Author: WebDesk

England were handed an injury concern on the opening day of the Lord’s Test as captain Ben Stokes appeared to pick up a groin issue after what seemed a routine leave. His deputy, Ollie Pope, couldn’t confirm the extent of the injury but remained optimistic about Stokes’ chances of continuing in the match. The England skipper looked in discomfort towards the close of play, particularly while batting on 39 not out. He received on-field treatment and was visibly struggling to run between the wickets. In fact, he declined a second run in the final over of the day which would…

In a moment that will be etched into cricketing folklore, Ireland all-rounder Curtis Campher made history on Thursday by becoming the first male cricketer — and only the second ever in the professional game — to claim five wickets in five consecutive deliveries. This remarkable feat was achieved during an Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy clash in Ireland, where Campher led Munster Reds against the North-West Warriors. The all-rounder produced a fiery spell of 5 for 16 in 2.3 overs, single-handedly dismantling the Warriors’ batting order. Chasing 189, the Warriors collapsed from 87 for 5 to 88 all out, courtesy of Campher’s…

Zimbabwe Cricket has announced a 16-player squad for the upcoming T20I tri-series, which will feature matches against South Africa and New Zealand. Veteran all-rounder Sikandar Raza will captain the side in what promises to be a challenging assignment on home turf. The squad includes three uncapped players—Tafadzwa Tsiga (wicketkeeper-batter), Vincent Masekesa (leg-spinner), and Newman Nyamhuri (left-arm pacer), all of whom will be eager to make their international debuts. The bowling department is strengthened by the return of experienced left-arm seamer Richard Ngarava, who has recovered from a back injury. He will be joined by fellow pacer Blessing Muzarabani to form…

After their remarkable win over Scotland, Italy captain Joe Burns believes his emotionally charged squad understands just how close they are to sealing a historic spot at the 2026 T20 World Cup, with just one more hurdle left—a final group-stage clash against the Netherlands. A splendid all-round display from Harry Manenti helped Italy pull off a memorable 12-run win over Scotland, significantly boosting their chances of reaching the global tournament, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka next year. A win over the Netherlands on Friday will guarantee Italy a direct qualification. Even in the case of a…

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has made a solitary change to the playing XI for the third Test against India at Lord’s, starting Thursday. Jofra Archer, the express pacer from Sussex, comes into the side in place of Josh Tongue. Archer was part of the squad for the second Test but did not make the final XI at Edgbaston. However, following India’s commanding batting display on a flat surface, the selectors have opted to bring Archer in for the all-important Lord’s encounter. Despite being England’s leading wicket-taker in the series so far, Tongue has been left out to…

After their historic Indian Premier League (IPL) title win earlier this year, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have soared to the top of the franchise valuation charts, overtaking the likes of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) to become the league’s most valuable team, with a valuation of $269 million. The joint most successful franchise- Mumbai Indians now sit second with a brand value of $242 million, while CSK—previously the most valuable franchise—dropped to third place with a valuation of $235 million, following an underwhelming season. “The tournament’s success underscored cricket’s growing appeal beyond its historical strongholds and highlighted…

New Zealand opener Finn Allen has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I Tri-Series in Zimbabwe after sustaining a foot injury while playing for the San Francisco Unicorns in the Major League Cricket (MLC). The update was confirmed by New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Wednesday, just before the squad’s departure to Harare. Allen’s last appearance came in the Unicorns’ final league-stage game against the Los Angeles Knight Riders in Lauderhill on 6 July, where he was dismissed for just 4 in the opening over while chasing 244. Despite missing the latter part of the tournament, Allen finished as the second-highest…

Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali has been left out of the national squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, set to begin on 20 July at the Shere-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. Vice-captain Shadab Khan, who recently underwent shoulder surgery in the UK, has also been ruled out as he continues his rehabilitation. Notably, senior players and former captains Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi have once again been overlooked by the selectors. Their absence is expected to continue into the T20I series against the West Indies as well. Pace spearhead Haris Rauf has also been…

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt has been named in the 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against India later this month. The 32-year-old all-rounder, who missed three of the five T20Is due to a groin injury, is expected to regain full fitness in time for the 50-over series. Maia Bouchier, who was recalled for the T20I series as a replacement for the injured Sciver-Brunt, retains her place in the ODI squad. “Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is expected to play a full part in the series despite missing the end of the IT20 series with a groin injury,” the ECB said…

Kane Williamson and Michael Bracewell have opted out of New Zealand’s upcoming two-match Test series against Zimbabwe. On Monday, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced a 15-member squad, which will be led by Tom Latham. Williamson, who doesn’t hold a central contract, remains on a casual playing agreement with NZC. With the series not part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle—and having already signed deals with Middlesex (T20 Blast) and London Spirit (The Hundred)—the former skipper has chosen to prioritise franchise commitments. All-rounder Michael Bracewell has also made himself unavailable, having been picked up by Southern Brave for $450,000…