The ICC has called for a board meeting on November 29, hoping to get a clear answer on where and how the 2025 Champions Trophy will be played. With India not willing to travel to Pakistan and with Pakistan refusing to back down and adopt a hybrid model that allows India to play their games in a second country, it is likely members will be asked to vote on a…
England have called up Seren Smale for their ongoing tour of South Africa, after reserve wicketkeeper Bess Heath was ruled out with a fractured thumb suffered in training. Heath was only part of the T20I squad, but sustained the injury before Sunday’s first match in East London and will return to the UK for her rehabilitation. Smale, 19, made her ODI and T20I debuts in Ireland in September. She joined…
Big picture: Two teams on an upward trajectory Sri Lanka’s men are third on the World Test Championship table, with a win percentage of 55.56, and South Africa are right on their heels, on 54.17. Both are in striking distance of a top-two finish, for which presently, there are five serious contenders – India, Australia, and New Zealand being the other three. Ordinarily, this is enough to make this a…
Surrey will begin their quest to win a fourth consecutive County Championship with a trip to Chelmsford to face Essex in the opening round of the 2025 season, which will begin with all 18 counties in action from April 4-7. As expected, the structure of the summer for men’s county cricket is largely unchanged from 2024. The season opens with eight rounds of the Championship – now sponsored by Rothesay…
Australia 145 (Myers 33, Raza 31, Abrar 4-33, Salman 3-26) vs Pakistan Pakistan’s spinners turned in a dominant performance, skittling Zimbabwe for 145 after the home side had opted to bat in Bulawayo in the second ODI between the two sides. Zimbabwe had made a bright start thanks to Dion Myers‘ entertaining 30-ball 33, with six fours, but lack of meaningful contributions after that, combined with discipline from the spinners,…
Marnus Labuschagne‘s long-time batting mentor has cautioned him against over-training ahead of the second Test in Adelaide and be less rigid in his gameplan as he attempts to emerge from what is the most serious batting slump since he became an international cricketer. While collectively Australia’s top order is underperforming, Labuschagne is the one squarely in the spotlight after two ugly innings at Optus Stadium. On the first day he…
Tasmania 364 and 226 for 4 (Ward 79*) lead New South Wales 338 (Patterson 99, Gilkes 62, Bell 4-52) by 252 runs Tasmania are eyeing their first win of the Sheffield Shield summer after Tim Ward notched a second half-century in the clash with New South Wales at the SCG. Tasmania led by 252 runs at close of play, but will likely need to make a sporting declaration early on…
Just as Gambhir left, India were bolstered by the return of the full-time captain, Rohit Sharma, who had been on paternity leave during the first Test. Rohit’s return into the XI could lead to a tricky question around the combination as in his absence, KL Rahul made a successful return to the top of the order in difficult conditions. Source: ESPN Crickinfo
Coach and selector Andrew McDonald has confirmed Australia’s squad will remain unchanged for the second Test in Adelaide but there are some concerns over Mitchell Marsh‘s fitness following a humbling loss to India in Perth. The same 13-player squad that was selected for the first Test, which included spare batter Josh Inglis and reserve fast bowler Scott Boland, will be the group on duty in Adelaide although McDonald did not…
Sam Bates‘ secret to her best ever WBBL season at the Sydney Thunder was convincing herself her career was almost certainly over. Bates will enter Wednesday night’s knockout final against Hobart Hurricanes at Drummoyne as one of Thunder’s key weapons and leading wicket-taker with her left-arm finger spin. The 32-year-old will also do so with a fresh two-year deal in her pocket, ensuring Thunder’s most-capped player will be around until…