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The exceptionally gifted Manav Suthar gave India temporary deliverance from their red-ball turmoil, leading the 165-run dismantling of Sri Lanka in the first Test with a match haul of 10-wicket on the fifth and final day here on Wednesday. The visitors now lead the two-match series 1-0 and it became all the more special as it was India's 600th Test match. Once Suthar got his 10th scalp of Test, Shubman Gill must have heaved a sigh of relief as there was a heavy downpour within five minutes after the end of the game. This victory at a traditionally spin-ruled venue like Galle will give India oodles of confidence after their struggles against New Zealand and South Africa at home on rather similar pitches. Starting the final day from 84 for four needing a further 288 to cross an improbable line, Sri Lanka delayed the inevitable for a session and a bit but eventually folded for 206, succumbing to the guiles of the young Indian left-arm spinner. Suthar (6/55) ran through the Lankan la
Pakistan ended its eight-match losing streak away from home in cricket Tests with a resounding eight-wicket victory over the West Indies on Wednesday to level the series. First innings century-maker Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam, in his first series since being reappointed as captain, reappointed as captain, led Pakistan to 77-2 with unbeaten knocks of 24 runs each as the visitors achieved victory shortly after lunch on Day 4 of the second test. Babar knocked off the target by hitting back-to-back sixes against left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, whose six-wicket haul in the first innings had limited Pakistan's lead to 43 runs. West Indies won the first test by 90 runs at Tarouba. In the second test, spinners Sajid Khan and Ali Usman utilized favorable conditions on a wearing wicket of Queen's Park Oval to ensure Pakistan remained unbeaten in a test series against the West Indies since 2000. Pakistan lost the wickets of Imam-ul-Haq, brilliantly snapped up by Justin Greaves in the .
Pakistan captain Babar Azam was denied his first Test century in four years as West Indies fought back in the second and final cricket Test on Tuesday. Babar, who last scored a Test century in December 2022 against New Zealand at Karachi, was run out for 88 by Brandon King's stunning direct throw from short cover before Pakistan's middle order collapsed and reached 333-6 at lunch on Day 3. Pakistan still trails by 11 runs with Abdullah Shafique holding the fort at 132 not out and tailender Sajid Khan unbeaten on 16. King picked up a lower back injury and had to be stretchered off after he fell awkwardly as his sharp throw ran out Babar at the striker's end when Shafique refused to go for a tight single and Babar couldn't recover his ground after running halfway to the wicket. West Indies dried up runs through some disciplined bowling from Jomel Warrican and Jayden Seales after Pakistan resumed at 266-2. Babar and Shafique, who rotated strike well on Day 2, stretched their partners
A glaring communication disconnect between the Centre of Excellence's (CoE) sports science and medical team and the senior national men's selection committee has come into sharp focus once again, with Jasprit Bumrah's absence from the Test series against Sri Lanka emerging as the latest example. It has been learnt that national selection committee was initially made to believe that Bumrah will be available for the Sri Lanka series, starting August 15, before it was realised that his injury is more serious than what was expected. There was a virtual meeting between the top officials of CoE, including VVS Laxman, and head of selection committee Ajit Agarkar on Monday to discuss the injury management issue of centrally contracted players. While injuries are a part and parcel of sport, the performance of the sports science team at the state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence with all modern amenities available, hasn't been something to write home about. The BCCI has been without an offici
When a teenage Auqib Nabi received an opportunity to attend a BCCI pace bowling camp where Australian great Glenn McGrath was to impart the finer nuances of fast bowling, he was in the middle of preparing for his Class 12 board examinations with bio-science as his chosen stream. His father, Ghulam Nabi Dar, a school teacher who believed education came first, was firmly against the idea of his son putting studies on hold for cricket. Dar eventually gave in, a decision that changed the course of Nabi's life. Nearly 13 years later, the right-arm pacer has created history by becoming the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to be named in India's Test squad, earning a call-up for the tour of Sri Lanka after a remarkable run in domestic cricket. "His father was dead against him attending the camp organized by BCCI despite McGrath being the coach. He told me that he should instead focus on studies and prepare for his medical entrance test. I had to convince him that Auqib can't miss th
Jammu and Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi on Monday replaced injured Jasprit Bumrah for the upcoming two-match Test tour of Sri Lanka, becoming the first player from the Kashmir valley to get selected in India's Test squad. Bumrah, originally named in the squad, has been ruled out of the tour as he has not yet fully recovered from the left knee injury sustained during the ODI series against England. It is Nabi's maiden call-up to the senior national team. "The Men's Selection Committee has named Auqib Nabi as Bumrah's replacement. The Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler earns his maiden call-up to the senior national team," the BCCI said in a statement. The 29-year-old Nabi, who hails from a remote village in Kashmir's Baramulla, is the third player from J&K after Parvez Rasool and Umran Malik to get a senior national team call-up. Rasool and Malik played for India in limited overs format. Nabi had claimed 104 wickets across the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, including 60 wickets in the ...
Premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah is set to miss India's two-Test tour of Sri Lanka as he is yet to recover from his knee injury. The swelling in his knee seems to be more serious than it initially looked and the Sports Science team at Bengaluru's Centre of Excellence doesn't want to rush the seasoned pacer to the grind of international cricket, keeping in mind a packed calendar ahead. The Sri Lanka series begins August 15 in Galle. The 32 year old had missed out on the third ODI against England at Lord's after sustaining an impact injury. He recently reported at the Centre Of Excellence in Bengaluru and was expected to be match-fit by the time series begins in two weeks. However it has been learnt that Bumrah is still feeling some discomfort and even if he gets fit before August 15 or the second Test starting August 23, the medical team isn't sure if Test match is correct format due to a massive workload on the docile tracks. It will be interesting to see of selectors pick Jammu and
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