Cricket

Ben Stokes Calls Headingleys 2027 Ashes Snub Shambolic After Joe Root Disappointment

Ben Stokes has labelled the decision not to hold a men's Ashes Test at Headingley next year shambolic, after Joe Root expressed disappointment that Leeds was left off the schedule. England thrashed Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs inside three days at Headingley on Friday, their seventh successive Test win at the ground. It was an ideal start to Root's second stint as Test captain after taking over the side following former skipper Stokes's surprise international retirement. Root said it was a shame his Yorkshire home ground would miss out on staging a match during the 2027 men's Ashes. Stokes, posting a screenshot of Root's words, said in a social media post: Shame is an understatement tbh. Shambolic would be more appropriate. Great win though. Stokes had said he was devastated there would be no men's Ashes Tests in northern England next year when the schedule was first announced in 2023. Headingley will host the one-off women's Ashes Test. The men's series will visit the Rose Bowl, close to Southampton, for the first time, with Trent Bridge, Lord's, Edgbaston and the Oval staging the other four games. I would love to play as many games as possible here, Root said after England went 1-0 up in their three-Test series against Pakistan. It's a great Test match venue and a surface that provides brilliant Test cricket. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories We've had quite a lot of success on it recently, so it's a shame we don't get to play here next year. I'm sure we will see many, many more brilliant Test matches here.

Shoriful bags 7 wkts, but Starc puts Australia in command

Australia were bowled out for 210 in their first innings on Day 2 of the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay. Bangladesh's paceman Shoriful Islam delivered a record-breaking performance, taking 7-48, the best figures for a Bangladeshi bowler in an away Test. This strong bowling effort has given Bangladesh a significant lead in the match and the series.

Gautam Gambhir, Shubman Gill Refuse To Release India Reserves For Duleep Trophy: Report

The Indian team management has taken a strong decision ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka, which begins on Sunday in Colombo.

Australia vs Bangladesh Live Score Updates, 2nd Test Day 2

Australia vs Bangladesh Live Score Updates, 2nd Test Day 2: Shoriful Islam took a career-best 7-48 and Cameron Green hit a valuable 67, as Australia were dismissed for 210 in their first innings on day two of the second Test against Bangladesh

Shoriful bags seven but Australia lead by 146

Cameron Green and Nathan Lyon added valuable runs on the second morning

AUS vs BAN Test Day 2: Australia dismissed for 210, lead Bangladesh by 146

Resuming at 165-8 in reply to the visitors' 64 all out, the hosts added 45 more to the total, with all-rounder Green top-scoring. Steve Smith chipped in with 42 and Nathan Lyon was not out 32.

Carlson keeps Glamorgan in hunt after Gumbs shows quality

Rookie Leicestershire opener falls for 93 but not before giving hosts a glimmer of victory

Ekansh Singh fires Kent push after Compton, Muyeye fifties

Middlesex stumble after being set 356 to win at Merchant Taylors' School

Olly Stone ten-for rumbles Surrey as Notts send title warning

Champions bulldoze rivals at The Oval to maintain hopes of back-to-back successes

TNPL: Panthers seal Qualifier 1 spot, help Tamizhans advance to the next stage

McKinney, Stokes power Durham to 338-run thrashing

Century for opener, and allround onslaught from ex-England captain, floors Derbyshire

Northants close in as Vaconcelos ton cements dominance

Lancashire blitzed for 137 early in day and then lose two before close after being set 446 to win

Price, Hammond dig in to give Gloucestershire a glimmer

Worcestershire blunted after D'Oliveira 83 helps secure 117-run lead on first innings

Woakes holds nerve for Warwickshire in title-igniting thriller

Epic one-wicket win over Sussex sets up Bears for Championship run-in

Charlie Allison hundred leads Essex fightback

Visitors wipe out deficit after following on as Somerset can only manage three wickets in day

TNPL | Mohammed frustrated with Salem Spartans planning

Gautam Gambhir Sends Strong Message On Kuldeep Yadav's Future Ahead Of Second Sri Lanka Test

Gautam Gambhir didn't fully divulge whether India will stick to its winning combination from Galle for the second Test against Sri Lanka, he had some words of encouragement for under-fire left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav

Gambhir Hails Indias Young Stars Ahead of Sri Lanka Test

India coach Gautam Gambhir said he was pleased with the rise in younger players ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Sunday. India hold a 1-0 lead in the two-match series and a victory in Colombo will help keep hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final alive. Young batsman Devdutt Padikkal, playing his third Test, was one of the stars of India's comprehensive 165-run win in Galle, scoring 167 and 44. Spinner Manav Suthar, in his second appearance for India, claimed a match haul of 10 wickets. Extremely satisfying to see these younger players getting an opportunity and them delivering straight away, Gambhir told reporters, but added that there is still a lot of work to be done. You can't judge players by only one or two performances, he said. While India are ranked number one in ODIs and T20Is, their fortunes in Test cricket have been less impressive, having lost a home series to South Africa last year and another to New Zealand before that. Gambhir said there is no cause for concern and that the team is going through a transition in Tests. I have believed that for the last one year we have done reasonably well, he added. The former India opener also made a case for three-match series, arguing that two-match contests leave little room for a team to recover from an early setback. Sri Lanka skipper Dhananjaya de Silva said top-order batter Kamil Mishara was likely to make his Test debut in Colombo. Mishara, a left-handed batsman who has already represented Sri Lanka in white-ball cricket, has been a prolific run-scorer in first-class cricket in recent seasons. Sri Lanka, who suffered a 1-0 series defeat in the West Indies earlier in the year, are in dire need of a win to keep their World Test Championship campaign afloat. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories These are two evenly matched sides and we expect to put up a good performance in this Test, de Silva said.

India's Predicted XI For 2nd Test vs Sri Lanka: Kuldeep Yadav To Be Dropped?

Sanjay Manjrekar feels the team management's decision to potentially replace left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav with an off-spinner for the second Test against Sri Lanka would be an understandable...

SSC Colombo: History, Records & Indias 2026 Test

The Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo is more than a venue for cricket matches; it is part of Sri Lankas cricketing identity. Known simply as SSC and often described as the Lords of Sri Lanka, this elegant venue in the heart of Colombo has been at the centre of Sri Lankan cricket for decades. It is the headquarters of Sri Lanka Cricket, the home of the countrys most prestigious cricket club and the stage for some extraordinary performances. Now, SSC is entering a new era. Floodlights were installed recently ahead of the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup, and there was even a proposal to play a pink-ball Test between India and Sri Lanka here in the present series. It is a remarkable transformation for a ground that spent much of its life representing the old-world charm of Sri Lankan cricket. Yet modernization has not erased SSCs character. That may be its greatest strength. The Sinhalese Sports Club was formed in 1899 and moved to its present home at Maitland Place in 1952. The land had previously been used as an aerodrome by Allied forces during the Second World War. Its new home placed SSC in Colombos upmarket Cinnamon Gardens, a world away from the bustle surrounding some of the citys other cricket grounds. SSC staged its first Test in 1984, when Sri Lanka played New Zealand, and quickly became one of the countrys most important international venues. For Sri Lankan batsmen, few grounds have been more productive. Mahela Jayawardene scored 2,921 Test runs at SSC, the most by any player at a single Test venue, including a magnificent 374 against South Africa in 2006. In the same Test, he and Kumar Sangakkara added 624 for the third wicket, still the highest partnership for any wicket in Test cricket. Muttiah Muralitharan took 166 Test wickets at the ground, including 14 five-wicket hauls, a world record for the most Test wickets by a bowler at a single venue. Against Pakistan in 2014, Rangana Herath took 9 for 127 and finished with 14 wickets in the match. The ground has also witnessed history involving visiting players. In 1992, Australias Shane Warne took three wickets in 13 balls as Australia defeated Sri Lanka by just 16 runs. In 2001-02, Bangladeshs Mohammad Ashraful became the youngest player at the time to score a Test century, achieving the feat shortly before his 17th birthday. SSC is not merely a venue for international cricket. It has been the nursery of Sri Lankan cricket. Generations of national players and captains, among them Arjuna Ranatunga, Duleep Mendis, Sidath Wettimuny, Marvan Atapattu, Jayawardene and Dimuth Karunaratne, have been associated with the club. Three SSC presidents went on to become the countrys head of government. F.C. de Saram, one of the most distinguished figures associated with the club, captained SSC until the age of 50 and led Ceylon. A stand at the ground bears his name. It remains a place where the boundary between club and international cricket is unusually thin where members can enjoy the facilities of an exclusive sporting club while spectators sit on grass banks watching world-class cricket. India, too, has left a substantial footprint at SSC. Their first Test at the ground, in 1985, ended in a draw, but the venue has since witnessed several memorable Indian performances. The ground has also produced imposing Indian totals. India made 707 in 2010, with Virender Sehwag scoring 99 and Sachin Tendulkar 203, while in 2017 they reached 622 for nine declared. Yet Indias SSC history has not been entirely comfortable. They suffered heavy defeats there in 2001 and 2008, both by an innings, while their lowest completed innings against Sri Lanka at the venue is just 138, recorded in 2008. The ground has therefore tested Indian teams as severely as it has rewarded them. As India return to SSC in August 2026, the venue will therefore be more than the setting for the second Test. It will be a meeting between a ground steeped in Sri Lanka crickets past and an Indian side beginning another chapter in its own long Test history. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories SSC Stadium Facts First Test: March 1984 Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Capacity: Approximately 10,000 Ends: Tennis Courts End, South End Floodlights: Yes Tests hosted: 46 Results: Sri Lanka 22 wins, visiting teams 10 wins, draws 14 Indias record: 9 Tests Won 3, Lost 2, Drawn 4

Potential Inclusion Of Off-spinner At Kuldeeps Expense Against SL 'understandable,' Says Manjrekar

Sanjay Manjrekar: Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar feels the team management's decision to potentially replace left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav with an off-spinner for the second Test against Sri Lanka, starting at the SSC Ground on Sunday, would be an understandable move, given the hosts' heavy reliance on left-handed batters. Analysis of Sri Lanka's scoring in the first Test at Galle, where they lost to India by 165 runs, shows their four main left-handers made 300 of the 465 runs scored across both innings which is roughly 64.5 per cent of the team's overall runs. In contrast, India fielded three left-arm spinners in their XI, with Kuldeep returning modest match figures of 1-103 from 25 overs. With off-spin bowling all-rounder Saransh Jain in the squad, it means the Indian team can hand him a debut if the pitch in Colombo is too dry. If India play an off-spinner in place of Kuldeep Yadav, it's understandable because that will just make the spin combination a little better. In the last Test, three spinners bowling with the left arm proved to be a little bit of a problem when two left-handers got together, and we saw left-handers get runs against India in the first Test, Manjrekar said in a video posted on his Instagram account on Saturday. So if there's an off-spinner that comes in and a left-arm spinner is left out, it will just make the Indian spin attack a little more potent because there will be variety, and an off-spinner in Test matches with DRS and everything is almost like something that you need in a team, he added. Acknowledging the possibility of Kuldeep sitting out despite his pedigree, Manjrekar urged him to adjust his trajectory and speed if hes retained in the playing eleven. Kuldeep Yadav could be the person who could be dropped, and you feel sorry because that's been the story of his career. Maybe the management might think, Let's play Kuldeep Yadav, give him a little more confidence. But Kuldeep also needs to look at what he did in the last Test and the way he bowled. Perhaps you know over the years there's been so much scrutiny on his speed in the air, and the flight; the ball doesn't come quickly off the pitch. So he's almost like committed himself completely to bowling quick, flatter. The ball still wasn't coming quickly off the pitch. So that's a lesson learned, he added. Kuldeep Yadav could be the person who could be dropped, and you feel sorry because that's been the story of his career. Maybe the management might think, Let's play Kuldeep Yadav, give him a little more confidence. But Kuldeep also needs to look at what he did in the last Test and the way he bowled. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories If he bowls that line, slow flight, 75 to 85 speed range, and bowls it outside off, I guarantee you that he'll get at least three wickets per innings. So let's hope he gets an opportunity, but if he doesn't, it's understandable. But if he does get that chance, he needs to change the way he bowled from the way he bowled in the last Test, he added. Article Source: IANS

Mitchell Starc becomes leading wicket-taker in WTC history with six-wicket haul; check full list

Australia pacer Mitchell Starc wreaked havoc in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay. He claimed a six-wicket haul as Bangladesh were dismissed for only 64 runs in the first innings. With that, Starc became...

Back to full fitness, Mayank savours the start of a new journey

Ben Stokes Slams Shambolic Decision To Exclude Headingley From 2027 Men's Ashes

Former England captain Ben Stokes has described the decision to exclude Headingley from the 2027 men's Ashes schedule as shambolic.

Mark Butcher Warns Against Breaking Fast-bowling Quartet For Sam Curran

Mark Butcher: Former English cricketer Mark Butcher has warned against breaking the fast-bowling quartet to fill in all-rounder Sam Curran. Since the retirement of Test captain and iconic all-rounder Ben Stokes, England face a major challenge of roping in the personnel who can fill in his all-round role, even to some extent without distracting the combination. Curran, who was recently ruled out of the rest of the English summer, was mooted as an ideal replacement for the retired Stokes. However, Butcher has warned that it should not happen at the expense of breaking the fast-bowling combination of Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson. You know, in terms of a quartet, they've got a lot of bases covered in terms of all the different skills you might need for all different surfaces, Butcher said, as quoted by Wisden. So, you wouldn't want to break that up necessarily by changing that quartet to bring in somebody like Sam Curran to bolster the batting, but then you weaken the bowling to bring in a spinner who's unlikely to take you an eight-fer and blow a tail away. The speedsters starred in the first of the three Tests against Pakistan in Leeds, paving the way for an innings and 103-run win. The former Test cricketer instead suggested bringing in a spinner who can bat at No.7 without disrupting the fast bowlers to follow. You know, in terms of a quartet, they've got a lot of bases covered in terms of all the different skills you might need for all different surfaces, Butcher said, as quoted by Wisden. So, you wouldn't want to break that up necessarily by changing that quartet to bring in somebody like Sam Curran to bolster the batting, but then you weaken the bowling to bring in a spinner who's unlikely to take you an eight-fer and blow a tail away. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories This would leave England with some choices to make. Their No.1 Test spinner Shoaib Bashir is not a No.7 batter, and he generally plays whenever the Three Lions add on a spinner. England would then look up to Dan Lawrence, who bats in the middle-order and provides occasional off-spin. Will Jacks is another option, but he missed out on a place in the squad for the first two Pakistan Tests to Lawrence. Jacks is unlikely to be fit for the third Test, as a statement from the ECB stated that England will monitor his recovery and assess availability ahead of the Sri Lanka (white ball) series, which will take place in September. Article Source: IANS

UPT20: Vats, Nishad Star With Four-fers As Gorakhpur Lions Crush Kashi Rudras By Eight Wickets

UP T20 League Governing Council: Pacer Vasu Vats and spinner Vishal Nishad took clinical four-wicket hauls each as Gaur Gorakhpur Lions secured an eight-wicket victory over defending champions Kashi Rudras in the UP T20 League here on Saturday. Chasing a modest target of 139, the Gorakhpur Lions made short work of the pursuit by cruising home in just 14.4 overs at the Ekana Cricket Stadium. Opting to bat first, the Rudras were put under early pressure by Vats, who removed opener Abhishek Goswami. Although Karan Sharma and Sahab Yuvraj Singh (43) briefly stabilized the innings with a 43-run second-wicket stand, the introduction of Nishad completely turned the contest in Gorakhpurs favour. Nishad tore through the middle order, taking four vital wickets, including the well-set Yuvraj Singh, to reduce the Rudras to 90/5. Upendra Yadav and Arnav Baliyan offered late resistance with a 30-run partnership, but Vats returned in the penultimate over to grab three quick wickets and stop any hopes of a late flourish. Baliyan hit an unbeaten 16-ball 27 as Kashi were bowled out for 138. Nishad was later named Player of the Match for his game-defining spell of 4-19. The run chase for Lions was a dominant display from the start. Opener Abhay Pratap Singh set the early tempo with a quickfire 24 off 11 balls, before Aryan Chaudhary and skipper Aryan Juyal took total command. Upendra Yadav and Arnav Baliyan offered late resistance with a 30-run partnership, but Vats returned in the penultimate over to grab three quick wickets and stop any hopes of a late flourish. Baliyan hit an unbeaten 16-ball 27 as Kashi were bowled out for 138. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Earlier, the match was officially inaugurated by UP Minister for Minority Welfare and Panchayati Raj OP Rajbhar, alongside UP T20 League Governing Council Chairman Dr Sanjay Kapoor and former India leg-spinner Piyush Chawla. Article Source: IANS

Eyeballs on Duleep Trophy as its lights out time for domestic cricket

In the inaugural round, the competitive match at least on paper is expected to be the North Zone-West Zone encounter

Sanjay Manjrekar Baffled By IPL Generation's Test Success, Makes Striking 'Classical Singer' Comparison

Sanjay Manjrekar compared the transition of modern-day cricketers to classical singers attempting to perform classical ragas.

2nd Test: We Are Trying To Improve And Get Some Runs And Take 20 Wickets, Says De Silva

Sri Lanka Cricket: Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva has called on his fast bowlers to raise their game and bolster the sides confidence as the hosts aim to replicate India's template from Galle to square the series when the second game begins at the SSC Ground on Sunday. Sri Lanka suffered a 165-run loss in Galle and are eyeing a turnaround to get crucial 12 World Test Championship (WTC) points. Its about putting runs on the board. Thats what India did (at Galle). For the first two days they batted and got 460 runs. We are trying to improve and get some runs and take 20 wickets. We are one down and disappointed. Here we need to play well from the outset. Even though we are short on experience, we have a lot of talent. A lot of players have performed well in the Test and A team. The pitch is quite dry and will be good for batting in the first two days. In terms of combination, we will have the same - two seamers and two spinners, de Silva said in the pre-match press conference. Quizzed on squad changes for the second Test, a debut for opener Kamil Mishara is on the cards, apart from a potential shuffle in the pace bowling department. He scored a hundred in a T20 last week; if you followed him in the last few months, he has scored well. We are also looking at a left-arm pacer, maybe Vishwa Fernando, de Silva revealed. A recurring point of concern for Sri Lanka has been the lack of high-pace options and outright match-winning spells from their seamers on home soil. De Silva admitted the current squad remains limited in options beyond Lahiru Kumara and lead seamer Asitha Fernando. Even with Lahiru Kumara, we have tried very hard to get him to play injury-free. At the moment, given our resources, Lahiru Kumara is the best match to partner Asitha. Asitha's line and length are perfect, and Lahiru Kumara has the pace. With the resources we have now, these are the best players. I'd also like for there to be two or three bowlers who can bowl at more than 140kph, but unfortunately we only have one bowler like that (in the Test set-up). For now I haven't been given a huge plan about who we could bring into the Test set-up. I'm hoping we will produce more cricketers like that in future. Even with Lahiru Kumara, we have tried very hard to get him to play injury-free. At the moment, given our resources, Lahiru Kumara is the best match to partner Asitha. Asitha's line and length are perfect, and Lahiru Kumara has the pace. With the resources we have now, these are the best players. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Foreign pace bowlers have taken five wickets in Galle, for instance, but recently, none of our seamers have done that at Galle or SSC. Our fast bowlers lack that confidence. If they can raise their game a little bit (by) a few percent - we can move forward better as a team, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

India vs Sri Lanka Tests: India holds egde as Sri Lanka looks to draw level

In a batting unit that leant heavily on vice-captain K.L. Rahul and his Karnataka mate Padikkal, it is also time for Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Gill to join the party; while for Sri Lanka, the fixture offers a chance to draw level

Womens DPL 2026: North Delhi Strikers Beat South Delhi Superstarz To Become Table Toppers

North Delhi Strikers Women: North Delhi Strikers Women produced a disciplined bowling and fielding performance to defend their total of 141/4 and defeat South Delhi Superstarz Women by 10 runs in the Delhi Premier League, making it two wins from two matches and taking them to the top of the points table. Chasing 142, South Delhi Superstarz finished on 131/5 in 20 overs, falling short despite a fighting effort from their middle order. After a difficult start, with wicketkeeper-batter Nishika Singh dismissed for a three-ball duck, South Delhi were reduced to 1/1 in the first over. Priya Punia and Tanishqa Singh attempted to rebuild the innings, adding 36 runs before Punia was dismissed for 10 off 18 balls. Tanishqa played the anchor's role brilliantly, scoring a valuable 46 off 44 balls, including six boundaries. She put on a partnership with captain Shweta Sehrawat, who contributed 27 off 23 balls with two fours and a six. However, North Delhi kept picking up wickets at crucial stages and put the pressure on the opposition. Tanishqa's dismissal in the 14th over left South Delhi at 72/3, while Sehrawat fell shortly after at 94/4. Ekta Bhadana was then dismissed for four, leaving South Delhi needing 28 runs from the final two overs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium that will host the India vs Afghanistan fixtures next month. Tanisha Singh remained unbeaten on 24 off 19 balls, while Disha Nagar added an unbeaten nine off six, but the pair could only take South Delhi to 131/5. For North Delhi Strikers, Nazma was the standout bowler, claiming 2/28 from four overs. Reshika Beniwal, Apeksha Anand and Priya Mishra picked up one wicket apiece. Tanisha Singh remained unbeaten on 24 off 19 balls, while Disha Nagar added an unbeaten nine off six, but the pair could only take South Delhi to 131/5. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Upasana Yadav added 43 off 42 balls, while captain Ayushi Soni scored 17. The 10-run victory gives North Delhi Strikers two wins from two matches, placing them at the top of the Delhi Premier League women's points table. Article Source: IANS

Australia should move on from Marnus Labuschagne, says Ricky Ponting after another flop show

Marnus Labuschagnes position in Australias Test side has come under renewed scrutiny after he was dismissed for four runs in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay. His future in the Test squad is currently...

'It's Well And Truly Time To Look At Somebody Else': Ponting Calls For Labuschagne's Removal

Great Barrier Reef Arena: Scrutiny over Australia's top-order batting grew more on Saturday when it failed to inspire another strong start during the ongoing second Test match against Bangladesh at Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay. On a day which was highlighted by epic fast bowling spells from Mitchell Starc and Shoriful Islam, the Aussie top-order batters once again came in the firing line despite the hosts taking a 101-run lead and still having two wickets in hand after bowling the Tigers out for 64. Yet another underwhelming performance from Marnus Labuschagne has invited a change call from former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who asked for his removal after the No.3 scored four before getting knocked off by Shoriful on a ball that brushed off his pad to the stumps. The outing stretched the declining performances of Labuschagne, who is yet to score a fifty in his last 10 innings and a century since the Ashes 2023. I admire what they're (selectors) trying to do to get him back to his best, Ponting said on Seven of Labuschagne. But it's been way too long now. I would have made the change at the start of this series. There's some technical deficiency there, but he's making the margin for error for the bowlers too great. He can't score off the back foot, and if you can't score off the back foot in Test cricket, batting becomes a hard game. Bowlers now know they can bowl anywhere from 10 metres to four metres on off stump and as wide as they want, and he can't hurt them. It's well and truly time to have a look at somebody else. Ponting had previously advocated injecting youngsters into the top-batting order after Australia's disastrous loss to the Tigers in the first Test in Darwin. Ponting stated that he would be the last one to call for a change, but looking at the performance, he thinks it is inevitable. Look, I'm the last one I want to make a change. As a captain or as a player, I wanted to keep the group together. It has to get to a bad point before I start saying you ought to leave somebody out. But there had been enough evidence for me coming here to suggest that they weren't going to lose anything or much at all by starting that regeneration, by maybe bringing in another opener, by maybe bringing in someone at No.3. I think that that has to happen, he told Channel 7 earlier. There's some technical deficiency there, but he's making the margin for error for the bowlers too great. He can't score off the back foot, and if you can't score off the back foot in Test cricket, batting becomes a hard game. Bowlers now know they can bowl anywhere from 10 metres to four metres on off stump and as wide as they want, and he can't hurt them. It's well and truly time to have a look at somebody else. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Australia ended the day at 165/8 with Cameron Green holding fort with an unbeaten 51, while Nathan Lyon remained unscathed on 10 as Shoriful backed Starc's six-wicket haul with his own six-fer. Australia are 101 runs ahead and eye a win, but the top order calls for an intense look as Australia have to travel to South Africa for a three-match Test series later this year. Article Source: IANS

Root Brings 'calming Influence' To Englands Test Setup As Captain, Says Trescothick

Former New Zealand: Interim head coach Marcus Trescothick has praised Joe Roots calming influence following his winning return as England Test captain, adding that it has brought a pragmatic shift in tactical approach after a tumultuous phase for the national side. Roots second stint as Englands Test skipper got off to a commanding start with a victory over Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs at Headingley. The result comes at a time when England are recovering from a heavy Ashes defeat in Australia, off-field issues, the sudden retirement of Ben Stokes, and the subsequent sacking of head coach Brendon McCullum. We tried to take the best bits of what we did, but we're not Brendon and Ben. We're very much the style of what we want to do. (Stokes and Root) talk differently, they speak in a different way in terms of their style of approaches. You saw some things with Joe which were really exciting and really calming at the same time because it needed that influence on it at the moment. Maybe be a little bit more simple with some of the plans, a bit more clear direction of going 'this is how we want to bowl' and how he manages the individuals behind the scenes also, Trescothick told reporters at the conclusion of the game. England dominated the contest across two and a half rain-affected days, right from taking a wicket on the first ball of the Test and maintaining a scoring rate of 4.55 runs per over through a noticeably more measured template. We played to the fashion that we wanted to. We wanted to be able to be clever and smart. There's moments within the game we've done that brilliantly. We still have that mantra of applying pressure because that's the best way of being dominant over teams, if you can put them under pressure. I did enjoy the fact we were still scoring quite quickly especially when the ball was new, added Trescothick. Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming has been appointed as McCullum's successor but will only take charge ahead of the winter tour of South Africa, leaving Trescothick in interim charge. Trescothick, who was assistant coach to McCullum, revealed that Fleming was in regular contact with him and Root throughout the Headingley Test. He was adamant that me and Joe take it on and just run with what we feel is right, to try and get the group back in shape, with a few pointers on what he wanted and how he could see his style being implemented within the group. Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming has been appointed as McCullum's successor but will only take charge ahead of the winter tour of South Africa, leaving Trescothick in interim charge. Trescothick, who was assistant coach to McCullum, revealed that Fleming was in regular contact with him and Root throughout the Headingley Test. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories I want to be involved in all formats of the game because it's a wonderful place to be, Trescothick said. Working with the best and seeing England cricketers do well. That's not really for me to judge so I'll wait and see what happens. Article Source: IANS

'The Game Is Far From Over': Shoriful Backs Bangladesh To Bounce Back Against Australia

The Daily Star: Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam believes his team are still firmly in the second Test despite a difficult opening day against Australia, insisting that their chance to turn the contest around will come when they bowl again. Shoriful was the standout performer for Bangladesh on Saturday, claiming 6-35 as Australia reached 165/8 at stumps on Day 1 after bowling the visitors out for just 64 earlier in the day. The message in the dressing room was that the game is far from over and our turn to bowl is coming up. We are still well in the game. InshaAllah, we will try to make sure the entire second innings belongs to us, Shoriful said after the day's play, as quoted by The Daily Star. Australia had earlier been in complete control after Mitchell Starc produced a devastating opening spell, taking five wickets in just 22 deliveries before finishing with figures of 6/12. Pat Cummins claimed three wickets, and Josh Hazlewood one as Bangladesh were dismissed in only 34 overs. However, Bangladesh hit back through Shoriful, who produced an equally impressive spell with the ball. His six-wicket haul included a five-for that was the second-fastest by a Bangladesh bowler in Test cricket. The left-arm pacer also became the leading wicket-taker for Bangladesh on the day, while his contribution with the bat was limited to 14 runs as he top-scored for his side. Shoriful said his personal achievement of claiming his first five-wicket haul was pleasing, but insisted that a Bangladesh victory would mean far more. Alhamdulillah, everyone feels good getting their first five-for. But Ill feel best if we win the match, because we lost that previous one. Im not overthinking or excessively celebrating just because I got five wickets. If we win the match, I'll be very happy, he said. Bangladesh had Australia reeling at 41/3 before Steve Smith and Cameron Green combined for a 77-run partnership off 112 balls. Shoriful eventually broke the stand by trapping Smith LBW, before Bangladesh struck four more times in a space of just 14 balls to reduce Australia to 148/8. Green and Nathan Lyon then steadied the hosts, putting together an unbeaten 17-run partnership to take Australia to 165/8 at the close. Despite Bangladesh's batting collapse, Shoriful said Australia had also struggled against the moving ball and backed his teammates to respond in their second innings. It was just a bad day for us. Not just for us. Look at them, they are struggling too. Insha'Allah, we will bounce back strongly in the next innings, he said. The 25-year-old also explained how the conditions at Mackay helped the fast bowlers, with the wind adding to the movement available with the new ball. It was just a bad day for us. Not just for us. Look at them, they are struggling too. Insha'Allah, we will bounce back strongly in the next innings, he said. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Australia, who trail 1-0 in the two-match series after Bangladesh's historic win in Darwin, currently hold a 101-run lead with two wickets remaining on a surface that has offered significant assistance to the fast bowlers. Article Source: IANS

Ponting on Labuschagne's struggles: Well and truly time to look at somebody else

The Australia No. 3 is averaging 24.69 since his last Test century in July 2023

Gambhir rates Kuldeep 'very highly' but doesn't commit on selection

Gambhir said that the management rates Kuldeep highly but 'we're going to try and pick the best attack of what can deliver in these conditions'

Shubman Gill Doesn't Have Enough Faith: Mohammad Kaif Delivers Blunt Verdict On India Star

Former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif criticised skipper Shubman Gill for not giving spinner Kuldeep Yadav enough longer spells during the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle.

Dravid's Big Message to Sooryavanshi: 'Balance T20 Stardom...'

According to former India coach Rahul Dravid, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's development must balance white-ball success with sustained red-ball exposure, giving the teenager time, patience and experience to eventually become a Test cricketer.

India vs Sri Lanka Tests: Focus is on scoring runs and taking 20 wickets, says Dhananjaya de Silva

The pitch is quite dry and will be good for batting in the first two days. In terms of combination, we will have the same two seamers and two spinners

Mumbai Indians Make Surprising 'Signing' From Rajasthan Royals Before IPL 2027

Mumbai Indians failes to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs.

We Have To Be At Our Best From First Match: Ludhiana Lions Arshdeep Singh Ahead Of Sher-e-Punjab T20 League

Punjab T20 League: The excitement is building up as the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League 2026 is all set to begin on August 30 at the I.S. Bindra Stadium in Chandigarh. Six teams will battle it out for the coveted title, with some of Punjabs finest cricketing talent set to take centre stage. Among the teams in the competition are the Ludhiana Lions, who have made a major statement by picking Indias left-arm pace sensation Arshdeep Singh as their marquee player. The fast bowler is delighted to be part of the tournament and is looking forward to representing the Lions in what promises to be an exciting season. Speaking about the tournament and his preparations, Arshdeep said, It feels great to be part of the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League. There is a lot of excitement around the tournament, and I am really looking forward to being part of the Ludhiana Lions and this journey. The preparations have been very good so far. We have spent a lot of time working on our skills, understanding our roles and preparing for different match situations. Now, the main focus is to take that confidence from the training ground into the matches, he said. Arshdeep also highlighted the positive atmosphere within the Ludhiana Lions camp, with players pushing each other during the preparation sessions. Everyone has been very serious during the practice sessions. There is healthy competition within the squad, and that is always a good sign for any team. We have also worked on different match situations because T20 cricket can change very quickly. One over, one partnership or one wicket can change the entire game, so the aim is to be ready for every situation and make the right decisions under pressure, he added. With several quality players expected to feature in the tournament, Arshdeep believes the competition will be intense from the very beginning. However, he feels the key will be to stay focused on each game rather than looking too far ahead. The competition is going to be tough because every team has quality players. There are no easy games in T20 cricket, so we will have to be at our best from the first match. We don't want to look too far ahead. The focus will be on taking one game at a time, executing our plans and continuing to improve as the tournament progresses. If we can stay consistent and play according to our plans, hopefully we can have a good campaign, Arshdeep said. The India pacer also spoke about the importance of the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League in providing a platform for young cricketers from the state. With youngsters getting an opportunity to share the dressing room with experienced players, Arshdeep believes the tournament can play an important role in shaping the next generation of Punjab cricketers. For a youngster, playing alongside experienced players can be a huge advantage. There is so much they can learn just by watching how senior players train, how they prepare before a match, and how they handle pressure when the situation is not going their way. These small things can make a big difference in a young player's development, he said. Arshdeep feels the success of the league should not only be measured by the team that lifts the trophy, but also by the number of young players who use the platform to make a name for themselves. For a youngster, playing alongside experienced players can be a huge advantage. There is so much they can learn just by watching how senior players train, how they prepare before a match, and how they handle pressure when the situation is not going their way. These small things can make a big difference in a young player's development, he said. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Arshdeep and the Ludhiana Lions will be hoping to make a strong start and turn their preparations into performances when the action begins. Article Source: IANS

Abhishek Bachchan sees 'new horizon' for cricket with European T20 Premier League

The European T20 Premier League is set to begin on August 26 , with Rotterdam Dockers taking on Amsterdam Flames in the opening game of the tournament. The tournament is expected to provide much-needed exposure for European cricketers, as the aim is to make the sport global.

Gambhir Invokes 2001 Australia Triumph in 3-Test Series Push

Gambhir strongly advocates three-Test series, arguing they give teams that lose the opening match a genuine opportunity to recover, compete harder and still win the series.

Kuldeep Just Needs To Try And Bowl Good Spell Rather Than Looking Desperate To Take Wickets, Says Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir: India head coach Gautam Gambhir said his conversations with left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav have been focused on executing solid bowling spells rather than hunting desperately for wickets, as they aim to finalise their combination for the second Test against Sri Lanka starting on Sunday. Kuldeep managed to pick just one wicket in Galle as India sealed a 165run win in the series opener and his position in the team has been subject to immense chatter for the second Test. India also have uncapped off-spin bowling all-rounder Saransh Jain and can draft him in if they want more variety in their line-up. We will try and pick the best bowling attack which can get us 20 wickets. You can score 1,000 runs in Test cricket, but there is no guarantee that you are going to win a test match. But if you get 20 wickets, you have all the probability and possibility of winning the Test match. For me, I think winning Test matches, you try and pick the best attack that can get you 20 wickets, whether you have got three left-arm spinners in it or an off-spinners or three seamers and we have all our options open. Ultimately, we know how good a bowler Kuldeep is. More importantly, sometimes it is up to the captain as well. He feels that if his two other spinners can get him wickets looking at the conditions, what pace he wants a certain spinner to bowl. It is not about guys under-bowling. It is about getting the result. For me, I think that is more important. When you play five proper bowlers, someone will eventually go under-bowl and that is what Test cricket is all about. But it is not about someone not delivering and going under-bowl. It is about who he feels, the captain feels or the management feels, can be most threatening in that particular condition, said Gambhir in the pre-match press conference. Speaking specifically about Kuldeep, Gambhir added, So for me, I think the conversation that I have had with Kuldeep is just try and bowl your good spell rather than looking desperate to take wickets because sometimes, as a wrist spinner, when you are looking and you are desperate to take wickets, I think your control can go away as well. But for a very long period of time, we rate Kuldeep very highly and we know how successful and how threatening can he be in every condition given to him. But again, I think the same thing as I said, we are going to try and pick the best attack of what can deliver in these conditions. Reflecting on the opening Test victory in Galle, Gambhir praised the surface and the effort required over five days. We really enjoyed it. I thought the Test match was a very good Test match wicket. It had something for everyone. It had spin for the spinners. Batters could bat even on day five as well. If you bend your back, there was something for the seamers as well. So I thought it was a proper Test wicket and we expect the same here as well. We want to work extremely hard, not only for one or two days, but extremely hard for five days to win a Test match and that is exactly what we did in the last test match. That is why it was very, very pleasing for us that we worked extremely hard. We did the right things right in Test wicket. Guys got in, made those big runs. We had partnerships. We batted first. We batted for four, four and a half sessions, put big runs on the board. That is what the key is in these subcontinent conditions. If you bat first, you plan bat big so that you can control the test match from there. Then we had wickets from our seamers and spinners as well. So I'm not going to say that it was a perfect Test match, but that is how we want to see Test wicket going forward as well so that teams have to work extremely hard to win a Test match over the course of five days. Gambhir also reinforced his belief in playing five proper bowlers to maintain tactical flexibility on flat pitches. If it's too flat, then the bowlers will have to work hard and maybe extra hard work because as I said, you will have to take 20 wickets if you want to win the Test match. If you bat first and score 700 runs, then if you don't take 20 wickets, then ultimately it's a draw. So if it's flat, then ultimately we have the luxury that we have five proper bowlers. When you have five proper bowlers, then you can better rotate your bowlers. But if you only play with four bowlers, then sometimes it's a lot of hard work. As we saw in the last Test match, that if Kuldeep didn't bowl a lot, despite that we had a fifth bowler who could come and take wickets for you at any stage. But if your fifth bowler is a part-timer, then you won't be able to rotate your seamers a lot and you will have to bring your seamers back quickly. You want to bring your seamers back in these conditions when they come and create an impact rather than a defensive option. So we have that luxury. I always say that the team that has five proper bowlers, they always have more chances to win the Test match. Highlighting the emergence of Devdutt Padikkal and Manav Suthar, Gambhir spoke about building depth in red-ball cricket. I think someone getting an opportunity and making the most of it, what better can it be for Indian cricket? We keep talking about the depth and need to have a bigger depth in red ball cricket. We know that how much depth do we have in white ball cricket. But the more depth we have in red ball cricket, it is always good for that dressing room as well and we want to have that competition. It's not a bad thing because when you have competition, you want people to keep getting better as well and the prime example was Dev. When he got his opportunity, he waited for a long time because Sai was batting at three. He waited and he made the most of it as well and that is what we expect. The same was with Manav as well. Whenever he got the opportunity, he made his debut against Afghanistan. It was a big series for him. He had put his hand up, which again is good for Indian cricket because these guys are young and these guys are the guys if they continue to put their head down and keep working hard, will take Indian cricket forward as well. There are other talented guys sitting in the dressing room as well. Sai is going to be part of the dressing room, which is again good. The more depth, the better it is for Indian cricket. Gambhir further stressed that the team management intends to give young players a longer rope to succeed. Extremely satisfied because when you get those younger players coming in and delivering straight away, but again, there is still a lot of work to be done. You can't judge players by only one or two performances. Yes, there is a lot of talent. That's why they are playing for India and they have delivered straight away, which again is very good for Indian cricket as well because we want to see that depth not only in white ball cricket, but in red ball cricket as well. We have seen that they are getting an opportunity at number three and making the most of it. One of them coming in and delivering in those two test matches. But again, as I said, judging players by only one or two Test matches is not going to be fair because we want to give them a longer rope. At the same time, we will keep backing them because there will be ups and downs in Test cricket. We know how tough Test cricket is and Test format is and that is again good for Indian cricket because of their depth as well. Finally, addressing Yashasvi Jaiswal's tendencies of falling while playing the cut shot, Gambhir advocated for skill refinement over stopping the shot altogether. Look, don't curb the shot. Just get better at it. If I start telling players to curb everything and start talking about the dismissals of whatever shots they play, how will they score runs? One of them coming in and delivering in those two test matches. But again, as I said, judging players by only one or two Test matches is not going to be fair because we want to give them a longer rope. At the same time, we will keep backing them because there will be ups and downs in Test cricket. We know how tough Test cricket is and Test format is and that is again good for Indian cricket because of their depth as well. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories For example, if someone gets out pulling, rather than telling him not to pull, I would rather tell him to get better at it. And that's how I see sport and that is how we want to see these guys getting better at everything that they do. Article Source: IANS

SL vs IND 2nd Test Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

SL vs IND 2nd Test, Cricket Tips: Team India recorded a thumping win over Sri Lanka in the Galle test by 165 runs. That helped them to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The second test will be held at Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, starting at 10 AM IST on August 23 (Sunday). After Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal also got injured and will miss the second test. Sri Lanka have been vulnerable with the bat, and they need a strong performance. For India, it is about maintaining the form. They have several positives from the first game and will be looking to carry on the momentum in the second test. SL vs IND: Match Details Date : August 23-26, 2026 (Sunday-Thursday) Time : 10:00 AM IST Venue : Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo SL vs IND: Live Streaming Details Indian fans can watch the action of the second test live on the Sony Sports Networks. Fans can also watch the live stream on the Sony LIV app or website. SL vs IND: Head-to-Head in Tests Total Matches : 47 Sri Lanka : 07 India : 23 Drawn : 17 SL vs IND: Ground Pitch Report The wicket in Colombo is slow and low. It will turn and grip well for the spinners, and the surface is expected to deteriorate after the first two days. That is why batting will be a little better early on. The bounce can be low at times, making it tough for any batting unit. SL vs IND: Possible XIs Sri Lanka : Lahiru Udara, Kamindu Mendis, Nishan Madushka, Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Sonal Dinusha, Sahan Arachchige, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Pasindu Sooriyabandara India : Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shubman Gill (c), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar, Md. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna. SL vs IND: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Devdutt Padikkal carried the form from the warmup game and struck a brilliant century. He will be the one to watch out for. For Sri Lanka, Sonal Dinusha looked comfortable against Indian bowlers and will be looking to carry on his form. Probable Best Bowler Manav Suthar and Prabath Jayasuriya were two spinners who impressed everyone in the first game. They drifted the ball well and got good help. They will like bowling in Colombo also. Today Match Prediction: Sri Lanka without their premium batters look weak. Hence, we predict India to win the second test also. SL vs IND Match 2nd Test, Today Match SL vs IND, SL vs IND Prediction, SL vs IND Predicted XIs, Injury Update for Sri Lanka 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.

2nd Test: My Job Is To Win Trophies, Not Views And Likes, Says India Head Coach Gambhir

World Test Championship: India head coach Gautam Gambhir dismissed concerns over team rankings and heightened media scrutiny, adding that his sole priority is winning trophies rather than acing the popularity contest as his side prepare for the second Test against Sri Lanka, starting at the SSC Ground on Sunday. My job is to win trophies, not views and likes. That's all I believe in and that is the difference between me and everyone, Gambhir told reporters in a pre-match press conference. He also rejected that India has been struggling in Tests due to the ongoing transition period, which has led to them being ranked fourth in the format. Not at all. We are not struggling that much. Rankings do not matter. I think we are going through a transition and I am sure that people sitting in the press box and in the commentary box know that we are going through a transition. Despite of that, yes, there will be blips, ups and downs. But I thought that since the last one year after the England tour, I think we have played reasonably consistent cricket and Test cricket as well. So I think you guys can go by the ranking, but we don't because we know that wherever we are heading, we are heading in the right direction. Gambhir also reflected on discussions around player workload management and his alignment with the selection committee head Ajit Agarkar, whos with the team in Colombo, to ensure core players remain available for important assignments. We have heard discussion about everything. It's not with BCCI, but overall that we want our best players to be playing as much cricket as possible and it's good for Indian cricket as well because if there is continuity and if we can put our best players on the path as regularly as we can, it is only going to help us get the results as well. I wish I could talk and tell you about the conversations only that we - me and the chairman of selectors have. It's only about how we want to move forward with Indian cricket and what is important and what are the right decisions to make for the betterment of Indian cricket and all those things. What other conversations can a head coach and a chairman selector have between each other? So probably it's only around Indian cricket, how we see Indian cricket moving forward. Gambhir also advocated for longer bilateral Test series and expressed a clear preference for three-match Test series over short two-match encounters. See, ideally I would want a three Test match series. I've always believed that there should always be a possibility for a team losing the first Test match to come back and win a series. Its because sometimes what happens is in a two Test match series, if you lose the first test match, there is no chance for the other team to come back and win the series. The maximum you can do is probably draw the series. But again, short turnaround, that's fine. Other teams are doing that as well. We are professional cricketers. We know how to manage our bodies. We know how to recover quickly as well. That's why there are days when we give players optional practices, seamers off days as well, because as we all know that in these conditions, for seamers it can get extremely tough as well. So we try and manage it and I'm fine with that. But as I said that ideally I would want that there should always be a three Test match series rather than a two Test match series. I like it because the team should always have the opportunity to win the series. I know World Test Championship is important, but at the same time winning the series is equally important as well. Teams can come from behind and still end up winning the series. I still remember that series between India and Australia where India was one down and they still managed to come back and win that series 2-1. Normally if you have those three Test match series, it's always more exciting, he elaborated. Urging his team to stay grounded during long World Test Championship (WTC) cycles, Gambhir signed off by stressing on taking the game session by session. We should only control what we can control. I think there is no point thinking of what other teams are doing. They can control what they can control. We can control what we can control. The only thing we are looking forward to is the Test match which is going to start tomorrow and try and control the controllables. I like it because the team should always have the opportunity to win the series. I know World Test Championship is important, but at the same time winning the series is equally important as well. Teams can come from behind and still end up winning the series. I still remember that series between India and Australia where India was one down and they still managed to come back and win that series 2-1. Normally if you have those three Test match series, it's always more exciting, he elaborated. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories It's not about where we're going to be at the end of the World Test Championship cycle. It's about if we can continue to try and win Test matches, everything else will take care of itself. So rather than thinking too much ahead, let's try and stay in the present and that is what the beauty of sport is. The more you stay in the present, the more you have the opportunity to get the results in your favour. Article Source: IANS

Zubin Bharucha joins Mumbai Indians after spending 16 years with Rajasthan Royals in IPL

After a successful 16-year stint with Rajasthan Royals, Zubin Bharucha has joined Mumbai Indians as director of performance. He was associated with Rajasthan since the inaugural season and played a pivotal role in developing talents such as Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag and more recently, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi .

Gambhir 'ideally' wants three-match Test series

India men's coach prefers the team losing the first Test to retain the chance of winning the series

BCCI Yet To Find Home Title Rights Sponsor As Talks With Potential Candidates On: Report

The Indian Board: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to find the title sponsor of the Indian cricket team for home matches, as not much interest has been shown in acquiring the rights due to the steep pricing. The Indian Board either did not receive bidders for the rights, or they were not up to expectations, despite the deadline for bid submission being kept to August 13. The BCCI had released the invitation on July 20, with the last date for ITT document purchase on August 4. The BCCI kept the last date to seek clarifications to August 5. The Board is in talks with potential sponsors, with Google Gemini emerging as one of the brands involved in discussions. Spinny and SBI Life are apparently in conversation too. BCCI's current rights holder - IDFC First Bank - pays a sum of Rs 4.2 crore per match, but the increased base price kept at Rs 4.75 crore seems to be the thorn in the flesh for a potential deal. The invited deal was for two years, down from the three that the IDFC Bank got in 2023. The Indian Board had confirmed in its ITT that it expects the holder to host nearly 35 matches. For tendering purposes only, and without constituting any representation, warranty, commitment or minimum guarantee by BCCI, BCCI presently expects that it may host approximately 35 (thirty-five) chargeable matches during the Rights Period, subject always to the final schedule determined by the BCCI in its sole and absolute discretion, Cricbuzz mentioned BCCI as saying. BCCI's current rights holder - IDFC First Bank - pays a sum of Rs 4.2 crore per match, but the increased base price kept at Rs 4.75 crore seems to be the thorn in the flesh for a potential deal. The invited deal was for two years, down from the three that the IDFC Bank got in 2023. The Indian Board had confirmed in its ITT that it expects the holder to host nearly 35 matches. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Moreover, the Indian Board had also released the Request for Quotation (RFQ) for the Associate Partner Rights for BCCI events. The brand that buys the title sponsorship rights can't purchase the Associate Rights, and the latter will only be confirmed once the title sponsor has been locked. The deadline to purchase the RFQ was August 14, with the last date to seek clarifications being August 16. The last date of submission for the quotation documents was kept as August 25. Article Source: IANS

Mumbai Indians Appoint Zubin Bharucha As Director of Performance

Mumbai Indians have appointed Zubin Bharucha, a former first-class cricketer and ex-Rajasthan Royals official, as their Director of Performance.

Ben Stokes Slams 'shambolic' Decision To Exclude Headingley From 2027 Men's Ashes

Wales Cricket Board: Former England captain Ben Stokes has described the decision to exclude Headingley from the 2027 men's Ashes schedule as shambolic, as he joined the growing criticism from players and commentators over the absence of a northern venue for the high-profile series. Stokes expressed his frustration on Instagram stories in response to a post discussing the schedule. Shame is an understatement. Shambolic would be more appropriate. Great win though, wrote Stokes, as he commented in reference to England's victory by an innings and 103 runs over Pakistan at Leeds. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had revealed that next years Ashes will take place in Trent Bridge, Lord's, Edgbaston, Rose Bowl, and the Oval. The allocation meant both Headingley and Old Trafford Stadium were omitted from the schedule. Newly appointed Test captain Joe Root previously called the omission of northern venues a shame, pointing to England's strong record at the ground, where they have won seven consecutive Tests. Both Headingley and Old Trafford are scheduled to host Ashes Tests in 2031, but the exclusion in 2027 has left many frustrated. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had revealed that next years Ashes will take place in Trent Bridge, Lord's, Edgbaston, Rose Bowl, and the Oval. The allocation meant both Headingley and Old Trafford Stadium were omitted from the schedule. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Whether that's here at Headingley or whether it's at Old Trafford, that's a point for the bean counters to decide, or whoever's turn that might be. I find it extraordinary that there'll be no Ashes cricket up in the north of England beyond Trent Bridge next year. It's bizarre, he had said to Sky Sports. Article Source: IANS

Mumbai Indians Appoint Ex-Mumbai Batter Zubin Bharucha As Director Of Performance

Indian Premier League: Five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Mumbai Indians on Saturday have appointed former first-class cricketer Zubin Bharucha as their Director of Performance across the franchise's global ecosystem. Prior to his new role with the Mumbai franchise, Bharucha served as the Director of High Performance at Rajasthan Royals, a position he held from November 2022 until his departure after IPL 2025. ubin Bharucha joins Mumbai Indians as Director of Performance and will work closely with the existing multi-disciplinary leadership group across all performance disciplines within the MI ecosystem. Zubin will join the current support staff within MIs highly integrated ecosystem and build on Mumbai Indians established approach to delivering sustained excellence in player development, said the franchise in its statement. As a right-handed batter, Bharucha played for both Mumbai and Surrey in the 90s, and had 17 first-class and 11 List A appearances, before getting into coaching. His long association with the Rajasthan Royals dates back to the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008, where he served as the Team Director until 2015. He later worked as the Technical Director for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) from 2016 to 2017 before returning to RR as their Director of Cricket Operations from 2018 till he moved into being their Director of High Performance. At RR, Bharucha has been instrumental in shaping the careers of several Indian team stars like Sanju Samson (including being his personal mentor), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at the high performance centre in Talegaon. He later worked as the Technical Director for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) from 2016 to 2017 before returning to RR as their Director of Cricket Operations from 2018 till he moved into being their Director of High Performance. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Bharuchas focus will be on further sharpening of MIs scouting process and enhancing round-the-year player development programs across both men's and women's setups, including the off-season work on improving their skills. At the same time, he will be expanding and strengthening MIs existing talent scouting network, said the source. Article Source: IANS

Zubin Bharucha joins Mumbai Indians as director of performance

Zubin Bharucha has worked in various capacities with Rajasthan Royals since the start of the IPL except for two years in between when he was with Delhi Daredevils

Arjun Tendulkar Commits To Goa; Ends Exit Rumours

Arjun Tendulkar, son of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, has confirmed he will continue playing for the Goa cricket team, dispelling recent rumours of his departure after missing a tour to Oman.

AUS vs BAN 2nd Test: Mitchell Starc and Shoriful Islam take 6 wickets each

Mitchell Starc tore through Bangladesh with a six-wicket haul after removing Shadman Islam with the first ball, but Shoriful Islam hit back with six wickets of his own as 18 wickets tumbled on a dramatic first day

Duleep Trophy: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Big Chance To Prove Red Ball Credentials

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will get a golden chance to improve upon his none too impressive first class numbers when East Zone take on the severely inexperienced North East Zone in the quarter-final of the Duleep Trophy.

Australia vs Bangladesh Test: Steve Smith Draws Umpires

Australian star Steve Smith was given a warning by the umpires after a bizarre incident during Australia's second Test match against Bangladesh in Mackay. Taskin Ahmed bowled Steve Smith on the pads in the ninth over, and Bangladesh appealed to the

Former Australia cricketer hails Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's talent, compares his hype to Adam Gilchrist

The Indian team is well into a Test series against Sri Lanka, having won the first Test of the series; the Shubman Gill-led side is hard at work preparing for the second Test, which is...

Gambhir says three-Test series format is ideal

The team is training ahead of the upcoming second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Faces Red-ball And Leadership Test As Duleep Trophy Kicks Off (Preview)

India U19s: India's teenage prodigy will be passing through the lens of several cricket fans over the next fortnight as he gears up for a red-ball and leadership challenge. The now 15-year-old was made the vice-captain of the Ishan Kishan-led East Zone side for the upcoming Duleep Trophy as the tournament kicks off India's domestic season. Sooryavanshi's appointment in the squad, which had the likes of Abhimanyu Easwaran, Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar, opened a new door of discussion. The prodigy has not set the stage alight in first-class cricket, as he has done in the IPL, India U19s and the senior Indian team of late. His numbers call for further attention to how the teenager will go about his business in the four-day red-ball tournament, where East Zone open their campaign against North East Zone. Sooryavanshi has scored 207 runs in eight FC matches and has a career best of 93, which he scored against Meghalaya last year. His average of 17.25 does not do justice to the ceiling he has set in other competitions. The 15-year-old was recently named the Player of the Series on India's T20I tour to Zimbabwe with two half-centuries, after he made a forgettable debut in England earlier. The eyes will be pinned on him, but there also remain a few other aspects as the domestic season convenes. India will also look further to build their fast-bowling arsenal. With Jasprit Bumrah having had to deal with injuries and being managed, his absence leaves the Indian team with a considerable void. Although the likes of Auqib Nabi and Gurnoor Brar have emerged and shown they can add crucial facets to the department, they haven't been tested in Test cricket. Both are currently with the Indian touring party in Sri Lanka for the two-match Test series, but it wouldn't be naive if the selectors ask them to join their respective domestic squads, especially if they have to warm the benches as they did in the first Test in Galle. Then the attention also turns to Mohammed Shami, who seems to be defiant about stopping even if he has not played a single Test for India in over three years now. He has been regularly turning out for the domestic season and picked up 37 wickets in the last Ranji Trophy. Shami has also been vocal about not being selected in the Indian side in any of the three formats, with his last outing in the Blue coming in the 2025 Champions Trophy. It would also be interesting to keep a tap on the likes of Arshdeep Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Prithvi Shaw and Ravichandran Smaran. Arshdeep can give a shot in the arm to India in the red-ball format if he begins to find the brilliance that he produces in the T20Is. A left-arm fast-bowler in the Test side is something that the Indian team has not had for a long time now. Then the attention also turns to Mohammed Shami, who seems to be defiant about stopping even if he has not played a single Test for India in over three years now. He has been regularly turning out for the domestic season and picked up 37 wickets in the last Ranji Trophy. Shami has also been vocal about not being selected in the Indian side in any of the three formats, with his last outing in the Blue coming in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories The Duleep Trophy will run from August 23 to September 9 with six teams playing in the regional format. East Zone will be up against North East Zone, while North Zone will face West Zone in the two quarterfinals. Central Zone and South Zone await the winners of the quarterfinals and are in the semifinals. The final will be played from September 6 onwards in Chennai. Article Source: IANS

Bangladesh fightback against resilient Australia as roller coaster of day 1 ends in Mackay

Australia and Bangladesh kicked off the second and final Test of their ongoing series. The two sides took on each other at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay from August 22nd, and it is...

DPL 2026: Mayank Yadav Gives Invaluable Motivation To The Junior Players, Says Simarjeet Singh

Captain Simarjeet Singh: Captain Simarjeet Singh opened up about the team's refreshed mindset and lethal bowling partnership with Mayank Yadav after East Delhi Riders delivered a disciplined all-round performance to secure a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Outer Delhi Warriors in their Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2026 clash on Friday. We just tried to give our best as players and return with a strong mentality. Rather than treating every game with extreme pressure or worrying about whether we were in or out of the tournament, we focused on playing good cricket and showing the coaching staff, management, and fans what we are capable of, Simarjeet said after the match. When asked if East Delhi Riders were aiming to play party poopers and disrupt the playoff chances of other teams, Simarjeet dismissed the idea, choosing instead to focus on long-term development. We aren't thinking about other teams. We are focusing on our own game and learning for the future as cricketers. With domestic and state cricket coming up, we want to ensure we don't repeat the mistakes we made earlier. The goal now is to perform well individually and finish the tournament on a strong note as a team, he emphasised. Simarjeet also showered praise on pace sensation Mayank Yadav, highlighting the immense value he brings to the squad both on and off the field. In my view, Mayank is the fastest bowler in India. Its great to see how involved he is in Delhi cricket. He has fun, shares stories from his time with the Indian national team, and gives invaluable motivation to the junior players. Personally, I really enjoy bowling alongside him, Simarjeet noted. Elaborating on how the duo manages their bowling partnership during high-pressure match situations, the captain explained their ongoing tactical dialogue. We talk continuously during the match about who should push at a given time and what the best options are from either end. If I am bowling, we discuss what Mayanks role should be, and vice versa. We stay closely aligned with the match situation to keep the game in our control, he added. Elaborating on how the duo manages their bowling partnership during high-pressure match situations, the captain explained their ongoing tactical dialogue. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Chasing 135, the Riders overcame early hiccups thanks to a composed, unbroken 71 run partnership between Kavya Gupta (48* off 32) and Vaibhav Baisla (32* off 23). The duo guided East Delhi Riders to a comfortable victory with plenty of balls to spare, completing a thoroughly clinical team effort. Article Source: IANS

'Test cricket is dying'

Former Sri Lankan pacer Chaminda Vaas has called on cricket authorities to actively work towards preserving Test and 50-over formats, warning that they are 'dying' amidst the growing global preference for T20s and franchise leagues.

'We Need Players Like Him To Play All Formats': Dravid On Sooryavanshi

European T20 Premier League: Former India captain Rahul Dravid believes the game needs players like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to develop into all-format cricketers, while stressing the importance of giving the 15-year-old enough time and exposure to red-ball cricket. Sooryavanshi, who has already made an impact in white-ball cricket, is set to feature for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy as he looks to gain more experience in the longer format. Dravid, who coached Sooryavanshi at Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025, said the youngsters development needs to be carefully managed, with a balance between white-ball opportunities and red-ball cricket. I think you always have to find that balance. And I think its a great thing that Vaibhav is getting the experience of playing some white-ball cricket through the IPL in India, but hes also having the time to go back and play red-ball cricket in the Indian domestic system and grow his red-ball career, Dravid told Cricinfo at an event in Dublin to unveil the European T20 Premier League (ETPL). All of us also want to see Test cricket survive, all of us want to see Test cricket grow, and we need players like him to be able to hopefully play all formats of the game, he added. Sooryavanshi has played only eight first-class matches so far, averaging 17.25, and Dravid believes the youngster needs a consistent run in the format to develop his red-ball skills. The good thing is hes going to take some time, hes going to need some experience, hes going to get an opportunity to play a lot of red-ball cricket. Hes not played as much red-ball cricket as probably white-ball cricket, Dravid said. Hes only 15, and I think youve got to just give him some time and youve got to be patient with him. Hes obviously been such a success straightaway, but hes going to go through his ups and downs, and I think people are going to have to be patient with him, he added. The Duleep Trophy could provide Sooryavanshi with at least two consecutive first-class matches, while a third could come if East Zone reach the final. He may also get further red-ball opportunities when India A host Australia A in two unofficial Tests in September. Dravid also believes Sooryavanshis decision to continue playing domestic red-ball cricket rather than chasing T20 opportunities around the world will benefit his long-term development. I think hes going to have some success, but he also might have periods where it probably doesnt work out well for him. But lets all remember hes only 15 and he has a long way to go, he said. So Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, by not playing in T20 competitions all over the world, is actually playing in the red-ball Indian domestic competition. Hes growing, hes getting better at red-ball skills. I think hes going to have some success, but he also might have periods where it probably doesnt work out well for him. But lets all remember hes only 15 and he has a long way to go, he said. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Hopefully, someday if he does well and performs well as he has in white-ball cricket, he might become a red-ball player for India. And how exciting that would be for the world game as well, he said. Article Source: IANS

2nd Test: India Look For Series Sweep Against SL As Kuldeep Stays In Focus (Preview)

World Test Championship: India returned to winning ways in the World Test Championship with their victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test match at the Galle International Stadium on Wednesday. Just four days after their 165-run win, they will hit the ground running in Colombo for the second and final Test of their trip to the island nation, which begins on Sunday as focus remains on one of India's star bowlers, Kuldeep Yadav. The left-arm wrist spinner didn't had a great time in the first Test as Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja tore through the Sri Lankan batting line-up. Kuldeep managed to pick only one wicket across the two innings that he bowled after sending down 25 overs. The ideal control that Kuldeep produces was lacking in Galle, barring his opening spell in the first innings when he got the wicket of Kamindu Mendis. Though he was brought in late in the second innings as others were doing the job, he didn't find his usual lines and lengths, mostly through the first innings. This puts the focus on Kuldeep and the Indian think tank on whether they go with him or bring in someone like Saransh Jain, the off-spinner from Indore. The Madhya Pradesh cricketer has had a decent record in First-class cricket, having taken 188 wickets in 54 matches. However, it looks less likely that Kuldeep will get dropped due to the sheer experience and quality he has. In most areas, India would be happy with their performance in the opener. Devdutt Padikkal took the No.3 role like fish to water in the absence of the injured Sai Sudharsan, while KL Rahul got a decent-looking 82 in the first innings. Rishabh Pant was at his best in the second innings with his stroke-filled knock of 66, giving the visitors the cushion and runs needed to give the hosts a 372-run target and look for a win. Suthar was phenomenal across both innings. The drift, the dip, the turn that he produced across the two innings of his 4/76 and 6/55 showed he has the mettle to shine now and also in the future. Ravindra Jadeja looked pretty good with his control with 3-57 and a 1-71 across the two innings, while Prasidh Krishna bowled a few superb spells in his three-wicket match outing. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, had only glimpses of what could have been a pretty strong outing for them. They would be rueing the failures of their top-order batters across the two innings as the middle-order put up a fight both times. Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella and Dhananjaya de Silva gave hope to the hosts with the bat, while Asitha Fernando, Keshara Nuwantha and Prabath Jayasuriya were good with the ball. The second Test will offer a similarly spin-friendly surface, and both teams will have their work cut out to march towards a win. India will look for their first Test series sweep away from home since December 2022, when they beat Bangladesh 2-0. Crucial WTC points are on offer too as the two-time finalists look for a late push to the top two. All eyes will be on the 22 men as Colombo beckons. When: Sunday, August 23, 10:00 AM IST Where: Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo Where to watch: The match will be shown live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD channel on TV. The live stream will be available on the Sony LIV app and website Squads Where to watch: The match will be shown live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD channel on TV. The live stream will be available on the Sony LIV app and website Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Sri Lanka: Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Kamindu Mendis (vc), Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Keshara Nuwantha, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, and Dilshan Madushanka Article Source: IANS

Guwahati Royals, Barpeta Braves Clash For APL 2026 Title In Blockbuster Final

Assam Cricket Association Stadium: The stage is set for a fitting finale to the inaugural Assam Premier League (APL), with the top two teams from the league stage, Guwahati Royals and Barpeta Braves, set to battle for the title at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium on Sunday. The two sides finished level on 14 points after the league stage, with Guwahati Royals taking top spot on the strength of a superior net run rate of 0.920, ahead of Barpeta Braves at 0.614. The final brings together two teams that have consistently impressed through the tournament, setting up an exciting contest for the inaugural title. For Guwahati Royals, the campaign has been driven by a potent combination of young talent and experienced heads. They will head into the final on the back of a commanding seven-wicket victory over Barak Legends in a rain-curtailed semi-final. Rohit Sen's stunning 62 off 26 balls powered them into the title clash, while Bastab Roy once again underlined his importance with the ball, claiming 3/18. Roy has been one of the standout performers of the APL and currently leads the bowling charts with 22 wickets, putting him firmly in line for the Purple Cap. However, the young pacer has insisted that team success remains his priority. I don't put individual performance ahead. Yes, I am currently on top of the Purple Cap standings, but that's a different thing. Winning for the team is more important. And playing the final is even better, said Bastab. He also highlighted the value of having experienced players around him during his breakthrough campaign. This tournament is a very big tournament for me. I have played club cricket and district cricket before. So, senior players like Rishabh Das, Deepak Das, Mukhtar Hussain and Abu sir (coach of the Royals), it feels good to work with them, he said. Barpeta Braves, meanwhile, overcame Dibrugarh Warriors in a thrilling semi-final, with Saurav Mousum Dihingia carrying his bat for an unbeaten 63 to guide them into the final. Their campaign has been built around a strong collective effort, particularly from their bowling unit, with Shubham Kumar Gupta among the leading wicket-takers of the league with 19 wickets. Shubham Kumar Gupta has been one of the key contributors to their campaign with 19 wickets, and the all-rounder believes the team's ability to bounce back has been crucial. The good thing about a good team is that they make a comeback after losing, which we did. Our team played as a unit. That's why we reached here today, said Shubham. With the final now in sight, Shubham is keen for Barpeta to approach the occasion in the same manner as any other game. We will play the final as we play other matches. There is no pressure that it is the final. We started playing cricket because we liked it. That's why we have enjoyed it till now. We will play the final as well, he said. Barpeta will, however, head into the title clash without skipper Denish Das, who led the side through most of the season but has left to join his Duleep Trophy commitments. The Braves will now look to their squad to step up in his absence. With the final now in sight, Shubham is keen for Barpeta to approach the occasion in the same manner as any other game. We will play the final as we play other matches. There is no pressure that it is the final. We started playing cricket because we liked it. That's why we have enjoyed it till now. We will play the final as well, he said. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories With the two top-ranked teams meeting for the title and a historic championship at stake, the inaugural Assam Premier League is set for a grand finale on Sunday night. Article Source: IANS

Starc Pips Cummins To Become Leading Wicket-taker In WTC History

World Test Championship: Mitchell Starc etched his name in the history books as the Australia pacer became the leading wicket-taker in World Test Championship (WTC) history, producing a sensational spell against Bangladesh in the second Test in Mackay on Saturday. Starc tore through Bangladeshs batting line-up and finished with great figures of 6-12 as Australia bowled the visitors out for just 64 after winning the toss and opting to field first. The veteran pacer's stunning spell saw him overtake Australia teammate Pat Cummins to become the highest wicket-taker in WTC history. He now has 230 wickets in 56 matches, moving ahead of Cummins and Nathan Lyon, who have 225 wickets each. Indias Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah complete the top five with 195 and 185 wickets respectively. Starcs six-wicket haul also took him to the top of the wicket-takers list in the ongoing WTC 2025-27 cycle. He now has 54 wickets from 10 Tests, moving ahead of Englands Josh Tongue, who has 53. The left-arm pacer needed only one delivery to make an impact, removing Shadman Islam with the opening ball of the Test. Shadmans leading edge flew to Cameron Green at gully, giving Starc his fourth Test wicket on the first ball of the match. Starc struck again in the third over, dismissing Tanzid Hasan before trapping Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw with the very next delivery. He then removed Mominul Haque, caught by Green, as Bangladesh quickly slipped into deep trouble. Litton Das became Starcs fifth victim after being trapped lbw, completing a remarkable five-wicket haul in just 22 deliveries. Starc struck again in the third over, dismissing Tanzid Hasan before trapping Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw with the very next delivery. He then removed Mominul Haque, caught by Green, as Bangladesh quickly slipped into deep trouble. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Starcs record-breaking performance came at a crucial stage for Australia, who arrived in Mackay trailing 1-0 after Bangladesh stunned them by nine wickets in the opening Test in Darwin. Article Source: IANS

'Shubman Gill doesn't have enough faith in Kuldeep'

Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif criticised captain Shubman Gill for not giving spinner Kuldeep Yadav enough longer spells during the first Test against Sri Lanka, suggesting a lack of faith.

Gill Tries To Fix His Spin Problems

Ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka, the Indian cricket team underwent an intense net session in Colombo.

India target first overseas Test series win in three years vs Sri Lanka

India is poised to secure its first overseas Test series victory in three years as they face Sri Lanka in the second and final match, with skipper Shubman Gill and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal under pressure to deliver substantial knocks.

'Seeing Young Lads Get Exposure, IPL Contracts Is Ultimate Reward': Amritsar Soormas' Skipper Abhishek Sharma

Punjab T20 League: Amritsar Soormas captain Abhishek Sharma reflected on leading the side in the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League and stated that the biggest reward would be seeing his young teammates use the platform to earn state and IPL opportunities. Leading his hometown team will make the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League a particularly special assignment for Abhishek, who is relishing the opportunity to captain Amritsar Soormas and help shape the next generation of Punjab cricketers. Lifting the trophy would be special, but true success means seeing three or four young lads from our squad gain the confidence and exposure to earn IPL contracts and state call-ups. If I can inspire the next generation from Amritsar whilst playing winning cricket, that is the ultimate reward, he said. He also sees the league as a major opportunity for Punjabs emerging cricketers, providing them with exposure to competitive, televised cricket and professional franchise environments. It is a game-changer for Punjab cricket. There is immense raw talent across districts that does not always get immediate limelight in national domestic tournaments. A televised, competitive league bridges that gap, he said. For Abhishek, whose cricketing journey began in Amritsar, wearing the Soormas crest carries a strong emotional significance. It is an honour to lead this team and a deeply emotional responsibility as well. Punjab has given me everything in my cricketing journey, and stepping out not just as a player but as captain to lead a franchise in my home states T20 league is a proud milestone, he said. He also sees the league as a major opportunity for Punjabs emerging cricketers, providing them with exposure to competitive, televised cricket and professional franchise environments. It is a game-changer for Punjab cricket. There is immense raw talent across districts that does not always get immediate limelight in national domestic tournaments. A televised, competitive league bridges that gap, he said. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Having played at the highest level, Abhishek is keen to pass on the importance of self-belief, match awareness and decision-making under pressure to the younger members of the squad. And while lifting the trophy remains an ambition. Article Source: IANS

Forde five-for and Kamil Pooran 81* keep Kings' rise going

Jamaica Kingsmen recovered from 71 for 6 but couldn't set a big enough target to challenge St Lucia Kings

Dravid: Need players like Sooryavanshi to play all formats for Test cricket to grow

Dravid believes Sooryavanshi's development needs to be balanced between the white-ball and red-ball formats

Australia Lose 3 Wickets After Skittling Bangladesh For 64

Australia lost three quick wickets as Bangladesh fought back on day one of the second Test with the hosts 50-3 at tea after a Mitchell Starc masterclass skittled the visitors for just 64. Skipper Pat Cummins won the toss in Mackay and his bowlers feasted on a fine day, determined to bounce back from a shock nine-wicket loss in the first Test at Darwin. An irrepressible Starc was the destroyer in an incredible spell of swing and seam, taking five wickets in 22 balls during the morning session. Bangladesh reached lunch at 35-6 and lasted barely an hour after the break as Starc and Cummins mopped up. Only a last-wicket partnership of 25 between Taijul Islam (11 not out) and Shoriful Islam (14) took them past their lowest Test score of 43, against the West Indies in 2018. Starc ended with 6-12 and Cummins took 3-25. Australia started well in reply but then lost three wickets for 19 runs, leaving Steve Smith (six) and Cameron Green (one) with their work cut out. Matt Renshaw, recalled for the first time since 2023 when opener Jake Weatherald was axed after Darwin, failed to repay selectors' faith, gone for eight after edging Taskin Ahmed to Tanzid Hasan at third slip. Fellow opener Travis Head (22) was bowled by Shoriful who missed the first Test with an injury, before he repeated the feat with under-pressure Marnus Labuschagne (4), who was desperate for a big score. Australia made a stunning start when Starc removed Shadman Islam with the first ball of the day, tempting a leading edge that Green did well to hold in the gully. It was the fourth time the veteran left-armer has got a wicket with the maiden ball of a Test -- becoming the first player to do so -- and the ninth time he has achieved the feat in the opening over. The 36-year-old sent Bangladesh's other opener Tanzid packing with the first ball of his second over, caught at slip by Beau Webster, then trapped captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw with his next delivery. It left Bangladesh reeling at 3-9 in the third over. The experienced Mushfiqur Rahim fended off Starc's hat-trick ball, but he was unstoppable and grabbed his fourth wicket in his third over. This time, Mominul Haque was the victim in a similar dismissal to Shadman, undone by late swing to send a thick edge low to Green in the gully on nine. Webster dropped a sitter at slip off Starc in his fourth over, but Litton Das' luck ran out next ball, out lbw on review as the visitors slumped to 5-12. It was the 19th time Starc has taken five wickets in an innings and achieved in just 22 balls -- the sixth fastest of all-time. Starc holds the record after taking five in only 15 balls against the West Indies in 2025. Mushfiqur hung around for 41 balls but he had no answer when Cummins came on, bowled for five. Cummins struck again after lunch to dismiss Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 11, taken brilliantly by Webster in the slips, before Hazlewood took care of Hasan Mahmud (10) eight balls later. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Bangladesh moved past their lowest Test score as the tailenders hit out, before Starc fittingly wrapped it up with the wicket of Shoriful.

England vs Pakistan First Test: 3 Talking Points

England began Joe Root's second spell as full-time Test captain with a totally dominant innings and 103-run win over Pakistan at his Yorkshire home ground of Headingley on Friday. Three talking points that emerged from what was just England's third win in their last 11 Tests. Cox looks the part Any assessment of England's form at Headingley has to take account of arguably one of the weakest Pakistan teams in decades. But the manner in which Jordan Cox made a maiden Test fifty while batting in what has often been a problem position of number three for England was an encouraging sign for Root's men. It seemed as if Jacob Bethell was making the role his own only for the talented 22-year-old left-hander to be ruled out of the entire three-match series against Pakistan with a knee injury. Cox, however, made 73 in just 100 balls, including 14 fours, at Headingley, but without the kind of extravagant, and indeed reckless, shot-making that characterised England's ultra-aggressive Bazball approach under now retired captain Ben Stokes and sacked Test coach Brendon McCullum. Former England captain Michael Vaughan -- himself an elegant top-order batsman -- was among those impressed by the 25-year-old Cox. He just looked a player Vaughan told the BBC. He looks like he's got all the time and he played two or three shots that reminded me of (South Africa great) AB de Villiers. Pakistan's comical fielding no joke One of cricket's oldest truisms is if you want to know the state of a team, look at their fielding for this is the one aspect of the game, unlike batting or bowling, which can be improved as much by sheer hard work as raw talent. Pakistan's fielding at Headingley, however, was woeful, with one particularly farcical incident summing up their performance. Ali Usman lured Dan Lawrence down the pitch only for the ball to deflect off the England batsman's pad. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, fielding at slip, seemed more concerned by appealing for lbw than running out Lawrence. By the time Agha realised the chance was on, he let fly with a panicked throw straight into the rear of wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan, who was blocking the stumps. Pakistan then failed with an ensuing review of the lbw decision as Lawrence had been struck outside off stump. Several Pakistan fielders, meanwhile, tried to stop eventual boundaries by sticking out a boot rather than bending down, including left-arm spinner Usman whose five-wicket haul was a rare highlight for his side. There's no excuse for it, Usman admitted. We should put in more effort. There were lapses in the field today and it cost us runs. England's love affair with Leeds goes on England have now won seven Tests in a row at Headingley -- their longest current winning streak at any ground in the world. That sequence includes two wins over Australia yet, remarkably, Yorkshire's headquarters will not stage a Test when England's oldest rivals arrive for next year's Ashes series. The Leeds ground has effectively lost out to Hampshire's Rose Bowl, which will be making its Ashes debut. This is despite Headingley, one of world cricket's most storied venues, providing a pitch that is often favourable to England's seamers, with the crowd -- particularly on the old Western Terrace -- giving raucous support to the home side. I would love to play as many games as possible here, said local hero Root. It's a great Test match venue and a surface that provides brilliant Test cricket. It is hard to imagine Australia doing without a home Ashes Test at their Gabba fortress in Brisbane. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories As a player, you want to play at the grounds you have most success at as a team, said Root. I love playing here - as a Yorkshireman I have to say that from birth, so I'm glad it's the case.

Mitchell Starc achieves massive milestone, surpasses Dale Steyn in elite list with six-wicket haul against BAN

Australia took on Bangladesh in the second and final Test of the ongoing series between the two sides. The teams locked horns at the Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, from August 22nd, and Australia began the game by coming in to bowl first.

Bangladesh All Out For 64 In 2nd Test After Mitchell Starc Masterclass

A rampant Australia tore through the Bangladesh batting Saturday to dismiss them for just 64 on day one of the second Test with Mitchell Starc taking 6-12 after a bowling masterclass. Skipper Pat Cummins won the toss in Mackay and his bowlers feasted on a fine day, determined to bounce back from a shock nine-wicket loss in the first Test at Darwin. An irrepressible Starc was the destroyer in an incredible spell of swing and seam, taking five wickets in just 22 balls during the morning session to leave the visitors on the ropes. Bangladesh reached lunch at 35-6 and lasted barely an hour after the break as Starc, Cummins and Josh Hazlewood mopped up the tail. Only a last-wicket partnership of 25 between Taijul Islam (not out 11) and Shoriful Islam (14) took them past their lowest Test score of 43, against the West Indies in 2018. Australia made a stunning start when Starc removed Shadman Islam with the first ball of the day, tempting a leading edge that Cameron Green did well to hold in the gully. It was the fourth time the veteran left-armer has got a wicket with the maiden ball of a Test -- becoming the first player to do so -- and the ninth time he has achieved the feat in the opening over. The 36-year-old sent Bangladesh's other opener Tanzid Hasan packing with the first ball of his second over, caught at slip by Beau Webster, then trapped captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw with his next delivery. It left the visitors reeling at 3-9 in the third over. The experienced Mushfiqur Rahim fended off Starc's hat-trick ball, but he was unstoppable and grabbed his fourth wicket in his third over. This time, Mominul Haque was the victim in a similar dismissal to Shadman, undone by late swing to send a thick edge low to Green in the gully on nine. Webster dropped a sitter at third slip off Starc in his fourth over, but Litton Das' luck ran out next ball, out lbw on review as the visitors slumped to 5-12. It was the 19th time Starc has taken five wickets in an innings and achieved in just 22 balls -- the sixth fastest of all-time. Starc holds the record after taking five in only 15 balls in Jamaica against the West Indies in 2025. Mushfiqur hung around for 41 balls but he had no answer when Cummins came on, clean bowled for five. Cummins struck again in his first over after lunch to dismiss Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 11, taken brilliantly by Webster in the slips, before Hazlewood took care of Hasan Mahmud (10) eight balls later. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Bangladesh moved past their previous lowest score in Tests as the tailenders hit out, but the end was inevitable with Starc fittingly wrapping it up with the wicket of Shoriful.

DPL: East Delhi Riders Cruise To 7-wicket Win Over Outer Delhi Warriors

East Delhi Riders: An all-round performance helped East Delhi Riders register a comfortable seven-wicket win over Outer Delhi Warriors in the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2026 fixture. East Delhi Riders produced an impressive bowling effort to bowl out Outer Delhi Warriors for 134 in 19.1 overs. Mayank Yadav, Simarjeet Singh and Ashish Meena led the attack and kept the Warriors under pressure throughout the innings. Outer Delhi Warriors struggled from the beginning and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Their batting line-up failed to build any meaningful partnership, leaving them in deep trouble at 68/7. Harsh Tyagi tried to steady the innings and gave his team some hope with a fighting 36 off 33 balls. However, he received little support from the other end as the Warriors were eventually bowled out for 134. Mayank Yadav was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with excellent figures of 3/22 from his four overs. Ashish Meena also claimed three wickets while conceding 25 runs. Simarjeet Singh supported them well with two wickets for 20 runs in his four-over spell. Chasing 135, East Delhi Riders also faced some early trouble and lost a few wickets. However, Kavya Gupta and Vaibhav Baisla came together at the right time to take control of the chase. Mayank Yadav was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with excellent figures of 3/22 from his four overs. Ashish Meena also claimed three wickets while conceding 25 runs. Simarjeet Singh supported them well with two wickets for 20 runs in his four-over spell. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories The Riders reached the target comfortably to complete victory, with their bowlers setting up the win before the middle-order batters finished the job. Article Source: IANS

Mohammed Kaif opens up on India's number three conundrum ahead of second Sri Lanka Test

The Indian team is all set to take on Sri Lanka in the second Test of the ongoing two-game series. The two sides are slated to meet at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo, on August 23, and both sides will hope to put in their best performance in the game.

How Starc completed his five-wicket haul in 22 balls

The left-arm quick dismantled Bangladesh's top order on the opening day in Mackay

Starc rips through Bangladesh with five wickets in 22 balls

The visitors were in tatters at lunch on the opening day of the second Test after being asked to bat

Kate Cross set to retire from all forms of cricket after conclusion of home summer

In a major development, veteran England pacer Kate Cross recently came forward and announced that she will be retiring from professional cricket at the end of the home summer. She will be bringing the curtain...

Australia vs Bangladesh Day 1: Starc takes five wickets in first four overs

The left-armer removed both Bangladesh openers, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and wicketkeeper Litton Das, for ducks to leave Bangladesh at 12 for five.

Drastic Playing XI Call In 2nd Test Against Sri Lanka? India Coach Gives Blunt Verdict

Defending the struggling Kuldeep Yadav, India's spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule on Friday asserted that the left-arm wrist spinner is in the team management's scheme of things ahead of the second Test.

Starc's 5-Wicket Blitz Has Bangladesh Reeling In 2nd Test

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc delivered a devastating spell of swing bowling, taking five wickets in his first four overs against Bangladesh in the second Test. His performance left Bangladesh reeling at 12 for five, with both openers dismissed for ducks.

Australia bowl first on Mackay's Test debut; Shoriful in for Bangladesh

After surprising many by batting first in Darwin, Australia's captain went the opposite way in the second Test

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Toby Roland-Jones battles for home side as they concede hefty first-innings deficit

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Lancashire lose two wickets in reply as promotion race hots up