Australia's struggling opener Nathan McSweeney has been dropped for the Boxing Day Test against India after a string of low scores. Nineteen-year-old Sam Konstas has joined the squad, potentially opening alongside Usman Khawaja, whose form is also under scrutiny. Selectors might reshuffle the batting order given inconsistencies from other players. Scott Boland will replace the injured Josh Hazlewood.
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England's Nat Sciver-Brunt excelled in the Women's Premier League (WPL), securing the MVP award and Orange Cap with 523 runs and 12 wickets. Her performance led the Mumbai Indians to their second WPL title, defeating Delhi Capitals. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Sciver-Brunt showcased pivotal roles in their victory with strong partnerships and significant contributions.
Sunrisers Hyderabad are set to kick off the IPL-2025 season on a high note by retaining their formidable batting core and bolstering their bowling lineup with new additions. The team will face Rajasthan Royals, who are missing their captain, Sanju Samson, and have notable changes in their batting lineup.
The IPL's 'Impact Player' rule has sparked controversy, with critics calling it unfair. Meanwhile, Jemimah Rodrigues of the Delhi Capitals supports its exclusion from the Women’s Premier League, citing concerns for bowlers and alignment with international cricket norms. The Capitals are preparing intensely for the WPL final after a week-long break.
Jofra Archer clean bowled Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill with a fiery 147.7 kmph delivery in their IPL 2025 clash, marking his third dismissal of Gill in just 15 balls faced. The video of the wicket went viral as Archer continued his strong comeback after a record-expensive spell earlier this season.
Rishabh Pant played an important role by scoring 40 runs for India despite battling injuries on the first day of the fifth Test in Sydney. Pant hopes to avoid further injuries in his future innings. He looks forward to working with Justin Langer at the Lucknow Super Giants in the 2025 IPL after being acquired for INR 27 crore.
Paarl Royals secured a convincing eight-wicket victory over Pretoria Capitals in the 12th SA20 match at SuperSport Park. Chasing 213, Joe Root's unbeaten 92 and Rubin Hermann's 56 led the Royals to a strong win. This triumph places them at the top of the points table, preparing to face Joburg Super Kings next.
Mitchell Starc's fiery spell put India on the back foot early on Day 3 of the Brisbane Test. He dismissed openers Jaiswal and Gill cheaply, leaving India struggling to chase Australia's imposing first-innings total of 445. Australia's innings concluded earlier in the day, adding 40 runs to their overnight score. The series is currently tied at 1-1.
India's World Test Championship final hopes rest on winning both Tests against Australia. If India splits the series, they need Pakistan to upset South Africa. A Pakistan series win improves India's chances, while a 2-0 Pakistan win guarantees qualification regardless of Sri Lanka's results against Australia.
Deepti Sharma moved to fifth spot in the latest ICC Women's ODI all-rounder rankings, surpassing Amelia Kerr. She holds third in T20 all-rounder rankings and fourth in ODI bowling rankings. Chamari Athapaththu rises to seventh in ODI all-rounder rankings following her series performance. Smriti Mandhana retains second spot in ODI batting, behind Laura Wolvaardt, with Nat Sciver-Brunt in third.
Australia is poised to reclaim the Border Gavaskar Trophy after a decade, leading 2-1 against India in the current Test series. A win or draw in the final Test in Sydney would seal their victory. India's loss to Australia in Melbourne has nearly ended their chances of reaching the World Test Championship final.