South Africa's right-arm seamer Kagiso Rabada overtook star India bowler Jasprit Bumrah and rose in the latest ICC Test Rankings to become the number one Test bowler in the longest format of the game. Rabada claimed the No.1 spot on the back of strong form for the Proteas during the ongoing ICC World Test Championship, with the right-arm fast bowler taking his 300th Test wicket during South Africa's recent seven-wicket triumph over Bangladesh in Mirpur in the first Test of the two-match series. The 29-year-old collected nine wickets during that contest to play a major role in the Proteas' victory and rose three places to jump past Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood and Ravichandran Ashwin in the process to return to the No.1 ranking for Test bowlers for the first time since the start of 2019. Rabada first held the premier ranking in January 2018 and has been consistently sitting inside the top 10 for the bulk of the time since he relinquished the No.1 spot in February 2019. Hazlewood is at the second position in the ICC Test Rankings among bowlers as Bumrah (third) and Ashwin (fourth) lose ground, while Pakistan spinner Noman Ali is a new member inside the top 10 after his heroics in the third and final Test of his side's recent series win against England in Rawalpindi. Noman took nine wickets for the match and was rewarded with an eight-spot jump to ninth overall and a new career-high rating on the list for Test bowlers, while fellow spinner and teammate Sajid Khan also earned the best rating of his career in improving 12 spots to 38th following his 10 scalps from the same contest. New Zealand's hero from their series-clinching victory over India, Mitchell Santner also earned a new career-high rating for his 13-wicket haul in Pune, with the left-arm spinner rising a whopping 30 rungs to move to 44th overall on the latest list for Test bowlers. Rachin Ravindra (up eight spots to 10th) is among the big movers on the updated rankings for Test batters, with England veteran Joe Root remaining well out in front of this category despite a pair of low scores in the third Test against Pakistan. Also Read: Harbhajan Singh's predictions ring true after Gary Kirsten's resignation Joe Root contributed scores of five and 33 during the nine-wicket loss, with India youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal the main beneficiary as he gained one place to move to third on the list for Test batters following contributions of 30 and 77 against the Black Caps. Pakistan left-hander Saud Shakeel entered the top 10 for Test batters as he improves 20 spots to move to seventh overall on the back of his innings of 134 against England, while New Zealand trio Devon Conway (up eight places to 28th), Tom Latham (up six rungs to 34th) and Glenn Phillips (up 16 spots to 45th and South Africa's Kyle Verreynne (up 14 places to 32nd also make significant gains. India duo Ravindra Jadeja and Ashwin maintain a healthy lead at the top of the rankings for Test all-rounders, with Bangladesh star Mehidy Hasan the biggest eye-catcher this week as he gains two places to move to third following solid contributions with both bat and ball against South Africa. (With agency inputs)
30 October,2024 03:13 PM IST | Dubai | mid-day online correspondentIndia's assistant coach Abhishek Nayar on Wednesday insisted that they do not ask for tailor-made pitches in Tests and also backed out-of-form legends Virat Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma, saying that they must be given 'space and time to come back'. After copping first-ever Test series loss at home in 12 years, India will strive to salvage their pride when they clash with New Zealand in the IND vs NZ 3rd Test from Friday. Playing on a track that assisted spinners, India lost the Pune Test by 113 runs. It is being speculated that the pitch at Wankhede Stadium could again favour the spinners. Nayar refuted suggestions that turning tracks are being made at the best of the team. "I wish we could curate pitches, but we don't. The curators do. Whatever we're provided with, we go on and play (whether) that'd be a pitch that seamed or a pitch that turned," Nayar said ahead of IND vs NZ 3rd Test. "As cricketers and as a team, we try and play what we're provided with. We don't try and get conditions according to what we want." Also Read: Harbhajan Singh's predictions ring true after Gary Kirsten's resignation Both Rohit and Kohli are woefully out of form, and that has impacted team's performance. Nayar said there was nothing wrong with the modern-day greats and all they need is just a bit of time and backing. "I've seen nothing but love for them all over. When a top player, when someone who's been through the journey, goes through a lull, a lot of times it's about giving them their space and trusting that they will come back. They will put in the work,¿ he said. "Everyone's worked really hard, everyone wants to do well, whether you're Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma or even someone as young as Shubman Gill. The effort is there." "The approach is great. I feel they're putting in the hard yards. Sometimes, sometimes you've got to be a little patient, even with the greatest of players, and they can have tough times. I'm pretty sure sooner rather than later, we'll have more to praise about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and everyone else as well. (We need to have) just a bit of patience," he said. (With agency inputs)
30 October,2024 03:03 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAs former South African cricketer Gary Kirsten joined the Pakistan men's team as their limited-overs coach, reactions from the Indian cricket community were far from positive. Kirsten, who famously led Team India to victory in the 2011 ODI World Cup under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, faced criticism for crossing the border to coach the rival team. 😂😂 https://t.co/CidFLfTQO2 — Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 29, 2024 Many fans and former Indian cricketers expressed their dissatisfaction, with former spinner Harbhajan Singh even urging Kirsten to return as India's head coach. Also Read: How Diljit Dosanjh fans failed athletes Following Kirsten's resignation as Pakistan's coach after the team's early exit from the T20 World Cup 2024, Harbhajan had the opportunity for a triumphant response. “Don't waste ur time there Gary.. Come back to Coach Team INDIA. Gary Kirsten One of the rare gems. A great coach, mentor, friend to all in the 1202 team. Our winning coach of the 2011 World Cup. Special Man Gary @Gary_Kisten," Harbhajan posted on X. Also Read: KBC puts spotlight on Test cricket with challenging 6.40 lakh After Kirsten's resignation, a fan reminded everyone of Harbhajan's earlier warning, prompting the spinner to respond with a couple of laughing emojis, highlighting the irony of the situation. Recent weeks have seen significant upheaval within the Pakistan team. Following their defeat against England in the first Test at Multan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) opted to overhaul its selection committee. While the team rebounded to win the next two matches, concerns remain about the board's operational effectiveness. Additionally, Mohammad Rizwan has been appointed as the new white-ball captain, replacing Babar Azam—a change that came into effect alongside Kirsten’s departure. Media reports said both coaches had been unhappy after a recent PCB decision to shut them out of the squad selection process. Kirsten has made no public statement about his resignation. In the past two years, Pakistan cricket has cycled through several coaches, three board heads, four captains and numerous formats of its domestic competition.
30 October,2024 01:43 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentIn a delightful twist that had cricket fans buzzing, the legendary Amitabh Bachchan recently turned his gaze toward the Gentlemen's Game during a riveting episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati. Bachchan, known for his unmatched charisma and deep knowledge across myriad topics, posed a particularly tricky question worth INR 6.40 lakh. He challenged the contestant with a question rooted in the changing landscape of Test cricket, a format traditionally perceived as the bastion of patience and skill. 'Which team became the first to score more than 500 runs on the first day of a Test match back in 2022?' The options were a veritable who’s who of international cricket: India, Australia, New Zealand, and England. The answer? England. A cricket question in KBC for 6,40,000. pic.twitter.com/8PP4LZtGi0 — Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 30, 2024 On December 1, 2022, under the guidance of the audacious Brendon McCullum, England etched their name into the annals of cricket history by amassing a jaw-dropping 506 runs on the opening day of a Test against Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The contestant, clearly no stranger to the nuances of cricket, confidently provided the correct answer, much to the delight of viewers. Also Read: Rohit to get mojo back? The show has seen its fair share of bewildering moments, particularly with sports-related queries that leave some contestants scratching their heads in confusion. Take, for example, another cricket-related question that flummoxed a participant recently. When asked a straightforward query, the contestant stumbled over their options like a batsman facing a hostile bowling attack, ultimately failing to identify Nitish Kumar Reddy as the correct answer. In a game where the stakes are high and the knowledge base can vary dramatically, it’s both amusing and slightly tragic to witness such lapses, particularly in a country where cricket is nearly a religion.
30 October,2024 11:59 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentConcerns arose when the BCCI announced on October 25 that speedster Mayank Yadav, who made his international debut in the T20Is against Bangladesh, would miss India’s four-match series against South Africa scheduled from November 8-15, due to injury. Sources have told IANS that Mayank, who took four wickets in India’s 3-0 series victory against Bangladesh, is likely to be sidelined for a few months because of a back problem. Mayank is currently at the BCCI’s newly inaugurated Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. “He’s back here for another problem, which might keep him out for two-three months. Mostly its something related to the back, but there’s not much clarity into it. But then, it’s also something which is believed to keep him out for a considerable amount of time. “The way with which he came here, the first feelers from it are giving a look of him being out for two-three months initially and maybe, it could be more,” said the source to IANS. Also Read: Rohit to get mojo back? Mayank, who hails from Delhi’s renowned Sonnet Cricket Club, underwent extensive rehab and worked on regaining match fitness at the CoE (formerly the NCA) following a lower abdominal strain he suffered while playing for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2024. In that competition, he caught everyone’s attention by bowling rapid three-wicket spells with impressive accuracy and maintaining speeds above 150kmph. Mayank has faced challenges in his cricketing journey due to injuries in the past. He missed IPL 2023 for LSG due to a torn hamstring injury sustained in a practice session ahead of the tournament and had to miss 2023/24 Ranji Trophy entirely because of another injury, for which he underwent rehabilitation in Mumbai. With the IPL retentions deadline coming on October 31, Mayank is a strong contender to be one of the five players retained by LSG, who acquired him for INR 20 lakhs in the auction before the 2022 season. He caught the attention of the franchise when their then assistant coach, Vijay Dahiya, observed him prior to the Delhi-Haryana match in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at Sector 16 Stadium in Chandigarh in December 2021. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 October,2024 09:40 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSLeft-hand batter Shimron Hetmyer has returned to the squad as West Indies announced the squad for the three-match ODI series against England on Wednesday. Hetmyer hasn't played an ODI for the West Indies since he featured against England at the end of last year, but the 27-year-old is included in a 15-player squad as a direct replacement for fellow batter Alick Athanaze. Shai Hope will once again lead the West Indies during the series as skipper, while young gun Jewel Andrew gets another chance to impress after the 17-year-old recently made his debut against Sri Lanka. Also Read: Rohit to get mojo back? The series commences in Antigua on 31 October and 2 November and concludes in Barbados on 6 November and West Indies coach Daren Sammy is looking forward to the challenge. "Playing against England always provides a new challenge and reignites a rivalry that the players and the people of the Caribbean are eager for. Somehow, we West Indies always find a way to raise our game when we face England." Sammy said as quoted by the ICC. "This rivalry goes back for decades, and after defeating them last year at home for the first time in a long time in an ODI series, we're ready to face the challenge of a strong England squad again. It's always special to play at home, where the local support brings energy and passion to every match. With our sights set on qualifying for the ICC Men's World Cup in 2027, we've selected a balanced squad that will no doubt push and compete with one of the best teams in the world," the former Caribbean skipper added. Series schedule:First ODI: 31 October, Antigua.Second ODI: 2 November, Antigua. Third ODI: 6 November, Barbados. West Indies squad: Shai Hope (c), Jewel Andrew, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 October,2024 09:26 AM IST | St. John's (Antigua) | ANIBoard of Control for Cricket in India secretary Jay Shah on Tuesday hailed the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian Women's team for "a phenomenal win" against recently-crowned T20 World Cup-winner New Zealand in a three-match ODI series at the Narendra Modi Stadium here. India rode on a superb century by opener Smriti Mandhana and an unbeaten half-century by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur to chase down a target of 233 with 34 balls to spare for a six-wicket win. The bowlers led by off-spinner Deepti Sharma (3-39) and Priya Mishra (2-41) set up the victory by bowling out New Zealand for 232 in 49.5 overs. With the win in the third and final ODI, India clinched the series 2-1, coming back strongly after losing the second match. "A phenomenal win by our Indian Women’s Team against New Zealand! Massive applause for @mandhana_smriti on her century and @ImHarmanpreet for a powerful half-century. With this 2-1 series victory, you’ve made us proud once again!" Jay Shah said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Also Read: Kiwis no match for Smriti India had won the first game by 59 runs against the newly-crowned T20n World Cup winner but lost the next one by 59 runs. All three matches were played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. After New Zealand Women elected to bat first, the Indian bowlers came up with a clinical performance to bowl out the visitors for 232 in 49.5 overs with Brooke Halliday top-scoring for the visitors with 86 off 96 balls, hitting nine boundaries and three maximums. In reply, Mandhana scored an exact hundred off 122 balls while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur hammered an unbeaten 59 off 63 deliveries and keeper-batter Yastika Bhatia contributed 35 as the Indian top order came good to help them reach 236/4 in 44.2 overs and win the match with 34 balls remaining. Mandhana and Harmanpreet shared a crucial partnership of 117 runs that paved the way for India'svictory. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 October,2024 09:25 AM IST | Ahmedabad | IANSWhen Rohit Sharma set foot in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium for the first time more than two decades back as a teenager, he would hardly have imagined that one day, he would be leading his country in a Test match there. The 37-year-old has captained India previously at the iconic venue where, in his absence, the team lifted the 50-over World Cup trophy in 2011, but to helm the nation in a Test at a ground where he cut his teeth as a cricketer must be special. That century in 2013 In one of those amazing truisms that defy logic, Rohit has played just one of his previous 63 Tests at the Wankhede – in November 2013 against West Indies, only his second Test appearance. It was also Sachin Tendulkar’s final game for India, a fact which almost eclipsed Rohit’s unbeaten 111, his second successive ton since his Test debut. Nearly 11 years on, Rohit will have plenty on his plate when the third Test against New Zealand gets underway on Friday. For one thing, he has become the first Indian captain since Mahendra Singh Dhoni in December 2012 to have overseen a Test series loss at home. For another, tongues are starting to wag about his personal form — in eight innings this home season, he has a highest of 52 and six single-digit scores which, combined with the unbeatable 2-0 advantage the Kiwis hold, has magnified the scrutiny on India’s captain. Also Read: The club that Rohit joined Less than a year back, Rohit masterminded a stirring 50-over World Cup campaign which eventually ended in heartbreak in Ahmedabad. This June, he steered India to their first ICC title since 2013 at the T20 World Cup in Bridgetown. These two events bookended a wonderful come-from-behind 4-1 Test rout of England series at home, Rohit scoring hundreds in two of the last three outings. Providing starts, the key In a world where public memory is short and where Indian defeats, particularly at home, are frowned upon, it is inevitable that these stirring heights will be cast aside and the focus will be on the present. More than anyone else, Rohit will be aware of the need to begin stacking up the scores – not to silence the critics or to prove a point, but to provide the starts his team have desperately lacked for most of the four Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand over the last six weeks. Despite the massive strides he has made as a Test opener since being elevated to that position five years ago, Rohit is still vulnerable, like all batters, on or outside off early in the piece. Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed and Tim Southee (twice) have fired him out with the new ball; Rohit will want to get his own back in front of his home crowd and settle into a nice rhythm ahead of the five-Test series in Australia from next month. Familiarity with the red-clay strip at the Wankhede should be his ally. Rohit hasn’t been one for numbers or individual accomplishments, but it won’t be the worst idea if the skipper chooses to knuckle down and add to his tally of 12 Test centuries.
30 October,2024 07:19 AM IST | Mumbai | R KaushikCharismatic India batter Smriti Mandhana finally played a knock befitting her calibre as India defeated New Zealand by six wickets in the deciding game to seal the three-match Women’s ODI series 2-1 here on Tuesday. Mandhana (100 off 122 balls), who wasn’t able to showcase her class at the top of the order in the two previous games, made her 8th ODI hundred century, the most by an Indian in the format. India coasted to the 233 run target in 44.2 overs. New Zealand had recovered to reach 232 for five from a precarious 88-5 courtesy Brooke Halliday (86 off 96 deliveries). Coming into the decider, Mandhana had only scored five runs in the two previous games and was even off coloured in the preceding T20 World Cup, but her 123-ball stay at the crease, and her 118-run partnership with captain Harmanpreet Kaur (59 not out off 63) formed the cornerstone of the easy win. Mandhana lost opening partner Shafali Verma (12) early but wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia (35) played an ideal foil for the senior teammate as they stitched together a 76-run partnership. Yastika departed trying to play a fuller ball outside off but ended up giving a return catch to New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine. Her departure brought Harmanpreet to the crease and the partnership with Mandhana flourished, with the latter smashing 10 boundaries. By the time Mandhana departed on 209, bowled by right-arm pacer Hannah Rowe in the 41st over, she had virtually accomplished the task for India. Also Read: 'We wanted to win series at any cost': Kaur Halliday shines for NZ Earlier, New Zealand middle-order batter Halliday struck a 96-ball 86 and lifted New Zealand to a fighting total. To start with, the Indian bowlers fired in unison and had the visitors in all sorts of trouble with their disciplined line and length. Looking to win the series and regain some lost ground after their early exit in the T20 World Cup, India began the match in earnest and struck twice to leave the Kiwis at 25 for two in 7.1 overs. Jemimah Rodrigues and wicket-keeper Yastika combined to run out Suzie Bates while Lauren Down was jettisoned by Saima Thakor at the start of eighth over.Introduced in the 11th over, young leg-spinner Priya Mishra (2-41 in 10 overs) gave India a major breakthrough when she bowled New Zealand captain Sophie Devine (9 off 11 balls), leaving the visitors in a spot of bother 36 for three. Also Read: Women's cricket in Asia struggles to match Western standards Mishra dismisses Plimmer New Zealand’s hopes of putting up a competitive score rested on the shoulders of Georgia Plimmer, who dropped anchor considering the situation her team found itself in. However, having ambled to 39, Plimmer was dismissed by Mishra. 8This is Smriti Mandhana’s eighth ODI ton, the most by an Indian This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 October,2024 07:11 AM IST | Ahmedabad | PTIIndia captain Harmanpreet Kaur on Tuesday said her team wanted to win the three-match Women’s ODI series against New Zealand “at any cost” after a forgettable outing in the recent T20 World Cup. T20 World Cup failure India failed to reach the semi-finals of the T20 showpiece in the UAE and entered the third and final ODI against the Kiwis with the series tied at 1-1 here. Smriti Mandhana (100 off 122 balls), who wasn’t able to showcase her class at the top of the order in the two previous games, made her 8th ODI hundred century, the most by an Indian in the format, while Kaur remained not out on 59 as India won the match by six wickets. “It was important for us as we wanted to win this series at any cost,” Kaur said at the post-match press conference. She added, “As I said in the morning, we discussed a lot of things and really happy we could execute today. Whenever we play, we always want to give our 100 per cent but sometimes things don’t go your way. “As a professional cricketer you have to keep pushing yourself and keep going. We discussed these things in the team meeting so really happy we could come back after that loss in the last game.” Also Read: Women's cricket in Asia struggles to match Western standards The captain praised Mandhana for her fine knock, which paved the way for a successful chase of a target of 233. “Would like to give credit to Smriti, she was struggling early on but she managed to get runs. Really happy about our partnership.” She also said the team needs to work a lot more to become the best fielding side in the world. ‘Fielding needs work’ “Always talking about our fielding, that’s an area we need to keep working hard. We are working hard but just waiting for the results till the time we can be the best fielding side.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 October,2024 06:21 AM IST | Ahmedabad | PTIEngland included uncapped spin bowling all-rounder Jacob Bethell in a 16-man squad announced on Tuesday for their upcoming Test tour of New Zealand, with wicketkeeper-batsman Jamie Smith omitted due to paternity leave. Barbados-born Bethell, who made his T20 and ODI debuts against Australia last month, has only featured in 20 first-class matches and has a modest batting average of 25.44, without a century in any form of professional cricket. Bethell is the only change to a Test squad recently beaten 2-1 in a three-match series away to Pakistan. Also Read: Shakeel’s ton puts England in trouble He is currently with the England white-ball squad in the Caribbean and, along with Rehan Ahmed and Jordan Cox, will join the Test team following their commitments against the West Indies. Essex wicketkeeper Cox is now in line to make his Test debut in the absence of Smith, who will miss the three-match series which starts in Christchurch on November 28 to attend the birth of his first child. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 October,2024 06:13 AM IST | London | AFPADVERTISEMENT
