Cricket

Nathan Lyon Deemed More "Complete" Bowler Than Ravichandran Ashwin by Former South African Test CricketerFormer South African Test cricketer Paul Adams has sparked a debate by asserting that Australian spinner Nathan Lyon possesses a more "complete" skillset than his Indian counterpart Ravichandran Ashwin. Adams's comments come ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Test series between India and Australia.Both Lyon and Ashwin are widely regarded as elite spinners in modern cricket, boasting over 500 Test wickets each. However, Adams believes Lyon's versatility across different conditions gives him an advantage."I still think Nathan Lyon has a more complete game in terms of competing in the subcontinent and in Australia or South Africa, those types of conditions, than Ashwin," Adams stated.Adams, renowned for his unconventional "frog in a blender" bowling action, highlighted Lyon's ability to generate overspin as a crucial factor. He contrasted this with Ashwin, whose carrom ball adds a unique dimension to his bowling.Adams also addressed the absence of Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami from the upcoming series against Australia. He expressed his belief that Shami's absence will be a significant blow to the Indian team, especially on Australian pitches."I think he (Shami) will be a major miss for India, given the Australian conditions," Adams said.The former South African cricketer expects Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja to assume a more prominent role in the bowling department in Shami's absence.

Mumbai's women's cricket team showcased their dominance in the Senior Women's T20 Trophy, crushing Bengal by a commanding 10 wickets in the final held at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The victory marked a resounding triumph for the Mumbai side, who displayed an all-round performance that left their opponents trailing in their wake.Bengal's batting lineup struggled to find their footing against Mumbai's formidable bowling attack. Dhara Gujjar's valiant effort of 26 runs off 38 balls proved to be a solitary bright spot for the Bengal team. Mumbai's Jagravi Pawar emerged as the star of the show, claiming an impressive 3/13 from her four overs, while Soumya Singh chipped in with 2/11. Sayali Satghare and Fatima Jaffer also contributed with one wicket each.The Mumbai batters, in contrast, made light work of the Bengal bowling attack. Humaira Kaazi led the charge with an unbeaten 41 off 36 balls, including five fours and a six. Vrushali Bhagat provided solid support, scoring an unbeaten 45 off 39 balls with six fours. The Mumbai duo's clinical batting performance ensured that they chased down the meager target of 86 runs in just 12.3 overs without losing a single wicket.Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) president Ajinkya Naik hailed the team's triumph, announcing that the organization would match the BCCI's prize money of Rs 40 lakh. "This win inspires every young women cricketer in Mumbai to dream big and strive for excellence," Naik said in a statement.

Alzarri Joseph has been recalled to the West Indies squad for the final three matches of their T20I series against England, replacing Shamar Joseph. Joseph was suspended for two matches after leaving the field without permission during the third ODI against England. Andre Russell has been ruled out of the series with a left ankle sprain, with Shamar Springer coming in as his replacement.West Indies are 2-0 down in the series heading into the final leg in St Lucia. They need to win the third T20I on Thursday to keep the series alive.Joseph's return is a boost for the West Indies, who have struggled with their bowling in the first two matches. They have conceded 159 and 183 runs respectively, losing just five wickets across both fixtures in Barbados.Springer, who made his T20I debut against Sri Lanka last month, gives West Indies captain Rovman Powell more options to work with.The loss of Russell is a blow to the West Indies, who are already without several key players, including Kieron Pollard, Jason Holder, and Fabian Allen.Russell suffered the injury during the first T20I, and his absence will be a major setback for the West Indies. He is one of the most destructive batsmen in the world, and his bowling can also be very effective.West Indies T20I squad:* Rovman Powell (capt)* Roston Chase* Matthew Forde* Shimron Hetmyer* Terrance Hinds* Shai Hope* Akeal Hosein* Alzarri Joseph* Brandon King* Evin Lewis* Gudakesh Motie* Nicholas Pooran* Sherfane Rutherford* Romario Shepherd* Shamar Springer

Karnataka, with nine points from four games, will face Uttar Pradesh in a crucial Ranji Trophy Group-C encounter at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Karnataka's campaign has been marred by rain, resulting in two weather-curtailed matches and a point each. Their only bright spot was an eight-wicket win against Bihar.Uttar Pradesh, on the other hand, is winless and languishes in sixth place. They suffered a heavy defeat against Kerala, crumbling for 162 and 116 in an innings-defeat. Karnataka's spin attack, led by Shreyas Gopal, will hope to exploit Uttar Pradesh's vulnerability to spin.Karnataka skipper Mayank Agarwal will need to find form, having averaged only 27.2 this season. However, they will be relieved to have Nikin Jose back in the squad after he sustained an injury while fielding against Bengal.Uttar Pradesh's batting has relied heavily on openers Madhav Kaushiv and Aryan Juyal, while their middle-order has not delivered consistently. International duties have depleted the pace attacks of both sides, but Karnataka has coped better, with V. Koushik emerging as a reliable spearhead.

Munaf Patel, the former Indian pacer and 2011 ODI World Cup winner, has been appointed as the new bowling coach of the Delhi Capitals (DC) franchise for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. This marks Munaf's first major coaching role since his retirement from competitive cricket in 2018.Munaf, known for his ability to generate reverse swing and deliver accurate yorkers, represented India in 86 matches across all three formats from 2006 to 2011. He also played for several IPL franchises, including Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians, and Gujarat Lions, winning the IPL title with Mumbai in 2013.Munaf replaces former Australia all-rounder James Hopes, who parted ways with DC in July 2024. The franchise has undergone a significant overhaul in its coaching staff, with Hemang Badani as head coach and Venugopal Rao as director of cricket.As part of their preparations for the upcoming IPL cycle, DC has retained key players such as Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, and Abishek Porel. They will enter the auction on November 24 and 25 with the third-highest purse of INR 73 crore, aiming to strengthen their squad and improve their performance after failing to reach the playoffs in the last three IPL seasons.Munaf's appointment is expected to bolster DC's bowling attack, which has struggled for consistency in recent years. His experience and expertise in the art of fast bowling will be invaluable to the team's young bowlers.

Amite Hasan's marathon double-century propelled Sylhet Division to an unbeaten start in the National Cricket League (NCL), as they drew against Khulna Division in Cox's Bazar. Hasan's epic 455-ball innings, spanning over ten hours, is the third-longest individual score in Bangladesh's first-class history.Hasan's monumental knock, adorned with 18 fours and a six, showcased his remarkable conversion rate in first-class cricket. He forged a crucial 251-run partnership with Asadulla Al Galib, who also notched up his maiden century. However, Galib's dismissal became a viral sensation when he mistimed a shot off Mahedi Hasan's delivery, much to the amusement of the Khulna fielders.Khulna responded with a first-innings total of 273, led by half-centuries from Anamul Haque and Afif Hossain. After being asked to follow on, veteran Mohammad Mithun struck his 16th first-class century. Anamul, Imrul Kayes, and Nurul Hasan also contributed fifties, guiding Khulna to safety with a score of 296 for 3.Meanwhile, Rangpur Division secured a 101-run victory over Rajshahi Division, propelling them to second place in the standings. Ariful Haque's unbeaten 103 in the first innings and three wickets in the second innings played a pivotal role in Rangpur's triumph. Rajshahi's Sabbir Hossain claimed a six-wicket haul in the first innings, but Rangpur's bowlers fought back to dismiss Rajshahi for the same score.Chattogram Division registered their first win of the season, defeating Barishal Division by eight wickets in Cox's Bazar. Nineteen-year-old Ashraful Hasan Rohan emerged as the star performer, becoming the youngest Chattogram player to achieve a ten-wicket haul in a match.Barishal posted 318 runs in their first innings, with Moin Khan and Tasamul Haque scoring fifties. Ashraful's four wickets and Enamul Hoque's three wickets restricted Barishal's total. Shahadat Hossain's century in Chattogram's reply brought them within five runs of Barishal's score. Ashraful then completed his ten-for, dismissing Barishal for a mere 77 in their second innings.Defending champions Dhaka Division managed to salvage a draw against Dhaka Metropolis in Sylhet. Dhaka Metro came close to victory, but Ripon Mondol and Nazmul Islam held on at the end of the fourth day. Anamul Haque and Shuvagata Hom took four wickets each for Dhaka, while Abu Hider claimed three wickets for Dhaka Metro.

South Africa and India Face Off in Competitive T20I SeriesDespite fielding weakened teams, South Africa and India have engaged in a thrilling four-match T20I series that is poised for an exciting conclusion. The series has highlighted areas of concern for both sides, which they will aim to address in the remaining matches.South Africa's Wristspin WoesSouth Africa's batting has struggled against India's wristspinners, Ravi Bishnoi and Varun Chakravarthy. In 16 overs, they have conceded 91 runs and lost 12 wickets. This dominance echoes the impact of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal in India's 2017-18 ODI tour of South Africa.India's Batting Depth IssueIndia's batting has shown a lack of depth, with their scoring seemingly stopping at No. 7. In the first T20I, they managed only 40 runs in the last six overs, while in the second, they failed to capitalize on Sanju Samson's century. This issue could prove crucial in determining the outcome of the series.Players in the SpotlightDavid Miller, who has been dismissed twice by Varun, will be eager to improve his performance against the wristspinner. Abhishek Sharma, on the other hand, has struggled to convert his aggressive approach into consistent runs. India's team management will need to support him and help him develop into a more well-rounded player.Team News and Pitch ConditionsLutho Sipamla has joined South Africa's squad for the remaining matches, potentially replacing Andile Simelane or Nqaba Peter. India has no immediate solutions for their batting depth issue but may consider experimenting with their lineup.Centurion, the venue for the third and fourth T20Is, is known for its high-scoring matches. The steep bounce could also favor fast bowlers if the surface provides assistance.Stats and Trivia* Centurion has the highest batting average (33.25) among South African grounds that have hosted at least three T20Is since 2010.* Miller has the most catches (81) by a non-wicketkeeper in T20Is.* Varun has a chance to break the Indian record for most wickets in a bilateral T20I series (9).* Arshdeep Singh has taken the most wickets (89) among Full Member players since his debut in July 2022.

Mumbai, the defending Ranji Trophy champions, will face Services in Palam on Wednesday, aiming for their third outright victory of the 2024-25 season. With only eight points separating the top five teams in Group A, Mumbai, currently third behind Baroda and Jammu & Kashmir, recognizes the importance of a win before the campaign pauses for white-ball tournaments.Services, currently fourth in the standings, also has aspirations of challenging for a knockout spot. After defeats to Baroda and Jammu & Kashmir in the second and third rounds, they bounced back with a 35-run victory over Maharashtra last week. "We had lost the previous two games. So to beat Maharashtra was very important. We won a close contest and on their turf. For any team, that is bound to give confidence," said Services coach Rajesh Tiwari.Mumbai, led by Ajinkya Rahane, displayed its dominance in the previous round, crushing Odisha by an innings and 103 runs. The victory was built on a 354-run stand between Shreyas Iyer and Siddhesh Lad, the highest fourth-wicket partnership for the 42-time winner. Iyer plundered a 228-ball 233 while Lad contributed 169 off 337 balls.Iyer's continued good form, as evidenced by his century against Maharashtra, suggests he is eager to reclaim his place in India's Test plans. Services captain Rajat Paliwal acknowledges the challenge ahead against Mumbai's formidable batting lineup. "The wickets in matches here have been taken by medium-pacers as well as spinners. Batters have also scored runs. There will be help for everyone from this surface," Paliwal said.

Liam Norwell, the former Warwickshire seamer who played a pivotal role in saving the club from relegation in 2022, has been forced to retire on medical grounds. The 32-year-old has been battling a series of long-standing injuries that have prevented him from regaining full fitness.Norwell's heroics on the final day of the 2022 County Championship season will be etched in Warwickshire's history. His career-best figures of 9 for 62 against Hampshire at Edgbaston secured a thrilling five-run victory and kept the Bears in the top flight at the expense of Yorkshire.In recognition of his efforts, Norwell was rewarded with a two-year contract extension in March 2023. However, a back injury in pre-season ruled him out of the entire campaign. He made a brief return to action in four second XI games in June 2024, but a torn pectoral muscle in the last of those against Worcestershire ended his hopes of a full comeback.After undergoing another operation, Norwell's contract with Warwickshire was terminated by mutual consent. Warwickshire Performance Director Gavin Larsen expressed his disappointment at the time, saying, "I'm gutted for Liam because I know how hard he's tried and trained to get back to full fitness."Norwell's career has been marked by both success and setbacks. He has taken a total of 347 first-class wickets, including 94 for Warwickshire. In 2021, he claimed 49 wickets at an average of 18.21, earning him a place on the England Lions tour of Australia. He was also named as a stand-by for England's Test tour of the Caribbean the following spring, but a family illness prevented him from answering the call.Despite the challenges he has faced, Norwell remains grateful for his time at Warwickshire. "I've really enjoyed my time as a Bear since joining and have shared in some great team successes and memories," he said. "My focus now is on getting fit and healthy again, and working out what is next for my family and I."