Category: Cricket

India is leading the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 1-0 and is all set to play against Australia in the second Test. This match in Adelaide will use a pink cricket ball, just like the one in the previous game. India played strongly in Perth, winning even without their captain, Rohit Sharma, who was away for paternity leave.

Rahul Dravid, a former Indian cricket player and coach, shared his memories about a fantastic partnership he had with VVS Laxman during the 2003-04 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Dravid remembered a moment when he accidentally got the captain, Saurav Ganguly, run out. He said, “I thought, ‘I made a mistake getting the captain out; I need to do something great now.’”

During that match, Dravid scored an impressive 233 runs, and he and Laxman built a huge partnership of 303 runs together. When India needed to reply to Australia’s big score of 556 runs, they managed to post 526 runs, thanks to both players’ amazing performances.

Dravid praised Laxman, saying they had a good understanding after playing many matches together. He explained, “As our partnership grew, batting became easier as the ball got softer.”

He also showed excitement for the current Indian wicketkeeper, Rishabh Pant. Dravid said, “His performances in Test cricket are incredible! After Dhoni retired, everyone wondered who would replace him, and Pant has really stepped up.”

In that memorable match, India eventually won by chasing down a target of 230 runs, with Dravid scoring a vital 72 runs in the second innings. Today, Dravid is the Director of Cricket for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and played an important role in the recent auction in Jeddah.

In November 2015, Adelaide hosted the first-ever day-night cricket Test played with a pink ball. It was an exciting match where Australia edged out New Zealand by three wickets on the third day. At that time, many people were unsure if the pink ball would hold up well during the game. There were even talks about players wearing colored uniforms because it was an experiment to attract more fans back to Test cricket.

Fast forward nearly ten years, and pink-ball Tests have become quite normal. The pink ball now comes with an extra layer of shine, and pitchers prepare the field like they would for a regular red-ball game, leaving less grass on the pitch. Players are ready for the challenges that come with the new ball and the tricky twilight hours. Fans expect that these matches won’t last the full five days, especially in Adelaide.

Adjusting to a different color ball can be tricky for teams, as Rohit Sharma mentioned while preparing for a match at the Oval, “We know that when we arrive in Adelaide, we’ll play a day-night Test. But we aren’t going to complain; we’ll just focus on the game.”

India doesn’t play day-night Tests often, but they face the same challenges that Australia does. As assistant coach Abhishek Nayar noted, “Our team always thinks about strategies, whether it’s with a pink ball or red ball. The biggest change comes from our mindset.”

KL Rahul pointed out that batters sometimes struggle to see the ball clearly, saying it feels harder than the red ball. He shared, “It seems to come at you quicker, and it also seams around more. But I’m excited because it’s my first pink-ball game.”

Wicketkeeper Alex Carey from Australia added that the changing light can affect how he sees the ball, making it look a bit blurry. “I must focus on watching the ball closely. The pink ball adds a great challenge to the game,” he explained.

So far, every pink-ball Test has produced results, mostly because the pink ball behaves very differently. Data shows that when Australia plays during the day in Adelaide, they score an average of 41.14 runs while the opposing team averages only 29.95. In contrast, in day-night Tests, Australia’s average drops to 38.81, but the opposition’s average falls all the way down to 20.29.

Interestingly, when looking at bowling, Australia’s bowlers don’t usually shine in day games but do exceptionally well in day-night matches, averaging just 21.11 runs compared to their opponents’ 43.09.

This year, the game may take a different turn because India’s bowling attack is just as strong as Australia’s, and their batting seems to be in better shape than the host team. While things may change quickly, India remains confident based on their recent performances in Perth.

GQEBERHA, South Africa – On the first day of the second Test match against Sri Lanka, South African captain Temba Bavuma and his teammate Ryan Rickleton helped their team recover after a tough start. After losing the toss and being asked to bat, South Africa found themselves at 46-3 early on. But Bavuma, playing calmly, formed a strong partnership with Rickleton, adding an impressive 133 runs for the fourth wicket.

Bavuma was looking good and close to scoring his century when he was out for 64. He tried to hit a fast, rising ball but ended up gloving it to the wicketkeeper. This was a disappointing end for Bavuma, as he has now scored 23 fifties in Test cricket but only three centuries.

Ricketon, who stepped in to play after Wiaan Mulder got injured in the first test, reached his first Test fifty. He was not out at 72, with David Bedingham supporting him on one run. Earlier, Sri Lankan bowler Lahiru Kumara took his 100th Test wicket by bowling out Aiden Markram for 20 runs. Kumara also dismissed Tristan Stubbs, catching him for just 4 runs.

South Africa’s Tony de Zorzi was out for a duck, falling to a leg-before-wicket decision that he tried unsuccessfully to review. Markram, struggling with his recent form, got out by playing a risky shot that ended up hitting his wicket. Stubbs, who scored well in the last match, also tried to play aggressively but was caught by the Sri Lankan keeper.

Both teams are eager for victory to help their chances of reaching the World Test Championship final next year. South Africa won the first Test match last week by a significant 233 runs.

India’s cricket captain, Rohit Sharma, shared that it was tough not being able to tell star players Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja that they wouldn’t play in the first Test against Australia in Perth. Many people were surprised when the team chose to leave out these experienced players for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener.

Young all-rounder Washington Sundar got the chance to play instead of Ashwin and Jadeja, even though he didn’t have much impact with his bat or ball in the first innings. However, he did show good skills with his bowling in the second innings and formed an important partnership with Virat Kohli while batting.

Rohit, who was away for paternity leave when India played Australia, noted that leaving out experienced players like Ashwin and Jadeja is always a hard choice. “It’s never easy to leave out players like them,” he said, emphasizing the decision was made to benefit the team at that moment.

He believes Ashwin and Jadeja, who together have taken 855 wickets in Test matches, will play important roles in the remaining games of the series. “They are quality players who have brought a lot to Indian cricket,” Rohit stated, recognizing their contributions.

Regarding Washington Sundar, Rohit praised the young player, saying he has the ability to thrive in different playing conditions around the world. Rohit hopes Sundar can stay healthy and continue to grow as a player, as his skills bring balance and depth to the team.

Rohit also talked about two new players, Rana and Reddy, who impressed him with their fighting spirit during the first Test. He pointed out that these kinds of players, who show determination and strong attitudes, are vital for winning big matches and series.

Dubai, UAE: The International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed on Thursday the nominees for the Women’s Player of the Month for November 2024. The players nominated are Nadine de Klerk from South Africa, Danni Wyatt-Hodge from England, and Sharmin Akhter from Bangladesh.

Nadine de Klerk shone brightly in South Africa’s recent T20I series against England, helping her team win all three matches. She scored a total of 80 runs, averaging 80 with an impressive strike rate of 135.59, plus took four wickets. In the first game, she made an important 29 runs and took 2 wickets, and in the second match, she scored 32 runs and took another two wickets. Nadine finished as the top scorer and wicket-taker for her team.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge led the English team to a clear 3-0 victory in their T20I series against South Africa, becoming the top run-scorer with 142 runs. She had an average of 71 and an explosive strike rate of 163.21. After scoring only 11 runs in the first match, she made a fantastic 78 runs in the second game and finished with an unbeaten 53 runs in the last game, helping England to win comfortably.

Sharmin Akhter was essential for Bangladesh in their ODI series against Ireland, helping her team win. She scored a total of 139 runs in just two matches, averaging 69.50. In the first match, she almost made her first ODI century with 96 runs, leading her team to a big 154-run victory. She followed that performance with a solid 43 runs in the second match, giving Bangladesh a 2-0 lead in the series.

Exciting cricket is on the way as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy continues! The second Test match between India and Australia will take place from December 6 to December 10 at the famous Adelaide Oval. This match is special because it will be a day-night game, meaning we’ll watch in the evening under lights!

After a fantastic victory in Perth, where India beat Australia by 295 runs thanks to amazing bowling, India is feeling strong. But Australia has had some time to prepare and fix their mistakes. They play really well in pink-ball matches at home and will be looking to bounce back.

India will happily welcome back their captain, Rohit Sharma, who has decided to move down to the middle order. This will help opening batsmen KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal to shine. Shubman Gill is also coming back into the team. On the Australian side, Josh Hazlewood will not play, and Scott Boland will take his place.

This Test match at the Adelaide Oval promises to be thrilling, with a chance to level the series and gain points in the World Test Championship.

Where to Watch:
– Live Telecast: Available on Star Sports Network.
– Live Streaming: Available on Niftysta.

Vinod Kambli was once a star in cricket, known for his amazing partnership with Sachin Tendulkar. They were best friends in school and became famous players for India. But now, it’s sad to see how far Kambli has fallen.

His career started off strong with big scores: he made 224 runs against England and 227 against Zimbabwe. In comparison, Sachin didn’t score 200 runs in a match until years later. Kambli felt that while Sachin quickly climbed to the top, he struggled like he was climbing stairs.

After those great early years, things took a turn for Kambli. He started facing problems off the field. His love for partying and late nights began to affect his game, and before long, he couldn’t keep up with his performance. Despite averaging 54.20 runs in Test matches, he didn’t play a Test after November 1995.

While Sachin went on to have a legendary career—playing 200 Tests, scoring 51 hundreds, and winning a World Cup—Kambli was left behind. The most memorable moment of his career was crying during the 1996 World Cup semifinal when the match was stopped and India lost.

As the years went by, Kambli struggled with his personal life too. There were videos showing him looking unwell and seeming drunk. Many people, including Sachin, tried to reach out to him, but if someone doesn’t want to help themselves, it’s tough for anyone else to do so.

Kambli has often said that Sachin didn’t support him enough, which isn’t quite true. While Sachin was busy building his own career, he did encourage Kambli to return to cricket in 2017. Kambli even got a job coaching young players, and they shared a heartfelt moment when they met again.

Unfortunately, Kambli couldn’t stay on the right path for long. Each time he had a chance to make things better, he seemed to push it away. It’s sad to see him in this situation, and people can’t help but wonder, “Why, Vinod, why?”

His story serves as a warning about managing fame and success. Did anyone else do something wrong? Maybe, but mostly, it was Kambli who needed to take charge of his own life. That’s the simple truth of it.

Mumbai, India: The second day of the Tennis Premier League Season 6 was full of thrilling matches at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai. The Hyderabad Strikers shined, moving to the top of the leaderboard after an amazing performance. The Yash Mumbai Eagles are in second place, followed by the Rajasthan Rangers and Chennai Smashers in third and fourth places.

The day started with the Bengal Wizards facing off against the Bengaluru SG Pipers. In the Women’s Singles, Kamilla Rakhimova from the Bengal Wizards won against Gabriela Knutson with a score of 14-11. In the Men’s Singles, Niki Poonacha narrowly defeated Bernabe Zapata with a score of 13-12. However, the Bengaluru SG Pipers celebrated a mixed doubles victory when Gabriela Knutson and Anirudh Chandrasekar beat Kamilla Rakhimova and Sriram Balaji 14-11. The Men’s Doubles saw Chandrasekar and Zapata Miralles triumph over Poonacha and Balaji 15-10, giving Bengaluru SG Pipers a strong overall win of 52-48.

Next, the Punjab Patriots took on the Gujarat Panthers. Ekaterina Kazionova scored big for Gujarat, winning the Women’s Singles 19-6 against Akanksha Nitture. In a closely fought Men’s Singles match, Mukund Sasikumar won against Sumit Nagal 15-10. The Gujarat Panthers continued their success in Mixed Doubles where Kazionova and Vijay Sundar Prashanth outplayed Nitture and Myneni 15-10. Despite a Men’s Doubles victory for the Punjab Patriots by Mukund Sasikumar and Saketh Myneni, Gujarat Panthers won the match 54-46.

In the third match, the Hyderabad Strikers faced the Chennai Smashers. Harriet Dart won the Women’s Singles 14-11 against Conny Perrin. In the Men’s Singles, Hugo Gaston finished ahead of Benjamin Lock, winning another close match 14-11. Hyderabad’s Mixed Doubles pair of Dart and Vishnu Vardhan won nicely against Perrin and Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli, scoring 16-9. The last doubles match saw Hyderabad lose 14-11 to Lock and Vardhan, but they still won the match overall with 55-45.

The final match of the day featured the Rajasthan Rangers and Yash Mumbai Eagles. Zeynep Sonmez dominated the Women’s Singles with a 17-8 win against Cristina Dinu. In the Men’s Singles, Arthur Fery edged out Karan Singh 14-11. The Mixed Doubles win for the Yash Eagles came from Sonmez and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan, defeating Cristina Dinu and Rohan Bopanna 15-10. In the Men’s Doubles, Bopanna and Fery won against Singh and Nedunchezhiyan 14-11, but Yash Mumbai Eagles took the match 54-46.

After an exciting day of tennis, the leaderboard shows the Hyderabad Strikers in first with 112 points, followed closely by Yash Mumbai Eagles with 109 points, while Rajasthan Rangers hold third place with 103 points, and the Chennai Smashers are fourth with 99 points. The Bengaluru SG Pipers and Gujarat Panthers are close behind at 98 and 97 points respectively. Finally, the Bengal Wizards and Punjab Patriots are tied for seventh with 91 points each.

Josh Hazlewood’s manager, Neil Maxwell, has voiced strong criticism against Fox Cricket for creating drama around Hazlewood’s comments. During a press conference after Australia lost to India, Hazlewood, a lower-order batsman, said he didn’t want to discuss the team’s batting performance and suggested that the batters should be asked instead.

Maxwell believes Fox Cricket twisted this remark to imply there’s a rift within the Australian cricket team. He emphasized that Australian players have never been closer, calling the idea of a divided team “ridiculous.” He said that suggesting Hazlewood’s comments mean there’s trouble in the dressing room hurts the credibility of the media.

Maxwell also pointed out that media outlets are often desperate for storylines, which makes players reluctant to speak openly. He explained that with so many reporters looking for stories, there’s no benefit for players to share their honest thoughts.

Fox Cricket used Hazlewood’s quote to fuel discussions among commentators, making it seem like there was tension within the team. This prompted more speculation and criticism about Hazlewood and the team, which only added to the drama.

Michael Vaughan believes that Pat Cummins, the captain of Australia, can regain his form in the upcoming pink-ball Test against India during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In the first Test in Perth, Cummins didn’t perform well, taking only three wickets and leading his team to a tough 295-run loss.

Vaughan pointed out that Cummins seemed a bit out of practice because he hadn’t played a Test since March. “He’s an excellent bowler and captain, but he looked a bit rusty in Perth,” Vaughan said on The Follow On. “I think this week in Adelaide, he will be faster and more in control after playing last week.”

In the first innings at Perth, Australia was able to bowl out India for just 150 runs. However, their top three bowlers—Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood—struggled in the second innings, allowing India to score 487 runs before declaring.

Vaughan believes that playing in the first Test is good for Cummins. “It helps him get used to the longer format again, so he should be better this time,” he added.

Cummins has also seen a drop in pace this year, which made it harder for him to trouble the Indian batsmen. Vaughan explained, “If his speed is down, it gives batters more time to adjust. We saw this during the Ashes when England was able to score easily against him.”