Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is set to miss the first Test against India in Nagpur with a Achilles niggle in his left leg, and is doubtful for the second Test in Delhi as well. In Hazlewood’s absence, Scott Boland is likely to play his first Test overseas, with Australia also missing Mitchell Starc (finger injury) and the bowling services of allrounder Cameron Green, who is recovering well from his…
Having stormed into the final on the back of seven wins from eight games, underdog Heat were given little chance against powerhouses Scorchers at a feverish Optus Stadium packed with 53,886 rowdy locals. But after posting a strong 7 for 175, Heat were in the box seat of a see-saw Scorchers chase when Ashton Turner was run-out in a horrendous mix-up for 53. Related Turner fifty, Connolly cameo help Scorchers…
A final decision on whether Pakistan will host the 2023 Asia Cup is now expected in March, after an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in Bahrain failed to reach a breakthrough. They will meet again in a month’s time, around the next set of ICC meetings. The uncertainty around the 2023 Asia Cup began in October when the ACC president, and BCCI secretary, Jay Shah said it will be held…
By the end of an unforgettable BBL final, inexperienced Cooper Connolly and unheralded Nick Hobson etched their names into Perth Scorchers’ lore to become unexpected heroes at a febrile Perth Stadium. It wasn’t in the script when ice cool skipper Ashton Turner appeared set to once again rescue defending champions Scorchers in a nerve-jangling instant classic against Brisbane Heat. He reached his half-century with a six but at 4 for…
West Indies 112 for 0 (Brathwaite 55*, Chanderpaul 55*) vs Zimbabwe Amid the Bazball era and a trillion T20 leagues, Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul brought out the good old-fashioned Test match cricket grind to gain ascendancy over Zimbabwe on a rain-curtailed opening day of the first Test in Bulawayo. With the weather always expected to be a factor, West Indies opted to bat first. Zimbabwe had to field four…
The world’s elite female cricketers will have to find a way to manage their expectations and emotions when the Women’s T20 World Cup collides with the Women’s Premier League auction on February 13. About 45 players (including the entire Indian squad) competing in the ICC tournament, which starts on Friday, could be picked in the WPL. Up to seven overseas players, of which one must be from an Associate nation,…
Perth Scorchers 178 for 5 (Turner 53, Kuhnemann 1-28) beat Brisbane Heat 175 for 7 (McSweeney 41, Behrendorff 2-26) by five wickets Teenager Cooper Connolly and Nick Hobson kept their cool in a nerve-jangling chase as Perth Scorchers ended Brisbane Heat’s remarkable revival with an epic five-wicket victory to win their fifth BBL title. Chasing 176, in a fitting end to a madcap BBL season, Scorchers endured a see-saw filled…
Australia allrounder Cameron Green has shown encouraging signs in his recovery from a broken finger as he makes a late bid to be fit for the opening Test against India in Nagpur, although it remains highly unlikely that he will be able to bowl. Green got the all-clear to resume training shortly before leaving for the tour and has now begun batting and bowling with a hard ball in the…
Australia are prepared for moments where batting could become chaotic against India, but will also enter the series with an open mind amid all the talk about the role spin could play. The squad are currently in Bengaluru for a four-day training camp before heading to Nagpur where the first Test will take place from February 9. A selection of the 18-player group started their preparations on specially-ordered surfaces in…
Kyle Jamieson has tried to treat his extended spell on the sidelines as “more of a blessing than a hindrance” and hopes to return to New Zealand’s Test side both mentally and physically fresher after missing the last seven months with a back injury. Jamieson hurt his back during the Trent Bridge Test in June, on New Zealand’s tour of England, and has only played a handful of games for…