Cricket

'Can't defend that' - Australia's batting deficiencies exposed

Australia coach Andrew McDonald backed the longer term record of his side after they were bundled out for 99

'We obviously want to go for the win' - Bavuma's 179 gives South Africa a chance to dream

South Africa are now the only side with a realistic chance of winning although being able to enforce the follow-on will likely be key to the outcome

2nd Test: South Africa Quicks Push Australia To The Brink Despite Head's Unbeaten Fifty

ICC World Test Championship Test: Opener Travis Head struck an unbeaten 87 in the second innings to rescue Australia despite being forced to follow-on after being bowled out for 99 in their first innings on the fourth day of the second Test against South Africa at the St George's Park in Gqeberha on Wednesday. Bundled out for a paltry 99 in the first innings, Australia lost opener Nic Maddinson for eight before Head and Marnus Labuschagne shared a 92-run partnership in the second innings as they reached 156/4 at stumps, still trailing South Africa by 170 runs. The fourth day of the second ICC World Test Championship Test between South Africa and Australia saw the Proteas quicks come out all guns blazing, ripping through Australias batting line-up to secure a sizeable first-innings advantage. Starting the day at 3/1 after losing Nic Maddinson for a duck late on Day 3, Australia struggled to get their innings going from the outset. Scott Boland was the first to fall, with Ryan Rickelton and Marco Jansen combining to dismiss Australia's five-wicket star from the first innings. Jansen then produced a beauty to remove Head for 14, leaving Australia reeling at 22/3. Labuschagne and Steve Smith attempted to steady the innings, but Anrich Nortje struck again before leaving the field with a suspected groin injury. Jansen then returned to dismiss Australia's star performer from the first Test, Matt Renshaw, and Alex Carey in the space of three deliveries, piling further pressure on the visitors. The pacer continued his remarkable spell, bringing Beau Websters resistance to an end, with Aiden Markram taking the catch to hand the seamer his fifth wicket of the innings, which he concluded with bowling figures of 5-33. As wickets continued to tumble at the other end, Smith reached the landmark of 11,000 Test runs, joining Australian greats Ricky Ponting and Allan Border in an exclusive club. However, Wiaan Mulder cut short his milestone innings, dismissing him for 28 off 88 balls. Australia were eventually bowled out for just 99, with the Proteas securing a mammoth 326-run first-innings lead. South Africa enforced the follow-on, and Kagiso Rabada struck early, dismissing Maddinson for eight. Labuschagne and Head took charge of things after the first wicket and combined for a 92-run stand to anchor the innings for Australia. Labuschagne, however, bit the dust when he was dismissed for 39 by Simon Harmer. Rabada struck again soon after, toppling the stumps of Renshaw to pile on more trouble for the visitors as they found themselves at 123/3 with over 200 runs to catch up on. Webster came in and wasnt able to match up to Harmers spin, who trapped him leg-before soon after. Head fought on at the other end, ending the day unbeaten at 87, as Australia finished with 156/4 on the board, staring at a substantial 170-run deficit to save the second Test in Gqeberha. Brief scores: Head fought on at the other end, ending the day unbeaten at 87, as Australia finished with 156/4 on the board, staring at a substantial 170-run deficit to save the second Test in Gqeberha. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Smith's 11K milestone overshadowed by Aussie collapse

Australian batter Steve Smith has become the third Australian and 12th overall player to reach 11,000 runs in Test cricket during the ongoing second Test against South Africa. He achieved this milestone in 226 innings, placing him among an elite group of batters. The article also details the match situation where South Africa has enforced a follow-on against Australia.

Rabada joins Steyn, Ntini in South Africa's elite Test club

South African pacer Kagiso Rabada has become the fourth Proteas bowler to claim 200 Test wickets on home soil, joining legends like Dale Steyn and Shaun Pollock. His achievement came during a Test match against Australia where South Africa staged a remarkable comeback, enforcing a follow-on after dismissing Australia for 99. Captain Temba Bavuma led a strong batting recovery for the Proteas.

Priyansh opens up after missing Ranji double ton by 1 run

Young Delhi opener Priyansh Arya scored a magnificent 199 against Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match, helping Delhi secure a crucial first-innings lead in the drawn game. Captain Ayush Badoni also contributed with 217, while Hrithik Shokeen took five wickets for Delhi. Arya expressed satisfaction with his knock and highlighted the importance of domestic cricket.

SL vs ENG 3rd ODI Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XIs

SL vs ENG 3rdODI, Cricket Tips: Pakistan have been brilliant in the ongoing ODI tri-series at home and have beaten Sri Lanka and England in consecutive matches. Their chances of making it to the final have increased. Now England and Sri Lanka will compete for the remaining second slot in the final. These two sides will be facing each other on Thursday at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, starting at 1:30 PM IST. Both teams suffered big defeats in their opening game. Sri Lanka lacked the bat in the final overs. Meanwhile, England struggled in the middle orders. Their top order made the game, but they failed to capitalize on the start. Both teams would be hoping to bounce back. We might see a competitive game ahead. SL vs ENG: Match Details Date : October 22, 2026 (Thursday) Time : 1:30 PM IST Venue : Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi SL vs ENG: Live Streaming Details The live action of the upcoming game will be available on the FanCode mobile app or website for the Indian fans. SL vs ENG: Head-to-Head in ODIs Total Matches: 81 Sri Lanka: 37 England : 40 No-result: 4 SL vs ENG: Ground Pitch Report So far, the wicket has played well, and there is enough help for the bowlers in this wicket. Fast bowlers can extract swing for the first few overs. But spinners will have a major role because the wicket will get slower with time. It will make it batting difficult in the second innings. SL vs ENG: Possible XIs Sri Lanka: Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (c) (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Sachindu Colombage, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka England : Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jordan Cox (wk), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid, Sonny Baker SL vs ENG: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Tom Banton and Kusal Mendis are two batters who can set the platform for the rest of the batters in their teams. Probable Best Bowler Eshan Malinga and Sonny Baker have been pretty consistent in their first games and they will be looking to take it forward. Today Match Prediction: England recently beat Sri lanka in the ODi series and they have a better combination than Sri Lanka. Hence, we predict England to win the upcoming contest on Thursday. SL vs ENG 3rd ODI, Today Match SL vs ENG, SL vs ENG Prediction, SL vs ENG Predicted XIs, Injury Update for Sri Lanka vs England Match Also Read: Special Cricket Stories 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.

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

NZ vs IND 1st T20I, Cricket Tips: Team India and New Zealand will be facing each other in the five-match T20I series, starting on Thursday. The first T20I will start at 12:30 PM IST at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. Shreyas Iyer and co. have been competitive against a lower-ranked side, but their bowling has been a big issue. In the recent home series, they failed to win against West Indies. India have not lost the T20I series against New Zealand in the last five attempts. So, the streak is on the line. New Zealand will be keen to take the early lead and take down the world champions in home conditions. NZ vs IND: Match Details Date : October 22, 2026 (Thursday) Time : 12:30 PM IST Venue : Hagley Oval, Christchurch NZ vs IND: Live Streaming Details The live action of the game will be available on the Sony Sports Networks, while the live stream of the game will be available on the Sony LIV app or website. NZ vs IND: Head-to-Head in T20Is Total Matches : 31 New Zealand: 11 India : 19 No-result : 1 NZ vs IND: Ground Pitch Report Hagley Oval is an excellent wicket for the fast bowlers because of the pace and bounce. The new ball will be tough to face because of the swing and seam movement. The conditions are expected to remain similar in both innings, and it is a batting-second wicket. NZ vs IND: Possible XIs New Zealand: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Nathan Smith, Mitchell Santner , Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry India : Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shreyas Iyer (c), Shivam Dube, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Prince Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh NZ vs IND: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Abhishek Sharma will love these conditions, and he will be dangerous in this game. Finn Allen can take the game away and will be a hard batter to face. Probable Best Bowler Matt Henry and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will like these conditions, and they can change the game in the powerplay. Today Match Prediction : India have a strong batting unit, but their bowling has lacked consistent. That is why we predict New Zealand to win this game. NZ vs IND Match 1st T20I, Today Match NZ vs IND, NZ vs IND Prediction, NZ vs IND Predicted XIs, Injury Update for New Zealand vs India Match Also Read: Special Cricket Stories 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.

NCL: Khulna go top; Nayeem double-century lifts Rajshahi

Meanwhile, defending champions Rangpur's difficult season continued, as they lost to Sylhet by 37 runs

Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada Put South Africa In Sight Of Win Over Australia

Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada bowled South Africa to within sight of a series-levelling victory on the fourth day of the second Test at St George's Park on Wednesday. Australia were 156 for four in their follow on innings after being shot out for 99 earlier in the day. They were still 170 runs short of making South Africa bat again. Travis Head survived an early chance and was unbeaten on 87. Steve Smith did not come out to bat in the second innings after appearing to be struggling with a neck injury while making top score of 28 in Australia's first innings. Jansen took five for 33 as Australia crashed to their fourth-lowest total against South Africa and Rabada made two crucial breakthroughs in the second innings. Rabada dismissed Australian opening batsman Nic Maddinson cheaply for the second time in the match and later bowled Matt Renshaw, who was man of the match in Australia's 214-run win in the first Test. With a first innings lead of 326 runs, South Africa enforced the follow-on despite fast bowler Anrich Nortje being out of action with a groin injury. Nortje dismissed Marnus Labuschagne in the first innings but bowled only 3.3 overs before pulling up injured. In Nortje's absence, South African captain Temba Bavuma used Rabada, Jansen and fellow seamer Wiaan Mulder in short spells and made extensive use of off-spinner Simon Harmer, who bowled 18 overs and took two wickets. Harmer broke a 92-run second wicket stand between Head and Labuschagne when the latter went for a big hit and was caught by Jansen running back from mid-on as the ball was held up in a stiff breeze. Tall left-armer Jansen was superb in the first innings. He struck with his first ball of the match when he had nightwatchman Scott Boland caught behind in the second over of the day. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories He followed up with the wickets of Head, Renshaw, Alex Carey and Beau Webster as Australia collapsed.

Ranji Trophy: Rain denies Puducherry a chance against Madhya Pradesh

The Ranji Trophy Group A match between Puducherry and Madhya Pradesh concluded in a draw after persistent rain prevented any play on the final day. Madhya Pradesh secured three points due to their first-innings lead.

Amit Mishra returns to Delhi Capitals in new role

Former India leg-spinner Amit Mishra has been appointed as the spin-bowling coach for the Delhi Capitals. Mishra, an IPL veteran who played 10 seasons for the franchise, joins a high-profile support staff.

Tanay Thyagarajan Stars As Hyderabad Beat Andhra Pradesh: Kerela, Mumbai, Punjab Secure Wins

Tanay Thyagarajan finished with 11 wickets, after hitting an unbeaten half-century as Hyderabad thrashed Andhra by 267 runs in an Elite Group B Ranji Trophy match in Mulapadu on Wednesday.

Gluten-Free Diet, No Excuses: Inside Bhuvneshwar Kumar's Quiet Road Back To T20I Team

When Bhuvneshwar Kumar trudged off the field in Napier on November 22, 2022, little did anyone know that it would be his last T20I for India for nearly four years.

Nat Sciver-Brunt And Co Free To Skip T20Is Against Sri Lanka If WPL Teams Reach Knockouts

England players, including skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt, will be free to skip the three-match T20I series in Sri Lanka if their respective franchises reach the knockout stage of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027, which runs from January 14 to February 7 next year.

'I'll Try To Score More Runs In Future Matches': Priyansh Arya To NDTV After Maiden First-Class Century

Priyansh Arya registered his maiden first-class hundred but was unfortunate to miss out by just one run on what would have been a brilliant double century.

Anderson's future in doubt as Lancashire opt against new contract

Decision could prompt England's leading Test wicket-taker to finally retire aged 44

The game has undergone a generational change:Vijay Amritraj

The Indian sporting great dwells on nature of the surfaces, the equipment, the playing styles, pay parity, player earnings and multiple other aspects

Ahmadzai, Omarzai lay the foundation as Bangladesh fold for 160

Afghanistan got the last six wickets for 39 runs, with Rashid Khan running through the lower order

India Sent Blunt Reputation Reminder By Ravi Shastri Ahead Of New Zealand T20Is

New Delhi, Oct 21 (IANS) India will need more than their reputation to get the better of New Zealand on their home turf, former head coach Ravi Shastri said on Wednesday, urging the visitors to soak up the pressure and turn it back on the hosts right from the opening T20I on Thursday.

Steve Smith Achieves Rare Feat Amid Australia's Batting Collapse Against South Africa In 2nd Test

Australian batter Steve Smith on Wednesday became the third player from his country to reach 11,000 runs in Test cricket, joining Ricky Ponting and Allan Border in the elite list, during the ongoing second Test against South Africa at St George's Park in Gqeberha.

Gluten-free Food And No 'kyon Drop Ho Gaye' - Inside Bhuvneshwars Quiet Road Back To T20I Team

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: When Bhuvneshwar Kumar trudged off the field in Napier on November 22, 2022, little did anyone know that it would be his last T20I for India for nearly four years. Three captaincy changes and at least two selection committee overhauls later, his India career appeared consigned to the past tense. On October 17, it was revived where it began. Arshdeep Singh took a blow to the shoulder in Hyderabad, and Bhuvneshwar was drafted into the squad for the fifth T20I against the West Indies in Bengaluru. When Shreyas Iyer took his name while revealing the changes to the playing eleven, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium erupted. Bhuvneshwar made his T20I debut at the same venue against Pakistan in December 2012 and wowed everyone with his swing. It is now his IPL home via Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Though the heavens intervened to abandon the game, that game will also be remembered for Bhuvneshwars first sight in Indian colours after 2022. His selection for the five-match T20I series in New Zealand, which begins in Christchurch on Thursday, had come earlier. When that news reached Dr. Ramneesh Vohra, his physiotherapist since 2020 and who was in the middle of an appointment at his clinic in Noida, happiness was writ large on his face. When I got the news, I immediately called sir and congratulated him and he picked up the call and we then discussed about the journey and talked that 'aaj tak humne jitna kaam kiya, woh badiya nikla' (whatever work we have done till now has turned out very well), Vohra recalled in a free-wheeling chat with IANS. Then all the emotions came out of happiness while talking, and there's no doubt about it. Although we were not expecting this thing to happen, I mean, we were not working together for this day particularly. But when something like this happens as a reward, emotions come up, right?' he added. Vohra later joined him at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, where Bhuvneshwar was preparing for New Zealand, and stayed until he was summoned to the fifth T20I squad. Bhuvneshwar was the fulcrum of RCB's back-to-back IPL titles in 2025 and 2026, including picking 28 wickets in 16 matches this year. Yet Vohra insists a return to the Indian team was never the target. In the past few years, he never targeted himself with, ' No, I have to go back to the team and really work hard.' He used to always say that I have to do my work and the selectors are doing their work, and I'm not going to do anything out of the box. He would say, 'No, I just love cricket. I have a passion for this game and I just really want to give 100 percent whenever I hit the ground.' He always played with this mindset in every tournament and any format. Whenever he got the opportunity to play, he never said no to anything. He always said that as long as I'm there, I have to give my 100 percent and I'll go and play whatever game is on the ground, he said. Bhuvneshwars partnership with Vohra was forged in mid-2020, after the first Covid-19 lockdown. Bhuvneshwar was then an India regular, and the brief for him to Vohra was refinement, not repair. He just wanted to be a good version of himself, always. He would ask, Can I make myself into the same fitness regime? Is it possible for me, for you, or for us to maintain my mobility, flexibility, and work on my biomechanics if possible? Can we just improve a bit more towards my structure? So, we started like that only. There was no injury, nothing like that. Serendipity did the rest. Vohra, then attached to BCCI domestic sides, was introduced to him by then Railways captain Karan Sharma and Harsh Tyagi, who trained with Bhuvneshwar at Wonders Cricket Club in Noida's Sector 34. Their endorsement sufficed and Bhuvneshwar enlisted his services and began from scratch. Vohra says the two never once relitigated why Bhuvneshwar had been dropped from the Indian team after that game in Napier. Because he's a very down-to-earth person, he is the kind of person who never thinks about whatever happened in the past. We never had a discussion about what went wrong or kyon drop ho gaye (why I got dropped). He just said, I have to prepare for what comes next. Suppose the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy or DY Patil T20 tournament was to come and he would commence preparing for it. If Vijay Hazare Trophy, Ranji Trophy or IPL was on the calendar, then he would start preparing for it at the earliest. So, the discussion was always about what's next, and how to be great in those competitions. There was never a discussion about what happened or went wrong in the past. Nothing like that happened because, see, like he's been saying from the start that selection or not is not in my hands, but performing is in our hands, so as keeping my body fit. His words have always been, 'I'll do whatever is in my area and hands, I'll work on that, and I will not think about whatever is happening afterwards.' What will I get or won't I get, I don't think much as I just have to work - that too with full honesty, Vohra said. The groundwork was meticulous: a biomechanical and musculoskeletal screening modelled on the CoE protocols, plus body-composition, fitness and nutrition tests. Strength and conditioning coach Surya Yadav assumed charge of training, and nutritionist Shah Fahad oversaw the dietary tests. Yadav, currently with the Uttar Pradesh Under-23 men's team, was unavailable for a comment. Everything we did, whatever screening was there, whatever tests were there, it was all evidence-based. It didn't mean that we were doing it randomly. Everything was very much sure that we would do this, and whatever we get in that, we will work on that. Nothing was like hit and error. Everything was evidence-based and dependent upon whatever we do. It will be all study-based and all that will be there, and the results that we have already got on those things. When we see the results, we will work on that. Until and unless, if it doesn't work, until and unless we don't get that improvement, or didn't get that achievement, then we can think about anything else. So, our fill-in-the-blanks kept happening, blocks kept coming into place, and we got to what we wanted. Not once, Vohra says, did Bhuvneshwar second-guess the regime. He was so consistent right from the beginning, so honest and trustful that he never said, Why am I getting this, or why am I not getting this. When I go out, I have to be 100 percent in my body so that I can deliver balls with 100 percent of my efficiency. That was his aim. An archive of old footage helps flag the subtlest shifts in his action, and each specialist guards his own lane. All the qualities were there because we have worked on it for the last 6 years. Wherever we have taken the old videos, we have worked on them. In the old videos, it used to come like this. Now, if there are any changes, then how will we go back? How will we work on it? How will we do it? How will I do it? I never interrupted Surya sir's work. Surya sir never interrupted my work. We both had a very clear vision that I will look at these things, you will look at these things, and Bhuvi sir, you will look at these things. We had divided our departments so that there was no confusion in between, and it's always teamwork. Diet proved to be a potent force in keeping Bhuvneshwar in fine fettle. Tests flagged the bloating endemic among cricketers and traced it to gluten and lactose. Gluten was jettisoned, lactose and sugar scaled back, to banish the stiffness and soreness he had been carrying into matches. We made minor, minor changes and got major, major results. That was a great thing that happened. Plus, we never missed out on any mobility session, any flexibility session, any mobilisation session, any strength and conditioning session, any weight training session, and his body has transformed. Leaner, though, is not lighter. He still weighs around 73-74 kg, but his body-fat percentage has fallen while muscle quality and hydration have improved. Vohra credits that sculpted frame, and painstaking rehab of the injuries that punctuated his earlier career, for keeping him injury-free since. Sweets are off the menu, and ensuring daily protein intake is there via bars, shakes and chillas, with eggs taken only if needed. Fahad also arranged a genetic test to map Bhuvneshwar's nutritional needs, and masseur Kesar Ali rounds off an inner circle that has remained unbroken since 2020. The best part is Bhuvi sir never changed his team right from the beginning since we met after the Covid-19 first lockdown. I don't know what happened before Covid-19, but after Covid-19, the best part is he trusted me a lot right from the beginning, and he never told me that no, I want to change this, or that. He said, Whatever you want me to do, I will be able to do it, and I will also get the results. The dividend, Vohra says, shows in how swiftly Bhuvneshwar bounces back. Actually, so you can see the results, and after the game, he never felt like, ' No, I am exhausted, I am tired, now I don't want to play for the next part of the game. He is always ready. He never said no to even the games on consecutive days. He always said, If you want to play, then play, and whenever you want to play, play with your 100 percent effort. There is no compromise with cricket. He is very introverted and not a party person. He is one of those rare and sweetest and very kindest cricketers I have ever met. That reticence, Vohra adds, is often mistaken for a lack of graft. Few cricketers, in his view, are as dedicated as Bhuvneshwar - he carves out time for every facet of his game, from bowling and batting to fielding and rehab, and does all of it away from the social media limelight. Because we live in the same society, so we meet. Even if there is a hello, there is no problem. Even if there is a small issue, we meet. He treats me like family, so obviously, vice versa, reciprocally. He never behaves like, I am a superstar and you are my physiotherapist. He always says that you all are my family and always speaks like that. Whenever we have a conversation, whenever we talk, he never makes me feel that what is my level and what is your level. He says, 'main aap hi ke level ka hoon' (I am of your level). I am one of you. He calls us 'bhai' (brother), and whatever word occurs in his mind, it feels very special. We feel that maybe we are talking to someone, but he's still the same person, and he is like this with everyone. So, this is the best quality about him. Vohra's clinic, Muscle Stretch, marked his return to the playing eleven in Bengaluru on Instagram by promising 20 per cent off on consultations for every wicket Bhuvneshwar took, and a shot at a free consultation and physio session should he bag a five-for. It wont be a surprise if the same offer is run for the T20Is in New Zealand, starting on Thursday. Whenever we have a conversation, whenever we talk, he never makes me feel that what is my level and what is your level. He says, 'main aap hi ke level ka hoon' (I am of your level). I am one of you. He calls us 'bhai' (brother), and whatever word occurs in his mind, it feels very special. We feel that maybe we are talking to someone, but he's still the same person, and he is like this with everyone. So, this is the best quality about him. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Mitchell Santner Supports New Zealand Cricket's Call To Abandon Major League Cricket Franchise Plan

Captain Mitchell Santner on Wednesday backed New Zealand Cricket's decision not to own a team in Major League Cricket's 2027 edition.

England Players Free To Skip T20Is Against Sri Lanka If WPL Teams Reach Knockouts

Sri Lanka Cricket: England players, including skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt, will be free to skip the three-match T20I series in Sri Lanka if their respective franchises reach the knockout stage of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027, which runs from January 14 to February 7 next year. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced the white-ball tour itinerary on Wednesday, with the T20Is in Pallekele on February 1, 3 and 5 as preparation for the inaugural Women's T20 Champions Trophy, to be played in India from February 14 to 28. After the tournament is over, England will return for three ODIs in Dambulla on March 4, 6 and 8 respectively. If the England players are in the knockouts of the WPL, then they can continue to play for their respective WPL team due to the late-changing nature of the itinerary for the Champions Trophy, a source in the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) told IANS on Wednesday. The Champions Trophy was originally slated to happen in Sri Lanka in June-July 2027 before the ICC advanced the dates and moved it to India, after the island nation was stripped of hosting rights over government interference in the governing bodys administration. Apart from Sciver-Brunt, who plays for Mumbai Indians, Lauren Bell (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) and Sophie Ecclestone (UP Warriorz) have been retained for the 2027 WPL. Sophia Dunkley and Kira Chathli are the only England players registered for the WPL mini auction to be held on October 28 in Kochi. This news agency had previously reported that the clash with matches in Sri Lanka was a major reason behind a majority of England players opting against registering for the auction and the subsequent WPL season. England could have five players at the next WPL. The decision of other players whether or not to enter the auction is a personal decision, and this is the choice they have made. With Sri Lanka today announcing the schedule for the tour there next year, it means there will be some international cricket taking place during the latter stages of the WPL, further said the source. England could have five players at the next WPL. The decision of other players whether or not to enter the auction is a personal decision, and this is the choice they have made. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

PCB blocks Pakistan veterans from playing in India

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has denied its over-50s team permission to participate in the International Masters Cricket World Cup in India next January, citing government refusal. This follows a similar decision by the Pakistan Hockey Federation, highlighting ongoing strained relations between the two nations.

NZ vs IND series: The whole idea of home advantage has disappeared around the world, says former New Zealand coach Gary Stead

The current Andhra head coach, who was in charge of the Kiwis when they beat India 3-0 at home in 2024, feels India has the wherewithal to beat New Zealand

Shreyas Iyer's Sweet Headache Message Amid Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Selection Debate

Shreyas Iyer, however, believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's exposure to overseas conditions will help him prepare better for future assignments.

Punjab bowlers set up dominant Ranji Trophy victory

Punjab secured a dominant seven-wicket victory over Chhattisgarh in their Group B Ranji Trophy clash in Mullanpur. Led by three-wicket hauls from spinners Harjas Singh and Emanjot Singh Chahal, Punjab first posted a massive 456, then bowled out Chhattisgarh twice, enforcing a follow-on. Despite a spirited second innings resistance from Chhattisgarh, Punjab comfortably chased a modest target of 86 runs. The article also briefly mentions other Ranji Trophy matches.

Ranji Trophy: Delhi has to be content with first-innings lead

Host gets three points from a high-scoring draw; Gujarat emerges unscathed after being forced to follow-on; Shokeen claims maiden First-Class five-wicket haul

Ranji Trophy: Thyagarajan Sets Up Hyderabad's Big Win; Kerala, Mumbai, Punjab Also Register Victories

Luhnu Cricket Ground: Tanay Thyagarajan finished with 11 wickets, after hitting an unbeaten half-century as Hyderabad thrashed Andhra by 267 runs in an Elite Group B Ranji Trophy match in Mulapadu on Wednesday. Thyagarajan, who had taken five wickets in Andhra's first innings, returned to claim six more as Andhra, set 398 to win, were dismissed for 130. He was named Player of the Match for the second game running, after having won the award against Tripura last week. In Thiruvananthapuram, veteran off-spinner Jalaj Saxena's five-wicket haul helped Kerala beat Odisha by an innings and 36 runs in Elite Group C game. Following on, Odisha resumed on 102/4, and Kerala needed just 23.3 overs on the fourth morning to bowl them out for 143. Mumbai completed their second successive bonus-point win, beating Himachal Pradesh by an innings and 97 runs in Elite Group D at the Luhnu Cricket Ground in Bilaspur, with pacer Mohit Avasthi taking 5-44. Trailing by 388 on the first innings and made to follow on, Himachal resumed on 144/3 and dragged the contest into the second session of the final day. Vaibhav Kalta (63) and Pukhraj Mann (50) offered stout resistance, but Mumbai's experienced attack eventually bowled the hosts out for 291. In New Chandigarh, Aayush Pandey's gritty 111 could not prevent Chhattisgarh from slipping to a seven-wicket defeat to Punjab. Forced to follow on, Chhattisgarh resumed on 123/3 and, on the back of Pandey's century and some handy lower-order runs, posted 335. That left Punjab a target of just 86, which they reached in 16.5 overs, with captain Uday Saharan unbeaten on 40. In the Plate Group, Meghalaya edged Manipur by three runs in a nail-biting finish in Shillong. Chasing 276, Manipur were bowled out for 272 despite half-centuries from Karnajit Yumnam and Rex Rajkumar. Kevin Christopher (3-31), Abhishek Kumar (3-64) and Aryan Bora (2-59) shared the wickets for Meghalaya. In Pune, Shikhar Mohan's 127 led a determined rearguard as Jharkhand batted out on the final day to draw with Maharashtra, who took the first-innings lead and three points. Resuming on 130/1 and still 228 runs behind, Jharkhand finished on 344/8. Utkarsh Singh (58 off 139 balls), Aditya Singh (50 off 159 balls) and Virat Singh (41 off 135 balls) all played long, patient knocks to deny the hosts a shot at victory. Off-spinner Hrithik Shokeen picked up 5-143 as hosts Delhi settled for three points after securing a 169-run first-innings lead over Gujarat in a drawn Elite Group C contest at the Palam 'B' ground. Having won the toss and declared at 648/6, Delhi bowled Gujarat out for 479 after the visitors resumed on 363/5. Following on, Gujarat were 15/1 when the two sides agreed to call it a draw. In Jaipur, an unbeaten century from Mohammad Saif helped Railways save their game against Rajasthan. Railways resumed on 305/6 in their first innings but were bowled out for 338, conceding a lead of 159, with Kukna Ajay Singh taking four wickets. Asked to bat again, they reached 176/2 by stumps as Saif (103 not out) and Eshaan Goyal (59 not out) shared an unbroken 157-run stand for the third wicket. Spinner Parth Bhut claimed eight wickets in the match and was named Player of the Match as Saurashtra took three points from their drawn Elite Group B clash against Karnataka thanks to taking first-innings lead. Resuming on 99/2, Karnataka declared their second innings at 243/7 in 64.1 overs. KL Shrijith made 52 off 76 balls with five fours, KV Aneesh also reached a half-century, and Karun Nair (37) and Manvanth Kumar (31) added useful runs. Bhut returned 3-80 from 25.1 overs, including two maidens, while Sammar Gajjar picked up two wickets and Chetan Sakariya and Ankur Panwar had one scalp each, as Karnataka had to settle for one point. Set 237 to win, Saurashtra comfortably batted out the remaining overs to finish on 137/2 in 42 overs. Chirag Jani anchored the effort with an unbeaten 63 off 117 balls, hitting seven fours and two sixes, while Hetvik Kotak made 25 and Jay Gohil was not out on 22. Manvanth and Shreyas Gopal took a wicket apiece for Karnataka. Bhut returned 3-80 from 25.1 overs, including two maidens, while Sammar Gajjar picked up two wickets and Chetan Sakariya and Ankur Panwar had one scalp each, as Karnataka had to settle for one point. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Ranji Trophy: Chhattisgarhs follies hand Punjab a seven-wicket win

Ranji Trophy: Important to be backed as a spinner, says off-break bowler Hrithik Shokeen

Orr targets 'fresh start' at Middlesex after struggles at Hampshire

Elsewhere, Essex sign George Bell while Ben Mike moves to Glamorgan

Sri Lanka, England close Rawalpindi leg in search of first points

Both teams are coming off defeats to Pakistan, and would be fairly familiar with one another having played a bilateral series in September

Ranji Trophy: Skipper Vishnu and coach Asnodkar laud total team effort

Paris Saint-Germain's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Season In Doubt After Torn ACL

Paris Saint-Germain could be without Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for the rest of the season after the winger tore his ACL in the Champions League win against Barcelona, while Ousmane Dembele also faces a spell on the sidelines, the club said on Wednesday.

Ranji Trophy: A clinical Kerala completes an innings win over Odisha

The host beats the weather and its opponent needing only 23.3 overs on the fourth morning to get the job done thanks to Jalaj Saxenas guiles which fetched him a 37th five-wicket haul in First Class cricket

Anrich Nortje sustains suspected groin injury during second Test against Australia

South Africa fast bowler Anrich Nortje sustained a suspected right groin injury during the fourth day of the ongoing second Test against Australia at St George's Park on Wednesday, raising concerns over his availability for the remainder of the match, according to Cricinfo. Nortje limped off the field three balls into his fourth over during the opening session. Cricket South Africa confirmed at the start of the second session that the pacer would not take the field again for at least the remainder of Australia's first innings. The injury comes after Nortje returned to Test cricket in Durban, where he bowled 40 overs in his first Test and first-class appearance in more than three and a half years, according to cricinfo. Questions had been raised over his ability to recover in time for the second Test, given the short turnaround between the matches. However, Nortje had bowled at impressive pace during training two days before the start of the match. Before leaving the field on Wednesday,...

John Simpson To Lead As England Announce Squad For Hong Kong Sixes 2026

Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground: England have announced their squad for Hong Kong Sixes 2026, with Sussex club captain and wicketkeeper-batter John Simpson named captain for the tournament, which takes place from October 30 to November 1, 2026, at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Hong Kong. With six players on the field and six overs per innings, the Hong Kong Sixes is built around attacking cricket, quick scoring and players contributing across disciplines. Simpson will lead a seven-member squad featuring Edward Barnard, Fynn Hudson-Prentice, Jack Carson, Martin Andersson, Daniel Mousley and Nathan Gilchrist. The squad combines leadership experience with the all-round depth required to thrive in the high-scoring, action-packed format of the Hong Kong Sixes. England will compete in Group A alongside Australia and Hong Kong, China, and will be looking to improve on their run to the semi-finals in 2025. Simpson, 38, has been a mainstay of the English county circuit for over a decade. He skippered Sussex to promotion in 2024, scored 1,086 County Championship runs in 2025 and continues as Sussex club captain, while his three ODI appearances for England came against Pakistan in July 2021. He was also named in the MCC squad for the Hong Kong Sixes in 2017. Edward Barnard, the Warwickshire all-format captain, was part of the Worcestershire side that won the 2018 T20 Blast, while Jack Carson, the Sussex off-spinner, captained his county in the One Day Cup this season. Derbyshire all-rounder Martin Andersson arrives in strong form, having taken 6 for 23 against Leicestershire in the Vitality Blast in May the best T20 figures in Derbyshires history and won the PCA Player of the Month award for May 2026. Daniel Mousley, the left-handed Warwickshire batter who bowls off-spin, brings international experience with England caps in both ODIs and T20Is, and was part of Englands squad at last years Hong Kong Sixes. Fynn Hudson-Prentice, the Sussex all-rounder, adds seam bowling and batting depth, while Zimbabwe-born Warwickshire right-arm quick Nathan Gilchrist gives the side genuine pace. Commenting on Englands squad announcement, Anuraag Bhatnagar, Director of Commercial and Marketing, Cricket Hong Kong, China, said, England bring a rich cricketing heritage and some of the most capable all-round talent in the county game to the Hong Kong Sixes 2026. The tournament celebrates the excitement, entertainment and fast-paced nature of cricket, and a squad led by John Simpson promises to add to the spectacle. We look forward to welcoming the team and giving fans an unforgettable cricketing experience. The Hong Kong Sixes is renowned for its unique format, where teams compete in a high-intensity six-a-side contest that combines big hitting, innovative bowling and non-stop action. The 2026 edition will bring together teams from across the world, offering fans an exciting celebration of the sport. England squad for Hong Kong Sixes 2026: The Hong Kong Sixes is renowned for its unique format, where teams compete in a high-intensity six-a-side contest that combines big hitting, innovative bowling and non-stop action. The 2026 edition will bring together teams from across the world, offering fans an exciting celebration of the sport. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Temba Bavuma credits Sachin Tendulkar after career-best score in second Test against Australia

Temba Bavuma credited Sachin Tendulkar as an influence on his batting technique after producing a career-best 179 to rescue South Africa from a precarious position in the second Test against Australia at St George's Park....

New Zealand Cricket steps back from agreement to invest in MLC

The decision was driven by the need to focus resources in New Zealand's high performance programme

Five-star Jansen sends Australia crashing for 99

South African quick bowler Marco Jansen ripped through the Australia batting to bowl out the tourists reeling at 99 in their first innings on the fourth day of the second Test at St George's Park on Wednesday.

Konstas 151* helps NSW close in on victory

In a disastrous start to the 364-run target, WA lost Bancroft and Whiteman along with nightwatcher Rocchiccioli in the space of five balls

Mumbai crush Himachal to stay on top of Ranji group

Mumbai secured a dominant innings and 97-run victory over Himachal Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy, marking their second consecutive bonus-point win and propelling them to the top of Elite Group D. Stellar performances from Sarfaraz Khan, Akash Anand, and Mohit Avasthi underpinned their success.

Bangladesh opt to bat in must-win match against Afghanistan

Fingerspinner Aliss Al Islam made his debut for Bangladesh, while Afghanistan made two changes

Anrich Nortje walks off with suspected groin injury in second Test

South Africa could potentially play the rest of the game one bowler down as they look to enforce the follow-on against Australia

After Yuvraj Singh, Delhi Capitals Add Another Ex-India Star To Coaching Staff Ahead Of IPL 2027

Delhi Capitals have former India captain Sourav Ganguly as their new head coach, along with fast bowling coach Chaminda Vaas and assistant-cum-batting coach Yuvraj Singh.

Marco Jansen stuns Australia, leaves them 69/6 at lunch on Day 4 as South Africa smell comeback

Marco Jansen ripped through Australias batting order with four wickets for 16 runs in his seven overs until Lunch on Day 4. His exceptional spell left the visitors struggling at 69 for six as South...

Jansen four-for rocks Australia on fourth morning in Gqeberha

Australia went to lunch at 69 for 6, another 157 runs away from saving the follow-on

Can India's young guns fire in T20 series opener vs New Zealand?

Shreyas Iyer-led India, unbeaten in their last two T20 series in New Zealand, will rely on their formidable batting lineup to overcome the relatively inexperienced New Zealand side in the upcoming five-match T20I series, despite having minimal time to acclimatise.

I'd Give Him The Job: Ex-Mumbai Indians Coach Backs Kieron Pollard To Replace Mahela Jayawardene

Former Mumbai Indians fielding coach James Pamment said he was a little shocked by Mahela Jayawardene stepping down as the franchise's head coach and backed Kieron Pollard to take over the role.

IPL 2027: Former India Leg-spinner Amit Mishra Joins Delhi Capitals As Spin-bowling Coach

GMR Sports India Pvt Ltd: Former India leg-spinner Amit Mishra has been appointed as the spin-bowling coach of Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2027 IPL season. The appointment means Mishra returns to a new role to the franchise with which he began his IPL journey. Mishra, 43, retired from all forms of the game in September 2025 and will be taking up a coaching assignment in the league for the first time. I don't know about legends, but I did really decent in IPL. Dilli dilwallon ki hai (Delhi is of the people with a large heart). When the first season of IPL was held, I was a part of DC. Today, when I am starting my coaching career, it's also with the DC team, and so, I am very happy. A tiger is the one who never leaves his prey. Dilli is my heartbeat. We will try to give the happiness to the Dilli fans, which they have been waiting for these many years, Mishra said in a video posted on the franchise's social media handles on Wednesday. Delhi Capitals, who finished sixth in 2026, are yet to win the IPL title. Mishra's IPL career got off to a memorable start in 2008, when he picked up a five-wicket haul in his first match, a spell that included the first of his three hat-tricks in the tournament. He went on to take further hat-tricks in 2011 and 2013 as well. No bowler has taken more hat-tricks in the league's history than Mishra, who turned out for Haryana in domestic cricket. Known for his flighted, slow leg-breaks, Mishra featured in every IPL season from 2008 to 2024 barring 2022, representing Delhi Capitals (previously known as Daredevils), Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants. He played his last IPL match for LSG in 2024 and finished his IPL playing career with 174 wickets from 162 matches at an economy rate of 7.37. Mishra represented India across formats between 2003 and 2017 playing in 22 Tests, 36 ODIs and 10 T20Is, respectively. IANS had reported on September 14 that Mishra, along with fast bowling coach Chaminda Vaas and assistant-cum-batting coach Yuvraj Singh, were present at the franchise's short camp-cum-trials at a ground in Aerocity. The overhaul of the support staff stems from an arrangement between DC's co-owners, GMR Sports India Pvt Ltd and JSW Sports, reached after IPL 2024, under which each partner runs the franchise's cricket operations in alternate two-year cycles. IANS had reported on September 14 that Mishra, along with fast bowling coach Chaminda Vaas and assistant-cum-batting coach Yuvraj Singh, were present at the franchise's short camp-cum-trials at a ground in Aerocity. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Ishan Kishan Chasing History As New Zealand T20Is Begin

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan is just 46 runs away from becoming the seventh Indian player to join the 2,000 T20I runs club and is also on the verge of breaking T20 World Cup-winning skipper Suryakumar Yadav's record for the most T20I runs by an Indian in a calendar year.

Tanays six-for seals 267-run win for Hyderabad over Andhra in Ranji Trophy

Hyderabad bowled out Andhra for 130 in their second innings to complete the victory inside 27 overs, with Tanay Thyagarajan claiming 11 wickets in the match

He Can Be Lethal: Shane Bond Backs Bhuvneshwar Kumar To Trouble New Zealand

Bhuvneshwar Kumar can be lethal with the new ball if New Zealand's early-season pitches offer swing and seam, apart from him bringing a calming presence to India's bowling line-up in the upcoming T20I series starting on Thursday, said former Black Caps fast bowler Shane Bond.

Reputation Won't Win India The Series, Must Put Pressure Back On New Zealand: Shastri

ODI World Cup: India will need more than their reputation to get the better of New Zealand on their home turf, former head coach Ravi Shastri said on Wednesday, urging the visitors to soak up the pressure and turn it back on the hosts right from the opening T20I on Thursday. The five T20Is will run till November 1, before the five-match ODI series takes centrestage in terms of 2027 Mens ODI World Cup preparation. It is followed by a two-match Test series, to be played in Wellington and Christchurch from November 19 to December 1. Apart from this, India A are also touring New Zealand for three red-ball games, starting on October 24 in Lincoln. New Zealand will come hard at India. They know their conditions, they do their homework and they make you earn every win. India have the firepower, but reputation won't win them this series. They have to get out there, take the pressure and put it straight back on New Zealand. That is what I'll be watching for from the first T20I on October 22, Shastri said in a statement issued by broadcasters Sony Sports Network on Wednesday. Former India Test captain Ajinkya Rahane looked ahead to the Test leg of the tour, saying wins in both matches would be key to India's hopes of reaching the 2027 World Test Championship (WTC) final, to be played from June 9-13 at The Oval. He also welcomed the return of veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the squad. India's tour of New Zealand is a crucial one, with so many aspects to look forward to. NZ conditions provide a very different challenge in Test cricket and the Indian batters will be tested. Winning the two Tests will be crucial to staying in contention for a spot in the 2027 World Test Championship (WTC) Final. I'm really happy to see Bhuvneshwar Kumar back in the squad; his experience will come in handy in the T20Is. Overall, it's going to be a tough tour with back to back games which will test the bench strength too. I would advise the team not to think too far ahead, but to focus on each match and stick to their plans, he said. Off-spin great Ravichandran Ashwin described a trip to New Zealand as one of the sternest tests in the game. A tour of New Zealand is one of the most demanding assignments in world cricket because it constantly tests a team's ability to adapt. Every format presents a different challenge, whether it's reading conditions in T20s, building momentum in ODIs or showing patience and discipline in Test cricket. India has the quality to compete across formats, and I'm looking forward to analysing what promises to be a fascinating series, he said. Ashwin will be part of the English, Hindi and Tamil coverage during the T20Is, while Rahane joins the Hindi line-up for all three formats and Shastri will be a part of the English line-up for the white-ball games. Former New Zealand players Stephen Fleming (T20Is only), Tim Southee, Simon Doull, Shane Bond, and Ian Smith will add their knowledge of the home conditions and the opposition during various phases of the multi-format series. The broadcaster's commentary panels for the tour:- English T20I: Gaurav Kapur, Ravi Shastri, Ravichandran Ashwin, Stephen Fleming, Tim Southee, Simon Doull, Shane Bond, Ian Smith. ODI: Samir Kochhar, Ravi Shastri, Stephen Fleming, Tim Southee, Simon Doull, Shane Bond, Ian Smith. Test: Harsha Bhogle, Sunil Gavaskar, Stephen Fleming, Tim Southee, Simon Doull, Shane Bond, Ian Smith. Hindi T20I: Samir Kochhar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, Shardul Thakur, Ajay Jadeja, Vivek Razdan, Atish Thukral, Murali Karthik. ODI: Gaurav Kapur, Ajinkya Rahane, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Gavaskar, Ajay Jadeja, Vivek Razdan, Maninder Singh, Anjum Chopra, Atish Thukral. Test: Samir Kochhar/Gaurav Kapur, Ajinkya Rahane, Ajay Jadeja, Maninder Singh, Vivek Razdan, Murali Karthik, Atish Thukral. Tamil T20I: Ravichandran Ashwin, WV Raman, R Sridhar, Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan, Bharat Arun, Sastika Rajendran, S Badrinath. ODI: WV Raman, R Sridhar, Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan, Bhagavathy Prasad, Malolan Rangarajan. Test: WV Raman, R Sridhar, Bhagavathy Prasad, Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan, S Badrinath, Sudhir Srinavasan. Telugu T20I: Venkatapathy Raju, Gnaneswara Rao, Sandeep Kumar, Rakesh Deva, Hari Kishore M. ODI: Venkatapathy Raju, Ravi Teja, Sandeep Kumar, Gnaneswara Rao, Rakesh Deva. Test: KS Bharat, Venkatapathy Raju, Gnaneswara Rao, Sandeep Kumar, Rakesh Deva. Kannada T20I: Venkatesh Prasad, HS Sharath, Sumanth Bhat, Raghavendra Raj. ODI: Venkatesh Prasad, Sujith Somasunder, HS Sharath, Sumanth Bhat, Raghavendra Raj. T20I: Venkatesh Prasad, HS Sharath, Sumanth Bhat, Raghavendra Raj. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Ex New Zealand Star's Big Warning: Varun Chakravarthy Will Be Tough To Handle

Shane Bond believes wrist-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy will be an awkward proposition to deal with for New Zealand's batters when the T20I series starts in Christchurch on Thursday.

Rashid, Sediqullah Gain Big In ODI Rankings; Windies Trio Rise In T20Is

United Arab Emirates: Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has further strengthened his position at the top of the ICC ODI bowling rankings after an impressive four-wicket haul against Zimbabwe in the ongoing tri-series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Rashid, who also holds the No. 1 position in the T20I bowling rankings, improved his rating from 714 to 742 points in ODI following his figures of 4/17 in eight overs against Zimbabwe. His performance helped Afghanistan secure a comprehensive 158-run victory in Abu Dhabi. The 27-year-old now enjoys an 80-point advantage over Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed, who occupies second place, while South Africas left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj remains third in the updated ODI bowling rankings. Afghanistan batter Sediqullah Atal was another major beneficiary of the latest rankings update, climbing from 32nd to 20th in the ODI batting chart after scoring a century against Zimbabwe. Atal struck 102 off 110 deliveries, registering his third ODI hundred, as Afghanistan completed their convincing win in the UAE tri-series, which also features Bangladesh. Elsewhere, Pakistan batter Salman Agha moved up one place to 12th, while England left-hander Ben Duckett gained two positions to reach 13th following their meeting in Rawalpindi. In the bowling rankings, Bangladeshs Shoriful Islam climbed two places to 11th, while teammate Taskin Ahmed made a significant jump of nine positions to 12th. Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf also gained two places to reach a joint 20th position. In the T20I rankings, the West Indies captain Shai Hope is in the top 10, moving up from 11th to ninth after a match-winning 102 not out in the fourth match of the series against India which ended in a 2-2 draw. In the bowling rankings, Bangladeshs Shoriful Islam climbed two places to 11th, while teammate Taskin Ahmed made a significant jump of nine positions to 12th. Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf also gained two places to reach a joint 20th position. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Bell's triple-strike sets Tasmania up for first win of the season

Victoria were 98 for 5 in pursuit of 271, after Chaudhary scored 81 for Tasmania, while Bell contributed 35

NZ Conditions Ideal For Bhuvneshwar, Should Be First Choice With New Ball, Says Pujara

In New Zealand: Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara believes Bhuvneshwar Kumar should be the side's first-choice new-ball bowler in the upcoming five-match T20I series in New Zealand, citing the conditions there as ideal for the recalled swing bowler to excel. Bhuvneshwar made his return to the Indian set-up for the fifth and final T20I against the West Indies in Bengaluru. Though it was washed out due to rain, a lot will be expected of him when he takes the field for the series starting at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday. In New Zealand, I agree that he should be the first choice with the new ball, based on the conditions, because of the skill he possesses of swinging the ball. If the ball won't swing in New Zealand, where else will it swing? The conditions there are ideal for him. If there is a little help from the pitch, he can extract that movement from the pitch very well with the new ball, Pujara said on JioStar. Former India cricketer and ex-assistant coach Abhishek Nayar said Bhuvneshwar had earned his recall with two consistent IPL seasons for defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by bowling in the toughest phases of the game on surfaces that offered seamers little. In the IPL, there aren't seaming conditions, there are flat pitches. Yet, for two years, he has been bowling two overs at the top and two at the back end, the toughest phases of the game. To do that, you need experience, you need a bowler who understands the conditions and can extract the best out of those conditions, and there has never been a question about Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Nayar went a step further and compared the pacer's understated career to Pujara's time as a batter in the Indian Test team. I am so, so happy that Bhuvi has got a chance because, for so many years, he has been the kind of bowler that Cheteshwar Pujara was as a batter. In the IPL, there aren't seaming conditions, there are flat pitches. Yet, for two years, he has been bowling two overs at the top and two at the back end, the toughest phases of the game. To do that, you need experience, you need a bowler who understands the conditions and can extract the best out of those conditions, and there has never been a question about Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

India's New Zealand Tour: A Mirror To Indian Cricket

The real victory in New Zealand is not about winning every match but returning from it knowing exactly what kind of team India should have for the future, points out K R Nayar.

South Africa vs Australia LIVE Score, 2nd Test Day 4 LIVE Updates

South Africa vs Australia LIVE Score, 2nd Test Day 4 LIVE Updates: After a remarkable fightback on Day 3, South Africa will hope their bowlers put them on the front foot on Day 4 of the second Test against Australia in Gqeberha.

You Can't Keep Everything Inside: Veda Krishnamurthy On Harmanpreet Kaur's Emotional Return To Form

Veda Krishnamurthy has backed Harmanpreet Kaur's importance to the national side after the experienced batter returned to form with a significant innings during India's T20I series against Zimbabwe.

Sediqullah Atal, Rashid Khan Make Major Gains In ICC ODI Rankings

Afghanistan players Sediqullah Atal and Rashid Khan have made major gains in the ICC Mens ODI Player Rankings after helping their team secure an impressive 158-run victory over Zimbabwe in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Tri-Series in Abu Dhabi on Monday. Left-handed batter Sediqullah struck 102 as Afghanistan posted a total of 294 after electing to bat. His Player of the Match effort helped him gain 12 slots and reach 20th position even as Rashids haul of four for 17 that included the prize scalp of Sikandar Raza, has helped him consolidate his position at the top of the bowling rankings, taking him a good 80 rating points ahead of Abrar Ahmed. Bangladesh batter Tanzid Hasans knock of 46 in the opening match of the UAE Tri-Series which they lost to Zimbabwe, sees him move up three places to 21st while fast bowler Taskin Ahmed is up nine places to a career-best 12th place after a haul of three for 44 in the loss. There is a jostling of places on the table there with the slots from 11 to 20 covered by just 28 points. Others to gain after matches of this tri-series include Afghanistans left-arm fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi (up 12 places to 46th) after grabbing two for 15 against Zimbabwe and Zimbabwes Brad Evans, who took seven wickets in two matches, progressing 19 places to joint-65th. The latest rankings update, that also takes into account performances in the Pakistan Tri-Series, England opener Tom Bantons knock of 57 off 53 deliveries has helped him move up 16 places to 66th position, Pakistans Salman Ali Aghas score of 107 in a 37-run win over Sri Lanka has helped him inch up one place to 12th position while Sri Lankas Pavan Rathnayake (up 34 places to 75th) is another one to move up the batting table. Pakistan fast bowlers Haris Rauf (up two places to 20th and Naseem Shah (up four places to 45th) and upcoming Afghanistan spinner A.M. Ghazanfar (up seven places to 31st) have moved up the ODI bowling rankings. Others to make notable gains include the Nepal pair of Rohit Paudel (up six places to 82nd) and Dipendra Airee (up seven places to 87th) in the batting rankings, following their performances in the ICC Mens Cricket World Cup League 2 tournament. In the ICC Mens T20I Player Rankings, West Indies captain Shai Hope is in the top 10, moving up from 11th to ninth after a match-winning 102 not out in the fourth match of the series against India which ended in a 2-2 draw. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Sherfane Rutherfords 49 not out off 26 balls has lifted him six places to 18th while spinner Gudakesh Motie is up 10 places to 26th among bowlers.

Shreyas Iyer Faces Big Test As India Begin Tough New Zealand Challenge

Unbeaten in their last two T20 series, the Shreyas Iyer-led India would rely heavily on their batting firepower to outwit New Zealand even though the relatively inexperienced tourists have got barely two days to rest, acclimatise and train for the five-match rubber beginning on Thursday.

England Women To Tour Sri Lanka For White-ball Series In 2027

Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium: England women will travel to Sri Lanka early next year for three T20Is and as many ODIs, with the two legs of the tour split either side of the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy, set to happen in India from February 14-28 in 2027. The T20I series will be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on February 1, 3 and 5 respectively, as it gives both sides a final hit-out before they head to India for the Champions Trophy. England will return to the island nation once the tournament ends for the 50-over leg of the tour. All three ODIs are scheduled at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium on March 4, 6 and 8 respectively. Confirming the itinerary announced by Sri Lanka Cricket, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also revealed plans for a red-ball training camp for its women's players in India in January. Sri Lanka Cricket have announced the following itinerary for the England Women's tour in the new year. The T20s come ahead of the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy in India, and the ODIs follow at its conclusion. We can also announce that there will be a red ball specific training camp for England women players in January in India, selection for which will take place in the coming weeks, the ECB said in a statement on Wednesday. The two teams last faced each other in the opening match of the Women's T20 World Cup earlier this year at Edgbaston, where England cruised to an 87-run win. Veteran opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge set up that victory with a sparkling hundred before the England bowlers kept Sri Lanka well short of the target. IANS understands that the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, especially the T20I leg, was one of the main reasons why a majority of England players minus Sophia Dunkley and England A player Kira Chathli - chose not to register for the 2027 Womens Premier League (WPL) auction, set to take place in Kochi on October 28. The two teams last faced each other in the opening match of the Women's T20 World Cup earlier this year at Edgbaston, where England cruised to an 87-run win. Veteran opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge set up that victory with a sparkling hundred before the England bowlers kept Sri Lanka well short of the target. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

16 Hrs In The Air! Where's Ravi Off To?

Former India all-rounder and coach Ravi Shastri embarked on one of the world's longest non-stop commercial flights, travelling from Dubai to Auckland for India's upcoming tour of New Zealand, praising Emirates' hospitality for making the 16-hour journey 'an absolute breeze'.

India To Open U19 Women's T20 WC Campaign Against West Indies

India will begin their ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup title defence against the West Indies in Kathmandu on January 22.

The Kind Of Records Shes Going To Smash Is Incredible To Watch: Veda On Shafalis Rise

New Delhi: Former India batter Veda Krishnamurthy believes Shafali Vermas growing consistency could pave the way for a remarkable decade of achievements in international cricket, with the 22-year-old emerging as one of the most productive batters in the womens game. Speaking after Indias 3-0 T20I series win against Zimbabwe, Veda praised Shafali's recent progress across formats and pointed to her scoring record in 2026 as evidence of how far the young opener has developed. Verma was named Player of the Series against Zimbabwe, adding another strong performance to a year in which she has made significant contributions in T20 internationals. For Veda, the encouraging aspect of Vermas recent performances is not merely her ability to score quickly but the greater regularity with which she is producing impactful innings. Consistency was something that was always discussed around Shafali, and the way she has come back, she is starting to show a lot more of it across formats. She got out when she had 991 calendar runs in T20Is this year. We were hoping that she would get to a thousand, and you see the list, Laura Wolvaardt is behind her in second place, and Smriti Mandhana is in third position. The top three will be playing against each other in December. That series is going to be a good one, Veda told JioStar. Vermas tally of 991 T20I runs in the calendar year placed her among the leading run-scorers in the format, underlining the impact she has made throughout the season. The prospect of her competing against fellow leading batters Laura Wolvaardt and Smriti Mandhana in December adds another intriguing dimension to the upcoming international calendar. Beyond the immediate numbers, Veda also emphasised Vermas age and the experience she has already accumulated. Despite being just 22, the opener has spent approximately seven years in international cricket, giving her considerable exposure to different conditions, opponents and competitive situations. Vermas tally of 991 T20I runs in the calendar year placed her among the leading run-scorers in the format, underlining the impact she has made throughout the season. The prospect of her competing against fellow leading batters Laura Wolvaardt and Smriti Mandhana in December adds another intriguing dimension to the upcoming international calendar. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

India, Pakistan drafted into separate groups in ICC Women's U19 T20 World Cup, check schedule

The International Cricket Council has unveiled the schedule for the upcoming U19 Womens T20 World Cup , starting January 21. The final will be hosted on February 6. Meanwhile, India will begin their campaign against West Indies on January 22 in Kathmandu.

Queensland overcome scare to take victory after Bartlett stars

Xavier Bartlett took five wickets in the second innings before Jimmy Peirson calmed nerves

ICC Announces U19 Womens T20WC 2027 Schedule

Upper Mulpani International Cricket Ground: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the schedule for the 2027 ICC U19 Womens T20 World Cup, with Bangladesh and Nepal set to co-host the third edition of the tournament from January 21 to February 6. Sixteen teams will compete across 41 matches at venues in Chattogram, Sylhet and Kathmandu, with India entering the competition as two-time defending champions. The tournament will feature four groups of four teams each, with the group stage running until January 26. The top-performing sides will then progress to the Super Six stage, where teams will be divided into two groups. The top two teams from each Super Six group will qualify for the semi-finals. India have been drawn in Group A alongside Ireland, the West Indies and hosts Nepal. The defending champions will begin their title defence on January 22 against the West Indies at TU International Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu. Nepal will open their campaign earlier that day against Ireland, setting up an important opening round for the four teams in the group. Group B comprises South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and Samoa, while Australia, Bangladesh, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) make up Group C. England, Sri Lanka, the United States of America and Scotland have been placed in Group D. The opening day on January 21 will feature four matches across Bangladesh and Nepal. Hosts Bangladesh will take on the UAE in the morning at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, before Australia, runners-up at the previous edition, face Nigeria in the afternoon at the same venue. In Kathmandu, Sri Lanka will meet Scotland at Upper Mulpani International Cricket Ground, followed by Englands clash against the USA. Matches will be staged at four venues: Bir Shrestha Shahid Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium in Chattogram, Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, TU International Cricket Stadium and Upper Mulpani International Cricket Ground in Kathmandu. The semi-finals are scheduled for February 4 at the Bir Shrestha Shahid Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium, with February 5 designated as a reserve day. The final will take place on February 6, beginning at 1:30 pm local time, while February 7 has been allocated as a reserve day. ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta said the tournament would provide a crucial platform for emerging cricketers to advance towards the highest level of the sport. The ICC U19 World Cup is the stage that showcases the future of our sport and serves as the ultimate platform for young players to make the leap towards elite careers representing their countries. These future stars representing 16 teams will garner the world's attention and become relatable role models for many young girls playing the sport, serving inspiration for their continued cricket journeys, he said. He also highlighted the significance of selecting Bangladesh and Nepal as co-hosts, pointing to their enthusiasm for cricket and young populations as key factors behind the decision. The choice of our hosts Bangladesh and Nepal is also reflective of the ICC's belief and investment in the future of the cricket ecosystem. With deep passion for cricket and nearly 40% of the two countries' populations below the age of 20, they serve as the ideal hosts for one of the world's biggest youth sporting events, he added. He also highlighted the significance of selecting Bangladesh and Nepal as co-hosts, pointing to their enthusiasm for cricket and young populations as key factors behind the decision. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Pressure Will Be Massive: Veda Krishnamurthy Sends Strong Message To Smriti Mandhana's Team

Former Indian cricketer Veda Krishnamurthy said that Team India will be under huge pressure to perform well at the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy next year, noting that the last T20 World Cups have not gone in Women in Blue's favour.

Bangladesh and Nepal to host Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup from January 21 to February 6

Chattogram is set to host both semi-finals on February 4 as well as the final on February 6

At India's 1st Nets In New Zealand

India boast of a superior head-to-head record against New Zealand, having won six out of the nine T20I series played against the Kiwis.

Bhuvneshwar Will Be 'rubbing His Hands', Arshdeep Can Trouble Allen, Says Pamment

With Hardik Pandya: Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be rubbing his hands at the prospect of bowling in early-season New Zealand conditions, while Arshdeep Singh can use his left-arm angle to trouble Finn Allen, according to former Mumbai Indians fielding coach James Pamment. Both Bhuvneshwar and Arshdeep were a part of Indias 1-0 T20I series win in New Zealand in 2022 and the duo are now back for the five-game series starting in Christchurch on Thursday. While Arshdeep has now established himself in the T20I team, Bhuvneshwar is coming after making his first appearance for India in the shortest format in four years in the rained out series decider against the West Indies in Bengaluru. He will look to put in good performances, as well as guide the younger fast bowling crop in the matches in Christchurch, Auckland, Wellington and Hamilton. It's a talented team bowling group that the Indians have got and that Bhuvi's back, so by seeing these conditions, Bhuvi will be rubbing his hands while coming back into the Indian team and playing in these conditions. He will get the ball to move around, and obviously, he gets the natural swing as well. So, I'm really excited to see Bhuvi back in this team. Arshdeep Singh, top quality pacer. If he hits his form, lines and lengths, he'll prove some real issues, especially somebody like Finn Allen, who does struggle with quality left-hand swing bowling, Pamment told IANS in an exclusive conversation. His plan for the rest of the Indian fast bowling attack is sticking to a Test-match length, constant aggression and a short ball aimed at the badge of the helmet, because New Zealand's top order will punish anything passive. I think initially it'll be almost honing in on that Test match length - that top of off, and top of fourth stump length. But just being extra aggressive, making sure they're really aggressive the whole time, because if they're passive, these New Zealand guys will attack them, especially these guys like Seifert and Allen, Conway, very good players of the short ball as well. But I will be encouraging the boys to bowl short, but make sure they're on the money and make sure they're aiming the badge of the helmet and the back shoulder, and when they're not doing that, make sure that you get the top of the fourth and fifth stump. Its because as long as they're doing that with lots of aggression, they'll be in the game, and have a chance to nick good players off when the wicket's assisting, and the boys behind the wicket hopefully will be ready with their hands nice and warm to catch those catches. Then there is the small matter of staying on their toes to adapt to various conditions, says Pamment. But I think one of the biggest things will be gaining confidence that you can run in on a lush green surface and probably bring some moisture with your boots with you into your landing position. So make sure you've got the long springs on and full confidence that when you do plant your foot into the surface that your feet are going to stick there. I've seen a lot of overseas teams come to New Zealand in all stages throughout the year, and not make that adaptation, because the outfields are lush, green, and they do gather moisture. So you've got to make sure that your springs in the bottom of your boots are there to hold you so that you can confidently brace hard and get stuck into bowling good hard lines and lengths, and then once you get through that phase where the ball stops moving around a little bit, it's remaining extremely aggressive, making sure you're using your short ball, and setting fields accordingly. Three of these grounds are of reasonable sizes, so you will be able to use your short ball with confidence that it's not going to top edge and fly out of the ground, but there are a couple of those venues as well that are quite small, and we will see top edges flying for six or something. You've just got to accept that and move on and get ready for the next ball if that does happen, he explained. As per Pamment, a Yorkshire native who moved to New Zealand early in his career and played 14 first-class and 33 List A games for Auckland from 1993 to 1996 and later coached Northern Districts domestic team, India's batters face the flip side of the adaptation, especially for the attacking left-handers at the top of the order. How they adapt to that, and how they're very selective - we know, especially the left-handers at the top, they like to hit balls for six, don't they? Regardless of who it is, whether it's the young man Vaibhav or whether it's Ishan or Abhishek, we know that they take it on, and T20 cricket demands that you take it on. But I'd be encouraging those guys just to try and make sure they adapt to conditions, they understand conditions, that it's going to be relentless in terms of New Zealand will come with a number of seam bowling options, different varying paces, obviously Milne and Ferguson, high pace. The other boys perhaps not reaching that pace, but still very skillful, tall and bouncy - Blair Tickner, Kyle Jamieson, they're tall guys. So while they're not quite as quick, they still demand that you've got to be able to play between your chest and head, and they will test them out. I'm sure the boys, once they get settled in New Zealand, but they haven't got a lot of time. I know they've arrived over the last couple of days. If they're smart, they'll be spending the next couple of days working on that type of thing, because that's what's going to come their way. With Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah both missing the T20Is due to injuries and workload management, respectively, Pamment sees the gaps as a chance for others to stake a claim. Obviously, when you lose two world-class players, any team in the world who lose two world-class players of that nature, from your white-ball team, World Cup winners, IPL winners, serial performers at top level - it's always difficult to fill that void. But what it does, it provides opportunities for others. Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav, they have the opportunity to come and showcase what they can do in conditions which should suit them. While experience-wise, they might not be at that level, they're going to get some things that are in their favour. So, let's see how they utilise that. Nitish Kumar Reddy is another one who has been given opportunities as that all-rounder, as obviously Shivam Dube. I know they haven't used Shivam too much with the ball, but he's definitely dangerous with the bat. So, Nitish is having another opportunity with Hardik Pandya missing five T20I games here. Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav, they have the opportunity to come and showcase what they can do in conditions which should suit them. While experience-wise, they might not be at that level, they're going to get some things that are in their favour. So, let's see how they utilise that. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Told To Be Patient By Captain Iyer Ahead Of New Zealand Series

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can't just walk straight into the team, India captain Shreyas Iyer said Wednesday, after calls for the teenage sensation to be unleashed for the T20 series against New Zealand starting in Christchurch this week. The 15-year-old Sooryavanshi made his international debut for India in July but has been used sparingly against top opponents despite his glittering Indian Premier League form. India landed in New Zealand on Tuesday, two days before they begin their 40-day tour including five T20s, five one-day internationals and two Test matches. It marks 100 years of sporting ties between the two nations. He has many more years ahead to get opportunities, Iyer said when asked about the teenager's role in the squad. It's not as if he can just walk straight into the team right now because our openers have been scoring consistently and also won us the World Cup. Sooryavanshi has taken the cricketing world by storm after making his IPL debut aged 14 years and 23 days in 2025. Nine days later he scored his first IPL century. In eight T20 internationals Sooryavanshi is averaging just over 30 at a strike rate of 186, below his IPL average of 44 and strike rate of nearly 229. Since July Sooryavanshi's rivals for India's opening spot, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, have averaged 25 and 30 respectively, at strike rates of 172 and 200. Iyer said Sooryavanshi would learn plenty from the tour, with or without game time. Look at it this way: coming overseas like this will give him a fair idea of how the game plays on these particular wickets, so next time when he comes he will be very well prepared for these conditions. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said he was aware of Sooryavanshi's talents from playing in the IPL but pointed to the power of India's whole lineup. I think he has a huge part to play for India, whether it's in this series or in the future, Santner said. If he does get a crack guys have found it quite hard to stop him, but we've got some plans for him. Santner said conditions would be seam friendly in the opening match at Hagley Oval. India would have to get used to some unfamiliar conditions as they start the series, he said. Temperature-wise, you know, we've always when we've gone to India, it's hot, it's humid, Santner said. Here tomorrow night could be the flip side for India, could be a little bit cold, maybe windy, some cold hands. New Zealand are without Will O'Rourke, Mark Chapman and Zak Foulkes for the T20 series but will be able to lean on the power hitting of Finn Allen and Tim Seifert at the top of the order. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories India recalled seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar after a four-year absence while Jasprit Bumrah was rested as part of workload management after he played a key part in the team's recent Asian Games gold medal in Japan.

India Are Going To Get 'a Bit Of A Shock' In Cold, Dark New Zealand, Says Pamment

T20 World Cup: India's players are in for a bit of a shock when the T20I series in New Zealand gets underway, according to former Mumbai Indians fielding coach James Pamment, citing the games starting at 8pm in near darkness and temperatures expected to hover around ten degrees. International sides have rarely toured this early in the New Zealand summer in recent years, pointed out Pamment, who briefly worked as the Black Caps assistant coach and is coming off a fielding coach stint with the Bangladesh senior mens team. Yes, it is very early in the New Zealand cricketing summer, so it's almost unparalleled, really. I can think of the top of my head over the last few years where international teams have been in New Zealand at this time of year, but certainly not India. Yes, it will be a bit of a shock for the Indian boys, when they do get here and be involved in the conditions, especially in the T20 games. They start at 8pm New Zealand standard time. So it's going to be almost dark in most of the venues at that time, and it will be, I guess, around the 10 degrees mark. It'll be cold, there will be dew, and I think the conditions will certainly suit seam bowling for those T20 fixtures, Pamment told IANS in an exclusive conversation. The hosts are hardly match-hardened either, with the series starting even before New Zealand's domestic season begins. It's the same for both teams, and I guess the New Zealand boys will probably be a little bit more used to it. But we haven't had any domestic cricket this season yet in New Zealand. So for this series to be starting before domestic cricket starts is quite unique. Obviously a lot of the boys are playing in different leagues around the world, and a number of them have been on A tours as well. So it's not like they're shy of cricket, but it's playing in these types of conditions and getting used to those times I think will be the biggest challenge, and you can tell how New Zealand think about the wickets and conditions, because they've picked eight seamers in their squad of 16 for the T20Is. It means they think that seam bowling is going to play a large part in the series, added Pamment. Asked how the pitches in New Zealand would compare with the flat surfaces India, the reigning T20 World Cup holders, recently played against the West Indies in the drawn 2-2 series, Pamment predicted a fairer fight between bat and ball to happen. New Zealand's been very good at preparing good cricket wickets for their T20 fixtures over the last few years. While it will benefit some seam bowling, we know with the white ball that if you use it really wisely in the first three-four overs, you can gain a bit of traction in the game. But if you don't use it well, the wickets will be conducive to shot making, but there will obviously be a little bit more assistance than I guess the wickets that the Indian team played against the West Indies in your home country. They've been pretty flat surfaces and very batsmen dominant, whereas there'll be more of a contest between bowler and batter in these games here right through. Where India could really be caught out in T20Is, Pamment believes, is in the fielding, which has been the biggest point of concern. There's nothing like spending time at a venue to get used to the conditions. It's certainly going to be dewy, cold, and obviously, the light situation is very different from venue to venue. I know they'll use four different venues in the T20 series with Hagley having two games, and you just can't be spending time preparing. But these days, these guys don't get much time to go and train at a venue, as pretty much you arrive two days out, train one day out, and then you play, and move on. So they have to be very confident in their basics. But different venues come with different variables, and it's very difficult to get used to it, and I certainly when I was involved in the IPL with Mumbai Indians, I used to really try and encourage guys, especially if they haven't played at those venues before, to try and replicate what they were likely to experience in the game the following evening. So it's just to get to know your fielding position, how the ball runs towards you if it's coming on the ground, and get used to the flat catches that come at different levels, and obviously, the high catches when they leave and come back into the light towers, he explained. He has seen first-hand what unfamiliar lights can do to a fielding unit, during his time with Bangladesh in last years Asia Cup in Dubai, which India won. It's going to be really important that if guys want to be competent fielders, they do that type of work so that they don't let the team down. To be honest, I haven't really seen too many of the performances, I've seen the scorecards of the Indians. I know they've had a change of coach recently with their fielding specific responsibilities. Obviously I was with Bangladesh this time last year when they were at the Asia Cup, and they really struggled with the stadium there in Dubai, where the lights around the edge of the grandstand rather than the towers. So it's all about practising and getting used to sighting the ball nice and early and then backing yourself. These guys are all very competent fielders, but sometimes concentration and confidence can impact on performance, and definitely if the fielding conditions are challenging, so it's a wet ball and slippery ground, then that can impact on their performance as well. Whatever the weather, the crowds look set to turn up for the games in New Zealand, especially with more than 85,000 tickets sold out so far in the multi-format series. Let's see, all the grounds are in previous years in New Zealand, we used to have venues that were rugby grounds as well as cricket grounds, and there's only one of those grounds - maybe two actually, that have been used for the T20 series. But rugby's long finished in those venues - so they will be ready to host cricket and certainly the interest is incredible for this time of the year as well. A lot of people have been buying tickets in advance. Whatever the weather, the crowds look set to turn up for the games in New Zealand, especially with more than 85,000 tickets sold out so far in the multi-format series. Let's see, all the grounds are in previous years in New Zealand, we used to have venues that were rugby grounds as well as cricket grounds, and there's only one of those grounds - maybe two actually, that have been used for the T20 series. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

'We have Plans For Sooryavanshi If He Plays In New Zealand'

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner discussed India's young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar ahead of the five-match T20 International series.

You Cant Keep Everything Inside: Veda On Harmanpreets Emotional Return To Form

New Delhi: Former India cricketer Veda Krishnamurthy has backed Harmanpreet Kaurs importance to the national side after the experienced batter returned to form with a significant innings during Indias T20I series against Zimbabwe, explaining that the emotions she displayed afterwards reflected the passion she continues to bring to the game. The innings, played during Indias 3-0 series sweep in Zimbabwe, offered a timely boost for the senior batter as the team looks towards the upcoming Champions Trophy. Although Harmanpreet no longer leads India as captain, her role in the batting line-up remains crucial. With the major tournament approaching and India preparing to compete in home conditions, Krishnamurthy believes the team will continue to rely on the former skippers experience and ability to deliver when it matters. I think thats exactly what is expected of her. Even though shes not the captain now, shes still a key batter India would want to have in the line-up, especially with the upcoming Champions Trophy campaign in Indian conditions. Having the experience of someone like Harman is important, and its important that she gets runs as well. So, it was good to see her back among the runs, Veda told JioStar. Harmanpreets return to form, therefore, gives India another reason for optimism, particularly with the responsibility of producing under pressure likely to increase as the Champions Trophy approaches. However, it was not simply the batting performance that caught Krishnamurthys attention. Harmanpreets emotional response also prompted the former India player to reflect on how the senior batter expresses herself, both during matches and away from the field. Theres a lot of passion when youre playing cricket, and passion also brings emotion. Certain players have a tendency not to show it, but Harman is someone whos shown those emotions in the past as well, whether it is on the field or during interviews. Shes someone who wears her heart on her sleeve, someone who probably expresses a lot more than other players. Sometimes you cant keep everything inside, and you feel good when you express yourself. Then you saw her on the field, smiling and laughing around. Thats how Harman is, she added. However, it was not simply the batting performance that caught Krishnamurthys attention. Harmanpreets emotional response also prompted the former India player to reflect on how the senior batter expresses herself, both during matches and away from the field. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Bhuvneshwar Can Be 'lethal' In Swing And Seam Conditions In NZ T20Is: Shane Bond

NZ T20Is: Recalled veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar can be lethal with the new ball if New Zealand's early-season pitches offer swing and seam, apart from him bringing a calming presence to India's bowling line-up in the upcoming T20I series starting on Thursday, said former Black Caps fast bowler Shane Bond. Bhuvneshwar returned to India's T20I squad for the first time in nearly four years, when he recently featured in the washed out series decider against the West Indies in Bengaluru. The veteran pacer earned a recall for the T20I tour of New Zealand after his standout performances helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru secure consecutive IPL titles in 2025 and 2026. It's great to see Bhuvi back in the international circuit. He's a great bowler and has been so good in the IPL for so long. What it's like to have someone like him in the team is just a calming influence. He's bowled in big moments so often and always is a man who looks up for it and always looks calm and composed in those moments. It's always nice to have a senior bowler in your team, particularly in those death overs where, alongside the captain, you can lean on. So, he'll be stoked and deserves his chance back in the team. I'm looking forward to watching him bowl, particularly in conditions that might swing and seam because he can be lethal with the new ball, let alone being a quality finisher, Bond told IANS in an exclusive conversation. He also felt the timing of the T20I series will heavily favour the seamers. If you're going to play against India at home it's probably a good time of the year to play them, particularly if you're a fast bowler, because they do have such an imposing batting lineup. Usually in New Zealand, that's the difference maker - the better-performing fast bowling group is likely to win you a series. It's early season here and you're playing on a mixture of drop-in pitches and traditional wickets Christchurch and other varied-sized grounds. But I'm certainly expecting there to be bounce and some sideways movement, added Bond. Bond said the bowlers' lengths would stay largely the same in the shortest format, though the biggest question is about the nature of pitches in Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton. Generally with the length in T20Is, it doesn't change too much. You're looking to sort of hit a 6-7 metre length and look, if you've got any sort of sideways movement and bounce in any wicket, that's generally the toughest length to bowl. Then obviously, it's just the batsmen who are going to come out and attack and try and knock you off that length and get you to do different stuff. The bigger question is, are the wickets going to swing and seam in particular? Because if you find that length consistently and the ball does move, then it becomes very difficult. So that's probably the unknown going into this series, particularly at this time of the year. There is going to be a lot of movement for the fast bowlers and what sort of impact that may have on the series will be keenly seen. Bond also sees the T20I series as a useful rehearsal for India's younger quicks ahead of the next T20 World Cup, to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, in 2028. Obviously, guys like Prince Yadav, who had a very good IPL. In all, the Indian bowling attack is a fast attack. They've certainly got pace and if you look forward to the next World Cup that will be played in New Zealand and in Australia, theres this opportunity to bring some young bowlers over who could potentially make that team to experience the conditions, training conditions, and just what it's like to travel around New Zealand and places to eat. Little things like that can make a difference just through having experience here, as well as the (India) A team that's actually here as well. All those things add up when you've got a big tournament that's only, what, now a year and a half away. So, both teams have quality fast bowling groups and that goes across all three formats. Bond said the bigger adjustment would fall on India's batters and fielders, considering they have very little time to practice in Christchurch. It'll just be for India to adapt to the pace and the bounce and maybe the movement of the wickets here. The cold might be a factor as well. The games are starting late and at this time of the year in New Zealand, the weather can be pretty chilly and windy. So particularly coming off a home series, that can present a little bit of a challenge to the fielding department. It's always easier with the ball - the lengths don't change too much. But the bigger challenge is just for the batsmen, particularly when playing in this early season. Varied ground sizes could also shape selection and tactics for both India and New Zealand, opined Bond. One of the intimidating factors of playing New Zealand is the ground size. Hamilton's sort of like Chinnaswamy - to be fair, there's a little bit of similarity there. Eden Park's probably the biggest one, where they hit down the ground like 45 metres, and people always struggle with that. Even though the wicket has pace and bounce, generally it makes for a real difficult place often for spinners to bowl, and teams generally just try and hit over the top of the stumps because the bigger boundary is the square of the wicket. Eden Park and Wellington have drop-in wickets, so they present a slightly different challenge. Christchurch is probably the more traditional size cricket ground with a normal cricket block, so it's a good place to start the series. But ultimately, if the wickets are true and the grounds are small, there's going to be big runs. You just have to turn up and get to execute plans. Even though the wicket has pace and bounce, generally it makes for a real difficult place often for spinners to bowl, and teams generally just try and hit over the top of the stumps because the bigger boundary is the square of the wicket. Eden Park and Wellington have drop-in wickets, so they present a slightly different challenge. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Chakaravarthy Will Be 'awkward' To Face On Bouncy New Zealand Pitches: Shane Bond

Former New Zealand: Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond believes wrist-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy will be an awkward proposition to deal with for New Zealand's batters when the T20I series starts in Christchurch on Thursday because of the extra bounce in early season pitches, despite conditions expected to favour pacers. Chakaravarthy, who has picked 75 wickets in 49 games, returned to Indias T20I squad for the five-game series in New Zealand after recovering from a side strain sustained after playing the first game of the T20I series against Afghanistan in New Delhi last month, following an earlier recovery from a hamstring issue. The side strain injury led to Chakaravarthy being sidelined for the one-off match against Japan and the Asian Games. It remains to be seen how India fit Chakaravarthy in the playing eleven, especially with other spin-bowling options- Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Naman Dhir- in the mix. It's good to see Chakravarthy back in. He's something that's completely different and unique. Quality bowler, I've seen so much of him in the IPL and he's been such a stalwart for KKR. He's just so different and because of the bounce here in New Zealand too, he'll be awkward to deal with. India have always just had great frontline spin bowlers. So the two teams have got quality across both sides and those spinners battles with Santner obviously for New Zealand and the likes of Chakravarthy for India are still important even in conditions that you think are going to favour fast bowling, Bond told IANS in an exclusive conversation. He also backed teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whom Bond saw from the closest quarters as part of Rajasthan Royals (RR) coaching staff in the IPL, to get game time in New Zealand. Since the T20I series win over Zimbabwe in July, Vaibhav has played two games during the Asian Games gold medal-winning campaign in Japan, as India have largely preferred Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma as their first-choice opening pair. I'm looking forward to seeing Vaibhav. He's just such an incredible talent, and he's a great kid as well. It's awesome for him to be travelling with the Indian team and he deserves his spot in the side. He was the standout player in the IPL this year. He was just sensational, and it's hard to ignore that sort of talent, not only the talent, but the production of shots from him and what a devastating player he can be, added Bond. He also acknowledged the tough competition Sooryavanshi is facing to get into the playing eleven. He's earned his spot, but there are some quality players in that squad and for Vaibhav to be coming to play in a place like New Zealand, experiencing the training conditions, everything that goes with being here, I'd be hoping that he would come on a number of tours here and play some games. But even if he doesn't, he's better prepared for the next time, as he knows what he's walking into. He's such a good player. He's one of those players who puts fear into other teams and part of him is just, again, adapting to conditions that are slightly different. But he's so good, there's no doubt that he'll do that and the New Zealand public will be really excited to see him play and I hope he's playing on Thursday night. India are without injured all-rounder Hardik Pandya, whos been out of action since IPL 2026 due to recurring injuries, and Bond hoped to see him back on the field in the foreseeable future. Obviously it's a shame Hardik's not here. He's such a great player and adds such balance to a team. He's going to be a key figure for India in the couple of World Cups that are coming up. But there's not too much you can do about injury and I suppose from an Indian perspective, it gives you the opportunity to see what your team looks like, your balance looks like without a player like Hardik Pandya, and who could potentially fill the role if he is injured later on in the year. But you've got a great player to come back anyway. I suppose from an Indian perspective, you're just getting to see a different option. But New Zealand's probably in the same boat as well. They're stacked with spin bowling all-rounders and are looking for that seam bowling all-rounder the Jacob Oram or Scott Styris type of player in the top six while being involved with those seamers. So, it's not easy. As I said, both teams have been set up pretty similarly, and I'm looking forward to seeing Hardik back on the field soon because he is such a great player, he elaborated. Bond also went on to acknowledge the difficulty of adjusting quickly to New Zealand conditions after making the long trip from India, something which Samson mentioned. Looking forward to seeing Sanju actually. He's right - it's never easy to get off a plane. You're only in the country for a couple of days, got a little bit of jet lag going on because it's a long flight to get here and have limited training time, particularly on wickets at this time of the season that are generally a little bit spicy. So it's not easy to get into your flow and rhythm as a batsman, and that's let alone acclimatising to everything else. One thing for the Indian team is they're never short of practice and playing cricket. So even though the conditions may be different and you might not get as much practice as you want to, look, match fit and the guys are in form, and they're such good players that I'm expecting to still come out and blaze away. Bond further said hes eager to catch up with the tearaway pacer Mayank Yadav, whose raw speed has been critical in Indias T20I bowling plans. Looking forward to reconnecting with Mayank Yadav, who was here for his back surgery, and spend a bit of time with him. So, it'll be good to see him in action. Bond signed off by declining to assess Shreyas Iyer's captaincy tenure so far. I can't really comment on Shreyas in terms of his leadership because I just haven't seen those games to be honest. I haven't watched much of the T20 games from India because it's just been on a different time zone and I was on a holiday. So in terms of captaincy, look, it's never easy when the ball's flying around the park and big scores are being had and you're always under scrutiny as a captain based on decisions you make. Bond signed off by declining to assess Shreyas Iyer's captaincy tenure so far. I can't really comment on Shreyas in terms of his leadership because I just haven't seen those games to be honest. I haven't watched much of the T20 games from India because it's just been on a different time zone and I was on a holiday. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Clearly Shown How They Want To Play: Veda Lauds Team India Under Mandhanas Captaincy

T20 World Cups: Former India batter Veda Krishnamurthy has praised Indias dominant 3-0 T20I series victory over Zimbabwe, describing the teams performances as an encouraging beginning to Smriti Mandhanas tenure as full-time captain. India closed out the Zimbabwe series with three wins, establishing momentum under Mandhanas leadership. Speaking about Indias approach during the series, Veda also highlighted the importance of all-rounder Niki Prasads versatility, backing the youngsters ability to contribute with the bat, ball and in the field as India prepare for the upcoming Champions Trophy. You want to dominate when youre playing a series, and thats exactly what I think Team India as a whole have done. We talk about convincing victories, and the last two games were just that. In the first game, you would say they were pushed, but eventually, it was still a convincing victory. A strong finish is always important, and its a good start to Smriti Mandhanas full-time captaincy career. It is important that you play a certain brand of cricket. India have clearly shown that this is exactly how they want to play. Its good preparation going into the Champions Trophy. Three T20 games are done, with three more left before the big tournament. The last two T20 World Cups have not gone in Indias favour. So, there will be pressure on this Indian team to come out and perform well in the Champions Trophy, Veda told JioStar. While the series result offered encouragement, the former India international also turned her attention to the emerging talent within the squad. Niki Prasad, who made her debut during the series, earned praise for offering India multiple options rather than being restricted to one specific role. Nikis ability to operate in the middle order, deliver a couple of overs and contribute in the field could prove particularly valuable in the shortest format, where the smallest contributions can influence a match. Veda believes the youngsters composure on debut was another encouraging sign. While the series result offered encouragement, the former India international also turned her attention to the emerging talent within the squad. Niki Prasad, who made her debut during the series, earned praise for offering India multiple options rather than being restricted to one specific role. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Hardik Pandya Facing Months On Sidelines, Might Not Play Until IPL 2027: Report

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With The New Ball, Bhuvi Will Be A Challenge: NZ Skipper Santner

As Bhuvneshwar Kumar: As Bhuvneshwar Kumar is back to India's T20I setup after a gap of nearly four years, New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner is wary of the challenge the senior pacer can pose in the five-match T20I series that begins on Thursday, as he stated that the swing king will pose a challenge with the new ball in New Zealand conditions. Bhuvneshwar earned a recall to Indias T20I squad for the five-match series against New Zealand, marking his return to the national side after nearly four years. He was then drafted into the rain-marred fifth T20I against the West Indies in Bengaluru as a cover for Arshdeep Singh before replacing Mayank Yadav in the playing eleven. Bhuvi will love these conditions in New Zealand. If there's anything in the wicket, he'll find something out of it. Even on some flat ones in India, still manages to nip the ball and swing the ball. So with the new ball out here especially, he'll be a challenge, Santner said on the eve of the series opener in Christchurch, as quoted by cricinfo. I mean in India it's pretty challenging as a bowler these days, like we've seen in the recent series against West Indies, 250 getting chased down - who wants to be a bowler? - but he might like it out here a little better, he added. The 36-year-old last represented India in the T20 World Cup semi-final against England at the Adelaide Oval in November 2022. A strong run in the Indian Premier League over the last two seasons has helped the experienced seamer force his way back into the national setup. Santner further noted how dangerous India can be on flatter pitches, adding that the large outfield at Hagley Oval would give the bowlers some respite in the series opener. First things first, both teams will need to assess conditions. If there's a little bit in it, it's harder to go extremely hard, but we know India have shown when it's flat and good they're very, very tough to stop. So one thing here, there's slightly bigger boundaries as well, which is more in the bowlers' favour, but again, if it's flat and it's not doing a hell of a lot, we're going to have ways of slowing India down, because we know when it's flat and small they are very, very good. First things first, both teams will need to assess conditions. If there's a little bit in it, it's harder to go extremely hard, but we know India have shown when it's flat and good they're very, very tough to stop. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

'Bhuvneshwar brings a lot of experience to the Indian T20 team'

Captain Shreyas Iyer believes the return of veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar will significantly address the Indian T20 team's lack of experience in its bowling attack, especially after recent series where new bowlers struggled.

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Mitchell Santner names one Indian bowler New Zealand batters should be careful of in upcoming T20I series

After a four-year wait, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is back again in the T20I scheme of things . He returned to action in the fifth T20I against West Indies in Bengaluru, but since the match got called off due to rain, the pacer didnt get a chance to rotate his arms. New Zealand will hence mark his first series since the comeback. Ahead of that, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner praised the experienced Indian pacer, saying Bhuvneshwar could make the difference.