'Orange Cap' leaderboard with an aggregate of 465 runs. The Diamonds' captain set the tone early on, motoring his team to 75/1 in the Powerplay. He notched up his individual half-century in just 24 deliveries. Tanmay then found an able ally in Simha as the duo shared a devastating 139-run partnership for the second wicket off just 69 balls. Simha reached his own milestone off 27 balls, while Tanmay breached the three-figure mark in 48 balls. Though Nitin Sai Yadav eventually dismissed Tanmay in the latter half, sparking a late batting collapse where the Diamonds lost five wickets for 28 runs, the total proved way beyond the Risers' reach. Chasing a daunting 239, Ranga Reddy Risers suffered early jolts, losing opener Aaron George (12) and Alankrith Rapole (2) cheaply within the first three overs to sit precariously at 29/2. Skipper Tanay counter-attacked valiantly alongside Aditya Javvaji (17), stitching a quick-fire 43-run stand. However, Srivastav completely turned the tide by picking up two wickets in the seventh over outfoxing Aditya and Gnana Prakash Reddy (1) in quick succession, with wicketkeeper Rahul Radesh sharp as a hawk behind the stumps to effect the two dismissals. Though Tanay struggled hard to keep the match alive, he hit 63 off 33 balls before being cleaned up by Shubham Sharma (2/14), and once Nitin holed out for a 30-ball 50, the lower order crumbled completely under pressure to hand the Diamonds a comprehensive victory. However, Srivastav completely turned the tide by picking up two wickets in the seventh over outfoxing Aditya and Gnana Prakash Reddy (1) in quick succession, with wicketkeeper Rahul Radesh sharp as a hawk behind the stumps to effect the two dismissals. Also Read: Live Cricket Score EIPL & Eleve Karimnagar Diamonds 238/7 in 20 overs (Tanmay Agarwal 137, Hrishikesh Simha 50; Aryan Cariappa 2-52, Arun Kumar 1-41) beat Ranga Reddy Risers 163 all out in 16.3 overs (Tanay Thyagarajann 63, Nitin Sai Yadav 50; Ashish Srivastav 5-16, Shubham Sharma 2-14) by 75 runs. Article Source: IANS

Lords Test A Chance To Redeem Ourselves After Early Exit From T20 WC, Says Harmanpreet

T20 World Cup: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur on Thursday admitted that the team went through a very hard moment following their disappointing campaign at the recent T20 World Cup, but stated that the upcoming historic Lord's Test against England is the perfect catalyst to bring their confidence back as a unit. India failed to make it to the semi-finals of the 2026 ICC Womens T20 World Cup the second straight time they missed out on a spot in the knockouts. They will aim to sign off from the tour on a high when the first-ever Test match at Lords begins on Friday, where Harmanpreet & Co will take on Nat Sciver-Brunt-led England. To be honest, it was a very hard moment for all of us because we really prepared hard for the World Cup. But unfortunately, we didn't give our best, and I think this Test match was something that kept us very excited. We all came together as a group, and we all wanted to give our best for this upcoming match. Everyone looks in good shape, and hopefully, we'll enjoy our cricket tomorrow, Harmanpreet said in the pre-match press conference. The skipper believes a victory at the iconic venue could completely shift the team's momentum ahead of a busy international calendar. Look, I think this Test match is a very big moment for us because if we win this Test match, it can be very good for the team because right now, after the T20 World Cup, everybody was very sad that we couldn't give our best. In patches, we did well, but unfortunately, as a team, we couldn't do so well. But through this Test match, we can cover a lot of things. We can bring that confidence back because cricket is such a game one day, you feel so strong, you feel you're the best team in the world. But sometimes you feel a little low when things don't go your way. So I think this Test match is very important for us, and hopefully if we play together and support each other, and win as a team at that time, I think this victory can bring us a lot of confidence back, and along with that, it will also help us a lot in the upcoming tournaments, she elaborated. She also welcomed the BCCI's renewed interest in reviving longer-format domestic cricket for women, while calling for more structured preparation time for senior national players. We do need red-ball domestic cricket because earlier we used to have it, but now we play a lot of white-ball. So that's why we shifted more to the white ball than the red ball. But now, as the board is showing so much interest in red-ball, we are definitely getting back our domestic red-ball games. We have already played so many Test matches domestically, and they are very important, and definitely I would love to have some more time to prepare as a team, because last time when we played domestic games, many of us were not there because we were playing some international cricket. But some of the girls got the opportunity to play domestic cricket. But I think as a team, these games are very important. If we get some good quality time to prepare and then go there for executing yourself, that can be more practical. But I think whatever is in our hands, we are just trying to do our best, and hopefully we'll go with a lot of confidence and give our best. The Indian skipper was full of praise for young left-arm spinner N. Sree Charani, earmarking her as a vital cog in the bowling department who provides crucial leadership options on the field. Charani recently finished as the leading wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup with 14 scalps and is on the verge of making her Test debut at Lords. Charani is one of our key bowlers. No doubt about it, and the way she performed in the T20 World Cup, she is doing it even before that. I think she has given an option to the team that she is there to bowl all those crucial overs, and whenever the team needs a breakthrough, she is always there for the team. So I think it is very important for such players to be in the team, and players like her give a lot of confidence to me also as a captain because playing with such players and making a team with such players is something very special. So, wishing her all the luck, hopefully, she will continue to perform like this in the future as well. The press conference also saw Harmanpreet extending her best wishes to veteran England cricketer Tammy Beaumont, who will retire from international cricket after the one-off Test ends. They're a very good side. We respect them as an opposition, and they always play good cricket against us. Tammy is one of my dear friends, and I have played a lot of cricket with her. She's a very, very, very nice person and a very nice, very competitive cricketer, and I wish her all the luck, and hopefully her next life brings the same excitement that the cricket field brought to her. The press conference also saw Harmanpreet extending her best wishes to veteran England cricketer Tammy Beaumont, who will retire from international cricket after the one-off Test ends. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I think all our seniors have always supported us a lot. They have always been there for us, no matter what time we are going through in life. So I think because of their support, we have grown a lot in life. Now this test match is also a big part of our life, and hopefully we play our best cricket and make our seniors, our country, and all our fans who are coming to see us feel proud, she concluded. Article Source: IANS

India seeks to strengthen its Olympics 2036 bid with series of international events

Indias calendar for this year includes the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships as well as amateur snooker and badminton world championships

I Just Look At Maybe It's Late, But Not Too Late, Says Harmanpreet Ahead Of Historic Test At Lords

T20 World Cup: Terming it a very big moment for women's cricket, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur on Thursday said walking out for the historic Test match against England at Lord's, which starts on Friday, will be the fulfilment of a childhood dream. The one-off clash against England will also be the first time Lords will host a womens Test match. It's a very big moment for all of us. As a captain and as a player, I'm really looking forward to this opportunity. As kids, we always dreamt about playing Test matches, and playing at Lords was one of our dreams. I'm so happy that we have got this opportunity. Other girls are also very excited, and as a team, we are really looking forward to this opportunity, Harmanpreet said in the pre-match press conference. Further reflecting on the historical weight of the fixture, Harmanpreet gave a glimpse into the discussion within the Indian camp around it. Yes, we were having a discussion that after so many years, this match is going to happen. It took us so many years to feel that women can also be part of the Lords Test matches. I mean, I was surprised to know that I wasn't aware of this. But, I mean, it's a great opportunity. I just look at it, maybe it's late, but not too late. Still, I'm playing and getting this opportunity to be part of this historic day. So I'm really looking forward to this. Indias women cricketers rarely play a lot of Test matches, and transitioning from playing in the 2026 Womens T20 World Cup requires a quick mental and technical shift. However, Harmanpreet believes their rigorous net sessions after making a group-stage exit have put them in a good frame of mind. To be honest, it's a bit challenging because we are not that used to playing red-ball. But I think we all are very excited about this game. We had four or five sessions where, you know, we all looked really good in the nets. So I think this is something we are not used to, but we are very excited. I think when you're excited about something, you always give your best, and we are really looking forward to tomorrow's game, she said. The skipper admitted that losing Pratika Rawal to a right knee laceration injury was a big blow, but remained confident in her bench strength and India's traditional spin arsenal to put up a memorable show at Lords. It was a very sad moment when we got to know of it. We tried our best to make her feel comfortable and get ready for this game. But unfortunately, her condition is such that she's not that ready. But I think we do have other players who are looking really good in the nets, and hopefully they'll fill that spot. As a team, we always believe in going with our strengths, and spinners have been our strengths. Still, we are waiting to see what the final pitch is because work is still going on, and let's see how things are there, and then accordingly, we'll take the call, she said. When asked about her views on the overall volume of women's Test cricket and the roadmap ahead, Harmanpreet placed her faith in the administrators but made her personal desires as a competitive player crystal clear. As a team, we always believe in going with our strengths, and spinners have been our strengths. Still, we are waiting to see what the final pitch is because work is still going on, and let's see how things are there, and then accordingly, we'll take the call, she said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score But if you ask me, as a player, I definitely want to play lots of cricket and don't want to sit home and do nothing. But I think we are enjoying our time. We are quite busy, and in between, we are getting games. Last March, we played one Test, and now, tomorrow, we're going to get one more Test. I think things are going the right way, and hopefully, in the future, we'll see many more Test matches coming up, she concluded. Article Source: IANS

'Never Imagined I Would Complete': Axar Patel Cherishes Landmark 100th T20I Appearance For India

World Cup T20s: India all-rounder Axar Patel is set to reach a major international milestone and play his 100th T20I when he takes the field in the fourth T20I against England, describing the occasion as one that fulfils every cricketer's dream. Speaking ahead of the match on the ongoing England tour, Axar reflected on his journey from making his T20I debut in 2015 to becoming one of India's most dependable white-ball performers, while acknowledging the people who have shaped his career and the lessons that have defined it. When I played T20 for the first time, I never imagined that I would play 100 matches. This England tour will be a very special day for me. In the second T20, I completed 100 wickets and in the fourth T20, Ill complete 100 matches. It's a very special day for me. I am enjoying this moment a lot. I am feeling very good, Axar said in a BCCI video. While individual milestones often dominate headlines, Axar insisted the achievement belongs to everyone who has supported him throughout his career. Basically, as a player, when you achieve a milestone, I feel that it's not about me. I am not achieving this alone. You know, I have my team members, my coaches, my family with me. So, I think everyone's role has been in my journey, he added. The left-arm spinner admitted that representing India itself remains the biggest achievement, making the prospect of completing 100 T20Is even more special. When you start, when you debut for the first time, that feeling is different. At that time, you don't know how much you will achieve. But now, I am going to play the 100th match. You cannot express that feeling. Even if you play one match for India, it's a big deal for you. Because it's a player's dream. And when you are going to play the 100th match, I think that is a very special moment, Axar stated. Axar's road to the milestone has been far from straightforward. After making an early impression on debut, opportunities came sporadically before he established himself as a regular in India's white-ball setup in recent years. If you play for such a long time, then that journey obviously becomes like a roller coaster. You never know. In the first 5 or 6 years, I played 15 or 16 matches. And then from 2021 till now, I think, I have played continuously. We have the last two World Cup T20s. In 1924, I played for the first time. And in 1926, I played for the second time. So, when you are playing the 100th match, all these journeys make memories for you. And I think all those special memories are for you, the all-rounder said. Having also completed 100 T20I wickets earlier in the series, Axar said personal records are satisfying but remain secondary to continuous improvement. Milestone doesn't matter that much for me. But, yes, sometimes you feel good that you are taking 100 or T20 wickets. Or like a batsman takes 50 or 100 wickets. Or like a bowler takes 50 or 100 wickets. That is a milestone. You know, whatever hard work we have done for so many years, whether it was good or bad, whatever mistakes we have made, we have learned from it. How can we be better? And because of that, I think, we have paid attention to our process. Day by day, we have become better, he mentioned. Looking back on the player who debuted over a decade ago, Axar believes experience has fundamentally changed how he approaches the game. I know that in my first match, I was the man of the match. So, I know that I have taken 3 wickets by giving 9 runs, or 18 or 20 runs. I have taken 3 wickets. No, no, today's Axar Patel and that Axar Patel have changed a lot. I think this is 2015 and 2026. I think it's been 11 years. It's a very long time. You learn along with the mistakes you make. So, when you have a young blood, you think, I should do this, I should do that. So, I think in today's Axar and that Axar, in today's Axar, you have to handle a lot of pressure. And all that has become easier. At that time, everything seemed new. At that time, I used to think, this will happen, we will do this. And at the same time, that was the first match. Now, there are 2-0 at the back. I think that is a very big change, he stated. I know that in my first match, I was the man of the match. So, I know that I have taken 3 wickets by giving 9 runs, or 18 or 20 runs. I have taken 3 wickets. No, no, today's Axar Patel and that Axar Patel have changed a lot. I think this is 2015 and 2026. I think it's been 11 years. It's a very long time. You learn along with the mistakes you make. Also Read: Live Cricket Score If I had met Axar earlier, I would have said the same thing. Learn as much as you can from your mistakes. Obviously, in the cricket game, mistakes are bound to happen. It's not that they won't happen. But the time that can happen between one mistake and the next, we have learnt that early. And now, it's not happening. So, I will be very grateful for that, the 32-year-old concluded. Article Source: IANS

Yuvraj, Harbhajan Congratulate Ganguly On ICC Hall Of Fame Honour

ODI World Cup: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly's induction into the ICC Hall of Fame drew warm tributes from some of Indian cricket's biggest names, with former teammates Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh joining the celebrations after the landmark recognition. Ganguly became the 12th Indian cricketer to be inducted into the prestigious Hall of Fame, with the honour announced during the ICC's annual conference in Edinburgh. The recognition also came on the occasion of his 54th birthday, adding another memorable chapter to the former skipper's illustrious cricketing journey. Among those to congratulate him was former India spinner Harbhajan Singh. Congratulations Captain . Happy to hear the Announcement, Harbhajan wrote on X. Yuvraj Singh, who was part of Ganguly's iconic Indian side in the early 2000s, reflected on the former captain's lasting influence on Indian cricket. Congratulations Dada on being inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. Thoroughly deserved! You didnt just build a team, you built belief in a generation of cricketers. Grateful to have played under your leadership and created memories that will last a lifetime. Congratulations once again, Yuvraj wrote. Earlier, batting great Sachin Tendulkar had also extended his wishes to his long-time opening partner. There aren't too many surprises left after knowing each other since we were 14. This wasn't one either. Congratulations @SGanguly99. So happy to see you in the @ICC Hall of Fame! Tendulkar wrote on X. Ganguly responded with an emotional message of gratitude, acknowledging what the recognition meant to him. Thank you champion... to be in the same list as you is the biggest job satisfaction ever @bcci, he replied. Currently serving as the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), Ganguly is set to become the 12th Indian overall and the 10th Indian men's cricketer to receive one of cricket's highest honours. Ganguly responded with an emotional message of gratitude, acknowledging what the recognition meant to him. Thank you champion... to be in the same list as you is the biggest job satisfaction ever @bcci, he replied. Also Read: Live Cricket Score His induction into the ICC Hall of Fame now places him alongside some of the greatest names in the history of the game. Previous Indian inductees include Bishan Singh Bedi, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Vinoo Mankad, Diana Edulji, Virender Sehwag, Neetu David and MS Dhoni. Article Source: IANS

4th T20I: 'Every Bowler Will Look To Target Sooryavanshi With Short Ball,' Says Parthiv

As Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel believes young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will continue to face a barrage of short-pitched bowling in international cricket, saying Englands plan against the teenager was evident right from the IPL and will remain the preferred tactic for opposition bowlers. Vaibhav, who impressed with his performances in the IPL 2026, is yet to convert the success into international cricket. The youngster has managed scores of 14 off 10 balls in the second T20I and 13 off five deliveries in the third match against England, with the hosts repeatedly testing him with short deliveries. Not just Jofra Archer, I think anyone who watched the IPL would not be surprised that there is a deliberate plan to bowl short to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. It wasnt just the wicket ball; the ball before it was short as well. In the first game, on the delivery he hit for six, it may not have bounced as much, but the line was the same, Parthiv told Jio Hotstar. As Vaibhav Sooryavanshi progresses in his international career, he will continue to face this kind of bowling, with deliveries that are short and above 145 km/hr. So, the question will definitely be how he copes against short-pitched bowling, because every bowler will look to target him there, he added. Patel also called for greater game awareness from Indias batting unit in the fourth T20I after their dismal collapse for 78 in the third match, urging the batters to adjust better to English conditions instead of chasing quick runs from the outset. I would like to see a better understanding of the game and a bit more game awareness from the Indian batters in Bristol. Yes, there are 200 runs on the board, but these are all experienced T20 batters and, in this format, you have a bit more time than you think, he said. Patel also called for greater game awareness from Indias batting unit in the fourth T20I after their dismal collapse for 78 in the third match, urging the batters to adjust better to English conditions instead of chasing quick runs from the outset. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India will be hoping to bounce back in the fourth T20I after the heavy defeat in the third game, with the home team looking to seal the series with another win. Article Source: IANS

'Sack Him': Stokes Shares Two-word Post Amid Reports Of ICC Flagging ECB Over Retirement Video

International Cricket Council: Ben Stokes reacted with a two-word social media post to reports suggesting that the International Cricket Council (ICC) had contacted the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) over a video announcing his retirement from international cricket during the third Test against New Zealand. The ICC has reportedly written to the ECB regarding a video filmed inside England's dressing room at Trent Bridge, in which Stokes informed his teammates of his decision to retire from international cricket. The board released the footage on the fourth day of the Test while the match was still underway and with Stokes on the field. The former England captain responded to The Telegraph's report on X with a tongue-in-cheek two-word post, writing, Sack him The 35-year-old told his England teammates about his decision before the fourth day of the third and final Test at Trent Bridge. An emotional Stokes spoke to the team before play, urging everyone to finish the match with full commitment. Moments after the announcement was made public, Stokes struck with the ball during his bowling spell. England, however, went on to lose the match by 160 runs as New Zealand secured a 2-1 series victory. The ICC's communication related to the Players' and Match Officials' Areas (PMOA) minimum standards, which support the governing body's anti-corruption regulations. Moments after the announcement was made public, Stokes struck with the ball during his bowling spell. England, however, went on to lose the match by 160 runs as New Zealand secured a 2-1 series victory. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The report further claimed that the ICC reminded the ECB that footage recorded inside protected areas should neither contain audio nor be released before the conclusion of a match. The reported communication is not expected to lead to disciplinary action. Article Source: IANS

ENG-W vs IND-W One-Off Test Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

ENG-W vs IND-W One-Off Test , Cricket Tips :Just like India's men's team, the situation of Indian women has been pretty bad since they landed for the UK tour. India Women lost the T20I series 2-1, and then they had a disastrous display in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, with a group stage exit. Now, Harmanpreet Kaur and her team will face England in the one-off test. This match will be held at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, starting at 3:30 PM IST between July 10 and 13. Harmanpreet and the management are under fire after their recent performance in the ICC event. Hence, they can't afford to lose this game. On the other hand, England finished the ICC event as runner-up. This is the final international game for Tammy Beaumont, and England would like to give her a winning farewell. ENG-W vs IND-W: Match Details Date : June 10-13, 2026 (Friday-Monday) Time : 3:30 PM IST Venue : Lord's Cricket Ground, London ENG-W vs IND-W: Live Streaming Details Indian fans can tune into the Star Sports Networks to watch the live action of the game. The live stream of the match will be available on the Jio Hotstar app or website. ENG-W vs IND-W: Head-to-Head in Test Total Matches : 15 England Women : 01 India Women : 03 Drawn : 11 ENG-W vs IND-W: Ground Pitch Report Lord's Cricket Ground is expected to offer a good bowling wicket. The surface here offers good swing and pace for the fast bowlers. The weather will be a little humid, which will allow the ball to grip as it gets old. Hence, batting first can be a good option here. ENG-W vs IND-W: Possible XIs England Women : Tammy Beaumont (wk), Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Amy Jones (wk), Maia Boucher, Nat Sciver-Brunt , Emma Lamb, Mady Villiers, Lauren Bell, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer India Women: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Sayali Satghare, Shree Charani, Kranti Goud, Renuka Thakur ENG-W vs IND-W: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Smriti Mandhana is a great striker of the ball, and she is temperamentally strong to play big innings. Nat Sciver-Brunt has two half-centuries in the last two games and is in good form. Probable Best Bowler Renuka Thakur can get the best out of the wicket with the new ball, and she will be tough to face. For England, Lauren Bell will be a hard bowler to face because of her ability to swing at a good pace. Today Match Prediction: India have been struggling in these conditions, and their players are in good form. England are strong in their conditions, and we predict them to beat India Women. ENG-W vs IND-W Match One-Off Test, Today Match ENG-W vs IND-W, ENG-W vs IND-W Prediction, ENG-W vs IND-W Predicted XIs, Injury Update for ENG-W vs IND-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.

'So Happy To See You In The Hall Of Fame': Tendulkar Congratulates Ganguly On ICC Honour

The International Cricket Council: Batting great Sachin Tendulkar congratulated former India captain Sourav Ganguly after the latter was named as the latest inductee into the ICC Hall of Fame on his 54th birthday, with Ganguly responding that joining the iconic batter in the prestigious list was the iggest job satisfaction ever. Taking to X, Tendulkar shared a heartfelt message for his long-time teammate, with whom he formed one of the most successful opening partnerships in ODI cricket. There aren't too many surprises left after knowing each other since we were 14. This wasn't one either. Congratulations @SGanguly99. So happy to see you in the @ICC Hall of Fame! Tendulkar wrote. Responding to the message, an emotional Ganguly thanked the cricket icon and said being inducted alongside him was the greatest satisfaction of his cricketing career. Thank you champion... to be in the same list as you is the biggest job satisfaction ever @bcci, Ganguly replied on X. Currently serving as the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), Ganguly is set to become the 12th Indian overall and the 10th Indian men's cricketer to receive one of cricket's highest honours. One of the finest ODI batters of his generation, Ganguly scored 11,363 runs in 311 ODIs, including 22 centuries, while also claiming 132 wickets. In Test cricket, he amassed 7,212 runs in 113 matches. Affectionately known as the 'God of the Off-side', Ganguly took over India's captaincy in 2000 during the match-fixing crisis and transformed the team's mindset with an aggressive approach. Under his leadership, India won the 2002 NatWest Trophy, shared the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy, reached the 2003 ODI World Cup final, secured a historic Test series victory in Pakistan in 2004, and scripted the famous comeback win against Australia in the 2001 Kolkata Test at Eden Gardens. One of the finest ODI batters of his generation, Ganguly scored 11,363 runs in 311 ODIs, including 22 centuries, while also claiming 132 wickets. In Test cricket, he amassed 7,212 runs in 113 matches. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The International Cricket Council is expected to formally announce the latest Hall of Fame inductees on July 11 at the conclusion of its annual conference in Edinburgh. Previous Indian inductees include Bishan Singh Bedi, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Vinoo Mankad, Diana Edulji, Virender Sehwag, Neetu David and MS Dhoni. Article Source: IANS

One-off Women's Test: Lord's Prepares For Landmark Game As England, India Renew Red-ball Rivalry (preview)

Melbourne Cricket Ground: Cricket's most celebrated venue is set to witness a long-awaited milestone when Lord's stages its first-ever women's Test beginning Friday, with England and India meeting in a one-off contest that carries significance far beyond the result. More than 140 years after the ground hosted its inaugural men's Test, the women's game finally arrives at the Home of Cricket, a development that has been widely viewed as another important step in the sport's push towards greater equality. The occasion has already generated unprecedented interest, with over 30,000 tickets sold across the four days, the highest attendance ever recorded for a women's Test in the United Kingdom. The fixture also comes less than three years after an independent review into equity in English cricket criticised the absence of women's Test cricket at Lord's, making this week's match symbolic as well as competitive. For both sides, however, sentiment will quickly give way to cricketing priorities. England return to the longest format seeking to halt an underwhelming run that has yielded only one Test victory in the past decade. Their last appearance ended in a comprehensive defeat to Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground earlier this year, while memories of falling short in the T20 World Cup final on home soil continue to linger. Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt will hope the switch to red-ball cricket offers an opportunity to reset a side that has shown flashes of brilliance but struggled for consistency on the biggest occasions. India arrive with similar motivation after their own disappointing T20 World Cup campaign ended at the group stage. Although Harmanpreet Kaur's side has played only sparingly in the format over recent years, they have produced impressive performances whenever opportunities have arisen. A commanding victory over South Africa in Chennai in 2024 reaffirmed India's strength in red-ball cricket before Australia halted their unbeaten run earlier this year in a pink-ball Test at Perth. History, meanwhile, offers India plenty of encouragement. The visitors remain unbeaten in women's Tests played in England, having avoided defeat in all nine previous matches on English soil. Their overall record against England is equally impressive, with India losing just one of 15 Tests between the two nations while recording three victories and drawing the remaining contests. One of those victories remains among the defining moments in India's women's cricket journey. Their triumph at Wormsley in 2014, achieved with a squad featuring eight Test debutants, ended an eight-year absence from the format and announced the arrival of a new generation led by players such as Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur. Nearly a decade later, India underlined their growing authority with a crushing 347-run win over England in Navi Mumbai. The latest chapter promises another fascinating tactical contest. England have opted for a youthful squad, handing maiden Test call-ups to Alice Capsey, Eleanor Threlkeld, Grace Potts, Mady Villiers and teenage left-arm spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman. Their selection reflects an attempt to build depth while managing workloads, with Charlie Dean rested after an extended white-ball schedule. India, too, have injected fresh faces into the squad. Harleen Deol, left-arm spinner N Shree Charani and fast bowler Nandani Sharma are all in line for potential Test debuts, while seam-bowling all-rounder Sayali Satghare offers valuable balance after making her international breakthrough earlier this year. Selection decisions could prove decisive once conditions are assessed on the opening morning. England possess genuine pace options in Lauren Filer and Issy Wong, both capable of exploiting any assistance available from the Lord's surface. Their experienced core, featuring Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight, Maia Bouchier and world-class spinner Sophie Ecclestone, gives the hosts a settled spine despite the influx of newcomers. India's preparations have been disrupted by the loss of opener Pratika Rawal, who suffered a knee injury during an India A fixture in Taunton. Priya Punia has been drafted into the squad, while the race for places in the batting order remains open with Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Yastika Bhatia and Harleen Deol all competing for starting spots. The composition of India's bowling attack is another area of intrigue. Head coach Amol Muzumdar must determine the ideal combination from Renuka Singh, Kranti Gaud and Nandani Sharma, with Satghare's ability to contribute in both disciplines strengthening her case for inclusion. On paper, England enter the contest with the advantage of familiar conditions and a squad packed with experienced performers. India, however, have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to compete in overseas Tests and carry the confidence of an outstanding record against England in the format. As Lord's finally opens its gates to women's Test cricket, the match represents far more than a place in the result books. It offers two ambitious teams the chance to shape another landmark in the evolution of the women's game while adding a new chapter to one of cricket's oldest rivalries. When: Friday, July 10, 3:30 PM IST Where: Lords Cricket Ground, London Where to watch: The one-off Test between England and India will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network channels and will be live-streamed on the SonyLiv app. Squads: Where to watch: The one-off Test between England and India will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network channels and will be live-streamed on the SonyLiv app. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India: Smriti Mandhana, Yastika Bhatia, Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh (wk), Priya Punia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Sneh Rana, Sayali Satghare, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh, Nandani Sharma, Shree Charani Article Source: IANS

Shoriful returns as Bangladesh bowl against unchanged Zimbabwe

Visitors need a victory to level the series while hosts eye a series win today

ENG vs IND 4th T20I: Approaching Milestones and Records Ahead of Bristol Clash

ENG vs IND 4th T20I,T20IApproaching Milestones and Records :The Indian Cricket Team have been struggling since they have landed for the UK tour. The Indian management retired to reshuffle the deck with the change in captaincy and add new faces. But it didn't work out. Shreyas Iyer has led India in five T20Is and has yet to record a win as captain. They suffered the whitewash at the hands of Ireland. Now, they are approaching a consecutive series defeat. In the ongoing series, the English cricket team have taken a 2-0 lead and are one win away from winning the series. The fourth T20I is scheduled for Thursday (July 9) at County Ground in Bristol at 10 PM IST. This is the must-win game for India, as they are not in a position to suffer another series defeat. England have dominated India in both games and have managed clinical wins. The last game was a nightmare for India, and they registered some unwanted records. India recorded their second-highest T20I total and suffered their biggest T20I defeat. There were several other records, which got broken also. Some amazing records are lined up in the Bristol match on Thursday. Here, we will talk about big records and milestones which are lined up and can be achieved in the England vs India fourth T20I clash at County Ground in Bristol. ENG vs IND 4th T20I: Approaching Test Records and T20ICricket Milestones Ahead of the ENG vs IND 4th T20IatCounty Ground in Bristol 83 - Jos Buttler is 83 runs away from becoming only the third batter to score 14500 runs in T20 cricket. If he scores 33 runs, he will surpass Alex Hales (14449) and will become the English batter with the most runs. 3 - Jos Buttler is three sixes away from surpassing Nicholas Pooran (179), and he will have the third-most sixes in T20Is. If he hits five sixes, he will have the fourth-most sixes in international cricket, surpassing Shahid Afridi (398). If he hits six sixes, he will be only the fourth batter with 400 international sixes. 4 - Harshit Rana needs four wickets to complete 50 international wickets in his career. 5 - Jos Buttler needs five runs to complete 12500 international runs. 32 - Jacob Bethell needs 32 runs to complete 2000 international runs. 3 - Jofra Archer needs three more wickets to reach 200 international wickets for England. 1 - India have been one of the dominating forces in this format. Though their current form is bad, if they can play well, 200 or more is easy for them. If India can score 200+ in the Bristol game, they will become the first team to reach 200 or more 50 times in T20Is. Also Read: Live Cricket Score 1 - Axar Patel will become the fifth Indian to play 100 T20I matches if he plays the fourth game.

ENG-W Vs IND-W: When And Where To Watch One-off Test, Know All Details

Sony Sports Network: A landmark moment awaits women's cricket when Lord's stages its first-ever women's Test, with England hosting India in a one-off four-day contest beginning Friday. The occasion is expected to draw record crowds, with more than 30,000 tickets sold, underlining the growing appeal of the women's game at one of cricket's most iconic venues. While history will be made off the field, both teams have plenty to prove on it. England head into the contest looking to bounce back from a difficult run in the longest format after suffering an innings defeat to Australia in their previous Test earlier this year. Led by Nat Sciver-Brunt, the hosts have blended experience with youth, handing maiden Test call-ups to Alice Capsey, Eleanor Threlkeld, Grace Potts, Mady Villiers and teenage spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman. India, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, will draw confidence from an impressive record against England in Test cricket. The visitors are unbeaten in nine women's Tests played in England and registered a comprehensive 347-run victory over England in their most recent meeting in Navi Mumbai in 2023. However, India's preparations have been disrupted by the injury to opener Pratika Rawal, forcing a late change to the squad with Priya Punia drafted in. The visitors have also included potential debutants Harleen Deol, N Shree Charani and Nandani Sharma as they look to inject fresh energy into the red-ball setup. Selection will be crucial for both camps. England must decide how much pace to deploy in conditions that traditionally favour seam bowling, while India face key decisions over their batting combination and the composition of their pace attack. Although England begin as favourites in familiar conditions, India's strong overseas record in the format and their success against the hosts ensure the inaugural women's Test at Lord's promises to be far more than a ceremonial occasion. When: Friday, July 10, 3:30 PM IST Where: Lords Cricket Ground, London Where to watch: The one-off Test between England and India will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network channels and will be live-streamed on the SonyLiv app. Squads: Where to watch: The one-off Test between England and India will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network channels and will be live-streamed on the SonyLiv app. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India: Smriti Mandhana, Yastika Bhatia, Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh (wk), Priya Punia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Sneh Rana, Sayali Satghare, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh, Nandani Sharma, Shree Charani Article Source: IANS

Women's Cricket Gets Its First Lord's Test As England Face India

Lord's will finally host a women's Test, 142 years since staging its first such men's match, when England face India in a four-day game at the 'Home of Cricket' starting Friday. It just boggles my mind that it is just the first (women's) Test match here at Lord's, said India coach Amol Muzumdar, who added: It is a great occasion and we are looking forward to it. The match takes place just over 50 years since the first women's match of any kind at the renowned London venue, with England beating Australia by eight wickets in a one-day international on August 4, 1976. England's captain at Lord's that day was the late Rachael Heyhoe Flint, a pioneering figure in a women's game where players were still wearing skirts rather than, as they do no now, white or coloured trousers. Heyhoe Flint, who died in 2017, now has a gate named after her at Lord's. But in 1976, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the owners of Lord's, were still decades away from admitting women as members, with the thought of females walking directly through the Long Room of the pavilion before taking the field a distant dream. England's No. 5 that day, Megan Lear, compared the experience to the moon landing, telling the Guardian: On that day in 1976, to walk on to the hallowed turf at Lord's, it was like one small step for us women cricketers, but one giant leap towards the future of women's cricket. It is a sign of how things have changed from those amateur days that a Test between two professional sides will also be England's second fixture at Lord's in under a week following Sunday's defeat by Australia in the women's T20 World Cup final -- a match that attracted a capacity crowd. Nine of England's World Cup squad are included for the Test, including captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, who is hoping to play despite a nagging calf injury. - 'History in the making' - We've always known this has been on the calendar, said England coach Charlotte Edwards. A lot of our players have been doing Test match prep throughout the T20s so we're really looking forward to it, added Edwards, England's captain when they won the 2009 Women's T20 World Cup final at Lord's. It's a historic Test match for us as a group and for the Indian team, and we can't wait to play in front of a lot of people again over the next four days Teenage England spinner Tilly Corteen-Colman is well aware of the importance of the occasion. I remember speaking to Lottie (Edwards) about when she used to play here and they weren't allowed in the Long Room, said the 18-year-old. The first women's Test at Lord's is history in the making, so to be involved would be incredible. It would mean the absolute world. As well as a breakthrough, the game will also mark England batter Tammy Beaumont's farewell to international cricket. Beaumont has made 260 appearances for England since her debut 17 years ago and she was the first English woman to score a double century in a Test -- 208 against Australia at Trent Bridge in 2023. When I fell in love with playing cricket as a young girl, I barely knew that playing cricket for England was an option, said Beaumont. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Th 35-year-old, who will continue to play domestic cricket, added: Our first ever women's Test at Lord's feels like the perfect occasion to sign off on a career that I could never have dreamt would be as special as it has been.

Neesham Joins Auckland As NZC Announce First Round Of 2026/27 Domestic Contracts

Cricket World Cup: New Zealand's six major associations have announced the opening round of men's contracts for the 2026/27 domestic season. Among the biggest developments is the inclusion of experienced all-rounder Jimmy Neesham on Auckland's full-time contract list. Having featured on a casual playing arrangement since the 2021/22 season while balancing international commitments, Neesham now returns as a permanent member of Auckland's squad, bringing a wealth of experience across all aspects of the game, most recently captaining New Zealand as the 12th men's T20I captain. Alongside Neesham, Adithya Ashok also returned to the Auckland contract list. Wellington have strengthened their ranks by signing fast bowler Henry Shipley from Canterbury. Shipley departs the province where he began his domestic career, bringing valuable experience from both domestic cricket and his appearances for New Zealand in ODIs and T20Is. Wellington also welcome Muhammad Abbas, who was featured on the BLACKCAPS central contract list last season. Another notable transfer sees top-order batter Nick Kelly head back to Northern Districts after captaining Wellington across all three formats for the past four seasons. Kelly, who spent the previous two seasons with Otago before leading Wellington, returns to the association where his domestic journey began in 2015/16 after making his international debut in both white-ball formats last season. Central Districts have secured the services of all-rounder Jake Gibson following his stint with Otago. Gibson arrives with proven credentials in both limited-overs and red-ball cricket, adding versatility to the Stags' squad ahead of the new campaign. Several players also return to domestic contract lists after recent international recognition. Leg-spinner Adithya Ashok is back on Auckland's contracted roster, while Wellington have retained Muhammad Abbas after both featured on New Zealand's central contracts last season. The first round of announcements also rewarded a number of emerging talents with maiden domestic contracts. Auckland handed a first full-time deal to Luke Watson after the youngster impressed during his debut season in T20 and first-class cricket. Watson had previously represented New Zealand at the ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup and featured regularly for Auckland A. Otago continued its emphasis on youth by awarding first contracts to batter Tom Jones and seamer Thomas O'Connor. Jones announced himself with a century during his debut first-class campaign, while O'Connor enjoyed a breakthrough season with a series of impressive performances, including a 13-wicket match haul that underlined his promise. Canterbury have added bowling all-rounder Lachie Harper to their contracted group after an encouraging debut season across the Ford Trophy and Super Smash, while Central Districts rewarded Taylor Bettelheim with a full-season contract after he joined midway through last year. Sam Cassidy also earned a full contract after progressing through the association's development system and strong performances in domestic T20 cricket. Northern Districts, meanwhile, welcomed back Snehith Reddy after the youngster regained his place on the association's contract list. Each Major Association has named up to 15 contracted players in the initial selection phase. A two-week transfer window will now allow uncontracted cricketers to explore opportunities with other teams before every association confirms its final 16-player squad for the 2026/27 domestic season. The contracted players will form the backbone of their respective campaigns in the Plunket Shield, Ford Trophy and Super Smash, although opportunities will remain available for uncontracted players throughout the season. Each Major Association has named up to 15 contracted players in the initial selection phase. A two-week transfer window will now allow uncontracted cricketers to explore opportunities with other teams before every association confirms its final 16-player squad for the 2026/27 domestic season. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Contracted players receive a retainer and form the core of each major association's campaigns across the Plunket Shield, Ford Trophy and Dream11 Super Smash, but uncontracted players typically also get chances to shine and impress in each region during the season. Article Source: IANS

Pretorius' maiden T20 century consolidates Unicorns' top spot

Lhuan-dre Pretorius finished on 102* in the chase of 144 after Matthew Short had restricted MI New York with 3 for 24

Holden clings on to keep Middlesex hopes alive

Hard-fought 62 on tough pitch make it back-to-back wins

Smeed leads Somerset to emphatic victory over Derbyshire

Opener's superb 89 included six sixes off 51 balls to take the holders to 214 for 6

Roy shows his enduring class as Surrey surge past Sussex

Unbeaten century shows that former England batter is still a dangerous prospect in shortest format

Lees leads the charge as Durham hunt down Foxes

Target of 157 is no match for Durham captain, with superb 80 from 44 balls

Tammy Beaumont walks away having done it all

Retirement a long time coming particularly after omission from England's 50-over plans in wake of 2025 World Cup exit

ENG vs IND 4th T20I Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

ENG vs IND 4th T20I,CricketTips :Team India are very close to losing consecutive T20I series. Under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, India have failed to win a single game on the UK tour, and it has been their longest winless streak in T20Is. They were hammered by a massive margin of 125 runs, and England have earned a 2-0 lead. Harry Brook and his men are just one win away from winning the series. The fourth T20I will begin on Thursday at County Ground in Bristol at 10 PM IST. Iyer has struggled as captain and so has Team India on this tour. They need to pull up their socks because another series defeat can put them under severe criticism. ENG vs IND: Match Details Date : July 09, 2026 (Thursday) Time : 10:00 PM IST Venue : County Ground, Bristol ENG vs IND: Live Streaming Details Indian fans can watch the live action of the fourth T20I on the Star Sports Network on cable TVs. The live stream of the game will be available on the Jio Hotstar app or website. ENG vs IND: Head-to-Head in T20Is Total Matches : 33 India : 18 England : 14 No-result : 01 ENG vs IND: Ground Pitch Report County Ground in Bristol is known for offering a good batting wicket. It offers good bounce with pace, and batters can use it to play big shots. But the hard length will be difficult to hit for the batters. Chasing should be better because the wicket will settle a bit in the second innings. ENG vs IND: Possible XIs England : Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (c), Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue India : Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy ENG vs IND: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Abhishek Sharma has been the top scorer for India on this tour and has played some brilliant knocks at the top. For England, Phil Salt played a crucial knock and will be confident going into this contest. Probable Best Bowler Arshdeep Singh has been the key wicket-taker for India with the new ball. He can make a difference within the power play. For England, Jofra Archer is breathing fire and can put India under pressure. Today Match Prediction: India are under pressure after losing consecutive games, and England are in good form. Hence, we predict England to win the fourth T20I. ENG vs IND Match 4th T20, Today Match ENG vs IND, ENG vs IND Prediction, ENG vs IND Predicted XIs, Injury Update for England 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.

Ruthless Kostyuk packs off Paolini, sets up last-four clash with Noskova

Second seed Zverev makes short work of Fritz; wild card Fery continues his dream run, enters the semifinal; Indias Arnav enters the quarterfinals of boys singles

Allround Adams extinguishes The Blaze

Hampshire captain takes four wickets after crucial 49 to seal victory

Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20: Nair Powers Coastal Kings Mangaluru To Thrilling Win Over Gulbarga Mystics

Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20: Captain Karun Nair produced another match-winning innings as Coastal Kings Mangaluru edged Gulbarga Mystics by three runs in the final league match of the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 tournament at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday. With the playoff spots already decided before the match, there was little at stake except final standings. But the contest delivered an exciting finish, with the Mystics falling just short in their chase of 170. The Coastal Kings posted 169-9 before restricting the Mystics to 166/7, sealing their fifth win in 10 matches to finish second in the standings with 11 points. Bengaluru Blasters topped the table with 18 points, followed by Shivamogga Yodhas (10) and Mysore Warriors (9). Gulbarga Mystics finished fifth on six points, ahead of Hubli Tigers on net run rate. The play-offs begin on Friday, with the Shivamogga Yodhas taking on the Mysore Warriors in the Eliminator before the Bengaluru Blasters face the Coastal Kings Mangaluru in Qualifier 1. Nair once again anchored the Coastal Kings' innings with a superb 65 off 37 balls, striking eight fours and two sixes. Walking in after the early loss of two wickets with the score at 30-2, the experienced Karnataka batter steadied the innings through partnerships of 59 with Prajwal Pavan (35) and 50 with Suraj Ahuja. His dismissal for 149-5 in the 18th over sparked a late collapse as the Kings lost four wickets for just 20 runs. Kranthi Kumar (3-38) and Suhas Purushotham (2-27) bowled impressive closing spells to restrict the total to 169. Nair's third half-century of the tournament, and his highest score this season, took his tally to 294 runs from nine innings. The Mystics made an aggressive start through openers Macneil Noronha and Aarav Mahesh. Noronha plundered 17 runs from the opening over as the pair raced to 58 without loss in the Powerplay before adding 70 for the first wicket. Noronha top-scored with 44, while Aarav made 27. Dhruv Prabhakar (28) and Manish Pandey (23) revived the chase with a brisk 40-run stand for the fourth wicket, but their dismissals in quick succession shifted the momentum back in the Kings' favour. Despite a late flourish from Kranthi Kumar (30), the Mystics were left needing seven off the final over and eventually finished three runs short. The Mystics impressed in the field, with Noronha claiming three catches in addition to a wicket, while Thippa Reddy produced one of the catches of the tournament with a superb running effort. Despite a late flourish from Kranthi Kumar (30), the Mystics were left needing seven off the final over and eventually finished three runs short. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Coastal Kings Mangaluru 169/9 in 20 overs (Karun Nair 65, Prajwal Pavan 35; Kranthi Kumar 3-38, Suhas Purushotham 2-27) beat Gulbarga Mystics 166/7 in 20 overs (Macneil Noronha 44, Kranthi Kumar 30, Dhruv Prabhakar 28, Aarav Mahesh 27, Manish Pandey 23; Shreyas Gopal 2-36) by 3 runs. Article Source: IANS

Litton Das ruled out of ODI series against Zimbabwe with hamstring injury

Parvez Hossain Emon has been named Litton's replacement for the second and third ODIs

The Hundred: Southern Brave Pick Hemang Badani As Men's Coach, Mohit Sharma As Assistant Bowling Coach For 2026

Warwickshire County Cricket Club: The Southampton-based Southern Brave, who won the men's title in 2021 and the women's crown in 2023, have picked India's Hemang Badani as the head coach of the men's team, while Jonathan Batty will oversee the women's team during the 2026 season of The Hundred. Former India player Badani, who coached the Delhi Capitals in the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), will have former England star Ian Bell as assistant coach, according to reports in the local media. According to the reports, former Scotland mens head coach Shane Burger is in charge of the mens bowling programme. Burger brings considerable coaching experience, having previously worked with KZN Inland and the Dolphins in South Africa before taking charge of Scotland, and is currently working with Hampshire Cricket. He will be supported by former India international Mohit Sharma. Sharma represented India across all three formats and is considered a death bowling expert during his career in the IPL. Former Ireland international John Mooney completes the mens coaching team as fielding coach. He will be responsible for helping the squad maintain consistently high standards across all areas of their fielding. These appointments add a broad range of international, domestic, and franchise experience to Southern Braves coaching structure as preparations continue for the 2026 season of The Hundred. The womens coaching team will be led by Batty, along with assistant coach Anya Shrubsole, while Tharindu Perera will oversee the sides batting programme, having previously held coaching roles across domestic and international teams. These appointments add a broad range of international, domestic, and franchise experience to Southern Braves coaching structure as preparations continue for the 2026 season of The Hundred. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Former England international Jenny Gunn completes the womens coaching team as the fielding coach, according to reports in the local media. Gunn brings extensive international experience as a player in The Hundred and will work with the squad to develop their decision-making, athleticism, and fielding standards, the reports said. Article Source: IANS

Harris equals own record with 15-ball 50 as Surrey move closer to Finals Day

Australian hits 81 off 32 as Surrey gun down 181 target in 15 overs

Sai Kishore Signs With Gloucestershire For Final Six County Championship Matches

Indian Premier League: India left-arm spinner R. Sai Kishore has signed with Gloucestershire for the remaining six matches of the 2026 County Championship season, the club announced on Wednesday. Kishore, 29, will be available for selection starting from Gloucestershire's Championship fixture against Worcestershire at Cheltenham, which begins on Thursday (August 20). Kishore previously enjoyed a successful stint in the County Championship with Surrey in 2025, where he took 11 wickets in two games. I am deeply grateful to Jon and everyone at Gloucestershire for giving me this opportunity. Gloucestershire is a club with a rich history and a fantastic setup, and the chance to play my cricket here is incredibly exciting. Ive always wanted to test my skills in English conditions, and after speaking with the management, I knew this was the right fit. I'm looking forward to wearing the jersey, meeting the fans at Bristol and Cheltenham, and doing my part, said Kishore in a statement issued by the club. Kishore has established himself as one of India's leading domestic red-ball bowlers, representing Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy. Across 54 first-class appearances, he has claimed 223 wickets, including 14 five-wicket hauls. Kishore, who was part of India's gold medal-winning squad at the 2023 Asian Games, has also been a prominent face in the Indian Premier League (IPL), taking 33 wickets in 28 appearances, though he had only three appearances for the Gujarat Titans in this years season. Welcoming the signing, Gloucestershire's Jon Lewis, the former England womens head coach, expressed confidence that Kishore would thrive in late-summer conditions. We're really excited to bring Sai Kishore into the squad. He's a proven, experienced cricketer who will add a huge amount to our group. Kishore, who was part of India's gold medal-winning squad at the 2023 Asian Games, has also been a prominent face in the Indian Premier League (IPL), taking 33 wickets in 28 appearances, though he had only three appearances for the Gujarat Titans in this years season. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The conditions at this time of year are often very conducive to spin bowling, so we're hopeful Sai can make a significant contribution and have a really positive impact on the team, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

West Indies docked two WTC points for slow over rate in second Test against Sri Lanka

They were two overs short which cost them two WTC points and a ten per cent match fee for each player

R Sai Kishore signs six-match deal with Gloucestershire

It will be his second spell in county cricket after he took 11 wickets in two appearances for Surrey last July

West Indies Fined 10 Per Cent Match Fee, Docked Two WTC Points For Slow Over-rate Against Sri Lanka

ICC World Test Championship: The West Indies have been fined 10 per cent of its match fee and docked two crucial ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points for maintaining a slow over-rate during the second Test against Sri Lanka. West Indies fined 10 per cent match fee, docked two WTC points for slow over-rate against Sri Lanka North Sound (Antigua), July 8 (IANS) The West Indies have been fined 10 per cent of its match fee and docked two crucial ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points for maintaining a slow over-rate during the second Test against Sri Lanka. Javagal Srinath of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanctions after the home side was ruled to be two overs short of its target after taking time allowances into consideration. In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for each over if their team fails to bowl within the allotted time. The maximum penalty under this specific clause is capped at 50 per cent of the match fee. Furthermore, as per Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, a side is penalised one championship point for each over short. Consequently, two WTC points have been deducted from the West Indies' total. In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for each over if their team fails to bowl within the allotted time. The maximum penalty under this specific clause is capped at 50 per cent of the match fee. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Coming to the match, the West Indies ended a 23-year wait for a Test series victory over Sri Lanka by securing a 1-0 triumph in the two-match series following the second Test in Antigua ending in a draw. The series win was also the first time West Indies clinched a series under Roston Chases leadership. Their next Test assignment will be against Pakistan from July 25-August 7 in Trinidad for another two-game series. Article Source: IANS

Nyamhuri, Shumba in Zimbabwe T20I squad against Bangladesh

Cremer was ruled out with a left-arm fracture, while Taylor and Tony Munyonga are the other changes from the World Cup squad

Bangladesh look to overturn batting woes as Zimbabwe eye series win

Bangladesh's tour has been marred by collapses so far and they can't afford another one

Milton Shumba, Newman Nyamhuri Included In Zimbabwe Squad For T20Is Against Bangladesh

The T20 World Cup: Experienced all-rounder Sikandar Raza will continue to lead Zimbabwe after Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) on Wednesday named a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. The squad majorly retains the core that reached the Super Eight at the 2026 ICC Mens T20 World Cup. The three matches are scheduled to be played at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on July 15, 17, and 19 once the ongoing ODI series in Harare is over. The squad features two changes - exciting young fast bowler Newman Nyamhuri and batter Milton Shumba have been included. Nyamhuri, who is yet to make his international debut in the shortest format, earned his spot after impressing across formats. Meanwhile, Shumba returns to the T20I fold for the first time since the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. Batter Ben Curran, who was drafted into the T20 World Cup squad earlier this year as an injury replacement for Brendan Taylor, has retained his place. Graeme Cremer was unavailable for selection due to a left-arm fracture, while Taylor and Tony Munyonga missed out from the World Cup squad. Convener of Selectors David Mutendera said that continuity was the primary focus while finalizing the squad. The T20 World Cup showed what this group is capable of, so continuity was an important consideration for us. We wanted to keep together the core of a squad that reached the Super Eight while also creating room for players who have earned their opportunities. Graeme Cremer was unavailable for selection due to a left-arm fracture, while Taylor and Tony Munyonga missed out from the World Cup squad. Convener of Selectors David Mutendera said that continuity was the primary focus while finalizing the squad. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Zimbabwe Squad: Sikandar Raza (Captain), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Ben Curran, Brad Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Milton Shumba. Article Source: IANS

Muzumdar urges India to 'stay in the present' after T20 World Cup malfunction

The India head coach wants the team to leave aside the disappointment of the T20 World Cup and look ahead to the Test against England

Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20: Vyshak, Rai Fire Mysuru Warriors Into Knockouts

Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20: Captain Vyshak Vijaykumar produced a sensational spell of fast bowling as Mysuru Warriors stormed into the knockout stage of the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 tournament with a commanding six-wicket victory over Shivamogga Yodhas at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday. After electing to bowl, the Warriors dismantled the Yodhas for just 66 in 10.5 overs before chasing down the target in only 10 overs to seal their place in the last four. The result ensured Mysuru Warriors finished with nine points from 10 matches to claim the fourth and final knockout berth. Shivamogga Yodhas, despite the defeat, qualified in second place with 10 points, while Bengaluru Blasters topped the table with 18 points. With the final playoff spot up for grabs before the match, the Warriors knew that a victory by any margin would eliminate Gulbarga Mystics from contention. They responded in emphatic fashion with one of the most dominant bowling performances of the season. The foundation was laid by Arbind Kumar Rai, whose disciplined swing bowling accounted for the key wickets of Luvnith Sisodia (12), Harshil Dharmani (8), and Sujay Sateri (0). His figures of 3-28 reduced the Yodhas to 57 for five in the seventh over. Vyshak then delivered a spell to remember. Introduced after Rai's opening burst, the Warriors skipper conceded just one run in 1.5 overs while claiming three wickets. After giving away a single off his first ball, Vyshak bowled 10 consecutive dot deliveries, striking with his sixth, ninth, and 11th balls to finish with extraordinary figures of 3 for 1. Left-arm spinner Madhav Bajaj played an equally significant role, returning 3 for 9 in three overs to tighten the screws through the middle, while Ritesh Bhatkal provided the early breakthrough by dismissing opener M.G. Naveen. It was a dramatic batting collapse for the Yodhas, who entered the contest on the back of three successive victories. Only four batters reached double figures, while five were dismissed without scoring as the innings folded for the tournament's lowest total. The chase was straightforward despite the Warriors losing four wickets along the way. L.R. Chethan top-scored with 26 as Mysuru reached the target comfortably with 60 balls to spare. It was a dramatic batting collapse for the Yodhas, who entered the contest on the back of three successive victories. Only four batters reached double figures, while five were dismissed without scoring as the innings folded for the tournament's lowest total. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Shivamogga Yodhas 66 all out in 10.5 overs (Tushar Singh 15; Arbind Kumar Rai 3-28, Madhav Bajaj 3-9, Vijaykumar Vyshak 3-1) lost to Mysuru Warriors 67/4 (10 overs) (L.R. Chethan 26; Abhilash Shetty 3-15) by six wickets. Article Source: IANS

Wimbledon 2026 | Of longevity and supreme fitness: Novak Djokovic, all of 39, keeps redefining his career graph

The Serbian great finishes on the right side of a five-hour, 15-minute slugfest to oust third seed Auger-Aliassime 7-6(10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6(4) and set up a much-anticipated last-four meeting with World No. 1 and defending champion Sinner

Pratika Rawal Ruled Out Of Historic Lord's Test; Priya Punia Named Replacement, Says Muzumdar

T20 World Cup: India opener Pratika Rawal has been ruled out of the historic one-off Test match against England after sustaining a knee injury while fielding during India As second 50-over fixture against England A in Taunton, head coach Amol Muzumdar announced on Wednesday. Right-handed batter Priya Punia has been drafted into the squad as her replacement for the marquee clash, which marks the first-ever women's Test match to be played at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground starting on Friday. Priya, who has played 12 ODIs and three T20Is for India, stayed back from the A team as a cover and batted in Indias practice session on Wednesday. I would like to say that Pratika Rawal has been ruled out of the Test match due to her injury in the India A match. She has got a cut on her knee which required some stitches. So I guess she is out for the Test match and Priya Punia has been added into the squad, Muzumdar said during the pre-match press conference. Expressing his excitement over the monumental occasion, the head coach stated that playing a Test match at the 'Home of Cricket' is the ultimate dream for any Indian cricketer. It just boggles my mind that it is just the first Test match here at Lords. Having said that, I am really fortunate and would like to extend my wishes to everyone who is involved in this. It is a great occasion and we are looking forward to it. It is a dream to play a test match for any Indian cricketer, leave alone playing at Lords. I am sure everyone who would wear those whites tomorrow would be proud of them being there at Lords to play the Test match. We have always maintained this in the dressing room - traditionally we have done really well in the Test matches. Everyone was talking about the Test match at Lords even before the World Cup started. I guess the time is now, so I guess they will be excited about it. The Test match comes on the heels of India's disappointing league stage exit at the recently concluded Women's T20 World Cup, and Muzumdar acknowledged that while the performance was a mixed bag, the team has successfully shifted its focus to the longest format. To be honest, it has been a mixed bag. We had to recover from the loss. We were disappointed for sure. We didn't have the best of World Cups. But having said that, the character of the team had to come out and we need to get out of that phase and come into the test match preparation sooner. I guess we have managed to do that. We had five really good days of prep at the Wormsley Cricket Club, a beautiful ground, just a perfect setting for the preparation and then here at Lords. So I guess the preparation has been good and as I said, excited to be here at Lords. Muzumdar also urged his players to leave past heartbreaks behind and stay rooted in the present. I think all we need to do is just stay in the present. What is gone, we cannot change it. We know it, we have discussed about it within the squad. We can't change what has happened. All we need to do is look forward and prepare the best we can for the event ahead. So I guess that has been the talk and I am sure all of them, all the players are looking forward for the Test match. Just leave aside the disappointment and get into the present and look forward to it. Muzumdar also urged his players to leave past heartbreaks behind and stay rooted in the present. I think all we need to do is just stay in the present. What is gone, we cannot change it. We know it, we have discussed about it within the squad. We can't change what has happened. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We have spoken about this. It's not difficult to find out where the slope goes. Just take into account certain things but at the same time you just have to deal with it and come up with solutions. It's the same for both the teams. I am sure both the teams will try and exploit that as much as possible. Article Source: IANS

Injured Rawal out of Lord's Test against England; Punia named replacement

Rawal sustained the injury while fielding during last week's second one-dayer against England A in Taunton

Tammy Beaumont to retire at the end of maiden women's Lord's Test

Veteran batter, and 2017 World Cup winner, calls time on 17-year career

Tammy Beaumont To Retire From International Cricket After Lord's Test Against India

ODI World Cup: Veteran England batter Tammy Beaumont on Wednesday said she will retire from international cricket at the conclusion of the upcoming Test match against India at Lord's. The end of her 17-year international career will coincide with the first-ever womens Test match to be played at the iconic venue. Tammy, who made her international debut in 2009, walks away as one of the modern-day greats of the women's game, having represented England in 260 matches across all formats and amassed 7,325 runs overall. She retires as Englands leading centurion in ODIs, with 12 hundreds to her name. She was the architect of England's historic ICC Women's ODI World Cup triumph on home soil in 2017, where she was named the Player of the Tournament after finishing as the leading run-scorer with 410 runs. Playing for England for nearly 17 years has been the greatest honour. When I fell in love with playing cricket as a young girl, I barely knew that playing cricket for England was an option, and it brings me so much joy to think about how many girls and boys have been inspired, this summer especially, and how far the game has come in our country. We've always wanted to take the cap forward for the next generation, and the time has come for me to hand over that privilege to the next generation of England players. This Test match at Lords our first ever womens Test at Lords feels like the perfect occasion to sign off on a career that I could never have dreamt would be as special as it has been, said Tammy in a statement issued by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Tammy, 35, is also one of only two women from England, and the fifth overall, to score an international century in all three formats of the game. In 2023, she became the first Englishwoman to score a Test double-century, smashing a memorable 208 against Australia at Trent Bridge during the Women's Ashes. She also revealed that she will continue to play for The Blaze in domestic cricket and Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred. I will still be playing domestic cricket, but I'd like to thank all the fans for your amazing support. Id also like to say thank you to all the coaches and support staff who I've worked with over the years, to my teammates who I've shared so many amazing moments with, and to my friends and family - I couldn't have got this far without your love and support all these years, she added. Clare Connor, Managing Director of England Women, lauded Tammy's immense impact on the sport, where she went from playing in the amateur era to becoming a fully contracted professional. Tammy has made a remarkable contribution to the England Womens cricket team, and we will miss her incredibly. It is impossible to put into words or measure the impact Tammy has had on our sport. She played her first few years for England as an amateur, one of only a few players left whose international careers were forged through extraordinary levels of devotion, commitment, and love of the game. She was in the group of 18 players who were the first to receive an England Womens Central Contract in 2015, and by 2017, she was named Player of the Tournament in the home ICC Womens Cricket World Cup. The weight of runs she went on to score for England at the top of the order has put her in the category of one of the games great batters. Tammy has made a remarkable contribution to the England Womens cricket team, and we will miss her incredibly. It is impossible to put into words or measure the impact Tammy has had on our sport. She played her first few years for England as an amateur, one of only a few players left whose international careers were forged through extraordinary levels of devotion, commitment, and love of the game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Always smiling, always fun, and always team-first, Tammy should be so proud of a stellar international career, and we wish her every success and happiness as she leaves the England dressing room, she concluded. Article Source: IANS

'Sometimes you've got to fight harder' - Salt delivers 'mega innings' for England

On 17 off 19 at one point, Salt fought his demons to finish with 70 off 44 and set up England's commanding first-innings score

Cornered India seek recovery as England eye series win

India are on the brink of consecutive T20I series defeats for the first time since 2018-19

Massive Upset In ICC Board Elections As Khwaja Loses, Palani, Usmani, Van Vuuren Elected

Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja: In a major shake-up, long-serving International Cricket Council (ICC) Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja suffered a shock defeat in the Associate Member Directors' elections held on the sidelines of the global body's Annual Conference here on Wednesday. France's Gurumurthy Palani topped the polling charts with 35 votes, while UAE's Mubashir Usmani and Namibia's Rudie van Vuuren secured 26 votes each to claim the three available spots on the all-powerful 17-member ICC Board for a two-year term. Khwaja, a veteran administrator from Singapore who has been a dominant voice for the associate nations at the ICC, finished a close fourth with 23 votes. The fifth candidate in the fray, Malaysia's Mahinda Vallipuram, managed only 19 votes. While Palani and Van Vuuren enter the apex board for the first time at the expense of Khwaja and Vallipuram, Usmani successfully retained his position. Khwaja, a lawyer by profession, had previously served as the interim ICC Chairman in 2020 after Shashank Manohar vacated the post, and functioned as Deputy Chair under multiple chiefs, including N Srinivasan, Greg Barclay, and Jay Shah. He was also hailed as a saviour after successfully anchoring crucial back-door negotiations between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to have the high-stakes Mens T20 World Cup clash take place smoothly in Colombo. Out of the 45 Associate Members eligible to vote in the biennial election, only 43 could vote as USA Cricket and Cricket Canada remain under suspension. With each eligible member allowed three votes, a total of 129 votes were polled. He was also hailed as a saviour after successfully anchoring crucial back-door negotiations between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to have the high-stakes Mens T20 World Cup clash take place smoothly in Colombo. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The high-profile conclave was preceded by the ICC delegates assembling at Lord's to witness Australia clinch their record-extending seventh global crown in the final of the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup. Article Source: IANS

Johan Botha joins Netherlands men's team as consultant

The former South Africa captain joins them for their Cricket World Cup League 2 games against Namibia and Nepal in July

TG20 Season 1: Playoff Race Reaches Its Climax As Tournament Heads Into Knockout Stage

Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium: Following three weeks of top-tier cricket, exciting finishes, and exceptional individual efforts, the Hyderabad Cricket Association's TG20 approaches its most significant week. With four teams still vying for the title as the first season reaches the playoffs, each match now holds the stakes of a championship. The playoffs kick off on Thursday with the Eliminator between Ranga Reddy Risers and EIPL & Eleve Karimnagar Diamonds. Later that evening, unbeaten Hyderabad E-Champions will compete against Anvita Khammam Aces in Qualifier 1. The winner of Qualifier 1 will earn a direct spot in Sunday's final, while the loser will have another chance in Qualifier 2 on Friday, facing the Eliminator winner. The grand final is scheduled for Sunday, where the first champions will be crowned. Eliminator: Ranga Reddy Risers vs EIPL & Eleve Karimnagar Diamonds No team enters the playoffs with more momentum than Risers. After narrowly avoiding elimination in the final league game, Risers delivered a remarkable performance, beating Warangal Warriors by 161 runs to turn their fortunes around and secure a spot in the postseason. They have depended greatly on Aditya Javvaji's consistency, as he scored 286 runs in the league stage. Meanwhile, seasoned spinner Aryan Cariappa spearheaded the bowling effort with 11 wickets, including a match-winning four-wicket haul. EIPL & Eleve Karimnagar Diamonds have maintained a consistent and balanced campaign despite losing their initial two matches. Tanmay Agarwal has been their top scorer, accumulating 328 runs with two centuries, complemented by Chandan Sahani's contributions in the middle order. Their bowling unit has also performed well, with Rathlavath Dinesh taking nine wickets, while district star Narayana Teja and Shubham Sharma each added eight wickets to support effectively. With a spot in Qualifier 2 at stake, both teams understand there's no room for error. Risers approach the match with confidence and momentum, while Karimnagar relies on their well-rounded team and experience in big games. Qualifier 1: Hyderabad E-Champions vs Anvita Khammam Aces The second playoff is expected to be a match worthy of the final. Hyderabad E-Champions have set the standard in the tournament, remaining unbeaten throughout the league stage. Their achievements are due to strong team performances, highlighted by Abhirath Reddy's outstanding season with 418 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 220, including a century. Ganesh Gadugu, a district player, has been an excellent partner, adding 224 runs and finishing unbeaten three times. Ajay Dev Goud leads the tournament with 16 wickets, supported by Pranav Varma, who has taken nine wickets at a tight economy of 6.8 runs per over. Anvita Khammam Aces, known for their explosive batting, face a tough challenge. Kodimela Himateja tops the run charts with 430 runs, including a century and four fifties, averaging an impressive 107.5. Wafi Kachchhi and G Sai Krishna Reddy have reliably provided aggressive starts during the league, making the Aces one of the most formidable batting teams in the tournament. Their bowling performance has been consistent, with 16-year-old Ved Reddy taking 12 wickets, making him the second-highest wicket-taker of the tournament. Meanwhile, skipper CV Milind has contributed with nine wickets over five matches. With a spot in the final directly on the line, fans can anticipate another exciting match between two of the tournament's top all-round teams. League stage offers unforgettable first season The first edition of TG20 has lived up to expectations, featuring high-scoring games, last-over finishes, commanding wins, and dramatic shifts in the fight for playoff spots. The tournament featured several memorable contests. Aces made a strong statement with a 20-run win over Palamuru Strikers in the first match, then continued to participate in a series of high-scoring games. A key moment of the league stage was when Indias T20I captain Tilak Varma delivered an extraordinary performance for Medak Falcons, scoring a remarkable century in a match that is likely to be remembered as one of the events most spectacular moments. Risers crafted the league stage story with a dramatic late push. Going into the last round, they required not only a win but also a significant improvement in their net run rate. They delivered spectacularly by defeating Warangal Warriors by 161 runs, securing the last playoff spot in one of the tournament's most thrilling outcomes, highlighted by Aaron George's outstanding 43-ball 91. The tournament featured numerous standout performances, including Kodimela Himateja and Abhirath Reddy scoring remarkable centuries. Tanmay Agarwal made two hundreds, Aman Rao set the highest individual score of 142, and several bowlers bowled game-changing spells. With the tournament entering its final stage, each run, wicket, and catch could decide who wins the inaugural TG20 trophy. Four qualified teams are still competing, but only one will make history as the league's first champions. The excitement will extend beyond cricket, as fans at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium can enjoy a grand celebration of Telangana's rich culture throughout the playoff week. Thursday's double-header will showcase Telangana's vibrant culture, highlighted by the lively Oggu Dollu drummers, followed by live sets from popular singers Madhu Priya, Bhole Shavali, and Hanumant. On Friday, Qualifier 2 will open with the traditional Dappulu dance, honoring the state's cultural heritage. The excitement will extend beyond cricket, as fans at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium can enjoy a grand celebration of Telangana's rich culture throughout the playoff week. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Popular playback singer Rahul Sipligunj will perform live, contributing to the festivities. Following his performance, an exciting sound, light, and laser show will take place, complemented by pyrotechnics during the mid-innings break. The stadium lights will dazzle in anticipation of the crowning of the inaugural champions. Article Source: IANS

Giving KKR Trials At 14 In Front Of Ganguly Sir And Buchanan Felt Surreal, Says Samson

Kolkata Knight Riders: India wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson has opened up about how it felt surreal for him to give IPL selection trials for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the tender age of 14 in front of legends like former India skipper Sourav Ganguly and John Buchanan. Samson has been out of Indias playing eleven since the Manchester T20I against England, after having endured two low scores in Ireland. But on a trip down the memory lane, Samson, who played for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2026, credited his childhood coach Biju George for shaping his early career and opening doors for him to attend KKR trials. After I went on to perform well for Kerala in the Under-13 tournament, Biju sir took me all the way to the Kolkata Knight Riders selection trials when I was just 14 years old. That felt unbelievably surreal for a 14-year-old. Sourav Ganguly sir was the captain of KKR at the time, and John Buchanan was the head coach. I gave my trials in front of them, and based on that performance, they selected me to be a part of the KKR 'B' team during that period. We even got to travel to Sri Lanka for matches with the 'B' team. Biju sir continuously opened doors and created opportunities for us, so the credit for shaping the early stages of my career will always, unconditionally, go to him, he said in an episode of JioStar's 'Superstars'. Samson also threw light on the initial hardships his family faced when they relocated from Delhi to Thiruvananthapuram, including struggle for taking mid-term admission in school. When we left everything behind and moved back to Kerala, we initially couldn't get admission into any school in Trivandrum. We had moved there during the mid-term, so we weren't getting admission anywhere. We tried so many schools, thinking we would go here or there, do this or that, but nobody was ready to admit us. In the end, there was a school called St. Joseph's in Trivandrum. One of my father's friends held a high position there. He asked my father what the matter was, and my dad explained that we weren't getting school admissions. He simply said, 'No problem, get uniforms for the kids the next day and send them straight to school.' Thats how it all began in Trivandrum. On how his father connected with George, currently the head of talent scouting at KKR, Samson said his father Viswanathan making endless phone calls from Delhi to find out about the cricket infrastructure in Kerala helped them very well. While we were still in Delhi, my father used to make endless phone calls to friends in Kerala to find out about the cricket scene there. He didn't know Biju sir at first, but he had a close friend named Ali bhai. He would constantly ask them where he should send me and my brother for cricket training after we moved to Kerala. Ali bhai strongly recommended Biju George sir, saying he was the best coach in Kerala and that he would guide us well. My father agreed. On that very first day, we had a short trial where we faced about 10 balls each, so he could see our natural ability. Within just 10 minutes of watching us bat, Biju sir made up his mind. He immediately sent my brother to play for the Wayanad district team, he said it would be a great opportunity for him. For me, since I was younger, he said I had to wait because my Under-13 matches were coming up, he added. The explosive batter stated that the immense sacrifices made by his parents provided him with the ultimate motivation to succeed in playing cricket from a young age. We loved our routine, morning practice, go to school, rush back, and train again. At that age, it made us feel like we were doing something meaningful. Our peers at school and the academy respected us for it. He immediately sent my brother to play for the Wayanad district team, he said it would be a great opportunity for him. For me, since I was younger, he said I had to wait because my Under-13 matches were coming up, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score That is why getting out for 30 or 40 and then going home and telling my dad that I got out for 30 felt a bit heavy. But looking back, that environment brought the best out of me. While my friends played for fun, I walked onto the field with one goal, to make my parents proud and make their sacrifices count. That is what kept me focused at such a young age, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

ZIM vs BAN 2nd ODI Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

ZIM vs BAN 2nd ODI , Cricket Tips :Fans witnessed a low-scoring thriller in the first ODI between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. Both teams struggled to bat on a tricky surface, and the highest individual score in the match was 33. Zimbabwe defended 141 and bowled Bangladesh out for 116. It was another bad day at the office for the visitors. Richard Ngarava has now started his ODI captaincy with a win. He will be looking to take this to the series win. The second ODI between these sides will begin at 1 PM IST on Thursday at Harare Sports Club. Litton Das is expected to return, which will be a big boost for the visitors. ZIM vs BAN: Match Details Date : July 9, 2026 (Thursday) Time : 1:00 PM IST Venue : Harare Sports Club, Harare ZIM vs BAN: Live Streaming Details The Indian fans can watch the live action of the ODI series on the FanCode mobile app or website. ZIM vs BAN: Head-to-Head in ODI Total Matches : 82 Zimbabwe : 31 Bangladesh : 51 No-result : 00 ZIM vs BAN: Ground Pitch Report The surface in Harare is tough to bat on, which is evident in the first game. This wicket has uneven bounce, and it is likely to get even slower as the game goes on. There is enough help for the fast bowlers, and we might see another low-scoring game on Thursday. ZIM vs BAN: Possible XIs Zimbabwe : Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Innocent Kaia, Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, Craig Ervine, Clive Madande (wk), Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri, Richard Ngarava (c), Blessing Muzarabani Bangladesh : Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das (wk), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana ZIM vs BAN: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Innocent Kaia and Towhid Hridoy looked good for a while on the tough wicket in the first game. They will be the batters to watch out for. Probable Best Bowler Nahid Rana has been in red-hot form and has taken three fifers in just 14 ODIs. He generates good pace and bounce, which makes him a tough bowler. Similarly, Blessing Muzarabani is someone who can trouble the batters with hood speed and pace and trouble the batters. Today Match Prediction: Zimbabwe have the momentum, and their batters are doing a little bit better on this wicket. Hence, Zimbabwe are expected to do well in this match. ZIM vs BAN Match 2nd ODI, Today Match ZIM vs BAN, ZIM vs BAN Prediction, ZIM vs BAN Predicted XIs, Injury Update for Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh 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.

'He Will Always Be Remembered': Jay Shah Mourns Shapoor Zadran's Passing

ICC Cricket World Cup: ICC chairman Jay Shah paid tribute to former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran following his death at the age of 38, remembering him as one of the key figures behind Afghanistan's remarkable rise in international cricket. Zadran passed away in India on Tuesday after a prolonged illness, a day before his 39th birthday. The left-arm pacer, who represented Afghanistan in 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is between 2009 and 2020, had been undergoing treatment in a New Delhi hospital after being diagnosed with stage four Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and life-threatening immune disorder. He had been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in May after his condition worsened following recurring infections, dengue and a severe drop in his red blood cell count. His health problems began in October last year, after which he was advised to seek treatment in India. With the support of Afghanistan star Rashid Khan and Afghanistan Cricket Board chairman Mirwais Ashraf, his visa was fast-tracked, enabling him to be admitted to a New Delhi hospital in January. Paying his respects in a post on X, Shah hailed Zadran's contribution to Afghanistan cricket and recalled his memorable all-round display in the country's historic first-ever Cricket World Cup victory. Deeply saddened by the passing of former Afghan cricketer Shapoor Zadran at the age of 38. Shapoor played a significant role in Afghanistan's remarkable rise in international cricket and will always be remembered for his match-winning all-round performance against Scotland in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, which secured Afghanistan's first-ever World Cup victory, Shah wrote on X. Paying his respects in a post on X, Shah hailed Zadran's contribution to Afghanistan cricket and recalled his memorable all-round display in the country's historic first-ever Cricket World Cup victory. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Afghanistan cricket, Zadran played a crucial role in the national team's rise on the international stage and will always be remembered for his match-winning all-round performance against Scotland that secured Afghanistan's maiden Cricket World Cup victory in 2015. Article Source: IANS

4th T20I: India Search For Answers As Confident England Close In On Series Triumph (Preview)

Sony Sports Network TV: Every bilateral series eventually reaches a point where experimentation gives way to urgency. For India, that moment has arrived, and trailing 0-2 in the five-match T20I series after the rain-abandoned opener, Shreyas Iyer's side enter Thursday's fourth T20I at County Ground knowing there is no room left for error. Another defeat will not only hand England the series but also raise uncomfortable questions over India's planning in the first assignment of the new leadership group. More than the results themselves, the manner of India's defeats has become a concern. England have dictated terms from the outset, exposing technical flaws against high-quality fast bowling and capitalising on moments when India have looked uncertain with both team selection and on-field tactics. The visitors' batting has rarely settled. England's quicks have consistently struck with the new ball, denying India the platform needed for their middle order to build an innings. Even when partnerships have threatened to develop, wickets have arrived in clusters, preventing any sustained recovery. That puts the spotlight firmly on India's team sheet. The biggest decision revolves around Sanju Samson. Left out after the opening fixture, the experienced batter has watched from the sidelines while teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been backed at the top. Whether India continue investing in youth or turn to Samson's experience could shape not only Thursday's contest but also the direction of the batting order. Should Samson return, the management may have to reshuffle the middle order rather than disturb the opening combination. Vice-captain Tilak Varma has endured a difficult series with the bat, while the finishing unit has not delivered the impact expected in pressure situations. Tactical calls have also come under scrutiny after India's batting order appeared unsettled during the heavy defeat in Nottingham. Bowling has offered little relief either. India's pace attack has produced moments of promise without sustaining pressure, while the spin department has struggled to influence proceedings during the middle overs. The lack of breakthroughs has allowed England's aggressive batting unit to dictate the tempo throughout the series. England, by contrast, have steadily gathered momentum. Phil Salt's fluent return to form has added further firepower to an already dangerous top order, while Harry Brook has marshalled the side confidently. Their biggest weapon, though, has undoubtedly been the new-ball partnership of Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue. The duo have repeatedly unsettled India's batters with express pace, awkward bounce and relentless attacking lengths. Having built rhythm together over recent weeks, Archer's experience and Tongue's aggression have complemented each other perfectly, giving England early control in both completed matches. Confidence is also reflected in England's fielding and game management. They have seized momentum whenever opportunities have arisen and shown little hesitation in pressing home their advantage. For India, Thursday is about more than avoiding a series defeat. It is a chance to demonstrate adaptability in unfamiliar conditions, justify the faith placed in a new captain, and show that lessons from the opening three games have been absorbed quickly. England, meanwhile, will view Bristol as an opportunity to finish the job. Another disciplined all-round display would secure the series before the teams head to Southampton for the final match, while India will be desperate to ensure there is still something left to play for on Saturday. When: Thursday, July 9 at 10:00 PM IST Where: County Ground, Bristol Where to watch: The series will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network TV channels and live-streamed on the JioHotstar app Squads: Where to watch: The series will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network TV channels and live-streamed on the JioHotstar app Also Read: Live Cricket Score England: Harry Brook (c), Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue, Jordan Cox, Sonny Baker, Luke Wood, Saqib Mahmood, Rehan Ahmed, James Coles. Article Source: IANS

Babar Azam Set For T20I Captaincy Return After Regaining Test Leadership: Report

Pakistan Cricket Board: Pakistan batter Babar Azam could be set for another stint as the country's T20I captain, with reports suggesting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering restoring him to the role ahead of the team's upcoming assignments. According to a report by Pakistani publication Daily Ausaf, the PCB is weighing a leadership change in the shortest format following an assessment of the national team's recent performances. If the move is approved, Babar is expected to replace Salman Ali Agha, who has been leading the side during the team's transition phase. The development comes shortly after Babar regained Pakistan's Test captaincy, indicating that the board may once again be placing its faith in one of the country's most experienced leaders across formats. No official confirmation has been issued by the PCB, but the report said Babar has emerged as the leading candidate to take charge of the T20I side once again as Pakistan begins preparations for upcoming international fixtures and future ICC events. Babar previously captained Pakistan across all three formats and enjoyed considerable success in T20 internationals. Under his leadership, Pakistan reached the semifinals of the 2021 T20 World Cup before finishing runners-up in the 2022 edition. He also recorded one of the best winning percentages among Pakistan's T20I captains during his previous tenure. Current skipper Salman Ali Agha is expected to remain part of Pakistan's plans even if the captaincy changes hands, with the report indicating that the PCB continues to value his role within the squad. Babar previously captained Pakistan across all three formats and enjoyed considerable success in T20 internationals. Under his leadership, Pakistan reached the semifinals of the 2021 T20 World Cup before finishing runners-up in the 2022 edition. He also recorded one of the best winning percentages among Pakistan's T20I captains during his previous tenure. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The report added that an official announcement is expected only after the PCB completes its internal discussions and finalises the squad for Pakistan's next T20I series. Until then, the board has not commented publicly on the speculation surrounding the captaincy. Article Source: IANS

4th T20I: When And Where To Watch ENG Vs IND, Know All Details

Sony Sports Network TV: India face a must-win situation when they meet England in the fourth T20I at County Ground on Thursday, with the visitors needing a victory to keep the five-match series alive after slipping 0-2 behind. The opening fixture was washed out, but England have dominated the two completed matches, capping their resurgence with a crushing 125-run victory at Trent Bridge, India's heaviest defeat in T20 Internationals. With the batting unit struggling to cope with England's pace and bounce, the focus has shifted to whether India's think tank will make changes to arrest the slide. The biggest talking point surrounds Sanju Samson, who has been on the sidelines after making way for teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. India now face the challenge of deciding whether to restore the experienced batter without unsettling the balance of the top order. The middle order has also failed to provide stability, while India's bowling attack has lacked penetration during crucial phases. The spinners, expected to control the middle overs, have been unable to apply sustained pressure, leaving the pace attack with too much to do. England, meanwhile, have little reason to alter a combination that has excelled in all departments. Phil Salt's return to form has strengthened the batting, while the fast-bowling pair of Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue have consistently dismantled India's top order with pace and movement. For India captain Shreyas Iyer, Thursday's contest presents an opportunity to register his first victory since taking charge and inject momentum ahead of the series finale. Another defeat, however, would hand England the series with a game to spare and intensify scrutiny over India's selections and tactical decisions. When: Thursday, July 9 at 10:00 PM IST Where: County Ground, Bristol Where to watch: The series will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network TV channels and live-streamed on the JioHotstar app Squads: Where to watch: The series will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network TV channels and live-streamed on the JioHotstar app Also Read: Live Cricket Score England: Harry Brook (c), Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue, Jordan Cox, Sonny Baker, Luke Wood, Saqib Mahmood, Rehan Ahmed, James Coles. Article Source: IANS

ICC Rankings: Ishan, Abhishek Retain Top Two Spots; England Players Gain Big After Recent India Thrashing

T20I Batting Rankings: India's Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma retained the top two positions in the latest ICC Men's T20I Batting Rankings, even as several England players made significant gains following the hosts' dominant start to the five-match series against India. England, who hold a 2-0 lead after the opening match was washed out, produced a record 125-run victory in the third T20I, India's biggest-ever defeat in the format, with the performances reflected in the weekly rankings update. Jacob Bethell was among the biggest movers, climbing seven places to No. 8 in the T20I batting rankings after his unbeaten 76 off 46 balls guided England to victory in the second T20I. Sam Curran enjoyed gains across all three disciplines after claiming 3/33 in the second match before smashing an unbeaten 41 in England's emphatic win in the third. He rose 12 places to No. 108 in the T20I batting rankings, climbed 12 spots to joint 71st among bowlers, and advanced six places to joint 13th in the all-rounders' list. Veteran leg-spinner Adil Rashid moved up one place to No. 3 in the T20I bowling rankings after returning figures of 2/14 in the third T20I, while pacer Josh Tongue, who claimed four wickets in only his second T20I appearance, entered the rankings at joint 301st. Will Jacks also made progress after contributing with the ball during the series, climbing six places to break into the top 10 of the T20I all-rounders' rankings at No. 7. Despite India's difficult start under new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, the batter made a massive leap of 425 places to joint 93rd in the batting rankings after scoring 68 in the rain-hit opening game and 37 in the second match. In the Test rankings, Sri Lanka opener Lahiru Udara climbed 52 places to No. 85 after registering a career-best 188 against the West Indies in the second Test, while Kamindu Mendis moved up two places to sixth following his aggregate of 128 runs in the drawn match. Fast bowler Asitha Fernando, who claimed the only five-wicket haul of the Test, advanced two places to No. 20 in the bowling rankings. For the West Indies, Justin Greaves jumped 14 places to No. 49 after his fighting 180 helped the hosts secure a draw and seal the Sobers-Tissera Trophy, while Shai Hope rose six places to No. 51 following his century. Fast bowler Asitha Fernando, who claimed the only five-wicket haul of the Test, advanced two places to No. 20 in the bowling rankings. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Zimbabwe's pace trio also reaped rewards for defending 141 successfully. Richard Ngarava improved one place to No. 19, Brad Evans jumped 17 spots to No. 111, while Blessing Muzarabani also climbed 17 places to No. 33 in the ODI bowling rankings. Article Source: IANS

'I was really angry': Lionel Messi reveals why he burst into tears after Argentina's dramatic World Cup win over Egypt

Lionel Messi revealed he burst into tears after Argentina's dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Egypt because he was angry with himself for missing a penalty earlier in the match.

Fergus O'Neill wouldn't be 'starstuck' if Ashes call-up arrived

The Victoria seamer now has 200 first-class wickets at under 20 after another successful spell with Nottinghamshire

WI Hand Maiden Senior Call-up To Teenage Sensation Vitel Lawes For NZ ODIs

Cricket West Indies: Cricket West Indies (CWI) has named 19-year-old wrist spinner Vitel Lawes in the squad for the opening three ODIs against New Zealand, to be played in Guyana and Barbados from July 11, handing the promising youngster his maiden senior international call-up. Lawes, who has been training with the senior squad since the pre-series camp ahead of the home assignment, earned his first selection after impressing at the ICC Under-19 World Cup earlier this year. The leg-spinner was named in the tournament's Team of the Tournament after claiming 10 wickets and bowling the highest number of dot balls during the competition. To aid his transition into international cricket, former West Indies spinner Nikita Miller has been added to the team management group for the Guyana leg of the series to provide specialist coaching support. Head coach Daren Sammy said Lawes' inclusion forms part of the team's long-term planning ahead of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in 2027. Every series we play from here on leading up to the 50-over World Cup, we view them as must-win scenarios. The matches against New Zealand provide the best opportunity for us to continue our improvement as an ODI unit while winning more matches for the people of the Caribbean, Sammy said in an official release. The inclusion of Vitel Lawes is strategic as we continue our long-term vision of exposing players who can complement the team in conditions that best suit their skill sets, he added. The squad is largely unchanged from the group that featured in the recent ODI series against Sri Lanka. Captain Shai Hope will continue to lead the side, while Keemo Paul has been recalled after all-rounder Shamar Springer made himself unavailable following the passing of his mother. Cricket West Indies extended its condolences to Springer and his family. Meanwhile, Shimron Hetmyer has been granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to fulfil his commitments in Major League Cricket and will miss the Guyana leg of the series. Captain Shai Hope will continue to lead the side, while Keemo Paul has been recalled after all-rounder Shamar Springer made himself unavailable following the passing of his mother. Cricket West Indies extended its condolences to Springer and his family. Also Read: Live Cricket Score West Indies squad (first three ODIs): Shai Hope (captain), Ackeem Auguste, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Vitel Lawes, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford and Jayden Seales. Article Source: IANS

Chase hopes Sri Lanka series win is 'a stepping stone' for West Indies in Tests

I've been trying for the last series and stuff but to go and actually lead from the front, it feels great, Roston Chase says after leading West Indies to series win over Sri Lanka

Melbourne Stars advertise for new WBBL head coach

Andy Christie will move into an assistant role while remaining head coach of Victoria in WNCL

'Thinking big' helps Greaves turn a corner with match-defining 180

I've seen a change from the last year and it's working, head coach Daren Sammy says of Justin Greaves, the Player of the Series in the 1-0 win over Sri Lanka

'It' Was An Abject Surrender': Kumble On India's Collapse Against England In 3rd T20I

New Delhi: Former India spinner Anil Kumble has labelled India's batting collapse against England in the third T20I an abject surrender by Men in Blue and stated it was not expected from a world champion side o cave in like that. England produced a clinical all-round performance to thrash Team India by 125 runs, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series after the opening game was washed out. The loss also marked the first time India have been defeated by a margin of over 100 runs in men's T20Is. Batting England piled up an imposing 201/7 in their 20 overs, riding on a fluent 70 off 44 balls from Phil Salt. In response, India crumbled under sustained pressure from Englands pace attack as the visitors were crumbled for 76 in 11.4 overs. It was an abject surrender by the Indian team. You don't expect a world champion side to cave in like that. England's bowlers were right on the money. Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue stuck to a clear plan. They bowled short, they bowled quick, and they kept the pressure on. Both were clocking over 145 kmph, making life difficult for the Indian batters, who couldn't free their arms or find any rhythm, Kumble said on JioStar. The Indian batters needed to show more patience and application, but everyone just tried to attack instead of absorbing the pressure. Yes, the required rate was over 10, but someone had to take responsibility and bat deep. Instead, they went the aggressive route and paid the price with a batting collapse. It was a disappointing surrender by the Indian batting line up, he added. Reflecting on how constant changes in the playing XI are hurting India, Kumble pointed out the fact that bowlers were keep changing and advised Shreyas Iyer to stick with his five bowlers, higliting that batters can scores runs but bowlers can win matches. The Indian team has made too many changes to their lineup and that needs to stop. The batting has stayed mostly the same. Yes, Sanju has been dropped and Vaibhav has come in, but other than that, it's almost the same. But the bowlers keep changing. Prasidh Krishna was dropped after one bad game against Ireland. Prince Yadav came in, bowled well, and picked three wickets in the second T20I, but India still lost that game. As a new captain, you need to stick with your five bowlers. Batters will score runs, but bowlers win you matches, he said. Reflecting on how constant changes in the playing XI are hurting India, Kumble pointed out the fact that bowlers were keep changing and advised Shreyas Iyer to stick with his five bowlers, higliting that batters can scores runs but bowlers can win matches. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Also, the decision of sending out Harshit Rana to bat ahead of a more complete batter like Shivam Dube was wrong. In T20 cricket, you put your best batters upfront. You can't expect a number eight guy to win you a game by sending him to bat ahead of a proven guy. That's not how things work in modern day cricket. Article Source: IANS

Takes A Little Time When You Reset: Gambhir Backs India After England Thrashing

T20 World Cup: India head coach Gautam Gambhir threw his weight behind the team's rebuilding process after England crushed the visitors by 125 runs in the third T20I at Trent Bridge, saying a reset in personnel was always likely to bring inconsistent performances. The defeat left India trailing 2-0 in the five-match series after the opening match was washed out, with England also inching closer to sealing the series with two games remaining. Backing his young squad despite the heavy loss on Tuesday, Gambhir pointed to the overhaul that has taken place since India's T20 World Cup triumph. If you see, there have been changes to this T20 team. When you go to reset your T20 side, then many times you get such performances. If you see the playing XI of the World Cup final and the one today, there are a lot of changes. Whether you take the captain, the opening batters... Hardik Pandya is not there, Jasprit Bumrah is not there. So when you go to reset again, it takes a little time, the head coach told reporters during the post-match press conference. India were bundled out for 76 while chasing 202, but Gambhir refused to read too much into a solitary poor outing. I think we just haven't played well. You don't become a bad team after four games. Sometimes, if the opposition plays better than you... sometimes you don't assess the conditions better, you don't read the conditions better. Reading the game is equally important as well. We haven't done that since Ireland, he added. The former India stalwart said the inexperience in the squad also needed to be factored into the assessment. A 15-year-old player is opening the batting, you have Prince Yadav who just played his second T20I. There's Harshit Rana who is just coming back from injury. It's very easy to say things but ultimately we see the results and no doubt, results are important in international cricket. But being practical is also very important. Many times you give time to the players to grow, to develop. But especially against such a team - England are a high-quality side - if you push players into such a deep sea, give them a little time and they will eventually develop. Because after a reset, things take time to get back to normal, he expressed. Gambhir also felt India failed to adapt to the conditions, particularly in assessing the breeze and the contrasting boundary dimensions, while urging the middle order to shoulder greater responsibility. Because sometimes, it's a small thing, but Breeze can play a huge part as well. Sometimes, one side, where the dimensions are much bigger than the other side, that is important as well. So these small, small things in a T20 game can make a huge difference. And sometimes what happens is when everyone in the batting line-up starts playing high risk, high reward, sometimes these things can happen. So probably, in the middle-order, the experienced guys who've played enough international cricket need to adapt and probably play according to the situation as well, he stated. Drawing parallels with India's successful T20 World Cup campaign, Gambhir said the current batting group lacked the stabilising role played by the middle order on that occasion. We did that during the World Cup as well. Our top three was firing and we wanted to get that high risk, high reward, but then we had 4 or 5 who were still able to build the innings and probably anchor it as well. That is something that we've lacked today and that's why we got the result. Again, I think it boils down to probably reading the game situation. I think that is something that we've lacked today, he mentioned. While acknowledging India's struggles against pace, Gambhir maintained that the team's attacking approach would remain intact, saying, I don't know what England is going to try and do, but we have got to keep getting better at playing pace. And more importantly, I thought that today was probably one of the off days, because if you see the last two T20Is, we have got 190 on the board in both. So sometimes when you play a high-risk kind of game, these things can happen. Responding to questions over Sanju Samson's absence, Gambhir said selection would continue to be based on form and team requirements. While acknowledging India's struggles against pace, Gambhir maintained that the team's attacking approach would remain intact, saying, I don't know what England is going to try and do, but we have got to keep getting better at playing pace. And more importantly, I thought that today was probably one of the off days, because if you see the last two T20Is, we have got 190 on the board in both. So sometimes when you play a high-risk kind of game, these things can happen. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He reiterated that performances would remain the sole criterion for selection. And more importantly, ultimately the international cricket is about results. So whatever we feel is the best combination to give us the results, we play that combination, we play that playing XI. And that is what I have always been a big believer that everyone needs to earn their place. Article Source: IANS

Gambhir says he has given Samson 'clarity' on omission

India's head coach felt their recent setbacks were indicative of the time that the T20I side needs given they are hitting reset after a dominant run

England vs India: All you need to know about the first ever Women's Test at Lord's

Lord's will host a Women's Test for the first time when England play India from July 10

NZC Confirm Casual Contracts For Allen, Ferguson, Milne & Seifert

ICC Cricket World Cups: White-ball specialists Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, and Tim Seifert have received casual playing agreements for the 2026-27 period, New Zealand Cricket said on Wednesday. Allen, Ferguson and Seifert were among those with casual deals for the previous year while fast bowler Milne has been added for the next 12 months starting August 1. The quartet, who are all contracted on casual playing agreements for the current period, will be available for white-ball series against India in October and November and two ICC Cricket World Cups on the horizon in late 2027 and 2028. It goes without saying the talent and match-winning abilities all four players possess and weve seen them do just that for the Black Caps on many occasions. Their skills are in demand around the world and we see that as a positive as theyre able to add to their experiences and bring those back to our environment, selector Gavin Larsen said. NZC said that the players remain part of the high performance system, receiving coaching, medical and mental skills support, alongside access to gym and cricket facilities. Seifert, who is currently playing for Seattle in Major League Cricket, said he was appreciative of receiving the casual contract. My passion and motivation to play for the Black Caps and represent our country remains as strong as ever. The casual contract allows the flexibility to play in some of the different leagues around the world, while still remaining part of the Black Caps programme. The upcoming India tour to New Zealand is going to be an amazing occasion, and Im certainly keen to be involved. With two ICC white-ball World Cups also on the horizon theres plenty of exciting cricket to look forward to, he said. Larsen confirmed the players were part of selection planning for the upcoming white-ball series against India in October and November. The upcoming India tour to New Zealand is going to be an amazing occasion, and Im certainly keen to be involved. With two ICC white-ball World Cups also on the horizon theres plenty of exciting cricket to look forward to, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score NZC further said of those casually contracted from the past year, Kane Williamson comes off the list following his international retirement, Devon Conway has returned to the central contract list announced in June, and Jimmy Neesham has shifted to a domestic contract with Auckland Cricket. Article Source: IANS

West Indies Seal First Home Test Series Win in Four Years After Draw Against Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Tour of West Indies 2026, 2nd Test: West Indies completed their first home Test series triumph for four years when the second and final match against Sri Lanka petered out into a tame, rain-affected draw on the last day at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Tuesday. Needing victory to square the series after a crushing innings loss in the first Test a week earlier at the same venue, the tourists declared their second innings at 251 for nine just after lunch, setting their hosts the daunting target of 302 in less than two sessions for a sweep of the two-match duel. However the West Indies' opening pair of John Campbell and Brandon King put together an unbroken opening stand of 89, interrupted first by a brief shower and by longer, sustained precipitation which extinguished any prospect of an outright result either way. Fulfilling the often bewildering and tedious formalities of the traditional game in situations like this, play resumed in late afternoon for 40 minutes of aimless cricket when the match was called off as a draw with the West Indies at 109 with loss. Both Campbell and King were unbeaten on 51 apiece. West Indies' last Test series win on home soil was a 2-0 hammering of Bangladesh in 2022 when comfortable victories were achieved at this venue and then at the Daren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia. Their last series victory over Sri Lanka was in 2003 at home when they prevailed 1-0 in a similar two-match contest. I think this is, by far, my greatest achievement as a West Indies player, said home captain Roston Chase before receiving the Sobers-Tissera Trophy, the symbol of Test supremacy between the two sides which was introduced for the series in Sri Lanka in 2015. Usually the bowlers do the hard work for the team but in this series the batsmen really stood out. Not just hundreds but big hundreds. I believe if the batting can keep clicking consistently, given the quality of our bowling, we can once again become a top Test-playing nation. - 'No X-factor' - Starting the final morning at 92 for two in their second innings, an overall lead of 142, the Sri Lankan overnight pair of Dinesh Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis made intentions clear from the outset. They looked for every opportunity to score to give captain Dhananjaya de Silva a realistic option of at least trying to declare to force a series-saving victory. This pitch hasn't been turning much and we don't have that X factor in our team, like someone bowling 140-145 kph, was de Silva's immediate observation on the timing of the push for victory on the last day. My focus in playing Test cricket is taking 20 wickets and we need to have the quality bowling to do such a job for us. Mendis fell to Jayden Seales for 44 while Chandimal continued to play his shots, the former captain getting to 71 off 107 balls with two sixes and four fours before he was next out, Kavem Hodge coming up with an excellent diving catch at backward-point off the bowling of Alzarri Joseph. Wickets fell at regular intervals thereafter with the Sri Lankans continuing to take chances in seeking to accelerate the scoring. As a result, all six bowlers used by West Indies captain Roston Chase, including himself and part-time spinner Hodge, were able to benefit from the risk-taking. Joseph had the best figures of two for 44. West Indies now shift focus to a five-match one-day international series against New Zealand after which they return to the Test format for back-to-back matches against Pakistan in Trinidad. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Having not played any Test cricket for a year before this assignment in the Caribbean, the Sri Lankans return home for two Tests against India in Galle and Colombo, beginning in five weeks' time.

Shreyas Iyer Slams India's Atrocious Performance After Record 125-Run T20I Defeat to England

Captain Shreyas Iyer described India's performance as 'atrocious and awful' after suffering a huge 125-run loss against England in the third T20I , which is their biggest T20I defeat by runs. England produced a clinical all-round performance to thrash Team India by 125 runs, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series after the opening game was washed out. The loss also marked the first time India have been defeated by a margin of over 100 runs in men's T20Is. I think it was atrocious. I couldn't use a better word, honestly, Iyer said at the post-match press conference. Losing by such a big margin is definitely not acceptable, First things first, I feel that we need to accept this loss and completely go back to the drawing board and see what we did wrong. Looking at the wicket, I don't think that it was a 200 wicket, first of all, to start with. But other than that, the way we batted, we lost four wickets in the power play. I think that itself didn't create a momentum and definitely I feel that we lost over there, Iyer said. Asked to bat first, England piled up an imposing 201/7 in their 20 overs, riding on a fluent 70 off 44 balls from Phil Salt. The opener struck aggressively at the top before Sam Currans late cameo of 41 off just 24 deliveries ensured the hosts crossed the 200-run mark. In reply, Indias batting crumbled under sustained pressure from Englands pace attack. Chasing 202, the visitors were bundled out for just 76 in 11.4 overs, suffering one of their heaviest defeats in T20I cricket. I think you can plan a lot once you're there in the team meeting. But once you come to the ground, you need to adapt as quickly as possible and try to figure out what lengths are important to bowl on a particular wicket. Like this today, the hard lengths were helping the bowlers pretty well. I think we didn't execute that much, said Iyer And even in our batting, I think when you're chasing 200, you need to pace up your innings. You need to have a set of pattern how you're going to go about that inning. So we fell a bit short in terms of that. So definitely execution was awful, he added. I think you can plan a lot once you're there in the team meeting. But once you come to the ground, you need to adapt as quickly as possible and try to figure out what lengths are important to bowl on a particular wicket. Like this today, the hard lengths were helping the bowlers pretty well. I think we didn't execute that much, said Iyer Also Read: Live Cricket Score We've played awful cricket for sure, but a lot of learnings from it as well. Players have to start thinking how to basically make an impact or create that momentum towards the team. So definitely every individual have to think by himself and see how they can win the matches and take that sort of responsibility, he conlcuded. Article Source: IANS

New Zealand confirm four players to hold casual contracts

While none of the quartet have featured recently in ODIs they could push for a spot at the 2027 World Cup

Vitel Lawes could make West Indies debut without professional game

The 19-year left-arm wristspinner has been included to face New Zealand in Guyana

CA confident Sheffield Shield injury subsitution rule right for international cricket

The ICC are expected to make a decision on subs at the end of the English season which is seeing another version trialed

More runs, longer games: CA eyes shift in Sheffield Shield

The men's domestic fixture for 2026-27 has been announced with more Shield matches at major Test venues