Tom Blundell catches Dan Lawrence off Neil Wagner © Getty Images Graham Thorpe, England’s assistant coach, has called on his team’s young batters to prove their “desperation” to stay in the Test team, after New Zealand’s eight-wicket win at Edgbaston on Sunday completed their first series victory in this country since 1999, and England’s first loss on home soil in seven years. Thorpe, who was a part of the England…
Geoff Allardice: All Test matches to carry same points weightage in 2021-23 WTC
News The ICC’s acting CEO has said teams will continue to be ranked based on percentage of points contested The shift to a ranking based on the percentage of points contested, which came about thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, will extend into the second (2021-23) edition of the World Test Championship, with one caveat. Instead of 120 points being available over each series, independent of the length of the series,…
'We may not have much practice, but mentally we're prepared' – Harmanpreet Kaur
Play 02:43 ‘Because of the struggles of past Indian women’s cricketers, we have this opportunity’ – Harmanpreet Kaur Harmanpreet Kaur believes that a lack of adequate game time in the longest format in the lead-up to India Women’s return to Test cricket after nearly seven years can be offset in some measure by cultivating a positive outlook and heeding advice received from Ajinkya Rahane. “I’ve played only two red-ball matches…
Nat Sciver: England wary of 'fearless' India as they approach Test learning curve
News England vice-captain hopes home conditions will help overcome visitors’ mix of experience and bold youth Nat Sciver, England’s vice-captain, says the team will be wary of “fearless” elements within the India camp when they meet in a Test match for the first time in seven years from Wednesday in Bristol. Sciver is one of six women in the current England squad who played in their last Test encounter with…
WTC winners to take home USD 1.6 million as well as Test Championship mace
News Runners-up to get USD 800,000; the teams will split the prize money in case there isn’t a result Either Virat Kohli or Kane Williamson will get his hands on the Test mace in Southampton The winners of the India vs New Zealand World Test Championship (WTC) final will take home USD 1.6 million, as well as the Test Championship Mace, while the losing team will get USD 800,000,…
Australia players '100% behind' head coach Justin Langer, says Tim Paine
News Langer’s intensity as coach has led to murmurs of discontent in the Australian dressing room “We obviously did not play as well as we (would have) liked against India and we all want to improve” – Paine Tim Paine has insisted that Justin Langer has the full support of the Australian playing group, even as rumblings of dressing-room discontent continued. “We are all 100% behind JL and the…
Hasan Ali's personal matter resolved, available for rest of PSL 2021
News He will not have to quarantine since he didn’t leave the PSL bubble Islamabad United have received a boost in their challenge for the PSL title this season with the news that fast bowler Hasan Ali will, after all, be available for the rest of their campaign. Ali was due to fly back on Sunday evening to attend to a personal family situation in Pakistan but decided against it…
Ongoing Zimbabwe A-South Africa A four-day match suspended as Covid-19 cases rise
File photo: Zimbabwe Cricket will appeal to permit the national men’s team to continue preparations for next month’s Ireland tour © Abu Dhabi Cricket The ongoing unofficial Test match between Zimbabwe A and South Africa A in Harare has been suspended, after a directive from the Zimbabwean government in light of rising Covid-19 cases, but Zimbabwe Cricket is appealing for the fixture to be completed. One day of the four…
Ajaz Patel: Culture and positivity breed our success
News ‘Everyone backs everyone, it doesn’t matter which XI is playing’ On a high after their emphatic series win at Edgbaston on Sunday, New Zealand will now have plenty of selection headaches to deal with for the World Test Championship final against India starting June 18 in Southampton. With a combination of injuries and their decision to rest a few players, New Zealand made six changes to their playing XI…
Dhani, Rizwan help Multan Sultans remain in sight of top-four finish
Report Maqsood too chips in with bruising half-century as Sultans make it two in two in UAE leg Multan Sultans 167 for 1 (Rizwan 82*, Maqsood 61) beat Peshawar Zalmi 166 for 7 (Rutherford 56, Akmal 35, Dahani 4-31) by 9 wickets Mohammad Rizwan‘s adjective-defying T20 run shows no signs of abating. On Sunday night, he produced another masterclass as Multan Sultans coasted to a nine-wicket win over Peshawar Zalmi…