Durban's Super Giants suffered a 58-run defeat to Sunrisers Eastern Cape, their second home loss in the SA20 League. Head coach Lance Klusener expressed disappointment, citing a lack of aggression and failure to build partnerships. Despite superb bowling from Noor Ahmad, batting woes persist. Klusener stresses on self-reflection and improving batting to be competitive.
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Sri Lanka shocked Australia with a 49-run victory in the first ODI in Colombo, thanks to captain Charith Asalanka's 127-run knock and Maheesh Theekshana’s 4-40 bowling figures. Australia, resting key players, failed to chase a target of 215, as they were bowled out for 165 in under 34 overs. Sri Lanka leads the series 1-0.
Mohammed Shami showcased his form with a three-wicket spell for Bengal in the Vijay Hazare Trophy preliminary quarterfinal against Haryana. Despite being slightly expensive, 3 for 61, Shami's performance boosts his prospects for a comeback to the Indian team, having been absent since the 2023 ODI World Cup because of injury and subsequent flare-up issues during rehab.
India's absence from the ICC World Test Championship final has led to a nearly £4 million ( ~ Rs 45 crore) revenue loss for Lord's. Australia will face South Africa instead. Anticipating India's participation, initial ticket prices were high but have been lowered to encourage attendance. Ticket sales for the match and other events at Lord's remain strong.
Veteran Indian all-rounder R Ashwin unexpectedly announced his retirement from international cricket after the drawn Gabba Test against Australia. The emotional 38-year-old said he was stepping away immediately. Ashwin, boasting 537 wickets in 106 Tests, enjoyed a prolific career, particularly against Australia, against whom he claimed 115 scalps.
Kevin Sinclair led the West Indies spin attack as Pakistan struggled to 76 for 4 after day two in the second Test. The West Indies set a challenging 254-run target, needing 6 more wickets to level the series. Kraigg Brathwaite contributed a crucial 52 for the tourists.
India will tour Australia in October and November for eight white-ball matches, including three ODIs and five T20Is across eight cities. The series aims to build on last season's record attendance and engagement. Australia will also host South Africa in August, with games in Darwin, Cairns, and Mackay returning after long intervals.
India lost seven wickets in the final session of the fourth Test against Australia, conceding lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Australia's victory puts them second in the World Test Championship standings, making it tough for India to reach the WTC Final. Australia's potential win in Sydney will extend their dominance while worsening things for India.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to elect a new secretary and treasurer in a Special General Meeting (SGM) scheduled for January 12th in Mumbai. The positions became vacant after Jay Shah and Ashish Shelar resigned.
Dilip Vengsarkar criticizes the pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground for being excessively seamer-friendly during the final Test of the BGT. He urges the ICC to take control of Test match pitches to ensure good quality cricket for fans, highlighting how pitches can heavily influence match outcomes.
India face a crucial Sydney Test against Australia, with its World Test Championship final hopes at stake. India's win percentage is behind top contenders Australia and South Africa. Victory is essential to stay in the hunt, alongside needing favourable results from Australia's series against Sri Lanka. Failure to win in Sydney would end India's WTC campaign.