The important thing is that the golf has been played. Australia had arrived in Dubai not knowing whether they would be staying in Dubai, or heading to Lahore for the second semi-final in the Champions Trophy. Players on the Australia team, however, had taken every chance they could to get a round in. More importantly, … Read more
Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, the BCB director, has given his endorsement for Phil Simmons to continue in his role as Bangladesh head coach, beyond the Champions Trophy. Fahim said the board will sit for official talks with Simmons soon, and hope to get him into the role on a long-term basis. Simmons’ extension was one of … Read more
South Africa have taken an 18-hour stopover in Dubai between matches in Pakistan in their stride and used the opportunity to “get out and walk and have some nice steak” between the end of the Champions Trophy group stage and their semi-final against New Zealand on Wednesday. They are one of two teams, the other … Read more
Padmakar Shivalkar, the champion left-arm spinner who is counted among the greatest Indian cricketers to never play for India, has died at the age of 84. He died in Mumbai on Monday and is survived by his wife, son and daughter. Shivalkar is often twinned with the Haryana left-arm spinner Rajinder Goel – the highest … Read more
It did not take Jos Buttler long to recognise that his position as England’s white-ball captain was untenable. He spoke like a man who knew his time was up after their defeat to Afghanistan in Lahore on Wednesday, and within 24 hours had told Brendon McCullum that it was game over. Saturday’s thrashing by South … Read more
Big picture: Australia have denied India before “[T]here’s nothing more satisfying than hearing a big crowd go silent.” Pat Cummins won’t be in Dubai on Tuesday, but the words he spoke on November 18, 2023, will be. The players may not themselves be thinking about them, but viewers around the world quite likely will – … Read more
Toss UP Warriorz chose to bowl vs Gujarat Giants The coin fell in Deepti Sharma’s favour on Lucknow’s WPL debut and UP Warriorz had little hesitation in bowling first against Gujarat Giants. This is the first time the Ekana Stadium is hosting a game in this competition. It is the official home of the Warriorz. … Read more
Playing only his second ODI, Varun took 5 for 42 in ten overs against New Zealand as India defended their total of 249 by 44 runs. He had not played the first two group games against Bangladesh and Pakistan, but replaced Harshit Rana for the third one. “He [Varun] just showed what he is capable … Read more
Zak Foulkes, the 22-year-old New Zealand fast bowler, has joined Durham for their T20 Blast campaign. Foulkes has made eight international white-ball appearances to date, having made his debut in April 2024. As a tall right-arm seamer, who hits the deck hard, seven of those have come in T20Is, in which he has claimed nine … Read more
Sophie Luff has been named as Somerset Women’s first professional captain, for the inaugural season of the new Women’s County competition. Luff, 31, played for Somerset’s age groups before making her debut for the senior women’s team in 2009. She has featured in 74 List A matches for the club, scoring 2330 runs at 43.14 … Read more
Of the four teams remaining in the Champions Trophy 2025, Australia have travelled to three of the tournament’s four venues, while New Zealand have travelled to all four. South Africa, even though they did not play in Dubai, have been to Dubai to potentially prepare for a semi-final against India that never materialised and are … Read more
James Anderson wants to play in the Hundred this summer and has registered his name for next week’s draft, ESPNcricinfo has learned. Anderson has not played professionally since his final Test appearance against West Indies last July and has been working for England as a consultant coach this winter, including at the Champions Trophy. But … Read more
Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have named Ajinkya Rahane as their captain for IPL 2025. Venkatesh Iyer has been named vice-captain. Rahane was bought by the team at his base price of INR 1.5 crore at the IPL mega auction in November last year. Iyer, after not being retained by KKR, … Read more
Varun Chakravarthy, who replaced Harshit Rana for India’s final group game in the Champions Trophy, put in a performance that will leave the team management with a difficult decision come the semi-final against Australia. Playing just his second ODI, Varun returned figures of 5 for 42 to help India notch a 44-run win against … Read more
Jensen – who was set to make her comeback to the national side after a two-year absence – becomes the second Otago player to be ruled out of the ODIs against Sri Lanka. Bella James also picked up a hamstring injury during the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield competition, and was subsequently replaced in the ODI … Read more
“Sir, basically the ball goes inside, outside and goes straight. So, you can keep it that way but there are minute changes that you can do with that also.” Right at the end of a press conference a journalist understandably asks Varun Chakravarthy how many variations he has. The man ain’t having it. … Read more
Cooper Connolly has been called into Australia’s Champions Trophy squad after Matt Short was ruled out through injury as they prepare for what could be a trial by spin in their semi-final against India. Short picked up a quad injury against Afghanistan and would not have had time to recover for the knockout … Read more
Thirty youngsters, part of the state under-14s and under-16s, had been flown into Nagpur by the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) in anticipation of Sachin Baby’s team creating history by winning their maiden Ranji Trophy title. While they didn’t see their illustrious seniors win Indian domestic cricket’s biggest prize, some of them clicked pictures with … Read more
India 249 for 9 (Iyer 79, Axar 42, Henry 5-42) beat New Zealand 205 (Williamson 81, Varun 5-42) by 44 runs India spun a web around New Zealand to defend 249 for their sixth straight win against what has been a bogey team for them in recent times. They added Varun Chakravarthy to … Read more
Due to tangled scheduling, both Australia and South Africa had already flown to Dubai, with an ICC official saying the decision had been taken to allow the side that plays the semi-final in Dubai (Australia in this case) on March 4 the maximum time to prepare for that contest. However, it means South Africa … Read more
Who’s playing UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants Ekana Stadium, Lucknow, 7.30pm IST What to expect: Little room for error UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants enter a crucial phase of the tournament with little room for error as the playoffs race heats up. Warriorz are set to play their first home game across seasons with … Read more
New South Wales 215 (Learoyd 80, Parsons 3-29, Hamilton 3-57) beat Queensland 194 (Redmayne 97) by 21 runs New South Wales snared their 21st WNCL title after defeating Queensland by 21 runs, and it was largely thanks to a freakish run-out. Anika Learoyd cracked 80 off 110 balls and Claire Moore chipped … Read more
Vidarbha 379 (Malewar 153, Nair 86, Nidheesh 3-61) and 375 for 9 dec (Nair 135, Malewar 73, Sarwate 4-96) drew with Kerala 342 (Baby 98, Sarwate 79, Nalkande 3-52) Vidarbha put the ghosts of 2023-24 to bed in the most emphatic manner possible – snatching a thrilling battle for the first-innings lead in style – … Read more
There are few positives from what has been, even by England’s recent ODI standards, a disastrous Champions Trophy campaign. But according to Brendon McCullum, there were glimmers amidst the darkness. The one that shone brightest was the performance, as well as the fitness, of fast bowler Jofra Archer. He bowled his allotted quota in each … Read more
On Saturday, South Africa hammered England to progress into the semi-finals. In their two group stage matches (one was rained off), South Africa bowled England out for 179 and Afghanistan for 208 – the two lowest totals in completed innings in this edition of the Champions Trophy. “I think one good thing about South Africa … Read more
South Australia’s triumphant cricketers are setting their sights on an historic double. After soaking up their success in winning the one-day title, Nathan McSweeney’s team now want a long-elusive Sheffield Shield. McSweeney led SA to its first one-day title in 13 years with a comprehensive 64-run defeat of Victoria at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night. … Read more
4.56pm That is stumps, and Vidarbha being 7 for 2 this morning feels like a long time ago. Nair came out to bat at that stage, and continued his dream run with another century. He has 132 runs out of Vidarbha’s 249 at the moment, and is still standing like an immovable rock. Nair was … Read more
So far in the Champions Trophy New Zealand are doing all their usual things well – fielding nicely, finding top-order runs, finishing strong. But they also have the bowling resources to adapt to Dubai’s surfaces, allrounder Glenn Phillips has said. The final group match of the tournament is not a live match exactly. New Zealand … Read more
Heinrich Klaasen has revealed that he wants to prove he is “the best in the world”, after his 64 off 56 balls helped South Africa cruise to a seven-wicket win over England on Saturday, confirming their place in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy. Klaasen missed South Africa’s first match of the tournament with an … Read more
South Africa 181 for 3 (Van der Dussen 72, Klaasen 64, Archer 2-55) beat England 179 (Root 37, Archer 25, Mulder 3-25, Jansen 3-39) by seven wickets South Africa confirmed their spots in the Champions Trophy semi-finals with a commanding victory over a hapless England, who ended the tournament winless, captain-less and on a seven-match … Read more