Author: WebDesk

Former West Indies captain Brian Lara questioned the commitment of the Roston Chase-led Test team, while acknowledging the challenges faced by Caribbean players and Cricket West Indies (CWI) in relation to funding. India thrashed the West Indies by an innings and 140 runs in the first Test of the two-match series at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad last week. In both innings with the bat, the West Indies failed to reach the 200-run mark. India batted once and took 20 wickets to win the match inside two and a half days. Following the humiliating defeat, Chase highlighted the lack…

New Zealand batting stalwart Kane Williamson has criticised the uneven distribution of matches among Test teams, stating that two-Test series are not ideal for the game or the teams participating. The scheduling of Test series has become a glowing issue in world cricket. While cricketing powerhouses such as India, England, and Australia frequently play more matches against each other, including five-Test series, teams like South Africa, West Indies, and New Zealand are often denied such opportunities. More often than not, it is New Zealand and South Africa who end up playing two-match Test series in their annual cricket calendars. Having…

Australia skipper Pat Cummins is likely to miss the Ashes series opener against England, which will be played at the Optus Stadium in Perth from 21 to 25 November. Cummins, who is recovering from a stress injury in his lower back, remains in doubt for the first Test of the home summer. Six weeks from now, Australia and England will lock horns in one of the most high-profile series in the history of the sport. As it stands, the Australian captain has not yet resumed bowling. According to reports in the Australian media, Cummins will need a minimum of four…

Vice-captain of the Indian Test team, Rishabh Pant, is likely to return to action for the second round of the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy, starting on 25 October. In a bid to prove his fitness in time for the home series against South Africa, Pant could feature in Delhi’s second Ranji game, against Himachal Pradesh at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. However, he will need clearance from the BCCI medical team at the Centre of Excellence. If given the green light, he is likely to join up with the Delhi Ranji squad. “As of now, there is a likelihood he…

Ahead of the start of the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy season, Prithvi Shaw scored a century while playing for Maharashtra against his former side on the first day of a three-day practice match in Pune. At the MCA Stadium in Gahunje, opening the batting for Maharashtra, Shaw reached the three-figure mark in 144 deliveries. The right-hand batter looked composed against both pace and spin, facing a star-studded Mumbai, bowling attack comprising Shardul Thakur, Tushar Deshpande, Tanush Kotian, Shams Mulani, and all-rounder Shivam Dube. Shaw went on to score a mammoth 186 before being dismissed by left-arm spinner Shams Mulani. With Shaw’s…

Veteran pacer Mitchell Starc has been included in the 15-member squad for the three-match ODI series against India, while Glenn Maxwell has been ruled out of the five-match T20I series due to an injury. Pat Cummins was unavailable for selection. In his absence, Mitchell Marsh will lead the side in the eight white-ball games at home, which begin on 19 October. Having already retired from T20I cricket, Starc will play an ODI for the first time since last November. Among the players left out of the squad are Marnus Labuschagne, Sean Abbott, Aaron Hardie, and Matthew Kuhnemann, all of…

The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) has announced that two stands at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam will be named in honour of former women’s cricketers Mithali Raj and Ravi Kalpana. The two trailblazers will be formally recognised during a ceremony on 12 October, ahead of the big-ticket Women’s World Cup clash between India and Australia. “The ACA’s tribute to Mithali Raj and Ravi Kalpana reflects a deep commitment to honouring the trailblazers who have redefined women’s cricket in India while inspiring the next generation to dream bigger,” the ACA said in a statement. This move follows a suggestion by Indian…

Former West Indies skipper Clive Lloyd penned a heartfelt tribute to Bernard Julien after the all-rounder passed away at the age of 75 in Valsayn, northern Trinidad. “He always gave you over 100 per cent. He never shirked his duties, and I could always rely on him with both bat and ball. He gave his all every time. What a fine cricketer,” Lloyd was quoted as saying by the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian. In his short international career, Julien played 24 Tests and 12 ODIs. He made 866 runs and took 50 wickets in the longer format. In ODIs, he…

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has appointed Julian Wood as batting coach and Rene Ferdinands as spin-bowling coach for the men’s national team, replacing Thilina Kandamby and Piyal Wijetunge, respectively. Wood, widely recognised for revolutionising England’s white-ball strategy with his power-hitting techniques, was previously contracted with Bangladesh on a short-term basis, a contract the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) opted not to renew after it ended in September. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has now signed him on a one-year deal. Ferdinands, meanwhile, has been appointed for a two-year term, during which he is expected to oversee spin bowling training, match preparation, performance…

Ireland is set to tour Bangladesh for a two-match Test series and a three-match T20I series, scheduled to take place in November–December 2025. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) released the itinerary on Saturday. According to the schedule, Ireland will arrive in Bangladesh on 6 November. The visitors will begin their campaign with the first Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, starting on 11 November. The second Test is scheduled to be played from 19–23 November at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka. This series will mark the first-ever full Test series between Bangladesh and Ireland. The two…