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The so-called Big Four could be reunited in Australia's bowling attack with Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon returning from injuries for a two-test cricket series next month against Bangladesh. Pace bowlers Cummins, Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc and offspinner Lyon have been the long-time frontline attack for Australia but injuries have limited the frequency of all four combining in the same XI in recent series. Australia's selection committee chairman George Bailey on Tuesday said there was no certainties to start, but the returning bowlers are "all fit to go." "As you would expect, we won't be locking in an XI this far out, but we do know that across this two-test series the depth is there," Bailey said. "I'm sure that there will be (future) tests that that (Big Four) group play together." Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon, he said, "have worked extremely hard, individually and with the (fitness) teams, over the past few months to return from their respective injuries." The
Tons of patience mixed with the right amount of aggression was the key to Indian women's cricket team's epic Test win over England, said chief coach Amol Muzumdar as he lauded centurion Yastika Bhatia for her "special knock" and pacer Kranti Gaud for her "controlled line and length." Gaud's seven-wicket match haul and Bhatia's hundred played a big role in India's historic 270-run win over England in what was the first ever women's Test played on the hallowed turf of Lord's. "Yeah, you can say that (it was a perfect game). We batted well, we bowled extremely well and we fielded even better, it was a good game for us," Muzumdar said during the press-conference. "I wouldn't be able to pinpoint one particular thing ... I think we were disciplined in our approach towards our batting. And disciplined in our bowling as well, sticking to the basics of cricket. "While bowling, as I said, good line and length, controlled line and length. Aggression mixed with patience. So I think that was a
India pacer Kranti Gaud said becoming the first woman to have her name etched on the Lord's Honours Board after claiming a five-wicket haul in the one-off Test against England was a moment of immense pride for her and her family. Gaud's superb 5/37 helped India bundle out England for 170, securing a commanding 115-run first-innings lead. India then extended their advantage to 269 by stumps on Day 2, reaching 154/1 in the second innings with Smriti Mandhana unbeaten on 69. "It's a completely different feeling for me. I am very proud to be the first woman to get my name on the Lord's Honours Board. It's a proud moment for my family," said the 22-year-old Gaud after the day's play. Gaud had also claimed a five-wicket haul (6/52) in an ODI against England last year. "Every player dreams of taking a five-wicket haul. It's the first time we are playing at Lord's, so I was thinking if I can take five wickets and get my name on the board and also take wickets for the team and help it win,"
Seasoned India all-rounder Deepti Sharma said the first hour of the second day will be crucial, adding that the visitors will look to strike early and put England under pressure in the one-off women's Test here. Invited to bat, India posted 285 in their first innings, courtesy half-centuries from senior batters Smriti Mandhana (83), Harmanpreet Kaur (58) and Deepti (57). The visitors then removed opener Tammy Beaumont before stumps, leaving England at 21 for 1. "Initial one hour is really important," Deepti said after the end of the opening day's play on Friday. "I think the total is decent. If there were 20-25 more runs, there would have been an extra margin. But the earlier we take wickets tomorrow, the better it will be for us," she added. England left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone claimed three wickets, exploiting variable bounce and turn on the surface and Deepti expects the pitch to continue assisting the bowlers. "The wicket is turning slightly and sometimes keeping low. Th
England head coach Brendon McCullum revealed that he tried to persuade Ben Stokes to reconsider his decision to retire from international cricket, but said the captain had made up his mind by then. England lost the third and final Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge by 160 on Monday, conceding the series 1-2. But Stokes announced his adieu on the fourth day of the match itself, shocking everyone around. But McCullum said he "tried to talk him down." "When he confirmed to me that he was going to retire, first I tried to talk him down (laughs) and... (it) became pretty obvious that he had made his decision and he was at peace within," McCullum told Sky Sports. "From that point of view, I guess your emotion then leads on to just a bit of sadness really because you have been on this journey together for four years and it's been a real thrill. I feel very privileged that I've been able to work intimately with Stokesy throughout that and consider him a friend, a good friend." McCul
Rishabh Pant missed out on his hundred while Washington Sundar hit an unbeaten 52 as India declared their first innings at a formidable 564 for eight against Afghanistan on the second day of the one-off Test here Sunday. KL Rahul had struck a patient 100 off 165 balls while Sai Sudharsan contributed 81 on the opening day. Skipper Shubhman Gill led from the front with a commanding 126 before getting out in the morning session on Sunday. Pant added an entertaining 81 as India's top and middle order batters dominated the Afghanistan attack after resuming at overnight 368 for three. Lower down the order, Sundar remained unbeaten on 52, while Manav Suthar made 28 and Mohammed Siraj chipped in with a quickfire 22 as India accelerated before captain Gill called his batters back after 127 overs. For Afghanistan, pacer Mohammad Saleem was the standout performer with figures of 6/140 from 27 overs. Ziaur Rahman and Hashmatullah Shahidi claimed a wicket each, but the visitors struggled to ..
Battling demons of a horrendous home Test run in the not so distant past but nevertheless a formidable unit, India are pitted against a plucky Afghanistan in a one-off Test here that might help the hosts figure out a balanced combination, starting Saturday. In 2018, Afghanistan lost 10 wickets in a session between lunch and tea on the second day of the Test against India. The next 10 fell by the wayside between tea and end of day's play which also was end of the game. In 2026, Hashmatullah Shahidi would want his team to at least stretch the home side which is going through a tough transition phase and will be in experimental mode during this game trying different combinations. However, the Indians would not have forgotten the 0-2 drubbing handed by a meticulously prepared South Africa last year and would do well to not take the opposition lightly despite the gulf in experience. Sai or Dev? That's the question ==================== A stable No.3 and Ravindra Jadeja's potential succ
India's assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate conceded that too many players have batted at number three in Test matches after Cheteshwar Pujara's retirement and it was time that either Sai Sudharsan or Devdutt Padikkal is given a long rope at the key batting position. Pujara announced his retirement in 2025 but last played in white flannels for India in the WTC final in 2023. Since then Shubman Gill, Padikkal, Sudharsan, Karun Nair and Washington Sundar have all been tried in that position. Sudharsan has played six Tests and has managed a not-so-impressive average of 27 plus. "There's been a lot of changes in that spot and and that's not ideal, you know. You need to look at the incumbents for that role and and maybe stick with someone," Ten Doeschate said at a press conference on Thursday. While both Sudharsan and Padikkal have been getting long rope at nets, Ten Doeschate didnt want to spill the beans about the one who would make it. On the day, during slip formation, Padikkal was