Steve Smith is set to lead Australia in the Test against Sri Lanka, and is just one run away from reaching 10,000 Test runs. Stand-in captain for the unavailable Pat Cummins, Smith downplayed the milestone and is focused on the match. Australia aim to strengthen its position as top-ranked, while Sri Lanka seeks to reclaim the Warne-Murali Trophy.
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Australia are on the brink of sealing a 2-0 series sweep against Sri Lanka, needing just two more wickets as the hosts finished day three at 211 for 8. Angelo Mathews' significant 76-run innings ended shortly before stumps, with Nathan Lyon leading Australia's bowling attack. Sri Lanka are ahead by only 54 runs in their second innings.
South Africa's cricket captain, Temba Bavuma, is determined to lead his team to their first World Test Championship Final. Currently topping the standings, they face a crucial two-Test series against Pakistan. Winning just one game secures their spot at Lord's in June. Bavuma emphasized the significance of the championship, calling it a "World Cup" for red-ball cricketers.
The conflict between the Kerala Cricket Association and S Sreesanth continues as the KCA defends issuing a show cause notice to Sreesanth. They referenced his spot-fixing scandal. Sreesanth remains committed to supporting Kerala players. The KCA insists they will not tolerate indiscipline and will take strict actions against false claims.
Kolkata Knight Riders have named Ajinkya Rahane as captain and Venkatesh Iyer as vice-captain for the upcoming IPL season. KKR CEO Venky Mysore expressed confidence in their leadership abilities. Rahane stated it is an honour to lead KKR and looks forward to defending their title, starting with a match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 22.
MI Emirates kept their playoff hopes alive with a 28-run win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. Romario Shepherd excelled, scoring an unbeaten 38 off 13 balls and taking 2/14 with the ball. Shepherd emphasised the teamwork and clear execution that led to victory. Kyle Mayers of the Knight Riders admitted lapses in the final overs led to their defeat.
The SA20 cricket competition is focusing on the playoffs this week. The first Qualifier between MI Cape Town and Paarl Royals will be at St George’s Park. The Eliminator match will be in Centurion, followed by the grand final at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. The event promises intense action and exciting matches leading up to the final.
Rohit Sharma, known for his close-knit family, will play for Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2025. A recent video showed 'SAR' on his gloves, which fans linked to his wife Ritika and kids Samaira and Ahaan. Rohit recently led India to a Champions Trophy win, making history as the first captain to reach finals in all ICC events.
New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra made a triumphant return from a bizarre on-field injury, scoring a match-winning 112 in a victory over Bangladesh to secure a spot in the Champions Trophy semi-finals. His crucial partnership with Tom Latham helped eliminate Bangladesh and Pakistan from the competition.
During the second Test in Adelaide, a floodlight malfunction twice interrupted play. Nathan Lyon clarified he inadvertently caused the outage while requesting lights for net practice. Australia ultimately won that match, leveling the series 1-1. Rain washed out the first day of the third Test.
The SA20 final on February 8 at the Wanderers will be played before a sold-out crowd for the third consecutive year. Tickets for the season finale have sold out faster than the previous year. Fans are encouraged to purchase playoff tickets to see the top teams compete for final spots.