Cricket

Womens Cricket Needs More Tests, Multi-match Series Like Mens Ashes, Says Sneh Rana

Sneh Rana: Currently, the women's international cricket calendar remains heavily skewed toward T20Is and ODIs due to commercial incentives. But riding high on India's historic 270-run Test triumph over England at Lords, premier off-spin bowling all-rounder Sneh Rana has strongly advocated for more women's Test matches to be played, citing how the men's Ashes is a multi-game red-ball series, to help the format grow globally. In an exclusive conversation with IANS, Sneh spoke about her preparation for the series, bowling plans in the match, post-game celebrations at Lords, having more red-ball womens cricket, and more. Excerpts:- Q. How was your preparation for the historic Test match after landing in England? A. When I joined the team for the first time and when we went for the first practice session, so yes, we were playing with Dukes for the first time. I myself experienced that ball for the first time, and it felt a little heavy, and I could feel its seam. At Lords, the ball tends to bounce a lot. So, later, when we had 2-3 practice sessions, I got to know about the grip and how firmly you have to hold it. So, I did all those things in practice. Finally, when I practised at Lords, I saw how the pitch was, how the red ball would behave. I figured all that and thought we could get a little turn at Lords - so that was a plus point. Q. Can you talk us through how you consciously adjusted to the conditions to get that extra bounce and turn? A. The endeavour was that the more revolutions you put on the ball, the more fingers you put on the ball, the more turns you would get. You had to put effort into every ball because whatever ball we release from above, which is called topspin, you had to put your finger on it, too. If we were letting go of the ball like this, then it was coming off the bat easily, too. So, I mean, it was a batting-friendly pitch, and it was also good for bowling. So, that's it - we had to put a little extra effort into the Duke's ball. But eventually, the result came in our favour. So, that's a good thing. Q. That dismissal of Nat Sciver-Brunt and then finally of Sophie Ecclestone in the second innings what was the planning behind it? A. Yes, the planning was very simple in the Test match. I don't do a lot of experiments, and I focus on my line and length only. I believe in myself because the more patiently you bowl in the Test match, the more success you will get. So, the plan was very simple. An lbw, yes, it was left to her. But the second ball was also as per the same plan - that she had to play a drive. But she went for a sweep, and I got that bat and pad gap, and maybe that's why the result was in my favour. See, obviously it was the revs because before that, I was making her (Ecclestone) play on the up. So, she was hitting drives easily. But I delivered that ball a little behind. So, maybe she made a little mistake in reading the length, and again, it became a bat and pad gap because I was getting a very good turn there, too. There were a lot of balls that could have gone between the bat and the pad. It hit the pad while I got a couple of wickets just like that. Q. Talk a bit about the post-game celebrations because Tendulkar sir was shaking hands with everyone, and after lifting the trophy, you went towards the fans. What did it feel like? A. Yes, when we won the match, Sachin sir, Jay Shah sir, Devajit Saikia sir, everyone was standing outside, and they came to give us their wishes. After meeting them, we went to the fans because one is nothing without their support, and they came in huge numbers to support us. It didn't feel like a test match was going on. They were chanting a lot and motivated us so much. Because it is a very long format, you sometimes get tired of standing inside. You don't understand what is going on and what is not clicking because it is a very long format. But they were boosting and motivating us so much. They were telling us so nicely Come on, India. So, they were giving us different chants, and it was very nice to hear. That's why we went to them and said thank you to them. Fans have a different space in an athlete's life because we are nothing without them. If there is their support, then maybe women's cricket will go further. It was a very happy thing that so many people came to see the Test match. I think the highest attendance at Lord's was 37,000-plus (37,846 fans, also a new world record for womens Test attendance) for a Test match, and I think this is a very big victory for women's cricket. Q. There used to be a time when female spectators were not allowed to join the MCC or be at the Lords pavilion till 1999. Now that this first-ever Womens Test has happened, how significant has this moment been from a cultural perspective? A. See, this match is a really big victory because the former cricketers of England, who also came there, were also given the Guard of Honour before the match started, and it was very nice to see. Earlier, when there was an entry ban for women, in that long room, where people yearn to sit and watch, women were not even allowed to come there. Today, every woman athlete comes from there to the field, and everyone claps for them. So, I think there is nothing bigger than this. It is also a very emotional moment when you stand on that balcony and when you walk from that long room to the field. It is a very special feeling. I think it is a very big victory for women's cricket and for England cricket as well, for what they have done. Maybe their former cricketers must have struggled a lot at that time, and today, we are getting a chance to play there. So, thanks to them also. Q. A word on acknowledging the past legends of Indian cricket who have paved the way for this big moment to become a reality? A. Absolutely, we should acknowledge them because they are the people who have laid the foundation, and they have seen that struggle. Maybe because of them, athletes like us have been able to play here now. It is very important to give them that recognition because at that time, there were not so many facilities and not so much media coverage. So, no one knows who has done what. But finally, today, when we see them on the ground or see their stats, we feel very proud. Q. How deeply do you feel this specific Lords Test will shift the needle in organising more womens Test matches globally? A. I always say this - that more Test matches should be there for womens cricket because it is a very good format. Test matches only test you as an athlete, and it is a special format. It is fun to play in the whites. Like the men's Ashes series, there are five Test matches - so, I feel, in the future, it should be done for women's cricket too, as soon as possible. It is good for us too, as we will also play a series. But it should be done for Test matches. Q. Right now, women's Test cricket is still restricted to rare, one-off matches, with the calendar heavily favouring T20s and ODIs. Given the financial incentives tied to shorter formats, how can a young girl growing up today practically harbour the ambition of becoming a great Test cricketer? What would you tell her? A. The more they watch Test cricket, and the more updates they take on it, maybe their interest will increase. Like BCCI took a very good step - they brought back three-day cricket in the domestic circuit. So that is a very good step because the experience you will get from there to play days cricket, maybe it will be used here because it is a very long format, and for that you need a lot of endurance and patience when you play at that level. You will get experience in handling and playing a four-day Test match in phases. The more Test matches you play, the more experience you will get from playing them. So all the youngsters who are coming and who think that we want to play Test cricket, maybe for them too, it will become a ladder to be a part of it. Q. Theres been a notion that many Indian players having prior red-ball playing experience have been helpful in the victory at Lords. Whats your take on it? A. See, it makes a difference. When you play days of cricket, and how your body adapts to the situation, it helps. A Test match has always been a game of phases, and you can go for batting anytime, as you have to bat for a long time. You also have to do continuous overs. So your mind gets ready accordingly. Also, BCCI has brought red-ball cricket back for women, and that was a very good step. There is also this advantage because we also know what to do in which phase. If you have to take out wickets, then how can you take them out patiently - how can you put the same ball again and again at the same place? So for tuning into it mentally, you become strong anyway - that patience you are putting into the same ball in the same area. So that patience is taught by Test cricket, and it helps somewhere. Q. With your performance in this Test (four wickets in the second innings, six in the match), you now have four four-wicket hauls in just 10 Test innings - putting you on par with Neetu David and trailing only Shubhangi Kulkarni and Jhulan Goswami in Indian women's Test history. What is it about red-ball cricket that brings out the absolute best in you? A. I always say this - Test cricket has always been my favourite format because I have a lot of patience. So I patiently keep putting the ball in the same place, and the batter keeps getting frustrated. I keep putting my line and length right, my top spin, and those revolutions, and I just focus on that. Q. With your performance in this Test (four wickets in the second innings, six in the match), you now have four four-wicket hauls in just 10 Test innings - putting you on par with Neetu David and trailing only Shubhangi Kulkarni and Jhulan Goswami in Indian women's Test history. What is it about red-ball cricket that brings out the absolute best in you? Also Read: Live Cricket Score So there is experience, and I think it helps somewhere. It feels good to play Test cricket. When you are talking about performances, I think it happens with practice. There is not much in it. It is also God's grace that I get wickets. Article Source: IANS

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Test Win At Lords Will Always Be Special, We Manifested Creating History, Says Sneh Rana

ODI World Cup: Indias off-spin bowling all-rounder Sneh Rana has revealed that the historic 270-run victory over England in the first-ever women's Test match at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground was the culmination of deep manifestation and visualisation of creating history long before the team even set foot on the hallowed turf. It took 142 years for Lords to host its first-ever Womens Test match, and the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side registered themselves as winners of the historic game at the iconic venue. The mammoth and very special victory also marked Indias second-highest win by runs in womens Tests and the fourth biggest victory overall in the longer format, apart from maintaining their clean slate in red-ball games in England. If I tell you personally, since the time we came to know that the Lord would host the Test match, and it is the first time Test cricket would be played there, our manifestation started from there. Like what to do and for visualisation, we used to think of going there and would say that if we win, India's name will come here and it will remain forever and become history. So all this was going on in the dressing room before the match, and finally, when that moment came, it was a very special feeling, and I just want all our players to keep writing their names on the honours board and create more history, Sneh told IANS in an exclusive conversation after coming back home. Quizzed on the moments from the victory which will stay in her mind forever, a not-so-jet-lagged Sneh stated two moments: the walk from the long room to singing the national anthem on day one, and sealing the victory in one and a half hours on the fourth day. The first thing that will always be there in mind will be when we wore the Test whites and were going from the Long Room to Lords, and everybody was clapping. When the national anthem started, we wore the whites, and we could see the Lord's in front, including the iconic balcony. Standing on that ground and you are singing the national anthem while wearing the whites - I think that is the most special memory. Second, of course, is winning the Test match, as that has become a part of history, and India's name has come to be there. So this will be very special. The belief that a famous victory at Lords was further fuelled by head coach Amol Muzumdar, who urged the players to seize their opportunity of a lifetime. Yes, absolutely. When we were in the dressing room, Amol Sir was saying that history would be made because it was the first Test. After this, there will be Test matches or other women's matches. But this will always be special, and the name of India will always be there. So, play by just thinking that history is going to be made, and you have to create history, as it is a very good opportunity. He also said that there is a very special chance to write your name on this board, and the names of very special people come there. There are very few players whose names are on this honours board. For the first time, one of you will be writing someone's name there, which no one can erase. It will be imprinted in history. I mean, as long as cricket is played at Lord's, it will remain a board. So, it will remain your name. It was a very good motivation for us, and so, this talk was going on for the Lords Test. Recalling the exact moment she castled Sophie Ecclestone to seal a very special victory for India and end with 4-42 in the second innings, Sneh said, We were waiting for the last wicket for a very long time. Like, when will the wicket come, and when will we celebrate? Finally, when I took that wicket, it was a very, very good feeling. You represent India, and when you pick such important wickets, it obviously makes us very happy. But everyone had the same thought because it was the first Test at Lords. After so many years, the first women's Test took place, and it is now in history - India and England played, and India won the Test match. So, it will always be a special feeling, she said. The historic Test saw young pacer Kranti Gaud claim a five-wicket haul and wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia score a spectacular century as both etched their names on the iconic honours board at Lords. Speaking about Kranti, who is now the first pacer to pick a five-wicket haul in a womens Test at Lords, Sneh highlighted how the younger crop of players are extremely self-aware. I would like to say about Kranti that she is a young talent. It's good that we don't have to tell youngsters much these days because they are already so experienced from playing so much cricket. So, they know what to do when and at which stage. Sneh was involved in Kranti picking Sophie Ecclestone as her fifth wicket, and though she spilt the chance, a diving Shafali Verma managed to grab it. As you said, I had a hand in it too, and I was thanking Shafali that she finally caught that catch because I missed it. It came in very fast because the batter slashed it, and there was a little judgment error in the slip from it. But thanks to Shafali, she covered it on my behalf, and it was her fifth wicket. So, she will always remember it, I will always remember it, and Shafali will also remember it because that came in a different way. Sneh further revealed about being visibly emotional when speaking about Yastika getting a landmark century, the first by a batter in womens Tests at Lords, especially after overcoming an ACL injury picked up just before last years victorious ODI World Cup win. For Yastika, I would like to say that she is very hardworking. Since she debuted, we have been with her. I have been watching her since then. So, she has polished herself very well in both batting and keeping. I have seen her growth in the last 3-4 years. Obviously, I felt a little bad when she got injured just before the World Cup last year. But this time, all of us were in the dressing room. The support staff was also there. So, they were saying that the name of any batter should come with a hundred. Amol sir always says that a batter should have a hundred. So, finally, when it came from Yastika's bat, we also got emotional because her past year was a little injury-prone. She was also emotional. All of us sitting outside were also emotional because when you do the hard work and when you get the result of it, that happiness just hits you differently. When a person fights with her injury, struggles, and emerges from it, then the fruit she gets, that taste of it becomes very different, and who can know about this better than me? Her coming out of the injury phase and going to the Lords Honours Board is a very big deal. We were happy when the names of the youngsters were being written on the Honours Board. So, we were getting goosebumps, and it was very nice that, for the first time, the Women's Test was held at Lords and the names of two Indian players were written on that board, which will always be there. So, we were very happy to see that. She was also emotional. All of us sitting outside were also emotional because when you do the hard work and when you get the result of it, that happiness just hits you differently. When a person fights with her injury, struggles, and emerges from it, then the fruit she gets, that taste of it becomes very different, and who can know about this better than me? Her coming out of the injury phase and going to the Lords Honours Board is a very big deal. Also Read: Live Cricket Score So, when we saw him on that ground, in the Home of Cricket, we were very happy to see him. When he came, he told us that I have come here to cheer for you, and I have come to enjoy the match because after many years, the first womens Test was taking place, and this was the victory of women's cricket. So, I have only come to enjoy it. He had said one line - Just stay hungry and humble. I liked that very much, and he just gave us these good wishes, concluded Sneh. Article Source: IANS

Ashwin wants to see Kuldeep given 'better treatment'

Ashwin says Kuldeep is a 'match winner' and his skill set will be crucial during the 2027 ODI World Cup

Indian teenager Arnav Paparkar causes a flutter in the tennis world

With a clinical 6-2, 6-1 demolition of Japans Ryo Tabata in the boys round of 16, the 18-year-old stormed into the Wimbledon quarterfinals and became the first Indian since the legendary Leander Paes in 1990 to achieve the feat

Saikia To Head ICC Governance Committee, Mauritius Inducted As 111th Member At Annual Conference

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia: BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia has been appointed as the Chair of the newly-constituted Governance Review Committee of the International Cricket Council (ICC), while Mauritius was formally inducted as the global body's 111th member during the recent Annual Conference in Edinburgh. In a significant administrative development, the ICC said its Board approved the establishment of two key board sub-committees to oversee crucial sectors of the global game. The Governance Review Committee will be headed by Saikia, with Dr. Mohammed Moosajee (Cricket South Africa) and Dr. Ros Rivaz (ICC Independent Director) serving as the other members. Additionally, the ICC has established a Franchise Leagues Committee, which will be chaired by the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) President and former mens captain Tamim Iqbal. This panel also includes Saikia, Dr Rudie van Vuuren (Cricket Namibia), Richard Gould (England and Wales Cricket Board), and Todd Greenberg (Cricket Australia). Meanwhile, in a major boost to cricket's global footprint, the ICC approved Mauritius's admission as its 111th member, marking another important step in the game's continued global growth. The addition of Mauritius reflects the ICC's commitment to expanding cricket's reach, strengthening its presence in emerging markets, and creating greater opportunities for participation and development across the world, said the ICC in its statement. In another key financial decision, the Board approved a USD 12.82 million loan to Cricket West Indies (CWI) to support the member board's operations. The ICC Board also addressed critical administrative and compliance matters concerning several member nations. Regarding Sri Lanka Cricket, the ICC noted progress toward a revised Constitution but reiterated the need for elections to be held at the earliest. It further ruled that SLC will continue to be barred from representation at ICC Board meetings for the time being. As of now, SLC is being run by a nine-member transformation committee after the government sacked the boards previous office bearers. In another key financial decision, the Board approved a USD 12.82 million loan to Cricket West Indies (CWI) to support the member board's operations. The ICC Board also addressed critical administrative and compliance matters concerning several member nations. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The governing body also formally recognised the appointment of Iqbal, who won the BCB President elections earlier this year, as the member's Full Member Director, while agreeing to place France Cricket 'On Notice' following breaches of its mandatory Membership Criteria. Article Source: IANS

Stuart Broad Says England Need Extra ODI Seamer After India Defeat

Stuart Broad believes England must add an extra fast bowler to their attack if they are to be competitive at next year's 50-over World Cup in southern Africa. Three days on from on leapfrogging India at the top of the T20 world rankings, England's poor form in one-day international cricket continued with a decisive six-wicket loss to the top-ranked 50-over side at Edgbaston on Tuesday. England have now lost 14 of their last 20 ODIs and are a lowly eighth in the rankings, below Afghanistan. England are eighth in the world rankings and are playing like they are eighth, former England fast bowler Broad told Sky Sports. They need to get more experience into the roles of the players. England captain Harry Brook had five spin options in his side at Birmingham but just three seamers, meaning he had to use the bulk of express quick Jofra Archer's overs early in India's innings. But an extra seamer might have meant Liam Dawson missing out, with the veteran Hampshire all-rounder's 68 - his maiden ODI fifty -- and Joe Root's unbeaten 76 not out reviving England after they had collapsed to 80-5. Both Root and Dawson have played plenty of domestic 50-over cricket -- something difficult for younger team-mates who are often playing in a Hundred competition that clashes with the English game's One-Day Cup. Root and Dawson's partnership of 121 enabled England to set India a target of 259 for victory. That proved too little, but only after India had recovered from losing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the space of six balls. India captain Shubman Gill's superb 80 from 75 balls before retiring hurt did much of the damage after Archer and Josh Tongue -- the only two outright fast bowlers in the attack -- bowled 13 of the first 16 overs between them. And Broad says more firepower is needed to ease the load on Archer, Tongue and leg-spinner Adil Rashid. After defeat at Edgbaston, there might be a shift in mindset towards playing another seamer, said Broad. Looking ahead to the next World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, it's going to be the faster, taller bowlers who do the damage there. Taking 10 wickets in an ODI, particularly through that middle period, is difficult. I look at Archer -- he's a natural wicket-taker, the best white-ball bowler we have. Tongue can take wickets. Rashid can take wickets. But I feel England need one more fast bowler to back up that group. Sam Curran is a very good cricketer, but he's not a first-change seam bowler. England need someone to come through in the middle overs, bowl bouncers and seamers, and take the outside edge, so they don't have to go to Archer all the time. Could that be Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson or Saqib Mahmood? England need to start trialling that now. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The second ODI of three between England and India takes place in Cardiff on Thursday.

Kuldeep Yadav Is A Match-winner, Deserves More Backing From Team Management, Says Ashwin

ODI World Cup: Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has strongly questioned the team management's handling of Kuldeep Yadav and has urged them to give the left-arm wrist spinner more opportunities in the lead-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup. In the six-wicket win over England at Edgbaston, India picked finger-spin bowling all-rounders Axar Patel and Washington Sundar ahead of Kuldeep. In this Indian team, I will say this again. Both finger-spinning all-rounders will not fit into the combination for the 2027 World Cup. Whenever Kuldeeps place is made, and Harshit Rana is fit and firing, Harshit Rana becomes the third seamer. Then it opens up a slot for Kuldeep. Kuldeep should get more backing. In that World Cup, Kuldeep Yadavs bowling was very important. He is a match-winning spinner. He can bowl in any phase. He has a good record in South Africa, said Ashwin on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat. Expressing further disappointment over how Kuldeep has been managed, Ashwin also said the need of the hour is to build Kuldeeps confidence. This management hasnt backed Kuldeep enough. They should back him more because he is a match-winner. If he has to get into the 2027 World Cup with the right mindset, they should keep giving him chances. He should be given a lot more confidence. I would love for India to play Kuldeep Yadav as the frontline spinner. With injuries to Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Hardik Pandya, India has been auditioning Shivam Dube as a seam-bowling all-rounder. However, Ashwin cautioned against looking at Dube as a primary option for the 50-over format. If Shivam Dube is a serious contender for the 2027 ODI World Cup, I think we are in a little bit of a spot of bother. My first-choice all-rounder will always be Hardik. Second choice, Nitish Kumar Reddy. Whatever Shivam Dube did, I liked it. If Hardik is injured and Nitish is injured, then India should go to Shivam Dube. I liked the way they utilised him. He bowled six overs, which I really liked. He has bowled reasonably well. But he should be the last-choice all-rounder for ODI cricket, he added. Ashwin further lauded skipper Shubman Gill's recent batting exploits and captaincy credentials, as he top-scored with 80 before retiring hurt due to cramps and had his bowling changes mostly spot-on. A players confidence comes from where? He makes runs and finds himself in good places. And how does he bat? He has been batting phenomenally well. In the IPL as well. In the T20 squad, he hasnt found a place yet. I will not be tempted. Forget all that. But the way he is batting in T20, and the way he has captained the Gujarat Titans, and the way he has captained the Test team, I am really positive and hopeful of an authoritative captain in the 50-over format. The way he has captained and batted, I am very hopeful. Because India needs authority in the next generation of captains. Shubman Gills batting has a lot of quality. He will handle it somehow. He has got a great journey ahead of him. There is no need to talk about overseas conditions in a white-ball format because Shubman Gill is not a spring chicken. He has played a lot of international cricket. He has been on tours of Australia, South Africa and England. He did great batting in the Test series, he elaborated. I will not be tempted. Forget all that. But the way he is batting in T20, and the way he has captained the Gujarat Titans, and the way he has captained the Test team, I am really positive and hopeful of an authoritative captain in the 50-over format. The way he has captained and batted, I am very hopeful. Because India needs authority in the next generation of captains. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He can be a real champion bowler for India. Not only in this format. He can bowl red-ball cricket. Highly impressive. Great future ahead. I hope we can look after him very well without injuries because he can serve Indian cricket for a long time. Article Source: IANS

ENG vs IND 2nd ODI Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XIs

ENG vs IND 2nd ODI , Cricket Tips :The change in format brought the change in fortunes for Team India. They suffered consecutive series clean sweeps in T20Is and have now managed to start the three-match ODI series with a win. India beat England in the first ODI in Birmingham by six wickets. Axar Patel won Man of the Match for his 4/62 and an unbeaten 57 off 52. Captain Shubman Gill also struck a fluent 80 off 75 balls, while Washington Sundar scored an unbeaten 52 and ended the chase with a six. England were guilty of making the wrong decision at the toss. Then, they lost six wickets for 36 runs. They will look to bounce back in the second game, which will start at 5:30 PM IST on Thursday at Sophia Gardens. ENG vs IND: Match Details Date : July 16, 2026 (Thursday) Time : 5:30 PM IST Venue : Sophia Gardens, Cardiff ENG vs IND: Live Streaming Details The live action will be televised on Star Sports Networks in India. Fans can also catch the live stream of the game on the Jio Hotstar app or website. ENG vs IND: Head-to-Head in ODIs Total Matches : 111 India : 62 England : 44 No-result : 05 ENG vs IND: Ground Pitch Report Sophia Gardens offers batting-friendly conditions. Though fast bowlers will have enough assistance with the new ball, over time, the conditions are expected to settle down. That is why the chasing team has won 66 percent of ODIs at this venue. This is an afternoon game, and spinners will also have a key role in the middle. ENG vs IND: Possible XIs England : Jacob Bethell, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue India : Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Gurnoor Brar, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna ENG vs IND: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Joe Root and Shubman Gill entered this series with good form and showed it in Birmingham. Surely, they will be key wickets for the opposition. Probable Best Bowler Jasprit Bumrah brings a lot to the Indian bowling unit, and his presence is valuable to make an impact. For England, Jofra Archer will have the key role of knocking down a few wickets in the powerplay. Today Match Prediction : England struggled with the bat, and their ultra-aggressive batting approach might not work here. Hence, we predict India to win the second game in Cardiff. ENG vs IND Match 2nd ODI, 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.

Men's ODI WC To Have Three-stage Format, 'Super 10' With Eliminators In T20 WC Revamp

The International Cricket Council: The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board has announced a comprehensive structural overhaul of its major men's events, which include introducing a three-stage format for the 14-team ODI World Cup and expanding the second stage of the T20 World Cup to a 'Super 10' format along with eliminators. The decisions were finalized during the ICC's Annual Conference in Edinburgh, following recommendations from the Chief Executives Committee (CEC), with the governing body saying its an objective to create more meaningful contests, elevate competitive standards, and enhance the experience for athletes and fans. While the ICC Mens Cricket World Cup will continue to feature 14 teams, the tournament format will shift away from the traditional format. Instead, it will feature a three-stage competition leading to the finals. The lower-ranked three teams (Teams 12, 13, and 14) will initially square off in the round one named Super Series, with only the top team progressing to the main stage. Round 2 will consist of 12 teams split into two groups of six teams playing 30 matches. The top three teams from each group, along with the next highest-placed team across both groups, will advance to a newly minted seven-team round-robin stage called 'Super 7' (worth 21 matches). The top four teams from the Super 7 stage will qualify for the semi-finals. The structure has been designed to strengthen the competitive narrative across every stage of the event, with matches from Round 1 and Round 2 carrying higher consequence with a highly competitive Super 7 stage witnessing 7 qualifying teams going through a round-robin stage to qualify for the semi-finals. The increased consequence and enhanced competitive intensity promises to enhance the overall experience for fans while continuing to provide emerging teams with the opportunity to compete on cricket's biggest stage, said the ICC. Meanwhile, encouraged by the performance of emerging nations in the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup edition, the ICC has decided to expand the second stage of the 20-team event from eight to ten teams. The opening group stage will now feature five groups of four teams each (30 matches total), a shift from the previous format of four groups of five teams. The top two teams from each group will advance to the 'Super 10' stage, which will comprise two groups of five teams. In a significant tweak to the knockout path, only the top team from each Super 10 group will directly qualify for the semi-finals. The teams finishing second and third in their respective groups will face off in cross-over 'Eliminators' to secure the remaining two semi-final spots. This promises to expand the representation of crickets emerging nations in the Super 10 stage while also delivering higher competitive standards. The addition of eliminators where the 2nd and 3rd ranked teams from groups in the Super 10 stage compete against each other for spots in the semi-finals also then adds significant consequence to the closing matches of the Super 10 stage, added the ICC. The ICC Board also charted the roadmap for other teams to qualify for the 2028 T20 World Cup cycle. Notably, Scotland has been granted a direct entry into the Europe Regional Final, bypassing earlier stages due to the exceptional circumstances surrounding their participation in the 2026 event where they came as a late replacement for Bangladesh. Teams from the 2026 tournament that failed to earn automatic qualification will move directly to the Global Qualifier. They will be joined by eight teams emerging from regional qualifiers: two each from Africa, Asia, and Europe, and one each from the Americas and the East Asia-Pacific regions. The ICC Board also charted the roadmap for other teams to qualify for the 2028 T20 World Cup cycle. Notably, Scotland has been granted a direct entry into the Europe Regional Final, bypassing earlier stages due to the exceptional circumstances surrounding their participation in the 2026 event where they came as a late replacement for Bangladesh. Also Read: Live Cricket Score While the format has been endorsed by the ICC Board upon the recommendations of the Development and Chief Executives Committees, the final stamp of approval for the marquee roadmap will be given after a review by the Finance & Commercial Affairs committee during the November meetings. Article Source: IANS

Ben Stokes Returns For Durham After England Retirement, Set For First One-day Appearance In 12 Years

South Northumberland Cricket Club: Former England captain Ben Stokes is set to make his competitive return to cricket when he turns out for Durham against Derbyshire in the opening round of the One-Day Cup, marking his first appearance since retiring from international cricket last month. The 35-year-old all-rounder, who surprised everyone with his retirement from international cricket during England's third Test against New Zealand, will return to domestic one-day cricket on the same day the new version of The Hundred starts. Stokes missed the second Test against New Zealand while an investigation took place into an incident at a London nightclub. During that time away from the England team, he played for Durham in the County Championship against Northamptonshire. He later admitted that this experience reignited his love for the game. Being back at Durham, when I wasn't playing in the second Test, I found a new lease of life for the game, but unfortunately I just couldn't get that feeling back, Stokes said in a quote from BBC Sport. I'm very excited about the next part of what I get to do. Going back to play for my boyhood club Durham, I'm comparing this week to that weekright now I am buzzing. But there have been moments this week that have been really tough. It just adds to everything and makes it clear that I've made the right decision, he added. After his One-Day Cup return, Stokes could play again for Durham in the County Championship before the season ends. His comeback lines up with the start of a new era for The Hundred, which is the first season since all eight franchises were sold to investors for around 520 million. This brought new branding, team identities, and higher player salaries. Stokes chose not to enter the player auction and had already agreed to represent Durham in the One-Day Cup before announcing his retirement from England duties. Depending on Durham's schedule, one of England's top cricket stars could be seen playing at smaller county venues. Home games are set for South Northumberland Cricket Club in Gosforth and Darlington CC, while an away match against Yorkshire will take place at York CC. His comeback lines up with the start of a new era for The Hundred, which is the first season since all eight franchises were sold to investors for around 520 million. This brought new branding, team identities, and higher player salaries. Stokes chose not to enter the player auction and had already agreed to represent Durham in the One-Day Cup before announcing his retirement from England duties. Also Read: Live Cricket Score His last 50-over appearance for Durham was in their winning 2014 One-Day Cup final against Warwickshire. Earlier that tournament, a then 23-year-old Stokes scored 164 in the semi-final against Nottinghamshire. His last domestic one-day match came while he was representing Canterbury in New Zealand in 2017, during the time he missed England's Ashes tour after the Bristol nightclub incident. Article Source: IANS

ENG Vs IND: When And Where To Watch 2nd ODI, Know All Details

Sony Sports Network: India will look to seal the ODI series when they take on England in the second match at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Thursday after taking a 1-0 lead with an impressive six-wicket victory in Birmingham. The opening game showcased India's depth, with different players stepping up at crucial moments. Axar Patel produced a match-winning all-round display, claiming four wickets before guiding the chase with an unbeaten 57. Washington Sundar followed with his maiden ODI fifty, while captain Shubman Gill's fluent 80 provided the platform before he retired hurt with cramps. Gill's fitness will remain under the spotlight heading into the second ODI, although the skipper has already dismissed fears of a serious injury by confirming that dehydration caused the problem. His availability would be a major boost for India, particularly after his composed leadership and batting display in the series opener. India may still weigh up changes depending on conditions. Sophia Gardens has often assisted seam bowling, making Arshdeep Singh a possible option if the team opts for additional pace. However, the management is unlikely to make sweeping changes after such a convincing performance, especially with Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Jasprit Bumrah all making significant contributions in Birmingham. Another area of interest will be Rohit Sharma's form. The experienced opener has yet to produce a major score in the series and will be eager to make a stronger impact alongside Gill at the top of the order. England, meanwhile, have little room for error. Harry Brook's side must win in Cardiff to keep the series alive after another disappointing batting effort saw them surrender control despite fighting back through Joe Root and Liam Dawson. The hosts have received timely reinforcement with the return of fast bowler Brydon Carse, whose inclusion adds experience to the bowling attack. A victory for India would secure the series with one match to spare, while England need a response on home soil to force the contest into a deciding third ODI at Lord's. With contrasting objectives and the series hanging in the balance, Cardiff is set to host a pivotal encounter. When: Thursday, July 16, 5:30 PM IST Where: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff Where to watch: The England-India ODI series will be telecast on the Sony Sports Network and streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website Squads: Where to watch: The England-India ODI series will be telecast on the Sony Sports Network and streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website Also Read: Live Cricket Score India: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vc), KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav Article Source: IANS

England Must Look To Try Extra Fast Bowler Ahead Of ODI World Cup, Says Stuart Broad

ODI World Cup: Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad has urged the national team to immediately start playing an extra fast seamer to build necessary pace and depth ahead of the next ODI World Cup, warning that their 50-over flaws have been thoroughly exposed in their first ODI defeat to India. Broad's comments came after India registered a comprehensive six-wicket victory over England at Edgbaston to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The defeat leaves Harry Brooks side languishing at eighth spot in the ODI rankings. Though England recovered from a precarious 80/5 to post 258, courtesy of Joe Root's unbeaten 76 and Liam Dawson's maiden ODI half-century, the target proved to be insufficient as Shubman Gill's masterful 80 along with fifties from Axar Patel and Washington Sundar took the visitors home. It didnt help England that they were playing only Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue as their fast bowling options. England are eighth in the world rankings and are playing like they are eighth. They need to get more experience into the roles of the players. After defeat at Edgbaston, there might be a shift in mindset towards playing another seamer, Broad said to Sky Sports on Wednesday. He also believes England must address their lack of seam-bowling options on an urgent basis, especially with the next ODI World Cup scheduled to be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Looking ahead to the next World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, it's going to be the faster, taller bowlers who do the damage there. Given the make-up and balance of this side, with Rashid, Liam Dawson and Will Jacks, along with the part-time spin options of Jacob Bethell and Joe Root, I'd be leaning towards playing an extra seamer instead of one of the spinners because it gives that bowler experience and exposure to match situations. Now, ahead of the second ODI to be played at Cardiff on Thursday, Broad further pointed out that relying too heavily on Archer to deliver breakthroughs is unsustainable and called for a more balanced bowling attack that can take wickets during the middle overs. Looking ahead to the next World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, it's going to be the faster, taller bowlers who do the damage there. Given the make-up and balance of this side, with Rashid, Liam Dawson and Will Jacks, along with the part-time spin options of Jacob Bethell and Joe Root, I'd be leaning towards playing an extra seamer instead of one of the spinners because it gives that bowler experience and exposure to match situations. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Sam Curran is a very good cricketer, but he's not a first-change seam bowler. England need someone to come through in the middle overs, bowl bouncers and seamers, and take the outside edge, so they don't have to go to Archer all the time. Could that be Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson or Saqib Mahmood? England need to start trialling that now, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

FIFA World Cup 2026: Spain becomes title favourites with impressive win over France

Spain booked their place in the title clash with a commanding 2-0 victory over France

Jonathan Trott joins Ireland as consultant amid England links

Reportedly in the shortlist to take over as England's Test coach, Trott will work with Ireland for their upcoming series against Afghanistan

2nd ODI: India Eye Series Triumph As England Seek Revival In Cardiff (Preview)

Sony Sports Network: India have the opportunity to wrap up the three-match ODI series when they face England in the second match at Sophia Gardens on Thursday, with confidence running high after a commanding victory in the opener. England, meanwhile, find themselves under pressure to produce an immediate response or risk surrendering the series before the teams head to Lord's for the finale. The visitors struck first at Edgbaston through a complete team performance. Axar Patel starred with both disciplines, dismantling England's lower order with four wickets before returning to anchor the chase with an unbeaten half-century. Washington Sundar complemented him perfectly with his maiden ODI fifty, while captain Shubman Gill produced another assured innings at the top before retiring hurt after making 80. The only concern for India emerging from Birmingham surrounded Gill's physical condition. The skipper was forced off the field late in his innings after suffering severe cramps, but he later clarified that dehydration and the demanding conditions were responsible and insisted he would be available for the Cardiff fixture. His presence is particularly significant, given the authority he has shown as both an opener and a captain in recent months. India's management may still spend time discussing combinations despite taking a series lead. Sophia Gardens has traditionally rewarded seam bowlers with bounce and movement, potentially opening the door for left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh. Gurnoor Brar justified his selection by removing Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell in a decisive spell, but the extra experience Arshdeep offers could become a factor if the team decides to tailor its attack to local conditions. Such a move would also likely leave Kuldeep Yadav waiting for another opportunity. The batting order presents a different talking point. While Gill, Virat Kohli and the middle order contributed meaningfully in the first ODI, Rohit Sharma continues to search for a defining innings. The veteran opener has remained statistically consistent over the past year but has not converted starts into the sort of match-winning knocks expected of one of India's senior-most players. With younger options pushing for opportunities, another substantial contribution would help reaffirm his place at the top. There were encouraging signs elsewhere. Jasprit Bumrah looked increasingly close to his best on his return to ODI cricket, while Axar and Sundar underlined the value of India's all-round depth by influencing the game in multiple facets. England, on the other hand, must address issues that surfaced in Birmingham. A middle-order rescue led by Joe Root and Liam Dawson prevented a much smaller total, but the collapse that preceded it exposed recurring frailties against disciplined bowling. The hosts will also demand greater support for Root with the bat after their top order failed to capitalise on a promising start. There is positive news for Harry Brook's side with fast bowler Brydon Carse returning to the squad after recovering from injury. His inclusion strengthens England's pace resources ahead of a must-win contest and offers another option on a surface that could assist fast bowlers. History at Sophia Gardens also provides England with encouragement. Cardiff has generally been one of their stronger ODI venues, and another positive record there could prove important as they attempt to avoid another series defeat. With India carrying momentum and England desperate to keep the contest alive, the second ODI presents contrasting motivations. One victory would secure the series for the visitors, while anything less would send the battle to a winner-takes-all decider at Lord's. When: Thursday, July 16, 5:30 PM IST Where: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff Where to watch: The England-India ODI series will be telecast on the Sony Sports Network and streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website Squads: Where to watch: The England-India ODI series will be telecast on the Sony Sports Network and streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website Also Read: Live Cricket Score India: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vc), KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav Article Source: IANS

Harry Brook Upbeat About England ODI Form Amid Test Captaincy Uncertainty

Harry Brook was adamant England's white-ball cricket was heading in the right direction after another chastening one-day international loss saw India enjoy a six-wicket success at Edgbaston on Tuesday. But England's limited-overs captain was rather more reserved when asked about the possibility of succeeding Ben Stokes as Test skipper, saying that was a matter for the incoming red-ball head coach. England came into this campaign following a 4-0 T20 clean sweep of India. But Tuesday's reverse means England have now lost 14 of their last 20 ODIs -- a worrying statistic ahead of next year's 50-over World Cup in southern Africa. Brook 27, has previously made clear he would have no qualms about leading England in all three international formats if called upon. But that was before Brendon McCullum was sacked as Test coach following a run of seven defeats in his last nine Tests, including a dire 4-1 Ashes series loss in Australia and a 2-1 reverse at home to his native New Zealand that ended in the international retirement of key all-rounder Stokes. McCullum, a former New Zealand captain, remains in charge of England's white ball-teams. - 'Awesome' McCullum - Gifted batsman Brook, speaking for the first time since McCullum's exit from the Test set-up was made public, told a post-match press conference at Edgbaston: It was obviously disappointing for me. Brendon has played a massive part in my career. I've only ever played under him and hes been awesome for me. The things that he did for the Test side when he first came in, and in the last few years, have been phenomenal. He is going to be missed. Brook added: It's not up to me to make that (captaincy) decision. Whatever decision they make, I'll be fully behind them. Its up to them to decide who they want and I'm enjoying my role as white-ball captain at the minute. I think we're heading in the right direction. What will be will be. Former England captain Nasser Hussain is among those calling for Andy Flower, who oversaw three Ashes series wins and took the team to number one in the Test rankings during his time as England coach from 2009-14, to succeed McCullum as England's red ball boss. Jonathan Trott has also been touted for the role following plaudits for his work coaching Afghanistan, with the former England batsman appointed Tuesday to a short-term consultancy role with Ireland. Brook's immediate focus remains on levelling this three-match series in Cardiff on Thursday in the hope Sunday's clash at Lord's becomes a 'live' decider. But if England are to get to 1-1 at Sophia Gardens they will need an improved display from their top order following a collapse from 61-0 to 80-5 in Birmingham. There was a poor period when we lost five for 20 runs, which obviously made a massive difference in the game really, said Brook, who insisted all was far from lost for England in this format. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The World Cup is a long way away, he said. Hopefully we can come back stronger in Cardiff.

Bumrah's Inputs Helped Me Adapt To English Conditions: Gurnoor

Both Gautam Sir: India left-arm pacer Gurnoor Brar credited senior fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah for helping him adapt to English conditions after the youngster produced a crucial opening spell in India's six-wicket victory over England in the first ODI at Edgbaston on Tuesday. Gurnoor struck twice in the same over to remove England openers Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell, triggering a collapse that saw the hosts slump from 61 without loss to 80/5. England eventually recovered to 258 through Joe Root's unbeaten 76 and Liam Dawson's 68, but India chased down the target in 45.2 overs thanks to Shubman Gill's 80 before retirement hurt and an unbeaten 102-run fifth-wicket stand between Axar Patel (57 not out) and Washington Sundar (52 not out). Reflecting on his performance, Gurnoor said Bumrah's guidance during the training sessions before the match played a significant role in his success. I had heard that it was a lot of fun to play cricket in England, so I experienced it today, and it felt very good. During the two practice days, Jasprit bhai was bowling, and I asked him how to bowl on these wickets, how the ball behaves here, how the English batters attack, and what areas I should bowl in. He gave me a lot of inputs, which helped me a lot, Gurnoor said in a video released by BCCI on X. The 25-year-old added that head coach Gautam Gambhir and bowling coach Morne Morkel also encouraged him to trust his strengths and stick to his natural game. Both Gautam Sir and Morne Sir told me that what I had done in the Afghanistan series and what comes naturally to me was to keep repeating my lengths and stay consistent. I wasn't thinking too much. I just backed myself and challenged the batters. Gurnoor also revealed that he closely observed Bumrah during practice to understand how to succeed in English conditions. I was standing at mid-on while they were bowling and watching how they approached their spells, how the batters played them and how consistent they were with their line and length. They kept telling me ball by ball what I could do, so I just tried to keep hitting those areas. Gurnoor also revealed that he closely observed Bumrah during practice to understand how to succeed in English conditions. Also Read: Live Cricket Score As soon as the ball went in the air, I thought it would go for six. But it was a brilliant catch. It's very difficult on the boundary because you don't know where to keep your feet. He judged it really well and caught it. I want to thank Bumrah for that second wicket. Article Source: IANS

1st ODI: 'We Kept Talking About Rotating Strike,' Says Axar On Match-winning Stand With Sundar

Match Axar Patel: Player of the Match Axar Patel revealed that constant communication and a focus on rotating the strike with Washington Sundar were the keys behind India's match-winning unbeaten partnership that sealed a six-wicket victory over England in the opening ODI at Edgbaston on Tuesday. After Axar's four-wicket haul helped bowl England out for 258, India found themselves under brief pressure in the chase after losing Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul in quick succession despite Shubman Gill's fluent 80 before retiring hurt with cramps. Axar then joined Washington Sundar at the crease, and the duo stitched together an unbeaten 102-run stand for the fifth wicket to guide India home with 28 balls to spare and hand the visitors a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Axar remained unbeaten on 57, while Sundar struck his maiden ODI half-century with an unbeaten 52, finishing the match with a towering six. Reflecting on the partnership, Axar said the pair never looked to target any particular bowler and instead concentrated on building a partnership through sensible cricket. At that time, there was a little pressure. Washi and I were talking that we should play the next five overs, build a partnership and then see if we needed to attack. We kept telling each other to keep playing, keep rotating the strike and not get stuck at one place, he said in a video released by BCCI on X. The all-rounder added that frequent singles and doubles allowed the partnership to flourish before both batters shifted gears. We were thinking that we should just keep playing. We didn't think that you target one bowler and I target another. On a wicket like this, once you are set, it becomes very important to finish the game. We wanted to take it till the end, and once we were set, we played our shots. The partnership developed from there and we won, he added. Earlier, Axar produced a decisive spell with the ball, claiming 4-62, including the final four wickets, after England had recovered through a 121-run stand between Joe Root (76 not out) and Liam Dawson (68). Explaining his bowling approach, the left-arm spinner said he quickly identified the nature of the surface and stuck to hitting the right areas. Earlier, Axar produced a decisive spell with the ball, claiming 4-62, including the final four wickets, after England had recovered through a 121-run stand between Joe Root (76 not out) and Liam Dawson (68). Also Read: Live Cricket Score India will now head to Cardiff for the second ODI, looking to clinch the three-match series after taking a commanding 1-0 lead. Article Source: IANS

'Things McCullum Did For The Test Side Were Phenomenal': Brook

With Ben Stokes: England white-ball captain Harry Brook has paid an emotional tribute to Brendon McCullum following the New Zealanders departure as Englands Test head coach, describing his influence on the team and his own career as 'phenomenal'. McCullum stepped down from the role after Englands recent Test series defeat, bringing an end to a transformative spell that began in 2022. Alongside then-captain Ben Stokes, McCullum oversaw the aggressive Bazball era that revitalised Englands Test side, but a string of disappointing results ultimately led to his exit. Brook, who made his Test breakthrough under McCullum, admitted the news was difficult to take. It was obviously disappointing for me. I think hes played a massive part in my career. Ive only ever played under him, and hes been awesome for me, Brook told reporters after Englands six-wicket defeat to India in the opening ODI at Edgbaston. The 27-year-old credited McCullum for changing the fortunes of Englands Test side during his tenure. The things that he did for the Test side when he first came in, in the last few years, have been phenomenal. Hes going to be missed, Brook said. With Ben Stokes having retired from Test cricket in the New Zealand series, Brook has emerged as one of the leading contenders to take over the vacant captaincy. However, the middle order batter refused to be drawn into the discussion, insisting the decision rests entirely with the England and Wales Cricket Board. The 27-year-old credited McCullum for changing the fortunes of Englands Test side during his tenure. The things that he did for the Test side when he first came in, in the last few years, have been phenomenal. Hes going to be missed, Brook said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brook is currently leading Englands white-ball side against India in the three-match ODI series, with the visitors taking a 1-0 lead after a six-wicket victory in the opening match at Edgbaston. Article Source: IANS

Sundar Feels 'blessed' To Be An Allrounder

Washington Sundar: India all-rounder Washington Sundar said he felt blessed being an all-rounder and added that his ability to contribute in multiple departments is one of the biggest advantages he can offer the team after playing a key role in India's six-wicket victory over England in the opening ODI at Edgbaston. He also opined that the presence of several all-rounders gives the side greater flexibility across conditions. Sundar struck an unbeaten 52, his maiden ODI half-century, and shared an unbroken 102-run fifth-wicket partnership with Axar Patel to guide India to 262/4 after Axar had earlier claimed 4-62 to help bowl England out for 258. The victory handed India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Reflecting on the value of all-rounders in modern-day cricket, Sundar said the role allows teams to remain adaptable regardless of the conditions. Such a blessing for me to be an all-rounder. Any team would love to have as many all-rounders as possible, because you can play according to the conditions and it's always nice to have different varieties. You'll never think you're short in options, especially going in any conditions. We play a lot of cricket around the world, so the conditions are quite different. And yes, it was a good day today for all of us. Shivam bowled really well. Axar picked those crucial wickets and made sure they didn't get to 280 or 290. And obviously, the way he batted was magical. It was great for me to watch from the other end, Sundar said during the post-match press conference. India's all-rounders proved decisive in Birmingham. While Axar dismantled England's lower order before anchoring the chase, Sundar complemented him with a composed unbeaten fifty after India briefly found themselves under pressure following KL Rahul's dismissal. Asked whether India's bowlers had effectively won the game in the first innings, Sundar felt the chase was still demanding because of the assistance available for the seamers, crediting both captain Shubman Gill and Axar Patel for judging the conditions well. There was definitely a little bit on the wicket. And Shubman batted really well, even that partnership was very, very important. Obviously, Axar, the way he played, he got those crucial boundaries every time he needed. And made things actually look very easy. It wasn't that easy as he actually made it look like. But yes, there was a little bit on the wicket. And we applied really well, and I'm happy to have won this game, he added. The 26-year-old also reserved special praise for fast bowler Gurnoor Brar, who recovered from an expensive opening spell to dismiss England openers Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell in the same over, triggering a dramatic collapse. There was definitely a little bit on the wicket. And Shubman batted really well, even that partnership was very, very important. Obviously, Axar, the way he played, he got those crucial boundaries every time he needed. And made things actually look very easy. It wasn't that easy as he actually made it look like. But yes, there was a little bit on the wicket. And we applied really well, and I'm happy to have won this game, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With India's all-rounders delivering with both bat and ball in the series opener, Sundar's performance underlined the depth and balance that the visitors will look to carry into the second ODI as they chase a series-clinching win. Article Source: IANS

'The Pitch Changed A Little, And Made India's Chase Easy,' Says Brook After Loss In 1st ODI

ODI World Cup: England captain Harry Brook felt the pitch became easier to bat on in the second innings after his side suffered a six-wicket defeat to India in the opening ODI at Edgbaston but admitted that his teams middle-order collapse ultimately proved decisive. After opting to bat first, England slumped from 61 without loss to 80/5 after losing five wickets for just 20 runs. A fighting 121-run stand between Joe Root (76 not out) and Liam Dawson (68) lifted the hosts to 258 before Axar Patel claimed the last four wickets to finish with figures of 4-62. India chased down the target in 45.2 overs through Shubman Gills fluent 80 before he retired hurt, while Axar Patel (57 not out) and Washington Sundar (52 not out) shared an unbroken 102-run partnership to seal victory and give the visitors a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Reflecting on the defeat, Brook believed the surface behaved differently in the chase. Today, there was a poor period when we lost five for 20 runs, which has obviously made a massive difference in the game, really. I think the pitch changed a little bit from the first innings to the second innings, which made it easier for them to chase down what we thought at the halfway line was a decent score, Brook told reporters after the match. The England skipper acknowledged that the batting collapse hurt his side more than anything else, despite Root and Dawson rescuing the innings. Their partnership was vital. I thought they played it perfectly for the situation. Very risk-free, didnt really hit the ball in the air much, and got us up to what we thought was a total that we could defend, he added. Looking ahead, Brook insisted England would continue building towards the 2027 ODI World Cup while focusing on improving in the ongoing series. Obviously, the focus, the 2027 World Cup, comes into view quite heavily. There are always areas you want to get better at in any format. The World Cups a long way away, and hopefully we can come back stronger in Cardiff, he said. Brook also welcomed the return of all-rounder Brydon Carse to the squad, saying the all-round seamer adds aggression and balance ahead of the remaining two ODIs. Obviously, the focus, the 2027 World Cup, comes into view quite heavily. There are always areas you want to get better at in any format. The World Cups a long way away, and hopefully we can come back stronger in Cardiff, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The second ODI of the three-match series will be played in Cardiff on Thursday, where England will look to level the contest after Indias convincing victory at Edgbaston. Article Source: IANS

India Need Not Make Changes If Gurnoor And Gill Are Fit, Says Irfan Ahead Of 2nd ODI

New Delhi: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes India should resist making unnecessary changes for the second ODI against England after their convincing series-opening victory at Edgbaston, saying the team's priority should be maintaining momentum while monitoring the fitness of Shubman Gill and Gurnoor Brar. India claimed a six-wicket win in Birmingham to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with Axar Patel starring with both bat and ball and captain Shubman Gill laying the foundation during the chase before retiring hurt with cramps. Fast bowler Gurnoor Brar also picked up two key wickets after appearing to struggle physically during the match. Looking ahead to the next fixture, Pathan said India have little reason to alter a winning combination, while England face the bigger challenge of regrouping after the defeat. The main thing is to maintain this momentum. It's good that you won, so there isn't much you need to change. Anyway, it's just a day's break. England will have to work very hard. They will have to manage the short turnaround and come back with better planning. So, there are more challenges for them than for India, Pathan told JioStar. India recovered from the early losses of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the chase of 259, with Gill's 80, followed by an unbeaten century partnership between Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, sealing victory with 28 balls to spare. While backing continuity, Pathan identified fitness as the only area that could influence India's selection for the second ODI. For the Indian team, my main concern would be how serious Gurnoor Brar's injury is and how serious Shubman Gill's hamstring issue is, considering he retired hurt. Those are the two things I will be watching closely, he added. Gill retired hurt after making a fluent 80, while Brar played an important role with the ball by triggering England's middle-order collapse during the first innings. Pathan added that only injury concerns should prompt changes to the playing XI, even as discussions continue about the possibility of bringing in spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Gill retired hurt after making a fluent 80, while Brar played an important role with the ball by triggering England's middle-order collapse during the first innings. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India will head into the second ODI seeking to clinch the series, while England face the task of quickly addressing their shortcomings after falling behind in the three-match contest. Article Source: IANS

Gill Is A Very Composed Player, And His Captaincy Reflects That: Saba Karim

Saba Karim: Former India wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim praised Shubman Gill's calm leadership and match-defining contribution in India's six-wicket win over England in the opening ODI at Edgbaston, saying the young captain is beginning to stamp his authority on the side and is well placed to evolve further as a leader. Gill played a composed 80 before retiring hurt with cramps during India's chase of 259, helping steady the innings after the early dismissals of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. India eventually completed the chase thanks to an unbeaten 102-run partnership between Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Reflecting on Gill's performance, Karim said the skipper's temperament was evident both with the bat and in the way he has led the team. He is a very composed player, and his captaincy reflects that. It was very important to seize the moment after losing two early wickets, which Shubman Gill did as captain. He has played innings like this many times before. Today, he faced some issues due to the injury, but overall, he put the team in a position to win the game, which they did, Karim told JioStar. Gill anchored the innings after India slipped to 44 for two, adding a century stand with Shreyas Iyer before physical discomfort forced him to leave the field. His knock laid the platform for the lower middle order to complete the chase with 28 balls to spare. Karim also highlighted the significance of Axar Patel and Washington Sundar closing out the contest, saying their partnership reflected increasing confidence within the squad. It must have been satisfying for Shubman Gill that the lower middle order finished the match. At that stage, around 100 runs were still needed, and the team required a sensible partnership, which Axar Patel and Washington Sundar provided. The assurance is slowly growing, he added. Axar remained unbeaten on 57 after also claiming four wickets earlier in the match, while Sundar struck his maiden ODI half-century with an unbeaten 52 as the pair denied England any late opportunity to fight back. Looking ahead, Karim believes Gill's leadership will continue to develop as he gains more experience, particularly as he builds confidence from consistently contributing with the bat. Axar remained unbeaten on 57 after also claiming four wickets earlier in the match, while Sundar struck his maiden ODI half-century with an unbeaten 52 as the pair denied England any late opportunity to fight back. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India will head into the second ODI with momentum firmly on their side after Gill's measured innings and composed captaincy helped set up a comprehensive victory in Birmingham. Article Source: IANS

Australia internationals unlikely to play much WNCL

Australia's series against Bangladesh, New Zealand and the women's Champions Trophy, as well as the WPL likely to keep their best away from domestic cricket

1st ODI: 'I Had To Stay Focused Rather Than Thinking,' Says Axar On Match-winning Knock

New Delhi: India's match-winner Axar Patel said patience, self-belief and trusting the conditions were the key factors behind his all-round display in the opening ODI against England at Edgbaston, where his four-wicket haul and unbeaten half-century helped India register a six-wicket victory and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Axar, who returned figures of 4-62 before scoring an unbeaten 57 in a decisive 102-run fifth-wicket partnership with Washington Sundar, admitted the innings was especially significant after a difficult T20I phase in which he felt he was trying to force the pace. It was very important for me to deliver this kind of performance. As for my mindset, I needed to keep at it. I had to stay focused rather than thinking it would just happen on its own. I had to have self-belief and execute my plans. I feel like I was trying to hit the ball too hard during the T20Is. When you go in to bat in the death overs, you don't have any other option but to go for big shots, but I was losing my shape a little. So, when I went in to bat in this game, obviously after we got a great start, I just wanted to build a partnership. I wasn't trying to hit the ball too hard because I knew I had time and could afford to take a few balls as well. I was focusing on my timing. On this kind of wicket, it is very important to trust the bounce. Once you start reading it well, I think you can score runs, Axar told JioStar. India's chase was jolted by the quick dismissals of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill later retired hurt after making 80. Axar and Sundar then combined to guide the visitors home with an unbeaten stand that effectively shut England out of the contest. The all-rounder also explained why batting became considerably easier once a batter had spent time at the crease, pointing to the movement available for the bowlers early in an innings. If you look at their innings, or even our innings, whoever was new to the crease found it very difficult to come in and start hitting straight away. Even for them, it became easier for Joe Root and Liam Dawson once the partnership was set. So I think spending some time at the crease after coming in to bat was very important. On such wickets, you cannot come in and play shots on the rise immediately because there was bounce, and it was swinging and seaming as well. You have to give yourself that little bit of time, and after that, you could play your shots, he added. England experienced similar challenges after opting to bat first. The hosts slipped from 61 without loss to 80 for five before Joe Root and Liam Dawson revived the innings with a 121-run partnership. Axar then removed the lower order to finish with four wickets as England were bowled out for 258. Reflecting on the current Indian setup, Axar credited the return of experienced campaigners for creating a settled environment in the dressing room, saying familiarity and clearly defined roles have strengthened the team's confidence. England experienced similar challenges after opting to bat first. The hosts slipped from 61 without loss to 80 for five before Joe Root and Liam Dawson revived the innings with a 121-run partnership. Axar then removed the lower order to finish with four wickets as England were bowled out for 258. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India will head into the second ODI carrying a 1-0 advantage after Axar's influential all-round performance laid the foundation for a convincing victory at Edgbaston. Article Source: IANS

Ireland Men Beating India Injected A Lot Of Confidence Into Us: Orla Prendergast

For Orla Prendergast: There are moments in cricket that do not announce themselves with the roar of a crowd or the shatter of stumps. Instead, they arrive in quiet, seismic shifts of belief in a dressing room long before the first ball is even bowled. For Orla Prendergast and her Ireland team, that defining moment of belief came on June 26, just 24 hours ahead of their final Womens T20 World Cup group fixture against the formidable West Indies. Huddled together, they watched with sheer joy as their male counterparts orchestrated a staggering, 34-run heist against heavyweights India in Belfast. In that singular piece of epic cricketing theatre, the women's team pondered with renewed belief - if the men could dismantle the reigning T20 World Cup champions, why not them? What followed on Saturday in Bristol was nothing short of a fairytale - Ireland hunted down 129 to script an astonishing six-wicket victory over West Indies, the 2016 champions. Five tournaments and 22 agonising defeats later, Ireland finally tasted victory in the T20 World Cup. We were all watching it the day before our game. For them to turn over the best T20I side in the world, it was just great to watch. I mean it was unbelievable and it just reiterated that any team can beat anyone on their day and so I think it just injected a lot of confidence and belief into us. I'm sure they had the belief that they were going to win that game, but I doubt many other people in the world of cricket thought they were going to do it. It just proved that anyone can beat anyone and it definitely gave us that belief going into the next day and then thankfully they backed it up again with a series win on Sunday. So just an unbelievable weekend for Irish cricket and showed how much Irish cricket has grown on the global stage and that we can beat so many of those teams ranked above us, Orla told IANS on the sidelines of Ireland's ongoing ODI series against West Indies. The wait for getting a World Cup victory became heavier for Ireland with every passing fixture, more so once Scotland beat them to get their own first win earlier in the tournament. It definitely felt like a bit of a monkey on our back. We obviously saw Scotland get their first World Cup win against us, unfortunately, and different teams were performing really well and our tournament hadn't quite come together yet at that point. But just the belief to get it was massive for us, added Orla. That belief, she insists, never wavered - even after the near-miss against defending champions New Zealand. We came into the tournament with a lot of belief that we would win at least one game, and if not a few. We had a lot of belief that we definitely had multiple wins in us. We competed really well against New Zealand - they're obviously a really quality side. So we played really well against them and we definitely should have won that game. There's confidence to be taken from it, but there was a lot of heartbreak involved too, that we'd really lost a massive chance to turn them over. But confidence was definitely taken from it, and you could see that with the way we carried on in the tournament. We didn't put our best showing out against Sri Lanka in our first game in Bristol, but then we bounced back really well against the West Indies, she said. Beyond the points table, the World Cup also brought individual recognition for Orla of making the cut for the T20 World Cup for the second straight time after the 2023 edition, where she was the 12th player. For someone highly cited as one of the best pace-bowling all-rounders in the T20 circuit, the recognition is something she doesn't take lightly. Definitely feels like a big personal achievement to be listed amongst some of those names on that team is a massive honour. When you look through that list - it's some of the best players in the world. So to be listed there and amongst them is just a huge privilege. It's not something you ever expect coming out of a tournament and especially when unfortunately it didn't go as well as we'd hoped. We didn't win as many games as we'd hoped and so on a team level, you come out with a little bit of disappointment and you feel like you could have done more. But then to receive personal recognition like that, it's definitely pleasing, she said. Confidence heading into the tournament was also kept steady by Ireland's showing in the tri-series featuring Pakistan and West Indies ahead of the World Cup. You always go into World Cups with a bit of an unknown, coming up against the best teams in the world. We had the tri-series before, which thankfully went pretty well - we got a couple of wins against Pakistan and West Indies. So confidence as a team as a whole was high, and personally I had a couple of good performances that I could lean on coming into the World Cup and trust my skills. In her match-winning 63 against the West Indies, Orla was cutting and hooking at will against pace. It is also illustrated by the fact that Orla scored 45 runs from cut shots during the group stage, nearly 20 more than any other batter in the tournament. Asked if that back-foot dominance was something she specifically worked on, or was it just pure instinct at that moment, Orla described it as a blend of instinct and hard-earned technical work. It's a bit of both to be honest - it's definitely instincts and out on the pitch. I naturally love to cut and pull a lot, definitely versus spin. But on the flip side of that, I have worked a lot on the cut shot - it's something that I struggled in years gone by where I felt like if a spinner bowled outside off to me, I probably would hit to point a lot of the time. So I did a lot of work on sitting back and either whacking it in front of point or behind point. You do a lot of work, but then you kind of forget about it when the game's come around you obviously lean back on after a game, you can look back on the work you've done. But when you're in the moment, it's just relying on your instincts and what your body kind of tells you to do and so I definitely would look back on some balls that I probably felt I probably should have gone forward to and I was on the back foot. But I mean luckily it came off a little bit in the World Cup. Sharpening that game happens back home, at Ireland's outdoor training base in Blanchardstown, Dublin. Turning to the ongoing ODI series against West Indies, which Ireland have lost and will look to sign off with a win in the final game later on Wednesday, Orla was candid about where their process has fallen short. We've gone wrong on the bowling side of things and to be perfectly honest, we've batted pretty well. It's been that there have been nice batting pitches even if a little bit slow and we've put together two pretty good totals setting and batting first. Maybe would have liked a few more in each game but definitely not far off and definitely two defendable totals if we bowled better. Getting through their top order has obviously been a challenge for us. We've seen just how high quality of their Hayley Matthews is two games in a row now which is pretty unfortunate. So I mean a good start would be getting her out and we've obviously had a look at her and we're always putting together plans to get other teams best players out. So that'll be just another case of doing that for bouncing back and we've bowled well in patches, but just not well enough for long enough and we can probably be better at the new ball and a little bit more challenging there and then maybe a little more bit more containing in the middle overs and I don't think we're far off - in fact we've batted really well for a good start. But it's just a case of consistency with the ball that we'll be looking to grow on. She pointed to two clear metrics Ireland are chasing in the final game apart from winning - bowling a tighter, more consistent length and more batting partnerships. Something we speak about a lot is bowling a four-to-six-metre length - it's probably not rocket science, but our stats have definitely shown that's where we need to be a lot of the time. On the batting front it's a little more simple - the partnerships. There's a glaring difference in an innings when big players get big scores and build big partnerships with those around them, and in the innings where they don't do it. She pointed to two clear metrics Ireland are chasing in the final game apart from winning - bowling a tighter, more consistent length and more batting partnerships. Something we speak about a lot is bowling a four-to-six-metre length - it's probably not rocket science, but our stats have definitely shown that's where we need to be a lot of the time. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Fans can watch Ireland vs West Indies third womens ODI exclusively on FanCode. Article Source: IANS

Spains anaconda grip strangles Frances World Cup dream

Relentless pressing, flawless possession and clinical finishing powered Spain past France 2-0, moving the European champions one step from World Cup glory

Spain beat France 2-0 to reach FIFA World Cup final after Lamine Yamal shines

Spain reached their first FIFA World Cup final since 2010 and will face Argentina or England, while France now turn their attention to the third-place playoff

Two sets: On Wimbledon 2026

Consistency marked the mens draw, and shocks and surprises the womens

1st ODI: All-round Axar Guides India To A Six-wicket Victory Over England, Take 1-0 Series Lead

Axar Patel: Axar Patel had an impressive performance with both the bat and ball as India beat England by six wickets in the first ODI at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Tuesday, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Axar took four wickets to help bowl England out for 258 and then came out again to score an unbeaten 57 and partner with Washington Sundar in a match-winning 102-run partnership. Sundar remained not out on 52 and ended the match with a big six, marking his first ODI half-century. India got off to a great start after England won the toss and chose to bat first. The hosts struggled to score against India's disciplined pace attack, even though Ben Duckett launched a counter-attack in the second half of the Powerplay. Duckett and Jacob Bethell added 61 runs for the opening wicket, but Gurnoor Brar quickly changed the game by taking two wickets in one over. England then collapsed from 61 for no loss to 80 for five in just a few overs. Just when it seemed England would post a low total, Joe Root and Liam Dawson made a strong recovery with a 121-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Dawson scored a solid 68, marking his first ODI half-century before getting out. Root held the innings together with an unbeaten 76. Axar finished the tail-end in style, claiming the last four wickets and ending with impressive figures of 4 for 62 as England got bowled out for 258 in 47.5 overs. India's chase started steadily with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill handling the new-ball spells from Jofra Archer and ODI debutant Josh Tongue without much trouble. The opening partnership reached 43 before Sam Curran dismissed Rohit for 11. In the next over, Archer trapped Virat Kohli lbw for just 5, putting India under early pressure. Gill and Shreyas Iyer responded well, putting together a smooth 101-run stand for the third wicket, swinging the momentum back in India's favour. Gill looked confident and scored another classy half-century before cramps forced him to retire hurt on 80 despite receiving treatment several times. England briefly saw a chance when Iyer was run out for 35, and KL Rahul went for just 1. However, India's spin-bowling all-rounders ensured there was no late drama. Axar and Washington Sundar displayed great composure, putting together an unbeaten 102-run partnership for the fifth wicket, leading India to victory. Sundar fittingly finished the match by hitting the winning runs over the ropes, completing his unbeaten 52 and securing India's convincing six-wicket win with 28 balls remaining. Gill and Shreyas Iyer responded well, putting together a smooth 101-run stand for the third wicket, swinging the momentum back in India's favour. Gill looked confident and scored another classy half-century before cramps forced him to retire hurt on 80 despite receiving treatment several times. England briefly saw a chance when Iyer was run out for 35, and KL Rahul went for just 1. Also Read: Live Cricket Score England 258 all out in 47.5 overs (Joe Root 76, Liam Dawson 68; Axar Patel 4-62, Prasidh Krishna 2-50) lost to India 262/4 in 45.2 overs (Shubman Gill 80 (retd hurt), Axar Patel 57; Josh Tongue 1-50, Sam Curran 1-55) by six wickets Article Source: IANS

MS Dhoni Draws Huge Cheers As India Great Watches First ODI At Edgbaston

MS Dhoni: Former India captain MS Dhoni returned to the cricket spotlight on Tuesday, drawing a roaring reception from the Edgbaston crowd as he watched the opening ODI between India and England from the stands in Birmingham. The 45-year-old wicketkeeper-batter was spotted during England's innings. When the stadium cameras focused on him, loud cheers filled the ground as fans recognised one of India's greatest cricketers. Dhoni was there with his wife, Sakshi, and daughter Ziva, enjoying the match from the stands. Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon also added to the star-studded atmosphere. She was seen watching the game and, being linked with London-based businessman Kabir Bahia, attracted a lot of attention as cameras captured her enjoying the action at Edgbaston. Dhoni's appearance came just days after he celebrated his 45th birthday at Trent Bridge, where he watched the third T20I between India and England. The former captain has been following India's white-ball tour of England and has remained one of the biggest draws even while off the field. During the match, Dhoni also caught up with former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik. Their interaction quickly went viral on social media as fans embraced the reunion of the two former teammates. On the field, all-rounder Axar Patel brought out his career-best performance of 4-62 as Joe Root was left stranded on the other end at 76 to guide England to 258 all out in 47.5 overs in the first ODI against India at the Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham on Tuesday. During the match, Dhoni also caught up with former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik. Their interaction quickly went viral on social media as fans embraced the reunion of the two former teammates. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Ben Duckett scored 43 off 45 balls, and Jacob Bethell added 14 off 31, giving England a strong start. They managed to put up 61 runs for the opening wicket while effectively handling Jasprit Bumrah's opening spell. This was Bumrah's first ODI game in 968 days. Article Source: IANS

Jonathan Trott Appointed Ireland Consultant Ahead Of Afghanistan ODI Series

Cricket World Cup Qualifier: Former England batter and ex-Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott has been appointed as a short-term consultant with the Ireland men's team ahead of next month's ODI series against Afghanistan. The 45-year-old will join the Ireland squad for a 14-day consultancy starting next week. His role will focus on helping the team prepare for the three-match ODI series and advising during the opening two games against Afghanistan. This series is an important part of Ireland's preparation for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier in early 2027. Trott had a successful international career, playing 52 Tests, 68 ODIs, and seven T20Is for England from 2007 to 2015. He was appointed head coach for Afghanistan's men's cricket team in 2022 and stayed in that role until February 2026. His coaching experience also includes working with England Under-19s at the 2017 ICC Under-19 World Cup, serving as assistant coach at Warwickshire, and coaching roles with Kent and Scotland. Graeme West, the Director of High Performance at Cricket Ireland, said that Trott's appointment will give Ireland a valuable competitive edge. He stated, The upcoming One-Day International series against Afghanistan is critical to the Ireland Men's squad's preparation for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier in early 2027. This is a rare opportunity to bring in a world-class coach who has a wealth of current knowledge about the opposition. Trott had a successful international career, playing 52 Tests, 68 ODIs, and seven T20Is for England from 2007 to 2015. He was appointed head coach for Afghanistan's men's cricket team in 2022 and stayed in that role until February 2026. His coaching experience also includes working with England Under-19s at the 2017 ICC Under-19 World Cup, serving as assistant coach at Warwickshire, and coaching roles with Kent and Scotland. Also Read: Live Cricket Score West added that Trott's influence will go beyond match preparation. The former England player is also expected to mentor the coaching group. He noted, Jonathan's value extends beyond player development. Once he joins the training camp, he will share his wide range of leadership experiences with the coaching staff. He will explain his philosophy on working with world-class players and his approach to managing an international team. Article Source: IANS

India's quicks and Axar restrict England to 258

Half-centurions Root and Dawson revived England after a collapse after Brook opted to bat

1st ODI: Bumrah Becomes India's Highest ODI Wicket-taker In England

Shakib Al Hasan: Jasprit Bumrah made a remarkable return to ODI cricket by becoming India's leading bowler in the format on English soil. He achieved this milestone by dismissing England captain Harry Brook during the first ODI at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Tuesday. After 968 days away from ODIs, Bumrah took his 150th wicket and surpassed Ravindra Jadeja's 30 wickets in England, moving into the lead with 31. He now tops the list of Indian ODI wicket-takers in England, ahead of Jadeja (30), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (28), Madan Lal (27), and Mohammed Shami (26). Brook's dismissal marked another achievement for the Indian pace bowler, who became the third Indian to reach 150 ODI wickets in the fewest balls. Bumrah did this in 4,605 deliveries, only behind Mohammed Shami (4,070 balls) and Kuldeep Yadav (4,513). He finished ahead of Ajit Agarkar (5,027) and Irfan Pathan (5,131). This wicket also earned Bumrah a spot in an exclusive global group. He joined Shakib Al Hasan and Tim Southee as the only cricketers to have 200 Test wickets, 150 ODI wickets, and 100 T20I wickets. Currently, Bumrah has 234 Test wickets, 150 ODI wickets, and 121 T20I wickets. Bumrah's record in England highlights his strength in overseas conditions. In 17 ODIs in the country, he has taken 31 wickets with an impressive average of 21.41 and an economy rate of 4.44. His best ODI performance also came in England when he dominated the hosts with remarkable figures of 6/19 during the 2022 series. Earlier, in the 2019 ODI World Cup held in England, Bumrah secured 18 wickets as India reached the semi-finals. He joined Shakib Al Hasan and Tim Southee as the only cricketers to have 200 Test wickets, 150 ODI wickets, and 100 T20I wickets. Currently, Bumrah has 234 Test wickets, 150 ODI wickets, and 121 T20I wickets. Also Read: Live Cricket Score England bounced back from a dramatic middle-order collapse to post a competitive total after Joe Root and Liam Dawson put together a fantastic 121-run partnership for the seventh wicket in the opening ODI against India. Article Source: IANS

High-flying Zimbabwe meet under-strength Bangladesh in T20I series opener

Already without Litton, Mehidy, Taskin and Mahmud, Bangladesh will also miss the injured Mustafizur

1st ODI: Axar Patel Picks Career-best 4-62 As India Restrict England To 258

Axar Patel: All-rounder Axar Patel brought out his career-best performance of 4-62 as Joe Root was left stranded on the other end at 76 to guide England to 258 all out in 47.5 overs in the first ODI against India at the Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham on Tuesday. England bounced back from a dramatic middle-order collapse to post a competitive total after Joe Root and Liam Dawson put together a fantastic 121-run partnership for the seventh wicket in the opening ODI against India. Ben Duckett scored 43 off 45 balls, and Jacob Bethell added 14 off 31, giving England a strong start. They managed to put up 61 runs for the opening wicket while effectively handling Jasprit Bumrah's opening spell. This was Bumrah's first ODI game in 968 days. Gurnoor Brar struggled in his first spell but changed the game after switching ends. He was brought back in the 13th over and dismissed both openers in the same over, giving Duckett a send-off and triggering England's collapse. Bumrah made an impact right away, catching Harry Brook at first slip for just 1 run after returning to the attack. Meanwhile, Prasidh Krishna tore through the middle order, taking two wickets in one over. Jos Buttler's landmark 200th ODI ended disappointingly as the England captain fell cheaply. Sam Curran also lost his wicket with a poor shot, leaving the team in trouble at 80/5. Will Jacks, with 20 off 19, tried to shift the momentum back, but Shivam Dube took his second ODI wicket when KL Rahul made a stunning one-handed catch behind the stumps. With England in serious trouble, Root and Dawson led the recovery with their impressive 121-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Dawson reached his first ODI half-century, while Root notched his fourth consecutive score of over 50 in the format. Their effort steadied the innings and gave England's bowlers a total to defend. Axar Patel eventually broke the dogged resistance in the 44th over, getting rid of Liam Dawson for a career-best 68 off 83 balls and ending a valuable 121-run seventh-wicket stand with Joe Root. But Root took advantage of a reprieve when Shivam Dube dropped a simple return catch off his own bowling and went on to remain unbeaten on 76 from 76 balls, taking England past 250. Jofra Archer added a quick 12 from six balls towards the end, but Adil Rashid and ODI debutant Josh Tongue both fell in the 48th over, meaning Roots innings was cut short as England were bowled out for 258. Axar Patel eventually broke the dogged resistance in the 44th over, getting rid of Liam Dawson for a career-best 68 off 83 balls and ending a valuable 121-run seventh-wicket stand with Joe Root. But Root took advantage of a reprieve when Shivam Dube dropped a simple return catch off his own bowling and went on to remain unbeaten on 76 from 76 balls, taking England past 250. Also Read: Live Cricket Score England 258 all out in 47.5 overs (Joe Root 76, Liam Dawson 68; Axar Patel 4-62, Prasidh Krishna 2-50) against India Article Source: IANS

Brydon Carse Returns To England ODI Squad For India Series After An Injury Layoff

Brydon Carse: England have strengthened their squad for the ongoing three-match One-Day International series against India by recalling pace-bowling all-rounder Brydon Carse following his recovery from wrist and elbow injuries. The 30-year-old returns to the national setup after spending several months on the sidelines, with selectors satisfied by his progress after making three appearances for Durham in the Vitality Blast. His inclusion provides England with an additional pace option as the hosts continue the series against India. Carse's return marks his first involvement with the ODI squad since November 2025, when he featured against New Zealand in Wellington. Having successfully completed his rehabilitation, the seam-bowling all-rounder is now back in contention for international action. England announced the squad update on Tuesday, with Carse joining a group led by captain Harry Brook. Since making his ODI debut in 2021, Carse has established himself as a valuable all-round option. In 30 ODI appearances, he has claimed 34 wickets at an average of 40.44, with his best figures coming in a five-wicket haul. Lower down the order, he has also contributed 264 runs at an average of 17.60, adding depth to England's batting line-up. The ODI series against India began at Edgbaston on Tuesday, with the remaining fixtures scheduled to be played at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on July 16 and Lord's in London on July 19. England announced the squad update on Tuesday, with Carse joining a group led by captain Harry Brook. Since making his ODI debut in 2021, Carse has established himself as a valuable all-round option. In 30 ODI appearances, he has claimed 34 wickets at an average of 40.44, with his best figures coming in a five-wicket haul. Lower down the order, he has also contributed 264 runs at an average of 17.60, adding depth to England's batting line-up. Also Read: Live Cricket Score England's updated squad: Harry Brook (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, James Coles, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, and Josh Tongue. Article Source: IANS

Indian Youth Sides Shine In Japan - Punjab FC, Bengaluru FC Win; FC Goa Lose Narrowly

Rakshit Priya Anil: It was a thrilling day of football as Indias top developmental squads faced off against their Japanese J-League counterparts, producing a mix of dominant displays and nail-biting finishes. The overall day belonged to Indian teams as the visitors -- Punjab FC, Bengaluru FC -- won two games while FC Goa went down in a close encounter. In the standout performance of the day, Punjab FC defeated Avispa Fukuoka with a commanding 5-0 victory. The Punjab attack was firing on all cylinders from the opening whistle, with Singamayum Shami netting an early brace (3', 28') to set a ruthless tone. Omang Dodum (42') and Ngarin Shaiza (55') extended the lead before Vishal Yadav put the final exclamation point on the victory deep into stoppage time (90+2'). Bengaluru FC edge out Giravanz Kitakyushu Bengaluru FC showed incredible resilience to secure a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Giravanz Kitakyushu. After trailing to a 40th-minute strike by Ryunosuke Imai, Bengaluru fought back in the second half. Rakshit Priya Anil found the equalizer in the 61st minute. Despite an unfortunate own goal keeping the Japanese side heavily in the contest, a 75th-minute strike from Serto Worneilen Kom and a relentless team defensive effort in the dying minutesdespite a 90th-minute goal from Md Arbashensured Bengaluru walked away with maximum points. Bengaluru FC showed incredible resilience to secure a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Giravanz Kitakyushu. After trailing to a 40th-minute strike by Ryunosuke Imai, Bengaluru fought back in the second half. Rakshit Priya Anil found the equalizer in the 61st minute. Also Read: Live Cricket Score In a tightly contested tactical battle, FC Goa fell just short against Sagan Tosu, conceding a lone 6th-minute goal to Zenryu Ono. Despite controlling large patches of possession and creating several close chances in the second half, the Gaurs couldn't breach the disciplined Japanese defense, finishing 1-0. Article Source: IANS

Heather Knight Wants England Women To Play More Red-Ball Cricket After India Loss

England great Heather Knight bowed out of international cricket calling for more domestic red-ball games following her side's 270-run thrashing by India in the inaugural women's Test at Lord's. The hosts were outplayed in all departments in a match that started just five days after England's defeat by Australia in the T20 World Cup final at the 'Home of Cricket'. India had a several days more preparation, with Australia knocking them out in the group stage of the World Cup, but, unlike England, they play domestic red-ball cricket as well. And with a Test win worth four points in next year's multi-format series at home to Australia, Knight believes this an issue officials must address following England's 16-0 humiliation 'Down Under' in the last women's Ashes. I'd love to see some domestic red-ball cricket, said Knight, the first woman to score a hundred in all three international formats. It doesn't necessarily have to be a full part of the calendar, but I do think it would help us develop as better white-ball cricketers as well. - 'Value your wicket' - The 35-year-old former England captain, who led her country to a 2017 50-over World Cup final victory over India at Lord's added: When I was a kid, it was hammered into me to value your wicket. A lot of our younger cricketers coming through are a lot better at T20 than they are 50-over, and they have to learn that side of it being able to build an innings or shape a spell. England women's coach Charlotte Edwards, Knight's predecessor as skipper, said she hoped to improve the team's Test cricket with the kind of training that had led to an upturn in their T20 form. A lot has been going on in my head over the last few days, and the one thing that I keep coming back to is, what we did so well last winter was we had this preparation phase of T20 cricket and we saw the benefits of that this summer, Edwards told Sky Sports. I'm now excited to see what we do in terms of our four-day approach to this winter's training. India needed just 95 minutes' play on Monday's fourth day to wrap up victory. The match was a personal triumph for India's Kranti Gaud and Yastika Bhatia, the first women to take five wickets and score a century respectively in a women's Test at Lord's. I think we were disciplined in our approach towards our batting and disciplined in our bowling as well, sticking to the basics of cricket, said India women's coach Amol Muzumdar. The Test took place 142 years, and 150 matches, after Lord's staged its first men's Test and decades on from the first women's game of any kind at the London ground -- a 1976 one-day international between England and Australia. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The amazing thing about this week is it's been a historic occasion, this first Test match at Lord's, said Knight. But now hopefully there's not that many 'firsts' left to do and it can be all about the cricket.

Ten Doeschate Plans To Leave Indian Coaching, Gambhir's Approval Awaited: Report

Ireland T20Is: India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate is set to leave the team setup after the conclusion of the England tour, with the third and final ODI to be played on July 19 at Lord's cricket ground to be his final assignment. According to a report in Cricbuzz, the former Netherlands all-rounder has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about his desire to leave. However, the final call will be taken by the head coach Gautam Gambhir, who played a major role in bringing Doeschate to the Indian side. India's poor performance in the England and Ireland T20Is doesn't seem to be the reason behind his exit, as according to the digital publication, ten Doeschate wants to move on for purely personal reasons. With three young sons needing his attention, particularly as his wife is working, he wants to devote more time to his family, which is based in London. Given the extensive travel commitments associated with the India job, ten Doeschate is believed to be looking for a role that demands less travel and allows him to spend more time with his family. The report further added that as an assistant coach, ten Doeschate's role isn't fully defined. His main area of expertise is fielding, but with T Dilip already serving as the fielding coach for India, his contribution in that area may have been limited. Despite this, he shares a close personal and professional rapport with Gambhir, who had recommended him to the BCCI after taking over as India's head coach a couple of years ago. India's poor performance in the England and Ireland T20Is doesn't seem to be the reason behind his exit, as according to the digital publication, ten Doeschate wants to move on for purely personal reasons. With three young sons needing his attention, particularly as his wife is working, he wants to devote more time to his family, which is based in London. Given the extensive travel commitments associated with the India job, ten Doeschate is believed to be looking for a role that demands less travel and allows him to spend more time with his family. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India's fielding was a major cause of concern in the recently concluded England series, but the fielding coach, T. Dilip, is expected to remain with the team as India look to improve their catching. Article Source: IANS

Emirates Cricket Board Bags Three ICC Development Awards For 2025

Marriott Bonvoy ICC Development Initiative: The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) emerged as one of the biggest winners at the ICC Development Awards 2025, claiming three global honours in recognition of its efforts to expand the game and drive the growth of women's cricket across the United Arab Emirates. The awards were presented during the ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland. This event celebrated outstanding development programs, initiatives, and performances from ICC Associate Members around the world. The ECB won the Marriott Bonvoy ICC Development Initiative of the Year award for its pioneering Girls U15 Academy League. This was the first initiative of its kind in the region. It has provided young girls with more access to competitive cricket while promoting inclusion and opportunity. For the second consecutive year, the ICC Female Cricket Initiative of the Year award went to two countries: the Emirates Cricket Board and Trkiye Cricket. The ECB received the award for building on the legacy of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024. The Interschool Criiio Gulf Cup and Get into Cricket Girls Only program introduced the sport to schools and communities where opportunities for girls were previously limited. The UAE also won the ICC Associate Member Women's Team Performance of the Year award. The women's team had a landmark campaign against Zimbabwe. In their first ODI series after gaining One-Day International status, the UAE drew the four-match series 2-2. They then defeated Zimbabwe 2-0 in the T20I series, marking their first series victory over a higher-ranked Full Member nation away from home. ECB Board Member Zayed Abbas described the awards as a significant boost for everyone involved in UAE cricket. These awards are a great encouragement for the Emirates Cricket Board management, officials, players, and support staff. We thank the International Cricket Council for recognising Associate Members who face significant challenges to deliver such initiatives. Abbas noted that this recognition strengthened the board's commitment to investing more in cricket development, especially in the women's game. The acknowledgement our women's team has received truly inspires us. It gives us incredible motivation for the ongoing growth and development of women's cricket in the country. He added that the rising popularity of women's cricket in the UAE, fueled by increased media attention and expanding school and academy programs, created a strong foundation for the future. Thousands of girls are now playing cricket. This means we have a solid base to build on for the coming years. Many of these girls will eventually represent the UAE junior and senior teams, and we are dedicated to providing them every opportunity and support. He added that the rising popularity of women's cricket in the UAE, fueled by increased media attention and expanding school and academy programs, created a strong foundation for the future. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Other global winners at the ICC Development Awards 2025 included the Federazione Cricket Italiana for Associate Member Men's Team Performance, the Japan Cricket Association for Digital Fan Engagement, the Confederao Brasileira de Cricket for Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative, and the Nigeria Cricket Federation for ICC x Rexona Criiio Cricket Festival of the Year. Article Source: IANS

This Is Just The Beginning: Tendulkar Hails Landmark Lords Test As Defining Moment For Womens Cricket

The Master Blaster: Former India batting great Sachin Tendulkar described the inaugural womens Test at Lords as a golden moment for the sport after witnessing Indias historic victory over England, saying the occasion marked a significant step in the growth of womens cricket. Tendulkar, who addressed the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side before the start of the final days play at the Home of Cricket on Monday, reflected on the significance of the match, India's triumph, and the milestones achieved by Yastika Bhatia and Kranti Gaud at the iconic venue. Having returned to Lords, where he created countless memories during his playing career, Tendulkar said the staging of the first-ever womens Test at the venue represented a landmark occasion for the game. Feels nice to be walking back on the green again. A big moment for women's cricket because I remember in 1976, if I'm not mistaken, the first ODI for women was played here. I think that it was a 40-over match and literally now 50 years down the line, we're playing test match here at Lords. I've always considered test cricket to be the pinnacle of cricket. So, I think it's a fantastic occasion, a golden moment in women's cricket, I would say. All credit to ICC. I know that back home in India, few years ago, Jay Shah started this initiative and when it came to pay parity, women cricket was benefited equally as men's cricket. And today to see women's test match here at Lords, it's heartening, Tendulkar said in a BCCI video. The Master Blaster also revisited his own journey with the famous ground, recalling his first visit as a teenager before eventually representing India there. How can I forget that? It was way back in 1990 and I remember coming here as a 14-year-old kid with Star Cricket Club. And we had stood the opposite side of the pavilion as a team and we took photographs with this beautiful building in background. I cannot forget that moment and then two years down the line, I was sitting here in the dressing room. So, that transition happened very quickly and to be here in the same balcony where India lifted the World Cup, what can one ask for?, he said. India's emphatic win also produced two historic firsts at Lords, with Yastika Bhatia becoming the first woman to score a Test century at the venue and Kranti Gaud registering her maiden five-wicket haul in the red-ball format. Tendulkar believes those achievements will forever hold a special place in the history books. How can I forget that? It was way back in 1990 and I remember coming here as a 14-year-old kid with Star Cricket Club. And we had stood the opposite side of the pavilion as a team and we took photographs with this beautiful building in background. I cannot forget that moment and then two years down the line, I was sitting here in the dressing room. So, that transition happened very quickly and to be here in the same balcony where India lifted the World Cup, what can one ask for?, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The attendance across the four-day contest, tallying 37846, also impressed the cricket legend, who believes the support shown at Lords is only the start of a much bigger journey for the womens game. I was reading and it was 30,000-something over four days, which is fantastic. This is just the beginning. I'm sure there are bigger things to happen in store for us. Article Source: IANS

ZIM vs BAN 1st T20I Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

ZIM vs BAN 1st T20I , Cricket Tips :Zimbabwe have outsmarted Bangladesh in the ongoing multi-format series at home. They won the one-off test and then recorded a 2-1 ODI series win. Bangladesh have failed to adjust to the conditions and have been poor with the bat. Can they bring in new strategies in the shorter format? These two teams will lock horns in three T20Is, starting on Wednesday at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo at 4 PM IST. Litton Das is injured, and Towhid Hridoy will lead Bangladesh. The batting units for both sides look a little thin on paper, which indicates that we might see a low-scoring thriller on Wednesday. ZIM vs BAN: Match Details Date : July 15, 2026 (Wednesday) Time : 4:00 PM IST Venue : Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo ZIM vs BAN: Live Streaming Details The live telecast of the T20I series between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh will be available on the FanCode mobile app or website in India. ZIM vs BAN: Head-to-Head in T20Is Total Matches : 25 Zimbabwe : 08 Bangladesh : 15 No-result : 00 ZIM vs BAN: Ground Pitch Report The wicket in Bulawayo has a slow surface, which will offer good assistance to the spinners. Seamers can get good movement early on, because the wicket can offer uneven bounce. The toss will be important, because it is difficult to bat second here. ZIM vs BAN: Possible XIs Zimbabwe : Parvez Hossain, Tanzid Hasan, Md. Saif Hassan, Yasir Ali, Towhid Hridoy (c), Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Nurul Hasan (wk), Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam Bangladesh : Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, T. Marumani, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Brad Evans, Clive Madande (wk), Newman Nyamhuri, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani ZIM vs BAN: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Ben Curran and Tanzid Hasan ended the ODI series as top scorers for their respective teams. They are players in good form and will be the ones to watch out for. Probable Best Bowler Nahid Rana and Blessing Muzarabani are strike bowlers for their sides. They have produced a good wicket-taking spell in ODIs. Today Match Prediction : Bangladesh have not been at their best, and they will be under pressure. On the other hand, Zimbabwe have the momentum, and we predict them to start the T20I series with a win. ZIM vs BAN Match 1st T20I, Today Match ZIM vs BAN, ZIM vs BAN Prediction, ZIM vs BAN Predicted XIs, Injury Update for Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.

Jos Buttler Joins Elite Club With 200th ODI Appearance For England

Cricket World Cup: Jos Buttler added another landmark to his illustrious international career on Tuesday, becoming only the second England cricketer to feature in 200 One-Day Internationals when he took the field against India in the opening match of the three-game series at Edgbaston. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter joined former England captain Eoin Morgan (225 ODIs) in an exclusive club, reaching the milestone 14 years after making his ODI debut against Pakistan in Dubai in February 2012. From an exciting young finisher to one of the architects of England's white-ball transformation, Buttler has been at the heart of the team's rise as a global force in limited-overs cricket. Across 171 innings, the 34-year-old has amassed 5,515 runs at an average of 39.11 and an exceptional strike rate of 115.20, registering 11 centuries and 29 half-centuries, with an unbeaten 162 as his highest score. Buttler's impact on England's ODI setup extends well beyond numbers. His fearless strokeplay helped redefine the team's batting philosophy, while his 46-ball hundred against Pakistan in 2015 remains England's fastest century in the format. He is also the only English batter to have scored three ODI centuries in 50 balls or fewer and owns the record for the most ODI hundreds by a player batting at No. 5 or lower, with eight. One of the defining moments of Buttler's career came in the 2019 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup final at Lord's. His run-out of Martin Guptill sealed England's maiden 50-over World Cup title after an unforgettable Super Over, while his composed half-century earlier in the match proved equally crucial. Following Morgan's retirement, Buttler succeeded him as England's white-ball captain and led the side to the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup title in Australia before stepping down after the team's disappointing Champions Trophy campaign in 2025. His consistency and attacking approach have also placed him among the format's all-time greats. Among batters with at least 5,000 ODI runs, only Pakistan legend Shahid Afridi has a higher strike rate than Buttler's 115.20. He is also the only player with more than 2,500 ODI runs to combine an average above 36 with a strike rate exceeding 110. Additionally, his 184 ODI sixes rank second among active players, behind only India's Rohit Sharma. Following Morgan's retirement, Buttler succeeded him as England's white-ball captain and led the side to the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup title in Australia before stepping down after the team's disappointing Champions Trophy campaign in 2025. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Yeah, immensely proud. I think it's really good to be in this position now and from your question actually think back to that Jos Buttler all those years ago to have played this many games and have enjoyed the ups and downs of international cricket and still try and touch base with the enthusiasm and the excitement of pulling on the jersey whether it was like that for the first time or now going to be for the 200th time. It's really important to touch base with that and lean into that, especially at this stage of your career, and it's a time to really enjoy and make the most of it. So even your question there is a nice reminder, really, of the way I should be thinking, Buttler said in a video shared by England Cricket on Instagram. Article Source: IANS

Tongue debut as England bat; Bumrah back for India

The major change for England comes at the top of the order with Jacob Bethell opening for the first time

Virat Kohli & Gautam Gambhir Avoid Each Other During Practice Session Ahead Of 1st ODI Against England

Star Indian player Virat Kohli and Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir reportedly were not seen interacting during the team's training session at Edgbaston before the England ODI series. According to reports, Gambhir spoke with Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, while Kohli focused on batting practice before separately meeting batting coach Sitanshu Kotak.

Team India Honour Retiring Beaumont, Knight With Signed Jerseys

Team India: Members of the Indian women's cricket team paid an emotional tribute to England stalwarts Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight after the duo brought the curtains down on their international careers following the historic one-off Test at Lord's. In a touching gesture, the Indian players presented the two retiring cricketers with signed Team India jerseys in the visitors' dressing room after the match. The Lord's Test, the first women's Test to be played at the iconic venue, concluded on Monday, marking the final international appearance for both Beaumont and former England captain Knight. India sealed a memorable 270-run victory to script history before bidding farewell to two of England's most influential figures in women's cricket. Sharing a video of the presentation on its official social media platforms, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) described the moment as a fitting tribute to two of the game's modern greats. A heartwarming tribute to two incredible careers. #TeamIndia players presented special signed jerseys to Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont to celebrate their remarkable time in international cricket, the caption read. Addressing the two veterans in the visitors dressing room, in the presence of the England squad, India batter Jemimah Rodrigues acknowledged their contribution to the sport and thanked them for inspiring generations of cricketers. A heartwarming tribute to two incredible careers. #TeamIndia players presented special signed jerseys to Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont to celebrate their remarkable time in international cricket, the caption read. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The gesture was warmly received by Beaumont and Knight, who concluded distinguished international careers spanning more than a decade, having played pivotal roles in England's rise in the women's game. Article Source: IANS

Deepti's Parents Hail India's Historic Lord's Triumph, Back Team For Asian Games

For Sushila Sharma: India all-rounder Deepti Sharma's parents, Bhagwan Sharma and Sushila Sharma, celebrated the teams landmark victory over England in the first-ever women's Test at Lord's by lauding the collective effort of Harmanpreet Kaur's side and expressing confidence that the side can carry the momentum into the white-ball format at the Asian Games later this year. India scripted history with a commanding 270-run win at the Home of Cricket, with Deepti playing a key all-round role. The all-rounder followed up a half-century in the first innings with figures of 1-10 and 2-36 to help bowl England out for 186 while defending a target of 457. Looking back on the historic triumph, Bhagwan Sharma described the result as a proud moment for Indian cricket and praised the team's all-round display. The girls had their first Test match and our Indian women's cricket team defeated England by a hefty 270 runs. And all the girls performed very well, which is why they won. This is a matter of great pride, Deeptis father told IANS. He also recalled seeing batting legend Sachin Tendulkar at Lord's on the final day, where he congratulated the Indian players after the victory, before applauding Deepti's contribution with the ball. And yesterday I saw on TV that Sachin Tendulkar was also present on the ground. He also congratulated the girls and shook hands with them. I would like to say to Deepti that she took 1 wicket in the first innings and 2 in the second. So this is a great performance. Keep up this kind of performance, he added. With the Asian Games in Japan scheduled for September, Bhagwan Sharma urged the Indian team to build on its historic success and aim for another major title. Next up are there are the Asian Games in Japan in September. She has to perform well there as well. The whole team has to perform well and win the gold medal, he expressed. For Sushila Sharma, the Lord's victory was equally emotional, as she reflected on how her daughter's cricketing journey transformed her own relationship with the sport. Yesterday, my happiness had no bounds. Earlier, I barely had knowledge about the game. When her brother used to go out to play, I used to say, 'Why didn't you go to school?' But ever since Deepti has started playing, I have understood the game. I watch the match, I leave the housework and watch the match, Deeptis mother told IANS. For Sushila Sharma, the Lord's victory was equally emotional, as she reflected on how her daughter's cricketing journey transformed her own relationship with the sport. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Sushila concluded by saying that the pride she felt after India's memorable victory at Lord's extended to every player who represented the country. I bless all the daughters as much as I bless my daughter. Article Source: IANS

Babar Azam Returns as Pakistan Test Captain Amid PCBs Never-Ending Captaincy Musical Chairs

The Pakistan selectors have reinstated Babar Azam as Test captain for the upcoming West Indies and England tours. So, in another round of 'musical chairs' for the captaincy, they have gone back to Babar, rather than preparing for the future. Over the last few years, Pakistan's Test captaincy has undergone frequent changes on account of poor results, change of power within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and unstable selection policy. Look at the timeline: 20192020: Azhar Ali, captain of 8 Tests, stepped down following disappointing results abroad. He scored 338 runs @ 24.14, registering a significant fall in performance as, prior to the captaincy, he was scoring @ 43. 20202023: Babar Azam, captain in 20 Tests, sacked amidst changes following the 2023 World Cup, although he won 10 Tests and scored 1,513 runs @ 43.23 (including 5 centuries) during his tenure. However, he did not match his pre-captaincy record. 20232026: Shan Masood, captain in 16 Tests, was sacked as he won only 4 Tests and lost 12. He scored 915 runs @ 33, improving in comparison to his pre-captaincy career average of 28, but somehow the team struggled under him. He was made captain at a time when his place in the team was not secure. 2026: Babar Azam begins his second stint as Test captain. This means Pakistan have played under four regular Test captains in roughly six years, sharply in contrast to any other major Test-playing nation. Now Babar's return as Test captain stems from a lack of alternatives and a loss of faith in Shan Masood. For many, Shan Masood remaining captain for 963 days is no mean achievement. The biggest issue is that the captains had no control over the team and Pakistan never looked like a top-class Test side. Incidentally, captains were changed even more rapidly in white-ball cricket. Pakistan failed to support captains, to 'build' the team. In an interview with Salman Butt on the 'Straight Drive' show, Babar expressed confidence that he would lead with a better strategy and a positive mindset this time around, stating, My focus will be on three areas: discipline, fitness, and performance. We have prepared for the conditionspitches and weatherexpected in the West Indies and England, and the players' experience in county cricket will prove valuable. However, the greatest scrutiny will be on his captaincy; if he wants to last, he must rewrite history. The chopping and the changes in leadership in Pakistan cricket in recent years have played a big role in Pakistan losing its grip on world cricket. Let us start with Babar Azam: October 2019: Babar Azam named T20I captain, succeeding Sarfaraz Ahmed. May 2020: Babar Azam becomes white ball cricket captain, taking over from Sarfaraz Ahmed. January 2021: Babar Azam became all-format captain and started with a home Test series win (vs South Africa in 2021 by 2-0). This started the Babar Azam era in Pakistan cricket. November 2023: Babar Azam resigned as all-format captain after Pakistans exit in the group stage in the ICC World Cup. Shan Masood was named new Test captain and Shaheen Shah Afridi as the T20I captain (he had impressed with his title wins for Lahore Qalandars in the PSL). Babar was offered to continue as Test captain, but he wished to concentrate on his batting and declined. March 2024: Lost patience with Shaheen Afridi after just one series (which Pakistan lost to New Zealand by 4-1), although the T20 World Cup was approaching. This marked the return of Babar and he was reappointed white-ball captain. This didnt help Pakistan, and they got eliminated in the group stage. October 2024: This disaster was enough for Babar to step down as white-ball captain (for the second time), again with the desire to focus on his batting. November 2024: Mohammad Rizwan succeeded Babar as white-ball captain. March 2025: Salman Ali Agha replaced Rizwan as T20I captain. Babar even lost his place in the squad. Both Rizwan and Babar were blamed for their slow strike rates causing Pakistans poor performance. Surprisingly, the new captain Salman was no better batsman. October 2025: Mohammad Rizwan was replaced by Shaheen Shah Afridi as ODI captain. Rizwan had mixed success as skipper, but his low scores cost him his position. Shaheen, who had earlier failed as a T20I captain, now returned as ODI captain. Also Read: Live Cricket Score June 2026: Another cycle of resignations, removals and returns completed with the re-appointment of Babar Azam as Test captain.

Top Players Make England Change Their Strategy: Nayar Backs Rohits ODI Return

New Delhi: Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar believes Rohit Sharma's return for the three-match ODI series against England will strengthen India's batting unit. With India welcoming back several senior players after the T20I leg of the tour, Nayar opined that Rohit's experience and proven success against short-pitch bowling would make an immediate impact. In the T20 series as well, one of the biggest challenges for the Indian batters was the short ball. Rohit Sharma is someone who actually feeds off it and scores heavily against short-pitched bowling. When you do well in SENA countries and overseas, it's partly because you can handle pace well and score runs against the short ball, and that's exactly what India will get from both Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma, Nayar told JioStar. The former India assistant coach feels Rohit's presence alone could compel England to alter their bowling plans, as he said, England will have to change their strategy and bowl differently to them. That's what top players do; they don't change the way they play, they make the opposition change the way, they target them. India will certainly enjoy having Rohit Sharma back, and when you go into big series and major tournaments, that experience gives you the comfort and confidence you need. Nayar also stressed the importance of Jasprit Bumrah's comeback and backed Kuldeep Yadav to thrive in English conditions if given a consistent run in the side. The former all-rounder welcomed Bumrah's return to India's ODI setup, stressing that the fast bowler's experience would help him manage the transition back to 50-over cricket after a long absence. With experience, you understand how to manage your workload. I'm sure he will be bowling, monitoring his overs, and gradually building up his fitness and conditioning to bowl those 10 overs. The kind of skill set Jasprit Bumrah has is invaluable in the longer formats and in 50-over cricket, where you can bowl in spells know when to increase your pace and when to use your slower balls, which are very effective. That's the beauty of Bumrah; he knows how to elevate his game. He played the entire IPL, so he has been building up towards this. With Bumrah, you just want to manage him carefully. Even across these three games, you would ideally want him to play no more than two, he mentioned. Nayar also threw his weight behind Kuldeep Yadav, saying England's conditions could help the left-arm wrist-spinner rediscover his best form. Kuldeep has done well when he's got the pace of the pitch to work with. Even though he didn't have a great IPL, one thing I've really enjoyed seeing about Kuldeep Yadav is that he has learned to vary his pace, he said. Nayar also threw his weight behind Kuldeep Yadav, saying England's conditions could help the left-arm wrist-spinner rediscover his best form. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The only thing I'm concerned about is how much security you can give Kuldeep Yadav. For any spinner, it's important to have that security, to know where you stand and how the team plans to use you. If he starts, I believe he should get a consistent run in the Indian team. Article Source: IANS

1st ODI: India Sharpen Fielding With Intense Drills Ahead Of England Challenge

Adrian Le Roux: India's preparations for the opening ODI against England gathered pace on Tuesday as the visitors put fielding at the centre of their training session at Edgbaston, with head coach Gautam Gambhir closely monitoring the proceedings ahead of the three-match series. The session, overseen by strength and conditioning coach Adrian Le Roux and fielding coach T. Dilip, featured a series of high-intensity drills aimed at improving agility, catching and ground fielding in English conditions. The players began with a warm-up routine that included a football exercise, with captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Prince Yadav, and others passing the ball in small groups as they moved across the ground. The activity was followed by dedicated fielding drills, with Dilip splitting the squad into two groups to maximise catching practice and ensure every player remained actively involved. Addressing the players during the session, Dilip stressed the importance of quick movement in the field, particularly in conditions where sharp reflexes can make a decisive difference. England demands you to be faster with your feet, whether it is catch, or ground fielding. Thats one aspect well try to get better. If your leg reaches to the ball, were good, Dilip said while addressing the group. The training session also had its lighter moments. Virat Kohli was seen sharing laughs with teammates during the drills, with visuals released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) capturing the relaxed atmosphere despite the demanding workload. Meanwhile, Gambhir observed the session from the sidelines as India fine-tuned their preparations for the series opener. The training session also had its lighter moments. Virat Kohli was seen sharing laughs with teammates during the drills, with visuals released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) capturing the relaxed atmosphere despite the demanding workload. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With the series also forming an important step in the team's build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup, the visitors will look to begin the campaign on a positive note when they take on England in the opening match at Edgbaston. Article Source: IANS

Brendon McCullum Apologises After England Test Exit, Says Time for Someone Else

Brendon McCullum has apologised for the unsuccessful end of his reign as England's Test coach, saying it's time for someone else to have a go while insisting it is romantic his tenure and that of former captain Ben Stokes ended in the same match. McCullum, who will remain in charge of England's limited-overs set-up, was axed from the red-ball role he had held since 2022 after overseeing seven defeats in the team's last nine Tests. The former New Zealand captain was said to have stood down in an England and Wales Cricket Board statement released Sunday but McCullum had no qualms in admitting Monday he had been dismissed. Yeah, I got a tap on the shoulder, he told reporters in Birmingham on the eve of the first one-day international against India at Edgbaston. I was disappointed but at the same time I fully respect the decision. We're in a results business and fundamentally our results weren't good enough. Its time for someone else to have a go. We didn't always get it right. For that, I put my hand up. England's recent 2-1 loss at home to New Zealand, which culminated with the international retirement of Test captain Stokes, marked the end of his reign as red-ball coach. But the writing was on the wall for the 44-year-old McCullum following a woeful 4-1 Ashes reverse in Australia concluded in January which saw the England squad accused of fostering a drinking culture. - 'Not good enough' - That extended England's mediocre record in showpiece series against the other members of the so-called 'Big Three', losing away to Australia and India and drawing 2-2 against both countries on home soil. We just weren't quite able to win those big series, against India and Australia, the two marquee series, said McCullum. We just weren't able to get the results and for that I guess I can only say sorry. I was the leader of that group. I was in charge of the team culturally, in charge of the team tactically, in charge of the team results-wise as well. McCullum added: If you don't get the results, being a results business, fundamentally you get replaced. I've been around this game for 20-odd years and I know if you arent getting the results, someone else needs an opportunity. I put my hand up for that and accept it wasn't good enough. McCullum heads into the three-match ODI campaign against India buoyed by England's 4-0 clean sweep of the T20 world champions. But by reverting to separate coaches for Test and white-ball cricket, England risk a repeat of the clashes over player availability between Andy Flower and Ashley Giles from 2012-14. Flower, a three-time Ashes-winning coach who led England to number one in the Test rankings in his previous reign, has been touted as McCullum's red-ball successor. Once the new coach comes into play we will sit down and unpick a lot of this stuff, McCullum said. I'm sure that will be a collaborative process. McCullum also said it was fitting his last Test in charge also marked the end of Stokes's time on the international stage, with the all-rounder dramatically announcing his retirement from England duty during the series finale against New Zealand at Trent Bridge less than two weeks ago. The duo came together four years ago and were the driving forces behind England's aggressive 'Bazball' approach to Test cricket. I got some nice messages from Stokesy, actually, McCullum told the BBC. I guess, in a romantic kind of way theres something about Stokesy and me going out together. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We started it together and we go out together, and I have no problem with that.

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ENG vs IND 1st ODI: Approaching Milestones and Records Ahead of Birmingham Clash

ENG vs IND 1st ODI, ODIApproaching Milestones and Records :After a disastrous T20I series, the Indian cricket team will be in action in the three-match ODI series against England. The series will begin with the first ODI at Edgbaston in Birmingham on July 14 (Tuesday) at 3:30 PM IST. India suffered a 0-4 whitewash in T20Is, which led them to slip from the No. 1 T20I rankings. Harry Brook and co. will be confident after the record-breaking series win, but the challenge will be stiff. India will have Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul in the batting department and Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav in the bowling unit. England will be strengthened with the return of Joe Root and Ben Duckett. England will come hard at the Indians, and Team India have their best possible squad. This is expected to be an exciting series. There were several big records broken in the T20I series, and some exciting ODI records are lined up in the first ODI in Birmingham. Here, we will talk about big records and milestones which are lined up and can be achieved in the England vs India first ODI clash at Edgbaston in Birmingham. ENG vs IND 1st ODI: Approaching Test Records and ODI Cricket Milestones Ahead of the ENG vs IND 1st ODI atEdgbaston in Birmingham 53 - Virat Kohli needs 53 more runs to complete 16500 List A runs, and he will be the fastest to do so. 1 - Virat has 59 List A centuries in 347 matches. With one more hundred, he will equal Sachin Tendulkar (60) with most List A hundreds. 20 - Rohit Sharma needs 20 runs to surpass Inzamam-ul-Haq (11739) and become the seventh highest scorer in ODIs ever.63 - Shreyas Iyer needs 63 more runs to surpass the great Sunil Gavaskar (3092) in the run-scoring chart for India in ODIs. 29 - Adil Rashid needs 29 runs to complete 1000 ODI runs for England. 8 - Adil Rashid needs 8 runs to complete 250 ODI wickets. He will be the second English bowler to do so. 6 - Kuldeep Yadav needs six more wickets to complete 200 ODI wickets. 1 - Jasprit Bumrah is just one wicket away from 150 ODI wickets. 5 - Prasidh Krishna is just five wickets away from 50 ODI wickets. Also Read: Live Cricket Score 8 - Virat needs 8 more sixes to enter into the top ten most international sixes in history.

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'History At Lord's': Dr Mandaviya Congratulates Indian Women's Cricket Team On Historic Test Win

Dr Mansukh Mandaviya: Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, has congratulated the Indian women's cricket team on its historic win in the first-ever Test played at Lord's and said the big win against a strong England side makes the achievement more special. The Sports Minister congratulated the team in a post on social media after the team scripted history with a memorable 270-run victory over England in the one-off Test at Lord's Cricket Ground. History at Lords! Congratulations to our Womens Cricket Team on becoming the first-ever womens team to win a Test match at the iconic venue. A commanding 270-run victory over England makes this achievement even more special, wrote Dr Mandaviya in his post carried on various social media platforms. The Indian women's team produced a strong performance, bowling England out for 186 in their second innings while defending a huge target of 457. Off-spinner Sneh Rana shone with figures of 4-42, and Deepti Sharma took 2-36 as England's resistance fell apart during the opening session on the fourth day. Starting with 130/6, England's slim hopes relied on overnight half-centurion Amy Jones. However, Sneh struck early, dismissing her for 54. Deepti then took out Issy Wong and Lauren Bell while Sneh finished the match by bowling Sophie Ecclestone, who had earlier made her maiden Test fifty, through the gate. The Indian women's team produced a strong performance, bowling England out for 186 in their second innings while defending a huge target of 457. Off-spinner Sneh Rana shone with figures of 4-42, and Deepti Sharma took 2-36 as England's resistance fell apart during the opening session on the fourth day. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India's victory was supported by outstanding performances over all four days. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana scored 83 and 70; Yastika Bhatia hit a remarkable 113the first century by a woman in a Test at Lord'swhile Richa Ghosh smashed an unbeaten 50 off just 52 balls. Kranti Gaud also made her mark in the record books with the first five-wicket haul in a women's Test at the venue. Article Source: IANS

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'This Will Inspire Generations Of Cricketers': BCCI Hails Womens Team For Landmark Test Win At Lord's

BCCI Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has congratulated the Indian women's cricket team on scripting history with a memorable 270-run victory over England in the one-off Test at Lord's Cricket Ground and said the remarkable triumph will inspire generations of cricketers and further strengthen the growth of women's cricket in India. Winning a Test match at the Home of Cricket is a landmark achievement for any cricketer. For this young Indian side, it is a defining moment that reflects the remarkable growth of women's cricket in the country and the resilience, skill, and character that this team continues to display on the world stage, the BCCI said in a release. The victory adds another glorious chapter to Indian cricket and reinforces the team's growing stature in international cricket. It also serves as an inspiration to countless young girls who aspire to represent India at the highest level, the release added. BCCI President Mithun Manhas said, This is one of the finest moments in the history of Indian women's cricket. To win a Test match at Lord's is incredibly special and is a reflection of the courage, discipline, and belief this team has shown throughout the contest. They embraced the occasion, played with tremendous character, and made the entire nation proud. I would like to acknowledge the astute leadership of our former Honorary Secretary and current ICC Chairman, Mr Jay Shah, whose resolute commitment to the growth of women's cricket has helped lay the foundation for achievements such as this. On behalf of the BCCI, I congratulate Harmanpreet Kaur, the players, coaches, and support staff on a truly unforgettable achievement. The victory adds another glorious chapter to Indian cricket and reinforces the team's growing stature in international cricket. It also serves as an inspiration to countless young girls who aspire to represent India at the highest level, the release added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The BCCI congratulates the players, coaches, support staff, and everyone associated with the Indian Women's Cricket Team on a remarkable triumph that will inspire generations of cricketers and further strengthen the growth of women's cricket in India, the release added. Article Source: IANS

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ICC Endorses Development Pathway For Afghan Refugee Women, Reconstitutes Task Force For Future Roadmap

ICC Special Task Force: The governing board of the International Cricket Council (ICC) has endorsed the continuation of the Development Pathway Programme for Afghan refugee women cricketers and also reconstituted the Special Taskforce and assigned it the responsibility to develop a roadmap for them to participate in ICC's qualification pathways by 2030. The ICC Board, at its Annual Conference in Edinburgh, also approved the appointment of its Independent Director, Dr. Ros Rivaz, and ICC Chief Executives' Committee member Sarah Keane to the Special Task Force. They join the Task Force alongside its existing members (from BCCI, Cricket Australia and England & Wales Cricket Board) and will support the ongoing oversight of the programme, seeking to balance the imperatives of exposure, representation and enhanced competitive standards for the women, the ICC informed in a release on Monday. Dr. Ros Rivaz said: I am honoured to join the ICC Special Task Force and contribute to this important initiative. The Task Force has been entrusted with developing a clear and sustainable roadmap that supports the continued development of Afghan refugee women cricketers through structured coaching, meaningful competitive opportunities, and appropriate high-performance pathways. This programme reflects the ICC's commitment to fostering opportunity through cricket, and I look forward to working alongside my fellow Task Force members and delivery partners to ensure it is delivered with purpose, integrity, and long-term sustainability. Nahida Sapan, an Afghan refugee women cricketer, said: This programme has already made a real difference to us, not only by helping us continue playing cricket, but by enabling us to come together and play as a team. Its very reassuring to hear that the ICC and the Task Force are making a long-term commitment to supporting our development. We appreciate the recognition that we have the same rights and opportunities as players of other countries. Firooza Afghan, another Afghan refugee woman cricketer, said: Over the past year, the opportunities to come together as a group and tour India and England have provided us with some of the most memorable experiences in our lives. The support to train in our home locations with quality coaches plays a big role in our progress. A long-term view of participation in ICC qualification pathways gives us a clear goal to work towards, and we are determined to make the most of every opportunity along that journey. Mel Jones, former Australia international and co-founder of It's Game On, said: The continued support for these remarkable women, alongside a clear roadmap towards ICC qualification pathways by 2030, represents an important commitment to their future. It sends a powerful message that talent and determination deserve opportunity. These players are role models, inspiring women and girls around the world, and its exciting to see a long-term pathway that balances development with meaningful competition while recognising their unique journey. The progress theyve made over the past year has been extraordinary, and I cant wait to see what this team achieves by 2030. Firooza Afghan, another Afghan refugee woman cricketer, said: Over the past year, the opportunities to come together as a group and tour India and England have provided us with some of the most memorable experiences in our lives. The support to train in our home locations with quality coaches plays a big role in our progress. A long-term view of participation in ICC qualification pathways gives us a clear goal to work towards, and we are determined to make the most of every opportunity along that journey. Also Read: Live Cricket Score In addition, the programme will see the players continue to receive opportunities to train and compete as a group, similar to tours facilitated to India and England over the last 12 months. Such collective playing opportunities will also be built up in a phased manner and will be against opposition chosen with a strategic view to support their development towards ICC qualification events by 2030. Article Source: IANS

'We just weren't good enough' - McCullum apologises for failures in marquee series

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One-off Test: Cricket Legend Sachin Tendulkar And ICC Chairman Jay Shah Witness India's Historic Victory At Lords

ICC Chairman Jay Shah: The one-off Test match at Lords Cricket Ground ended with a memorable win for the Indian womens cricket team and was witnessed by cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Jay Shah in London on Monday. Their presence at the Home of Cricket reflected the importance of the occasion. India delivered an outstanding all-round performance to defeat England by 270 runs, earning a famous victory at one of the world's most iconic cricket grounds. The result is one of the biggest achievements in the team's Test cricket journey. The Indian women's team produced a strong performance, bowling England out for 186 in their second innings while defending a huge target of 457. Off-spinner Sneh Rana shone with figures of 4-42, and Deepti Sharma took 2-36 as England's resistance fell apart during the opening session on the fourth day. Starting at 130/6, England's hopes rested on overnight half-centurion Amy Jones. However, Sneh Rana struck early, dismissing her for 54. Deepti then took out Issy Wong and Lauren Bell. Sneh Rana then ended the match by bowling Sophie Ecclestone, who had earlier made her maiden Test half-century, with a great delivery. This victory marked India's seventh win in their last 11 women's Tests and ensured they kept their unbeaten record in Test cricket on English soil. Starting at 130/6, England's hopes rested on overnight half-centurion Amy Jones. However, Sneh Rana struck early, dismissing her for 54. Deepti then took out Issy Wong and Lauren Bell. Sneh Rana then ended the match by bowling Sophie Ecclestone, who had earlier made her maiden Test half-century, with a great delivery. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The victory occurred in front of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who spoke to the Indian team before play began. He was joined by ICC Chairman Jay Shah, BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla, and Secretary Devajit Saikia, as India ensured that the first women's Test at Lord's in its 142-year history would be remembered for years to come. Article Source: IANS

One-off Test: Mithali, Rahane, Pathan Lead Plaudits As Cricket Fraternity Celebrates India's Historic Win At Lord's (Ld)

Irfan Pathan Mithali Raj: India's cricket fraternity rose in unison to celebrate the national team's historic victory in the first-ever women's Test at Lord's with former India captain Ajinkya Rahane, all-rounder Irfan Pathan and women's team captain Mithali Raj leading the tributes after Harmanpreet Kaur's side crushed England by 270 runs in a memorable performance at the Home of Cricket. Rahane celebrated the achievement on social media, writing, What a special win! Congratulations to Harmanpreet Kaur and the entire team for making history at Lord's. A performance to remember. (IPL T20) Former India women's captain Mithali Raj said, A complete team performance to seal a legendary, historic Test win in England! Two names added to the iconic Lord's honours board in a single game, huge congratulations to @yastikabhatia for her sensational hundred and Kranti Gaud for her clinical five-wicket haul, brilliantly set up by @mandhana_smriti's exceptional composure across both innings. Off-spinner Sneh Rana excelled with figures of 4-42 as India secured a solid victory on Monday, bowling England out for 186 while defending a challenging target of 457. Deepti Sharma contributed with 2-36, breaking down England's lower order in the opening session of the fourth day. Starting with 130/6, England's slim hopes relied on overnight half-centurion Amy Jones. However, Sneh struck early, dismissing her for 54. Deepti then took out Issy Wong and Lauren Bell while Sneh finished the match by bowling Sophie Ecclestone, who had earlier made her maiden Test fifty, through the gate. This decisive win gave India their seventh victory in the last 11 women's Tests and maintained their unbeaten record in red-ball cricket on English soil. Tributes flooded in after this historic victory. Former England captain Michael Vaughan praised India's all-around performance, while National Cricket Academy head VVS Laxman congratulated the team on their important win and highlighted the significance of conquering Lord's. A truly special win. Congratulations to the Indian Womens team on a memorable Test victory at Lord's. Your skill, resilience, and fighting spirit have made the whole nation proud. Keep it up @BCCI, Laxman posted on X. Fantastic win for India at Lord's in the historic test match. India completely dominated an England team that once again fell far short of where they should be. Two showcase moments for the womens game this past week. I enjoyed watching, Vaughan wrote on X. BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla also praised the team for making history with their strong performance at the famous venue. (IPL T20). Congratulations to Team India for winning against England @BCCI. India's victory was supported by outstanding performances over all four days. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana scored 83 and 70; Yastika Bhatia hit a remarkable 113the first century by a woman in a Test at Lord'swhile Richa Ghosh smashed an unbeaten 50 off just 52 balls. Kranti Gaud also made her mark in the record books with the first five-wicket haul in a women's Test at the venue. Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan posted, Victory with a touch of class. Well done, Indian Womens team on the test match victory vs England w. Smriti Mandana, Deepti Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Yastika Bhatia, Richa Ghosh, Sneh Rana. You all were amazing. Well done, Captain Kaur. Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan joined the chorus in praising the team for the memorable victory at Lord's. Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan posted, Victory with a touch of class. Well done, Indian Womens team on the test match victory vs England w. Smriti Mandana, Deepti Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Yastika Bhatia, Richa Ghosh, Sneh Rana. You all were amazing. Well done, Captain Kaur. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The win took place in front of batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, who spoke to the team before play began, along with ICC chairman Jay Shah, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla, and secretary Devajit Saikia. This capped a dominant performance by India in the first womens Test held at Lord's in its 142-year history. Article Source: IANS

Bethell To Open As England Announce Playing Eleven For First ODI Against India

Jacob Bethell: Batting all-rounder Jacob Bethell is set to open the batting alongside Ben Duckett as England announced their playing eleven for the opening One-day International (ODI) of the three-match series against India, to be played at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Tuesday. The match will also mark a momentous personal milestone for wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler, who will be making his 200th ODI appearance. Buttler, a vital cog in England's white-ball set-up, made his 50-over international debut against Pakistan in Dubai back on February 21, 2012, and has amassed 5,515 runs so far at an average of 39.11, including hitting 11 centuries and 29 fifties. The decision to elevate the young and dynamic Bethell, who has made 21 ODI appearances so far, to the top of the order signals England's intention to find a stable opening partner for Duckett. Interestingly, Bethell is all set to become Duckett's fifth opening partner in recent times, following stints by Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Zak Crawley, and Rehan Ahmed. Harry Brook-led England have also opted for a spin-heavy bowling combination in Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, and Adil Rashid to stifle the robust Indian batting lineup, featuring the likes of captain Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul. The decision to elevate the young and dynamic Bethell, who has made 21 ODI appearances so far, to the top of the order signals England's intention to find a stable opening partner for Duckett. Also Read: Live Cricket Score England playing eleven: Jacob Bethell, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (captain), Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Josh Tongue, and Adil Rashid Article Source: IANS

ACA Chief Gogoi Says Assam 'waited A Long Time' For Own Platform Ahead Of Inaugural APL Auction

Assam Cricket Association: With the inaugural Assam Premier League (APL) player auction just days away, Assam Cricket Association (ACA) president Taranga Gogoi said the league is set to provide the state with a long-awaited platform for its cricketers, as 275 players prepare to go under the hammer on July 19. The first-ever APL auction will be held at the 91 Yards Club at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati, where eight franchises will assemble their squads for the league's maiden season, scheduled to begin on August 1. The player pool comprises 275 shortlisted cricketers from across Assam, including 20 marquee players drawn from the state's senior domestic circuit and more than 250 players in the general category. Highlighting the significance of the league for local talent, Gogoi said the auction marks the beginning of a new chapter for cricket in Assam. The auction on July 19 is the day this league becomes real for our players. Cricketers from every district of Assam have put their names forward, and in a week, they will know which of the eight teams they will represent. When the first match is played on 1st August, we want every fan in the state to feel that this league belongs to them. Assam has waited a long time for a platform of its own, and we intend to make the first season one to remember, Gogoi said. The marquee list features several of Assam's established domestic performers. Batters and all-rounders Denish Das, Sibsankar Roy, Sumit Kashyap, Swarupam Purkayastha, and Jitumoni Kalita headline the group, while the bowling contingent includes Mrinmoy Dutta, Muktar Hussain, Avinav Choudhary, Rahul Singh, Sadak Hussain, and Bhargab Pratim Lakhar. The batting pool is further strengthened by Saahil Jain, Pradyun Saikia, and Saurav Mousum Dihingia, with Abdul Ajij Kuraishi, Akash Sengupta, and Ayushman Malakar offering all-round options. Wicketkeepers Sumit Ghadigaonkar, Rohit Sen, and Ruhinandan Pegu complete the list of marquee players. The marquee list features several of Assam's established domestic performers. Batters and all-rounders Denish Das, Sibsankar Roy, Sumit Kashyap, Swarupam Purkayastha, and Jitumoni Kalita headline the group, while the bowling contingent includes Mrinmoy Dutta, Muktar Hussain, Avinav Choudhary, Rahul Singh, Sadak Hussain, and Bhargab Pratim Lakhar. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Beyond providing a competitive franchise tournament, the APL is expected to serve as an important pathway for emerging players, with league performances set to aid the identification and selection of cricketers for the upcoming BCCI domestic season. Article Source: IANS

One-off Test: The Journey Of Womens Cricket Has Been Remarkable, Says Tendulkar After Indias Historic Lords Win

New Delhi: Batting great Sachin Tendulkar hailed India's historic victory over England in the first-ever women's Test at Lord's, congratulating Harmanpreet Kaur's side for scripting history at the iconic venue and describing the match as another significant milestone in the growth of women's cricket. Tendulkar, who was present at the iconic venue on the final day to witness history, and also addressed the Indian team before the start of play, reflected on the significance of the occasion in a post on Instagram after India completed a commanding 270-run victory. Highlighting the prestige attached to playing at Lord's, Tendulkar said the landmark fixture had fulfilled the aspirations of a new generation of cricketers. Every cricketer carries the dream of playing at Lords. Over the past four days, a new generation lived that dream as womens Test cricket arrived at the Home of Cricket for the very first time, Tendulkar wrote on his social media handles. The former India captain also congratulated the visitors for their dominant display and singled out the performances that shaped the memorable victory. Congratulations to the Indian team on a wonderful victory, he added. Tendulkar reserved special praise for vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, centurion Yastika Bhatia and fast bowler Kranti Goud, whose performances proved instrumental in India's triumph. Smritis composure, Yastikas brilliant century and Krantis five-wicket haul made this occasion even more special, Tendulkar stated. He concluded by placing the result in the broader context of the game's evolution, saying the Lord's Test represented another landmark moment for women's cricket. Smritis composure, Yastikas brilliant century and Krantis five-wicket haul made this occasion even more special, Tendulkar stated. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India sealed a historic 270-run victory after dismissing England for 186 while defending a target of 457, clinching the first women's Test ever played at Lord's. Yastika became the first woman to score a Test century at the venue, while Kranti registered the first five-wicket haul in a women's Test at the iconic ground, ensuring India's name was etched into Lord's history in emphatic fashion. Article Source: IANS

West Indies and New Zealand embrace cricket's simple problems

West Indies enter the contest 1-0 up in five-match series, with threat of rain in the morning in Providence

One-off Test: England Can Learn A Lot From exceptional India, Says Charlotte Edwards

T20 World Cup: England head coach Charlotte Edwards on Monday expressed deep disappointment over her team's failure to perform at their best in their 270-run defeat to India in the historic womens Test at Lords, adding that her players have a lot to learn from an exceptional and disciplined Indian side. England were always left playing catch-up once India made 280 in their first innings, with their batting returns being woefully inadequate to counter a strong visitors' bowling line-up. Subsequently, England were bowled out for 170 and 186 in both innings, as India clinched a memorable win. I'm disappointed all round, really. You come into such a historic Test match and occasion, which has been absolutely amazing... to then not play anywhere near our best over the four days. A lot of credit has to go to India. I thought they were exceptional. They were really disciplined with bat and ball. There's a lot we can learn from that Indian team about how they went about things over the four days, Edwards said at the conclusion of the game. Identifying the exact turning points where England faltered, Charlotte pointed to brief periods of vulnerability that proved costly in a format where margins are razor-thin. We had a bad hour and a half with the ball on the first day, which cost us a few runs. Other than that, I thought we were really good and would have taken our position on day one. We then had a bad hour and a half with the bat (on Day 2). And there are such small margins in this format. The players haven't got the experience of it, so it's really difficult to know that you've got to be on it every single ball - that's something we've learnt. And our batting was really disappointing in this Test match. Gaud bowled really well, but we have to be better in our defence to counteract that, she observed. Looking forward, Charlotte promised comprehensive preparation for the upcoming multi-day challenges, specifically focusing on upskilling the younger crop of players for the blockbuster Ashes Test next year. This is a format that our players aren't exposed to - and that's something we will need to upskill them in. That's my job over the next 12 months, ahead of a massive Ashes Test match that we have to be ready for and better prepared for. The focus for this summer was the T20 World Cup - and it had to be. So I don't want this to overshadow the great progress this team has made, but equally, it has highlighted to me that we have to improve in other areas. That's exciting. That's the job, and I'll be plotting that for the next 12 months, she promised. This is a format that our players aren't exposed to - and that's something we will need to upskill them in. That's my job over the next 12 months, ahead of a massive Ashes Test match that we have to be ready for and better prepared for. The focus for this summer was the T20 World Cup - and it had to be. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Two amazing servants to English women's cricket, two amazing batters, and one amazing leader in Heather. They're going to be sorely missed. But this is a massive opportunity for our younger players now to step into those roles. From a coaching point of view, that's exciting, though it's sad to see two players I played with and have now coached step away from the game, she concluded. Article Source: IANS

Indian Womens Deaf Cricket Team Secures Historic Win Against SL In Maiden International T20 Tour

De Soysa International Cricket Stadium: The Indian Deaf Womens Cricket Team achieved a historic milestone by winning their first-ever international T20 series, defeating the host Sri Lankan Deaf Womens Cricket Team 5-0. This tour was a significant debut on the international stage for the Indian deaf womens team. They played four matches at the De Soysa International Cricket Stadium in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. On 13th July, Team India secured victory in the fifth and final match by 7 wickets, after limiting Sri Lanka to 40/10 in 13.5 overs in the first innings. The final match concluded with a grand closing ceremony attended by Chief Guests Sunil Kumara Gamage, Minister of Sports of Sri Lanka, and Maitrey Kulkarni, Deputy High Commissioner of India. Sugath Wasantha, Member of Parliament of Sri Lanka, participated as Guest of Honour. During the event, Maitrey Kulkarni awarded trophies to the champion and runner-up teams. Speaking on the occasion, Sumit Jain, President, Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA), said, The performance of the Indian womens team here in Sri Lanka shows that, just like their male counterparts, the Indian Womens Deaf Cricket Team is also ready to take on and dominate the international platform. I am truly grateful to the Sri Lanka Deaf Cricket Association and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sri Lanka, for their valued partnership and generous support this past week. I am also thankful to the sponsors, the management, and ground staff at De Soysa International Stadium for the wonderful job they did over the past week. I once again congratulate all the players from India and Sri Lanka on this historic feat and wish them the best for the future. Present on the occasion, Roma Balwani, CEO, IDCA added, To win their first-ever international T20 series 4-0 on debut is an extraordinary feat by our women cricketers. These athletes are role models who have put Indian deaf womens cricket on the global map. We are deeply thankful to Serum Institute of India, Cyrus Poonawalla Group, and our hosts in Sri Lanka for their partnership. It would not have been possible without you. I would also like to thank the Sri Lankan womens team for the amazing competition they displayed over the past week. Special Awards: Player of the Final Match: Shradda Vaishnav (India) Best Bowler of the Series: Chandani Khan (India) Player of the Final Match: Shradda Vaishnav (India) Also Read: Live Cricket Score Player of the Series: Reddy Jyoshna (India) Article Source: IANS

Ajinkya Rahane Salutes India's 'special' Lord's Triumph As Harmanpreet's Side Scripts History

National Cricket Academy: India's historic victory in the first-ever women's Test at Lord's drew praise from across the cricketing world, with former India captain Ajinkya Rahane leading the tributes after Harmanpreet Kaur's side crushed England by 270 runs in a memorable performance at the Home of Cricket. Rahane celebrated the achievement on social media with a post in which he wrote: What a special win! Congratulations to Harmanpreet Kaur and the entire team for making history at Lord's. A performance to remember. Off-spinner Sneh Rana excelled with figures of 4-42 as India secured a solid victory on Monday, bowling England out for 186 while defending a challenging target of 457. Deepti Sharma contributed with 2-36, breaking down England's lower order in the opening session of the fourth day. Starting with 130/6, England's slim hopes relied on overnight half-centurion Amy Jones. However, Sneh struck early, dismissing her for 54. Deepti then took out Issy Wong and Sophie Ecclestone, who had earlier made her maiden Test fifty, before Sneh finished the match by bowling Ecclestone through the gate. This decisive win gave India their seventh victory in the last 11 women's Tests and maintained their unbeaten record in red-ball cricket on English soil. Tributes flooded in after this historic victory. Former England captain Michael Vaughan praised India's all-around performance, while National Cricket Academy head VVS Laxman congratulated the team on their important win and highlighted the significance of conquering Lord's. A truly special win. Congratulations to the Indian Womens team on a memorable Test victory at Lord's. Your skill, resilience, and fighting spirit have made the whole nation proud. Keep it up @BCCI, Laxman posted on X. Fantastic win for India at Lord's in the historic test match. India completely dominated an England team that once again fell far short of where they should be. Two showcase moments for the womens game this past week. I enjoyed watching, Vaughan wrote on X. BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla also praised the team for making history with their strong performance at the famous venue. (IPL T20) Congratulations to Team India for winning against England @BCCI. BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla also praised the team for making history with their strong performance at the famous venue. (IPL T20) Also Read: Live Cricket Score The win took place in front of batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, who spoke to the team before play began, along with ICC chairman Jay Shah, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla, and secretary Devajit Saikia. This capped a dominant performance by India in the first womens Test held at Lord's in its 142-year history. Article Source: IANS

One-off Test: Top Order Took Pressure Off, Playing At Lords Always Special, Says Harmanpreet

T20 World Cup: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur on Monday hailed her top-order batters for absorbing the pressure early on and described playing at the iconic Lords cricket ground as an inherently special experience, following her team's historic 270-run triumph over England in the historic one-off women's Test. India were dominant from the outset making 280 in their first innings, as Smriti Mandhana top-scored with 83, before dismissing England for 170, thanks to Kranti Gauds five-for. In the second innings, thanks to Yastika Bhatias 113, along with Smriti and Richa Ghosh hitting fifties, India declared at 341/7, before Sneh Rana took a four-for as England were bowled out for 186. God is a better writer. He's written it very well. Yes, definitely. I think our openers have been our biggest strength. The way they batted in the first half, I think that was something very special to watch. They're the ones who always take the responsibility and take all the pressure out from us. In this Test match also, the way they batted was outstanding to watch, Kaur said after the match ended. She also said that the victory at the 'Home of Cricket' provided the perfect conclusion to a challenging tour of England, where they lost the T20I series 2-1 and failed to enter the semi-finals of the Womens T20 World Cup. Yes, definitely. Playing at Lord's is always special. I really want to thank the people who thought about bringing one Test match here, and hopefully in future we'll get many more. These kinds of matches bring a lot of happiness and excitement. Hopefully we'll keep getting more Test matches and keep performing the way we are doing, she added. Despite playing sporadic red-ball cricket, India's formidable run in the format continued. Kaur lauded the tactical guidance provided by head coach Amol Muzumdar and the support staff in keeping the squad unified after recent white-ball setbacks. I think it's the effort the entire team is putting in, and especially our support staff. Many of them have played a lot of Test cricket. They know how Test cricket moves, and they're the ones giving us feedback each and every moment. Because of them we were able to perform. I really want to thank Amol sir and the entire team for the way they supported us during this Test match and the previous one we played. I think the last couple of series have not been in our favour. But I know that's the time when things can go here and there. The way our support staff kept us together, that is something to watch. Again, I want to give credit to Amol sir and the entire support staff. They kept us together. I know the summer in England didn't go the way we wanted, but we came back strongly in the Test match. I'm really happy that we're taking some good memories back home now, she elaborated. But I know that's the time when things can go here and there. The way our support staff kept us together, that is something to watch. Again, I want to give credit to Amol sir and the entire support staff. They kept us together. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The way our entire team fielded in this Test match was something very special to watch because fielding is an area we've worked very hard on as a group. When you see the results, you feel really happy. Our fielding coach has been working so hard for so many years now, so I'm really happy with the way the entire team fielded, especially Richa's performance. Everybody came together and did the job for the team, she concluded. Article Source: IANS

One-off Test: Failed To Adapt On First Morning; Didn't Have Enough Partnerships, Admits Sciver-Brunt

T20 World Cup: England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt admitted that her side failed to adapt quickly to the conditions on the opening morning of the historic womens Test against India at Lords, adding that they also lacked in getting impactful partnerships, which ultimately led to them suffering a 270-run defeat. England were always left playing catch-up once India made 280 in their first innings, with their batting returns being woefully inadequate to counter a strong visitors bowling line-up. Subsequently, England were bowled out for 170 and 186 in both innings, as India clinched a memorable win. I guess on the first morning, we probably didn't adapt to the conditions as well as we could have, struggled to find our length. But once we started hitting that, I think we were really in the game. And then I suppose the fact we just didn't have enough partnerships together and couldn't extend those and obviously get close to their total. So we were sort of fighting to get back into the game from then. But I think throughout different times in the match, we showed huge character. Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell, Sophie, Issy finding something for us. And yeah, I guess just a great experience as a first match at Lord's. But yeah, plenty for us to work on, Nat said at the post-match presentation. Defending her decision to bowl first after winning the toss, Nat stated, I don't think so. I mean, you could play it out the other way around and us be three or four down in the first morning or whatever it is. I think as a team we were happy with that decision. I mean, I think we showed spells of being able to get on top of the game. The transition from the T20 World Cup final to the longest format left little time for red-ball preparation, but Nat refused to use the tight schedule as an excuse. I guess, of course, we would have liked a couple more days between that final. But I suppose that's the scheduling landscape we're in. There's a lot of cricket being played in the calendar. So, as cricketers, we have to be ready for that and recover as best as we can before obviously preparing for a test match in a T20 format. But I think that's what we've signed up for as cricketers. We want to be part of everything, she added. The Test match was an emotional affair for the hosts as it also marked the final international game of stalwarts Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont, alongside Nats debut as England's Test captain. I have really enjoyed it. Absolutely loved walking through the long room and feeling the excitement from everyone there. We obviously had a very special test match in Heather and Tammy's last game as well. So, there's been a lot going on and a lot of emotions riding around the four days. Paying a heartfelt tribute to her departing teammates, Nat said, They've been a huge part of my whole career. Obviously, both part of the team before I started. So it's going to be a bit weird without them around. Obviously, Heather having taken over captaincy and been us through obviously the full professionalization of the game and taken us to where we are now. I'm in a hugely privileged position to be taking on at mantle and trying to take the team and the girls forward even further. But they've both been such a huge part of our team, had hugely successful careers and have so much to be proud of. But I'm just proud to have been part of their experience and of the people that they are. Paying a heartfelt tribute to her departing teammates, Nat said, They've been a huge part of my whole career. Obviously, both part of the team before I started. So it's going to be a bit weird without them around. Obviously, Heather having taken over captaincy and been us through obviously the full professionalization of the game and taken us to where we are now. Also Read: Live Cricket Score And I suppose have that in the back pocket for when we then switch formats quite quickly next time and go into that lovely test match next summer against Australia. But I think every test match is so special and being able to create the memories that we can with our group is something to hold on to and be really proud of, she concluded. Article Source: IANS

Ashleigh Gardner Accused Of Cheating With Teammate By Estranged Wife

ODI World Cup: Australia all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner has found herself at the centre of public attention after a report regarding the breakdown of her marriage was followed by a series of social media posts from her estranged wife, Monica Wright. According to a Daily Mail report, Gardner and Wright's marriage had broken down following an alleged affair involving a fellow Australian cricketer. While the publication did not identify the individual in its report, Wright responded on Instagram, calling the report oo vague before posting a photograph of Aussie cricketer Georgia Voll with the caption, This is who my wife cheated on me with... The publication reported that Gardner and Wright's relationship began facing difficulties during the Women's ODI World Cup earlier this year, with Wright later travelling to India during the tournament. The report further stated that, after the team's return to Australia, Gardner told Wright that something had changed in their relationship, and the couple eventually separated. The report also suggested that the couple had planned to start a family before the separation and that Gardner later moved out of their Sydney home, leaving their wedding rings behind. It further claimed the separation had become a topic of discussion within the Australian dressing room and that some members of the squad remained in contact with Wright. Neither Gardner nor Voll have publicly responded to Wright's Instagram posts at the time of writing. The report also suggested that the couple had planned to start a family before the separation and that Gardner later moved out of their Sydney home, leaving their wedding rings behind. It further claimed the separation had become a topic of discussion within the Australian dressing room and that some members of the squad remained in contact with Wright. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The developments have generated widespread discussion on social media. However, no official statement has been issued by the players involved or by Cricket Australia beyond its reported decision not to comment. Article Source: IANS

ENG vs IND 1st ODI Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XIs

ENG vs IND 1st ODI , Cricket Tips :The five-match T20I series ended with a lot of unwanted records getting registered with Team India, and they suffered consecutive series whitewashes on this UK tour. Now, England and India will take on each other in three ODIs. The first game will begin at Edgbaston in Birmingham on July 14 at 3:30 PM IST. Captain Shubman Gill will lead the ODI series, which will see Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav back. For England, they have an almost similar squad, which played the T20I series, except Joe Root, Ben Duckett, and Gus Atkinson are back. It is expected to be a high-octane battle between two top sides. ENG vs IND: Match Details Date : July 14, 2026 (Tuesday) Time : 3:30 PM IST Venue : Egbaston, Birmingham ENG vs IND: Live Streaming Details The live action of the ODI series will be available on the Star Sports networks. Fans can access the live stream of the game on the Jio Hotstar app or website. ENG vs IND: Head-to-Head in ODI Total Matches: 110 India : 61 England : 44 No-result: 05 ENG vs IND: Ground Pitch Report Edgbaston has a good batting wicket, with good bounce and pace. Fast bowlers can extract seam movement for the first few overs. Batters, who can play bounce well, will succeed here. The chasing team does well here, and both teams will prefer to bat second. ENG vs IND: Possible XIs England : Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Harry Brook (c), Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Jos Buttler (wk), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue India : Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Jasprit Bumrah ENG vs IND: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Joe Root has been the premier batter for England and will be a big wicket for the hosts. Shubman Gill has been in red-hot form, and he was unstoppable the last time he was in England for the test series. Probable Best Bowler Jasprit Bumrah is back, and he will be the main bowler for India in the ODIs. For England, Jofra Archer has been sensational in T20Is and will have a key role in this ODI series also. Today Match Prediction : England won the T20I series, but this is a different format, and India are more experienced. However, we predict India will win this game. ENG vs IND Match 1st ODI, 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.

India crush England to claim historic victory in the first women's Test at Lord's

Sneh Rana picked up four wickets to topple the hosts and seal a 270-run win on the final day's play

India scripts history at Lords with record 270-run win over England in first-ever Womens Test

Off-spinner Sneh Rana picked a superb four-wicket haul as a clinical Indian team scripted history by beating England by 270 runs to clinch a victory in the historic first-ever Womens Test match at Lords on Monday. Chasing an improbable world-record target of 457 runs, Englands lower-order resistance was systematically dismantled by the Indian spin duo of Rana (4-42) and Deepti Sharma (2-36) in the first session, as the hosts were bundled out for 186 in 62.5 overs. It meant that Harmanpreet Kaur and her team secured a highly-deserving and comprehensive victory at the iconic venue. With this triumph, India has also extended their formidable run in red-ball cricket, by securing their seventh victory in last 11 Test matches. Crucially, they have maintained their proud unbeaten record in the longest format on English soil. Resuming day four from 130/6, Englands faint hopes of delaying the inevitable rested heavily on overnight half-centurion Amy Jones. However, India struck in the third over of the morning as Sneh sent down a short delivery that Amy (54) uncharacteristically pulled straight into the hands of Shafali Verma at mid-wicket, signalling the end of any realistic English resistance. Issy Wong and Sophie Ecclestone defied the Indian bowling attack for nearly 10 overs without scoring. The resistance was broken when Deepti produced a peach of a delivery that drifted in and went straight on to beat Issys defensive push and disturb her off-stump. Sophie, meanwhile, fetched boundaries off Kranti Gaud and Deepti Sharma to keep the scoreboard moving. She found a fleeting ally in Lauren Bell, but Deepti drew her forward with a flighted delivery that spun sharply back into the right-hander and crashed into the top of the off-stump. With England reeling at 159/9, Lauren Filer joined Sophie, who continued to display commendable rearguard action. Sophie drove Deepti for a single in the 62nd over to reach her maiden Test half-century in 61 balls amidst applause from the crowd. But Sneh, who threatened both edges while bowling from around the wicket, quickly wrapped up the proceedings with a screamer of a delivery. She tossed one up nicely outside off with a bit of dip and enticed Sophie into a forward defence, only for the ball to sneak through the gate and knock the stumps over. The comprehensive victory coming in front of legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar, who gave a pep talk to the Indian team before the start of days play, as well as ICC Chairman Jay Shah, BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla and Secretary Devajit Saikia encapsulated India's absolute dominance in all three facets of the game throughout the four days. With England reeling at 159/9, Lauren Filer joined Sophie, who continued to display commendable rearguard action. Sophie drove Deepti for a single in the 62nd over to reach her maiden Test half-century in 61 balls amidst applause from the crowd. But Sneh, who threatened both edges while bowling from around the wicket, quickly wrapped up the proceedings with a screamer of a delivery. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: India 285 and 341/7 dec in 86.3 overs (Yastika Bhatia 113; Sophie Ecclestone 5-118) beat England 170 and 186 in 62.5 overs (Amy Jones 54, Sophie Ecclestone 50; Sneh Rana 4-42, Sayali Satghare 2-24) by 270 runs. Article Source: IANS

WI vs NZ 2nd ODI: Preview, Predicted XIs, Player Tips & Match Prediction

WI vs NZ 2nd ODI, Cricket Tips :West Indies produced an excellent performance in the first game of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand and recorded a win by seven runs. Keacy Carty produced yet another match-winning knock and scored 95 off 112. He was equally supported by captain Shai Hope, who scored an unbeaten 87 off 92 balls. West Indies did well with the ball also. The second ODI will commence at 12 AM IST on Tuesday at Providence Stadium in Guyana. This contest is important for New Zealand to win to stay in the series. They have had good moments in the first game but need to be more consistent in both departments. WI vs NZ: Match Details Date : July 14, 2026 (Tuesday) Time : 12:00 AM IST Venue : Providence Stadium, Guyana WI vs NZ: Live Streaming Details For the Indian fans, the only option to watch the game is through the FanCode streaming platform. WI vs NZ: Head-to-Head in ODIs Total Matches : 69 West Indies : 32 New Zealand: 30 No-result : 07 WI vs NZ: Ground Pitch Report Providence Stadium has a slow wicket, which offers low bounce at times. There is always an uncertainty in this wicket for the batting sides. The new ball will seam and move, and spinners will turn and grip from the wicket. The conditions to bat in the second innings are expected to be better. WI vs NZ: Possible XIs West Indies : Ackeem Auguste, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (C/WK), Sherfane Rutherford, Gudakesh Motie, Amir Jangoo, Khary Pierre, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Vitel Lawes New Zealand: Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Tom Latham (WK), Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (C), Matthew Fisher, Nathan Smith, Jacob Duffy, Jayden Lennox WI vs NZ: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Shai Hope and Daryl Mitchell slammed half-centuries in the first game and showed why they are premier batters for their teams. Probable Best Bowler Alzarri Joseph bowled a great spell in the first game and was excellent with his control and length. For New Zealand, Jacob Duffy holds the key. He can swing the ball and take wickets in the powerplay. Today Match Prediction : West Indies have the momentum and confidence after the win. Hence, we predict West Indies to win the second ODI. WI vs NZ Match 2nd ODI, Today Match WI vs NZ, WI vs NZ Prediction, WI vs NZ Predicted XIs, Injury Update for West Indies vs New Zealand Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.

Shikhar Dhawan, Kedar Jadhav Hail Neeru Dhanda After Historic ISSF World Cup Gold

ISSF World Cup Shotgun: Former India cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Kedar Jadhav congratulated trap shooter Neeru Dhanda after she scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to win an ISSF World Cup gold medal in the Trap event, following her triumph at the ISSF World Cup Shotgun in Lonato, Italy. Neeru produced a composed display in the women's Trap final on Saturday, hitting 27 of her 30 targets at Trap Concaverde in Lonato to clinch her maiden ISSF World Cup title. The victory also marked the biggest international success of her career and strengthened India's growing reputation in international shotgun shooting. Joining in the celebrations, Dhawan applauded Neeru's achievement with a message highlighting the rewards of perseverance. Jab mehnat nishane par lage, toh medal bhi sona hi hota hai (When hard work hits the target, the medal can only be gold). Bahut bahut badhai (Many congratulations) Neeru Dhanda on winning the World Cup trap gold. Proud moment for Indian sport, Dhawan wrote on X. Former India all-rounder Kedar Jadhav also praised the shooter for creating history, describing the feat as a landmark moment for Indian sport. Jab mehnat nishane par lage, toh medal bhi sona hi hota hai (When hard work hits the target, the medal can only be gold). Bahut bahut badhai (Many congratulations) Neeru Dhanda on winning the World Cup trap gold. Proud moment for Indian sport, Dhawan wrote on X. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Neeru remained composed throughout the medal round, delivering a consistent performance under pressure to finish atop the field with 27 hits from 30 targets. The triumph earned her a maiden ISSF World Cup gold and added another milestone to India's growing list of achievements on the international shooting circuit. Article Source: IANS

Hetmyer Drafted In As Injured Greaves Misses Next Two New Zealand ODIs

New Zealand ODIs: West Indies have been forced into a change for the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand after all-rounder Justin Greaves was ruled out of the second and third matches with a back injury, prompting the recall of left-handed batter Shimron Hetmyer. Cricket West Indies (CWI) confirmed that Greaves has returned to Barbados to continue his rehabilitation after the injury also kept him out of the series opener in Providence. The board said the all-rounder will undergo further assessment before a decision is taken on his availability for the final two ODIs and the subsequent two-Test series against Pakistan. Hetmyer's inclusion comes after his Major League Cricket commitments ended earlier than anticipated. The left-hander was unavailable for selection for the opening three fixtures of the New Zealand series as he had been allowed to complete his campaign with the Seattle Orcas. The franchise's failure to qualify for the playoffs has now paved the way for the 28-year-old to rejoin the national setup. Although Hetmyer featured in all 10 league matches for the Orcas, he managed 164 runs at an average of 20.50 and a strike rate of 136.66, registering one half-century during the tournament. His most recent ODI appearance came in June 2025, while he was recalled to the West Indies squad for the home series against Sri Lanka earlier this year but did not feature in the playing XI. Greaves' absence deprives the hosts of one of their in-form all-rounders. The 31-year-old heads into his rehabilitation after enjoying a memorable Test series against Sri Lanka, where his career-best 180 in the second Test helped West Indies secure a 1-0 series victory their first Test series win since 2023. His performances earned him the Player of the Series award. West Indies have already made a winning start to the five-match contest, defeating New Zealand by seven wickets in the opening ODI to take a 1-0 lead. The first three matches of the series are being played in Providence before the action shifts to Bridgetown for the final two fixtures. Greaves' absence deprives the hosts of one of their in-form all-rounders. The 31-year-old heads into his rehabilitation after enjoying a memorable Test series against Sri Lanka, where his career-best 180 in the second Test helped West Indies secure a 1-0 series victory their first Test series win since 2023. His performances earned him the Player of the Series award. Also Read: Live Cricket Score West Indies squad for first three ODIs vs New Zealand: Shai Hope (capt, wk), Ackeem Auguste, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Vitel Lawes, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales Article Source: IANS

One-off Test: Sachin Tendulkar Addresses Indian Team Ahead Of Historic Final Day

Sachin Tendulkar: In a magnificent gesture, legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar addressed the Indian women's cricket team on the hallowed turf of Lord's Cricket Ground just before the start of the morning session on the final day of the one-off Test against England. Widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, Tendulkar was seen walking out and interacting with the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side, as well as the support staff members, to provide an unforgettable motivational boost, especially with India standing on the cusp of a famous Test victory on English soil. Wow, the day gets better and better if you're an Indian player, an Indian fan. The great man, the great man Sachin Tendulkar unannounced, has just popped in and he's decided to come over and chat with the Indian players. I mean, what a lift that is. They're about to win this historic Test match surely in the morning session and some incredible words there from Sachin. It is so good to see him here. It is so good to see him here involved in women's cricket as well. And what a moment that is for all those players, said former England batter Nick Knight on air before the morning session began. Wow, the day gets better and better if you're an Indian player, an Indian fan. The great man, the great man Sachin Tendulkar unannounced, has just popped in and he's decided to come over and chat with the Indian players. I mean, what a lift that is. Also Read: Live Cricket Score On day three, after declaring their second innings at 341/7 in 86.3 overs, thanks to Yastika Bhatias historic 113, India then reduced England to 130/6 at stumps and put themselves on the doorstep of a famous victory. The final day's play is more of a matter of 'when' rather than 'if' for India to seal the match in their favour. Article Source: IANS

One-off Test: India Have Executed Basics Better To Dominate England, Says Mark Butcher

Mark Butcher: Former England batter Mark Butcher has lauded Indias absolute dominance in the ongoing one-off Test match at Lords, adding that the visitors had completely out-bowled England by executing the basics of the game much better. Harmanpreet Kaur-led India now need to pick just four wickets on the final day of the first-ever womens Test at Lords to complete a famous victory and Butcher did not mince words about the gulf in performance between the two bowling units. India have been dominant, pretty much from the off. I think the dye was cast from the first session of the Test when England won the toss and bowled first. There was a bit of assistance for the seamers on that day and fluffed their lines - they couldn't hold to a line and length and India got off to an absolute flier. India's 280 in the first innings has proven to be a lot of runs when the pitch was probably at its spiciest. From that moment onwards, England haven't been allowed back in the game. Lets face it, they have been out-bowled five to one in terms of line and length and India have done the basics better, thats it, said Butcher to broadcasters ahead of day fours play. Chasing a monumental, world-record target of 457 runs, England collapsed to a precarious 130/6 on day three. Given that the highest successful fourth-innings chase in womens Test history stands at a mere 198, an English victory was always highly improbable. India's 280 in the first innings has proven to be a lot of runs when the pitch was probably at its spiciest. From that moment onwards, England haven't been allowed back in the game. Lets face it, they have been out-bowled five to one in terms of line and length and India have done the basics better, thats it, said Butcher to broadcasters ahead of day fours play. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The only silver lining for Englands batting line-up has been wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones, who fought valiantly to remain unbeaten on 52. While Amy will be aiming to convert her half-century into three figures on the final day, a potential milestone for her will offer little solace to England after enduring a chastening few days of Test match cricket. Article Source: IANS

'History Created At The Mecca Of Cricket!': Kedar Jadhav Hails Kranti Goud's Lord's Feat

Lords Honours Board: Former India all-rounder Kedar Jadhav congratulated pacer Kranti Goud after she etched her name into cricketing history with a five-wicket haul in the one-off women's Test against England at Lord's, describing her performance as a landmark achievement at one of the sport's most iconic venues. Goud produced figures of 5/37 to become the first woman to claim a five-wicket haul in a Test at Lord's, ensuring her name would be added to the historic honours board at the ground. Her spell played a key role in putting India in a commanding position in the first-ever women's Test at the 'Home of Cricket'. Reacting to the milestone, Jadhav celebrated the significance of the achievement, calling it a moment of history for Indian cricket. What a phenomenal achievement! History created at the Mecca of Cricket! Huge congratulations to Kranti Goud on becoming the first-ever Indian woman cricketer to get her name inscribed on the prestigious Lords Honours Board after a brilliant 5-wicket haul against England!, Jadhav wrote on X. The former India cricketer also underlined the prestige associated with excelling at Lord's, saying Goud had fulfilled a dream shared by generations of cricketers. To perform like this at Lord's is a dream for every cricketer, and youve made it reality with sheer class, he added. Jadhav concluded by expressing his pride in the young fast bowler's accomplishment and backed her to continue inspiring aspiring cricketers with performances on the international stage. To perform like this at Lord's is a dream for every cricketer, and youve made it reality with sheer class, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Goud's memorable spell came in the first women's Test to be staged at Lord's, making her achievement even more significant. Along with Yastika Bhatia, who became the first woman to score a Test century at the venue, Goud ensured India dominated the honours board in a historic match that marked a new chapter for women's cricket at the iconic ground. Article Source: IANS

Charani, Bryce, Wyatt-Hodge Shortlisted For ICC Women's Player Of The Month Award After T20 WC Heroics

T20 World Cup: Rising India left-arm spinner N Sree Charani has been nominated for the ICC Womens Player of the Month award for June 2026, following a spectacular individual campaign at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. The young left-arm spinner is joined on the shortlist by Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce and England's veteran opener batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge. While India's tournament campaign came to an end in the group stages, Charani emerged as the silver lining, finishing the marquee event as its leading wicket-taker. Charani spun a web around batting lineups to pick 14 wickets in just six T20Is at a remarkable average of 11 and a highly impressive economy rate of 6.69. She picked up at least two wickets in all five of India's Group 1 encounters. Her tournament-defining spells included standout figures of 3-21 against arch-rivals Pakistan, a lethal 4-19 against the Netherlands, and a masterful 3-24 against South Africa. For the monthly honour, Charani faces stiff competition from Danni, who enjoyed a prolific month at the top of the order. She amassed 287 runs in six T20Is at an astronomical average of 71.75 and a strike rate of 151.85. She finished as the tournament's leading run-scorer and scripted history by becoming the first woman to breach the 300-run mark in a single edition of the T20 World Cup, ending with 302 runs. Her tournament highlights included a blazing, unbeaten 105 against Sri Lanka, 65 against the West Indies, and a match-winning 89 not out that knocked out defending champions New Zealand. She finished as the tournament's leading run-scorer and scripted history by becoming the first woman to breach the 300-run mark in a single edition of the T20 World Cup, ending with 302 runs. Also Read: Live Cricket Score She accumulated 178 runs at a strike rate of 140.15 and picked up 11 wickets in June. In the T20 World Cup, she spearheaded Scotlands campaign, notably scoring a commanding 60 in their opening match against Ireland. Article Source: IANS