Cricket

Paras Mhambrey, India's outgoing bowling coach, has played a pivotal role in the team's recent success, including their triumph at the T20 World Cup. Mhambrey, who has worked closely with Rahul Dravid since 2015, outlines the key principles that have guided their approach.Process-First Policy:Mhambrey emphasizes the importance of prioritizing process over results, especially with developmental teams. By ensuring that every player receives ample game time, they foster a sense of security and minimize the pressure on young players. This approach has resulted in a thriving 'A' and U-19 program, which has produced a steady stream of talented players for the senior team.Data Assimilation:Mhambrey highlights the crucial role of data in their planning. By collecting and analyzing data across all aspects of the game, they have been able to formalize programs and streamline the structure. This data-driven approach has enabled them to tailor training and workload management to individual players' needs.Limiting U-19 World Cup Appearances:Mhambrey explains the decision to limit players to a single U-19 World Cup. This policy ensures that players have sufficient time to develop and transition to the 'A' and emerging programs. By bridging the gap between youth and senior teams, they have created a seamless pathway for players to progress through the ranks.Building Relationships:Mhambrey stresses the importance of building strong relationships with senior players. By engaging in open and honest conversations, they have fostered a culture of trust and respect. This has allowed them to have candid discussions about team vision and individual roles, even with experienced players like Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.Investing in Youth:Mhambrey acknowledges the need to invest in young players to create a sustainable bowling pool. By integrating them into the senior team alongside experienced bowlers, they have ensured that the younger generation is not overwhelmed by the responsibilities of leading the attack. This strategy has paid dividends, as evidenced by the emergence of Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan.Incentivizing Red-Ball Cricket:Mhambrey recognizes the challenge of encouraging young players to prioritize red-ball cricket in the era of T20 leagues. By emphasizing the historical significance and prestige of Test cricket, they aim to instill a sense of pride and aspiration in the younger generation. They also highlight the value of Test cricket in enhancing a player's overall skills and reputation.Home Advantage in Test Cricket:Mhambrey discusses India's home advantage in Test cricket, emphasizing the importance of understanding their strengths and resources. While acknowledging the effectiveness of spinning tracks, he cautions against excessive reliance on rank turners, which can level the playing field for touring teams.Pace-Bowling Allrounders:Mhambrey identifies the need to develop genuine pace-bowling allrounders. By identifying potential candidates from U-19 and domestic cricket, they aim to provide them with the support and opportunities to hone their skills. They recognize the challenges posed by the Impact Player rule in the IPL but remain committed to nurturing allrounders.

Jasprit Bumrah's exceptional performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, where he claimed 15 wickets and earned the Player of the Tournament award, further cemented his status as a cricketing icon. His unique bowling action has garnered admiration from experts and fans alike.However, a young boy has recently emerged on social media, captivating attention with his uncanny resemblance to Bumrah's bowling style. The boy's video caught the eye of legendary Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akram, who shared it with the caption: "Wah jee wah look at that control and action exactly like the great @Jaspritbumrah93 video of the day for me. #crickethavenoboundiers."Bumrah's impact extends beyond T20 cricket, as he has proven equally effective in ODIs and Tests. Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja recently hailed Bumrah as a "legend of all three formats," praising his ability to excel in all aspects of the game.Raja's comments resonated with India's new head coach, Gautam Gambhir, who emphasized the importance of all-format players. "I'm a very strong believer in one thing, that if you're good, you should be playing all the three formats," Gambhir said. "They don't want to stay and they don't want to be labelled as red-ball bowler or white-ball bowler."Bumrah's success has inspired a new generation of cricketers, demonstrating that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. The young boy's emulation of Bumrah's bowling action serves as a testament to the Indian pacer's influence on the sport.

New Zealand's 2024-25 home season promises an exciting array of international cricket, with tours from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Australia confirmed. The schedule features six ODIs and eight T20Is for the men's team, while the women will play six ODIs and six T20Is.The highlight of the season will be the three-Test series against England, which will conclude a busy summer of nine Tests for New Zealand. The Tests will be followed by a T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka in late December and mid-January.After the Sri Lanka tour, the men's team will head to Pakistan for an ODI tri-series in preparation for the Champions Trophy. They will then host Pakistan for five T20Is and three ODIs in late March and early April, which may overlap with the IPL.The women's team will host Australia for three ODIs in December, followed by three T20Is in March. Sri Lanka's women will also tour New Zealand in March for a six-match series.Five of the women's T20Is will be played as double-headers with the men's T20I series against Pakistan.

MI New York vs WSF Live Score: Monank Patel's Resurgence Sparks Batting Order ReshuffleThe upcoming clash between MI New York and Washington Freedom promises to be a captivating encounter, pitting two formidable sides against each other. With both teams boasting a wealth of talent, the match has the potential to be a thrilling spectacle.Monank Patel's recent resurgence in form has raised eyebrows and could lead to a shake-up in MI New York's batting order. Patel's impressive performance against TSK has demonstrated his ability to anchor the innings and provide stability. His return to form could prompt the team management to reconsider their batting lineup.On paper, MI New York and Washington Freedom appear evenly matched. Both teams possess a strong batting lineup, with MI New York boasting the likes of Chris Lynn and Colin Munro, while Washington Freedom can count on the experience of Hashim Amla and the explosive power of Andre Russell.The bowling departments of both sides are equally impressive. MI New York's pace attack, led by Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah, is renowned for its accuracy and ability to generate swing. Washington Freedom, on the other hand, has a formidable spin duo in Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who can bamboozle batsmen with their variations.The match is expected to be a close contest, with both teams having a genuine chance of victory. MI New York will be looking to maintain their winning momentum, while Washington Freedom will be eager to prove their mettle against one of the tournament favorites.The outcome of the match could have a significant impact on the standings, with both teams vying for a top-four finish. MI New York currently sits in second place, while Washington Freedom is just one point behind in third. A win for either side would strengthen their position in the race for the playoffs.

Glamorgan's Marnus Labuschagne showcased his all-around brilliance as they secured a comfortable 13-run victory over Kent Spitfires in a rain-shortened Vitality Blast encounter at Canterbury.Despite a delayed start due to inclement weather, Glamorgan posted a competitive 145 for 6 from their allotted 13 overs. Labuschagne led the charge with an unbeaten 50 off just 26 deliveries, peppering the boundary with six fours and two sixes. Will Smale (18 off 8) and Colin Ingram (26 off 13) also contributed valuable runs.Kent's chase was hampered by a slow start and the loss of early wickets. Sam Billings top-scored with 33 off 17 balls, but the Spitfires struggled to keep up with the required run rate of over 11 per over.Labuschagne's economical bowling proved crucial for Glamorgan. He conceded only 14 runs in his two overs, including the wicket of Marcus O'Riordan. Timm van der Gugten also impressed with two wickets in the 11th over, extinguishing Kent's hopes of a comeback.The victory was a consolation for Glamorgan, who had already been eliminated from quarter-final contention. Kent, on the other hand, endured a disappointing campaign, finishing bottom of the South Group.

Cricketers, like all athletes, have defining performances that reveal their unique style, personality, and essence. These performances often occur in challenging conditions, against the odds. They inspire captains to exclaim, as Don Bradman did during Stan McCabe's innings, "Come and watch this, you'll never see the likes of it again."Sourav Ganguly may have uttered similar words as V.V.S. Laxman compiled 281 in Kolkata, leading India to victory after following on. Not all defining innings result in victories. Sunil Gavaskar's 221 at the Oval ended in a draw, while Sachin Tendulkar's 136 in Chennai against Pakistan couldn't prevent defeat. Was that Tendulkar's best innings, or should that title go to his 143 against Australia in Sharjah, the so-called Desert Storm in a One-Day International? Perhaps it was the 114 he made on a bouncy Perth track as a 19-year-old?Not all such innings are centuries either. Gundappa Vishwanath's unbeaten 97 in the Chennai Test against the West Indies was more Vishy-like than even his double century against England.It's worth noting that India won Laxman's Test thanks equally to Harbhajan Singh's 13 wickets, including India's first hat-trick. That must rate as the off-spinner's defining performance, just as Anil Kumble's 10 for 74 in Delhi in the second innings against Pakistan will remain his.Although Kapil Dev once took nine wickets in a Test innings, his defining performance may be the unbeaten 175 he made against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup. However, my favorite was his 129 in Port Elizabeth on India's first tour of South Africa, where he seemed to be playing at a different level from everyone else. The next highest score was 17.The Kolkata Test also showcased the quintessential Rahul Dravid—calm, supportive, classical—as he made 180 in a partnership with Laxman. Dependable, as a current commercial featuring him has it. There was a brief 'Indiranagar ka goonda' in one of his early Tests, at the Wanderers where he made 148 after showing fast bowler Allan Donald who was boss!Statistician Anantha Narayanan recently calculated that Ravichandran Ashwin will finish with 656 Test wickets, more than any other Indian. Ashwin reinvents himself regularly, and his defining performance will probably come closer to the end when he has mastered all his variations and worked out his tricks.I once wrote—my only excuse being I was young and raw—that Sunil Gavaskar's batting, like history, repeats itself. It was a silly thing to say, and I was taken to task by the sports editor. No two innings by any batter are exactly alike, and part of a reporter's job is to train himself to notice the differences.Variety and surprise are keys to mastery. If Gavaskar hit a straight drive off every ball that was pitched up to him, or Virat Kohli played that unique on-drive suggestive of a tennis player's cross-court shot, cricket would be so much poorer. Variety and surprise are keys to mastery.Every player is capable of one moment of greatness in a career, but the best players have many of them, and closer together. After he had made 192 in Auckland where he dominated the New Zealand bowlers, Mohammad Azharuddin was asked which was his favorite stroke. "The one that goes exactly where I want it to," he answered. Virender Sehwag would agree.His 195 at Melbourne where he perished attempting the six that would get him to his double, was probably that batter's defining innings. He shook the bowling by the scruff of the neck, hit 25 fours and five sixes and was out hitting a full toss to long on. He was a stranger to caution.In his first Test as captain, Virat Kohli made two centuries, the second of which nearly took India to victory. In the end they fell short by 48 runs, but Kohli's aggressive approach as batter and captain captured the cricket world's imagination. Especially since it all began with a knock on the helmet from a Mitchell Johnson express.Will someone else have the same list? Unlikely. And that's part of the joy of sport.

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer and captain, has bid farewell to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise after being appointed as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. Under Gambhir's guidance, KKR clinched their third IPL title in 2023, ending a 10-year drought.Gambhir's tenure as KKR coach was marked by a complete overhaul of the team's approach. He brought in a new opening pair of Phil Salt and Sunil Narine, who became one of the most formidable in the tournament. The spin bowling combination of Varun Chakravarthy and Narine, along with the youthful exuberance of Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora, also played a crucial role in KKR's championship victory.Gambhir's success with KKR has raised expectations among Indian cricket fans, who are eager to see him replicate his winning formula with the national team. His aggressive, never-say-die attitude is expected to inspire the Indian players to greater heights.In a heartfelt video message, Gambhir expressed his gratitude to the KKR franchise and its fans. He acknowledged the special bond he shared with Kolkata and the city's passionate cricket culture. However, he also emphasized that it was time for him to move on to a new chapter in his career."I smile when you smile. I cry when you cry. I win when you win. I lose, when you lose. I dream when you dream. I achieve when you achieve. I believe with you and I become with you. I am you, Kolkata, I am just one of you," Gambhir said in his video message."And now the time has come when we have to create some legacies together. The time has come when we have to write some bigger and bolder scripts. The script not with purple ink but in that blue, the treasured India blue. As we both take our fresh card we promise each other that we will never walk alone. It will always be shoulder-to-shoulder, hand in hand. It will all be for the tricolor. It will all be about our India," he added.Gambhir's appointment as India coach is a testament to his success with KKR and his reputation as a shrewd tactician. Indian cricket fans will be hoping that he can guide the team to numerous victories with the same aggressive, winning, and never-give-up attitude that he instilled in KKR.

England cricketer and Hampshire captain James Vince has been living in fear after his family was forced to flee their home in Southampton due to persistent attacks on their property. The first attack occurred in the early hours of April 15, when Vince and his family were woken by the sound of smashing and alarms going off. The attackers had targeted Vince's home and vehicles, causing extensive damage. The family was forced to move out temporarily while repairs were made.Barely a week after returning home, Vince's worst fears were realized when a second attack took place on May 1. This time, Vince was still awake upstairs and was able to get downstairs quickly. He saw the attackers using bricks to smash windows on both the cars and the house. The family had just returned from a benefit dinner for Vince's teammate Chris Wood when the attack happened around midnight.The incidents have puzzled Vince and authorities alike. Despite extensive investigations by the police, private security personnel, and intelligence firms, no clear motive has emerged. Vince remains convinced the attacks are a case of mistaken identity.Footage from the new security cameras has provided some clues. It shows a man with a torch passing bricks over a wall to another man, who then throws them at the house and cars. The second man wore a hoodie with a Gym King logo and had his face covered. This, Vince hopes, might be a key piece of information to identify the culprits.The attacks coincidentally took place on days when Hampshire had home matches, adding another layer of mystery. Despite enhanced security measures, the family remains on edge, fearing a third attack.The emotional toll on the family has been immense, especially on Vince's young children. Vince has now turned to the public for help, hoping someone might recognize the attackers or have information that could solve the mystery.Hampshire Police confirmed the incidents, stating: "Two incidents of criminal damage at an address during the early hours of April 15 and May 11. On both occasions, two cars were damaged, and the front room windows smashed."

Joshua Da Silva, the West Indies wicketkeeper-batter, has expressed his understanding of England's focus on the 2025-26 Ashes, despite their current series against the Caribbean side. Da Silva believes that England's long-term planning could inadvertently benefit West Indies if it leads to underestimation of their current opponents.England's dominant victory at Lord's, which gave them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, was overshadowed by the retirement of legendary fast bowler James Anderson. The move was made with an eye towards regaining the Ashes in Australia in two years' time.However, Da Silva does not view England's decision as a slight. He acknowledges their motivation to prepare for Australia in advance, especially if it means underestimating West Indies. "If they take us for granted, we might get a win, or might win the series," he said.West Indies' batting performance in the first Test was disappointing, with only Gudakesh Motie scoring over 30 runs. Da Silva admitted that the team had a "few soft dismissals" and that they needed to "soak up more pressure" and avoid losing wickets in clusters.Despite the setback, Da Silva remains optimistic about West Indies' chances at Trent Bridge. He believes that the team can learn from their mistakes and improve their performance. "We are doing everything we can, rebuilding, and going hard forward into the next Test," he said.Da Silva also emphasized the importance of his experience in the team, despite being only 24 years old. He is the fourth most experienced member of the squad and has scored a century against England in the past. "I hope to see that some of the boys can ask me some questions and just look up to the games that I've played," he said.Da Silva echoed head coach Andre Coley's call for a repeat of the resilience the team displayed against Australia at the start of the year, when they squared a two-match series at the Gabba after a similar loss in Adelaide. "It's something we can look at," he said. "If we can replicate that, all of us will be really happy."