Author: Waqar Anwar
Big Picture: A Clash Between WTC Contenders Sri Lanka and South Africa are both in the race for a place in the WTC Final. Sri Lanka currently sits third on the table with a win percentage of 55.56, while South Africa closely follows at 54.17. With India, Australia, and New Zealand also in contention, this series in Durban adds another layer of intrigue to the championship race. This matchup brings added excitement as Sri Lanka remains the only Asian team to have won a Test series in South Africa, a historic 2-0 victory in 2019. Seven players from that iconic…
New Zealand opener Georgia Plimmer will miss cricket for the remainder of 2024 due to a bone stress reaction in her groin. This injury rules her out of key matches, including the home ODI series against Australia in December. Details of the Injury Plimmer experienced discomfort in her left hip joint during New Zealand’s recent ODI series in India. After returning home, an MRI and specialist evaluation confirmed the bone stress reaction. Key points about her recovery: Impact on Plimmer’s Schedule Due to this injury, Plimmer will miss: Coach’s Statement Ben Sawyer, New Zealand women’s head coach, expressed his disappointment…
Zimbabwe Triumphs in Rainy Opener: A Historic Win in Bulawayo Zimbabwe defeated Pakistan by 80 runs (DLS method) in the first ODI of the series, thanks to a stellar performance by Blessing Muzarabani and the spinners. Despite challenging batting conditions, Zimbabwe posted 205 before dismantling Pakistan’s batting lineup, with rain arriving just in time to seal the result. Match Summary Rain and Records: A Day to Celebrate for Zimbabwe Bulawayo’s long-awaited rains coincided with a memorable day for Zimbabwean cricket. After battling tough conditions to set a defendable total, Zimbabwe’s bowlers exploited the spin-friendly surface to devastating effect. The match…
Rishabh Pant Becomes IPL’s Most Expensive Player Rishabh Pant smashed all IPL records to become the most expensive player in the tournament’s history. The star wicketkeeper-batter was snapped up by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a jaw-dropping INR 27 crore (around $3.21 million) during the first day of the mega auction in Jeddah. This bid surpassed the earlier high of INR 26.75 crore made by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for Shreyas Iyer. Both LSG and PBKS entered the auction with an eye on leadership, and it’s likely that Pant and Shreyas will captain their respective franchises this season. Their bids also…
The IPL 2025 mega auction, set for November 24-25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is generating plenty of excitement. With 577 players in the fray, cricket fans and franchises alike are speculating about potential trends and record-breaking bids. Could this be the year the INR 25-crore mark is crossed? Let’s dive into the key factors and players that could define the event. Breaking the 25-Crore Ceiling? The possibility of a record-breaking INR 25-crore bid looms large. Last year’s IPL mini-auction saw monumental bids for Australian stars Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins. This time, Rishabh Pant could be the one to smash…
India has taken a strong lead in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, thanks to stellar performances from Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. Their unbroken opening partnership left Australia struggling as India built a lead of over 200 runs by the end of Day 2. India’s Dominance on Day 2 India finished the day at 172 for 0, with Jaiswal unbeaten on 90 and Rahul on 62. After a chaotic Day 1 that saw 17 wickets fall, Day 2 was all about patience and discipline. Both Indian openers batted cautiously, making full use of improved batting conditions to frustrate…
England’s Jofra Archer has been added back to the final list of players for the upcoming IPL Auction 2023, just days after his name was not included in the initial shortlist. Archer’s return was confirmed to the franchises just before the two-day mega auction kicks off on November 24 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Why Was Archer Missing? Archer, along with his England teammate Mark Wood, was initially left out of the shortlist of 574 players. This raised some questions, as both fast bowlers were originally included in the longlist sent by the IPL. Archer had set his base price at…
The Prime Minister’s XI squad has been announced for the upcoming two-day pink-ball match against India, taking place in Canberra on November 30 and December 1. This match will help players stay match-ready for future international fixtures. Key Players in the Squad Jack Edwards to Lead the Team New Faces in the Team The Importance of This Match The Prime Minister’s XI match provides an opportunity for these talented players to impress, especially against a strong Indian team. The match will serve as India’s only practice session with the pink ball before their second Test. George Bailey, the national selector,…
A historic one-off Test between Australia and England will take place from March 11 to March 15, 2027, marking 150 years since the first-ever Test match. This celebratory game will be hosted at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the venue of both the inaugural Test in 1877 and the Centenary Test in 1977. A Tribute to 150 Years of Test Cricket Cricket Australia (CA) announced this special fixture earlier this year, designed to replicate the Centenary Test of 1977, which Australia won by the same margin as the inaugural Test 100 years earlier—45 runs. Clash with IPL 2027 The Test…
Cricket Australia is preparing to pay tribute to Phillip Hughes on the 10th anniversary of his tragic passing. Flags will fly at half-mast, and players will don black armbands during all upcoming Sheffield Shield games as part of the commemoration. A Unified Tribute Across Australia The tribute begins with Saturday’s Sheffield Shield round, kicking off two weeks of remembrance for Hughes, who tragically passed away just days before his 26th birthday in 2014. Hughes’ former team, South Australia, will face Western Australia in Adelaide, while his childhood team, New South Wales, hosts Tasmania at the SCG. Queensland will also play…