Cricket

The MLC 2024 match between Seattle Orcas and Washington Freedom promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams boasting formidable batting lineups and skilled bowling attacks.Seattle Orcas, despite having the same number of points as the third-placed MI New York, sits rock bottom on the table due to a hefty negative NRR. The finalists from the last edition lost their season opener against the defending champions but bounced back well and won a close contest against the Los Angeles Knight Riders in the following game.The Orcas have a few of the most destructive batters of recent times in Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen, and Ryan Rickelton in their ranks. To follow it up, they have the services of Nandre Burger, Zaman Khan, and Imad Wasim with the ball. The side looks well-balanced and one that can win games from any given situation.Washington Freedom, on the other hand, is the only team yet to be beaten so far. The side won their opening game on DLS while the other game got abandoned where they looked all set to chase down 203 with the side at 63 for no loss after 4 overs.The opening pair of Travis Head and Steven Smith is a scary sight for any bowling unit, and they have got players like Andries Gous and Glenn Maxwell to follow them. The side has a solid base of Australian batters well jelled with a mixed bag in the bowling unit.The bowling unit is led by the sensation from the recently concluded T20 World Cup, Saurabh Netravalkar. They have got Akeal Hosein, Marco Jansen, and Lockie Ferguson as well, but those three are yet to put their hands up and showcase their skills.With two hard-hitting batting units up against those clever bowlers, this game has it all to be a thriller. Stay tuned for toss and team updates in a while.

The Big Bash League (BBL) is set to return for its 2024-25 season, with the schedule released on Friday. The season will commence on December 15 with the Perth Scorchers hosting the Melbourne Stars at Optus Stadium. The final will be played on January 27, which is a public holiday in Australia.BBL officials are hopeful that Australia's Test players will be able to feature in the latter stages of the regular season in January. However, availability will depend on workloads after the five-Test series against India. Players involved in the subsequent two-Test tour of Sri Lanka will not be available for the BBL finals, which run from January 21-27.The BBL has introduced a new mechanism that allows clubs to sign Australia-contracted players outside of their 18-player squad. This option was taken up by Pat Cummins (Sydney Thunder) and Mitchell Starc (Sydney Sixers) last season, although neither player featured for their clubs.Last season, several Australian Test players made brief appearances in the BBL between the Pakistan and West Indies series. Steven Smith played twice for Sydney Sixers, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne twice for Brisbane Heat, and Alex Carey once for Adelaide Strikers.The overseas player draft is expected to take place in early September, with clubs now able to sign players before the draft on a multi-year deal.The Perth Scorchers will host the opening match of the season against the Melbourne Stars at Optus Stadium. The Adelaide Strikers will host their traditional fixture at Adelaide Oval on New Year's Eve against the Scorchers, while the Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Sixers will face off on New Year's Day at Blundstone Arena.One of the major controversies last season was the abandoned game in Geelong between the Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers due to a damp pitch. However, GMHBA Stadium has been given another chance and will host the Renegades' first home game against the Hurricanes on December 19.

The Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) kicked off its eighth season with a thrilling encounter at the Salem Cricket Foundation Ground. Nellai Royal Kings emerged victorious in a nail-biting finish, defeating SKM Salem Spartans by three wickets.Chasing a modest target of 142, Nellai Royal Kings displayed an aggressive approach. G. Ajitesh (45) played a crucial role, hitting six fours and a six. However, the Spartans' Yazh Arun Mozhi (3/17) dismissed Ajitesh and Nidhish Rajagopal, putting the Royal Kings under pressure.With wickets falling at one end, Impact Player L. Suryapprakash (43*) stepped up to the plate. His sensible batting guided the Nellai side to victory with seven balls to spare.Earlier, the Spartans struggled against the impressive bowling of Sonu Yadav (5/30). Yadav's five-wicket haul restricted the Spartans to a mere 141 runs. B. Emmanuel Cherian and R. Silambarasan also contributed with two wickets each.

Yorkshire's Vitality Blast campaign received a much-needed boost as they secured a crucial seven-wicket victory over Durham at Headingley. Legspinner Jafer Chohan played a pivotal role in the triumph, claiming a maiden five-wicket haul to restrict Durham to a paltry 107.Chohan, celebrating his 22nd birthday, wreaked havoc on the Durham batting lineup, taking three wickets in the 15th over. His superb spell of 5 for 14 from 3.4 overs left Durham reeling at 97 for 9. Despite a brief recovery, Durham's innings ended on 107, setting Yorkshire a modest target of 108.Yorkshire's chase was a relatively straightforward affair. Openers Adam Lyth and Dawid Malan put on a 64-run partnership before falling. Lyth top-scored with 30, including two sixes, while Malan contributed 29. Despite losing a few wickets along the way, Yorkshire cruised to victory with 3.2 overs to spare.Durham's batting woes continued in this match, as they were bowled out for the fifth time in 11 games. Ben Raine top-scored with 33, but their middle order failed to provide any substantial support. The defeat leaves Durham in a precarious position in the North Group, as they slipped out of quarter-final contention.Yorkshire, on the other hand, have revived their hopes of reaching the knockout stages. The win snapped a three-match losing streak and moved them up to fifth place in the standings. A victory at Lancashire tomorrow could secure their place in the top four.Chohan's performance was a major highlight for Yorkshire. The South Asian Cricket Academy product had missed the previous two matches due to injury but made a triumphant return. His five-wicket haul was Yorkshire's third-best figures in Blast history.

Middlesex's Jack Davies and Martin Andersson rescued their team from a precarious position with a crucial 101-run partnership, leading them to a 29-run victory over Gloucestershire in the Vitality Blast at Cheltenham.After losing four wickets for just 32 runs in the powerplay, Middlesex's hopes seemed bleak. However, Davies and Andersson steadied the ship, with Davies scoring 53 off 35 balls and Andersson contributing 52 off 39 deliveries. Their partnership helped Middlesex post a competitive total of 181 for 8.Gloucestershire's chase was hampered by Luke Hollman's impressive leg-spin bowling, which yielded 3-37 from four overs. Jack Taylor and Beau Webster kept the chase alive with a 68-run stand for the fourth wicket, but Middlesex's disciplined bowling attack, led by Blake Cullen, Noah Cornwell, Tom Helm, and Ryan Higgins, proved too strong. Gloucestershire was eventually dismissed for 152 in 19.5 overs.The victory was Middlesex's first since early June and only their second in 11 matches this season. It lifted them off the bottom of the South Group standings, while Gloucestershire's fifth defeat in 11 outings denied them a chance to climb into the top four.

Former Zimbabwean cricketer and current Royal Challengers Bangalore head coach Andy Flower has expressed his support for the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision to appoint Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of the Indian cricket team.Flower, who worked with Gambhir during their time together at Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL), praised Gambhir's strong opinions and clear views on the game. He believes that Gambhir's decisiveness and passion for Indian cricket make him an ideal candidate for the role."He's got strong opinions, he's got strong clear views on the game. He's very decisive, he's a very proud Indian, he loves Indian cricket and his position, representing Indian cricket. I think it's a good appointment and I think he's going to be successful," Flower said on Sony Sports ahead of the third T20I match between India and Zimbabwe.Gambhir, a former India opener, has a successful track record as a player and mentor. He led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their first two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, and under his mentorship, KKR won their third IPL title in 2024.BCCI president Roger Binny stated that Gambhir's appointment marks a new chapter for Team India. He highlighted Gambhir's experience and leadership qualities as key factors in his selection."Gautam Gambhir's appointment as Team India's new head coach marks a new chapter. His experience and leadership qualities make him the ideal candidate to guide the team forward," Binny said.Gambhir was selected over WV Raman, who was also interviewed for the position. Binny emphasized that Gambhir's experience and vision for the team ultimately led to his appointment.

Jamie Smith's fluent 70 on debut propelled England to a commanding 371 all out and a 250-run lead over West Indies at tea on the second day of the first Test at Lord's.Smith, the 23-year-old opener, shared a 52-run partnership with Chris Woakes, who was caught at square leg for 23. Fast bowler Gus Atkinson, who took seven West Indies first-innings wickets on his debut, fell first ball to Jason Holder.Smith, undeterred, launched into an attacking display, hitting two big sixes and eight fours in the sunshine. He was eventually dismissed for 70, caught by Kirk McKenzie at mid-wicket off Jayden Seales.Joe Root scored a composed 68, while Harry Brook contributed a breezy 50. Ben Stokes was bowled by Gudakesh Motie for four, while Shoaib Bashir was run out by a brilliant throw from Mikyle Louis.James Anderson, in his 188th and final Test, did not face a ball as he received another warm ovation from the crowd.England had dismissed West Indies for 121 on the first day, with Atkinson taking 7/28. The hosts will be looking to extend their lead and put themselves in a strong position to win the match.

England's legendary fast bowler James Anderson, who is on the cusp of retirement, has revealed that his most memorable battles were against the Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar. Anderson, who is playing his final Test match for England against the West Indies at Lord's, has dismissed Tendulkar nine times throughout his illustrious career.Despite his success against Tendulkar, Anderson admitted that he never had a specific game plan against the Indian legend. "The best batter I would have to say is Sachin Tendulkar," Anderson told Sky Sports. "I don't remember having a specific game plan against Sachin Tendulkar. Once he came on, I would just think that I cannot bowl a bad ball here, he was that kind of player."Anderson emphasized the impact Tendulkar had on the Indian team and the atmosphere in the stadium. "He was a key for India as well. If you get him out in India, the whole atmosphere, in the ground changes. He was such a big wicket," Anderson said.Like Tendulkar, who represented India for 24 years, Anderson has set a remarkable example for fast bowlers. He has played Test cricket for 21 years and became the first bowler to breach the 700-wicket mark earlier this year during India's tour of England.However, Anderson acknowledged that both he and Tendulkar enjoyed success against each other. "You just try on bowling your best ball, top of off-stump, the whole time and hope he miss a straight one. In England, he might knick the odd one, but generally, I'd try and get him out LBW early," he said."I had some success against him, but he had success against me as well. He got runs against us quite a lot," Anderson added.While Anderson claimed 149 wickets in 39 Tests against India with six five-fors, Tendulkar amassed 2,535 runs in 32 Tests against England at an average of 51.73 with seven centuries and 13 fifties.Anderson also expressed pride in his batting achievement of scoring 81 runs against India at Nottingham in July 2014. "I am most proud of getting 81 at Trent Bridge against India. I probably should pick a wicket or bowling performance, but getting 81 with the bat, it is just something I still can't believe I have done," he said.

Ravi Bishnoi's fielding prowess has always been evident, but he elevated it to new heights in the third T20I against Zimbabwe. His breathtaking catch off Avesh Khan to dismiss Brian Bennett left his Indian teammate in awe and became the talk of the dressing room.India's 23-run victory on Wednesday gave them a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, but the highlight was Bishnoi's astonishing catch that reduced Zimbabwe to 19 for 3 in the fourth over.Avesh Khan, who took two wickets in India's defense of 182, expressed his shock at the catch. "When he took the catch, I don't think he got the reaction time. I also did not get the reaction time (to see what happened). I was, in fact, shocked how he took that catch," said Khan.Khan emphasized that the wicket should be credited to Bishnoi for his exceptional effort. "He is a good fielder, works a lot on his fielding. The catch that he took, the scoreboard will show that it was taken by me, but it should be credited in his (Bishnoi's) account," added Khan in a video posted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).India skipper Shubman Gill praised Bishnoi's remarkable effort, highlighting the importance of enjoying fielding. "Very happy with the team's win to go 2-1 up in the series and the catch that Bishi (Bishnoi) took was absolutely remarkable. It was truly delightful to watch. Cricket is definitely a team sport and it's more so a team sport when you're fielding. So, it's very important to have fun when you are fielding. If you are having fun then you are always in the game," added Gill.Washington Sundar, who had a clear view of the catch from mid-on, described it as a "great opportunity." "It was a great opportunity for me to stand at mid-on and have a clear view of whatever happened throughout the catch... and throughout that particular ball. It (ball) went at rocket speed and Bishnoi... that rocket speed was there (he also displayed rocket speed)," said Sundar.Bishnoi himself remained humble about the catch, attributing it to his increased fielding drills. "Yes, it felt good, We were talking about fielding for the last 2-3 days, how to improve my fielding even more. It's a new normal for me to take the catch off Avesh's bowling. As long as we don't make that effort to take the catch we won't know if it is near or far. So, I push myself to be as close to the catch as possible," added Bishnoi.Rinku Singh acknowledged that this was not the first time Bishnoi had taken an outstanding catch. "It was an outstanding catch, (but) it's not that he has taken such a catch for the first time; he has taken several good catches in international cricket and IPL," said Singh.Bishnoi's fielding brilliance has become a key asset for India, showcasing his athleticism and dedication to the game.