Cricket

BCCI To Review T20I Team's Performance After Series Loss To England: Saikia

The Indian T20I: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will conduct a detailed performance review of the mens T20I team immediately after the ongoing tour is over, said Secretary Devajit Saikia. The development came after India, the current Mens T20 World Cup holders, suffered a heavy nine-wicket defeat to England in Bristol on Thursday, handing the hosts a 3-0 unassailable lead in the five-match series. Speaking to IANS from Edinburgh, where the ICC Annual Conference is underway, Saikia acknowledged the mens T20I team's slump but remained confident of finding the solutions in the review meeting. The thing is very simple. The Indian T20I team is going through a bad phase in their games against England and Ireland before. So, we have to do a review once this series is over. Right now, a bad phase is going on in terms of the performance of the mens T20I team. So, we will have to look into what the problems they are facing, and we will definitely try to sort it out in a detailed review once the series is over. The review will happen immediately after the ODI series ends in England on July 19, Saikia said. In Bristol, barring skipper Shreyas Iyers unbeaten 80, rest of the Indian batting line-up fell quickly due to poor shot selection and were restricted to a below-par 158/7. In reply, England captain Harry Brook (79 not out) and Phil Salt (59 not out) completed the chase with six overs to spare. Since their return to international cricket, India have endured a nightmarish time in T20Is suffering a shocking, first-ever 2-0 series defeat to Ireland and now conceding the series to England, including a record 125-run defeat after being bundled out for just 76 in Nottingham. The problems have been aplenty for India their top-order and middle order have failed to click consistently and adjust themselves to playing on lively pitches. The bowling line-up minus Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah has been far from its best and the fielding has not been at its usual best. Since their return to international cricket, India have endured a nightmarish time in T20Is suffering a shocking, first-ever 2-0 series defeat to Ireland and now conceding the series to England, including a record 125-run defeat after being bundled out for just 76 in Nottingham. Also Read: Live Cricket Score It remains to be seen if the outcomes of the detailed review come into effect before India play a three-game T20I series against Zimbabwe, starting on July 23 in Harare. Article Source: IANS

Delighted To Witness Young Sporting Talent Play Cricket, Kabaddi At MCG: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his delight at witnessing young sporting talent in action at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), stressing that sports possess a unique ability to unite people across borders. PM Modi on Friday visited the MCG, accompanied by his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese and the Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan, for an event celebrating India-Australia sporting ties. Several Australian sporting legends, including Steve Waugh and Lisa Sthalekar, were present at the event. During the visit, the leaders interacted with young athletes participating in Kabbadi, Australian football and cricket exhibition games. Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi shared his experience, stating, Delighted to witness young sporting talent in action at the MCG. Watching children play cricket, Kabaddi and Australian rules football was a wonderful reminder that sport has a unique ability to connect people. The visit underscored the growing importance of sports, cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties as pillars of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The two leaders jointly released the India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap and welcomed the growing collaboration between India and Australia in the field of sports. India and Australia share a deep sporting bond. As both our nations prepare to host major global sporting events in the years ahead, there is immense potential to deepen cooperation in sports, youth engagement, infrastructure and talent development, he added. The visit underscored the growing importance of sports, cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties as pillars of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The two leaders jointly released the India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap and welcomed the growing collaboration between India and Australia in the field of sports. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He noted that India and Australia were together entering a significant decade in international sports, with India hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and Australia hosting the Brisbane Olympics in 2032. He emphasised that these developments create natural opportunities for closer bilateral cooperation in sports and associated industries. Article Source: IANS

Tromp, Fletcher and Russell lift LAKR to No. 3

Narine's 1 for 14 in four overs and Russell's two blows in an over restricted Washington Freedom

158 Wasn't The Perfect Total; We Fell Short Of Our Execution: Iyer

Skipper Shreyas Iyer: Skipper Shreyas Iyer admitted his side India once again fell short in execution across departments after England sealed the T20I series with a dominant nine-wicket victory. India once again endured a batting collapse before skipper Shreyas Iyer rescued the innings with a fighting 80 off 49 balls. But no other Indian batter managed to make a significant contribution as the visitors finished on 158/7 in 20 overs. 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 as England raced to 159/1 in just 13.5 overs, winning with 37 balls to spare. This is the first time England have beaten India in a bilateral T20I series of two or more games. India have won five of the previous six, while one ended in a draw. Indias last two defeats in a bilateral series against England (any format) had come on the 2018 tour (by 2-1 in ODIs and by 4-1 in Tests). Post then, until before the ongoing one, they had won eight out of 10, with the last two Test series in the country ending in draws (both 2-2). Again, it was a disappointing one. Definitely, 158 wasn't the perfect total on the board. And eventually we saw how quickly they chased down. When we came on to bowling, I just asked our bowlers to repeat the lengths as much as possible because top of middle-stump and leg-stump, it was very difficult to hit and score boundaries off that. So I think we fell a bit short in terms of our execution. And, yeah, we saw that when we were changing the pace, when we were trying something else, they scored off those loose balls, Iyer said after the match. 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. Reflecting on his own performance, Iyer said personal performances mattered little without a victory. Definitely happy with my performance, but see, if it's not on the winning cause, it just goes to the side. So disappointed on that aspect because whenever I play, I want to perform and see to it that my team wins. But unfortunately, today wasn't that day. Definitely look forward in the next game, he said. Iyer further said the Indian side is currently in transition phase and backed the players to learn from their mistakes. See, this is the transition phase and we will be making lot of mistakes. You see a lot of youngsters playing here in these conditions for the first time. So mistakes will definitely make them realize how important it is to adapt and have that awareness when you come in the overseas conditions, said Iyer. Reflecting on his own performance, Iyer said personal performances mattered little without a victory. Definitely happy with my performance, but see, if it's not on the winning cause, it just goes to the side. So disappointed on that aspect because whenever I play, I want to perform and see to it that my team wins. But unfortunately, today wasn't that day. Definitely look forward in the next game, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Before the ongoing season, India had won 11 of their last 12 bilateral T20I series, while the one in South Africa in December 2023 ended in a 1-1 draw. Article Source: IANS

Melbourne Renegades Leave Marvel Stadium, Relocate To New Home At MCG

Melbourne Cricket Club CEO Stuart: Melbourne Renegades men's team ended their 15-year association with Marvel Stadium and relocated to their new home Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the BBL club confirmed on Friday. The Renegades have played home games at Marvel Stadium since the Big Bash League's inception in 2011-12, a venue that played host to their BBL 8 Championship triumph. The BBL club now struck a new agreement with the Melbourne Cricket Club to relocate their marquee fixtures from KFC BBL 16 onwards. They will play three matches in total there in BBL|16, two as the home team, including their Melbourne derby, as well as one as the away team against rivals Melbourne Stars. It's understood the Renegades will play their two home games in Melbourne at Junction Oval this season, while they will also be part of the league's historic Chennai fixture in December. It means there will be no Big Bash matches in Geelong this season for the first time in five years. Melbourne Cricket Club CEO Stuart Fox said: The 2026/27 summer of cricket at the MCG will be bigger than ever before as we welcome the Melbourne Renegades to the beating heart of our city. The BBL is a fundamental part of our cricket schedule during the summer months. We look forward to supporting the Renegades across their marquee fixtures and providing fans with more opportunities to enjoy cricket matches at the MCG. For the playing group, the opportunity to play on cricket's biggest stage and in front of huge home crowds is one they can't wait to embrace. The MCG is one of the most iconic sporting venues in the world and every player loves the chance to walk out there, Captain Will Sutherland said. The atmosphere for last season's Derby was incredible and showed what Big Bash cricket can look like at the MCG. Knowing we'll have more opportunities to play in front of big crowds and create those moments with our fans is something the whole playing group is really looking forward to. We know its been a challenging off-season for our supporters but I know the players cant wait to pull on the red shirt and get out there in front our fans. The MCG is one of the most iconic sporting venues in the world and every player loves the chance to walk out there, Captain Will Sutherland said. The atmosphere for last season's Derby was incredible and showed what Big Bash cricket can look like at the MCG. Also Read: Live Cricket Score While this is the beginning of a new era, I also want to acknowledge and thank everyone at Marvel Stadium. The venue has been a huge part of the Renegades' DNA, providing our home for the past 15 years and hosting so many memorable moments. Its a world-class venue and will always hold a special place in the club's journey. Article Source: IANS

Harmanpreet Kaur Eyes Historic Lords Test as India Seek Redemption Against England

Harmanpreet Kaur believes the first women's Test at Lord's offers India the chance to end their tour of England on a high after the disappointment of a T20 World Cup group-stage exit at the 'Home of Cricket' a fortnight ago. India's six-wicket defeat by eventual champions Australia on June 28 ended the 50-over World Cup title-holders' dreams of holding both major limited-overs trophies at the same time. But it did leave them with 11 days to prepare before facing England in a four-day Test starting on Friday. After 150 men's Tests at Lord's dating back to 1884, this match marks another landmark for a rapidly evolving women's game, where leading nations such as England and India are now fully professional. This Test match is a very big deal for us, India captain Kaur told reporters at Lord's on Thursday. It will be very good for the team if we win it. Everyone at home is sad that we could not give our best at the T20 World Cup. We did well in some games but not overall. But at this Test match, we can make up for that. We can bring that confidence back. India have won three out of 15 Tests against England, and their opponents just one, with the other 11 drawn over a span of 40 years. - 'Not too late' - That demonstrates just how rare multi-day games are in women's cricket, with Kaur -- who will be playing just her eighth Test this week -- glad to be involved in a landmark fixture at the age of 37. Maybe it's late but not too late, said Kaur. Still I'm playing and still getting this opportunity to be part of this historic day so I'm really looking forward to this. The dynamic batter added: As a kid we always dream about playing Test matches, and playing at Lord's is one of the dreams. The Test takes place 50 years after the first women's international at Lords, when females were not allowed to be members of Marylebone Cricket Club, the owners of the celebrated London venue and were also denied access to the Long Room of the ground's iconic pavilion. But England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, confessed to mixed emotions as she and her team return to Lord's just five days after their crushing seven-wicket defeat by Australia in the World Cup final. It's something we, as cricketers, have probably hoped for, said Sciver-Brunt. I think we are pretty deserving of being here and we'll relish the opportunity. I'm sure the disappointment won't have left lots of people about what happened at the final, but we are looking forward to such a special week at Lord's, doing something we dreamt of as kids growing up. It's a great time to be a women's cricketer. England will also have the added incentive of trying to send Tammy Beaumont out with a win as she brings down the curtain on an international career that started in 2009. She's seen women's cricket through all of the changes we've had. Seventeen years playing the game for England is a huge achievement, said Sciver-Brunt. Also Read: Live Cricket Score She's scored a lot of runs for our team and we've relied on those runs a lot of times... I hope we can send her off with a great week here at Lord's.

Grimmond replaces injured Henry in West Indies squad for Ireland ODIs

The three-match series in Ireland is West Indies' third of the 2025-29 Women's Championship

PM Modi, Albanese Unveil Historic BBL Fixture; Chennai To Host Season Opener

Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Melbourne Renegades will play Perth Scorchers in Chennai in December to open the 2026-27 Big Bash League (BBL) season. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese unveiled the fixture during a joint visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday. The match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium scheduled for December 12 will be the first BBL fixture outside Australia and will launch the BBL 16 season. The Renegades will be the home team with the match to take place after the fourth day's play in the first Test against New Zealand in Perth. I am happy that a Big Bash League match will be hosted in Chennai, India. Hosting a match in India for any league guarantees a massive reach and viewership,' PM Modi said in his address. India and Australia have been involved in securing the fixture, which is partly funded by a grant from the Centre of Australia-India Relations to promote ties between the two countries. Chennai was chosen for the game by the BCCI and Australian Consul-General Silai Zaki because of the city's deep passion for cricket and its loyalty to the Chennai Super Kings, the most followed IPL team on social media. The BBL became the first foreign cricket league to take a game to India. The Scorchers, Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes played T20 matches in the country more than a decade ago in the now defunct Champions League tournament, while CA previously held a Sheffield Shield fixture in New Zealand, near Christchurch, when NSW drew with WA in 2016. Alistair Dobson, CA's general manager of Big Bash Leagues, said the opportunity to play in India reinforced the BBL's appeal as a global competition with support within and beyond Australia's borders. The BBL became the first foreign cricket league to take a game to India. The Scorchers, Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes played T20 matches in the country more than a decade ago in the now defunct Champions League tournament, while CA previously held a Sheffield Shield fixture in New Zealand, near Christchurch, when NSW drew with WA in 2016. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Australian networks will send commentary teams to Chennai and JioStar will broadcast the match to Indian viewers. Cricket Australia said that the league is aiming to sell out the 38,000-seat stadium for the season opener, with packages to be available for travelling fans. Article Source: IANS

Ben Currans Maiden ODI Century Powers Zimbabwe to Series-Sealing Win Over Bangladesh

Ben Curran struck a century as Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh by 13 runs in Harare on Thursday to take a winning 2-0 lead in a three-match one-day international series. An unbeaten 111 by opener Curran propelled the home side to 247 for six and the tourists were all out for 234 off the first ball of the penultimate over. Zimbabwe won the first ODI by 25 runs on Monday and the sides meet again on Saturday in a dead rubber. The teams then move to Bulawayo for a three-match Twenty20 series from July 15. Curran, a brother of England internationals Sam and Tom, became the seventh Zimbabwean to bat through an entire 300-ball ODI innings. His stay at the crease could have been much shorter if Towhid Hridoy had not fumbled an attempted catch at short cover with the Zimbabwean having made just four runs. With Zimbabwe 66 for four, Curran and unbeaten lower-order batter Brad Evans (58) put on 99 runs in a seventh-wicket partnershp that ultimately proved decisive. Curran has never struck a six in an ODI and that record remained. He did hit nine fours off 135 balls in an innings that became progressively bolder. Evans hit five sixes and two fours. Bangladesh lost two wickets for 38 runs before opener Tanzid Hasan (57) and middle-order Hridoy (60) combined for an 84-run third-wicket stand, lifting the visitors to 122-3. Needing 14 runs from their final two overs for victory with one wicket standing, Bangladeshi hopes were dashed when captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz (27) was caught by Evans near deep square leg. Brief scores Zimbabwe 247-6 in 50 overs (B. Curran 111 not out, B. Evans 58 not out; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 2-32, Taskin Ahmed 2-57) v Bangladesh 234-9 in 48.1 overs (Towhid Hridoy 60, Tanzid Hasan 57; R. Ngarava 3-55) Result: Zimbabwe won by 13 runs Series: Zimbabwe have winning 2-0 lead with one match to play Also Read: Live Cricket Score Toss: Bangladesh

Chennai locked in to host Renegades vs Scorchers BBL opener

CA said they had interest from most clubs in being part of the fixture, and hope to sell out MA Chidambaram Stadium

Melbourne Renegades BBL team leave Marvel Stadium after 15 years

The MCG will become their official home venue although it's understood they will host two games at Junction Oval

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

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

4th T20I: Shreyas Iyer's Fighting 80 Takes India To 158/7 Against Disciplined England

Skipper Shreyas Iyer: Skipper Shreyas Iyer played a lone hand with a counter-attacking 80 off 49 balls, but a disciplined England bowling performance restricted a stuttering Indian batting lineup to a below-par 158/7 in their must-win fourth T20I at the County Ground in Bristol on Thursday. Electing to bat first, India were rocked again by Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue, who started well again with the ball and used short balls to great effect. After that, the rest of the bowlers took over to keep India to two runs below 160, including not conceding boundaries in the last two overs. With Indias batters again falling to pull shots and not staying at the crease for long, Iyer stood up to lead the batting charge through his unbeaten knock, laced with four boundaries and five sixes. The sun-baked conditions at Bristol demanded precision with shot selection due to short straight boundaries and longer square boundaries. But India's strategy to explode in the powerplay backfired against the extra bounce extracted by the England pacers. Openers Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (15) and Abhishek Sharma (16) briefly took 15 runs from Josh Tongues opening over, but the recovery was short-lived. Jofra Archer (2-20) provided the initial breakthrough by dismissing young Sooryavanshi, who holed out to mid-on on a pull. Tongue (2-36) soon joined the party, utilising a short-ball plan to remove Ishan Kishan (4) via a top-edge. When spinner Adil Rashid claimed Abhishek caught and bowled in his very first over, India's left-handed top-order was back in the dugout with the scorecard reading a modest 48/3 in 6.4 overs. Captain Shreyas then anchored the innings alongside Shivam Dube (22). The duo stitched a 53-run partnership for the fourth wicket, pulling India past the 100-mark. However, England's bowlers maintained a tight leash on a spongy surface, keeping Dube's strike rate under check before Will Jacks broke the stand by having him caught at long-on. The introduction of Tilak Varma (11) didnt bring any momentum as he fell to Tongue's change of pace. Left with little support, Shreyas shifted gears spectacularly in the 18th over, dismantling Rashid for two massive sixes and a boundary in a 20-run over to get his fifty off 33 balls. Just when India looked poised for a late flourish, Sam Curran delivered a brilliant penultimate over, conceding a mere four runs. Archer then closed out the final over clinically, removing Washington Sundar (5) before executing a clever piece of football skill on his follow-through to run out Axar Patel (1), as England now need to chase down 159 for a series victory. The introduction of Tilak Varma (11) didnt bring any momentum as he fell to Tongue's change of pace. Left with little support, Shreyas shifted gears spectacularly in the 18th over, dismantling Rashid for two massive sixes and a boundary in a 20-run over to get his fifty off 33 balls. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India 158/7 in 20 overs (Shreyas Iyer 80 not out, Shivam Dube 22; Jofra Archer 2-20, Josh Tongue 2-36) against England 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: 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

India and England turn to whites as Lord's gears up for a historic first

It will be a quick turnaround for both sides after the T20 World Cup but with more than 30,000 tickets already sold, the occasion promises to be a landmark

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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.

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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

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

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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

Ben Curran bats through 50 overs for 111* as Zimbabwe post 247

Swift fifty from Evans at No. 8 also ensures hosts have a decent total to defend against Bangladesh

'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.

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

15 Captains in 20 Years: The Fascinating Story Behind India's T20I Captaincy Evolution

The journey of India's T20 International captains has now entered the Shreyas Iyer era. His tenure began with the first T20I against Ireland in Belfast with a twist of fate that, after his last T20I in December 2023, the next T20I he played in June 2026, saw him leading the team as a captain. Never in India had the T20 International captaincy been handed to a player who had been out of the team for such an extended period. Shreyas Iyer could not cap this memorable occasion with a memorable result that is another story. He is now India's 15th T20 International captain and appointed with the expectation that he is a solution to Indias search for a long-term and regular captain. The list of India's captains reveals that only four of the previous 14 were given the opportunity to helm the team for an extended period. Virender Sehwag was India's first T20 International captain and started with a victory (against South Africa in Johannesburg on December 1, 2006). Very soon, MS Dhoni, on the recommendation of Sachin Tendulkar to BCCI, took the charge and led India in 72 T20I between 2007 and 2016, recording 41 wins and 28 losses. He is remembered for: India won the 2007 T20 World Cup, holds the record for the longest tenure as an Indian T20 captain and was widely acclaimed for taking the right decisions under pressure and his empathetic approach to nurturing young talent. He built India's T20 culture. In his absence, Suresh Raina (3 matches in 201011) and Ajinkya Rahane (2 matches in 2015) captained on an interim basis. The next phase saw Virat Kohli at the helm between 2017 and 2021 and under him the team won 30 out of 50 matches and lost 16. Rohit Sharma would step in as captain during Virats absence and eventually succeed him as the next regular captain. After India's semi-final exits in the 2016 and 2021 T20 World Cups, there was a growing belief that the team needed a more aggressive batting philosophy. This eventually led to a leadership change, with Rohit Sharma taking over as the full-time T20I captain in late 2021. Between 2017 and 2024, he captained in 62 matches, winning 49 (most for India) and losing 12. He also led India to a T20 World Cup win, ending Team Indias drought of ICC trophies. He holds the record for the highest individual T20I score by an Indian captain121* against Afghanistan. In between, Shikhar Dhawan (3 matches in 2021) and Rishabh Pant (5 matches in 2022) served as stop-gap captains. Indias search for its next captain seemed to have ended with Hardik Pandya but fitness issues prevented him from fully meeting the requirements; he captained 16 matches across 202223, winning 10 and losing 5. From 2022 onwards, the BCCI frequently rested senior players during bilateral T20I series. As a result, several players got opportunities to captain. During this period, KL Rahul (1 match in 2022), Jasprit Bumrah (the only bowler to captain India in T20I- 2 matches in 2023), and Ruturaj Gaikwad (3 matches in 2023) captained. Ruturaj led India to a gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, the first captain to win an Asian Games gold. After India won the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20Is. That marked the beginning of a new era, and Suryakumar Yadav was entrusted with leading a younger side. Suryakumar Yadav led India from 2023 to 2026, winning 40 out of 52 matches and lost only 8. The biggest achievement under him was another T20 World Cup title. Meanwhile, the selectors also experimented with Shubman Gill in 2024, with a plan to see him captaining India across all three formats. He won four out of five matches, but this experiment was halted as his batting suffered. Shreyas Iyer is now captain, with the expectation that he will successfully shoulder this responsibility through to the 2028 Olympics. He couldnt register a win in the first five T20Is. The burning question at this moment: was the removal of Suryakumar Yadav (who was Player of the Series in the January T20I series against New Zealand this year) justified? It felt harsh to leave him out right after leading India to a T20 World Cup title and the disaster is in front of everyone. Also Read: Live Cricket Score From India's first T20I in 2006 until the end of 2016 (about 10 years), India had only four T20I captains. From 2017 onwards, the number increased sharply as workload management, injuries, rest policies and succession planning became integral to team management. This reflects not instability but a deliberate shift in strategy.

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

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

Lynn secures Northants' knock-out berth as Glamorgan are made to wait

Impressive century proves too much for hosts as Harrison cleans up with three wickets

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

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

Imran Khwaja's role as Associate director on ICC board ends

The senior Singapore cricket administrator lost elections for the position on Tuesday

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

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

Huge Honour To Be Inducted Into ICC Hall Of Fame, Says Sourav Ganguly

The International Cricket Council: On the day he turns 54, former Indi captain Sourav Ganguly expressed his deep gratitude on being named as the latest inductee into the prestigious ICC Hall of Fame, describing it as a huge honour to be in the list alongside some of the most amazing names in the game. Ganguly, currently heading the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), is set to become the 12th Indian overall and the 10th Indian men's cricketer to receive this ultimate cricketing recognition. Thank you ICC and Chairman Jay shah @JayShah for inducting me in the hall of fame .. its a huge honour ..One of the 10 Indians to be inducted in the hall of fame ever .. Amazing to be a part of some great names .. @bcci, Ganguly posted on his X account on Thursday. One of the finest ODI batters ever, Ganguly amassed 11,363 runs in 311 ODIs with 22 centuries and also picked 132 wickets, alongside making 7,212 runs in 113 Tests. After his playing days were over, Ganguly served as BCCI President, especially through the Covid-19 pandemic. He is also the head coach of Pretoria Capitals in SA20, apart from being the Director of Cricket at Delhi Capitals in IPL and WPL. Affectionately known as the 'God of the off-side', Ganguly took the captaincy of the Indian team in 2000 during a tumultuous match-fixing crisis and completely transformed its identity. One of the finest ODI batters ever, Ganguly amassed 11,363 runs in 311 ODIs with 22 centuries and also picked 132 wickets, alongside making 7,212 runs in 113 Tests. After his playing days were over, Ganguly served as BCCI President, especially through the Covid-19 pandemic. He is also the head coach of Pretoria Capitals in SA20, apart from being the Director of Cricket at Delhi Capitals in IPL and WPL. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The International Cricket Council (ICC) is expected to make the formal announcement on July 11 at the conclusion of its annual conference in Edinburgh. Previous Indians inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame are Bishan Singh Bedi (2009), Sunil Gavaskar (2009), Kapil Dev (2010), Anil Kumble (2015), Rahul Dravid (2018), Sachin Tendulkar (2019), Vinoo Mankad (2021), Diana Edulji (2023), Virender Sehwag (2023), Neetu David (2024) and MS Dhoni (2025). 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 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

Massive Upset In ICC Elections As Imran Khwaja Loses Board Seat; Palani, Usmani, Van Vuuren Elected (Ld)

Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja: In a major shake-up in global cricket administration, long-serving International Cricket Council (ICC) Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja suffered a shock defeat in the Associate Member Directors' elections held during 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 Dr. Rudie van Vuuren secured 26 votes each to claim the three available spots on the all-powerful 17-member ICC Board. Khwaja, a veteran cricket administrator from Singapore, finished a close fourth with 23 votes, while Malaysia's Mahinda Vallipuram managed to get only 19 votes. The ICC confirmed the development in an official statement, noting that the three elected Directors will each serve a two-year term on the ICC Board. While Palani and Van Vuuren enter the apex board for the first time, Usmani successfully retained his position. Palanis election to the all-important ICC Board will trigger another administrative change. The result will require an election for Gurumurthy Palanis position on the Chief Executives Committee as he is unable to hold both positions, the ICC stated. Congratulating the newly elected members, ICC Chairman Jay Shah said, I congratulate Gurumurthy Palani, Mubashshir Usmani and Dr Rudie van Vuuren on their election as Associate Member Directors to the ICC Board. Associate Members play a vital role in the continued growth and global expansion of our sport, and I look forward to working closely with them as we build on the strong progress being made across all regions. Shah also acknowledged the contributions of the outgoing veterans. I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to Imran Khwaja and Mahinda Vallipuram for their dedication and service to Associate cricket. Their contribution to the ICC and to the development of the global game over many years has been significant and deeply valued. Together, we remain committed to strengthening opportunities for all Members and ensuring cricket continues to grow in every corner of the world, he added. The defeat of Khwaja, a lawyer by profession, truly marks the end of an era. He had previously served as the interim ICC Chairman in 2020 and functioned as Deputy Chair under multiple chiefs, including N Srinivasan, Greg Barclay, and Shah. He was also hailed as a saviour for anchoring crucial back-door negotiations between the PCB and the BCCI to ensure the smooth conduct of the high-stakes Mens T20 World Cup clash in Colombo. The defeat of Khwaja, a lawyer by profession, truly marks the end of an era. He had previously served as the interim ICC Chairman in 2020 and functioned as Deputy Chair under multiple chiefs, including N Srinivasan, Greg Barclay, and Shah. Also Read: Live Cricket Score One of the three newly elected Associate Directors is expected to be chosen for the role before the four-day conclave concludes on July 11. The high-profile meetings were preceded by the delegates assembling at Lord's to witness Australia clinch their seventh global crown in the final of the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup. Article Source: IANS

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

'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

Former SA ODI Captain Johan Botha Appointed Consultant Of Netherlands Mens Team

ICC Cricket World Cup League: Former South Africa ODI captain Johan Botha has been appointed as a consultant to the Netherlands men's cricket team for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 (CWCL2) matches against Namibia and Nepal later this month. The matches are scheduled to be played at Kampong in Utrecht, starting on July 21. Botha, 44, represented South Africa in 78 ODIs and 40 T20Is, including captaining them in ten 50-over games. He joins the Dutch setup immediately after resigning from his dual roles as head coach of Australian domestic side Queensland Bulls and Big Bash League (BBL) franchise Brisbane Heat, despite having a year left on his contract. I really look forward to joining the Netherlands team in this important period in the World Cup League 2 against Namibia and Nepal. Having tracked their progress over the past few years, it will be great to work with the players, coaches, and staff, Botha said in a statement on Wednesday. Welcoming the appointment, KNCB (Dutch Cricket Board) High Performance Board Member Sybrand Engelbrecht praised Botha's extensive global coaching credentials. Were very pleased to have Johan on board. He is an extremely experienced coach, with stints at the PSL, CPL, MLC, Big Bash and Queensland cricket, he said. I really look forward to joining the Netherlands team in this important period in the World Cup League 2 against Namibia and Nepal. Having tracked their progress over the past few years, it will be great to work with the players, coaches, and staff, Botha said in a statement on Wednesday. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The Netherlands squad for the CWCL2 matches will be announced shortly after July 9. They will play their first match against Nepal on July 23, before taking on Namibia on July 25. Netherlands will also take on Nepal and Namibia in the reverse fixtures on July 29 and 31 respectively. 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

Best Birthday Gift Ever: Sourav Ganguly On Biopics First-look Poster

The Sourav Ganguly Story: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday described the unveiling of the first-look poster of his biopic, Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story, on his 54th birthday as the best birthday gift ever. The film, starring National Award-winning actor Rajkummar Rao, is set to release in theatres on May 14 next year. Sharing his reaction after the poster launch, Ganguly said the occasion had made his birthday even more special. Birthdays are always special and unveiling the first look of my biopic Dada The Sourav Ganguly Story today makes this one even more memorable. It is indeed the best birthday gift ever, he expressed. The former skipper said the artwork transported him back to one of the defining moments of his cricket career while expressing confidence in Rajkummar Rao's portrayal of his journey. The poster brings back a highly cherished moment from my cricketing journey. Rajkummar has approached the role with great sincerity and commitment, he added. Extending his wishes to the makers, Ganguly hoped audiences would turn out in large numbers when the biographical drama arrives in cinemas next year. I wish him and the entire team my very best and I hope fans enjoy the movie on the big screen on 14th May 2027, he stated. The first-look poster, unveiled by Rajkummar Rao on Ganguly's birthday, recreates one of the most iconic celebrations in Indian cricket history. The actor is seen standing shirtless on the Lord's balcony, reliving Ganguly's unforgettable shirt-waving celebration after India's dramatic victory in the 2002 NatWest Trophy final, with a giant Indian tricolour forming the backdrop. Extending his wishes to the makers, Ganguly hoped audiences would turn out in large numbers when the biographical drama arrives in cinemas next year. I wish him and the entire team my very best and I hope fans enjoy the movie on the big screen on 14th May 2027, he stated. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Under Ganguly's captaincy, India also shared the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy title with Sri Lanka, reached the final of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup, and lifted the NatWest Trophy in 2002, the triumph immortalised by his celebration at Lord's that now serves as the centrepiece of the film's first-look poster. Article Source: IANS