Australia chief selector George Bailey is optimistic that Cameron Green will play as a batsman in the World Test Championship final against South Africa. Green, recovering from back surgery, is expected to return to batting by May. Mitchell Marsh was dropped for the Sri Lanka series, but Bailey remains hopeful about his future contributions.
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Australian pacer Scott Boland caused significant damage to India's batting lineup by dismissing key players Jaiswal, Rahul, and Kohli in the fifth Test at the SCG. Rishabh Pant stabilized the innings with a knock of 61. Kohli's struggle against Boland continued, with Boland dismissing him for the fourth time in the series.
R Ashwin's retirement announcement sparked tributes, including a heartfelt message from fellow spinner Washington Sundar. Ashwin responded with a playful movie quote, hinting at a potential passing of the baton. Sundar, a preferred choice of the current coaching staff, is seen as a like-for-like replacement for Ashwin.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a full ticket refund policy for two abandoned Champions Trophy matches in Rawalpindi. Matches on February 25 and February 27 were canceled due to rain. Eligible ticket holders can claim refunds at select TCS outlets between March 10-14. Hospitality ticket holders are excluded from refunds.
Steve Smith and Alex Carey led Australia to a commanding position against Sri Lanka on day two of the second Test in Galle. Smith’s unbeaten 110 and Carey’s career-best 139 contributed to an unbroken 239-run partnership, with Australia poised for a substantial first-innings lead at 330-3. Earlier, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 257.
Paarl Royals maintained their unbeaten home run in SA20, defeating Durban's Super Giants by six wickets. Pursuing 144, Dayyaan Galiem secured victory with a six off the penultimate delivery. Pretorius and Hermann's 91-run stand was crucial, while superb bowling from Maphaka and Fortuin restricted the Super Giants to 143 for 7.
The first Test between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan ended in a draw with record-breaking scores. Zimbabwe scored 586 runs, while Afghanistan amassed 699, with historic performances from Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah. Zimbabwe's Brian Bennett impressed with both ball and bat. Rain affected the match's conclusion. The second Test starts Thursday in Bulawayo.
MI Cape Town defeated Sunrisers Eastern Cape by 97 runs in the SA20 Season 3 opener. Dewald Brevis scored 57 off 29 balls to lead MICT to a total of 174/7, while Trent Boult's impressive bowling restricted SEC to 77 runs. Richard Gleeson acknowledged SEC's batting struggles and expressed optimism for their upcoming match against Paarl Royals.
The ICC has announced pitch ratings for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between India and Australia, giving four 'very good' ratings and one 'satisfactory'. Cricket Australia's Peter Roach praised the quality of the pitches, highlighting the curators' efforts. The series ended with Australia securing a place in the World Test Championship final.
Ravichandran Ashwin recounted an incident during the Border Gavaskar Trophy involving Virat Kohli and fast bowler Akash Deep. Kohli's advice to bowl straight led to Akash losing his rhythm, giving Steve Smith the opportunity to score a century. Ashwin emphasized the importance of understanding a bowler’s mindset. Later, Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket.
South African cricket has experienced a resurgence with the successful launch of the SA20 league in January 2023. The league has revitalized national teams, showcased young talent, and gained international attention, celebrating its 100th game milestone with optimism for sustained success.