Cricket

Former Indian Captains Kumble and Dravid Share Insights at Match Referee SeminarIn a significant event at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, former Indian captains and head coaches Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid participated in a seminar on Wednesday, sharing their expertise on match management with match referees.The seminar delved into various aspects of managing a game on the field, with Kumble and Dravid providing valuable insights based on their extensive experience as players and coaches. Other notable figures in the cricketing world also contributed to the discussions, including ICC match referee and former India pacer Javagal Srinath, Elite Panel umpire Nitin Menon, and NCA Education Head Sujith Somasundar.The seminar attracted the participation of several domestic match referees, including the seasoned Manu Nayyar. The attendees engaged in discussions and deliberations on topics related to match management, exchanging their experiences and ideas to enhance their skills and knowledge in the field.Srinath, a match referee since 2006, and Nitin, who recently officiated in the T20 World Cup, shared their experiences from the prestigious tournament. Srinath, a former Indian fast bowler, has officiated in more than 250 ODIs, making him one of the few referees to achieve this milestone.Earlier this year, the ICC Elite Panel of referees and umpires retained both Srinath and Nitin for their exceptional performance and dedication to the sport. The seminar provided a platform for these experienced individuals to share their knowledge and insights with the match referees in attendance, contributing to the overall development of match management in cricket.

Scotland vs Australia: T20I Series Preview and Team NewsScotland will host Australia in a three-match T20I series, with the first match taking place at the Grange in Edinburgh. This will be the first time that Australia and Scotland have played a bilateral T20I series.Australia will be looking to maintain their unbeaten record against Scotland in T20Is. The two teams have met twice before, with Australia winning both matches.Australia will be without several key players for this series, including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood. This will give an opportunity for some of Australia's younger players to shine, such as Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Sean Abbott, and Riley Meredith.Scotland, on the other hand, will be relying on their star trio of captain Richie Berrington, Michael Leask, and George Munsey.Team NewsAustralia:* Travis Head* Jake Fraser-McGurk* Mitchell Marsh (capt)* Josh Inglis (wk)* Marcus Stoinis* Tim David* Cameron Green* Sean Abbott* Xavier Bartlett* Adam Zampa* Riley MeredithScotland:* George Munsey* Ollie Hairs* Brandon McMullen* Richie Berrington (capt)* Matthew Cross (wk)* Michael Leask* Mark Watt* Jack Jarvis* Charlie Cassell* Jasper Davidson* Brad WhealPreviewThe first T20I between Scotland and Australia is expected to be a close contest. Scotland will be looking to make the most of their home advantage, while Australia will be keen to maintain their unbeaten record against them.The key battle in this match will be between Scotland's batting lineup and Australia's bowling attack. Scotland will need to score runs quickly and consistently, while Australia will need to take wickets regularly.The match is scheduled to start at 6pm BST on Wednesday, June 22.

Australia, under the leadership of Mitchell Marsh, opted to field first after winning the toss against Scotland in the opening match of their T20I series. The decision was influenced by the expected high-scoring conditions and the absence of experienced pace bowler Nathan Ellis, who is recovering from a hamstring injury.Jake Fraser-McGurk made his T20I debut for Australia, while Scotland handed out two new caps to Charlie Cassell and Jasper Davidson. Michael Jones, who played in the T20 Blast quarter-final for Durham, missed the match due to scheduling conflicts.Australia's inexperienced pace attack included Riley Meredith, who returned to the T20I side after a year's absence. Josh Inglis replaced Matthew Wade as the wicket-keeper and was slated to bat at No. 4, with Cameron Green coming in as a finisher at No. 7.Scotland's captain, Richie Berrington, also expressed his preference for bowling first. He acknowledged the significance of the match for Scottish cricket and praised the team's preparation.Meanwhile, Ellis's recovery from a hamstring injury is being closely monitored by Cricket Australia's medical staff. His availability for the remaining matches of the series will depend on his progress through rehabilitation.

Pakistan's dismal performance in the recent Test series against Bangladesh has sparked widespread criticism and raised concerns about the state of the team. Former captain Ramiz Raja has called for an explanation from red-ball captain Shan Masood and senior players, while the media has expressed dismay at the team's lackluster display.The series, which Bangladesh won 2-0, marked a new low for Pakistan, who have now slipped to eighth in the ICC World Test Championship standings. Masood, who took over the captaincy earlier this year, has come under fire for his leadership and team selection.Critics have pointed to the team's lack of fitness and long gaps between Test matches as contributing factors to the debacle. Masood himself admitted that the team was not prepared for the challenge posed by Bangladesh, who played with greater intensity and determination.Raja, in particular, has been vocal in his criticism of Masood's captaincy. He believes that Masood has failed to inspire the team and has not held senior players accountable for their poor performances."It's the job of the leader to fight," Raja said. "Agreed he (Masood) is a young captain, agreed the bowling attack was young, but he had picked up this bowling attack."Raja also questioned Masood's own batting form, noting that the left-hander has not scored a century in Test cricket since 2020."He has to answer about his own performance," Raja said. "He is not scoring and the way Bangladesh squeezed, somebody has to be called for explanation, senior players needs to explain."The decline in Pakistan's Test cricket performance has been a cause for concern for fans and experts alike. The team has struggled to find consistency in recent years, and the Bangladesh series has only served to highlight the depth of the problems.With a three-Test series against England looming next month, Pakistan has little time to recover. Raja believes that the players need to take responsibility for their performances and show a greater sense of urgency."They (players) have to take onus," Raja said. "This is the season to make a name. You have to get yourself up mentally and there are no excuses. … When there’s no blame game, only then you can go upward.”

Joe Root's exceptional batting form has propelled him to the summit of the ICC Test Batter Rankings, extending his lead over New Zealand's Kane Williamson. Root's consecutive centuries have solidified his position as the world's top batter, with a 63-point advantage over Williamson.In the latest rankings update, Gus Atkinson's all-around brilliance against Sri Lanka has earned him significant gains. Atkinson's century and five-wicket haul at Lord's have elevated him into the top 20 all-rounders and top 30 bowlers.Despite Sri Lanka's series defeat to England, several players have made positive strides in the rankings. Kamindu Mendis' half-centuries have moved him up 11 spots to 25th, while Asitha Fernando's eight-wicket performance has propelled him into the top ten bowlers for the first time.Bangladesh's clean sweep of Pakistan has resulted in several Tigers making gains. Litton Das' century in the first Test has pushed him up 12 places to 15th in the batting rankings. Mehidy Hasan Miraz's all-around contributions have seen him rise to 7th in the all-rounders list. Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana have also achieved career-best rankings in bowling.In the shortest format, Nicolas Pooran's impressive knock against South Africa has moved him up to eighth in the T20I Batting Rankings. Shai Hope's consistent performances have earned him a 32-spot jump to 40th. Protea Aiden Markram has also joined Pooran in the top 10.American all-rounder Harmeet Singh has made significant strides in the bowling rankings, jumping 48 spots. He has also climbed 19 spots to 40th in the All-Rounder Rankings.

The debate over the greatest batsman of this generation has reignited following Joe Root's record-breaking 34th Test century at Lord's. Among the "Fab Four" of Root, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, and Virat Kohli, Root now holds the most Test centuries with 34.In a recent podcast, former cricketers Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan weighed in on the debate. For T20 cricket, both Gilchrist and Vaughan unanimously chose Kohli over Root. In ODIs, Vaughan again favored Kohli, with Gilchrist concurring.However, when it came to Test cricket, Vaughan opted for Root, acknowledging his recent dominance. Gilchrist agreed, stating that Root's statistics over the long term are exceptional, making him the greatest England batsman ever.However, when asked to choose between Kohli and Root against Australia, Gilchrist hesitated, emphasizing the importance of the playing conditions. In Australia, he noted that Root has yet to score a century, while Kohli has produced some of his finest performances, including a memorable century at the Perth Stadium.Vaughan conceded that Kohli would be his choice in Australia, but elsewhere, he would favor Root. He highlighted Root's impressive record in India, where he has scored over 1200 runs in 15 Tests with three centuries.Kohli's aggressive and technically sound batting makes him a formidable force in all formats. His cover drives, flicks, and ability to chase down targets with precision are among his strengths. His adaptability and consistency make him one of the most reliable batsmen in the world.Root, on the other hand, is known for his classical batting technique and consistency, particularly in Test cricket. He is adept at handling both pace and spin, with an elegant playing style that includes effective use of the back foot and a wide range of shots. Root's ability to grind out runs in challenging conditions is also noteworthy.While both players are exceptional, Kohli is often regarded as more dominant in limited-overs cricket, while Root's strengths lie in the longer format. The debate over who is the greatest batsman of this generation is likely to continue, but both Kohli and Root have cemented their status as two of the finest players of their era.

Rahul Dravid, the legendary Indian cricketer and current head coach of the Indian men's team, is set to return to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) as head coach for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. This move comes after Dravid's tenure as India coach concludes following the 2024 T20 World Cup in June.Dravid has a long-standing relationship with RR, having served as their captain in 2012 and 2013, and as team director and mentor in 2014 and 2015. He also has a close working relationship with RR captain Sanju Samson, who came through the under-19 ranks under Dravid's guidance.According to sources, Dravid recently signed a deal with RR and has already begun initial conversations on player retentions ahead of the upcoming mega auction. It is also understood that former India batter Vikram Rathour is likely to join Dravid's coaching staff as an assistant coach. Rathour, a former India selector, worked with Dravid at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) before becoming India's batting coach in 2019.While Dravid will take charge of RR in the IPL, Kumar Sangakkara, who has been their director of cricket since 2021, will continue with the franchise and oversee their teams in other leagues, including the Paarl Royals in the SA20 and the Barbados Royals in the CPL.RR have not won the IPL title since the inaugural season in 2008, but they came close in 2022 when they finished runners-up to the Gujarat Titans. They failed to make the playoffs in 2023 but bounced back in 2024, reaching Qualifier 2 before being eliminated.Dravid's return to RR is expected to bring stability and experience to the franchise, which has been searching for a consistent run of success in recent years. His vast knowledge of the game and his ability to nurture young talent will be invaluable assets for RR as they look to challenge for the IPL title once again.

Left-handed batsman Prateek Yadav and skipper Amandeep Khare played pivotal roles as Chhattisgarh amassed a formidable 450 runs for nine wickets before rain halted play on day two of their semifinal clash against TNCA XI in the Buchi Babu cricket tournament at the NPR College cricket ground in Natham.Yadav, who resumed his innings on 61, accelerated his scoring and reached his century with two towering sixes off left-arm spinner Ajith Ram. He displayed his aggressive intent, charging at the bowler for a long-off six and slog-sweeping over mid-wicket for his century off just 113 deliveries.Yadav's partnership with Khare, who had resumed his attritional batting from overnight, flourished to 164 runs. Khare, known for his patient approach, flicked Achyuth for a four through mid-wicket and cover-drove Sonu for a similar outcome. He also reverse-swept Lakshay's off-spin to deep backward point and lofted it to long on for two more boundaries.However, Khare's innings came to an end when he mistimed a wide delivery from Lakshay, resulting in a sharp low catch by Mokit Hariharan at short fine leg. Khare departed with a well-crafted 97 off 267 deliveries.Chhattisgarh's innings was eventually declared at 450 for nine after 146.2 overs. Ajith Ram and Lakshay Jain were the most successful bowlers for TNCA XI, claiming four wickets each.In the other semifinal match played in Tirunelveli, Hyderabad posted a total of 313 runs. TNCA President's XI responded with 291 for six wickets at the close of play, with S. Rithik Easwaran (83 batting) and M. Mohammed (41 batting) holding the crease.

Rahul Dravid, the former India coach and captain, recently shared his thoughts on his coaching career and the challenges of the game at the CEAT awards. Dravid, who guided India to victory in the T20 World Cup earlier this year, reflected on the highs and lows of his tenure."The beauty of this game is that you are failing a lot more than you are succeeding," Dravid said. "But that's what makes it so much more fun, so much more enjoyable."Dravid's tenure as coach was marked by both success and disappointment. India reached the final of the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup but lost both to Australia. However, they managed to bring home the T20 World Cup, defeating South Africa in a thrilling final."When you have moments like that, I try and avoid showing that to my children, thinking I've gone mad or something," Dravid said of his emotions after winning the T20 World Cup. "But I have been always telling the boys that we have got to maintain our balance, we've got to remain cool and not go up and down with the results."Dravid also spoke about the challenges of coaching a team at the highest level. "You are constantly under scrutiny," he said. "You are constantly being judged. But that's part of the job. You have to be able to handle that pressure."Despite the challenges, Dravid said he enjoyed his time as coach. "It was a great experience," he said. "I learned a lot. I grew a lot. And I made some lifelong friends."Dravid is now looking forward to the next chapter in his career. He has not yet announced his plans, but he said he is open to new opportunities. "I'm not sure what the future holds," he said. "But I'm excited to find out."