Cricket

It's Nice That Neetu David Gets To Work With A Franchise Like UP Warriorz, Says Anjum Chopra

ODI World Cup: Former India captain Anjum Chopra believes ex-chief selector Neetu David's move into becoming the chief scout of WPL franchise UP Warriorz is a fitting next step for someone who has already given Indian cricket so much as a competitive player and later in strategic off-field roles. Neetu was recently unveiled as chief scout of UPW in the WPL, and this marks her first franchise T20 cricket role since stepping down as chair of the women's selection committee - a panel that, during her tenure starting from 2020 picked the Harmanpreet Kaur-led India squad that won the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup on home soil. It's good. I mean, look, Neetu David is a quality cricketer. Take nothing away from her. She's a hall of famer and was a quality cricketer who won matches for India. The entire duration she played for India, she was a match winner. So, she knows a lot about Indian cricket. A lot about the players coming through the line and because she's been a selector, she would obviously know the current bunch of players who are there, and coming through the ranks, and probably as a selector, she was keeping their eyes on them. It's nice that she's got an opportunity to work with one of the franchise teams and she'll be a part of that setup when you're a part of a franchise team where the discussions are very different, the preparation is very different, the thinking is very different. So, she, as an individual, will also be exposed to so many different things, and discussions which will help Neetu, and UP Warriorz. I hope it will also help a lot of cricketers who are around Neetu David because she can obviously impart that kind of skill to these players, Anjum told IANS in an exclusive conversation on Wednesday. UPWs scouting processes were being locally taken care of by the coaches and former CoE bowling coach Rajib Dutta was also briefly engaged with them during this years womens Bengal T20 league. Neetus playing career remains among the most decorated in Indian women's cricket. An accomplished left-arm spinner, she played ten Tests and 97 ODIs for India between 1995 and 2008, finishing with 182 wickets across formats, and still holds the record for the best bowling figures in a women's Test innings 8-53 against the West Indies in Jamshedpur in 1995. In 2024, she became only the second Indian woman inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame and recently served as a special selector in the Bihar set-up. UPW made the playoffs in the inaugural WPL season in 2023, but finished bottom of the table in both 2025 and 2026. An accomplished left-arm spinner, she played ten Tests and 97 ODIs for India between 1995 and 2008, finishing with 182 wickets across formats, and still holds the record for the best bowling figures in a women's Test innings 8-53 against the West Indies in Jamshedpur in 1995. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories UP Warriors had an excellent team. If we go back to the auction where they picked this squad, on paper they were a champion side, but how they put their performance up on the park and do it consistently is the question. When they had the auction in November 2025, everyone looked at that team led by Meg Lanning and thought, 'What a squad.' So, I don't know where it went haywire for them this time, added Anjum. Article Source: IANS

2nd Test: Sooriyabandara, Mendis Defy India As SL Fight Back To Reach 199/3 At Tea

Sinhalese Sports Club: Sri Lanka mounted a spirited response in the second innings of the Test against India, with Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis putting together a substantial partnership to keep the hosts in the contest after India enforced the follow-on on Day 4, here at the Sinhalese Sports Club. By the end of the second session, Sri Lanka had reached 199 for 3 in 56 overs, reducing the deficit to 16 runs, with Sooriyabandara unbeaten on 90 and Dhananjaya de Silva on 14. The session began with Sri Lanka at 83/2, still 131 runs behind India. The early dismissal of Kamil Mishara had briefly given India control, but Sooriyabandara and Mendis refused to allow the pressure to build. The pair attacked the Indian spinners and gradually transformed what had been a difficult situation into a genuine fightback. Sooriyabandara continued to look assured, mixing patience with calculated aggression. His approach was particularly effective against the spin, as he repeatedly used the crease and picked gaps in the field. Mendis complemented him with a positive stroke-making display, taking on the bowling whenever opportunities presented themselves. Mendis reached his half-century in memorable fashion in the 40th over, pulling a short delivery from Prasidh Krishna over fine leg for six. It was his first fifty of the series and his first against India. He eventually made 55 from 92 balls, hitting two fours and three sixes. The partnership also carried considerable historical significance. When it crossed the 100-run mark, it became Sri Lanka's 13th century partnership while following on in Test cricket, and only the second against India. The previous instance against India had been the 191-run second-wicket stand between Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis at the same venue in 2017. Sooriyabandara reached another important milestone soon after. In the 31st over, he brought up his fifty with a boundary off Ravindra Jadeja, advancing down the track and lofting the ball over extra cover. It was his second fifty of the match, making him the first Sri Lankan batter since Danushka Gunathilaka against South Africa in 2018 to score twin fifties in a Test at the SSC in Colombo. India eventually found the breakthrough through a change of tactics. Prasidh Krishna went short to Kamindu Mendis in the 44th over, and the batter attempted to take on the delivery. Instead, he skied the ball towards square leg, where Shubman Gill produced an excellent running catch to end the 126-run third-wicket partnership. Mendis' dismissal, however, did not lead to a collapse. Dhananjaya de Silva joined Sooriyabandara, and the pair negotiated India's attack through the remainder of the session. India tried pace, spin and different field settings, but Sooriyabandara remained increasingly difficult to dislodge. Mohammed Siraj was brought back with Rishabh Pant standing up to the stumps, while India also persisted with Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain. The young spinners struggled to exert the same control that Jadeja had managed earlier. Sooriyabandara reached 90 off 157 balls by tea, while Dhananjaya had moved to 14 from 35 deliveries. Jadeja remained India's most successful bowler in the innings, finishing the session with figures of 15-1-43-1. India tried pace, spin and different field settings, but Sooriyabandara remained increasingly difficult to dislodge. Mohammed Siraj was brought back with Rishabh Pant standing up to the stumps, while India also persisted with Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain. The young spinners struggled to exert the same control that Jadeja had managed earlier. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Brief Scores: India 503/9 dec lead Sri Lanka 290 and 199/3 f/o in 56 overs (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 90 not out, Kamindu Mendis 55; Mohammed Siraj 1-8, Ravindra Jadeja 1-43, Prasidh Krishna 1-30) by 14 runs. Article Source: IANS

Duleep Trophy: North Zone beat West Zone by 52 runs to reach semifinal

In just one hour of cricket, spread across day three and day four, North had gone from boom to bust, from 195 for three to 234 all out

Australia Test Cricketer, Forced To Retire At 27, Sues School Over Head Injury

Will Pucovski has taken legal action against his former school Brighton Grammar, alleging that the institution failed to follow standard concussion protocols after he was knocked unconscious during an Australian rules football training session in 2014.

Anjum Chopra Expresses Surprise Over Pratikas Asia Cup Inclusion, Questions India's T20I Strategy

ODI World Cup: Former India captain Anjum Chopra has expressed surprise at the selection committees decision to include opening batter Pratika Rawal in the T20I squad for the upcoming Asia Cup, adding that its been hard for her to understand the rationale behind the call-up. Pratika was drafted into Indias squad for the upcoming continental event, starting in Dubai on August 28, as a replacement for Jemimah Rodrigues, who sustained a high-grade right hamstring tear while playing for Southern Brave in The Hundred. Apart from this being Pratikas maiden T20I call-up, she has not played a T20 game since the Challenger Trophy in November 2024, where she scored 142 runs at a strike rate of 111.81. For the Asia Cup, Pratika, who didnt play WPL 2026 for UP Warriorz due to an ankle injury sustained during the 2025 ODI World Cup, was selected ahead of Anushka Sharma and Harleen Deol, who had previously been part of the T20I side. It's difficult to believe there was nobody else around that the Indian team could have picked. When I say that, I am not saying Pratika can't play T20, but why would you pick someone who has not played T20 in a long time? As far as I remember, even in domestic cricket, hardly any T20s have happened in which she played. She was not a part of the WPL. She is a quality cricketer, but the biggest challenge for me is that she is actually coming back from an injury. She was lined up to play for Warwickshire in England, which was in one-day format. From there, she will now be playing T20 as part of the Indian T20I team. Now there are a few reasons why this is questionable. First, she has very little competitive cricket behind her. Second, I am pretty certain the Indian team is not looking at her to bat at number three for India, Anjum told IANS in an exclusive conversation on Wednesday. If she isn't batting at number three, will she be batting lower down the order? If so, why is she in this team? Before Pratika made it to the squad, Anushka Sharma was tried. There is Raghvi Bist, who has been doing the rounds and Vrinda Dinesh, who has played for India 'A', and so many other players have been around. If you want to give someone a chance, you might as well pick a player who is part of the WPL and who has travelled with the emerging India 'A' team. I don't understand why Pratika Rawal has been picked in this T20 team when she is short of competitive match practice since the 2025 World Cup. She went to Australia for ODIs and Tests, and played 50-over games for India 'A' before getting injured. It's quite surprising to see this selection, the former India captain added. The bigger issue for Anjum is also whether an untested, injury-returning player like Pratika should be thrown straight into the playing eleven. Pratika sustained lacerations while fielding in an India A 50-over game against England A and missed the historic one-off Test at Lords in July. It's not rocket science to understand who the T20 players are. There has been a selection committee before this one, and another before their predecessors. I am not saying you can't pick a player because you believe in them - that's fine. Pratika Rawal could turn out to be the best T20 cricketer India has ever seen. Time will tell, but this is not the right timing. She is coming back from an injury, hasn't played much competitive cricket, and you expect her to walk straight in at number three - a spot where Jemimah has possibly not cemented her position yet, she stated. How do you expect a young cricketer to walk in with such big boots to fill? If you want to give a chance, give Richa Ghosh a chance to bat at three. There are so many other options. If somebody has to be groomed, they can take anybody else. I won't say it's just the selectors - possibly they know something that we don't, but it's not out in the open. It's baffling to think that after rotating so many players over the last 24 months, none of those players can find a place in the main Indian team today, even on the bench. You start questioning the process. With the team having won a 50-over World Cup, it's very surprising that there is no clarity on the pipeline or the long-term thinking, she elaborated. With Jemimah absent, Anjums alternative blueprint for number three doesn't hinge on a single name instead, it's a list of options she believes will be overlooked in favour of an untested one. If she gets a chance to play, I will be really surprised, because that would be so unfair to other batters who haven't received opportunities. If you need someone at number three, why not promote Deepti Sharma? With a left-hander in Smriti and a right-hander in Shafali opening, having Deepti at three balances the order. If not Deepti, make sure Richa Ghosh walks in. If that is also not optioned, give the chance to batters on the bench who haven't played yet. Otherwise, G Kamalini might end up playing, and then we will be discussing why we are playing two wicket-keepers. For tournaments like this and the upcoming Asian Games, you could have taken players who were recently part of India 'A' or emerging teams and tested them at number three, she opined. Furthermore, Kamalini came into the squad at the expense of Yastika Bhatia, who didnt have a memorable time in T20Is against England and at the T20 World Cup, though she did hit a historic Test century at Lords. Citing Yastika as a reference, Anjum wondered about the psychological impact of the Asian Games squad announcement, which came just two days after Indias T20 World Cup campaign ended. Imagine a player who has worked so hard to get into a World Cup team and is just trying to find her form. It's never easy - Yastika tried her best, and the people at the Centre of Excellence and her family would have given her confidence. But for a player to get back into fluency... in Test cricket, we saw she built an innings because she had that time in England, and the team gave her the opportunity to keep wickets. That was helpful. Furthermore, Kamalini came into the squad at the expense of Yastika Bhatia, who didnt have a memorable time in T20Is against England and at the T20 World Cup, though she did hit a historic Test century at Lords. Citing Yastika as a reference, Anjum wondered about the psychological impact of the Asian Games squad announcement, which came just two days after Indias T20 World Cup campaign ended. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories The announcement could have been delayed if there was an option - even recently, I saw Pakistan select their team for the Asian Games much later. There were so many players on the squad that went to England for the T20 World Cup who never got a chance to play enough games and won't get much of a chance in the next two tournaments. Decisions like that don't help the team, and it creates an environment where everyone is on tenterhooks, not knowing what's going to happen, Anjum concluded. Article Source: IANS

India Must Target Womens Asia Cup Win Ahead Of 2027 Champions Trophy, Says former captain Anjum Chopra

Dubai International Cricket Stadium: India's primary objective at the upcoming Women's Asia Cup will be to lift the title they narrowly missed out on last time, but the tournament also doubles as a critical fine-tuning platform for the ICC Champions Trophy in February, says former India captain Anjum Chopra. Seven-time winners India suffered defeat in the 2024 edition final to eventual champions Sri Lanka in Dambulla. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side will begin their Group A campaign on August 30 against Thailand, and will later take on Hong Kong China and arch-rivals Pakistan respectively. With India suffering a second straight early exit from the T20 World Cup earlier this year, the Asia Cup becomes a critical trophy to reclaim, even as the inaugural Champions Trophy in February already occupies a corner in the Indian team management's thinking. The outlook is obviously going to be to win the title, because they missed the chance of winning it last time around. Sri Lanka played really well in the last final - in fact, they played the entire tournament very well. That's why I was surprised when they landed at the T20 World Cup in the UAE and were completely all over the place. I was very surprised looking at that performance; I think they didnt win a single match. So, the outlook for the Indian team will obviously be to win the championship. But lining up towards the ICC Champions Trophy in February, they would also want to understand their combination and how that setup, which hasn't changed much from the World Cup in England, will move in the direction of the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka, Anjum told IANS in an exclusive conversation on Wednesday. Her message for the Indian team, which is largely unchanged from the 2026 T20 World Cup squad (barring omission of Yastika Bhatia and injuries to Jemimah Rodrigues and Shreyanka Patil), is very simple as they prepare to play at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. You have to play to your optimum skill level and never take any opposition lightly. If India wins the toss, they should go out and bat those 20 overs in a manner that showcases their skill level, regardless of what the opposition offers. You need to test what you've practiced in a match scenario. It's an international match at the end of the day, so players should use this chance not just to win, but to evaluate their own preparation and identify what needs work. Teams like England and South Africa have included fringe players and newbies for their upcoming bilateral assignments against Ireland and Zimbabwe respectively. Asked if India should look to try youngsters in their home white-ball series against Zimbabwe, set to happen in October, Anjum felt the Asia Cup and the Asian Games were the ideal testing grounds for fringe players. The process should have started with this Asia Cup itself. I'm not saying don't send your core players, but it's not difficult to see who is on loose footing. It's unfair to them that the Indian team hasn't given those opportunities on a consistent basis. I say that very openly for Bharti Fulmali, who hasn't gotten a consistent run, and for Renuka Singh Thakur, who hasn't been a regular feature in the playing eleven. The Asian Games and Asia Cup were the right places to try players. You had an opportunity to take players who have been around the setup. But now, you've picked another player to bat at number three who is nowhere around the T20 circuit. If the thinking is just to fill a spot, that's surprising. Bharti Fulmali was given a chance, but hasn't grabbed it fully - do they want to give her more of a run? Renuka Singh Thakur has struggled over the past year to stay in the playing eleven, yet she is in both squads and will likely be on the team for Zimbabwe too. So, the clarity needs to be there with everyone around - not just the selectors, with even the players, the captain, the vice-captain and everyone around to understand what is it that we have been lacking? What is it that we were lacking in the recent tournament and what are we trying to strengthen or build so that all of it is there when we get to the Champions Trophy? We have at least 10 matches given to these players before we ourselves are confident of taking them towards a Champions Trophy because there is a tour to South Africa as well. There will be a WPL as well before the Champions Trophy happens. So, there are ample chances. But give that confidence to that cricketer that she will be around. If you succeed, you are the one who will be doing well. If you don't, then don't come back and think that we never gave you a chance. So, you have to give those players and those chances should have been provided starting from this Asia Cup. Anjum also urged the current administration to utilise India A fixtures as a strict barometer for form and fitness, drawing comparisons with international standards set by teams like Australia. India will likely rotate players against Zimbabwe as well. The Asia Cup and Asian Games are essential tournaments to win, but if players with more than 150 T20 internationals cannot give you the confidence to cross the line, then we are clearly not confident in our overall skill level and that is a concern. We know we are lacking a number three who can clear the fence with ease. If Bharti Fulmali is the answer to that concern, she should be given a complete run through to the WPL so she has enough chances to prove herself. The India 'A' setup is brilliant - having so many players in competitive cricket right through the season gives you confidence that your second and third string are in the pipeline. Touring matches like the Board Presidents XI games were meant to prepare players on the sidelines, or help main team members regain form - like Radha Yadav leading them. If a player graduates from India 'A' to the main team, that's brilliant. It's always up to the player to grab the opportunity. For example, Kranti Gaud took her chances and is there; Sree Charani was given an opportunity and is there. You wouldn't write an India squad of 15 without those two names. But when a vacuum is created because players aren't performing or options aren't clear, that's where the challenge lies. If players remain in the India 'A' loop without graduating, it doesn't send a good signal about their preparation. I just hope the girls are prepared enough to take that big step forward. Look at Australia - when India 'A' toured Australia in 2025, Alyssa Healy played all the matches to prove her fitness, and Tahlia McGrath played to prove her form. For us, players who are not performing well in the main Indian team should be asked to go back and play for India 'A' to prove their fitness and form as well. Anjum signed off by noting that remarkably little has changed since the T20 World Cup exit in England. The team setup is the same. With no major changes in the squad, how can you think anybody is looking to make a change? I'm not saying you should change the entire setup - we don't have an endless pipeline of immensely talented players ready to step in instantly. But that is exactly where we should have decided and thought through while picking the Asia Cup and Asian Games teams - as to who are the ones who will be tested here. Make sure that you send two players who will be given all the matches to play out there, test them and see how they prepare. Anjum signed off by noting that remarkably little has changed since the T20 World Cup exit in England. The team setup is the same. With no major changes in the squad, how can you think anybody is looking to make a change? I'm not saying you should change the entire setup - we don't have an endless pipeline of immensely talented players ready to step in instantly. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories With no changes in this lineup, I'm not certain what improvement the team management is targeting. But I'm pretty certain with Harman at the helm and Smriti and Deepti doing so well over the past few months as well - not only in the Indian team but also in franchise cricket, they'll know exactly what the difference is. But we'll also sit back and see when the Indian team starts their campaign on August 30. Article Source: IANS

Starc goes past Bumrah to top Test bowling table for the first time

Mitchell Starc returned figures of 6 for 12 and 4 for 39 in Australia's innings win over Bangladesh in Mackay

Asian Games 2026: Cricket Schedule announced

India's men's and women's cricket teams are set to begin their Asian Games campaigns in Japan, both seeded directly into the quarterfinals. The teams, led by Shreyas Iyer and Harmanpreet Kaur respectively, are strong contenders for gold, having dominated the previous edition. The women's final is on September 22, and the men's on October 3.

Who is Anaya Bangar? Athlete gets Cricket Australia approval to play domestic cricket

Anaya Bangar formerly trained and played as a top-order batter and all-rounder in Mumbais youth divisions, alongside notable names including Indian Test cricketer Sarfaraz Khan

'Body is sore' - Arshdeep revels in rare red-ball opportunity

It had been a year since Arshdeep Singh last played a first-class game and he put in a useful performance in North Zone's win against West Zone

Jasprit Bumrah Dethroned As Top-Ranked ICC Test Bowler By 107-Test Veteran

Jasprit Bumrah's latest reign at the top lasted just two months but he has a combined 697 days as number one.

New Zealander Fraser Sheat joins Nottinghamshire for Championship run-in

Allrounder will be available for final five matches of season as champions seek to defend title

Pucovski Sues School Over Concussion Protocol Failures

Former Australian cricketer Will Pucovski has initiated legal proceedings against his former school, Brighton Grammar, alleging that the institution failed to adhere to proper concussion protocols after he sustained a head injury during a football training session in 2014. His lawyers claim this incident led to a traumatic brain injury, making him vulnerable to subsequent concussions and ultimately forcing his early retirement from professional cricket at age 27.

ICC Rankings: Starc Dethrones Bumrah As No.1 Test Bowler; Pant Rises To Joint Seventh Among Batters

ICC Test Bowler Rankings: Australia pacer Mitchell Starc has dethroned Indias Jasprit Bumrah to claim the No.1 spot in the latest ICC Test Bowler Rankings, released on Wednesday, while Rishabh Pant climbed six places to tie for seventh among Test batters. Starcs rise to the top followed his dominant performance against Bangladesh in the second Test in Mackay, where the left-arm pacer took 10 wickets in the match. The effort helped the 36-year-old climb two places, move past Bumrah and New Zealands Matt Henry, and become the top-ranked Test bowler for the first time in his career. Bumrah, who first reached the No.1 position in February 2024 and had held it for much of the past two years, dropped to second, while Henry slipped to third. Bumrahs absence from Indias ongoing ICC World Test Championship series against Sri Lanka, together with Starcs Player of the Series-winning performance against Bangladesh, contributed to the change at the top. Starc has spent much of his 15-year Test career in the top 10 and moved into the top three after strong performances against England in the Ashes towards the end of last year. However, he had never previously reached the No.1 position. Among other Australian bowlers, Pat Cummins moved up one place to fourth after taking six wickets in the match against Bangladesh, while spinner Nathan Lyon rose two places to 10th. Indias Pant was the biggest mover in the top 10 of the Test batter rankings. The left-hander climbed six places to equal seventh after his quickfire half-century in the second innings of Indias victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle. The top two positions remain unchanged, with Englands Harry Brook and Joe Root in first and second, while Australias Steve Smith and Travis Head are third and fourth. Other Indian batters also made gains. KL Rahul climbed five places to 30th, while Pants rise highlighted Indias movement inside the top 10. Outside the top 10, Australia all-rounder Cameron Green moved up nine places to 21st, Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva rose two spots to equal 22nd, and Pakistans Abdullah Shafique climbed seven places to equal 27th. Englands Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue also made significant gains in the Test bowler rankings following their match-winning performances against Pakistan in the first Test at Headingley. The pair combined for 16 wickets in the one-sided contest in Leeds, with Robinson jumping 15 places to 11th and Tongue climbing 16 spots to 17th. Outside the top 10, Australia all-rounder Cameron Green moved up nine places to 21st, Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva rose two spots to equal 22nd, and Pakistans Abdullah Shafique climbed seven places to equal 27th. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Cummins moved up one place to seventh, Green climbed one spot to equal 17th, while Robinson rose five places to 23rd in the all-rounder rankings. Article Source: IANS

Yashasvi Jaiswal Trade Move On The Cards Ahead Of IPL 2027? Report Reveals Rajasthan Royals Stance

Indian cricket team batter Yashasvi Jaiswal is still part of Rajasthan Royals' plans for IPL 2027 despite chatter around a possible trade deal, according to a report.

Most Important Is Staying In Present: Simarjeet Reveals Dhonis Lesson After Match-winning Spell Against Purani Dilli 6

East Delhi Riders: East Delhi Riders wrapped up their Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2026 season with a narrow 10-run win against playoff-qualified Purani Dilli 6 in a 10-over match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. After the match, East Delhi Riders captain Simarjeet Singh conveyed pride in his team's effort, emphasizing the importance of ending the tournament positively. He also shared that advice from MS Dhoni helps him remain calm during high-pressure moments. A win is always a win, and the feeling is always fantastic. Even though we couldn't make it to the playoffs, finishing the tournament with a victory is very special for us. It keeps the team's morale high. The hard work we put in throughout the tournament showed on the field today. I am extremely proud of how our young players took responsibility and played great cricket under pressure. We will learn from our shortcomings, but ending the season on a positive note gives us fresh confidence for the upcoming domestic season and the next DPL, Simarjeet said after the match. Simarjeet, who delivered an excellent penultimate over by allowing only five runs to help defend the target, also shared how he incorporates vital lessons from Indian legend MS Dhoni during key overs. I use it every time. Its all about how to stay calm in pressure situations. As Dhoni bhai says, you have to be present in the moment where you are right nownot dwelling on the past or thinking too far into the future. Staying in the present is the most important thing for me, the captain added. East Delhi Riders batted first in a shortened 10-over match, scoring 118/6. They were powered by Suryansh Raina's rapid 42 off 19 balls and a fast inning from Sujal Singh with 14 off 6. For Purani Dilli 6, Digvesh Rathi was the top bowler, claiming 2/9 in his two overs. I use it every time. Its all about how to stay calm in pressure situations. As Dhoni bhai says, you have to be present in the moment where you are right nownot dwelling on the past or thinking too far into the future. Staying in the present is the most important thing for me, the captain added. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Despite the loss, Purani Dilli 6 secured third place in the points table, earning a playoff spot where they will compete against Outer Delhi Warriors in the Eliminator. Article Source: IANS

Mitchell Starc Displaces Jasprit Bumrah To Take No. 1 Position In ICC Mens Test Bowling Rankings

Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has attained the No. 1 position in the ICC Mens Test Bowling Rankings for the first time in his career after his 10-wicket haul in MacKay helped win the second match of their ICC World Test Championship series against Bangladesh. The 36-year-old left-armer grabbed six for 12 and four for 39 to star in the innings and 51 runs victory, overtaking Matt Henry and Jasprit Bumrah, whom he leads by 10 rating points. Starc, whose previous best position was second that he first achieved after the Boxing Day Test last year, was named the Player of the Match and the Player of the Series. Bumrahs latest reign at the top lasted just two months but he has a combined 697 days as number one, which is the most by an India bowler and the 14th-most ever. England seam bowler Ollie Robinson is another major gainer, his hauls of five for 51 and three for 39 helping him win the Player of the Match award in an innings and 103 runs victory over Pakistan in the first of three Tests in Leeds and lifted him 15 spots to 11th among bowlers. Josh Tongue, who also grabbed eight wickets at Headingley, has progressed 16 places to 17th. Indias left-arm spinner Manav Suthar has risen 28 places to a career-best 48th after taking 10 wickets in Indias 165-run win over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle. Sri Lanka bowlers Asitha Fernando and Prabath Jayasuriya have both moved up five places to 15th and 16th, respectively. Spinners Nathan Lyon of Australia (up two places to 10th) and Ali Usman of Pakistan (up 30 places to 67th), along with fast bowlers Jofra Archer of England (up six places to joint-38th), M. Prasidh Krishna of India (up two places to 53rd) and Shoriful Islam of Bangladesh (up 17 places to 57th), have made significant gains. The ICC Mens Test Batting Rankings see Harry Brook double his lead at the top to 24 rating points above team-mate Joe Root. Brook top-scored with 90 and Root made 66 to keep the top two positions even as Indias wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant returns to the top 10 for the first time in a year after scores of 39 and 66, moving up six places to seventh. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Australias Cameron Green (up nine places to 21st), Sri Lankas Dhananjaya de Silva (up two places to 22nd) and Sonal Dinusha (up 49 places to 54th), Pakistans Abdullah Shafique (up seven places to joint-27th), Indias K.L. Rahul (up five places to 30th) and Devdutt Padikkal (re-entered at 59th) are others to prosper in the batting rankings.

Mitchell Starc pips Jasprit Bumrah to become number-one ranked Test bowler, for first time ever

For the first time in his career, Australia pacer Mitchell Starc has become the number-one ranked Test bowler . The 36-year-old took 10 wickets in the second Test against Bangladesh at Mackay, which helped him earn the Player of the Series honour. With that, he has surpassed India pacer Jasprit Bumrah, while New Zealands Matt Henry is now third.

ENG vs PAK 2nd Test Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

ENG vs PAK 2nd Test, Cricket Tips: The first test between England and Pakistan ended with an expected result. England proved to be too good for the visitors, and Joe Root started his second stint as captain with a win by an innings and 103 runs. Without Babar Azam, Pakistan only managed 171 and 135 runs across two innings. Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue took 8 wickets each. Pakistan looked toothless on the field. Their batting looked vulnerable, and bowling didn't have any spine. It will be a miracle for them if they can win the second game. The second test is scheduled to start at 3:30 PM IST on August 27 at Lord's Cricket Ground. ENG vs PAK: Match Details Date : August 27-31, 2026 (Thursday-Monday) Time : 3:30 PM IST Venue : Lord's Cricket Ground, London ENG vs PAK: Live Streaming Details Indian fans can watch the live action of the ENG vs PAK 2nd Test on the Sony Sports Networks, while the live stream of the game will be available on the Sony LIV app or website. ENG vs PAK: Head-to-Head in Tests Total Matches: 93 England : 31 Pakistan : 23 Drawn : 39 ENG vs PAK: Ground Pitch Report Lord's is an excellent venue for the fast bowlers. It offers a green top and bowling-friendly conditions. Additionally, the slope on one side produces more assistance for the seamers. It is difficult to adjust here, as there will be many plays and misses, and overhead conditions will also aid the seamers. ENG vs PAK: Possible XIs England : Emilio Gay, Ben Duckett, Jordan Cox, Joe Root (c), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith (wk), Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue Pakistan : Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Md. Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha (c), Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Md. Ali, Md. Abbas ENG vs PAK: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Harry Brook is the no. 1 ranked test batter, and he played a counter-attacking knock in the first test as well. His record against Pakistan is excellent. For Pakistan, Babar Azam holds the key because he is equipped with good technique in seaming conditions. Probable Best Bowler Ollie Robinson can bowl long and gets good bounce. He showed it in the first game, winning the MOTM award. For Pakistan, Mohammad Abbas is an experienced bowler who can produce wicket-taking spells early on. Today Match Prediction : England are very strong for this Pakistani team. Hence, we predict England to win the second test. ENG vs PAK Match 2nd Test, Today Match ENG vs PAK, ENG vs PAK Prediction, ENG vs PAK Predicted XIs, Injury Update for England vs Pakistan 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.

Pakistan Fast Bowler Aimen Anwar Retires From International Cricket

The Pakistan Cricket Board: Pakistan fast bowler Aimen Anwar has announced her retirement from international cricket with immediate effect, bringing her career to a close after representing the country at three T20 World Cups and the 2022 ICC Womens Cricket World Cup. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Wednesday that Aimen is stepping away from international cricket after representing Pakistan in eight ODIs and 37 T20Is from July 2016 to February 2023. The right-arm medium-fast bowler made her T20I debut against England in Southampton in July 2016, becoming Pakistan women's 37th player to earn a T20I cap. She made her ODI debut against Bangladesh in Colombo in February 2017 and went on to take four wickets in the 50-over format. In T20Is, Aimen took 29 wickets, finishing with 33 international wickets across formats in her 45-match Pakistan career. Aimen was part of Pakistan's squads at the Women's T20 World Cups in 2018, 2020 and 2022-23. She also featured in Pakistan's campaign at the 2022 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. Her return to the national set-up for the 2020 T20 World Cup followed the selectors recalling her after her performances in domestic cricket. The PCB had included her in Pakistan's 15-member squad for the tournament in Australia. Aimen was part of Pakistan's squads at the Women's T20 World Cups in 2018, 2020 and 2022-23. She also featured in Pakistan's campaign at the 2022 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Her international career spanned nearly seven years, during which she was part of several important phases in Pakistan women's cricket and featured alongside some of the country's leading players. Article Source: IANS

Relaunched Afghanistan Premier League to start on December 27

Three teams - Axcel United Kabul, Balkh Zwanan and Kandahar Warriors - have been announced for inaugural edition of the tournament, which will likely be played in the UAE

England Bid To Banish Booze Woes As Pakistan Seek Self-Respect

England will aim to put their latest drinking drama behind them when they face Pakistan in the second Test at Lord's starting on Thursday. The hosts ought to be in utterly buoyant mood after returning captain Joe Root oversaw an innings and 103-run thrashing of Pakistan inside three days at his Headingley homeground last week. But rather than speak about England's progress, Root spent much of a pre-match press conference talking about Brydon Carse, dropped from the squad and now under investigation by the Cricket Regulator after videos on social media showed the fast bowler being led away by police in handcuffs following an incident at a Derby nightclub on Saturday. This is the latest in a series of alcohol-fuelled controversies that have dogged England since a disastrous 2025/26 tour of New Zealand and Australia. Both former captain Ben Stokes -- who has since retired from all international cricket -- and paceman Gus Atkinson were stood down in June from the second Test at home to New Zealand following an incident at a London bar which came after they broke a curfew policy that has now been ditched by Root. Carse did not feature at Headingley, and was unlikely to play at Lord's barring injury, but his conduct led a frustrated Root to say Tuesday: If I'm being brutally honest, I'm really hacked off...It's not the isolated incident itself, it's the fact we continuously keep making stupid mistakes away from the game and it's detracting from what we are doing on the field. England, with seamers Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue taking eight wickets apiece, skittled out Pakistan for just 171 and 135 in the first Test while posting 409 themselves, even though none of their four batsmen who reached fifty, a quartet including Root, went on to a century. Nevertheless, it was a professional display lacking the self-indulgent extravagances that characterised England's cricket in the closing stages of the Bazball era under Stokes and Brendon McCullum, sacked as Test coach following the series loss to New Zealand. - Pakistan 'hopeful' over Babar Azam - By contrast, Pakistan were deficient in all departments with their inadequate batting compounded by an inaccurate and largely unthreatening pace attack as well as embarrassingly shoddy fielding. Pakistan captain Babar Azam, however, could return at Lord's from a finger injury initially sustained during the tour of the West Indies and later exacerbated when he was hit on the hand during a warm-up game at Beckenham. We're hopeful he will be available for the game and today (Tuesday) he was looking good; he batted well in the nets, said Pakistan bowling coach Umar Gul. He had a full batting session. Azam was Pakistan's top run-scorer in the West Indies, with 193 runs during a drawn two-Test series. He has also enjoyed success in England, with three fifties in six innings while averaging 65.75. Azan Awais may make way if Azam returns at number four, with one of Shan Masood or Abdullah Shafique moving up the order to open. Pakistan, who only a decade ago were Test cricket's top-ranked side, have won their last two Tests at Lord's, with Azam making 68 during a nine-wicket rout of England in 2018. But even though Pakistan have a longstanding reputation for veering between astonishing highs and lows, a vast improvement will be required if they are to level this three-match series. We'll have to learn from the mistakes we made in the previous game, said Gul. If you want to win a Test match, you have to perform in all departments. One can't be carrying the other. Meanwhile, with England having won just three of their last 11 Tests, a wary Root said: We know the individual brilliance that lies within that team and what Pakistan are capable of collectively. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories We also know that whenever we play anyone at Lord's, they generally raise their game. This (England) group won't be taking anything for granted.

How the WBBL and BBL squads for 2026-27 stack up

Catch up on the current lists and keep track of signings ahead of WBBL|12 and BBL|16

'You train them to repeat it': Manjrekar slams ICC and BCCI

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar criticised the ICC and BCCI over incidents involving Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, warning that leniency could encourage repeat behaviour.

Most Important Thing Is To Get The Right People: Steve Waugh On Building Amsterdam Flames From Scratch

European T20 Premier League: Former Australia captain Steve Waugh is embracing a new challenge in T20 cricket as co-owner of the Amsterdam Flames, with the inaugural European T20 Premier League set to begin and the Australian great keen to see how a franchise built from the ground up performs in its first season. Waugh, who is experiencing the franchise side of T20 cricket from close quarters for the first time, said the process of putting together the Amsterdam-based side has reinforced the importance of having the right personnel, structure and preparation in place. It's fascinating for me to be involved in T20 cricket. I haven't really been up close and personal to it before. And I'm looking at the way the guys are training, and their tactics and the execution of their practices is really great to watch. So, I'm really enjoying it. But yeah, building a franchise is similar to building any team. You've got to get the right people. You've got to get the right structure. You've got to have a formulated plan. Preparation is really important. The most important thing is to get the right people. And so, that's what we really concentrated on when we built the team, the Amsterdam Flames, from scratch. We wanted people with good character, people who could work together. But obviously, you need talent as well. So, if you get all those things coming together with good management, then there's a chance of being successful, Waugh told JioStar. For Waugh, the appeal of the project extends beyond the opportunity to work with established international names. The Flames squad includes the likes of Steve Smith, Tim David and Ajinkya Rahane, but it is the prospect of lesser-known players making their mark that has particularly caught his attention. This is the first season, so it's very important to get the first season established and for it to be successful. There's some amazing cricket players here, and I've no doubt that the cricket that is going to be played will be of a high standard. So, I think it's got a huge chance of being successful. You'll see some superstars emerge. I'm just watching a young Canadian opening batsman hit the ball unbelievably well, and he's ready to showcase his skills on the world stage. That's what excites me. You have players of the calibre in our team, of the likes of Steve Smith, Tim David and Ajinkya Rahane, and then they're playing alongside these relatively unknown players from the rest of the world. They're going to be fast-tracking their progress. They'll have a blueprint for success. And you're going to see some names come out of this tournament that you've never heard before, but they're going to be potential superstars, Waugh added. The inaugural ETPL will provide a new platform for players from established cricketing nations to share a dressing room with emerging talent from less-established cricketing countries. Waugh believes that interaction could become one of the tournament's defining features. For the Amsterdam Flames, the immediate priority will be establishing a competitive identity and creating an environment in which experienced players can help develop those still seeking recognition on the international stage. The inaugural ETPL will provide a new platform for players from established cricketing nations to share a dressing room with emerging talent from less-established cricketing countries. Waugh believes that interaction could become one of the tournament's defining features. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories With the ETPL entering uncharted territory in its maiden season, Waugh sees the competition as a potential launching pad for a new generation of T20 cricketers, players who could emerge from relative obscurity and use the tournament as their first major step towards the global stage. Article Source: IANS

Abid Mushtaq's 9-Wicket Match Haul Powers North Zone Into Duleep Trophy Semi-Finals

Left-arm spinners Abid Mushtaq and Nishant Sindhu took exactly 6.3 overs to polish off the West Zone tail as North Zone entered the Duleep Trophy semi-final with an impressive 52-run win duly completed here in the first hour of the final day.

SL vs IND Day 4: India reduce Sri Lanka to 83/2 at lunch after enforcing follow-on

Resuming from 265/8, Sonal Dinusha, who was overnight 85, compiled his second hundred in as many Tests

U.S. Open: Serena Williams, Carlos Alcaraz knocked out of mixed doubles; Djokovic, Sabalenka eliminated, too

Spouses Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils reached the mixed doubles semifinals

Sri Lanka Star Breaks Massive Record After Century In 2nd Test Against India

Sonal Dinusha's composed 103 was the standout effort in an innings that otherwise struggled to keep pace with India's imposing first-innings total.

Duleep Trophy: Abid Mushtaq's 9 For 99 Powers North Zone Past West Zone By 52 Runs

North East Zone: Jammu & Kashmir's left-arm spin-bowling allrounder Abid Mushtaq produced a match-winning performance, claiming a combined 9 for 99 as North Zone defeated Ruturaj Gaikwad-led West Zone by 52 runs in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Mushtaq was the star of the show on a red-soil pitch that took 25 wickets to spin, as North secured a thrilling victory on the final morning. At the start of the fifth day the match had been tantalizingly poised, with West Zone needing 67 runs and North three wickets. North had just 6.3 overs left to finish the job, Mushtaq and Nishant Sindhu mopping up the rest of the lower order. Mushtaq was instrumental in North's rescue act late on the fourth day and struck with the second ball of the final morning. West had been cruising at 211 for 4 after a century partnership between Musheer Khan and Gaikwad, but Mushtaq removed Tanush Kotian with a delivery that skidded low,beat the defence and crashed into middle stump. Tushar Deshpande, who has a first-class best of 123, survived 17 deliveries before charging down the track to Mushtaq on the 18th. But his undoing was the drift around the stumps as his attempted heave resulted in an edge that was taken by Abdul Samad in the slips. Three balls later, North sealed the win when Urvil Patel was trapped lbw for 25 while trying to attack Sindhus left-arm spin. If West still had a review, he could have overturned the decision. Mushtaqs effort was backed by a good spell from Arshdeep Singh, who was playing red-ball cricket for the first time in nearly a year and ended up with four wickets. Three of those came in the first innings, as he troubled West's toporder with late movement in both directions. Anshul Kamboj also played a key role in North's victory. He top-scored with 60 in the first innings, helping North recover from 161 for 7 to reach 251. Kamboj then struck with the old ball to remove Mumbai duo Shams Mulani and Kotian in quick succession, helping North secure a 64-run first-innings lead. North subsequently strengthened their position through Ayush Badoni, who registered his second consecutive half-century of the match. The victory sends North Zone into the semifinals, where they will face Tilak Varma-led South Zone in the first semifinal. North subsequently strengthened their position through Ayush Badoni, who registered his second consecutive half-century of the match. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Both semifinals will be played at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru from August 30. Article Source: IANS

Manjrekar slams ICC, BCCI for going soft on disciplinary violations by youngsters

Dear @icc & @bcci Vaibhav for Ind A recently & now Jaiswal... if you keep letting them get away with such behaviour, you train them to repeat such behaviour. It's not good for the sport & crucially their own future too, Manjrekar wrote on 'X'

BBL Scraps Overseas Draft, Opens Door For Bigger Deals For Top Stars

The Big Bash League: The Big Bash League (BBL) is set for a major change in its player contracting system, with Cricket Australia (CA) scrapping the overseas draft and giving clubs greater freedom to spend money on their top players. The new rules will come into effect on Thursday, just six weeks before the start of the Womens Big Bash League season. The changes come after several months of discussions between CA, the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) and the BBL clubs. The removal of the overseas draft could lead to bigger contracts for some of the worlds leading T20 players. England Test captain Ben Stokes and New Zealand batter Finn Allen are among the overseas players who could benefit from the new system. Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who is currently without a BBL contract after leaving Melbourne Renegades, could also attract significant interest. Australian wicketkeeper Josh Inglis is another high-profile player who is out of contract with Perth Scorchers. However, his availability for the upcoming BBL could be affected by his Test commitments, which may reduce his chances of securing a major deal, according to Cricinfo. Under the previous system, every BBL team had to sign at least two overseas players. At least one of them had to be on a minimum contract worth AU$300,000, with the top Platinum category worth AU$420,000. Those rules have now been removed. Clubs will not be required to sign an overseas player and can decide for themselves whether an overseas signing is the right option for their squad. The changes are also aimed at giving leading Australian players a greater share of the salary cap. Each BBL team will now have to pay only three marquee players more than AU$212,242 each. Previously, six players were required to earn above that amount. The total salary cap remains at AU$3.18 million. The top six earners must still receive a combined amount of at least AU$1.7 million, but clubs now have more freedom to concentrate a larger portion of their budget on their biggest stars. The same approach will be used in the Womens Big Bash League (WBBL). Teams will not have to sign an overseas player, while three marquee players must earn more than AU$53,000 each from the AU$772,000 salary cap. The top five earners must collectively receive more than AU$439,000. BBL boss Alistair Dobson said the changes were designed to give clubs more flexibility as the player market continues to change. The market for players continues to change, and the BBL and the WBBL have always been prepared to make adjustments as required, Dobson said as quoted by Cricinfo. He added that clubs should have the freedom to decide how much value they place on domestic and overseas players. CA has also introduced a new salary-cap concession for clubs that lose highly paid contracted players through a trade or mutual release. The concession, which will be funded by CA, will be worth around AU$52,000, equivalent to a minimum BBL contract. To qualify, the players new contract must be worth at least AU$360,000. There will also be stricter rules for local replacement players. A contracted player who is ruled out before the tournament can still be replaced. During the season, however, a club can sign a local replacement only after losing three contracted players. CA has also introduced a new salary-cap concession for clubs that lose highly paid contracted players through a trade or mutual release. The concession, which will be funded by CA, will be worth around AU$52,000, equivalent to a minimum BBL contract. To qualify, the players new contract must be worth at least AU$360,000. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories The changes come as CA and the ACA continue separate discussions over a new memorandum of understanding, with the current agreement running until 2028. The negotiations are also important for CAs plans to move towards greater private investment in the BBL. Article Source: IANS

Sanjay Manjrekar slams ICC, BCCI for going soft on disciplinary violations by youngsters

Sanjay Manjrekar criticized the ICC and BCCI for their handling of player misconduct. He believes leniency trains young players to repeat such behavior. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi faced disciplinary issues recently. Jaiswal was fined for an on-field altercation during a Test match. Sooryavanshi also had a heated exchange after a one-day tri-series match.

Sanjay Manjrekar calls for stricter punishment for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal

Young India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal was fined 25 per cent of his match fee and received a demerit point following a physical confrontation with Sri Lankas Asitha Fernando on Day 1 of the Colombo Test....

When things come to a head, butting is not a proper response

To ignore provocation needs a particular temperament, and Yashasvi Jaiswal will discover this soon enough

After Yashasvi Jaiswal Escapes Big Punishment, Sanjay Manjrekar Namedrops Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Sanjay Manjrekar also recalled the incident involving teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who almost came to blows with Sri Lanka A players during the tri-series involving A teams earlier this year.

2nd Test: Siraj, Jadeja Strike Early As Sri Lanka Reach 83/2 At Lunch After Follow-on

Sinhalese Sports Club: Indias decision to enforce the follow-on began to pay dividends in the opening session of the fourth day as Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj struck to leave Sri Lanka 83 for two at lunch, still 130 runs short of making India bat again, here at the Sinhalese Sports Club. Sri Lanka had resumed at 265 for eight, with Sonal Dinusha unbeaten on 85 and only two wickets standing between India and a first-innings lead large enough to enforce the follow-on. Dinusha duly completed another hundred in the series, but India needed only four overs after his landmark to wrap up the innings for 290 and secure a 213-run lead. Dinushas 103 off 162 balls was once again the cornerstone of Sri Lankas resistance. Having already made 100 and 84 in Galle, the left-hander produced another composed, largely chanceless innings, negotiating both pace and spin before accelerating towards his century. He reached three figures by pulling Prasidh Krishna for four, but his celebration was short-lived. Lahiru Kumara, who had offered Dinusha valuable support with a patient 12 off 58 balls, fell soon afterwards. Saransh Jain, who had been denied his maiden Test wicket twice by DRS earlier in the innings, finally got his reward when Kumara attempted to hit him down the ground and edged a flighted delivery towards cover. Dhruv Jurel ran in and completed an excellent low catch. Jain then closed out the innings himself, enticing Dinusha into a forward push with a fuller off-break that turned away to take the outside edge. Rahul held the catch at slip, giving the young off-spinner his second wicket of the innings and ending an innings that had frustrated India for much of the previous two days. With Sri Lanka dismissed for 290, India opted to put them straight back in, only the second time Sri Lanka have been asked to follow on in their last 27 Tests. The visitors had little trouble making an immediate impact. Prasidh Krishna opened the bowling, but it was Siraj who made the first breakthrough. Returning to the attack after his recent two-month break, Siraj had acknowledged that he was still searching for full rhythm, but he used the short ball effectively against Lahiru Udara. At 3 for 0, he produced a well-directed delivery around shoulder height, forcing Udara into a pull which went to Saransh Jain at fine leg. Sri Lankas opening troubles against India continued, with their first-wicket stands in the last 14 Tests against India now averaging only 10.32. The hosts have also lost their opening wicket in single figures in three of the four innings in this series. Kamil Mishara and Pasindu Sooriyabandara initially steadied the innings before adopting a more aggressive approach against Indias spinners. Mishara used the sweep and reverse-sweep effectively, while Sooriyabandara attacked Manav Suthar and later Saransh Jain with drives and sweeps. There was concern for India when Siraj hurt his rib cage attempting a difficult catch at deep mid-wicket after Sooriyabandara top-edged a slog-sweep off Suthar. He left the field briefly but later returned, easing concerns over his fitness. The partnership eventually produced 57 runs before Jadeja broke through. Mishara, who had struck three fours and a six in his 39-ball 32, attempted a sweep against a sharply turning delivery and was struck in front. The on-field lbw decision survived review on the umpire's call, leaving Sri Lanka 63 for two. From there, Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis negotiated Indias spinners with increasing caution. Sooriyabandara reached 35 off 52 balls by the interval, while Mendis was unbeaten on 10 from 26. Indias spinners maintained a tight grip after the initial burst of aggression. Jadeja finished the session with one wicket from five overs, while Saransh, who had taken the final wicket of the first innings, bowled six overs for 24 without adding to his tally. Suthar was used for seven overs, conceding 36, while Prasidh and Siraj shared the new-ball workload. At 83 for two, however, Sri Lanka had at least prevented India from running away with the advantage immediately. The hosts remain 130 runs from wiping out the deficit and forcing India to bat again, but Indias two early wickets have ensured that the follow-on is already exerting considerable pressure. Indias spinners maintained a tight grip after the initial burst of aggression. Jadeja finished the session with one wicket from five overs, while Saransh, who had taken the final wicket of the first innings, bowled six overs for 24 without adding to his tally. Suthar was used for seven overs, conceding 36, while Prasidh and Siraj shared the new-ball workload. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Brief Scores: India 503/9 in 138 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 117, Dhruv Jurel 115 not out; Asitha Fernando 4-106, Prabath Jayasuriya 2-132) lead Sri Lanka 290 and 83/2 f/o in 22 overs (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 35 not out, Kamil Mishara 32; Mohammed Siraj 1-7, Ravindra Jadeja 1-13) by 130 runs. Article Source: IANS

India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test: India imposes follow-on after bowling out host for 290

Sonal Dinusha scores a century again; Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar pick up three wickets each

J-K all-rounder plays pivotal role as North Zone beats West Zone to book place in Duleep Trophy semis

Jammu and Kashmir all-rounder Abid Mushtaq produced a stunning performance, finishing with nine wickets as North Zone beat West Zone by 52 runs in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in...

Players May Repeat Such Behaviour: Manjrekar On ICCs Jaiswal-Fernando Action

International Cricket Council: Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has criticised the International Cricket Councils handling of the altercation between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando during the second Test in Colombo, saying leniency over such incidents could encourage players to repeat similar behaviour. Manjrekar, who has previously spoken out against on-field misconduct, took to social media to express his concern while referring to Jaiswals incident as well as a recent controversy involving Indias young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Dear @icc & @bcci, Vaibhav for Ind A recently & now Jaiswal if you keep letting them get away with such behaviour, you train them to repeat such behaviour. Its not good for the sport & crucially their own future too, Manjrekar posted on X. Jaiswal and Fernando were involved in a heated exchange after the Indian opener was dismissed during the second Test against Sri Lanka. The confrontation escalated when Jaiswals helmet struck Fernandos forehead. The ICC subsequently imposed a fine of 25 per cent of the match fee and one demerit point on both players for their involvement. Jaiswal later clarified his actions following criticism of the confrontation. Manjrekars comments also brought attention to the recent controversy involving 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during Indias A teams engagements against Sri Lanka A. Sooryavanshi was involved in a physical altercation with Sri Lanka A player Vishen Halambage after a match. Manjrekar had strongly criticised the incident and said at the time that, had he been part of the India A management, he would have dropped Sooryavanshi for the following game to send a clear message that physical confrontations cannot be accepted. Manjrekars comments also brought attention to the recent controversy involving 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during Indias A teams engagements against Sri Lanka A. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories If you dont know what he said, then please dont make your judgement. If anyone crosses the line, we need to let them know this India will fight and reply, Jaiswal wrote in the comments section. Article Source: IANS

ETPL 2026: Schedule, Teams, Squads, Captains, Venues & Live Streaming

The European T20 Premier League (ETPL) 2026 is all set to usher in a new era for cricket in Europe, with its inaugural season beginning on August 26, 2026. The ICC-sanctioned franchise-based T20 tournament will bring together six city-based teams from the Netherlands, Ireland and Scotland, combining international stars with promising local talent. ETPL 2026 will open with a high-profile Netherlands derby as Rotterdam Dockers face Amsterdam Flames at Sportpark Duivesteijn in Voorburg. The tournament features several prominent names, including Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen, Steve Smith, Ajinkya Rahane, Glenn Maxwell, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult and Liam Livingstone. With 30 league matches followed by the knockout stages, the competition aims to provide greater opportunities for European and associate-nation players while expanding crickets reach across the continent. Indian fans can watch ETPL 2026 live on JioHotstar and the Star Sports network. Total Matches -32 total matches (30 league matches + 2 knockout games) Knocout Structure :The top team qualifies directly for the final; the 2nd and 3rd placed teams meet in the Qualifier ETPL 2026 Schedule (Netherlands Leg) Match Teams Date 1st Rotterdam Dockers vs Amsterdam Flames August 26 2026 2nd Belfast Wolves vs Dublin Guardians August 27 2026 3rd Edinburgh Castle Rockers vs Glasgow Cosmic August 27 2026 4th Amsterdam Flames vs Edinburgh Castle Rockers August 28 2026 5th Glasgow Cosmic vs Dublin Guardians August 29 2026 6th Rotterdam Dockers vs Belfast Wolves August 29 2026 7th Amsterdam Flames vs Belfast Wolves August 30 2026 8th Edinburgh Castle Rockers vs Dublin Guardians August 30 2026 9th Glasgow Cosmic vs Rotterdam Dockers September 1 2026 10th Dublin Guardians vs Rotterdam Dockers September 2 2026 11th Belfast Wolves vs Edinburgh Castle Rockers September 2 2026 12th Amsterdam Flames vs Glasgow Cosmic September 3 2026 13th Glasgow Cosmic vs Belfast Wolves September 4 2026 14th Rotterdam Dockers vs Edinburgh Castle Rockers September 5 2026 15th Dublin Guardians vs Amsterdam Flames September 5 2026 16th Glasgow Cosmic vs Edinburgh Castle Rockers September 6 2026 17th Amsterdam Flames vs Rotterdam Dockers September 6 2026 ETPL 2026 Schedule (Ireland Leg) Match Teams Date 18th Dublin Guardians vs Belfast Wolves September 9 2026 19th Rotterdam Dockers vs Glasgow Cosmic September 10 2026 20th Belfast Wolves vs Amsterdam Flames September 10 2026 21st Dublin Guardians vs Edinburgh Castle Rockers September 11 2026 22nd Belfast Wolves vs Rotterdam Dockers September 12 2026 23rd Dublin Guardians vs Glasgow Cosmic September 12 2026 24th Edinburgh Castle Rockers vs Amsterdam Flames September 13 2026 25th Belfast Wolves vs Glasgow Cosmic September 13 2026 26th Amsterdam Flames vs Dublin Guardians September 15 2026 27th Edinburgh Castle Rockers vs Rotterdam Dockers September 15 2026 28th Glasgow Cosmic vs Amsterdam Flames September 16 2026 29th Edinburgh Castle Rockers vs Belfast Wolves September 17 2026 30th Rotterdam Dockers vs Dublin Guardians September 17 2026 Qualifier TBC vs TBC September 19 2026 Final TBC vs TBC September 20 2026 ETPL 2026 Teams, Captains and Complete Squads: The six franchises have assembled squads that blend global superstars with local talent. Team Captain Full Squad Amsterdam Flames Scott Edwards Ajinkya Rahane, Steve Smith, Tim David, David Payne, Michael Bracewell, Richard Gleeson, Scott Edwards (c), Bas de Leede, Curtis Campher, Kyle Klein, Tim Pringle, Aryan Dutt, Jordan Neill, Max O'Dowd, David Rushmere, Ali Hasan, Yuvraaj Samra Rotterdam Dockers Faf du Plessis Faf du Plessis (c), Heinrich Klaasen, Ben McDermott, Anrich Nortj, Aneurin Donald, Roelof Van Dee Meree, Logan Van Beek, Jai Moondra, Michael Levitt, Ryan Klein, Jasper Davidson, Vikramjit Singh, Saqib Zulfiqar, Ben Manenti, David Wiese, Sandeep Lammichane, Shubam Ranjane Dublin Guardians Ravichandran Ashwin Chris Wood, Ravichandran Ashwin (c), James Vince, Darryl Mitchell, Vijay Shankar, Josh Little, Harry Tector, Benjamin Calitz, George Dockrell, Mathew Hollard, Craig Young, Noah Croes, Chris Greaves, Peter Hatzoglou, Mohd Waseem, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh Belfast Wolves Glenn Maxwell Glenn Maxwell (c), Chris Jordan, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, David Miller, Lorcan Tucker, Mark Adair, Mathew Humpreys, Fred Klaassen, Tim Tector, Paul Stirling, Zainullah Ihsan, Alexander Roy, Gavin Hoey, Crishan Kalugamage, Harry Manenti, Saurabh Netravalkar Edinburgh Castle Rockers Mitch Santner Mitch Santner (c), Trent Boult, Tom Curran, Anrew Tye, Laurie Evans, Sean Solia, Mark Watt, Brandon McMullen, Gareth Delany, Ross Adair, Jack Jarvis, Oliver Jones, Safyaan Sharif, Finlay McCreath, JJ Smuts, Andries Gous, Rushil Ugarker Glasgow Cosmic George Munsey Finn Allen, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Liam Livingstone, Jason Roy, James Neesham, Reuben Wilson, Richie Berrington, George Munsey (c), Brad Currie, Matthew Cross, Paul van Meekeren, Michael Leask, Oliver Davidson, Liam Naylor, Moises Henriques, Ali Khan ETPL 2026 Venues: The tournament is designed as a two-country affair to underline its cross-border appeal. Venue Location Leg Sportpark Duivesteijn Voorburg, Netherlands First Leg (Matches 1-17) The Village Malahide, Dublin, Ireland Second Leg (Matches 18-30 + Knockouts) Where to Watch ETPL 2026: Cricket Fans can tune into JioHotstar and the Star Sports network to watch the matches of the ETPL in India Who are the captains in ETPL 2026? The six captains are Scott Edwards of Amsterdam Flames, Faf du Plessis of Rotterdam Dockers, Ravichandran Ashwin of Dublin Guardians, Glenn Maxwell of Belfast Wolves, Mitch Santner of Edinburgh Castle Rockers and George Munsey of Glasgow Cosmic. Which major international players are participating in ETPL 2026? The tournament features several well-known international players, including Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen, Steve Smith, Ajinkya Rahane, Glenn Maxwell, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Liam Livingstone, Finn Allen and Jason Roy. Where will ETPL 2026 matches be played? The tournament will be played across two venues. The Netherlands leg will take place at Sportpark Duivesteijn in Voorburg, while the Ireland leg and knockout matches will be held at The Village in Malahide, Dublin. How many matches will be played in the Netherlands leg? The Netherlands leg consists of 17 matches, running from August 26 to September 6, 2026. When does the Ireland leg of ETPL 2026 begin? The Ireland leg begins on September 9, 2026, with Dublin Guardians taking on Belfast Wolves. Where can Indian fans watch ETPL 2026? Indian viewers can watch ETPL 2026 matches on JioHotstar and the Star Sports network. Which teams are from the Netherlands? Amsterdam Flames and Rotterdam Dockers represent the Netherlands. Which teams are from Ireland? Dublin Guardians and Belfast Wolves represent Ireland. Which teams are from Scotland? Edinburgh Castle Rockers and Glasgow Cosmic represent Scotland. What is the purpose of ETPL 2026? Also Read: Special Cricket Stories The tournament aims to expand cricket in Europe by providing players from associate cricket nations and emerging European talent with opportunities to compete alongside established international players.

Duleep Trophy: North Zone beat West by 52 runs, make semis

North Zone secured their spot in the Duleep Trophy semi-finals by defeating West Zone by 52 runs in a thrilling quarter-final match in Bengaluru. Left-arm spinners Abid Mushtaq and Nishant Sindhu were instrumental in polishing off the West Zone tail on the final day.

Is Babar Azam completely fit to play second Test vs England at Lord's?

Pakistan captain Babar Azam is set to return to the Test side for the second match against England at Lords. The 31-year-old completed a full batting session in training and showed no obvious signs of...

2nd Test: Dinusha Ton Not Enough, India Enforce Follow-On

Rising Sri Lankan all-rounder Sonal Dinusha scored a century, but it wasn't enough to prevent India from enforcing the follow-on in the second Test. India secured a 213-run first-innings lead after bowling out Sri Lanka for 290.

Imran Khan In Jail For Over 3 Years, Ex-PCB Chief Gives Crucial Health Update

Imran Khan has been in jail for well over three years on corruption charges, and his health has deteriorated over time.

PM Modis Khelo India Dialogue To Link Indias Olympic Ambitions With Youth Leadership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address young people across the country on Thursday as the government seeks to use sport as a platform not only for nurturing athletic talent but also for youth leadership, civic engagement and nation-building. Modi will address the Khelo India Dialogue at 11 a.m. via video conferencing as part of the National Sports Day 2026 celebrations. Organised by Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), the nationwide programme will bring together youth at two colleges in every district across States and Union Territories. The initiative comes with Indias sporting ambitions extending beyond participation and medals, with the country also preparing for its bid to host the 2036 Olympics. The dialogue will seek to place young people at the centre of that longer-term sporting journey while encouraging them to contribute to the wider Viksit Bharat agenda. Rather than being confined to discussions on sport, the Khelo India Dialogue will bring together sports, fitness, youth leadership, volunteering, civic responsibility and nation-building. It is intended to provide a direct channel for young people to share their aspirations and ideas on how Indias sporting ecosystem and youth programmes can evolve. A central component of the programme will be Yuva Samvaad, where participants will discuss five broad themes. The first will focus on strengthening Indias sports ecosystem through better facilities, coaching, sports science and inclusive participation. The second will examine ways to nurture talent for the 2036 Olympics through scientific talent identification, transparent selection and long-term athlete development. The dialogue will also focus on creating a new generation of youth leaders through governance platforms and MY Bharat-led volunteering. Another theme will explore how young people can contribute to Viksit Bharat by developing civic-mindedness, future-ready skills and a culture of structured volunteering. The fifth theme will focus on the Nasha Mukt Yuva movement, with sport and peer networks being positioned as tools to combat substance abuse. The initiative will be reinforced through weekly Jan Bhagidari activities under the Prime Ministers 100-week nationwide campaign launched on August 2. The national programme will be followed by local interactions involving young participants, MY Bharat volunteers, local sportspersons and public representatives. Youth with an interest in sport will also have the opportunity to interact directly with leading Indian athletes and medal winners. The fifth theme will focus on the Nasha Mukt Yuva movement, with sport and peer networks being positioned as tools to combat substance abuse. The initiative will be reinforced through weekly Jan Bhagidari activities under the Prime Ministers 100-week nationwide campaign launched on August 2. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories With the Khelo India Dialogue being held ahead of National Sports Day, the government is seeking to turn the occasion into a wider conversation on how sport can help shape a fitter, more disciplined and socially engaged generation while building the human base for Indias longer-term sporting ambitions. Article Source: IANS

Face The Ball Without Facing The Bowler: Sooriyabandara Unfazed By Indias Attack After Comeback Knock

With Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka batter Pasindu Sooriyabandara said hard work in the nets helped him recover from the disappointment of a golden duck in the series opener as he produced a fighting innings of 80 against India, while also stressing the importance of batting long if Sri Lanka are to save the Test over the final two days. The 26-year-old, who is playing only his second Test after earning a long-awaited national call-up following years in domestic cricket, emerged as one of Sri Lankas standout performers in Colombo after enduring a difficult start to the series in Galle. Reflecting on the contrast between the two outings, Sooriyabandara credited extra behind-the-scenes work for helping him turn things around. I think it's a hard thing for me, getting out for a golden duck in the first match. And for me, I think what worked well is I have been batting so much in the practice in the past couple of days and working really hard for it. So yeah, that's it, Sooriyabandara told the broadcasters ahead of Day 4s play. The innings also carried added significance given the journey he took to reach the international stage. After spending several seasons in Sri Lankas domestic circuit, Sooriyabandara finally made his Test debut at the age of 26, a milestone he described as both an honour and a reward for years of perseverance. Yeah, absolutely. It's an honour and a privilege to play for the national team and representing the country is everyone's dream as a cricketer. So I think for me, playing many first-class games and so many domestic matches, it's a good thing coming into this stage, he stated. Facing an Indian attack featuring experienced international bowlers did not alter his approach. Instead, Sooriyabandara said he focused on reacting to the ball rather than the reputation of the bowler delivering it. I mean, when it comes to playing against the bowling attack, I think we have to face the ball without facing the bowler. I mean, you can't always keep the names in your mind and play. I mean, you have to anyways play the ball, right? So I think that's what I was trying to do, and the wicket was a bit turning from the start as well. So I think it was a bit favorable for the spinners, Sooriyabandara added. His innings came on a surface that increasingly assisted spin, forcing Sri Lankas batters to rely on patience and application against Indias slow bowlers. I mean, when it comes to playing against the bowling attack, I think we have to face the ball without facing the bowler. I mean, you can't always keep the names in your mind and play. I mean, you have to anyways play the ball, right? So I think that's what I was trying to do, and the wicket was a bit turning from the start as well. So I think it was a bit favorable for the spinners, Sooriyabandara added. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories As Sri Lanka continue their fight in Colombo, Sooriyabandaras response to early disappointment has provided one of the brighter stories of the match, underlining both his resilience and the value of a long apprenticeship in domestic cricket before reaching the highest level. Article Source: IANS

After 2 DRS Heartbreaks, India Debutant Helps Enforce Follow-On In 2nd Test vs Sri Lanka

Debutant all-rounder Saransh Jain overcame DRS agony in Colombo before striking twice on Day 4 of the second Test against Sri Lanka, helping India enforce the follow-on on the hosts on Wednesday.

2nd Test: Dinushas Century In Vain As India Bowl Out SL For 290, Enforce Follow-on

Sinhalese Sports Club: Sri Lankas determined resistance finally ended just five overs into the first session of Day 4 as India claimed the last two wickets to dismiss the hosts for 290 at the Sinhalese Sports Club, with Sonal Dinushas composed 103 the standout effort in an innings that otherwise struggled to keep pace with Indias imposing first-innings total. The result left Sri Lanka 213 runs behind, prompting India to enforce the follow-on and send the hosts back in to bat immediately. Sri Lanka had resumed the innings with eight wickets down after surviving a testing final session on Day 3. Dinusha, who had already played the defining innings of the resistance, remained unbeaten alongside Lahiru Kumara as the pair continued to frustrate India. The left-handers vigil eventually produced a deserved hundred. Dinusha reached the landmark in emphatic fashion in the 85th over, taking on Prasidh Krishnas short delivery and pulling it powerfully in front of square for four. He removed his helmet, kissed his bat and acknowledged the applause after completing his century. It was another substantial contribution from a batter who has emerged as Sri Lankas most dependable performer in the series. Dinusha had made 100 in the first Test and 84 in the next innings, and his latest century made him only the second Sri Lankan batter to score hundreds in his first two Tests against India, according to the statistics in the match commentary. His 103 came from 162 balls, with eight fours and three sixes. More significantly, Dinusha became the centrepiece of Sri Lankas lower-order resistance after the hosts had slipped deep into trouble. His partnership with Keshara Nuwantha had helped Sri Lanka survive through the second half of Day 3, before Nuwantha was eventually removed by Manav Suthar for 18. Suthar was again among Indias most effective bowlers, finishing with 3/85, while Prasidh Krishna claimed 3/52. Ravindra Jadeja took one wicket, and Saransh Jain, after being denied his maiden Test wicket twice by reviews, finally got his breakthrough on Day 4. Jains first wicket came in the 86th over when Kumara, having remained stubbornly defensive for much of his innings, attempted to attack the spinner. He lifted a flighted delivery towards the off side, but the ball ballooned off the outer half of the bat and Dhruv Jurel completed an excellent diving catch. Kumara departed for 12 off 58 balls, having played an important supporting role alongside Dinusha. With only Asitha Fernando left, Dinusha continued to shield his final partner and push Sri Lanka towards the follow-on target. The equation, however, remained heavily in Indias favour. Dinusha finally fell in the 90th over, with Jain producing the classical off-spinners dismissal. He tossed the ball up, drew Dinusha forward and induced the outside edge, which Rahul held safely at slip. It gave Jain his second wicket of the innings and completed Sri Lankas resistance. The innings had lasted 89.4 overs, with Sri Lanka bowled out for 290. The innings was notable less for the overall total than for the manner in which Sri Lankas lower order refused to surrender. Dinushas marathon effort, supported by Nuwantha and Kumara, ensured India had to work considerably harder than the position of the match might have suggested. Yet the damage inflicted earlier in the innings ultimately proved decisive. Sri Lanka could not close the substantial gap to Indias first-innings score, and their total left them 213 runs short. India therefore exercised their right to enforce the follow-on, meaning Sri Lanka were immediately required to begin their second innings rather than having India bat again. For India, the morning completed a job that had remained unfinished overnight. For Sri Lanka, the immediate challenge is considerably greater: after fighting for almost 90 overs to reach 290, they must now bat again and survive another innings with the match firmly tilted towards the visitors. At the heart of Sri Lankas resistance, however, was Dinusha. His 103, his second hundred of the series, gave the hosts something to take from an innings otherwise dominated by the prospect of the follow-on. India, meanwhile, will view the dismissal of the last two wickets as the completion of an important first step. For India, the morning completed a job that had remained unfinished overnight. For Sri Lanka, the immediate challenge is considerably greater: after fighting for almost 90 overs to reach 290, they must now bat again and survive another innings with the match firmly tilted towards the visitors. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Brief Scores: India 503/9 in 138 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 117, Dhruv Jurel 115 not out; Asitha Fernando 4-106, Prabath Jayasuriya 2-132) lead Sri Lanka 290/10 in 89.4 overs (Sonal Dinusha 103, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 80; Prasidh Krishna 3-52, Manav Suthar 3-85) by 213 runs and have enforced a follow-on. Article Source: IANS

Australia and overseas stars set for BBL payday under new contracting rules

After months of talks, the Big Bash contract embargo will lift of Thursday and herald a rush of signings

2nd Test: When A Challenge Or Responsibility Comes My Way, I Really Enjoy It, Says Siraj

With Sri Lanka: India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj said he relishes the responsibility of leading the attack and is focused on building pressure on Sri Lanka despite not yet feeling at his best following a two-month break, as India pushed for the remaining two wickets ahead of Day 4 of the Test on Tuesday. Siraj, who has been an important component of India's pace attack, acknowledged the demands of bowling in the hot and humid conditions but said representing the country makes the physical challenge worthwhile. Ive gotten used to playing in Indian conditions because you play a lot in the sun. But here, being closer to the sea and with the humidity, its a bit of a struggle. But for the country, doing all of this is very important, Siraj told the broadcasters ahead of Day 4s play. The fast bowler also spoke about his approach to the responsibility that comes with being one of India's leading pacers. Rather than viewing the role as an additional burden, Siraj said he enjoys the challenge and believes responsibility brings out another dimension in his game. Obviously, sir, because I really like responsibility. Whenever a challenge or responsibility comes my way, I really enjoy it, and it brings out a different side of me. So I enjoy that. I dont put too much burden on my body; I just enjoy it, he added. Siraj also shed light on the psychological aspect of fast bowling, particularly when conditions do not offer much assistance. He explained how engaging batters in conversation can be part of his attempt to disturb their concentration and force them out of their comfort zone. When a batsman is playing in his comfort zone, it becomes easy for him. When you engage in a bit of conversation, he becomes uncomfortable. When nothing is happening on this wicket, perhaps using this tactic puts something into the batsmans mind, and then he might play a wrong shot, and youll see what happens. I think thats one of the qualities of a fast bowler that comes from within, Siraj stated. Despite his experience, Siraj admitted that he is still searching for his best rhythm after returning from a two-month layoff. Instead of allowing that lack of rhythm to affect his bowling, he has concentrated on keeping things uncomplicated and creating pressure through sustained spells. To be honest, I wouldnt say Im at a hundred percent from my side because Ive come back after a two-month break. Ive been struggling quite a lot with my rhythm in this situation because I havent been able to find that rhythm. So Im just trying to get my rhythm back, the pacer said. The pacer said his experience has helped him manage the situation and avoid allowing frustration to translate into loose bowling. But whatever Ive been able to do, Im using my experience and trying to control myself as much as possible while bowling. Because if I think too much, Ill leak runs, Ill come under pressure, and the team will also come under pressure. So my attempt is to keep it simple. If Im not finding my rhythm, what can I do? Im just trying to build pressure, build pressure, thats what Im trying to do, Siraj noted. The pacer said his experience has helped him manage the situation and avoid allowing frustration to translate into loose bowling. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Asked whether India would enforce the follow-on, Siraj kept the focus firmly on the task at hand rather than looking too far ahead. Lets get them all out as quickly as possible, and then well see what the captain decides. Article Source: IANS

Ex-India Star Reveals One Superstitious Habit Of Ravichandran Ashwin, All-Rounder Reacts

Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara recently revealed an unheard story about legendary all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin.

Bombay High Court's Non-Vegetarian Tea Jibe At Mumbai Cricket Association Over Cockroach-Infested Kitchens

In a lighter vein, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday asked if cricketers knew they were consuming on-vegetarian tea while ordering the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to clean its eateries prior to a fresh inspection by the FDA.

BCCI To Hold AGM On September 18, IPL Governing Council Elections In Focus

During the AGM, the election for two posts on the IPL Governing Council including the chairman will also be held.

Moeen and James lead rout of Tridents to take Falcons back to the top

Moeen Ali's unbeaten half-century proved to be the difference as both sets of batters struggled to set the pace in North Sound

England Great Delivers Brutal Verdict On Nightclub Handcuff Row: 'Have Some Brain Cells'

The England cricket culture faced fresh criticism after fast bowler Brydon Carse was pictured in handcuffs outside a nightclub in Derby and surrounded by police officers.

India vs Sri Lanka LIVE Score, 2nd Test Day 4, IND vs SL Updates: Weather In Focus As India Look To Bundle Out Sri Lanka

India vs Sri Lanka LIVE Score Updates, 2nd Test Day 4: India look to take control of the game with Sri Lanka in risk of facing follow-on during Day 4 of the second Test match in Colombo.

2nd Test: England Aim To Sideline 'Nightclub Row' As They Face Pakistan At Lord's

England will aim to put their latest drinking drama behind them when they face Pakistan in the second Test at Lord's starting on Thursday.

Sunil Gavaskar Blasts Australia vs Bangladesh 2nd Test Pitch, Drops 'Hypocrisy' Bombshell

Sunil Gavaskar slammed the Mackay pitch used the second Test between Australia and Bangladesh before stating that if a match in India had ended in just two days, it would have led to a lot of criticism.

Suryakumar Yadav Making A Comeback? His Meeting With Sri Lanka Great Gives Big Hint

Former Indian cricket team T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav had a hilarious conversation with Sri Lanka legend Sanath Jayasuriya during an event in Colombo.

Unacceptable, Unnecessary: India Legend Brutally Slams Yashasvi Jaiswal For 'Headbutt' Incident

India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando came under severe criticism after the two were involved in an ugly on-field brawl on Day 1 of the second Test in Colombo.

India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Day 4 Weather Update: Rain Threat For Shubman Gill And Co?

India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Day 4 Weather Update: Rain poses a significant threat to the fourth day of the Sri Lanka vs India 2nd Test as Colombo is expected to witness periods of rain on Wednesday.

UPT20 League: Bhuvneshwar Kumar Stars As Lucknow Falcons Make It 3 Wins In A Row

Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari: Lucknow Falcons skipper and renowned India international Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivered a vintage new-ball masterclass to lead his team to a comprehensive six-wicket victory over the defending champions, Kashi Rudras, in match 20 of the UP T20 League 2026, which saw a full 20-over contest at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. The victory in the match that got off to a delayed start marks the Lucknow Falcons' third consecutive win of the season and completes back-to-back victories over the Kashi Rudras in consecutive days. Opting to bowl first, the Lucknow Falcons applied immense pressure right from the start. Bhuvneshwar Kumar completely dismantled the Kashi Rudras' top order during the powerplay, striking three times in quick succession to reduce the defending champions to a precarious 28/3. The Kashi innings struggled to find any momentum following the early collapse. Shubham Chaubey offered the only significant resistance, playing a resilient knock of 46 from 32 deliveries to give his team a fighting chance. However, pacer Abhinandan Singh returned to rattle the middle and lower order, complementing his captain perfectly. Abhinandan finished with brilliant figures of 3/16, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar set the tone with an exceptional 3/20. The combined bowling effort successfully bundled out the Kashi Rudras for 126 in 19.1 overs. Chasing 127 for victory, Lucknow Falcons opener Mohammad Saif provided a quick start, scoring a brisk 17 off 8 balls. The momentum momentarily shifted when Kashi bowler Sangam Singh struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Saif and removing Ajeet Verma for a duck. Unfazed by the early wickets, Himanshu Singh took complete control of the chase. He anchored the innings with a fluent and aggressive 64 off 41 balls, finding the boundary rope nine times and clearing it twice. By the time he departed in the 14th over with the score at 109/3, he had already put the Falcons firmly in the driver's seat. A brief rain delay halted play at the end of the 14th over with the Falcons needing just 16 runs from 36 balls. Following the short break, Kritagya Singh contributed a handy 29 before being dismissed. Priyam Garg and wicketkeeper Kaartikaya Singh then comfortably knocked off the remaining runs, completing the chase with 24 balls to spare. For his spectacular opening spell that broke the back of the Kashi Rudras' batting lineup, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was adjudged the Player of the Match. We were down on the points table when we started, but we have played really well in the last three matches, Bhuvneshwar noted. It has been very good for us and has helped us move up the table. Discussing his tactical approach with the new ball, Bhuvneshwar emphasised keeping things simple. Overall, it was a good wicket, but there was a little bit of swing. The basic plan was to keep the ball in the right areas and try to challenge the batters with that swing, he explained. Luckily, it worked. Generally, you don't get too much movement, maybe for two or three balls, and I got a wicket off a flick as well. It was a good day for me, but overall, it was a great bowling performance from the entire team. To bowl an opposition out for around 125 runs is a fantastic effort. When asked about his pinpoint use of variations, the seasoned international credited his ability to read the game in real-time. I don't think you can know your variations beforehand. It depends on how the wicket is playing, the conditions, the ground dimensions; everything matters. Generally, the ball can skid a little better under lights. You have to make those decisions in the moment, and experience helps a lot with that. When asked about his pinpoint use of variations, the seasoned international credited his ability to read the game in real-time. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories After bowling them out, you naturally want to chase the target quickly, he said. The opening partnership, especially Himanshu's contribution, provided exactly what you need while chasing a low total. Sometimes you think about playing safely for the first six overs and attacking later, but that can create problems. We got the perfect start today, and I cannot complain. Article Source: IANS

Dravid Confident, Recovering India Can Qualify For The WTC Final

World Test Championships: With India taking a strong position in the second Test against Sri Lanka and set to play seven more games in the next few months, former India captain Rahul Dravid believes the team can qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final from this stage. India had registered a 165-run win over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Galle; the Shubman Gill-led Indian team has improved their points percentage to 53.33 percent from 48.14 percent to maintain their fifth spot in the WTC standings. With India set to play seven more Tests, including five Test matches at home against Australia in this WTC cycle, Dravid believes that India are in a strong position in the WTC. Im hoping they do. Itll be a great run if India can qualify for the WTC final from here. Theyve fallen behind a little bit, but the kind of quality that the Indian team has, youre not going to write them off at any stage. They started well against Sri Lanka, so thats a good first step, Dravid told JioHotstar. India will tour New Zealand in November to play two Test matches later this year in November under this WTC cycle. India have lost the Test series the last time they played in New Zealand, 2-0. Because of that result, Dravid believes facing New Zealand is always a challenge and that it will be a big challenge for the current Indian Test team. (Playing against) New Zealand away is always a challenge. (They are a) tough team to play away from home. A lot of the young Indian boys have not played in those conditions, so thats going to be a big challenge. Hopefully, they can keep the guys fit and not have a lot of injuries over the next few months. Were missing the experience of Virat (Kohli) and Rohit (Sharma), Ajinkya Rahane and (Cheteshwar) Pujara, these kinds of guys whove probably been there the last time India went. So that will be an interesting series as well, Dravid added. India will tour New Zealand in November to play two Test matches later this year in November under this WTC cycle. India have lost the Test series the last time they played in New Zealand, 2-0. Because of that result, Dravid believes facing New Zealand is always a challenge and that it will be a big challenge for the current Indian Test team. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Australia will be really exciting. A lot of their players will be very keen to do well in India. Thats a generation of truly great Australian players, a great Australian team that has not won in India. So theyll be keen to do that, said Dravid. Article Source: IANS

Gul blames Yorkshire weather for Headingley shortcomings

Tourists caught on the hop by cold snap after heatwave, says bowling coach

BCCI AGM On Sept 18: IPL Governing Council posts on agenda

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Mumbai on September 18. Key agenda items include granting associate membership to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands cricket association, electing two posts for the IPL Governing Council, and appointing the BCCI Ombudsman and Ethics Officer.

TNPL: Grand Cholas, Kovai Kings brace for battle of equals

Joe Root 'Hacked Off' By England Nightclub Incidents

England captain Joe Root has expressed his deep disappointment and frustration over recurring nightclub incidents involving national team players, following fast bowler Brydon Carse's recent arrest and subsequent de-arrest. Root emphasised the team's commitment to building a strong culture and addressing off-field behaviour that detracts from their performance.

'Non-veg tea': 'Do cricketers know they are consuming this?'

The Bombay High Court humorously questioned the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) if cricketers were aware they were consuming 'non-vegetarian tea' due to unhygienic conditions, while ordering the MCA to clean its eateries for a fresh FDA inspection.

Babar Azam 'looking good'; eyes Lord's return after injury

Pakistan captain Babar Azam is expected to return for the second Test against England at Lord's after recovering from a finger injury. His potential comeback offers a significant boost to the team, which suffered a heavy defeat in the first Test, as England leads the three-match series 1-0.

Womens DPL 2026: North Delhi Strikers Edge Past East Delhi Riders By Three Wickets

North Delhi Strikers Women: North Delhi Strikers Women continued their good run and produced a composed run chase to defeat East Delhi Riders Women by three wickets in the womens leg of the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday. Chasing a competitive total of 141, North Delhi Strikers reached 141/7 in 19.5 overs, securing a thrilling victory with one ball to spare. East Delhi Riders, after being put to bat, posted 140/7 in 20 overs, with Vanshika Lila and Simran Bahadur leading their batting effort. Lila struck a quickfire 39 off 20 balls, including three fours and four sixes, while Bahadur remained unbeaten on 39 off 37 balls, hitting three fours and a six. Pragya Rawat contributed 23 off 20 balls, while Purva Siwach added a valuable 21. For North Delhi Strikers, Nazma was the standout bowler, claiming 3/13 in four overs, while Shivani Jangid picked up two wickets. North Delhi Strikers' chase got off to a shaky start as they slipped to 25/3, but Shivi Sharma steadied the innings with a patient 34 off 37 balls. For North Delhi Strikers, Nazma was the standout bowler, claiming 3/13 in four overs, while Shivani Jangid picked up two wickets. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Shokeen's dismissal in the final over left North Delhi needing six runs, but Samaira and Priya Mishra completed the chase with one ball remaining. For East Delhi Riders, Simran Bahadur and Tamanna Singh claimed two wickets each, while Bharti Rawal and Purva Siwach took one apiece. Article Source: IANS

Womens APL | Golden Eagles snap up Henrietta for 4.3lakh

VIDEO: Ruturaj Gaikwad 10 ,

(Duleep Trophy 2026-27) (Ruturaj Gaikwad) , 1 (25 ) 29 10 78 , 70 66 - , -- 10 VIDEO: FIRST TIME IN HIS CAREER - Ruturaj Gaikwad has been run-out for the first time in his FC cricket. pic.twitter.com/cVYjjwaIbH Johns. (CricCrazyJohns) August 25, 2026 251 , 187 222 287 220 - 7 Also Read: Special Cricket Stories 89

No major surprises in TN Ranji Trophy probables list

Not Ideal: Joe Root Reacts To Nightclub Handcuff Row Ahead Of Pakistan Test

Joe Root expressed his frustration that a winning return as England Test captain has been overshadowed by another off-field incident that saw Brydon Carse dropped for the second Test against Pakistan.

Duleep Trophy: Late wickets peg West back, leave contest wide open; East crushes North East

Duleep Trophy: North Strike Late To Leave West Needing 67 Runs With Three Wickets In Hand; Roy, Shahbaz Lead East Zone To Semis (Ld)

The West Zone: North Zone produced a dramatic late fightback on Day 3 of their Duleep Trophy quarterfinal against West Zone, picking up four wickets in the final 33 minutes of play to turn the contest on its head and leave their opponents needing 67 runs with only three wickets in hand, at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on Tuesday. West Zone were firmly in control about halfway through the third session, due to a 111-run stand between Musheer Khan and Ruturaj Gaikwad, which put their team on the path to victory. However, when Gaikwad was dismissed, it led to a collapse and gave North Zone fresh hope as they entered the final morning. Although Gaikwad had appeared at ease even in the face of the kind of delivery the surface had to offer, he reached his fifty in less than a run-a-ball and was apparently going to lead West Zone home with Musheer. Yet his innings was ended by a run-out when he tried to steal a quick single - this being the first run-out of his first-class career. The dismissal had an immediate effect on the momentum. Less than three overs afterwards, Musheer fell just short of his century in an attempt to play a one-handed sweep; he was nicked off the toe-end as the ball kicked and turned sharply, thus ending his counter-attacking innings. Musheer played well in relation to the conditions, choosing his shots against the quick bowlers and attacking on the leg side. He made use of his feet when facing the spinners and depended on his usual sweep shot, but it was that same shot which eventually cost him. After that, West Zone lost two quick wickets as the North Zone took advantage of the sudden change in momentum. Urvil Patel finished his innings without being dismissed, with Shardul Thakur and Tanush Kotian coming in next, and Tushar Deshpande also being able to contribute with the bat. Abid Mushtaq, who had not taken a wicket until late in the innings, played a vital part in the change of direction by getting enough turn from the pitch to dismiss Shams Mulani and Mukesh Choudhary. Earlier, in their second innings, North Zone had reached 222 after being at 107/4 at the start of the day, with Ayush Badoni scoring a fifty and Nishant Sindhu adding 44 from seventh position. The team then fell to 158/7 before Anshul Kamboj managed three sixes, which enabled them to pass 200. Mulani and Kotian made the most of the grip and bite that the pitch provided, between them taking eight wickets. The West Zone team will now play on the last morning with 67 runs still needed and three wickets left. Brief scores: North Zone 251 & 222 (Ayush Badoni 50, Nishant Sindhu 44; Tanush Kotian 4-48, Shams Mulani 4-78) lead West Zone 187 & 220/7 (Musheer Khan 96, Ruturaj Gaikwad 66; Abid Mushtaq 2-56, Sunil Kumar 1-23) by 67 runs. East Zone vs North East Zone East Zone completed a comprehensive innings victory over North East Zone with Anukul Roy claiming a five-wicket haul as North East Zone were bowled out for under 150 in their second innings. Resuming on 7/0 and 349 runs behind, North East Zone showed some improvement but were still unable to mount a serious fightback. They were reduced to 90/8 by the 35th over before Pheiroijam Jotin offered late resistance from No.7, top-scoring with 39 off 75. Jotin received support from No.10 Akash Choudhary, who faced 50 balls for his 27, helping North East Zone stretch their innings slightly before East Zone wrapped up the contest. Anukul ended with five wickets, his seventh five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, while the three left-arm spinners of East Zone shared eight wickets among themselves. Shahbaz Ahmed kept up his fine form by dismissing opener Joseph Lalthankhuma while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi removed Kishan Lyngdoh and Imliwati Lemtur in the same over. Captain Ishan Kishan was also busy behind the stumps, taking four catches and completing a stumping. Anukul has seven five-wicket hauls in first-class cricket, but it was Shahbaz who was awarded the Player of the Match for his career-best 167 and four wickets in the match. Captain Ishan Kishan was also busy behind the stumps, taking four catches and completing a stumping. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories East Zone 467 beat North East Zone 111 & 146 (Pheiroijam Jotin 39, Akash Choudhary 27; Anukul Roy 5-37, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 2-11) by an innings and 210 runs. Article Source: IANS

KCL | Vathsalsblistering knock steers Sailors home

What makes Prasidh Krishna a 'world-class' bowler

India bowling coach Morne Morkel has lauded pacer Prasidh Krishna for his resilience in ignoring 'outside voices' and working hard to develop into a 'world-class bowler', highlighting his impressive performance against Sri Lanka.

'When In Doubt, Favour The Batters': Cricket Australia To Pass Suggestion To Pitch Curators

Cricket Australia (CA) will ask pitch curators to lean the balance towards the batters in the upcoming Sheffield Shield amid ongoing debates over pitches in domestic cricket and the ripple effect they have on developing Test cricketers.

Root really Hacked Off As Carse Incident Overshadows Englands Pakistan Victory

Captain Joe Root: Captain Joe Root has admitted he is really hacked off that Englands off-field issues continue to overshadow their performances on the field, after Brydon Carse was briefly arrested following a night out in Derby and subsequently withdrawn from the squad for the second Test against Pakistan. Carse was filmed in handcuffs celebrating Durham's victory over Derbyshire on Saturday night. He was later released after a short spell in the cells after police suspected him of being drunk and disorderly. The incident is being investigated by the Cricket Regulator and Carse has been stood down from Englands squad for the Lords Test. England had only just returned to form, dominating Pakistan in an innings and 103-run victory at Headingley in three days. The win was also a successful comeback for Root in charge of Englands Test side. If I'm being brutally honest, I'm really hacked off, Root told a press conference. I'm really disappointed that after last week's performance we are sat here and we're talking about something not related to it at all. In terms of the incident itself, obviously with the regulator, there's not a lot I can say on it. It's in their hands now. I've spoken to Brydon when I first found out; my first concern was for him as a person. In my time in the dressing room, you obviously develop personal relationships with players. I don't think I'm speaking out of turn when I say he's been very upset and has been very apologetic and understands his actions. I'm sure when he gets his chance, he will say that himself. It's not the isolated incident itself, it's the fact that we continually keep making stupid mistakes away from the game and it's detracting from what we're doing on the field. The Carse episode is the latest in a string of off-field incidents involving England players. Last autumn, white-ball captain Harry Brook was punched by a bouncer while out the evening before an ODI in New Zealand, while an unverified video appeared to show Ben Duckett drunk during Englands Ashes tour. Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson missed the second Test against New Zealand earlier this summer after breaking curfew to attend a Chelsea nightclub following Englands win in the first Test at Lords. Both were given written warnings for breaching contractual obligations and were found not guilty of violent conduct. Root believes England must now rebuild their image and build a stronger culture in the team. We have an opportunity going forward, he said. Clearly we're not portraying ourselves as we want to. We've got an opportunity to build a culture that is very strong, and we can be proud of that; it's player-driven. That's not going to happen overnight. We've had conversations about what is expected from us, what it means and takes to play for England. We want to create something we can be proud of, what people following us can be proud of. We want supporters to look at us and revere us, not just what we do on the field but off it as well. Root also stressed that England must ensure their off-field standards match the quality they showed during their emphatic win at Headingley. Over the next little while, as leader of this team, with Stephen [Fleming], and with the group of players as well, I am creating something that is just that. Root continued: We have a chance to build something that lives alongside what we achieved last week on the field. I thought it was a brilliant performance. The way we played was exceptional. We have to align that with being exceptional off the field as well and understand what that looks like and how we want to represent ourselves and our nation. Root continued: We have a chance to build something that lives alongside what we achieved last week on the field. I thought it was a brilliant performance. The way we played was exceptional. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories And something we're going to have to live and breathe consistently. Article Source: IANS

Final Decision Comes From Player: Pakistan Sweat Over Babar Azam's Injury Ahead Of Lord's Test

Pakistan is sweating over the availability of skipper Babar Azam for the second Test against England at Lord's beginning on Thursday.

Kishan: Switching formats is what is fun about the game

White-ball specialist enjoyed red-ball thrills as he led East Zone to victory over North East Zone in the Duleep Trophy

Rishabh Pant 'badly bruised', India hopeful of Day 4 return

India's bowling coach Morne Morkel provided an update on Rishabh Pant's shoulder injury, stating the wicketkeeper-batter is adly bruised but expressed hope for his return on day four of the second Test against Sri Lanka. Pant did not keep wickets on day three after sustaining a blow while batting. Morkel also commented on Kuldeep Yadav's absence due to viral fever and India's strategy to secure the remaining Sri Lankan wickets.

2nd Test: Rain Threat Looms Large Over Colombo On Day 4 Of SL Vs IND Match

Sri Lanka: Rain poses a significant threat to the fourth day of the Sri Lanka vs India 2nd Test as Colombo is expected to witness periods of rain on Wednesday. The heavens opened up a couple of times on Day 3 as stumps were called early in the final session, with India sitting comfortably to win the match. However, they will have to contend not just with the resistance of the overnight unbeaten pair of Sonal Dinusha (85) and Lahiru Kumara (8), but with rain too, as the threat looms large on Day 4. As per AccuWeather, there is a 97 per cent chance of precipitation on Wednesday, with periods of rain expected to come down. It was 96 per cent on Tuesday, as a little afternoon rain was expected to fall, but it indeed cuts around an hour if extra time is not considered. The hourly rain prediction for Day 4 paints a gloomy picture early in the morning. There is an 85 per cent chance of precipitation at 6 AM, and it stays at 75 per cent at 9 AM, 45 minutes before the rescheduled start of the game. The probability of rainfall fluctuates from 49 per cent at 10 AM to 75 per cent at 11 AM, then 68 per cent at 12 noon and 49 per cent at 1 PM. It points to rainfall making its presence felt, as a 56 per cent chance of rain is predicted for 2 PM, 63 per cent at 3 PM, 45 per cent at 4 PM, 53 per cent at 5 PM and 45 per cent at 6 PM. The hourly rain prediction for Day 4 paints a gloomy picture early in the morning. There is an 85 per cent chance of precipitation at 6 AM, and it stays at 75 per cent at 9 AM, 45 minutes before the rescheduled start of the game. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories In all, 98 overs are expected to be bowled on Day 4; however, it remains to be seen how much of the quota will be sent down with rain around the corner as India push for a result. Article Source: IANS

Badly Bruised: India Coach On Why Rishabh Pant Didn't Field On Day 3 Of 2nd Sri Lanka Test

Indian cricket team bowling coach Morne Morkel provided a worrying update on Rishabh Pant after the wicketkeeper-batter did not take the field on Day 3 of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Morkel doesn't rule out India enforcing follow-on as rain looms in Colombo

India bowling coach also hopes Pant is fit to keep wicket on day four after getting hit on the shoulder while batting

Great to see Prasidh develop into a world-class bowler: Morkel

The Indian bowling coach believes he has the potential to play for India in all three formats for a long time

'When In Doubt, Favour The Batters': CA To Pass Suggestion To Pitch Curators

World Test Championship: Cricket Australia (CA) will ask pitch curators to lean the balance towards the batters in the upcoming Sheffield Shield amid ongoing debates over pitches in domestic cricket and the ripple effect they have on developing Test cricketers. The CA's operations and scheduling boss, Peter Roach, will be urging the curators to change their pitch treatment from preparing pitches favouring the bowlers to giving it a favour for the batters if they are in doubt over the conditions. This comes amid the growing criticism of the Australian surfaces in the recent past, with the latest two-day finish at Mackay being scrutinised. Roach recently held discussions with pitch curators from Australia's red-ball venues. Moreover, state coaches also had a meeting with CA high-performance staff, and the home Test pitches were the major talking point, with Roach confirming the change of approach that they have conveyed to the curators. Our previous language, probably for the best part of a decade, has been that we do want to see a balance between bat and ball, Roach said, as quoted by Cricinfo. Our curators share that view that they want to see the same, and hopefully, I think our teams do as well. But over the last decade, that's probably been a 'when in doubt, lean towards the bowler'. If you think about 10 years ago, when batters were having their way, and things were a bit flat, that made some sense. We still want to see results in our games. We don't want long, laborious draws. That's not good for cricket. We want to see results late in games. That's ideal. But the language that we [now want] to get across to our curators is that 'if in doubt, favour the batter,' he added. He added that it is crucial to edress the balance between the bat and the ball, which now seems to be tilting towards the bowlers in some Tests due to several factors. [Redressing the balance] is actually in all those little decisions, trying to create the perfect balance. And our curators speak openly about this. They have hundreds of decisions to make in their preparation, depending on weather in lead-in, other games and so forth. Our language is we still want the balance, but if in doubt, lean towards the batter. That's in response to the way the game's being played, he added. If you think about 10 years ago, when batters were having their way, and things were a bit flat, that made some sense. We still want to see results in our games. We don't want long, laborious draws. That's not good for cricket. We want to see results late in games. That's ideal. But the language that we [now want] to get across to our curators is that 'if in doubt, favour the batter,' he added. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories If you look back five years ago, you're seeing consistent 400-500s being scored in the first innings. If you put a three in front of [the score] these days, you're usually in a pretty strong position. Article Source: IANS

Babar Azam set to return for Pakistan in second Test

Captain expected to be passed fit for Lord's after finger injury