Steve Smith becomes the fourth Australian to surpass 10,000 Test runs, suggesting that Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, or Sam Konstas could be the next. He notes that challenging pitch conditions have made achieving such milestones tougher, especially in Australia.
Related news
India's emphatic six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy, highlighted by Virat Kohli’s unbeaten ton, sparked joy on social media. Kohli surpassed 14,000 ODI runs, leading India to a win with 45 balls to spare. Fans and celebrities celebrated the triumph, while Pakistan face an uncertain path ahead in the tournament.
Cricketer Aakash Chopra has revealed his top five T20I batsmen of 2024. India's Rohit Sharma tops the list, lauded for his consistency and aggressive captaincy during the World Cup. England's Phil Salt and Jos Buttler secure second and fifth place respectively, showcasing their explosive batting prowess.
Pakistani all-rounder Imad Wasim, 35, has announced his retirement from international cricket, just six months after returning for the T20 World Cup. His comeback was short-lived as Pakistan exited the tournament early. Imad's international career included 55 ODIs and 75 T20Is, where he showcased his skills with both bat and ball.
Sunil Gavaskar addresses the possibility of resuming India-Pakistan bilateral cricket, citing peace at the borders as essential. Political tensions and security concerns hinder discussions. India hasn't toured Pakistan since 2005-06, and major tournaments are held at neutral venues. Gavaskar stresses sustained peace for any dialogue, as back-channel diplomacy might be ongoing.
The PCB showcased the upgraded Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, emphasizing their readiness for the Champions Trophy amid concerns over venue preparations. Scheduled to start on February 19, the event's first game is between Pakistan and New Zealand. With PKR 12 billion spent on renovations, doubts remain until PCB confirms stadium possession.
The Champions Trophy final between India and New Zealand in Dubai will feature Australia's Paul Reiffel and England's Richard Illingworth as on-field umpires. Sri Lanka's Ranjan Madugalle will serve as the match referee. India and New Zealand reached the final after defeating Australia and South Africa respectively.
In a thrilling SA20 match at Kingsmead, Durban's Super Giants narrowly defeated the Pretoria Capitals by two runs. Despite an impressive 154-run partnership between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Will Jacks, Pretoria couldn't chase DSG's target of 210, finishing at 207/6. Key performances from Noor Ahmad, Chris Woakes, and Keshav Maharaj turned the game in DSG's favour.
Pratika Rawal's career-best 89 and Tejal Hasabnis's unbeaten 53 powered India's chase of 239, leading to a six-wicket victory over Ireland in the first Women's ODI. Smriti Mandhana set the stage with a rapid 41, while Gaby Lewis's 92 anchored Ireland's innings to a total of 238 for 7.
Mumbai Indians signed 18-year-old Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman to replace Allah Ghazanfar, who is sidelined due to a vertebra fracture. Ghazanfar, who sustained the injury during Afghanistan's tour to Zimbabwe, will also miss the Champions Trophy. Mujeeb brings his experience of over 300 T20 matches to the team.
Karun Nair was run out for 86 in a critical moment, but a strong partnership with Danish Malewar, who remains unbeaten on 138, helped Vidarbha recover to 254/4 against Kerala on the first day of the Ranji Trophy final in Nagpur. Vidarbha's innings struggled initially but was stabilised by the 215-run fourth-wicket stand.