Cricket

Steven Smith, the former Australian captain, has officially signed with the Washington Freedom franchise for the upcoming season of Major League Cricket (MLC). The move was widely anticipated, as Smith had previously signed as a brand ambassador for Freedom and Australia's international schedule allows him to participate in the tournament through July.Smith's signing is a significant boost for Freedom, who have a high-performance partnership with Smith's domestic team in Australia, New South Wales (NSW). In 2023, several NSW players, including Moises Henriques, Tanveer Sangha, and Ben Dwarshuis, were part of Freedom's squad.Smith, who owns an apartment in New York, has expressed his excitement about playing in the USA. However, he faces a challenge in earning a spot in Australia's final 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup in June, as he has not played much T20 cricket recently.Despite his limited T20 appearances, Smith remains a highly respected and experienced player. He has a prolific record in the Big Bash League (BBL) for the Sydney Sixers, where he made 346 runs at a strike rate of 174.74 in the 2022-23 season.Smith's signing joins a growing list of Australian players who have committed to MLC, including Adam Zampa (Los Angeles Knight Riders), Spencer Johnson (Knight Riders), and Tim David (MI New York). The tournament is expected to attract more Australian players after the T20 World Cup ends on June 29.

Australia's dominance over Bangladesh continued in the third and final ODI in Dhaka, as they secured an emphatic eight-wicket victory to complete a clean sweep of the series.Opting to bowl first, Australia's opening bowlers Kim Garth and Ellyse Perry wreaked havoc on Bangladesh's top order. Garth dismissed Fargana Hoque and Sumaiya Akter for ducks, while Perry removed Murshida Khatun for 8. Bangladesh's innings never gained momentum, as they lost wickets at regular intervals.Captain Nigar Sultana top-scored for Bangladesh with a gritty 16 off 39 deliveries, but the rest of the batting lineup failed to provide any substantial support. Garth finished with impressive figures of 3 for 11, while Ash Gardner (3 for 25), Perry (2 for 17), and Sophie Molineux (2 for 23) shared the remaining wickets.Australia's chase was a formality, as Alyssa Healy (33), Perry (27*), and Beth Mooney (21*) guided them to victory in just 18.3 overs. Healy fell leg before to Rabeya Khatun, while Phoebe Litchfield was caught and bowled by Sultana Khatun for 12.Gardner's outstanding performance throughout the series earned her the Player-of-the-Series award. She claimed 3 for 22 and scored 32 in the first ODI, and in the second, she took 2 for 22 and made an unbeaten 20.Australia's victory extends their unbeaten streak against Bangladesh in ODIs to 10 matches. The two teams will now face off in a three-match T20I series, starting on March 31 in Dhaka.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a prestigious Test cricket series between India and Australia, is set to expand to five matches for the first time since the 1991-92 season. The announcement was made by Cricket Australia (CA) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).The extended series will be a highlight of the 2024-25 home summer schedule for Australia. The full schedule is expected to be released soon. The opening Test of the five-match series is scheduled to be played in Perth.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been a fiercely contested rivalry between India and Australia. India has won the last four series, including back-to-back away Test series victories in 2018-19 and 2020-21. However, Australia, led by Pat Cummins, defeated India in the World Test Championship final in London last year.The extension of the series to five Tests is a testament to the intense rivalry between the two cricketing nations. It will provide more opportunities for both teams to showcase their skills and compete for the coveted trophy.The BCCI and CA have expressed their commitment to preserving the rich heritage of Test cricket. The extended series is seen as a way to elevate the significance of Test cricket and uphold its legacy.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is one of the most anticipated events in the cricketing calendar. The five-match series promises to deliver thrilling contests and unforgettable moments.

Australia's all-rounder Sophie Molineux made a triumphant return to ODI cricket, leading her team to a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the second match of the three-game series. Molineux, who had been sidelined for over a year due to injuries, claimed impressive figures of 3 for 10 from 10 overs, helping to restrict Bangladesh to a meager total of 97.Bangladesh's innings was characterized by a lack of resistance, as they lost wickets at regular intervals. Molineux played a pivotal role in their downfall, claiming the wickets of opener Shamima Sultana, captain Nigar Sultana, and all-rounder Fahima Khatun. The Australian bowlers, including Megan Schutt, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, and Alana King, collectively overwhelmed the Bangladesh batters, with only No. 9 Nahida Akter managing to reach double figures.In response, Australia's batters chased down the target with relative ease, despite losing three early wickets. Ellyse Perry top-scored with an unbeaten 35 from 50 balls, anchoring the innings and guiding her team to victory. Phoebe Litchfield and Tahlia McGrath both fell cheaply, but Perry combined with Gardner to steer Australia to a comfortable win.Molineux's performance was particularly impressive, as she demonstrated her versatility and ability to contribute in both bowling and batting. Her return to the Australian set-up is a significant boost for the team, as they prepare for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup in South Africa.Australia's victory gives them a 2-0 lead in the series, with the third and final ODI scheduled for Wednesday. The series will be followed by three T20Is, providing both teams with valuable preparation for the global tournament.

Australia's thrilling chase in Christchurch capped off a successful southern hemisphere summer, where they emerged victorious in six out of seven Tests, including both matches in New Zealand. However, despite their impressive record, concerns linger about the team's performance and the challenges they may face in their upcoming series against India.One of the most pressing issues is the performance of Steven Smith as an opener. While he produced an exceptional 91 not out in Brisbane, his subsequent returns have been underwhelming. Coach Andrew McDonald has defended Smith, arguing that he needs more time to adjust to his new role. However, Smith's struggles against the new ball have raised questions about his suitability as an opener.The batting unit as a whole has also faced criticism. They have only passed 300 once in six completed innings and have relied heavily on lower-order contributions. McDonald acknowledges the need for improvement but believes they have the best seven batters in the country.Another concern is the workload of the "big three" bowlers: Cummins, Hazlewood, and Starc. They have played seven consecutive Tests this summer and 10 out of 11 ODIs at the World Cup. While the pitches this summer have been favorable, the selectors will need to consider their long-term fitness ahead of the India series.The back-up bowlers remain Scott Boland and Michael Neser, with hopes that Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson can return to full fitness. However, Richardson's injury troubles remain a major concern.On a positive note, Australia's bowlers have made significant contributions with the bat in New Zealand, which has been a major win for the team.Nathan Lyon's performance against India looms as a key battle. While he has been excellent in New Zealand, his record against India at home has not been as impressive. However, he will be coming off a full County Championship season with Lancashire and will hope to thrive on surfaces that offer extra bounce.

Prithvi Shaw's susceptibility to incoming deliveries has once again been exposed, leading to his dismissal in the ongoing Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha. The Mumbai opener has been clean bowled numerous times by deliveries that come back in, a weakness that has plagued him throughout his career.In the Day-night Test against Australia at Adelaide in December 2020, Shaw was dismissed by Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins in the first and second innings respectively with deliveries that came back in. And in the ongoing Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Shaw was dismissed in a similar manner in the seventh over of Mumbai's second innings.The bowler this time was Yash Thakur, who bowled an in-seam delivery at 133.4kph pitched at good length. Shaw (11) looked to defend from the crease without accounting for the movement off the deck, but the ball sneaked through the bat-pad gap to crash into the stumps.Shaw couldn't believe it and walked off shaking his head. The domestic handle of the Indian cricket board (BCCI) shared a video of the dismissal on Twitter.Shaw's weakness against incoming deliveries is a major concern for the Indian team, especially with the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The left-hander is expected to play a key role in India's batting lineup, but his susceptibility to incoming deliveries could be a major liability.The Indian team management will need to find a way to address Shaw's weakness before the start of the series. One possible solution could be to have him practice more against incoming deliveries in the nets. Another option could be to have him bat at a lower position in the order, where he would be less likely to face incoming deliveries.Whatever the solution, the Indian team management will need to find a way to address Shaw's weakness before the start of the series. Otherwise, it could be a major liability for the team.

Australia's remarkable 2-0 series victory in New Zealand was a testament to the team's resilience and the ability of different players to step up when needed.Chasing 279 in the third Test, Australia found themselves in dire straits at 34 for 4 and 80 for 5. However, Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey forged a match-winning partnership of 140, putting the pressure back on New Zealand's bowlers.Carey, who had been under scrutiny for his recent form, remained unbeaten on 98, while Marsh contributed a vital 32 not out. Their partnership allowed Australia to chip away at the target and ultimately secure a thrilling victory."The story of this series was in key moments one guy stood up," said Australian captain Pat Cummins. "We didn't necessarily play the complete game, but in those pivotal moments someone stood up and made themselves a matchwinner."Cummins praised the tempo at which Marsh and Carey batted, which kept the run rate ticking over and prevented New Zealand from using the second new ball effectively."We've been on the other side of it plenty of times and if the scoreboard's not moving you feel in the game, but if they are chipping away it seems like it's all happening pretty quickly," he said.New Zealand captain Tim Southee acknowledged the quality of Australia's performance but expressed disappointment at his team's inability to secure a first home win against the Aussies in 31 years."The partnership with Mitch Marsh and Alex Carey sort of broke the back of our attack," he said. "When you are playing the No. 1 side in the world you need to go that little bit further."Australia's victory capped off a successful Test season, with the team winning six of their seven matches. They now have a long break before facing India at home in November.

Nathan Lyon's words may have expressed optimism, but his body language and tone hinted at a different story as Australia faces an uphill battle to salvage the second Test against New Zealand at Hagley Oval.Trailing by 279 runs, Australia stumbled to 34 for 4 in their pursuit of victory. Lyon, once again tasked with the nightwatchman role, was not required to bat as Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh guided the team to stumps without further loss. However, the task remains daunting, with 202 runs still needed and only six wickets in hand.Despite the precarious position, Lyon maintained Australia's belief in their ability to pull off a remarkable escape. "It would be a great Test match win if we're able to pick this off," he said. "There's a lot of belief in that change room... we can win from any position."Lyon pointed to Australia's successful chase of 282 at Edgbaston in the Ashes last year, where he and Pat Cummins shared an unbeaten 55-run stand for the ninth wicket. However, such high-scoring fourth-innings chases are rare for Australia, with only 13 successful instances and only two since 2006.Lyon's words of confidence were somewhat contradicted by his demeanor. Just days earlier, he had exuded optimism in Wellington, declaring that Australia would create the necessary chances to win. In Christchurch, his tone was more subdued, his body language suggesting a different reality.Lyon admitted to feeling nervous as the nightwatchman, a role he has been forced to play twice in this series. "Too often I seem to be batting in the top six," he said. "Happy to do the role but it's nice that I didn't have to walk out there tonight."While Lyon refrained from direct criticism of his batting group, his tone hinted at frustration. "It's not a frustration. I think it's a learning curve for us," he said. "We're on a path... to become one of Australia's great cricket teams."Lyon's words reflect the challenges facing an aging Australian team, with nine of the 11 members over the age of 30. While victory at Hagley Oval remains a possibility, the team's actions and words currently seem out of sync.

Marnus Labuschagne's brilliant 90 has helped Australia establish a 94-run first innings lead over New Zealand at Hagley Oval. Despite another innings propped up by an individual performance, Labuschagne believes the revamped batting line-up will succeed.Labuschagne's innings was a timely reminder of his class, having endured a lean run in recent Tests. However, he insists he never felt threatened by the prospect of losing his place. "The confidence of this team has done that," he said. "The coaches, selectors, and captain trust in the players and believe we have the best six or seven batters in the country."While Labuschagne's form has been under scrutiny, wicketkeeper Alex Carey's has also come into question. Carey has endured a difficult day with both bat and gloves, dropping a key catch late in the day. However, Labuschagne defended Carey's shot option, saying he was unfortunate to edge the ball to midwicket.Labuschagne also acknowledged that the revamped batting group has yet to fire collectively. However, he remains confident in the team's ability to succeed. "We've got the six best batters in the country out on the field," he said. "It's not gelling perfectly yet, but we're liking where Greeny is at No. 4 and Steve averages 58. He'll find a way."