Cricket

Prasidh Krishna gets crucial update ahead of NZ Tests

India pacer Prasidh Krishna has been declared fit for the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand, starting on November 19. He was previously sidelined due to a left hamstring injury, missing the ODI series.

Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Its nine and nine for Hyderabad as Dharmendrasinh wreaks havoc

The left-arm spinner stars with a five-wicket haul as Milinds men reach 275, chasing Chhattisgarhs 284, with just one wicket left; Rahul shines with a 174-ball 72

Ranji Trophy: Pradosh, Ajith Ram pile more misery on Chandigarh

The former registers a double ton while the latter brings up his maiden First Class hundred as the visitor declares its first innings at 571 for seven before reducing the host to 49 for three at close on day two

Ranji Trophy: Mulani's all-round show puts Mumbai in command

Mumbai struck twice late in the final session to restrict Railways to 116/2, trailing by 280 runs, on day two of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match.

Yashasvi Jaiswal's Gesture After Scoring A Ton Against New Zealand A Goes Viral

Back in form after a minor slump, young Indian batting star Yashasvi Jaiswal says he relies on process, routine and discipline to deliver strong performances, the most recent of them being a facile hundred for India A in the drawn unofficial Test against New Zealand A

Kuldeeps Lack Of Game Time Is A Mystery, Team Management Lacks Confidence In Him: Maninder

Sony Sports Network: Former India left-arm spinner Maninder Singh on Tuesday termed Kuldeep Yadav's lack of regular game time a mystery, saying he felt the team management did not have enough confidence in the abilities of the left-arm wrist-spinner. Kuldeep has 201 wickets in 124 ODIs, more than any other bowler in India's present squad, yet he did not get a single game in the recent 3-2 T20I series win over New Zealand. Away from the sub-continent, Kuldeeps non-selection often comes down to team balance. Head coach Gautam Gambhir prefers batting depth that runs down to number eight, and with Hardik Pandya out, India has usually opted for three specialist quicks. As a result, Kuldeep has featured in only three of India's 35 matches in SENA countries over the past two years. Kuldeep, however, can come into the reckoning for the five ODIs, which begin at the Eden Park in Auckland on Wednesday. See, this has become a little mystery for me as well - that why Kuldeep Yadav is not being played regularly. He's a wrist spinner, who is very effective in one-day cricket, and T20 cricket. But according to me, Kuldeep Yadav will be very effective in Test cricket as well, if he is given that confidence. Because you must remember, a year and a half ago, there was a Test series in England ending 2-2, and we were very happy about it. I wasn't happy about it, because I know that if we played Kuldeep Yadav regularly in those five Test matches, India would have won that series by 3-1. This was and is my confidence in Kuldeep Yadav. But somewhere down the line, I feel that the team management doesn't have enough confidence in him, because of which he is not getting chances again and again, in all kinds of formats. It's because I think he is good in all kinds of formats. He has those variations, which are needed in all kinds of formats. Wrist spinners, especially left-arm wrist spinners, this breed is very rare in world cricket, Maninder told IANS during a virtual interaction facilitated by Sony Sports Network on Tuesday. He also drew a parallel of Kuldeeps current situation with that of former left-arm spinner Murali Kartik. In this case, it would have been more important that we would have consistently given him confidence. I remember one incident, when Murali Kartik was bowling so well, but who were his captains at that time? Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, who used to play left-arm spinners very well and they felt that Murali Kartik didn't have that quality, which other bowlers had. Because of this, he didn't get many chances. So, I feel the same thing is happening here with Kuldeep Yadav. He doesn't get that confidence from the team management. Probably, there are some players and captains who feel that I can play very comfortably against him, so the rest of the world must be playing comfortably when facing him and maybe that's why he's not getting a chance. But this is still a mystery for me and it will remain a mystery as to why he was not given many chances, added Maninder. Experience is in short supply in India's seam bowling department. Jasprit Bumrah is being rested to prepare for the Test series, while Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana are unavailable due to injuries. Mohammed Siraj, who has 77 wickets in 51 ODIs, is the attack's most experienced member. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy departs after the first game to get ready for the two Tests. Arshdeep Singh, who has 18 ODI caps, will also be needed to spearhead a group comprising Gurnoor Brar (nine caps), Anshul Kamboj and Auqib Nabi (one each) and Yash Thakur, who is uncapped and has been named only for the final two matches. Should Kuldeep play, he will come up against Daryl Mitchell, who got the better of him when the teams met in the ODI series in India, which New Zealand won 2-1 earlier this year. According to CricViz, Kuldeep went at 7.28 an over in that series, his costliest ODI series ever, and picked up only three wickets in three games at an average of 60.7. Their battles so far have all come in Asia and this can be their first ODI meeting in New Zealand. Mitchell's sweep has also been a reliable scoring weapon for him in ODIs. CricViz data shows he has made 147 runs from 109 balls with the shot against spinners since the beginning of 2024, a strike rate of 135, and is yet to be dismissed playing it. Maninder said Indian bowlers must look to take Mitchell's wicket rather than contain him. Maninder said Indian bowlers must look to take Mitchell's wicket rather than contain him. As far as Daryl Mitchell is concerned, he is a very positive cricketer and one of the players in New Zealand's batting line-up who makes an impact in the middle order. So if you are bowling against him, then keep one thing in mind that you have to take his wicket. If you think that you shouldn't let him make more runs then you are in trouble, as then you will start bowling flat. If I talk about a spinner or seamer, then the ball starts getting short. The ball doesn't move around, which gives him an advantage. But I think he is somebody who creates pressure on bowlers. He created pressure on Indian bowlers in India, but the pitches here were different. In pitches in New Zealand, there will be some help for the bowlers, which they should take advantage of. But one thing that Indian bowlers should think about is that we have to get him out and then you will see the penetration in their bowling. On India's likely spin combination, with Kuldeep, Axar Patel and Naman Dhir as the options, Maninder stated, First of all, I think the spin combination depends on the pitches, grounds, and the confidence of the team management. We are talking about Kuldeep Yadav constantly, but I don't think the team management has confidence in him and they will get chances regularly. As far as Naman Dhir is concerned, from what I have seen of him, I think he has the potential and it is very important because he makes fast runs in batting and is a very capable bowler. So, he should keep getting chances. I think this is very important. I have already talked about Axar Patel - he is such a player that when someone talks to him for 2-5 minutes before a match, he will be able to show his potential on the field. India continues to miss seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has been out of action since IPL 2026 due to a series of injuries, most recently a shin problem that kept him out of India A's 50-over series against Australia A in Puducherry in October. Hardik has not played since IPL 2026 after a string of fitness setbacks. The latest of them, a shin issue, ruled him out of India A's one-day games against Australia A, and his fitness is a worry for India with the World Cup less than a year away. Maninder quipped that India were clearly missing the all-rounder. As far as Hardik Pandya is concerned, it is hurting the Indian team because he is such a great all-rounder when he is fit, we all know this. He has the ability to win single-handedly which is very important when you have an all-rounder in the side because he is such an all-rounder who does well in bowling as well. He has good variations but if his back or hamstring injury is leading to him not being 100 percent, then it can be a problem. As far as his batting is concerned, I think he is a very capable batter because we have seen him hitting big hits and making runs at important times. The most important thing when you play international cricket is mental strength. Mentally, he is very strong. So the Indian team must be missing such a player. But I think these are opportunities if you have another all-rounder then these are opportunities for them. It can be a blessing in disguise that you get another all-rounder like him. Although the team management has shown a lot of trust in Nitish (Kumar) Reddy, he hasn't been able to show much consistency. He gets injured again and again. So the Indian team is missing Hardik Pandya. There is no doubt about it, he elaborated. While the bowling lacks experience, India's top order of Gill, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remains the engine room of the set-up. CricViz figures show that since January 2025, the Indian top-order have amassed 4,181 runs across 26 ODIs, averaging 63.3 and scoring at 104.3 runs per 100 balls, with 16 hundreds between them. No other side's top three comes close: South Africa's average 46.5 and England's 44.6. The top three batters account for 59 per cent of India's runs over that stretch, the biggest share for any Full Member nation - the figure across all teams is 43 per cent. New Zealand's top three, by comparison, contribute 40 per cent. Gill has indicated that India will field all right-handed batters in the top four, and Maninder felt this is a right move. I differ a little. I believe that your best batters should play - be it left-handed or right-handed batters. It shouldn't make a difference because there was a time when we were watching the recent T20I games and the Asian Games, where only left handers made the top order. Only Shreyas Iyer used to come in the middle as a right-hander, but still the Indian team dished out a great performance. So I think the best batter should play - it doesn't really matter if it's a left hander or right hander. Kohli's recent record against New Zealand is impressive amassing 519 runs in 10 ODIs against them since 2023, at an average of 51.90 and strike rate of 102, including two hundreds and two fifties. He has also been quicker out of the blocks this year, in his first 25 balls, Kohli strikes at 114, which is a big increase compared to a strike rate of 77 in his first 25 balls in 2025. I don't think we should think too much about the combination of left and right-handers because bowlers don't have as much trouble as we usually talk about bowling to the combination of left and right handed batters. I think if both are left handers or right-handers, then also bowlers have a problem because you have to adjust differently, concluded Maninder. Kohli's recent record against New Zealand is impressive amassing 519 runs in 10 ODIs against them since 2023, at an average of 51.90 and strike rate of 102, including two hundreds and two fifties. He has also been quicker out of the blocks this year, in his first 25 balls, Kohli strikes at 114, which is a big increase compared to a strike rate of 77 in his first 25 balls in 2025. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Delhi, Jharkhand fight back as Urvil smashes double ton

Ayush Doseja and Sumit Mathur's resilient 144-run partnership for the sixth wicket helped Delhi secure a crucial 33-run first innings lead against Services in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match. Doseja scored 78 and Mathur remained unbeaten on 80, steering Delhi to 299 for 6 after Services were bowled out for 266. Other Ranji Trophy matches saw Jharkhand's Aditya Singh and Anukul Roy build a strong partnership, and Urvil Patel score a double century for Gujarat.

Aaron Finch hails 'one of most destructive players' Glenn Maxwell after his retirement

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Nov 3 (IANS) Former Australian captain Aaron Finch has hailed Glenn Maxwell after the all-rounder announced his retirement from international cricket. Finch, who led Australia to the 2022 T20 World Cup title, took to social media to congratulate the outgoing Aussie all-rounder for his stellar career. What a career, Glenn Maxwell!! Without doubt, one of the most destructive players the game has ever seen and easily one of the most innovative of our generation. Some of the things youve done on a cricket field have been absolutely ridiculous. Youve played innings that most of us could only dream of and produced some of the greatest moments this game has ever seen. Youve changed the way the game is played and inspired so many along the way. Finch also spoke about Maxwell's character beyond the boundary ropes, praising him for the teammate he has been in the Australian dressing room/ But as good as you've been on the field, you've been an even better teammate and a great mate. I've loved sharing the dressing room with you, the wins, the challenges and everything in between. So many great memories that Ill always look back on. An incredible career for Australia, mate, and one you should be extremely proud of. Congratulations, legend, he ended his post with. Maxwell confirmed his international retirement on the Final Word podcast. Maxwell had already retired from the ODIs last year in June but had kept himself available for the T20Is. However, Australia's clash against Oman in February in the T20 World Cup 2026 was the last game he played for his country. I'm going to be announcing my retirement from international cricket and domestic games for Victoria in the 50-over and the four-day stuff, red ball completely, the 38-year-old told The Final Word podcast. While he has also called time on his first-class and List A career, Maxwell is available for Melbourne Stars in the BBL.

Shami strikes, but Maharashtra take crucial Bengal lead

Maharashtra, powered by Tanay Sanghvi's maiden fifty and a crucial last-wicket stand with Pradeep Dadhe, secured a 64-run first-innings lead against Bengal on day two of their Ranji Trophy Group C match. Despite being reduced to 64 for six, Maharashtra's lower order showed resilience to surpass Bengal's total of 143.

Suryakumar Yadav's Instagram Story Amid IPL Trade Rumours Sparks MI Fans' Interest

The retention deadline for the IPL 2027 season has been set for November 17. Teams will have to submit their list of retained players by that date before the IPL 2027 auction, which is scheduled to take place on December 16

Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Aneesh and Aneeshwar put Karnataka in complete control

The duos 148-run fifth-wicket stand helps the visitor reach 496 for five, 361 runs in the green; Manvanth continues his rich vein of form with an unbeaten 53; Amlanjyoti and Roshan scalp two wickets each for Assam

Why Delhi may lose India-Sri Lanka ODI

The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has officially requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to shift the upcoming India vs Sri Lanka ODI from the national capital, citing ongoing ground renovations and unfavourable weather conditions in December.

Pratika Rawal opens up on her heartbreaking injury during ODI World Cup, reflects on her comeback

Star India batter Pratika Rawal has come forward and talked about the heartbreaking injury that she suffered at the ODI World Cup 2025. It is worth noting that Pratika Rawal injured herself during the clash against Bangladesh in the tournament and was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament after playing some decent cricket .

Northamptonshire Sign Finlay Bean From Yorkshire On Three-year Deal

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club: Northamptonshire County Cricket Club on Tuesday announced the signing of top-order batter Finlay Bean from Yorkshire, as he has been roped in on a three-year deal. Bean, who can also keep wickets, had two years left in his contract with Yorkshire, which he signed earlier this year in March. However, he had lost out on a place in the County Championship XI during the first phase of the matches after he hit a century and averaged 25.22. ' Bean will now arrive at Cinch County Ground, at least till the end of 2029, and is delighted to join Northamptonshire. I'm extremely delighted to be joining Northamptonshire, Bean said in a statement released by Northants. I cant wait to get started, and Im looking forward to showing the fans what I can do. I can see through the Blast success and County Championship performances that it's a great group to be part of, and hopefully we can continue that next season. Its an exciting time for me; Working under Darren and the rest of the coaching staff, Im looking forward to developing my game and making a big contribution, he added. Bean made his Yorkshire debut in August 2022 during the One Day Cup against Kent. He made his First-Class debut next month against Lancashire in the County Championship Division One. The top-order batter played 78 matches across the two formats for Northants and made over 3000 runs for them. He averages 33.53 in FC cricket with 2649 runs, but his average dips to 21.54 in 30 List A matches, where he has made 517 runs. Speaking on his departure, Yorkshire's general manager of cricket, Gavin Hamilton, stated that he would have liked the batter to complete his tenure but respected his ambition. We've had some really honest conversations with Fin over the last year or so, and during that time he has consistently pushed for regular cricket, as he should, Hamilton said. Fin has been a brilliant player for Yorkshire and has been a great person to have in the changing room too. We'd have been delighted to see him fulfil the remainder of his contract, but we understand and respect his ambition. It's never easy to see players leave, particularly those who are products of our academy, but we're proud of the part Yorkshire has played in his development and wish him every success for the future, he added. Meanwhile, Northants head coach Darren Lehmann welcomed Bean, stating that he was on the club's radar for some time now. Its great to have Finlay join us at Northamptonshire, and I cant wait to see what he can do for us in 2027, Lehmann said. It's never easy to see players leave, particularly those who are products of our academy, but we're proud of the part Yorkshire has played in his development and wish him every success for the future, he added. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Imagine Lanning Walking Out For Toss And Molineux Not In XI: Anjum On UPWs Selection Connundrum

With Phoebe Litchfield: UP Warriorz face a significant selection dilemma ahead of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027 season, with former India captain Anjum Chopra questioning how the franchise will accommodate its overseas stars following the additions of Sophie Molineux and Grace Harris at the auction. Anjum believes the presence of several established international players could leave the franchise struggling to settle on its preferred four overseas options, particularly with Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield and Sophie Ecclestone already commanding important roles. The Warriorz have attempted to strengthen their squad after another campaign in which finding the right overseas combination proved challenging. However, the latest additions have created a different selection question, with Molineux's arrival potentially complicating the competition for places alongside Ecclestone, who remains a key component of the side. Anjum believes three overseas players are virtually assured of their places, leaving the franchise with a difficult decision over the remaining spot and the role of its other high-profile recruits. With Phoebe Litchfield and Meg Lanning both there, Sophie Ecclestone is another player who walks straight into the playing XI. Those three are automatic picks. The challenge for UP Warriorz was how to fit everyone in because they wanted to play Deandra Dottin. When she couldn't do well, they were going helter-skelter trying to find that balance, Anjum told JioStar. The selection puzzle is particularly interesting given the contrasting skill sets available to the franchise. Ecclestone provides a frontline spin option, while Molineux brings another left-arm spin-bowling option alongside her batting contributions. Harris, meanwhile, offers an attacking middle-order presence. Now, they have Sophie Molineux and Grace Harris, who has played for UP Warriorz earlier as well, when Alyssa Healy was there. But how will you combine Sophie Ecclestone and Sophie Molineux? If you look at Mumbai Indians, they don't change their core. They did everything they could to have Amelia Kerr back, to the extent that Harmanpreet was ready to take a pay cut. But if you look at UP Warriorz, they are unsure about what combination will actually work for them because imagine Meg Lanning walking out for the toss and Sophie Molineux not being in the playing XI. That would be very strange, she added. The selection puzzle is particularly interesting given the contrasting skill sets available to the franchise. Ecclestone provides a frontline spin option, while Molineux brings another left-arm spin-bowling option alongside her batting contributions. Harris, meanwhile, offers an attacking middle-order presence. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Ranji Trophy: Maharashtra takes the lead against Bengal after its tail wags

Cricket: No. 8 batsman Sanghavis grit and gumption leads a spirited fight for the visitor after it found itself in a pickle at 64 for six

Harmer Questions Lack Of Specialist Spin-bowling Coaches In England, Backs Carl Crowe For Key Role

Wales Cricket Board: South African spinner Simon Harmer has questioned England's approach to developing young spinners, claiming a lack of specialist coaching is holding them back, and urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to appoint Carl Crowe as a national spin-bowling consultant. Harmer, who has spent the last 10 seasons playing county cricket for Essex, believes England have enough talented spinners but are failing to provide them with the necessary guidance and resources to take their game to the next level. I just think there's a lack of spin-bowling coaches in England. I worked with Carl Crowe for the first time with Durban Super Giants in the SA20, and he is an absolute genius when it comes to spin bowling. He understands the game, he understands the biomechanics of spin bowling, and how he isn't being utilised more within the county system, I don't understand, Harmer told the Sky Cricket podcast. The South African, who recently produced a match-winning performance against Australia with figures of 6/16 in the fourth innings at Newlands, argued that young spinners often struggle to receive specialised guidance when their county bowling coaches are primarily fast-bowling specialists. If you go and you play against a county and the bowling coach is a fast bowler, and he's there trying to help develop a young spin bowler. Now, for me as a spinner, I have certain transferable things that I could probably say to a fast bowler, but I certainly don't know how to make that bowler better or how to develop that bowler, he said. Harmer stressed that the problem was not a shortage of resources but a lack of willingness to establish the right structures within county cricket. He believes Crowe, who previously worked as an assistant coach at Lancashire and is currently involved with three Super Giants franchises, could help address the gap. It's not a lack of resources. It's just a lack of want to get those structures into the county game. How you aren't using Carl Crowe as a consultant and going and working with different spinnersAs a result of that, a lot of spinners feel isolated; they feel alone, they don't feel like they have the needs and the means for them to take their game to the next level, he added. Harmer also identified Jack Leach, Dom Bess, Shoaib Bashir and Jack Carson as bowlers with the ability to represent England at the international level, but questioned how they were being developed outside the national team's set-up. It's something that needs to be looked at because if you look at Jack Leach, Dom Bess, Shoaib Bashir, Jack Carson, they are all good enough to play international cricket. But how are these guys being developed when they are not with the England national team? he said. While acknowledging that Jeetan Patel is involved with England's spin-bowling set-up, Harmer questioned the extent of his involvement in county cricket and felt the ECB needed to take a more proactive approach rather than waiting for a shortage of quality spinners to emerge. You've got Jeetan Patel who's working with the spinners there, but I haven't seen him working with spinners at a county game or coming to watch. I just think it's something that needs to be looked at. And what happens is that England will wait until they don't have any spinners and then they will start to try and problem-solve instead of being proactive, he said. Again, it's not because there aren't enough good spinners in England. There are plenty, but they just don't have the tools necessary to upskill, he added. The ECB has recently appointed Richard Dawson as its elite national spin-bowling lead, a role aimed at strengthening the development of spinners, although he will also work as one of Stephen Fleming's assistants in England's Test set-up. Patel is no longer involved with the Test team but remains one of Brendon McCullum's white-ball assistants. Harmer's comments come ahead of England's upcoming Test tour of South Africa, where head coach Stephen Fleming has hinted that the visitors could rely on four specialist fast bowlers and part-time spin options. However, the South African believes Jack Leach should remain a strong option if England decide to include a specialist spinner, particularly given the conditions expected at venues such as the Wanderers, SuperSport Park and Newlands. For me, Jack Leach would be the guy. If you are going to play a spinner at those venues, you need, in the first innings, somebody who can hold from one end so that your seamers can rotate and attack, and come and bowl four overs of aggressive fast bowling, Harmer said. However, the South African believes Jack Leach should remain a strong option if England decide to include a specialist spinner, particularly given the conditions expected at venues such as the Wanderers, SuperSport Park and Newlands. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

NZ vs IND: Approaching Milestones and Records Ahead of 1st ODI, New Zealand vs India series 2026

NZ vs IND 1st ODI , Approaching Milestones and Records :The first ODI between Indian Cricket Team and New Zealand Cricket Team will be played on Wednesday at Eden Park in Auckland at 7:30 AM IST. Team India won the T20I series 3-2, but their performance in the last two matches was below-average. New Zealand embarrassed them and beat them convincingly in the last two matches. The hosts will be high on confidence after the twin wins in the last week. They also know the home conditions well and will look to use them to their best affect. Team India will welcome their ODI specialists, and fans are eager to watch Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The tickets have been sold out, and it will be a jam-packed stadium. It is a high-scoring venue, and we might see another thriller on Wednesday. Both teams will look to take a winning start to the ODI series and take a lead. Here, we will talk about big records and milestones which are lined up and can be achieved in the NZ vs IND 1st ODI at Eden Park, Auckland. NZ vs IND: Approaching ODI Records and Cricket Milestones Ahead of the NZ vs IND 1st ODI at Eden Park, Auckland 1 - One more century and Virat will surpass Sachin Tendulkar with the record of most centuries outside Asia and most List A hundreds. It will also help him to have most ODI hundreds after age 35 for India. If he scores a fifty, he will surpass Sachin (133) and will have the most 50+ scores against SENA countries. He also needs 101 runs to become the second-highest international scorer against New Zealand. 85 - Henry Nicholls needs 85 runs to complete 2500 runs in ODI cricket. 4 - Michael Bracewell needs four wickets to reach 50 ODI wickets. 65 - Axar Patel needs 65 more runs to complete 2500 international runs for India. 5 - Tom Latham is five sixes away from reaching 100 international sixes. 2 - Glenn Phillips won the Player of the Series award in T20Is. He needs two more boundaries to complete 400 fours in international cricket. 33 - Tim Seifert is 33 runs away from completing 2500 international runs for New Zealand. 75 - Virat Kohli has 1897 runs against New Zealand across formats. He needs 75 runs to surpass Ricky Ponting (1971) and become the leading scorer against New Zealand in ODI cricket. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories 54 - Virat needs 54 runs to surpass Sachin (8720) and become the leading scorer in ODI chases.

Prema Rawat registers fastest fifty in women's T20s

Batting at No. 4 against Hyderabad, Rawat struck six boundaries and four sixes to lift her team to 187 for 2

Hardik Pandya's Potential Move Could Trigger Fresh PBKS-LSG Trade Twist Ahead Of IPL Retention Deadline: Report

PBKS are reportedly set to acquire Hardik Pandya from MI in exchange for Arshdeep Singh and wicketkeeper-batter Vishnu Vinod ahead of the IPL retention deadline.

A Crowd Magnet, T20 Royalty: Maxwell, the Showman, Bows Out

Glenn Maxwell leaves behind a legacy of audacious stroke-play, breathtaking match-winning innings and unforgettable moments as one of cricket's most innovative limited-overs entertainers.

Harmer calls on 'genius' Carl Crowe to boost English spin prowess

South Africa and Essex spinner believes Jack Leach remains England's best bet for Test role

No Place For Kuldeep Yadav In New Zealand ODIs? Ravichandran Ashwin's Big Playing XI Prediction

Under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, India registered a 3-2 victory over the Kiwis in the T20I leg, which will now be followed by a five-match ODI series starting on Wednesday in Auckland.

Prema Rawat smashes fastest fifty in women's T20 cricket

India all-rounder Prema Rawat has set a new world record for the fastest half-century in women's T20 cricket, achieving the milestone in just 14 balls during a Senior Women's T20 Trophy match in Pune.

Prema Rawat Breaks Huge Women's T20 Record, Surpasses Pakistan's Fatima Sana In Elite List

India all-rounder Prema Rawat slammed an unbeaten 14-ball half-century to register the fastest fifty in women's T20 cricket during a Senior Women's T20 Trophy match.

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

NZ vs IND 1st ODI , Cricket Tips :Team India managed to carry on their good record in New Zealand and won the T20I series. But New Zealand hammered India in the last two ODIs, gained the much-needed confidence and boost ahead of the five-match ODI series. They would be keen to start the ODI series with a win. The first match will commence at 7:30 AM IST on Wednesday, taking place at Eden Park in Auckland. India have an experienced bowling unit. However, the playing conditions and shorter boundaries can make it even tougher for the Indian bowlers. Can New Zealand take advantage of it and take a lead? NZ vs IND: Match Details Date : November 4, 2026 (Wednesday) Time : 7:30 AM IST Venue : Eden Park, Auckland NZ vs IND: Live Streaming Details The live action of the first match will be available to watch on Sony Sports Network. Fans can also watch the game on the Sony LIV app or website. NZ vs IND: Head-to-Head in ODIs Total Matches : 123 New Zealand: 52 India : 63 No-result: 8 NZ vs IND: Ground Pitch Report Eden Park is a great venue for the batters. It has a flat deck, which has very short boundaries. The bounce and pace have been pretty good here, and batters can play shots. A top edge also flies over the line. NZ vs IND: Predicted XIs New Zealand : Will Young, Tim Seifert, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Michael Bracewell, Nathan Smith, Mitch Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy India : Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Nitish Reddy, Gurnoor Brar, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh NZ vs IND: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Shubman Gill is the no. 1 ranked ODI player, and Daryl Mitchell is ranked no. 2 in the rankings. They will be the ones to watch out for. Probable Best Bowler Arshdeep Singh and Jacob Duffy did well in recent T20Is, and they will get a good swing with the new ball. Today Match Prediction: New Zealand have gained momentum and confidence after the last two games. Hence, we predict them to win the first ODI. NZ vs IND Match 1st ODI, 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.

Abdul Samad To Lead Pakistan In Rising Stars Asia Cup; Sadaqat, Hasan Included

T20 Asia Cup Rising Stars: Pakistan have named their squad for the 50-over Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament, as Abdul Samad will be leading the 15-man squad for the event that gets underway on November 19 in Qatar. Samad was recently seen in action during the Hong Kong Sixes, the Asian Games final against India and during a T20I against Sri Lanka last month. He leads the batting line-up, which has the likes of Maaz Sadaqat and Hasan Nawaz, Haider Ali, Shahzaib Khan, Farhan Yousuf and Shamyl Hussain. Hasan recently made a comeback to Pakistan's ODI squad for the recent tri-series and had also scored 96 against India in the Asian Games final. The fast bowling attack features Mohammad Hasnain, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, and Sufyan Moqim. Hasnain made his ODI debut in 2019 but played the last of his 15 ODIs in February 2025. Meanwhile, Moqim was part of Pakistan's squad for the Rawalpindi leg of the tri-series. The squad mostly has players who have played international cricket before but is nowhere close to the first-choice ODI team, as expected, with this being the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament. Pakistan are in Group B along with India A, UAE and Nepal. They will begin their campaign against the UAE on November 20, followed by their clash against India A on November 22, before they round up their group stage by facing Nepal on November 25. Pakistan are the defending champions of both the 50-over and the T20 Asia Cup Rising Stars. They beat India A to win the 2023 50-over continental showpiece in Colombo and defeated Bangladesh A to lift the T20 title last year in Doha. Pakistan are in Group B along with India A, UAE and Nepal. They will begin their campaign against the UAE on November 20, followed by their clash against India A on November 22, before they round up their group stage by facing Nepal on November 25. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Finlay Bean makes switch from Yorkshire to Northants

Top-order batter leaves Headingley despite having two years left on contract

It Is Time For UP Warriorz To Think In The Direction Of An Indian Captain: Veda Krishnamurthy

UP Warriorz: Former India batter Veda Krishnamurthy believes UP Warriorz should consider appointing an Indian player as captain for the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027 season, suggesting that handing the responsibility to experienced all-rounder Deepti Sharma could give the franchise greater flexibility while selecting their overseas combination. The franchise has assembled a squad featuring several prominent overseas names, including Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Ecclestone, Sophie Molineux and Grace Harris. With only four overseas players permitted in the playing XI, Veda feels an Indian captain could help UP Warriorz avoid selection decisions being influenced by the leadership responsibilities of an overseas recruit. She identified Deepti, who has been associated with the franchise since the inaugural edition, as a strong candidate for the role, while suggesting that Lanning could still contribute to the leadership group without necessarily wearing the captain's armband. I am a big fan of having an Indian player as captain. That solves a lot of problems when you talk about the overseas combination. When you have Deepti Sharma, who has been there for four years, I honestly feel it is time for UP Warriorz to think in that direction. They can say that Deepti is the captain. You always have Meg Lanning there, who can probably guide her. It doesn't have to be Meg Lanning as captain. It can be Deepti Sharma as captain, with Meg Lanning helping her along. That probably solves a lot of problems because then you can look at the best possible options you would want in your playing XI, Veda told JioStar. Vedas suggestion comes at a time when UP Warriorz have multiple overseas players competing for limited places, making the captaincy question an important part of their team-building exercise. She also pointed towards the potential complications of having an overseas captain who may not necessarily be an automatic selection based on current form or team requirements. It doesn't have to be Meg Lanning as captain. It can be Deepti Sharma as captain, with Meg Lanning helping her along. That probably solves a lot of problems because then you can look at the best possible options you would want in your playing XI, Veda told JioStar. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Focus on Rohit, Kohli but pace attack a worry for India in NZ ODIs

India's bowling attack, featuring several inexperienced players, is a major concern ahead of the five-match ODI series against New Zealand, with key pacers rested for upcoming Test matches and the World Test Championship.

ICC Rankings: Vaishnavi Sharma rises 53 places to 94th in ODI bowling after five-wicket haul

Digital Desk | Dubai, Nov 3 (IANS) India's young spinner Vaishnavi Sharma made a significant leap in the latest ICC Women's ODI rankings following her impressive performance in the three-match series against Zimbabwe, climbing 53 places to reach 94th position in the bowling charts. The 20-year-old spinner emerged as the biggest gainer among Indian players after delivering an outstanding performance in the series, particularly in the third and final ODI, where she registered her maiden five-wicket haul in the format. After picking up four wickets in the second ODI, Vaishnavi continued her impressive run with figures of 5/39 in the series finale. The performance, which came in only her third appearance in the 50-over format, earned her the Player of the Match award and helped India complete a 3-0 clean sweep. Vaishnavi's rise was not the only positive development for India in the bowling rankings, with Sayali Satghare also making notable progress. The pacer climbed 18 places to 85th after an impressive display in the final ODI, where she returned figures of 2/11 in six overs and bowled 30 dot balls. Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Kranti Gaud moved up one place to 24th after claiming two wickets in the third ODI. For Zimbabwe, Nomvelo Sibanda gained two places to reach 60th in the bowling rankings. She made an early impact in the final match by dismissing India's Yastika Bhatia off the first ball of the innings. In the batting rankings, India opener Pratika Rawal climbed three places to 18th following another consistent performance against Zimbabwe. Rawal registered her third consecutive half-century of the series, continuing her impressive run with the bat. Fellow opener Shafali Verma also gained ground, moving up eight places to join the 65th after scoring an attacking 51 in the final match. Zimbabwe's Modester Mupachikwa climbed three places to 36th after scoring 37 in the final ODI, while captain Josephine Nkomo moved up two spots to 49th in the batting rankings.

CSK Told To Release Rs 14.20 Crore Star As IPL Retentions Deadline Approaches

A lot of eyeballs will be on the retentions and releases of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the IPL 2027 auction.

Unfortunate That Grace Harris Has Gone At Base Price: Abhinav Mukund

Australian Ellyse Perry: UP Warriorz's decision to secure Australian all-rounder Grace Harris at her base price in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction has drawn attention, with former India cricketer Abhinav Mukund questioning whether the franchise's latest acquisition reflects her actual value. Mukund believes Harris, despite coming off a strong season, was unfortunate to lose her place in a championship-winning setup following the return of fellow Australian Ellyse Perry, but expects the hard-hitting batter to play an important role for UP Warriorz in the upcoming edition. Harris, who has previously represented UP Warriorz, was among the notable overseas additions made by the franchise at the auction. Her availability at the base price has raised questions about how teams are valuing experienced overseas players, particularly those who have already demonstrated their ability to deliver in the competition. Explaining why Harris found herself in that position despite her performances, Mukund pointed towards the difficulty of retaining a place in a settled overseas combination when another high-profile player becomes available. I actually feel for someone like Grace Harris because, if you look at every other team in the league, they've got their four overseas players nailed down along with the associates, if required. And unfortunately for Grace Harris, despite having a great season, she finds herself out of a championship-winning side because a better player, for lack of a better word, Ellyse Perry is back, Mukund told JioStar. Mukund also highlighted how the return of established international players can influence auction decisions, even when franchises are required to part ways with performers who have contributed to successful campaigns. In Harris' case, the Australian's power-hitting and versatility could offer UP Warriorz an important middle-order option. The franchise has also brought in Sophie Molineux, adding another dimension to its overseas resources. However, the challenge will be to identify a combination that accommodates its new signings alongside established names such as Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield and Sophie Ecclestone. Mukund also highlighted how the return of established international players can influence auction decisions, even when franchises are required to part ways with performers who have contributed to successful campaigns. In Harris' case, the Australian's power-hitting and versatility could offer UP Warriorz an important middle-order option. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

1st ODI: New Zealand challenge awaits India as World Cup preparations heat up (Preview)

Digital Desk | Auckland, Nov 3 (IANS) India's preparations for the ODI World Cup 2027 are now entering a crucial phase as they gear up for a five-match ODI series in New Zealand, starting Wednesday here at Eden Park. India's first match in the 2027 World Cup is only a little more than 11 months away, and their ODI series in New Zealand could offer conditions similar to those they can expect in early summer in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia for the global showpiece. This series is crucial for both teams' preparations, but both are missing some key personnel. India are without Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, while the Kiwis will be without Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman, and Devon Conway will miss the first ODI with concussion. Speaking after the recent West Indies ODI series, Indias ODI and Test captain, Shubman Gill, stated that there was not much time to experiment and that he wanted the World Cup combination settled. India are still identifying their bowlers for the global showpiece, as only Jasprit Bumrah looks to be in top form. With Hardik also unavailable, India are left to keep experimenting in the middle order. Speaking ahead of the first ODI against New Zealand, Gill admitted that the team is open to experimenting at No. 5 and No. 6, although the op four is set. He highlighted that Axar Patel could be used as a floater, or that KL Rahul could even be moved to No. 5. He also wanted the ODIs to have been played before the recently concluded T20Is so that India could have fielded their best-choice team for all five matches. The visitors have pulled out some of their first-choice Test players for the fourth and fifth ODIs to let them prepare for the Test matches. Meanwhile, New Zealand will also be without Rachin and Chapman, both of whom have been ruled out of the series with injuries, while Conway has a concussion after colliding with Matt Henry during training. Both teams have also named separate squads for the first three ODIs and the remaining two matches to give the Test players time to prepare for the Test series. The ODI series will also be crucial for Rohit Sharma, who has not scored an ODI hundred in New Zealand before. As he has done in the past, he would like to have a few more strong innings under his belt. The match will be played on a different pitch from the one that hosted the fourth T20I between these two teams recently, in which New Zealand scored 259 in their 20 overs. That could make for a much more competitive contest between bat and ball. When: November 4, 2026, 7:30 AM Where: Eden Park, Auckland Where to watch: The match will be shown live on the Sony Sports Network channels on TV, and live streaming is available on the Sony LIV app and website. Squads: New Zealand: Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Tom Latham (w), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Nathan Smith, Matthew Fisher, Blair Tickner, Tim Seifert, Kyle Jamieson India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan

Indian Badminton Funding Controversy: Why Did PV Sindhu And Other Shuttlers Have To Pay From Their Pockets?

Indian badminton stars PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen have given the country a reason to celebrate with their recent performances. However, behind these achievements, Indian shuttlers have faced a funding problem during their European tour. The Sports Authority of India (SAI)

Samad to lead Pakistan Shaheens in Rising Stars Asia Cup

The 15-member squad features players with international exposure, including Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Hasnain and Maaz Sadaqat

'Focussed on process and discipline': How Jaiswal got back among the runs

Young Indian batting star Yashasvi Jaiswal, fresh off an unbeaten 155 for India A against New Zealand A, credits his strong performances to a focus on 'process, routine and discipline', especially when facing challenging cold and seaming conditions.

IND vs NZ first ODI: New Zealands focus on Ro-Ko as depleted pace attack a worry for India

With Jasprit Bumrah being preserved for Test matches and the duo of Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana still some weeks away from an international return, workhorse Mohammed Siraj will have to shoulder additional burden during the series

1st ODI: Depleted Pace Attack Worry For India As New Zealand Focus On 'Ro-Ko'

The irrepressible Rohit Sharma and the indomitable Virat Kohli are predictably the focus of all attention on their last tour of the Southern Hemisphere but India's thin-on-experience bowling attack gives New Zealand the upper-hand in the five-match ODI series starting in Auckland on Wednesday.

Shubman Gill issues update on Hardik Pandya ahead of NZ ODIs, weighs in on India's squad composition

The stage is set for the ODI series between India and New Zealand. With the conclusion of the T20I series, the two sides will now take on each other across five ODI matches, with the...

400 Sixes, 21000 Runs: Rohit Eyes Big Records In NZ ODIs

Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma is on the cusp of several significant international records during the upcoming five-match ODI series against New Zealand, including reaching 21,000 international runs and becoming the first opener to score 5,000 runs in SENA conditions.

New Zealand Captain Mitchell Santner's Big Praise For Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma Breaks Internet

As India and New Zealand gear up for a five-match ODI series, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner praised the performances of Indian stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Rohit, Kohli Still a Big Threat, Admits NZ Captain Santner

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has outlined his team's bowling strategy to counter Indian batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the upcoming five-match ODI series, emphasising discipline and surface-specific tactics.

Ireland women's Rebecca Stokell admits to breaching the ICC's anti-doping code, enters voluntary suspension

In a major blow to Cricket Ireland, the women's teams star batter Rebecca Stokell has admitted to breaching the ICCs (International Cricket Council) anti-doping code. It is worth noting that Stokell provided a sample during...

When Hardik Pandya comes back, our number 7 and 8 will be sorted: Shubman Gill

Indian captain Shubman Gill said Pandya's skills are unmatched as he is a seam bowling all-rounder, who can operate and be effective during any phase of the game

India, New Zealand switch to World Cup prep at bouncy Eden Park

Four days after playing a high-scoring T20I at Eden Park, the two teams are back here for the ODIs, but the conditions could be a lot different

All the hard work I had put in was finally paying off: Shafali recalls surprise ODI WC call-up

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Nov 3 (IANS) India all-rounder Shafali Verma revealed that her return to the national side during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 came as a complete surprise, with the call-up arriving while she was representing Haryana in a domestic competition. The right-handed batter said she was not even following the World Cup closely at the time, having shifted her attention towards improving her own game through domestic cricket. Shafali was drafted into India's squad midway through the tournament, giving the team another batting option during the latter stages of the competition. The batter recalled receiving the unexpected news from the team manager and was initially struggling to believe that she had been selected. The call-up, she said, was particularly rewarding because it came after a prolonged period of working on her game away from the national setup. I was representing Haryana in a state-level match when the national team manager suddenly called to inform me that I had been selected for the remaining matches of the World Cup. I couldn't believe it, as I had been away from social media and wasn't even following the tournament, having focused entirely on my own game. I felt all the hard work I had put in over the past year was finally paying off. The team welcomed me warmly, and the two or three net sessions helped me adapt to the conditions and find my rhythm. Being in good touch through domestic cricket also gave me confidence. The work I had put into myself was reflecting in my game, and that felt good, Shafali told JioStar. She also highlighted how her domestic performances helped her make the transition back into the international environment without feeling overwhelmed by the sudden change in circumstances. Rather than requiring an extended adjustment period, a handful of practice sessions with the national team helped her settle into the conditions and regain familiarity with the team's setup.

'ODIs First, Then T20Is And Tests': Gill Lays Down Preference For New Zealand Tour

World Test Championship: India ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill stated that he would have preferred T20Is to be scheduled between the ODIs and Test matches on the tour of New Zealand, allowing the Indian team to field full-strength squads for the last two ODIs of the five-match series while giving them enough time to prepare for a crucial two-match Test series. With the race for the World Test Championship final heating up and the ODI World Cup 2027 preparations in full swing, Tests and ODIs are the two preferred formats for teams, and India are no different. India are still in the fight for the WTC final in June 2027 and are currently fourth, while they also prepare for the 2027 World Cup. However, as the ODIs and Tests on the New Zealand tour run back-to-back, there is a short turnaround for the players to prepare for both formats separately. India have opted to rest a few of their first-choice Test players for the last two ODIs of the five-match ODI series against New Zealand. Speaking ahead of the start of the ODI series from Wednesday onwards, India captain Gill stated that he would have liked the T20Is to be played in between the ODIs and Tests for India to field a full-strength team. Both (the ODI and Test series) are very important, Gill told reporters on the eve of the first ODI in Auckland. If it was in my hands and all the players were fit, I would have liked to have all the players who we are looking at playing during the World Cup (for the full ODI series), but the two Test matches are also very important. If it had been one-day first, then T20, and then Test, we could have played all five (ODI) matches (with our strongest squad), but (we couldn't do this) because the gap between the one-day (series) and Test matches was very small, he added. India will be missing the likes of Gill and KL Rahul, among others, for the last two ODIs of the series. The ODIs end on November 15, and the Tests will begin from November 19 onwards. Both (the ODI and Test series) are very important, but unfortunately, because we are playing the one-dayers in between (the T20Is and Tests), the players in the Test team are having to miss the last two one-dayers, he added. Gill also has an eye on the WTC final as India's chances for the title clash have increased a bit after South Africa defeated Australia 2-1 in a recently concluded series. The WTC scenario has become very interesting, Gill said. India will be missing the likes of Gill and KL Rahul, among others, for the last two ODIs of the series. The ODIs end on November 15, and the Tests will begin from November 19 onwards. Both (the ODI and Test series) are very important, but unfortunately, because we are playing the one-dayers in between (the T20Is and Tests), the players in the Test team are having to miss the last two one-dayers, he added. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

IND vs NZ ODI series: Devon Conway ruled out of first ODI with concussion, Tim Seifert set for direct swap

Conway and Henry collided while attempting an aerial catch during the team's training session at Eden Park ahead of Wednesday's series opener

IPL Trade Bombshell: Hardik Pandya Set For Punjab Kings Move In Arshdeep Singh Deal - Report

Hardik Pandya has been linked with a move away from MI since the conclusion of IPL 2026, with multiple franchises reportedly holding talks over a potential deal.

Amol Muzumdar On Dressing-room Intervention During ODI WC: If Not Now, Then Never

Cricket World Cup: India head coach Amol Muzumdar revealed that he decided to confront the team's shortcomings inside the dressing room following their defeat to England during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, believing that a direct intervention was necessary to change the team's fortunes. Muzumdar said he chose to address the players despite reservations from members of his support staff, as India's third defeat in the group stage had made it clear that the team needed to respond. The loss against England was particularly disappointing for the Indian camp, with the side having entered the contest expecting to secure a convincing victory. However, their inability to close out the match prompted Muzumdar to take a different approach in his communication with the players. Recalling the circumstances that led to his decision, the India head coach said he felt another routine team discussion would not be enough to bring about the desired change. The group stage match against England, which we were supposed to win by a nice margin, we were not able to finish and ended up losing. That was our third defeat of the World Cup, and I wasn't happy about it, nor were the players. I decided we had to make something happen there. Unless we took action, nothing was going to change. My support staff did mention, 'not now, Amol.' But I decided otherwise. I said, 'no, if not now, then never.' So that was when I stepped in. I mentioned to shut the windows because I didn't want the public to see it, but at the same time, it was needed. I just said what I felt through my heart. It was great on the team's part that they took it positively because it was meant for the betterment of the team. I was thankful they took it that way, Muzumdar told JioStar. Muzumdar explained that his intervention was driven by the gap between the potential he saw within the squad and what the players were managing to produce during matches. He believed that the team's considerable individual ability needed to translate into performances when it mattered most, rather than remaining restricted to practice sessions and discussions away from the field. The coach also acknowledged the players' response to his message, saying he was appreciative of the manner in which the dressing room received his words despite the intensity of the conversation. Muzumdar explained that his intervention was driven by the gap between the potential he saw within the squad and what the players were managing to produce during matches. He believed that the team's considerable individual ability needed to translate into performances when it mattered most, rather than remaining restricted to practice sessions and discussions away from the field. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Santner flags workload concerns, backs squad depth and role clarity ahead of 2027 World Cup

Apart from the recently concluded T20I series, New Zealand are hosting India in a series featuring five ODIs beginning on November 4, 2026, and two Tests starting November 19

Ravichandran Ashwin Points Out Big Concern For India Ahead Of New Zealand ODIs

Despite winning the series 3-2 against New Zealand, Shreyas Iyer and Co have come under scrutiny for their team selections and the inconsistent displays from the bowling unit.

IPL 2027: Punjab Kings Set For Shock Hardik Pandya Trade!

Punjab Kings are reportedly nearing a deal to acquire all-rounder Hardik Pandya from Mumbai Indians in a surprise trade ahead of the IPL 2027 auction, with Arshdeep Singh and Vishnu Vinod potentially moving to MI.

Gill Backs Bumrah's ODI Break, Says Tests Equally Important

India's ODI captain Shubman Gill has clarified the decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah from the New Zealand ODIs, prioritising the upcoming Test series, and explained India's strategy of preferring taller bowlers for their pace attack.

Brendon McCullum shifts focus onto ODI cricket as England gear up for Australia series

The stage is set for the upcoming multi-format white-ball series between archrivals Australia and England. The two sides are slated to take on each other across three ODI matches and will follow it up with five T20Is. The series is all set to kick off on November 13th with the first ODI, and both sides will look to put in their best performance and will hope to play some good cricket .

'Can defeat Any Opposition': Shubman Gill's Big Warning To New Zealand Ahead Of 1st ODI

Shubman Gill believes the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand starting from November 4 presents an important opportunity for the team to test its depth and build confidence ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.

'We would try to stop Kohli, Rohit early in every game': Santner hopes to keep India's top order quiet

Digital Desk | Auckland, Nov 3 (IANS) New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner hopes to keep Indian stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma quiet throughout the upcoming five-match ODI series, which kicks off at Eden Park on Wednesday. The buzz around Kohli and Rohit has been there ever since they landed in New Zealand. Visuals of the two practising side-by-side have also gone viral on social media, and as the two are in form, New Zealand want to keep them quiet in what is a crucial series for the two teams in terms of preparations for the ODI World Cup 2027. Yeah, I guess we would try to stop them pretty early in every game, ideally, Santner said in the pre-match press conference. But yeah, we've seen the top order of India for a long time. Rohit and Kohli have done it for a long time. Their role is to go pretty hard at the top and then set up a good score in the middle and then let their power kind of come in at the end, he added. The New Zealand captain hopes there will be help on the surface for the seamers to stop the duo. So, I think if it does a little bit, it kind of brings the seamers back into the game a little bit. But when we've seen it's flat, it's how do we stop the likes of those guys? Yeah, and it might be, I think we've gone away from kind of seeing that 250-260 score being par in one-day cricket, he said. Santner also expects the crowd to fill the stadiums in numbers, with Kohli and Rohit set to feature in the series, and heaped praise on the two for doing well despite being in their late 30s. As we've seen throughout the T20 series, we've had some really good crowds, and I expect they'll be the same with Rohit and Virat being here. We know how good they are. I guess they're getting old, but they are still playing very well. We saw it against the West Indies. I've seen it for a long time. I've seen Rohit in the IPL as well. We've obviously sat down as a bowling group and discussed what their line-up looks like, how to operate in New Zealand, which I guess we know how to operate on these pitches. But when it's doing a bit, what does it look like, and when it's flat, what does that look like as well? he added.

Gill Explains Why India Desperately Need Hardik Pandya Back

India's ODI skipper Shubman Gill has highlighted the significant impact of Hardik Pandya's prolonged injury absence on the team's balance, particularly in the lower middle-order, stating that his return is crucial for a more balanced side.

2nd Unofficial Test: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yash Rathod Hit Tons As India A Secure Draw Against NZ A

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Yash Rathod produced an impressive batting display on the final day to secure a draw for India A against New Zealand A in the second unofficial Test, stitching together an unbeaten 247-run partnership after an early collapse threatened to put the visitors under pressure.

Gill would have preferred ODIs before T20Is on New Zealand tour

India captain Shubman Gill says playing the ODIs at the start would have given them the chance to play a full-strength squad to prepare for the World Cup

New Zealand Star Suffers Freak Injury During Practice, Ruled Out Of 1st ODI vs India

New Zealand Cricket later confirmed that the star player had been diagnosed with concussion after being taken to hospital for further examination, ruling him out of the series opener.

India vs Sri Lanka ODI clash likely to be moved out of Delhi: Report

In a major development, the upcoming first ODI of the series between India and Sri Lanka is likely to be moved out of Delhi. After the conclusion of Indias series against New Zealand, the Men in Blue are slated to take on Sri Lanka across three ODIs and three T20I matches, hoping to play some good cricket .

Hopefully We Will Get Him Back: Shubman Gill Gives Big Update On Hardik Pandya Ahead Of NZ ODIs

Ahead of the first ODI against New Zealand, India skipper Shubman Gill shared an update on all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who is currently recovering from injury at the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE).

2nd Unofficial Test: Jaiswal, Rathod Hit Tons As India 'A' Secure Draw Against NZ 'A'

Unofficial Test: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Yash Rathod produced an impressive batting display on the final day to secure a draw for India A against New Zealand A in the second unofficial Test, stitching together an unbeaten 247-run partnership after an early collapse threatened to put the visitors under pressure. Jaiswal finished unbeaten on 155, while Rathod brought up his 11th first-class century, remaining not out on 100 as India A reached 282/2 in their second innings. With the match heading towards an inevitable stalemate, the teams called it a day shortly after Tea, four deliveries after Rathod completed his hundred. The morning began with rain and drizzle that delayed the proceedings, but New Zealand A made the most of the conditions once play resumed. India As overnight position quickly turned precarious as Sai Sudharsan departed in the opening over, caught by Tim Robinson at leg gully off Jarrod McKay. The visitors suffered another setback almost immediately when Brett Randell dismissed Devdutt Padikkal for a first-ball duck, bowling the right-hander with a delivery that moved back in after pitching. With India A reduced to 35/2, Jaiswal took responsibility for rebuilding the innings. The left-hander, who had endured a relatively quiet run of scores coming into the contest and managed only a duck in the first innings, responded with an assured knock that combined patience with calculated aggression. Rathod provided equally valuable support at the other end. Having failed to make an impact in the first innings with just 13 runs, he settled into the innings and gradually accelerated alongside Jaiswal. The duo not only erased New Zealand As 78-run first-innings advantage but also ensured there was no further opportunity for the visitors to threaten a result. New Zealand As bowling resources were already depleted, with Fraser Sheat sidelined by a side strain and Jayden Lennox unavailable due to a hamstring injury. Jaiswal exploited the situation, particularly against the spinners, using his feet effectively and finding the boundary regularly. One of his standout strokes was a slog-swept six off Dean Foxcroft. He also had a brief interruption when a Jarrod McKay bouncer struck his helmet, prompting a concussion assessment before he continued his innings. Jaiswal subsequently brought up his century from 119 deliveries, clearing the ropes with another slog-sweep over the cow corner. The India opener remained in control thereafter, finishing with 15 fours and five sixes. Rathod, meanwhile, reached his half-century from 63 balls and continued to build on the partnership as the pair added 237 runs during the 40 overs between the resumption of play and Tea. Rathod returned after the interval on 95 and needed just four deliveries to complete his century. With India A firmly in control and the surface offering little prospect of a late breakthrough, both teams agreed to end the contest. Earlier, New Zealand A had established a 78-run first-innings lead after posting 424 in response to India As 346. Matthew Boyle led their effort with 110, while Dean Foxcroft contributed 93. Mukesh Kumar claimed five wickets for 87 runs, with Mohammed Siraj picking up four for 118. Dhruv Jurel had earlier anchored Indias first innings with a century of his own, scoring 105. Rathod returned after the interval on 95 and needed just four deliveries to complete his century. With India A firmly in control and the surface offering little prospect of a late breakthrough, both teams agreed to end the contest. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Devon Conway ruled out of upcoming ODI series against India due to collision with pacer in training

In a major blow to NZC (New Zealand Cricket), the board recently came forward and announced that star batter Devon Conway has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against the Indian team. It...

Indian Premier League 2027: MIs Hardik Pandya set for a swap with PBKSs Arshdeep Singh

Hardik Pandya returned to Mumbai Indians in an all-cash trade from Gujarat Titans ahead of IPL 2024, following a successful two-season stint with the franchise, which he had captained to the title in 2022. His subsequent three seasons as MI captain yielded little success

'Our Top Four Is Set, All Right-handers': Gill Reveals India's Batting Order For NZ ODIs

ODI World Cup: India captain Shubman Gill on Tuesday revealed the team's batting plans for the five-match ODI series against New Zealand, which begins in Auckland on Wednesday, stating that the top four are set with all right-handers, which includes him, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer. Speaking ahead of the series opener, Gill said the team will adopt a flexible approach for No. 5 and No. 6 batters, with two left-handers KL Rahul and Axar Patel sharing responsibilities depending on the match situation. We will have a floating approach for No. 5 and No.6. Our top four is set, all right-handers. So if lefty is needed, Axar bhai goes and depending on match situation even KL bhai can go. So bit flexible, Gill said at the pre-match press conference ahead of the first ODI. Gill, who will lead the side in the first three ODIs before being released from the squad to prepare for the two-Test series later this month, also reflected on Hardik Pandya's return, saying the star allrounder would have to play domestic cricket before returning to the India squad. Whenever Hardik bhai comes back, No. 7-8 will also be taken care of. Happy with batting group leading up to the ODI World Cup. He (Hardik) is a great all-rounder. Not many players in the world have his skill set. As a bowler, you can use him in the different facets of the game. He can bowl with the new ball and the old ball. We have had multiple conversations. He is unfortunate with his injuries. He hasn't played since the IPL. Hopefully, he will come back soon. He will play some domestic cricket. And hopefully we will get him back in the Indian team soon, he said. Gill, who suffered a cervical disc bulge and neck spasm that affected his nerves in November 2025 and kept him out of international cricket for nearly a month, dismissed concerns about his neck. No issue... I batted for close to one and a half hours and did my fielding without any trouble too. No issue at all, he added. Gill, who suffered a cervical disc bulge and neck spasm that affected his nerves in November 2025 and kept him out of international cricket for nearly a month, dismissed concerns about his neck. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Jaiswal 155*, Rathod 100* highlight India A's day in draw

The duo put on an unbroken 247-run partnership after India A lost Sai Sudharsan and Padikkal early on the fourth day

India A vs New Zealand A Highlights, 2nd Unofficial Test Day 4: Yashasvi Jaiswal's Ton Propels India A To Draw vs New Zealand A

India A vs New Zealand A, 2nd Unofficial Test Day 4 Highlights: Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal reassured the Indian team management with a fine century after his recent dip in form ahead of the Test series, as India A drew the second unofficial Test against New Zealand A on Tuesday.

'Concussed' Conway ruled out of first ODI vs India after collision with Henry

Digital Desk | Auckland, Nov 3 (IANS) Devon Conway has been ruled out of the ODI series opener against India, scheduled for Wednesday, due to concussion after a collision with fast bowler Matt Henry during New Zealand's pre-match training session at Eden Park on Tuesday, New Zealand Cricket said. Conway and Henry collided while attempting a catch during the training at Eden Park. Both players were immediately treated by medical staff on-site and received head injury assessments. NZC said in a statement that Conway was taken to A&E for further examination, which confirmed a concussion that has ruled him out of the first ODI against India tomorrow. Both players will continue to be monitored and their involvement in the Hero VIDA ODI series against India, it added. Conway is the latest addition to New Zealand's list of injured players, with batters Mark Chapman and Rachin Ravindra having already been ruled out of the five-match ODI series with hamstring and shoulder injuries. Tim Seifert, who was originally only in consideration for the first two ODIs, had been included in the squad for the entire series on Monday. Captain Mitchell Santner indicated that Seifert would likely play if Conway was ruled out. I guess Seifert is the back-up batter in our squad. So it'll probably be a direct swap if Dev's unavailable, which is a shame. He (Conway) is obviously very good in one-day cricket and was biding his time in the T20 series. And I guess another one of those freak accidents that happens, Santner told reporters on the eve of the match. Fresh from a 3-2 T20I series win, India will begin the ODI leg of their New Zealand tour when the first of five matches gets underway at Eden Park in Auckland on Wednesday. India will welcome back Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the 50-over setup, while Shubman Gill leads the side for the first three games before Shreyas Iyer takes over for the final two.

Record 8.4 Million Ticket Requests For India-Pakistan World Cup Clash

Organisers have received nearly 8.4 million ticket applications for the India and Pakistan group-stage clash at the 2027 ODI World Cup in Johannesburg, with almost eight million requests for the final.

IND A vs NZ A unofficial Test: Jaiswal roars back to form with unbeaten 155, match drawn

The match ended just after Rathod completed his century, with the left-hander sharing an unbroken 247-run stand with Jaiswal for the third wicket

Conway ruled out of opening ODI after collision with Henry

The opener took a blow to the head and was

Ireland's Rebecca Stokell admits to breaching ICC's anti-doping code

She

'It's Probably A Time...': Maxwell Calls Time On His 14-year International Career (Ld)

T20I World Cup: Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has announced his retirement from international cricket, calling time on his career that spanned 14 years. The 38-year-old, who retired from ODI cricket in June last year, represented Australia across 149 ODIs, 130 T20Is and 7 Tests, won two ICC Men's Cricket World Cups (2015 and 2023) and one ICC Men's T20 World Cup (2021). We probably had numerous discussions before and after the T20 World Cup, Maxwell said on the Final Word podcast. And it was pretty open-ended. There wasn't any pressure from (Australia team management), and we decided to sort of leave the door open. There was a couple of series that were coming up (in which) they were going to look to the future, and we saw that in Bangladesh with guys getting their opportunity and performing really well. It's probably a time where I need to spend a little bit more time investing in the body to make sure I can get through the remaining couple of tournaments I've got in my career, he said. Maxwell, who last appeared for Australia in their final match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 against Oman, was the oldest player in Australia's disappointing T20I World Cup campaign. The allrounder leaves T20I cricket as Australia's third-highest run scorer (2,897) behind David Warner and Aaron Finch, and as one of just two batters, alongside India's Rohit Sharma, to have scored five T20I centuries. A dynamite with the bat, Maxwell was a powerhouse in the Australian batting order, especially in white-ball cricket. His ODI double hundred, which came in a remarkable chase against Afghanistan in the 2023 CWC, was a testament to the all-rounder's qualities and character. Maxwell scored 3990 runs at a strike rate of 126.7 in ODIs, in addition to his 2897 runs at a strike rate of 154.4 in the shortest format of the game. With ten international hundreds and 136 international wickets to his name, Maxwell is one of Australia's finest all-rounders. One of the turning points of his career was the 2023 ODI World Cup league-stage game with Afghanistan at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. With cramps, Maxwell scored an incredible 201 not out off only 128 balls as Australia defeated Afghanistan by three wickets while chasing 292. Maxwell's last Test for Australia was in 2017, with the Australia batsman having played 7 matches. He has largely been confined to limited-overs cricket since and has been significantly more successful in that format. He will continue to play in Big Bash title with the Melbourne Stars, with whom he is contracted until the end of the 2027-28 season. Maxwell most recently turned out for Victoria in a couple of one-day matches but has also called stumps on his List A career. He has not played a first-class match since 2023. Maxwell's last Test for Australia was in 2017, with the Australia batsman having played 7 matches. He has largely been confined to limited-overs cricket since and has been significantly more successful in that format. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Jaiswal Roars Back To Form With Century; Helps India A Draw Against New Zealand A

Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed an unbeaten 155, returning to form with a blistering century, as the second unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A ended in a draw on Day 4 in Christchurch. Yash Rathod also scored a hundred, helping India A recover from early wickets.

A Fictional Ashes Test, a Real Ashes Triumph: The Incredible Story Behind the 1953 Film The Final Test

A cricket ground is usually a place where fiction is not welcome. The latest and most unusual example has come from Leicester, where the shooting of Sourav Gangulys biopic Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story at Uptonsteel Grace Road has unexpectedly become part of a real cricket controversy. The film crew spent a day at the Leicestershire ground four days before the countys Championship match against Glamorgan in August. Leicestershire head groundsman Callum Lewin told the Cricket Regulator that he was not allowed to work on or cover the pitch during the shoot. With temperatures reaching 35C, the surface remained exposed for around eight hours. The match later recorded 43 instances of uneven bounce. Leicestershire won by 42 runs, but the pitch was rated poor. The club was fined 5,000 and initially received a 27-point penalty, later reduced to 19 points. Leicestershire have appealed. The filmmakers have maintained that the shoot was properly authorised. Leicester is certainly not the first cricket ground to become part of a film story. More than seven decades ago, The Final Test, made in 1953, faced a similar question: how do you put a cricket match on the screen without interfering with the real game? Directed by Anthony Asquith and written by Terence Rattigan, the film tells the story of Sam Palmer, an ageing England cricketer preparing for his final Test at The Oval. His son Reggie is more interested in literature than cricket, but the film eventually becomes a story about father and son, generations and the powerful hold of the game. The Oval itself created a problem. The film was built around a fictional Ashes Test at the famous south London ground, but permission to film the dramatic cricket sequences on the actual turf was refused. The solution was to recreate parts of The Oval at Pinewood Studios. The replica included the pavilion and other details and was so convincing that the real England cricketers appearing in the film reportedly felt they were back at a Test match. Yet the film had something most modern cricket movies could only dream about: the real England cricketers. Len Hutton, Denis Compton, Alec Bedser, Godfrey Evans, Jim Laker and Cyril Washbrook appeared as themselves, while John Arlott provided the commentary. Hutton, one of Englands greatest batsmen, reportedly found the studio recreation so convincing that he felt he was taking part in a real Test match. The film also mixed scripted scenes with genuine cricket footage. Real England players were acting on a fake Test ground, while actual match footage helped make the fictional game look authentic. There is a tempting story that Hutton, Compton, Bedser and the other England players left an ongoing Ashes Test at The Oval to shoot the film. They did not. The film was made and released in the same remarkable cricket summer of 1953, when England were preparing for the deciding Ashes Test at The Oval. England had not won the Ashes since the 1932-33 series. Four matches of the 1953 series had been drawn, leaving everything to be decided at The Oval. And the man at the centre of the real drama was Len Hutton. Hutton led England to victory. Jim Laker and Tony Lock bowled Australia out for 162, helping England secure a famous Ashes triumph. The irony was almost too perfect for a film script. The Final Test had imagined an ageing cricketer playing his last Ashes match at The Oval. Then the real Oval hosted an Ashes decider that became one of the great moments in English cricket history. There was another remarkable connection. Denis Compton, who appeared in the film, was also part of the real England side that won the Ashes. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Cyril Washbrook, another England star appearing as himself, reportedly was not entirely happy with the script. His fictional character was dismissed for only 40, while Hutton went on to score a century.

Mohammad Amir Responds To Reports Linking Him With IPL Entry

Mohammad Amir on Monday registered for the Afghanistan Premier League as a British citizen.

Australias Glenn Maxwell calls time on international career

Glenn Maxwell, who had not played a Test since 2017, called time on his one-day career last year but kept the door open for T20s

IND-A vs NZ-A Test: New Zealands gritty lower-order puts the team in front

Replying to India-As first innings score of 346, New Zealand-A, which was reduced to 338 for eight, finished its first innings at 424; the last two wickets added 86 runs to provide the hosts a handy lead

'The Big Show' Signs Off: Glenn Maxwell Retires From International Cricket

Glenn Maxwell, the star Australian all-rounder, announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday

Glenn Maxwell retires from international cricket

The 38-year-old Australian also calls time on his first-class and List A career but remains available for Melbourne Stars in the BBL

Glenn Maxwell Announces Retirement From International Cricket: Report

The Big Show: Australia's explosive all-rounder Glenn Maxwell announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday, bringing the curtain down on a career spanning more than a decade across all three formats. According to ESPNcricinfo, Maxwell, who represented Australia in 286 international matches, scored 7,226 runs and claimed 136 wickets during his career. Nicknamed 'The Big Show', the 38-year-old was a key member of Australia's successful campaigns in the 2015 and 2023 ODI World Cups and the 2021 T20 World Cup. After making his International debut in an ODI against Afghanistan in 2012, Maxwell went onto become one of the most destructive white-ball batters of his generation, known for his unorthodox stroke-play, power-hitting and how he can change the course of a game. Maxwell is also the joint holder of most T20I centuries five with India's Rohit Sharma. One of the turning points of his career was the 2023 ODI World Cup league-stage game with Afghanistan at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. With cramps and his movement, Maxwell scored an incredible 201 not out off only 128 balls as Australia defeated Afghanistan by three wickets while chasing 292. Before Maxwell's miraculous innings, Australia had been 91/7 and seemingly on the brink of defeat in the seventh over. Maxwell's last Test for Australia was in 2017, with the Australia batsman having played 7 matches. He has largely been confined to limited-overs cricket since and has been significantly more successful in that format. He had earlier declared his quit from ODI cricket after the 2025 Champions Trophy, with a parting shot of 3,990 runs in the format. His last T20I was against Oman in February this year. Maxwell's last Test for Australia was in 2017, with the Australia batsman having played 7 matches. He has largely been confined to limited-overs cricket since and has been significantly more successful in that format. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

High-Octane, Robust Cricket: Brendon McCullum Sets Clear Template For England Ahead Of 2027 World Cup

England's white-ball head coach Brendon McCullum is determined to shape a team capable of challenging for major trophies, with next year's 50-over World Cup firmly on his radar, as he prepares to return to Australia for a three-match ODI series.

IPL Teams Get More Time to Lock in Retentions

The IPL has extended the retention deadline to November 17, with the December 16 Goa mini-auction marking the final player auction before the 2028 mega auction.

ICC Receives 120 Million Ticket Requests For 2027 Men's Cricket World Cup

2.8 million unique fans from 193 countries have registered for the opportunity to purchase tickets for the 14th edition of ODI cricket's showpiece event, according to ICC Media release.

India A vs New Zealand A Live Score, 2nd Unofficial Test Day 4 Live Updates

India A vs New Zealand A Live Score, 2nd Unofficial Test Day 4 Live Updates: India A's bowlers were made to work hard for their wickets as New Zealand A's lower order turned the contest around on Day...

Australian allrounder Glenn Maxwell announces retirement from international cricket

Australian allrounder Glenn Maxwell on Monday announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to his over a decade-long career. Known for his aggressive style of play, the 38-year-old had represented Australia across all three...

McCullum Eyes World Cup Glory, Says England Want To Play 'high-octane, Robust' Cricket

Western Australia XI: England's white-ball head coach Brendon McCullum is determined to shape a team capable of challenging for major trophies, with next year's 50-over World Cup firmly on his radar, as he prepares to return to Australia for a three-match ODI series. McCullum, who was sacked as England's Test head coach midway through the English summer following a disappointing Ashes campaign last winter, said his focus was now firmly on improving the white-ball sides and building towards the World Cup. You can't really go back on the four years that you've had. You're just grateful for the opportunity that you got. With 12 months to go into a World Cup, it's a great opportunity to zero in and laser your focus on exactly where you think the areas are that you can get some improvement into these guys. And winning a World Cup would be amazing, but we know we're going to have to get better between now and then, McCullum said. England will begin their three-match ODI series against Australia at Perth's Optus Stadium on November 13, returning to the venue where their disastrous Ashes campaign began with a two-day defeat in the opening Test last year. However, McCullum insisted that his attention was firmly on the challenges ahead, describing the Australian tour as an opportunity for his inexperienced squad to test its methods and continue developing in the build-up to the World Cup. Firstly, it's nice to be back. An Australia tour is always a great tour. The cricket's always pretty competitive. We'll play at some great stadiums, against a good side, and continue to test our methods, towards the one-day World Cup. We know we need to keep getting better, but we've been presented with some good opportunities, and this will be one of those the next couple of weeks, he said. McCullum also outlined the aggressive approach he wants England to adopt, stressing that the demands of their playing style would require a greater emphasis on fitness and preparation. We want to play a high-octane, robust style of play, which demands fitness elements to it. So for us, this is a great opportunity to have a little fitness block in and around the demand of this series, he added. England will also play a 50-over warm-up against a Western Australia XI at the WACA on November 7 as part of their preparations for the series. The former New Zealand captain acknowledged the challenge of adjusting to the pace and bounce of the Optus Stadium surface, describing it as having a 'trampoline bounce', but preferred to focus on the broader preparation for the tour. England head into the Australia series after a disappointing campaign in the Pakistan tri-series, where they finished at the bottom of the standings after losing three of their four matches, missing out on the final. Despite the disappointment, McCullum felt the experience would benefit a relatively inexperienced squad as it continues to build towards next year's global event. Yeah, it was disappointing. Obviously, it was great to play in the tri-series. With the view towards the World Cup, the ability to be able to bounce between games, and different tactics, and different oppositions was good. We obviously didn't quite achieve what we wanted to, but we played some really good cricket and learned some great lessons. They should hold you in good stead in 12 months, he said. We've got a pretty inexperienced team. These guys haven't played a lot of one-day cricket, so any opportunity to get experience and education, and those pressure moments, so that you can start to just understand a little bit better, it's going to be good. England have won 11 and lost 11 of their last 22 ODIs since Harry Brook replaced Jos Buttler as captain, highlighting the work still required to establish consistency in the format. McCullum, meanwhile, was reluctant to revisit England's Ashes disappointment, acknowledging that opportunities had been missed but insisting that his priorities had shifted. I like to focus on what's coming and I think this is a very different side. This is a different form of the game. The Test stuff, I had a great time while I was there, but my focus is very much on trying to make this cricket team the very best team that we can be, and to challenge seriously for trophies, he said. Reflecting on his four-year stint with the Test team, McCullum described it as one of the most rewarding experiences of his cricketing career and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to now help shape England's white-ball future. I loved the four years that I had with the Test team. It was one of the greatest experiences I've had in the game and I'm forever grateful for the chance. But the good thing is, I get the opportunity to try, alongside Brookie (Harry Brook) and some key people, to help shape the one-day side and the T20 side moving forward. And that's very much where my focus is, he added. Reflecting on his four-year stint with the Test team, McCullum described it as one of the most rewarding experiences of his cricketing career and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to now help shape England's white-ball future. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS