Cricket

Sanju Samson, the enigmatic wicketkeeper-batter from Rajasthan, has been a constant subject of debate among cricket enthusiasts. Despite his impressive performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and sporadic appearances for the national team, Samson has often found himself on the sidelines of the Indian squad.Samson's international debut came in 2015, but he has since struggled to cement his place in the team. He was overlooked for the Asia Cup 2023 and ODI World Cup 2023 squads, despite his consistent performances in the IPL. He was eventually included in India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad but did not feature in any matches.Recently, Samson played two matches in India's three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, but failed to score a single run. Despite these setbacks, the 29-year-old remains unfazed."I will just go and play whenever they select me. That's it! End of the day, our team is doing well. I am the kind of person who believes in higher purpose. I just try to take things positively under controllable circumstances and put up the efforts," Samson said at a recent event.Samson's resilience is evident in his performances for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. In the 2024 season, he emerged as the fifth highest run-scorer with 531 runs in 15 matches.Overall, Samson has played 30 T20Is for India, scoring 444 runs, and 16 ODIs, scoring 510 runs. He has also played 167 IPL matches, amassing 4419 runs.Despite his impressive record, Samson's omission from the Indian team has raised questions about the selection criteria. Some experts believe that his inconsistent performances in international cricket have cost him his place, while others argue that he deserves more opportunities.As the Indian team prepares for the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2024, Samson's form and selection will be closely monitored. If he can replicate his IPL performances on the international stage, he could prove to be a valuable asset for the team.

Graham Thorpe, the former England cricketer who passed away on August 5, 2023, at the age of 49, took his own life, his family has revealed.Thorpe's wife, Amanda, told The Times that her husband had been suffering from depression and anxiety in recent years. "He was so unwell in recent times and he really did believe that we would be better off without him," she said. "We are devastated that he acted on that and took his own life."Thorpe, who played 100 Test matches for England, was a highly respected figure in the cricket world. He was known for his elegant batting and his ability to score runs in all conditions. He also played 82 One-Day Internationals for England, scoring 2,380 runs.After retiring from playing, Thorpe worked as a coach for England and Surrey. He was widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the world and helped to develop some of England's most talented young players.Thorpe's death has sent shockwaves through the cricket community. He was a popular figure among fans and players alike, and his loss will be deeply felt.In a statement, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Graham Thorpe. Graham was a fine cricketer and a wonderful ambassador for the game. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him."Thorpe's family has asked for privacy at this difficult time. They have also set up a JustGiving page to raise money for the mental health charity Mind.

Alick Athanaze's valiant 92 propelled the West Indies to a hard-fought draw against South Africa in the rain-marred first Test at Queen's Park Oval. The Proteas set a daunting target of 298, but Athanaze's resilience and a crucial partnership with Jason Holder kept the hosts in contention.Athanaze, batting at a precarious 18 for two, displayed remarkable patience and composure. He faced 116 deliveries, hitting nine boundaries, and anchored the West Indies' innings for over three hours. His partnership with Holder, worth 65 runs, lifted the hosts from a shaky 127 for four to a more stable position.However, as the close of play approached, Athanaze's concentration wavered. Eager to reach his century, he top-edged a sweep off Keshav Maharaj to Ryan Rickelton at backward square-leg. Maharaj, who finished with match figures of eight for 164, proved to be the most potent threat to the West Indies.Earlier in the day, Tristan Stubbs led South Africa's charge for quick runs with an aggressive 68 off 50 balls. Stubbs' maiden Test half-century, coupled with contributions from Tony de Zorzi (45) and Aiden Markram (38), allowed South Africa to declare their second innings at 173 for three.West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite, who fell cheaply in the first over, expressed confidence in his team's ability to chase down the target. "We knew it wasn't going to be easy, but my message to the boys was to back themselves and fully commit to their plans at the crease," he said.However, rain played a significant role in the match, with more than two days of playing time lost. This raises concerns for the second and final Test, scheduled to take place at the Guyana National Stadium from Thursday.

Durham pulled off a thrilling seven-run victory over Kent Spitfires in the Metro Bank Cup on Sunday, keeping their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive.After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Durham witnessed a superb century from Ben McKinney (115 off 116 balls) that propelled them to a competitive total of 307. McKinney's knock was studded with three sixes and 13 fours, while Bas de Leede (47) provided valuable support.Kent's chase got off to a promising start as Harry Finch (104 off 91 balls) and Jack Leaning (81) stitched together a 183-run partnership for the third wicket. However, the Spitfires suffered a dramatic collapse, losing six wickets for 71 runs.George Drissell emerged as the hero for Durham, claiming 4 for 38. His crucial wickets included Finch, Leaning, and Grant Stewart (3). Colin Ackermann (3-36) also played a key role in restricting Kent's scoring.In the final over, Kent needed 17 runs to win. Ackermann defended the target admirably, conceding only 10 runs and securing a memorable victory for Durham.The result leaves Durham in contention for the knockout stages, while Kent's hopes of progressing have been dashed.

India's ODI Series Loss to Sri Lanka Sparks Banter Between Wasim Jaffer and Michael VaughanFormer Indian batter Wasim Jaffer and ex-England captain Michael Vaughan have engaged in a witty exchange on social media following India's defeat in the ODI series against Sri Lanka.Vaughan initiated the banter by inquiring about the series result, prompting Jaffer to respond with a tongue-in-cheek comparison to England's dismal Test record in Australia."I'll put it in Ashes terms for you Michael. Ind won as many games in that series as the Tests Eng have won in Aus in last 12 years," Jaffer tweeted.India had begun their tour of Sri Lanka with a dominant 3-0 victory in the T20I series. However, the ODI leg proved to be a different story, with Sri Lanka emerging victorious under the leadership of new captain Charith Asalanka and the guidance of coach Sanath Jayasuriya.The opening ODI ended in a thrilling tie, setting the stage for an exciting series. India suffered a 32-run defeat in the second ODI while chasing a target of 240.The decisive blow came in the final ODI, where Sri Lanka convincingly defeated India by 110 runs, successfully defending a total of 248. This marked a significant milestone for Sri Lanka, as it was their first ODI series triumph over India since 1997.Jaffer's witty response to Vaughan's initial query highlights the friendly rivalry between the two former cricketers. Their social media banter has become a source of entertainment for cricket fans, who appreciate the good-natured humor and camaraderie between the two legends.

Cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics has sparked excitement among cricket enthusiasts worldwide. Legendary Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting believes this opportunity will significantly expand the sport's reach and popularity.Ponting, a three-time ODI World Cup winner, recently coached the Washington Freedom to this year's Major League Cricket title, giving him valuable insight into how cricket is perceived in the USA. He emphasized that the Olympic Games provide a unique platform to expose cricket to a vast new audience."The Olympic Games being viewed by so many people all around the world, it just opens up completely different audiences to our game that's seemingly growing on a daily basis anyway," said Ponting.Ponting also pointed out the potential for cricket to tap into baseball's fanbase in the USA. "The way that I sort of try and compare the two is we've all been to games of Major League Baseball. Huge events, the bat and ball game that Americans are growing up with and that game goes for four hours and through the history of the game, there's less than one home run scored in every game," he said."So when you compare baseball to what the excitement and entertainment package that T20 cricket brings, then it should be a reasonably easy sell to the young kids in the US."Ponting expressed his excitement about the possibility of serving as either a mentor or coach for the Australian team at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. "It'd be a pretty nice job, I reckon, to be a mentor around a cricket team in the Olympic Games, to hang out," he said.The inclusion of cricket in the Olympics is a testament to the sport's growing global appeal. It provides an opportunity for cricket to reach new heights and inspire future generations of players.

Suryakumar Yadav's Historic Visit to Yankee Stadium: A Bridge Between Cricket and BaseballIndian cricket sensation Suryakumar Yadav made history with his recent visit to the legendary Yankee Stadium in New York City. The T20 captain was honored by Major League Baseball's New York Yankees, becoming the first Indian cricketer to receive such a distinction.Suryakumar, affectionately known as SKY, was presented with a custom Yankees pinstripe jersey bearing his name and number. The stadium, renowned for its rich baseball heritage, welcomed one of India's biggest cricket stars, marking a significant moment in the cross-sport camaraderie between cricket and baseball.Suryakumar's visit came on the heels of his elevation to T20 captaincy, where he led India to a commanding 3-0 series victory against Sri Lanka in his debut series as skipper. This successful start to his leadership alongside new head coach Gautam Gambhir further solidifies his status as a rising star in the cricketing world.As a key player in India's T20 World Cup-winning team, Suryakumar's visit to Yankee Stadium highlights his growing international profile. India played several group stage games in Nassau County during the recently concluded T20 World Cup in the Americas, further strengthening the connection between cricket and baseball in the region.Suryakumar's visit to Yankee Stadium is a testament to the growing popularity of cricket globally and the increasing recognition of Indian cricketers on the international stage. It also serves as a bridge between two of the world's most popular sports, fostering a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect between cricket and baseball enthusiasts.

The fourth day of the Test match between South Africa and West Indies at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago witnessed a dramatic turn of events, setting the stage for a thrilling final day. Despite rain interruptions and a delayed start, South Africa seized control of the game, leaving West Indies facing an uphill battle.After bowling out West Indies for 233 in their first innings, South Africa gained a 124-run lead. The Proteas then added 30 runs in five overs before the close of play on Saturday, putting themselves in a strong position to push for a victory.On Sunday, with a yellow-level weather alert in place and heavy rainfall in the area, it seemed that the match would be further delayed or even abandoned. However, after a six-hour delay, play finally commenced. South Africa wasted no time in asserting their dominance, triggering a West Indian collapse of 6 for 60 in just 16.1 overs.The Proteas' bowlers, led by Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, wreaked havoc on the West Indian batting lineup. Rabada claimed three wickets, while Ngidi picked up two. The West Indies were eventually bowled out for 162, giving South Africa a commanding lead of 286 runs.With only one day remaining in the Test, South Africa will be looking to press home their advantage and secure a victory. However, the weather remains a major concern, and further rain interruptions could potentially spoil the Proteas' plans.Despite the challenges posed by the weather, this Test match has been a captivating affair, with both teams showing resilience and determination. The final day promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with South Africa aiming to complete a memorable victory and West Indies fighting to salvage a draw.

Gautam Gambhir's tenure as head coach of the Indian cricket team began with a promising 3-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka in the T20Is. However, the team suffered a setback in the subsequent 50-over format, losing the three-match series 2-0.The conditions in the one-dayers were challenging, with spin-friendly surfaces making batting progressively difficult. While some argue that such pitches are outliers and should not be overanalyzed, the reverses in the ODIs may serve as a timely wake-up call for the team management.Gambhir's vision for the team emphasizes the development of all-rounders and the ability of batters to bowl. Players like Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma have been given opportunities to roll their arms over. In last year's 50-over World Cup, India's lack of genuine all-rounders, aside from Ravindra Jadeja, left them with a long tail. In this series, India's batting depth extended to eight and even nine in the final one-dayer, with the inclusion of all-rounders Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, and Riyan Parag.Another notable aspect of the tour was the preference for having a left-handed and right-handed batter in the middle as much as possible. However, it remains to be seen whether this strategy will be maintained in the future.Individually, Washington and Parag impressed with their bowling. Parag was effective in the T20s and on his one-day debut, mixing his off- and leg-breaks well. Washington, the Player-of-the-Series in Zimbabwe, continued his fine form, providing vital breakthroughs in the one-dayers.Shivam Dube was given a sustained run in this series to assess his potential as a backup for Hardik Pandya. While his bowling was decent, his inability to close out games with the bat was a disappointment. Known for his ability to hit spinners, Dube failed to do so in the challenging conditions.Rishabh Pant's return to the one-day set-up in the final game came two years after his life-threatening accident but lasted only nine deliveries. For now, it seems that K.L. Rahul, who has been impressive as a middle-order batter in recent years, will continue to don the wicketkeeping gloves.A major concern for the coaching staff is the team's inability to find a reliable third seamer. Arshdeep Singh was unimpressive in the two games, and the team could not try out Khaleel Ahmed or Harshit Rana.India would have wanted to shore up its resources for a few slots in an otherwise settled one-day set-up. The results, though, were mixed, and management will have plenty to ponder in the near future.