Neetu David joined former India captain Diana Edulji in the ICC Hall of Fame on Wednesday and the latter could not think of anyone more deserving of the honour than the fellow left-arm spinner. Edulji wrote an open letter to David after the latter became only the second Indian women to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. South African legend Ab de Villiers and former England captain Alastair Cook were also inducted along with David. Also Read: England 239-6 in second Test after Sajid strikes for Pakistan Edulji, 68, was the first one to be inducted last November. “It is an honour and a privilege to welcome you into the exclusive club that is the ICC Hall of Fame. Until now, I have been the only Indian woman inducted and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of being the first to join me,” Edulji wrote in the letter released by ICC. “It seems only yesterday that I saw you bowling in the nets as a teenager. I knew then that I had to try and bring you to Railways and that you would go on to play for India. Your bowling style and rhythm, even then, was incredible to watch and greatly impressed me,” she added. 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
17 October,2024 07:57 AM IST | Dubai | PTIPakistan spinner Sajid Khan took three wickets in the space of 10 deliveries including centurion Ben Duckett to leave England on 239-6 in the second Test in Multan on Wednesday. An absorbing second day’s play on a turning pitch ultimately belonged to the hosts, who lead by 127 runs after their first-innings 366. England had been cruising nicely at 211-2 when Sajid removed Joe Root (34), Duckett (114) and Harry Brook (nine) in the final session. From the other end, fellow spinner Noman Ali dismissed England skipper Ben Stokes for one as England lost four wickets in the space of 14 runs. At the close, Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse were at the crease with 12 and two respectively. Also Read: Mbappe ‘shocked’ with rape investigation case Root hits career-high rating in ICC Test rankings after Multan masterclass England’s star batter Joe Root has further cemented his place among the all-time greats by achieving a new career-high rating on the latest ICC men’s Test batter rankings. Root’s extraordinary knock of 262 during England’s crushing victory over Pakistan in the first Test at Multan has propelled him to a personal best of 932 rating points. His previous best was 923 points. Only 16 players have reached a higher mark. Brief scoresPakistan 366 all out (K Ghulam 118, S Ayub 77; J Leach 4-114, B Carse 3-50, M Potts 2-66) v England 239-6 (B Duckett 114; S Khan 4-86, N Ali 2-75) 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
17 October,2024 07:56 AM IST | Multan | AFPAustralia have been a dominant force in the Women’s T20 World Cup. They have won the title six times out of the eight editions and missed the final only once, in the inaugural event in 2009. They have been the champions in the last three editions and are eager to make it “four-in-a-row.” Considering these stats, it will be interesting to see if the other three teams in the semi-finals have it in them to end Australia’s hegemony. We will know that over the next few days. South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt. Pics/Getty Images First up for Australia are the much-improved South Africa in the first semi-final, to be staged in Dubai on Thursday. The second, on Friday, pits giant-killers West Indies (who knocked England out on Tuesday) against New Zealand in Sharjah. The final will be in Dubai on Sunday, where we will see whether Australia have extended their winning spree or if one of the three sides have stopped them on their track. Also Read: "Harmanpreet Kaur knows when to pace the innings in T20 cricket": Former Team India captain Anjum Chopra Skipper Healy doubtful Going into the knockout phase, the biggest concern for Australia is the fitness of the captain-cum-wicketkeeper-opener Alyssa Healy. She was injured while batting against Pakistan and retired when a win was in sight. She missed the all-important game against India in Sharjah last Sunday. Her injury meant the Australian team management had to bring in three replacements — a wicketkeeper (Beth Mooney), an opener (Grace Harris), and a stand-in captain (Tahlia McGrath). All three did a wonderful job against India in a hard-fought match that virtually eliminated the Indians at the league stage itself. Confident line-up When Healy was injured, Cricket Australia issued a press note stating: “Healy will be assessed over the coming days, and should Australia qualify for the semi-finals, her availability will be determined in due course.” As of now, it is not certain that Healy will be fit enough to perform the three vital roles she does so skillfully. But the Australian team management is confident they have all the bases covered. They believe they have the depth and quality in case their skipper misses out again. As for South Africa, they will have to give their best if they hope to get past the defending champions. It’s not going to be easy even if Healy is absent. But a determined Proteas skipper Laura Wolvaardt has her sights set on winning the World Cup, which no South African men’s or women’s teams have ever done. “At the end of the day, no matter who the opponent is, we want to win games for our country. We will try our best to win [the semi-final]. Obviously, winning the World Cup is the ultimate goal and for that, we have to get past the [defending] champions.”
17 October,2024 07:34 AM IST | Dubai | Santosh SuriBefore the Indian team’s departure to the UAE, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur claimed that the 15-member side was the best group ever to play the showpiece event in the shortest format. But all of it came crashing down when India lost to New Zealand in their tournament opener at Dubai and from there, they were just playing catch up till the writing on the wall came clear. Also Read: IND vs ENG 1st Test: Rain plays spoilsport on Day One at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Former India captain Anjum Chopra said the side hasn’t really found success in playing the shortest format, whether individually or as a whole unit. “I do feel that the Indian team are a work in progress in terms of playing T20 cricket. They still haven’t been able to crack that code individually and collectively as to how to play T20 cricket. “Certain players, starting with Harmanpreet Kaur, because she plays in the middle-order or probably sometimes at the top order, she knows exactly when she has to pace the innings. But I can’t say the same for everyone else. It’s not just because they’ve lost in the World Cup. I’ve said these words even before that Indian team are a work in progress,” Chopra told IANS. 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
17 October,2024 07:27 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesNext month, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium will complete 50 years as a Test venue. The first match at this ground was played from 22 November 1974, when India took on West Indies in the opening game of a five-match series. It was the match that introduced the world to the genius of Viv Richards and Gordon Greenidge, who was run out for 93 in the first innings and slammed a hundred in the second as the visitors surged to a commanding 267-run victory and a 1-0 victory. In the last half-decade, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium has blossomed into one of the better maintained cricket grounds in the country, and the only one in the world which has the Sub-Air drainage system which employs a two-pronged strategy of sucking water from the outfield and blowing hot air through underground pipes to ensure rapid drying of the ground once it stops raining. Also Read: Neetu David becomes second Indian woman to be inducted into ICC Hall of Fame Forecasters get it right On Wednesday, though, it hardly stopped raining for a reasonable spell of time. The forecasters got it absolutely right, forcing the abandonment of Day One of India’s first Test against New Zealand without a ball being bowled. The formality of calling it a day didn’t transpire until 2:30 pm, after which — unsurprisingly — it stopped raining altogether. By 3.15 pm, the covers protecting the 22-yard playing strip were pushed to one side to expose the pitch, which was scrutinised intensely by Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain. From a distance, the surface appeared very much unaffected by the precipitation, though having sweated under the covers for nearly three days, it ought to assist the faster bowlers as and when play does get underway. When that is, is anyone’s guess, given that there is forecast for more rain on Thursday. Indians practise indoors The 25th Test at the Chinnaswamy will now at best be a four-day affair if the weather holds. Wednesday’s frustrating day saw little activity on the part of the New Zealand squad, which arrived at the ground in the morning, watched the rain come down for a while and then returned to its hotel. The Indians had a slightly more productive day, with several batters, among them Virat Kohli, making a beeline to the indoor nets at the National Cricket Academy. Rohit lingered there long enough to be able to have a look at the playing surface late afternoon.
17 October,2024 07:19 AM IST | Bangalore | R KaushikVirat Kohli on Wednesday described AB de Villiers as "the most talented cricketer" he has played with after the South African great was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. De Villers was included in the long list of great players along with England legend Alastair Cook and India's Neetu David. In an open letter to the inductees by those close to them, Kohli was effusive in praise of his teammate at IPL side Royal Challengers Bengaluru. "You are thoroughly deserving of your place ¿ after all, the Hall of Fame is a representation of your impact on the game, and yours has been truly unique," he wrote. "People have always spoken about your ability, and rightly so. You are the most talented cricketer I have played with, the absolute number one." Kohli described de Villiers' belief and doggedness to uphold the game's values as the qualities that had an impact on the psyche of those watching. "A lot of players can have impressive numbers but very few have an impact on the psyche of those watching," he wrote. Also Read: Neetu David becomes second Indian woman to be inducted into ICC Hall of Fame "For me, that is the highest value you can have as a cricketer and that is what makes you so special." "Through my time playing with and against you, you always had a very clear understanding of how the game should be played and you never really veered from that, regardless of whether you were doing well or not," he added. Kohli said de Villiers was someone who was bailing his teams out of troubles more often than not. "It was never about someone else. It was never about competing with another player," he described. "It was always about what impact you could create for the team. In difficult situations, you were the man bailing out your team more often than not. "Your drive to want to be the guy to win the game for your team was tremendous and something I learned a lot from," he said. Kohli said de Villiers taught him about the importance of not resting on laurels. "I remember taking from you that it doesn't matter what you have done in the last four games, it is about how you approach the game today. "It is about always being positive, always taking the game on and finding a way to get the job done." Virat Kohli's letter to AB De Villiers congratulating him on being inducted into ICC Hall of Fame. 🤯❤️ pic.twitter.com/fFK5edfmKw — Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 16, 2024 "You were always completely in tune with the needs of the team, which made you one of the hardest players to make plans for when we were on opposing sides in international cricket," he added. Kohli, who shared the RCB dressing room with de Villiers for a decade from 2011-2021, said the former South African captain's 'self-belief' is one trait that stood out for him. "But what truly stood out to me was your belief in that ability. You had a crazy amount of belief that you could execute whatever you wanted to on a cricket field, and you normally did. That is why you ended up being so special," he wrote. Alongside recalling a special moment while playing together for RCB in a contest against Kolkata Knight Riders, Kohli also recollected memories of the 2015 Test in New Delhi, one in which the Proteas batters fought hard to force a draw. "Everyone remembers your attacking shots but you would adapt to the situation. Take 2015, in Delhi, when you faced 297 balls and made 43 trying to save the Test match," Kohli said. "There must have been a temptation at some stage to think 'I've faced 200 balls, I need to hit a boundary'. But once you locked yourself into what the situation required, you just kept going on and on. "It all comes back to that belief in your ability. It wasn't just about the crazy, extravagant shots. You had the ability to defend the ball and had belief in that defence. To play that way because South Africa needed you to do so is a classic example of the team player you were," he added. (With PTI inputs)
16 October,2024 06:28 PM IST | Bengaluru | mid-day online correspondentThe West Indies have proven their doubters wrong by reaching Friday's Women's T20 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, but have their sights set on repeating their 2016 triumph. The Caribbean side have been knocked out in the group stage in the past two editions and they may have feared a repeat after losing their opener in the United Arab Emirates to South Africa by 10 wickets. But a magnificent victory against England, their first over the world's second-ranked team since 2018, has left them one win from the final, with only an unfancied New Zealand standing in their way. "I think a lot of people wrote us off coming into this tournament," captain Hayley Matthews said. "The way we've been able to go about our cricket, especially after the start we had against South Africa, we've just bounced back against Scotland, against Bangladesh. Also Read: Women's cricket in Asia struggles to match Western standards "We haven't beat England in about six years. As far as I can remember, the last time we beat them was back in 2018, but everyone still came here with a belief and a fight and it just shows what we can do as a West Indian team." For many years the West Indies have relied heavily on Matthews, Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin. The return of Dottin from international retirement for this tournament has been key to their success, but other players have also stepped up. Leg-spinner Afy Fletcher took 3-21 against England, while opening batter Qiana Joseph clubbed a crucial 52. The Windies have struck more sixes than any other country in the event so far, and Joseph and Matthews plundered a tournament-high 67 from the England bowlers in the powerplay. Their ultimately comfortable chase ensured they finished top of Group B, avoiding a last-four meeting with red-hot favourites Australia. New Zealand themselves have exceeded expectations by making the semis, largely courtesy of a victory over India, who were tipped to be title contenders. Also Read: Kohli hails De Villiers on induction in ICC Hall of Fame Australia power on Australia, bidding for a fourth consecutive T20 World Cup title, have cruised into the knock-out phase, taking their winning streak in the tournament to 15 matches along the way. The six-time champions face South Africa in Dubai on Thursday in a repeat of the 2023 final. They have been hit by injuries, though, with bowler Tayla Vlaeminck leaving the squad after suffering a shoulder injury. Australia's main worry is the fitness of captain and opener Alyssa Healy, who missed the crucial group win over India earlier this week with a foot injury and whose participation in the knockouts remains in doubt. "We've been really trying to get around each other as a group, whether it be the injured girls, the girls playing slightly different roles, and just really sticking together as a group and focusing on the job at hand," said stand-in skipper Tahlia McGrath. South Africa are playing in the semi-finals for a third successive T20 World Cup and will be confident of pushing Australia after a narrow defeat on home soil in the final last year. 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
16 October,2024 06:10 PM IST | Dubai | AFPFormer India spinner Neetu David, who still holds the record for the best figures (8/53) by a woman in an individual Test innings, on Wednesday became only the second female cricketer from the country to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. David, the current chairman of selectors for Indian women's team, enters the ICC Hall of Fame a year after the induction of former captain Diana Edulji. David made more than 100 appearances (10 Tests and 97 ODIs) for India as a prolific left-arm spinner and was inducted alongside South Africa and England legends AB de Villiers and Alastair Cook, joining a long list of great cricketers. The 47-year-old David is the second-highest wicket-taker for India in ODIs cricket with 141 scalps and was also the first female player from the country to claim 100 wickets in the 50-over game. Topping the wicket-taking list at the World Cup in 2005, to inspire her country to their first-ever final, is also among her standout achievements. David said in an ICC release: "It is truly an honour to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, something that I consider to be the highest recognition available to anyone who puts on their national team jersey. "This comes after a lifetime of dedication to this great sport, and it caps a very special journey for me to get to this point. "To be considered a Hall of Famer alongside the greatest players that ever lived is humbling, and I am thrilled to be part of this exclusive club." Also Read: Women's cricket in Asia struggles to match Western standards Following some impressive performances with the ball at domestic cricket for Uttar Pradesh, David won a first international appearance for India as a 17-year-old in a Test against New Zealand in Nelson in 1995. She impressed with four wickets in that contest and was again selected for the ODI leg of that tour as India claimed the New Zealand Women's Centenary Tournament. In late 1995, David truly rose to prominence as she recorded sensational figures of 8/53 ¿ still the best individual bowling spell in a single innings of a women's Test ¿ against England in Jamshedpur as India fell to a narrow two-run loss. While David excelled at Test cricket with 41 wickets from 10 matches, it was in ODI cricket that she performed best with 141 scalps from 97 matches at a miserly bowling average of 16.34. David retired from international cricket in 2006, only to reverse that decision two years later for a brief return in ODI cricket at the Asia Cup and on India's tour of England. She played her final domestic match in 2013, calling time on an illustrious career by helping Railways to the 2012¿13 Senior Women's T20 League title. Cook represented England over 250 times in international cricket, making his most significant impact in the longest format. He retired from international cricket in 2018 as England's highest Test run-scorer and century-maker, spearheading notable successes both home and away with the bat and as captain. In his 14-year-long career, de Villiers hit over 20,000 international runs across all three formats. De Villiers, fondly known as "Mr 360", excelled in Test and T20I cricke while setting South African records for the fastest fifty, century and 150 in ODI cricket to earn a reputation of being one of the most feared, destructive batters in the history of the game. The ICC Hall of Fame was launched in January 2009 as part of the global governing body's centenary celebrations. The Class of 2024 will be celebrated in a special series of engagements in Dubai this week, coinciding with the conclusion of the Women's T20 World Cup. ICC Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Allardice said, "Once again, we find ourselves celebrating not only truly great players, but elite innovators, record-breakers and passionate competitors that excelled on the field of play during their glittering international careers. "Beyond their remarkable statistics spanning all formats of the game, all three have made significant contributions to the way the game is played today and are worthy additions to the ICC Hall of Fame."
16 October,2024 04:18 PM IST | Dubai | PTIFormer India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey on Wednesday rejoined five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians in a similar role ahead of the next season of the cash-rich league. The Mumbai franchise issued a statement on Tuesday saying that Paras will be working alongside current bowling coach and Sri Lankan icon Lasith Malinga in IPL 2025. "Mumbai Indians, today, announced the return and appointment of Paras Mhambrey as Bowling Coach, who will work along with current Bowling Coach Lasith Malinga, as part of the coaching team under Head Coach, Mahela Jayawardene," said the statement from MI. Paras was part of the Mumbai Indians coaching team previously, with the team having won the IPL 2013, Champions League T20 (2011, 2013), a runner-up finish (2010) and two more playoffs appearances in the IPL. Also Read: IPL 2025 | 'Does he deserve to be an 18 crore..': Tom Moody on Hardik Pandya's possible retention by MI Paras' latest stint was at the bowling coach of the Indian men's cricket team, which culminated with the T20 World Cup 2024 win earlier this year. He was appointed to this position in 2021. Between 1996-1998, Paras played two Tests and three ODIs for India, picking up a total of five wickets. Notably, Paras is a medium-pacer who played for Mumbai 1992-2003, picking up 284 wickets in 91 first-class matches and 111 List A wickets in 83 games. Recently, Mumbai Indians announced the appointment of Mahela Jayawardene as the head coach for the next season, a position he previously held from 2017 to 2022. He has replaced South African legend Mark Boucher, who coached the franchise for two seasons. MI finished at the bottom in the last season, where they could only manage 4 wins and 10 losses under captaincy of a returning star Hardik Pandya. (With inputs from agencies)
16 October,2024 04:02 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDay One of the IND vs NZ 1st Test was abandoned after rain of varying intensity washed out the second session on Wednesday. The umpires and other match officials did inspect the ground around 2 PM, as rains relented a bit for the first time on the day. 🚨 Update from Bengaluru 🚨Day 1 of the 1st #INDvNZ Test has been called off due to rain.Toss to take place at 8:45 AM IST on Day 2Start of Play: 9:15 AM IST #TeamIndia | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/RzmBvduPqr — BCCI (@BCCI) October 16, 2024 The outfield covers and the first layer of cover over the pitch was removed for inspection as the crowd loudly cheered. Also Read: New era dawns with Jaiswal, Gill at the helm Earlier, even the toss, which was scheduled at 9 AM, could not take place as rain came down relentlessly over the city from morning. There was a smattering of spectators at the stadium despite the inclement weather. But the only moment of excitement for them was the sighting of star batter Virat Kohli and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who went for an indoor net session along with assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. More updates to follow...
16 October,2024 02:55 PM IST | Bengaluru | mid-day online correspondentLegendary Sachin Tendulkar, presented the Championship trophy to the victorious Chicago Cricket Club as the National Cricket Championship ended on a memorable note. Chicago clinched the title in a high-stakes final against the Atlanta Cricket Club at the University of Texas at Dallas, in what marked a landmark moment for USA cricket. With more than 2.5 billion viewers tuning in globally, the NCL final captured the growing influence of cricket in the United States. Fans at UT Dallas Cricket Stadium were treated to an exhilarating contest, with Chicago's Leonardo Julien leading the charge. Julien's explosive innings, scoring 61 runs off just 22 balls, including five boundaries and six towering sixes, earned him the Man of the Match award and propelled Chicago to a commanding victory. Tendulkar's electric presence lifted the evening. As he presented the champions' trophy to Chicago's head coach, Robin Uthappa, he also took time to interact with the crowd, shaking hands, posing for photos, and delighting fans with his graciousness. His connection with the crowd underscored the growing excitement surrounding the sport in the U.S. "Cricket has given me so much, and to be here in Dallas, witnessing this incredible final and presenting the trophy, is truly humbling," Tendulkar said. "This victory and the energy in the stadium show that cricket has a bright future in America." Also Read: Sachin Tendulkar to inspire young athletes and sports fans in Texas NCL Chairman Arun Agarwal echoed the sentiment, describing the moment as a turning point for cricket in the U.S. "This championship goes beyond just a win¿it's a defining moment for the rise of cricket in America," Agarwal said. "With billions watching globally, this final shows how much progress we've made, and this is just the beginning of something truly special." The NCL, known for its innovative Sixty Strikes format, has quickly gained attention by merging world-class cricket with cultural entertainment. The 2024 season featured retired international cricket stars like Shahid Afridi, Suresh Raina, and the semi-retired Shakib Al Hasan, with cricket legends such as Sunil Gavaskar, Wasim Akram, and Sir Vivian Richards serving as mentors. The league's broadcast partnerships with ESPN, SKY Sports, and Sony Max have brought NCL matches to millions, accelerating the sport's growth in the U.S. As the NCL continues to expand its influence, Chicago Cricket Club's championship win, with Tendulkar at the helm of the celebration, marks a significant milestone in cricket's journey to becoming a major force in U.S. sports. 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
16 October,2024 02:07 PM IST | Dallas | PTIADVERTISEMENT
