Category: Cricket

After taking a break from Test cricket for three years, Mohammad Abbas made a fantastic return to the Pakistan cricket team in the first Test against South Africa. He took seven wickets, including six in the second innings, almost leading Pakistan to victory in Centurion. Despite a late fight from South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, who helped their team win by two wickets, Abbas’s performance on day four was impressive. He finished with amazing bowling figures of 6 wickets for 54 runs in 19.3 overs.

Abbas’s comeback drew attention because many fans and former players, including Mohammad Amir, had wanted him back in the team for quite some time. Amir expressed his thoughts on social media, saying it was wrong for the coaches to leave Abbas out of the team due to his pace. Amir highlighted that it took Abbas three years to get back to playing Tests.

During the match, Abbas bowled for 15 consecutive overs, showing great skill and determination. He got important wickets, turning the match around for Pakistan. His efforts helped reduce South Africa’s score from 96 for 4 to 99 for 8. Fans had been eagerly waiting for Abbas’s return, as he has been fantastic in First Class cricket, with an average of just 20.63.

Even though Abbas bowled throughout the morning session and faced tough batsmen, he remained steady and consistent. Unfortunately, Jansen and Rabada fought back, putting together a 51-run partnership that guided South Africa to victory and secured a spot in the World Test Championship finals.

After this exciting match to wrap up the year, the next match in the series will be on New Year’s Day in Cape Town. While South Africa has already reached the WTC finals, Pakistan is hopeful and looking to start 2025 strong after this encouraging performance in Centurion.

Melbourne, Australia: Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is on cloud nine after his amazing performance in the fourth Test against Australia. He scored a fantastic 114 runs when India batted, helping the team reach a total of 369 runs in reply to Australia’s first innings score of 474 runs. Nitish was thrilled to share the field with his idol, Virat Kohli, especially after Virat praised him for his brilliant innings.

Nitish said, “I grew up watching Virat. Playing with him and receiving his appreciation after I scored a hundred is a moment I’ll cherish forever.”

So far in the series, Nitish has been the highest run-scorer for India, with 293 runs in four matches, averaging 58.60. He also took three wickets. He explained how he faced Scott Boland, a skilled bowler known for his accuracy. “I stepped out of the crease to change his line and length, which helped me play better,” he shared.

Nitish joined the Indian team after impressing everyone in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he scored 303 runs. He shared that while he is happy with his batting, he still needs to improve his bowling. “Fitness is key for me as an all-rounder, so I’ve been pushing myself hard for the last few years,” he added.

In the match, Australia batted first and scored 474 runs with significant contributions from players like Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. India’s innings started rocky at 51/2 but was stabilized by a century partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli. Despite some setbacks, a solid performance from Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar helped India reach 369. In the second innings, Australia faced some trouble but managed to make 228 runs by the end of the day.

Centrion, South Africa — In a thrilling finish, South Africa’s bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen secured a nail-biting two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first test match on Sunday. This win has also guaranteed the Proteas a spot in next year’s World Test Championship final.

With South Africa needing 148 runs to win, Jansen hit a crucial boundary against the tough fast bowler Mohammad Abbas, who had an amazing bowling performance of 6 wickets for 54 runs. After trailing at 99-8, Rabada and Jansen formed a strong partnership, scoring 51 runs together without losing a wicket. Rabada finished off the match scoring 31 runs off 26 balls, hitting five boundaries.

This match was significant for South Africa, who had started this championship cycle with a defeat against New Zealand. However, they bounced back by drawing with India and winning against West Indies, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, putting them at the top of the table.

Captain Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram initially faced a tough challenge with the team struggling at 27-3, needing 121 more runs to win. Bavuma scored 40 runs but controversially was given out, despite evidence showing he may not have hit the ball correctly.

Abbas was impressive, bowling 13 overs straight and taking three wickets in quick succession. After Bavuma’s dismissal, South Africa faltered but managed to regroup with Rabada and Jansen leading the charge to victory.

This win also means Pakistan hasn’t won a test match in South Africa in almost 18 years!

Former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar shared his strong feelings about Indian cricket and explained why he criticized Rishabh Pant recently. During a crucial moment in the Boxing Day Test against Australia, Pant got out after playing a risky shot that many, including Gavaskar, found careless. Gavaskar called the shot “stupid” and suggested that if Pant didn’t think before playing, he shouldn’t even go back to the dressing room.

This clip of Gavaskar’s criticism got a lot of attention online, reaching over 8.5 million views. While commentating, Gavaskar expressed his love for cricket and explained, “This game has made me who I am. When I see a player like Rishabh make these mistakes, it frustrates me. The ego took over and he tried to show off after just being hit.”

Gavaskar pointed out that at that moment, Pant should have thought more about his shot choices. He got out after scoring just 28 runs when India needed him. Gavaskar reminded everyone that there were fielders positioned to catch the ball, especially on such a big ground.

He said he knows Pant can play well in a more traditional way, and he’s seen him score runs using proper shots in the past. While he admitted he would have cheered if Pant had hit a six, he felt that Pant went too far in trying to be flashy and careless, and it cost him his wicket.

As the Test match continues, all possible outcomes are still on the table, with good performances from Australia helping them lead by over 330 runs

In the fourth Test match at Melbourne, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, and Scott Boland did a great job of helping Australia in the last session of Day 4. Together, they batted for more than 200 balls and scored 91 runs. Their strong performance put Australia in a strong position with a lead of 333 runs, ending the day at 228/9 in their second innings. Cummins scored 41 runs off 90 balls, while Lyon is still batting with an unbeaten score of 41 off 54 balls. Boland faced 65 balls and has nine runs.

Earlier that day, India showed some fight as Jasprit Bumrah took four of the first six Australian wickets, reducing their score to 91/6. Mohammed Siraj, despite not taking wickets in the first innings, also helped by taking three wickets to back Bumrah. India finished their first innings at 369 all out, which meant Australia had a lead of 105 runs.

On Day 3, when India struggled, young debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy stepped up heroically and scored a memorable century. After restricting Australia to 474 runs in their first innings, India started positively with Yashaswi Jaiswal, but quickly lost five wickets. Reddy saved the team from disaster, making 100 runs from 171 balls and forming a strong partnership with Washington Sundar. They worked hard to prevent a follow-on, and India ended Day 3 with 358/9.

Despite losing three wickets quickly on Day 2, the team’s efforts on Day 3 helped them stay in the game.

In 2024, Indian sports fans had many reasons to celebrate! From big wins in cricket to impressive performances in the Olympics and chess, India is on the rise. Here are some standout moments from this exciting year:

– Cricket World Cup: On June 29, the Indian cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, won the World Cup after waiting over ten years. This victory made Indian cricket the top voice in the world!

– Olympic Medals: In July, pistol shooter Manu Bhaker made history by winning two medals at the Olympics, the first Indian to do so in a single Games. Also, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra earned a silver medal, three years after winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics.

– Chess Triumph: Later in the year, India’s chess teams won gold medals at the Chess Olympiad in September, and two players, D Gukesh and Koneru Humpy, became world champions in December. Gukesh, just 18, became the youngest chess world champion ever!

– Para-Athletes Shine: India’s para-athletes had their best showing ever at the Paralympics, bringing home 29 medals, including 7 gold. Athletes like Avani Lekhara and Sumit Antil became new heroes to look up to.

– Hockey Team Success: The men’s hockey team secured a bronze medal, marking their second medal in a row at the Olympics.

Despite the celebrations, there were challenges too. The Indian Olympic Association had some internal issues and needed to improve. But through hard work and passion, Indian sports continue to grow, and this year could be the start of something amazing for the future!

During the Boxing Day Test, former Australian cricket stars Kerry O’Keefe and Adam Gilchrist had a funny chat that caught the attention of Indian fans online. While they were commentating, Nathan Lyon was bowling to Indian players Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar. Gilchrist heard the stump mic mentioning “ball eagle” and jokingly asked O’Keefe if they meant Nathan Lyon and not him.

O’Keefe then shared a funny story about how Indian fans once called him ‘Taklu,’ which means ‘bald man’ in Hindi. He explained that when he made a joke on Twitter, fans responded with, “Who is the taklu?” He looked it up and discovered it meant ‘bald man,’ so he referred to Lyon as ‘taklu’ too. Gilchrist couldn’t stop laughing at this.

When O’Keefe called Lyon ‘taklu’ on-air, Indian fans went wild with excitement on social media. One fan even joked, “Hope this doesn’t reach him.” On the same day, Lyon took important wickets of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, contributing to Australia’s efforts.

Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar Reddy shined with his first Test century, scoring 105 runs and helping India recover when they were struggling. This strong performance, along with a key partnership with Washington Sundar, made a big difference for the team. India ended the day at 358 for nine, still trailing Australia’s first innings score of 474.

Rishabh Pant’s getting out was called ‘stupid’ by Sunil Gavaskar, while Sam Konstas made an exciting debut in Test cricket. It seems the game of cricket has speeded up a lot, almost like it’s on steroids! We love watching young players hit the ball bravely and make creative shots, but sometimes their choices can be disappointing when we consider the risks involved. Also, the way players talk these days can be awkward, especially in Test matches.

Modern cricketers often use certain buzzwords, like “expressing themselves” or “playing with intent,” and I really dislike when they say, “I’m just enjoying myself.” These phrases can sound rehearsed, like what you’d hear from a call center. They might fit better in shorter games like T20s but not in a long, serious Test match that lasts five days.

The idea of “enjoying myself” confuses me. Cricket is a team sport where eleven players work together, not just one person trying to have fun. If a player acts like a lone hero, like a soldier in battle doing his own thing, it can be a disaster. In cricket, the team comes first, and players come second. Individual achievements should not overshadow the team’s goals. For example, what good is a hundred runs if it means the team loses because it slowed down the run rate?

Moreover, representing India in cricket is a big honor and comes with serious responsibility. Wearing the India cap is not just about having fun; it’s about being part of the team. When players talk about “expressing themselves”, it often means they will play in the way they are comfortable, which is fine in certain situations but can be wrong when they need to play according to the match conditions. It’s not wise to take risky shots just because one likes to play that way.

Sometimes, players may use phrases like “enjoying myself” without really thinking about what they mean, or maybe it’s just a way to handle pressure and keep calm. Now, let’s talk about “intent.” It’s a fancy word that says players want to take charge and put pressure on the bowlers. While that may work in T20 cricket, in Test matches, it often leads to quick dismissals. Players must adapt their play style based on the match situation.

When players like Pant take the wrong shots at the wrong time, it can hurt the team. On the other hand, players like Sundar show discipline and determination, doing what’s right for the match. It’s not true that players don’t care; sometimes they just prefer to go all out instead of playing carefully.

In T20 cricket, players need to swing the bat freely; it’s essential. But in Test matches, they need to adjust their play style, because what works in one format can be counterproductive in another.

New Delhi,India – The International Cricket Council (ICC) has just shared the first list of nominees for the ICC Awards 2024! These awards focus on the new stars in men’s and women’s cricket who have shown great talent over the past year.

This year, the nominees for the Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year come from different countries. They include:

– Gus Atkinson from England, who had a fantastic start to his Test career.
– Saim Ayub from Pakistan, known for scoring runs in many formats.
– Shamar Joseph from the West Indies, a fast bowler to watch.
– Kamindu Mendis from Sri Lanka, who broke records while batting.

For the Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year, the nominees are:

– Annerie Dercksen from South Africa, an all-round player.
– Saskia Horley from Scotland, a rising talent.
– Shreyanka Patil from India, making waves in the sport.
– Freya Sargent from Ireland, who has impressed everyone.

Fans can learn more about these players on the ICC website. The ICC Awards 2024 will celebrate 12 different awards, and the nominees will be revealed in stages from December 28 to December 30. A special group of cricket experts picked these nominees based on their performances over the year.

Now, cricket fans can vote for their favorite Emerging players at www.icc-cricket.com. The results from fans will be combined with votes from an international panel to decide the winners in each category.

Other awards to be announced include the ICC Men’s and Women’s Associate Cricketers of the Year and the ICC Umpire of the Year. The best teams of the year will also be decided. Winners of the ICC Awards 2024 will be revealed in late January 2025.

Here are the nominees so far:

– ICC Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year: Gus Atkinson, Saim Ayub, Shamar Joseph, Kamindu Mendis.
– ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year: Annerie Dercksen, Saskia Horley, Shreyanka Patil, Freya Sargent.

This article was created using an automated news agency feed without changes to the original text.

On Saturday, Babar Azam, the star batter from Pakistan, made a joyful return to form by scoring his first Test half-century since December 2022. This amazing moment occurred during the first Test of the two-match series against South Africa in Centurion. Babar reached his 50 off 80 balls and hit 9 fours, but sadly, he was out for 50 runs after being bowled by Marco Jansen.

In the second innings, Babar faced another 85 balls and did his best to help the team. His previous fifty-plus score was back in December 2022 when he scored 161 runs against New Zealand in Karachi. Since then, he had a tough time, struggling to reach 50 runs in his last 19 Test innings. His best score during this dry spell was just 41 runs.

Before making this half-century, Babar’s scores were 14, 24, 27, 13, 24, 39, 21, 14, 1, 41, 26, 23, 0, 22, 31, 11, 30, 5, and 4.

Recently, he was left out of the Test squad after scoring 30 and 5 runs against England in a recent match, but now he is back to help his team.

Breaking records, Babar Azam became the first batter in Pakistan’s history to score over 4000 runs in all three formats of cricket! He is the 12th Pakistani batter to cross the 4000-run milestone in Tests, with 9 centuries in his Test career as well.

In T20 matches, Babar has made 4223 runs, and in ODIs, he has scored 5957 runs. Coming back to the thrilling first Test match against South Africa, the competition is very close. South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl first. If South Africa wins this Test, they will secure a spot in the World Test Championship final, regardless of the outcome of the second match.