Cricket

Will Rhodes, the former Warwickshire captain who led the team to the County Championship title in 2021, has decided to leave the club at the end of the season. Rhodes, whose contract expires this year, was offered an extension but declined, citing a desire for a new challenge and a more competitive deal. He has since signed a long-term contract with Durham, where he will join an experienced batting lineup.Rhodes' departure was confirmed by Warwickshire on Saturday, while Durham has yet to announce his arrival. "It's not been an easy decision," Rhodes said. "I've spent most of my professional career here at Edgbaston, made life-long friends, and had success on the field. There are memories I will cherish for many, many years.""But I feel the time is right to move on and pick up a fresh challenge. Coming to the club as a 22-year-old, I never thought I'd get such an opportunity to captain a great club like Warwickshire. It's been an unbelievable honour… I'd like to think I've made a positive contribution and helped take the club forward."Rhodes intends to remain with Warwickshire for the rest of the season to help the team avoid relegation, rather than joining Durham on loan early. "It goes without saying that I will be giving my all to the club for the rest of the season," he said. "We've had a brilliant start in the One Day Cup. Who knows, it would be amazing to go out on a high by winning some silverware."After starting his career at Yorkshire, Rhodes has played 86 first-class matches for Warwickshire, averaging 35.85 with the bat and scoring 10 hundreds. He has also featured in 37 T20s and 36 List A games for the club. Rhodes was appointed club captain ahead of the 2020 season and led Warwickshire to their first Championship title since 2012 the following summer. He stepped down at the end of last year to focus on his own form.Mark Robinson, Warwickshire's coach, said: "When you work as a head coach with a captain for a number of years, you form a special bond which will always last. So personally, I would like to thank Will for all the support he has given me, as well as the wider club, both as a leader and a performer on the field."Durham recently announced the signing of New Zealand's Neil Wagner for the Championship run-in and the One-Day Cup.

India's newly appointed skipper, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shubman Gill put on a dominant display in the first innings of the match against Sri Lanka, amassing a formidable 74 runs without losing a wicket in the Powerplay.Yadav, who came to the crease after the dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal, welcomed Kamindu Mendis with a boundary over cover. Mendis, an ambidextrous spinner, bowled a variety of deliveries, including off-spin and left-arm spin, but Yadav and Gill remained unfazed.Gill, in particular, was in fine form, hitting a six over mid-wicket off Dilshan Madushanka and four boundaries in quick succession. His shots were a combination of power and precision, showcasing his excellent timing and strokeplay.Madushanka, who had conceded 13 runs in his first over, returned to the attack and dismissed Gill for 33. Gill attempted a big shot but mistimed it, giving Asitha Fernando an easy catch at mid-on.Despite the loss of Gill, Yadav continued to play aggressively, hitting a boundary off Wanindu Hasaranga. Hasaranga, who had earlier dismissed Jaiswal, bowled a googly that beat Yadav all ends up.At the end of the Powerplay, India were in a commanding position, with Yadav and Jaiswal unbeaten on 28 and 25 respectively. The duo had built a solid foundation for India's innings, putting pressure on the Sri Lankan bowlers.

England's batting woes continued on the second morning of the third Test against West Indies at Edgbaston, as they slumped to 54 for 5 before Joe Root and Ben Stokes steadied the ship with an unbroken 103-run partnership.Resuming on 38 for 3, England lost Ollie Pope and Harry Brook in quick succession. Pope edged a Shamar Joseph delivery onto his stumps, while Brook was caught behind off Jayden Seales.Root, who had survived an lbw appeal on 3, played a crucial role in rebuilding England's innings. He overtook Brian Lara's 11,953 Test runs to move into seventh on the all-time run-scorers' list and brought up his 63rd Test fifty.Stokes provided valuable support, hitting a series of boundaries to keep the scoreboard ticking. The pair's partnership has given England hope of salvaging something from the match, as they trail West Indies by 125 runs at lunch.West Indies had posted a competitive 282 in their first innings, with Kraigg Brathwaite and Jason Holder scoring half-centuries. England's bowlers, led by Matthew Atkinson and Chris Woakes, shared the wickets.

The Indian cricket team embarks on a new era in T20 international cricket under the leadership of Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav. The duo faces the daunting task of replacing stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja, who recently retired from the format.As they prepare for the first match against Sri Lanka on Saturday, Gambhir and Yadav must make several crucial decisions regarding the team's playing XI. The opening partnership is expected to remain unchanged, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill retaining their spots.Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant are likely to occupy the No. 3 and No. 4 positions, respectively. Pant's return means Sanju Samson may have to sit out, unless the team management opts to play him as a specialist batter.Hardik Pandya is a certainty at No. 5, despite competition from Shivam Dube. Pandya's all-round abilities, including his bowling, give him an edge over Dube. However, Dube's superior batting skills against spin-heavy teams present a dilemma for the team management.Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube are vying for the No. 6 spot, with both capable of playing the finisher's role. Washington Sundar and Axar Patel are the two spin-bowling all-rounders likely to be included, while Ravi Bishnoi will serve as the specialist third spinner.In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj are expected to lead the pace-bowling attack.

The Texas Super Kings and San Francisco Unicorns faced off in a thrilling encounter, with the Unicorns emerging victorious in a high-scoring affair.The Unicorns won the toss and elected to bat first, with Finn Allen and Jake Fraser-McGurk providing a solid start. Allen, in particular, was in devastating form, smashing a half-century in just 25 deliveries. He was ably supported by Fraser-McGurk, who contributed a valuable 25 runs.The Texas Super Kings bowlers struggled to contain the Unicorns' onslaught, with Mohammad Mohsin and Calvin Savage conceding runs at an alarming rate. However, Noor Ahmad provided a much-needed breakthrough, dismissing Sanjay Krishnamurthi and Jake Fraser-McGurk in quick succession.Despite the wickets, the Unicorns continued to pile on the runs, with Josh Inglis and Sherfane Rutherford making significant contributions. Inglis scored a steady 20 runs, while Rutherford provided a late flourish with a quickfire 15.In the end, the Unicorns posted a formidable total of 180 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.In response, the Texas Super Kings got off to a shaky start, losing Devon Conway and Faf du Plessis cheaply. Aaron Hardie and Joshua Tromp attempted to rebuild the innings, but their efforts were hampered by some tight bowling from the Unicorns.The Unicorns bowlers continued to dominate, with Haris Rauf and Carmi le Roux picking up crucial wickets. In the end, the Texas Super Kings fell well short of their target, managing only 120 runs for the loss of 9 wickets.Finn Allen was named Player of the Match for his outstanding performance with the bat.

Shivam Singh's whirlwind century (106 not out off 57 balls) propelled Dindigul Dragons to a commanding 30-run victory over Siechem Madurai Panthers in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). The triumph secured Dragons' berth in the playoffs, while Panthers' hopes were dashed.Singh's innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, particularly against the spinners. Seven of his 10 sixes came off the tweakers. He began cautiously, but a miscued slog sweep off M. Ashwin in the ninth over seemed to ignite his aggression.Undeterred, Singh launched the next delivery for a maximum over deep mid-wicket. From there, his innings exploded like a rocket. He hooked Ajay Krishnan for a six over deep fine-leg, followed by a gorgeous inside-out shot for another maximum over deep cover.In the 15th over, Singh unleashed a barrage of three consecutive sixes off V.S. Karthick Manikandan, two over deep midwicket and one behind deep square-leg. His fifty came off just 29 balls, a testament to his blistering pace.In the chase, only S. Lokeshwar threatened Dragons with a 37-ball 55 (3x4, 4x6). However, the Panthers' batting lineup failed to keep up with the required run rate, falling short by 30 runs.

Zimbabwe will make history as the first country to receive a "touring fee" from the host board in bilateral cricket when they visit England for a two-Test series in the summer of 2025. This groundbreaking development was announced by ECB chief executive Richard Gould, who has been advocating for measures to address the financial disparities among Full Member nations and maintain the quality of Test cricket.Gould's proposal, which he initially presented in 2022, calls for host boards to compensate touring teams. He believes this will help offset the significant revenue gap between wealthier boards like the ECB, BCCI, and Cricket Australia, and those from smaller nations."There's a huge responsibility for the ECB and other financially strong boards to ensure Test cricket remains competitive," Gould stated. "The current revenue-sharing model is outdated and needs to be revised."The escalating costs of maintaining Test cricket in smaller countries, where broadcasting rights have become less valuable, have raised concerns about the sustainability of the format. CWI CEO Johnny Grave has criticized the ICC's revenue-sharing model, arguing that it has failed to support weaker boards.Gould expressed sympathy for boards like CWI and emphasized the need to find solutions to keep them competitive. "We've had conversations with the West Indies about providing assistance," he said. "It's not just about money; there are other ways to support them, such as organizing additional tours or providing opportunities for their players to gain experience in different conditions."ECB chair Richard Thompson has also highlighted the importance of ensuring a strong level of competition for both men's and women's teams. He noted that only 4% of the ECB's annual income comes from ICC revenue distribution, with the majority derived from bilateral cricket broadcast rights."We need to share the value that the game creates to keep Test cricket strong," Thompson said. "It's an accepted principle, and we're exploring different tactics to achieve it."The ECB's decision to pay a touring fee to Zimbabwe is a significant step towards addressing the financial challenges faced by smaller cricket nations. It sets a precedent that could lead to a more equitable distribution of resources and help maintain the health and competitiveness of Test cricket worldwide.

Zimbabwe's erratic bowling and fielding gifted Ireland a 40-run lead in the first Test in Belfast. Peter Moor, a former Zimbabwean, tormented his former team with a record-breaking 79, the highest Test score by an Ireland opener.Zimbabwe's bowlers struggled to contain Moor and his opening partner Andrew Balbirnie, who set a new Ireland record for the highest opening partnership of 71. Moor's innings was characterized by his aggressive square drives, helping Ireland reach 115 for 2 at lunch.However, Zimbabwe's fortunes turned after the break. Tanaka Chivanga and Blessing Muzarabani claimed three wickets each, including the prized scalp of Moor. Paul Stirling survived a no-ball but failed to capitalize, as Muzarabani triggered a collapse with two wickets in two balls.Ireland's middle order crumbled, with Sean Williams and Victor Nyauchi also contributing to the wickets. Zimbabwe seemed poised to take a first-innings lead, but a defiant tenth-wicket partnership between Andy McBrine and debutant Matthew Humphreys denied them.The pair counterattacked after a rain break, smashing 47 runs in 44 balls. Zimbabwe's wicketkeeper Clive Madande endured a challenging day, dropping catches and conceding a record-breaking 59 extras, the most in Test history.Despite their poor bowling and fielding, Zimbabwe's openers, Kevin Kasuza and Takudzwanashe Kaitano, showed resilience in the final session, adding 12 runs before stumps. Ireland's lead remains a modest 28 runs, but Zimbabwe will need to improve their discipline and execution to avoid a deficit.

Jason Holder's all-round brilliance propelled the West Indies to a respectable total of 282 on the opening day of the third Test at Edgbaston, despite England's early dominance.After winning the toss and opting to bat on a favorable surface, the West Indies made a promising start, reaching 76-0. However, a batting collapse reminiscent of their struggles in the previous two Tests saw them lose five wickets around the lunch break.Holder and Joshua Da Silva steadied the ship with a crucial sixth-wicket partnership of 109 runs, but the tail failed to contribute significantly. Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes were the pick of the English bowlers, claiming four and three wickets respectively.Holder's crucial 59 runs, including a 92-ball fifty, gave the West Indies a glimmer of hope in the series they trail 2-0. His innings was complemented by Da Silva's 49 and Brathwaite's 61.England's shaky start in response saw them lose both openers in consecutive deliveries. Zak Crawley fell for eight, edging a loose drive to Holder at second slip, while Ben Duckett played on to Alzarri Joseph on the very next ball. Nightwatchman Mark Wood also departed for a duck, edging Seales to Holder, leaving Ollie Pope and Joe Root to resume England's innings on Saturday.The West Indies' resurgence continued as Holder took two excellent slip catches, contributing to England's shaky start. They ended the day at 38-3, still 244 runs behind.