Nathan McSweeney, after a challenging debut against India, is pleased to be recalled for Australia's Test series in Sri Lanka. He acknowledged the difficulty of facing spin bowling in Lanka but is prepared and confident. The series, starting January 29, will be a crucial opportunity for McSweeney to prove his abilities.
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In 2024, the Indian cricket team excelled in T20 internationals, winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup undefeated. India also triumphed in series against Bangladesh and South Africa. Veterans Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20Is post World Cup win, marking a historic year.
India faces the challenge of Mitchell Starc, who is in excellent form with 14 wickets at an average of 22.85 in the series. Starc is close to reaching 700 international scalps, needing just five more wickets to become the fourth Australian bowler to achieve this milestone.
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.
Kevin Pietersen has called for prioritizing domestic summer cricket in England for the sport's growth. He expressed concerns over the packed international schedule leading to player fatigue and less engagement with local fans. Despite maintaining high performance levels, the team faces a challenging future with fixtures against Zimbabwe and India in 2025.
India's Arshdeep Singh attributes his T20 cricket success to continuous improvement and constructive criticism. Playing for Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, Arshdeep supports new captain Shreyas Iyer's player-centric approach. With 99 international T20 wickets, he thrives on high-pressure situations and emphasizes patience and learning from mistakes to achieve success.
Former cricketer Basit Ali advises Babar Azam on technical improvements, suggesting changes in stance and bat positioning for better performance in the upcoming PSL. Despite recent setbacks, Ali predicts Azam will excel in the tournament starting April 11. The three-match ODI series against New Zealand begins March 29, with Pakistan's young squad showing promise.
India's Hardik Pandya expressed confidence in winning the Champions Trophy again, as the team prepares to start their 2025 campaign against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand in Dubai and Pakistan. Players from England and Afghanistan also shared their excitement and goals for the tournament. Pakistan, the defending champions, looks forward to hosting and competing passionately.
Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed concerns about the balance in ODIs, citing that changes like two new balls and an additional fielder in the circle favor batsmen. He suggests that the format might be revitalized by using red balls instead of white, highlighting the diminishing role of reverse swing and finger spin.
Paarl Royals secured their third consecutive win by chasing down Joburg Super Kings' 146/6 with six wickets remaining. Bjorn Fortuin and Mujeeb Ur Rahman led the bowling attack, while David Miller and Mitchell van Buuren's partnership sealed the victory. Despite late efforts by Jonny Bairstow and Donovan Ferreira, the Super Kings fell short of a competitive score.
Pakistan made history by becoming the first team to sweep South Africa 3-0 in an ODI series in South Africa. Saim Ayub smashed his second century of the series; he scored 101 runs. Ayub joined the ranks of Virat Kohli, Joe Root, David Warner, Kevin Pietersen and Fakhar Zaman with his second ton of the series. Pakistan won the match by 36 runs (DLS method).