Nathan McSweeney was a 12-year-old Queenslander when his recently-adopted South Australia last won the domestic one-day cricket competition. McSweeney remembers watching on television when SA captured the trophy in 2011-12 amid drama. Scores in the final against Tasmania were tied but SA was deemed the winner as they finished above the Tasmanians during the preliminary … Read more
Bella James has been ruled out of New Zealand’s ODI series against Sri Lanka by a grade-two quadricep strain on her right leg. She is expected to require between three-to-six weeks of rehabilitation and has been replaced by Lauren Down. A decision on James’ availability for the T20I series that follows will be taken based … Read more
While most in South African white-ball cricket see every step of the next two years as building their path to the home ODI World Cup in 2027, Rassie van der Dussen can entertain the idea that the Champions Trophy 2025 could be his last multi-team event. Van der Dussen turned 36 earlier this month and … Read more
When Brendon McCullum promised entertainment from England’s white-ball sides, he probably did not envisage this: with England on the wrong side of the two best games at the Champions Trophy so far, down and out with a match to spare, as the rest of the cricketing world laughs. Brought in to sprinkle some of his … Read more
South Africa are not in a position to think about this yet but should they need to travel to Dubai for a Champions Trophy semi-final or final, they will be at a disadvantage compared to their opposition: India, who are based in the UAE. That’s according to top-order batter Rassie van der Dussen, who said … Read more
Who’s playing Delhi Capitals (DC) vs Mumbai Indians (MI)<\n> M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, 7:30pm IST Both teams are on six points and occupy the top two spots on the points table (before the RCB-GG match). MI have now won three on the trot, and the only match they lost this season was their opening fixture … Read more
Gujarat Giants captain Ash Gardner called correctly and elected to bowl in the first of their reverse fixtures, against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday evening. Giants are seeking to lift themselves off the bottom of the WPL 2025 points table; they currently have just one win in four games. They … Read more
The ECB has charged Vikram Banerjee with accelerating the “global growth” of the Hundred, appointing him managing director of the tournament with immediate effect. Banerjee has been promoted from director of business operations after overseeing Project Gemini, the Hundred’s private investment process which saw the eight teams valued at a combined £975 million. His brief … Read more
Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne has “no issues” with playing against Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy on Friday. The two sides take each other on in their final group games in Lahore with plenty on the line for both; victory for either side guarantees qualification to the semi-finals. However, invariably, there is attention around Australia’s decision … Read more
Big picture: Winner of virtual sudden death to qualify for the semis Much like Afghanistan’s match against England, the political spectre over this clash is hard to put aside. Matches are rare between the countries with Australia – like England – taking a human rights stance and pledging to suspend bilateral ties while the Taliban … Read more
Kerala 131 for 3 (Sarwate 66*, Imran 37, Nalkande 2-22) trail Vidarbha 379 (Malewar 153, Nair 86, Nidheesh 3-61, Apple Tom 3-102) by 248 runs Kerala’s pace trio of Nedumankuzhy Basil, MD Nidheesh, Eden Apple Tom ensured that Vidarbha did not run away with the advantage on day two of the Ranji Trophy final in … Read more
Match abandoned without a ball bowled Pakistan vs Bangladesh Pakistan and Bangladesh ended their disappointing Champions Trophy campaigns with a point each with the second successive match in Rawalpindi washed out. As on Tuesday, when the same fate befell the Australia-South Africa game from Group B, the match was called off without even the toss … Read more
DC, who have only ever reached the final of the IPL once in all these years finished sixth in IPL 2024 and went into the auction last year with the biggest purse among all the ten teams after letting go of most of their big-ticket players and retaining only Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs … Read more
Wilson was the unlucky woman to narrowly miss out on Australia’s squad this week, with Nicole Faltum to tour as back-up wicketkeeper given Alyssa Healy is unavailable. While Faltum is not expected to play given Beth Mooney will wear the gloves, the selection is a clear eye to the future for life after Healy and … Read more
There was a moment that captured the tension beautifully in Lahore on Wednesday. With England needing 27 runs to get in 20 balls, Jamie Overton tapped a full toss to sweeper cover and the fielder just couldn’t pick it up. He tried once, didn’t work, he tried again, it was fumbled. Azmatullah Omarzai was watching … Read more
Australia spinner Matt Kuhnemann never had any doubts about his bowling action despite being reported following the Test series in Sri Lanka after which he was cleared following ICC testing. “I am very grateful for all the support I have received from my family, friends and team-mates, and to Cricket Australia who stood by me … Read more
Mitchell Starc has revealed that an ankle injury was the major reason for him missing the Champions Trophy but that “personal views” also played a part in him withdrawing from the tournament. Starc joined Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood in being absent from the event meaning Australia are without their big three fast bowlers leaving … Read more
Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott said no side would “ever again” take Afghanistan lightly after they knocked England out of the Champions Trophy. A dominant performance with the bat from Ibrahim Zadran helped Afghanistan, who won the toss and batted first, post 325. The bowlers held their nerve at several points during a second innings … Read more
Fakhar Zaman has dismissed speculation that he is planning to retire from international cricket, targeting a return from the injury that cut short his Champions Trophy within the next month. Fakhar, the hero of Pakistan’s 2017 Champions Trophy win with a hundred in the final, strained an oblique muscle chasing a ball in the very … Read more
Afghanistan’s win against England means it’s now a three-way battle for semi-finals qualification from Group B, with two games to go. Australia (three points, NRR 0.475) take on Afghanistan (two points, NRR -0.99) in Lahore on Friday, while South Africa (three points, NRR 2.14) face England on Saturday. Here’s an explainer on who will qualify … Read more
Pakistan have by far the longer and more-varied pace-bowling tradition. But don’t count out the Bangladesh bowlers on Thursday. It is not only the Bangladesh camp that is saying this. Pakistan’s white-ball coach Aqib Javed, who has worked with Bangladesh quicks in the past, believes so too. In fact, given Jasprit Bumrah is almost inarguably … Read more
Buttler won the 2022 T20 World Cup, his first ICC tournament as captain, but England have underperformed ever since. They lost six out of nine games at the 2023 ODI World Cup, were thrashed by India in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in 2024, and have now gone out of the Champions Trophy … Read more
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat GiantsM Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, 7.30pm IST What to expect: Can Giants find form? Two teams coming off back-to-back losses, but in no way comparable. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have actually been really good in WPL 2025. Yet, they find themselves under pressure as they get ready to face Gujarat Giants … Read more
Toss Mumbai Indians chose to bowl vs UP Warriorz Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and decided to chase against UP Warriorz in Bengaluru. She said the fast bowlers would get some assistance early in the game and wanted them to “take advantage” of the conditions. Mumbai made one change to the side … Read more
If you’re looking for the reason why Pakistan crashed out of their own home tournament, look no further than this one: personnel. Specifically, the inexperience of that personnel. This was the main thrust of white-ball head coach Aaqib Javed’s post-mortem. Pakistan have one more match to play, of course, against Bangladesh, who are also already … Read more
Stumps Vidarbha 254 for 4 (Malewar 138*, Nair 86, Nidheesh 2-33) vs Kerala Danish Malewar and Karun Nair at are different stages of their careers. At 21, Malewar, a heavy run-getter in the age-group circuit, is in his maiden season. At 33, Nair, a two-time Ranji Trophy winner with Karnataka, has overcome a serious form … Read more
Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has been cleared to bowl in international cricket by the ICC after going through the testing processes in Brisbane. Kuhnemann was reported for a suspect action following Australia’s two-Test series in Sri Lanka in January-February; he had picked up 16 wickets in the series, which Australia swept 2-0. He completed the … Read more
Big picture: Pakistan and Bangladesh hope rain stays away It has not been a tournament to remember for either Pakistan or Bangladesh, and the team talks ahead of their last game, against each other in Rawalpindi, are likely to be similar: play for pride, etc. With some chatter about the poor weather – if it … Read more
Pat Cummins has returned to bowling as he prepares for the IPL next month and the build-up to the World Test Championship final against South Africa in June. Cummins, Australia’s Test and ODI captain, was ruled out of the ongoing Champions Trophy due to an ankle injury he managed during the Test series against India … Read more
Left-arm quick Jason Behrendorff has announced his retirement from state cricket after 16 years at Western Australia. But he will continue to play on the T20 franchise circuit where he has enjoyed considerable success. Behrendorff, who turns 35 in April, does remain available for national selection having played 17 T20Is with the last being against … Read more