Australia fielding an unchanged frontline pace attack last summer might have been an “outlier” as selectors strategise over their seam options in the wake of losing allrounder Cameron Green. Related Pant and Bumrah hold the key to India’s fortunes in Australia Green out for the season as he takes surgery option Cummins to prepare for Test summer in Pakistan ODIs, Marsh and Head on paternity leave Last summer they were…
Shortly after Amelia Kerr claimed Sadia Iqbal’s wicket to seal New Zealand’s first T20 World Cup semi-final since 2016, Sophie Devine was pulled into a team huddle. Devine’s first instinct was to wait until the reserves joined in. As the group got together, Devine was overcome with emotions. Tears flowed liberally. Suzie Bates embraced her in a warm hug, Katey Martin, the former wicketkeeper, who was to do a post-match…
The BCCI has decided to scrap the Impact Player rule for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy (SMAT). The rule was introduced in SMAT couple of years ago and was later extended to the Indian Premier League (IPL). “Kindly note that the BCCI has decided to do away with the provision of the ‘Impact Player’ for the ongoing season,” the BCCI informed the state associations on Monday. The BCCI’s…
Anya Shrubsole says that England’s victories in the white-ball leg of last year’s Ashes will have proved to the players that they are capable of ending Australia’s stranglehold on the Women’s T20 World Cup. Shrubsole, 32, was England’s matchwinner at Lord’s in 2017, famously claiming figures of 6 for 46 to defeat India by nine runs in a thrilling final and claim the 50-over World Cup as their most recent…
Rachin Ravindra admits that winning a Test series in India is an extremely difficult task, but is hopeful that his recent white-ball success in the country coupled with New Zealand’s experience of playing in the subcontinent recently could stand them in good stead in the three-Test series, starting in Bengaluru from October 16. Ravindra had a breakthrough 2023 ODI World Cup in India where he scored 578 runs in ten…
Somerset have agreed a return for Australia quick Riley Meredith next year. Meredith, 28, will be available for the Vitality Blast, as well as potentially in the County Championship and One-Day Cup, depending on the structure of the season. Meredith enjoyed a successful first spell in county cricket during the summer, his 14 wickets in the Blast helping defending champions Somerset reach Finals Day – although he was unable to…
Toss New Zealand chose to bat vs Pakistan Sophie Devine called it right at the toss in Dubai and New Zealand chose to bat against Pakistan in their last league match of the Women’s T20 World Cup. A win would be enough for New Zealand to qualify for the semi-final at the expense of India, who would be nervously watching and wanting Pakistan to to chase their target after 10.4…
It is rare for the same venue to stage back-to-back Tests, and using the same pitch twice in a row is believed to be unprecedented. James Anderson, England’s fast-bowling consultant, thought it would be outlawed by the ICC, but their regulations only stipulate that the host board and ground authority must prepare the “best possible pitch”. Stokes was one of six England players to train on Sunday, and has put…
England vs West Indies Dubai, 6pm local time England squad: Heather Knight (capt), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones (wk), Freya Kemp, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt West Indies squad: Hayley Matthews (capt), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Ashmini Munisar, Afy Fletcher, Stafanie Taylor, Chinelle Henry, Chedean Nation, Qiana Joseph, Zaida…
Taskin Ahmed was the first player called in this year’s BPL draft when the new franchise Durbar Rajshahi picked the 29-year old fast bowler. Defending champions Fortune Barishal took Mahmudullah, who recently retired from T20Is, with the seventh overall pick as they retained several of their last season’s squad members for the 2024-25 team. Like Taskin, fast bowlers Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana were also first round picks, for Khulna…