Author: WebDesk

West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph delivered a fiery opening spell on Day 1 of the first Test against Australia in Barbados, tearing through the top order to hand his side an early advantage. The pacer dismissed Sam Konstas, Cameron Green, and Usman Khawaja to put the hosts firmly in control. After Australia chose to bat, Joseph struck in just the fourth over. He sent down a sharp inswinger that trapped Konstas leg-before. Though the on-field umpire initially gave it not out, the West Indies successfully reviewed the decision, with ball-tracking showing it would hit the leg stump. Konstas, returning…

West Indies batter Shai Hope is determined to make the most of his return to Test cricket as he prepares for the upcoming three-match series against Australia—his first Test match since 2021. Hope has been named in a reshaped West Indies squad for the home series, with Roston Chase appointed captain. His inclusion has drawn attention, reflecting the faith placed in him by head coach Daren Sammy and the selection panel, who are looking to challenge the Aussies with a fresh approach. Hope ready to give his absolute best “I’m pleased to be back,” Hope told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s not something…

Australian captain Pat Cummins has thrown his support behind Cameron Green as a long-term solution at number three in the batting order, ahead of the three-Test series against the West Indies beginning in Barbados. Green, who batted at No. 3 for the first time in his Test career during the World Test Championship final against South Africa, struggled to make an impact. He was dismissed cheaply on both occasions by Kagiso Rabada, scoring just four runs in total. With Green promoted to a specialist batting role, Marnus Labuschagne was pushed up to open with Usman Khawaja. However, Labuschagne’s poor form…

The upcoming fourth edition of SA20 is gearing up for a major transformation with fresh rules and a revamped auction process. The auction for the new season is slated to take place in Johannesburg on 9 September, the league confirmed in a statement released on Tuesday (24 June). A notable new feature making its debut in this edition is the introduction of Right to Match (RTM) cards. This allows teams to retain players from their previous season’s squad by matching the highest bid made by another franchise. However, teams will have a limited number of RTM cards, determined by how…

India’s Test vice-captain Rishabh Pant has received an official reprimand for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during Day 4 of the first Test against England at Headingley. He has also been handed one demerit point—his first in a 24-month period. The ICC confirmed that Pant violated Article 2.8 of the Code of Conduct, which pertains to “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match.” The incident occurred in the 61st over of England’s first innings, when Pant was seen protesting the condition of the ball while Ben Stokes and Harry Brook were at the…

The gripping first Test between India and England at the Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds is set for a thrilling finish on Day 5, with all outcomes still on the table. After an intense Day 4, both KL Rahul and Josh Tongue addressed the media, reaffirming that their sides will push for victory. With crucial World Test Championship points at stake, neither team is looking to settle for a draw. However, weather could be a major hurdle on the final day. High chances of rain on Day 5 Forecasts for Tuesday, 24 June, suggest a high chance of rain throughout the…

Explosive left-handed batter Travis Head believes Australia have enough depth and experience to handle the absence of senior batters Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne as they gear up for their opening Test against the West Indies at Kensington Oval in Barbados, scheduled from 25 to 30 June. Labuschagne has been dropped following a prolonged lean patch, while Smith is unavailable due to a finger injury he sustained during the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord’s. Their replacements, Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis, have just two Test appearances each between them. Despite the big changes, Head remains unfazed. He views…

The penultimate day of the first Test between India and England at Headingley, Leeds, is expected to feature a typical mix of English weather—breezy conditions, patchy sunshine, and possible rain interruptions. According to the latest AccuWeather forecast for Leeds, the morning will begin partly sunny with a 20% chance of rain. Encouragingly, the likelihood of showers drops to zero by 8 AM, just before play is due to begin. While there is no significant rain predicted after 9 AM, intermittent cloud cover may still bring brief, unpredictable spells of rain, a common feature in English conditions. Two hours before the…

Wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das has been recalled to Bangladesh’s ODI setup as part of a 16-member squad for the upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka, set to begin on July 2. Also returning are pacers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, who missed the recent T20I series due to injury. The squad also includes Mohammad Naim, Shamim Hossain, Tanvir Islam, and Hasan Mahmud. Notably absent are veterans Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, both of whom have retired from ODIs. Soumya Sarkar is also unavailable as he continues to recover from back spasms, while left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed has been omitted. Litton’s inclusion comes…

England vice-captain Ollie Pope has tried to maintain his calm amidst the ongoing debate surrounding his place in the starting XI. Despite scoring a century in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe, his role at No. 3 came under the scanner, especially with Jacob Bethell also in contention. However, the team backed Pope, and he responded with a sparkling century in the first innings of the Leeds Test against India, top-scoring under challenging conditions against a high-quality bowling attack led by Jasprit Bumrah. Pope blocking outside noises “I’ve tried not to pay too much attention to the outside noise,” Pope said…