Month: December 2024

Abandoned South Africa vs Pakistan The third T20I between South Africa and Pakistan in Johannesburg was washed out by persistent rain without a toss. The game was initially delayed by lightning strikes in the area, before a steady drizzle set in. The drainage at the Wanderers is exemplary, and the groundstaff remained poised. When the rain briefly relented, an official inspection was announced and the groundstaff sprung into action. But…

Bella James, the Otago Sparks top-order batter, has earned a maiden call-up to the New Zealand squad for the three-match ODI series against Australia in Wellington next week. Injuries have, however, ruled opener Georgia Plimmer and fast bowler Lea Tahuhu out of the series. James has represented Otago 137 times across formats since her debut in 2014, and has been in excellent form in the ongoing one-day competition (for the…

There will be no DRS for the one-off Test between South Africa and England in Bloemfontein, the first women’s Test in South Africa in 22 years. The match will be the only one out of the 21 internationals played by both men and women in South Africa this home summer without DRS. This was the first season where DRS – a technology that costs millions of dollars – was used…

Harmanpreet Kaur has put India’s failure to win crunch games in big tournaments – specifically at this year’s Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup – down to the “mindset” of individual players. “I think it’s only the mindset because, if you see, our team has very good players,” Harmanpreet said ahead of the T20I series against West Indies, which starts on Sunday. “All of them have done really well…

England will make a late decision on Kate Cross’s fitness for the one-off Test against South Africa in Bloemfontein, but have opted to play an extra seamer either way, as thoughts begin to turn to their upcoming Ashes challenge in January. Cross, England’s senior seamer, bowled just five balls in Wednesday’s third ODI at Potchefstroom before leaving the field with a back spasm. She will attempt to bowl in the…

Toss Afghanistan chose to bowl vs Zimbabwe Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan won his third toss in a row, and opted to bowl in the final T20I against Zimbabwe after batting first in the previous two games. Rashid announced one change from the side which won the second T20I on Saturday. Left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi came in place of Fareed Ahmad in a like-for-like replacement. Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza also made…

Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir, who had both reversed their decisions to retire from international cricket to play the T20 World Cup earlier this year, have re-retired between yesterday and today. Imad said “this chapter comes to an end” on Friday, followed by Amir making public his “difficult decision” on Saturday. To all fans & supporters:After much thought and reflection, I have decided to retire from international cricket. Representing Pakistan…

The Women’s Bangladesh Cricket League (WBCL), the country’s first three-day competition for women, will begin at two venues in Rajshahi on December 21. The BCB has organised the tournament to set in motion the process to build its first Test side, although the board is yet to put a timeline in place. “We have to be ready in red-ball cricket,” head of women’s cricket at BCB, Habibul Bashar, said. “Most…

Madhya Pradesh (MP) have made it to their first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) final since 2010-11, and their captain Rajat Patidar has been key to their success this season. Ahead of the final against Mumbai on December 15, he has scored 347 runs, including four half-centuries, and batted at an impactful strike rate of 182.63. Patidar has continued from where he had left off in the IPL this year,…

In the last BBL game played at Optus Stadium, a low-scoring knockout final back in January, Adelaide Strikers successfully deployed a spin-heavy attack that flummoxed Perth Scorchers and ended their dreams of a hat-trick of titles. It was a stunning turn, pardon the pun, of events and underlined that spin can have a major impact on a surface renowned for being fast and bouncy much like the nearby WACA. Scorchers,…