Author: WebDesk

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) roped in two uncapped players, Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma, both for INR 14.20 crore each. Never in the history of the cash-rich league have CSK invested INR 28.40 crore in two uncapped players. This marked a change in the DNA of the franchise. Once known for being a team of veterans, the five-time winners now have many youngsters in their squad. Stephen Fleming, CSK’s head coach, was asked about this change in the team’s template. When asked why, the former New Zealand cricketer replied: “As the game has evolved, we might have been a little…

Cummins, Lyon bolsters Australia’s bowling attack. (PC: Cricket Australia) Australia have made two changes to their playing XI for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, with Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon replacing Michael Neser and Brendon Doggett. Usman Khawaja has been left out as the selectors continue with the opening pair of Jake Weatherald and Travis Head. Despite being fit and available, Khawaja has been overlooked. A veteran of 85 Tests, he has been one of Australia’s batting mainstays since 2022. However, his form with the bat this year and ongoing fitness issues have been points of concern. He did…

England skipper Ben Stokes explained the decision to include Josh Tongue in the playing XI for the third Ashes Test, which starts on December 17 at the Adelaide Oval. Tongue has been included in place of Gus Atkinson. Despite having played a limited number of matches, Tongue has made a name for himself as a proven wicket-taker, and Stokes highlighted his wicket-taking prowess. “There are a few angles [to selection], like getting a fresh bowler in for the batters to have a look at,” Stokes told reporters in Adelaide. “We feel that what Tonguey possesses – in terms of the…

India all-rounder Axar Patel has been ruled out of the remaining two T20Is of the ongoing five-match series against South Africa due to illness. Shahbaz Ahmed has been drafted in the squad as Axar’s replacement. After playing the first two T20I, Axar missed out on the selection for the third T20I in Dharamshala, which paved the way for Kuldeep Yadav to play his first game of the series on his birthday. The BCCI revealed that Axar will be further assessed in Lucknow, the venue for the fourth T20I, where he is present with the rest of the squad. “He is…

The Cricket Club of India (CCI) on Monday announced the dates for the 80th CCI Western India Squash Tournament. India’s oldest and longest-running squash competition, it will be played from December 17 to 21, inside the glass-backed courts of the CCI. Organised under the auspices of the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) and the Maharashtra Squash Racquets Association (MSRA), this year’s edition continues the club’s proud legacy of nurturing champions under the banner “CCI Squash — Home of Champions”. The CCI Western India Squash Tournament has been nurturing Indian talent for generations. From early stalwarts like S. D. Bilimoria…

Josh Tongue is all set to play his first Test in Australia after being named in England’s playing XI for the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval, which begins on December 17. Gus Atkinson makes way for Tongue, the only change in the team for what is set to be a virtual series decider. After managing just three wickets in the first two Tests at a poor average of 78.66, Atkinson has been dropped. Tongue, who made his Ashes debut in 2023, has been preferred to Matthew Potts and Matthew Fisher, the other two pace-bowling options in the squad.…

England head coach Brendon McCullum has defended Jofra Archer despite the fast bowler’s minimal impact with the ball in the first two Tests of the ongoing Ashes series. Archer has picked up just three wickets across two Tests at an average of 57. The England pace spearhead has not been able to crank up high speeds on a regular basis. In the last game, Australia stand-in captain Steve Smith had a verbal exchange with a fiery Archer when the hosts were chasing just 65 runs. Smith asked the England pacer why he had not bowled at express pace earlier in…

Australia all-rounder Cameron Green has clarified that, despite being listed as a specialist batter for the auction, he will be fit and available to bowl in the upcoming IPL season. This revelation comes just two days before the mini-auction, which will take place in Abu Dhabi. Speaking ahead of Australia’s training session in Adelaide on Sunday morning, Green revealed that the error was made by his manager, who mistakenly placed his name in the batters’ category instead of the seam-bowling all-rounders. “I don’t know if my manager will like hearing this, but it was a stuff-up on his end,” Green…

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed the franchises that Deepak Hooda has not been cleared to bowl in the IPL and remains in the suspect category, as was the case in the previous edition of the tournament. This information has been passed on to the ten franchises ahead of the mini-auction, which will take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16. According to a report by Cricbuzz, the organising body has conveyed this message to the franchises as Hooda has been listed in the auction as an ‘all-rounder’. If Hooda is reported for a dubious…

Australia batter Usman Khawaja has declared himself hundred per cent fit amid doubts over his inclusion ahead of the third Ashes Test, which begins on December 13. On Wednesday, Khawaja was included in Australia’s 15-men squad for the Adelaide Test. Having started the series as a first-choice opener, the 38-year-old has slipped down the pecking order, particularly due to the performances of the makeshift opening pair of Travis Head and Jake Weatherald. Across three innings so far, the two left-handed batters have put together partnerships of 77, 37 and 57. For the first time since suffering back spasms that ruled…