Cricket

Will Young's gritty half-century proved crucial as New Zealand set India a challenging target of 147 runs to win on day three of the third and final Test in Indore.Young, who scored 51 off 100 balls, was the penultimate wicket to fall on day two as the hosts dismissed New Zealand for 174 in their second innings early on Sunday. Ajaz Patel and Matt Henry could add only three runs to New Zealand's total this morning, having resumed at the overnight score of 171/9. Ravindra Jadeja completed another five-wicket haul, finishing with figures of 5/45.New Zealand have already won the three-match series, having defeated India in the first two Tests in Kanpur and Mumbai. However, India will be determined to avoid a whitewash and will fancy their chances of chasing down the target on a pitch that has offered assistance to both batters and bowlers.India's openers, Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma, will be key to their chances of victory. Gill has been in excellent form throughout the series, while Sharma is due for a big score. The middle order, led by Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, will also need to contribute if India are to reach their target.New Zealand's bowlers will be looking to make early inroads into the Indian batting lineup. Tim Southee and Trent Boult are both capable of taking wickets with the new ball, while Ajaz Patel and Michael Bracewell will provide control through the middle overs.The match is evenly poised heading into the final day, with both teams having a chance of victory. India will be confident of chasing down the target, but New Zealand will be determined to finish the series on a high note.

India's quest for a series-leveling victory against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium took a significant turn on the final day, as Ravindra Jadeja's devastating bowling performance set up a challenging chase of 147 runs.Resuming the day with a slender lead of 143 and only one wicket remaining, New Zealand's hopes rested on the shoulders of their last pair, Ajaz Patel and Will Somerville. However, Jadeja proved too formidable, dismissing Patel with a sharp-turning delivery that found the edge and was caught at deep midwicket.With the last wicket down, India's bowlers had completed a remarkable turnaround, having conceded 235 runs in the first innings but restricting New Zealand to just 174 in the second. Jadeja's match figures of 5-55 were his second-best in Test cricket, while Ashwin chipped in with 3-63.The target of 147 runs is the highest fourth-innings chase ever set at the Wankhede Stadium. Only eight teams have successfully chased down a higher target in the fourth innings of a Test match.India's pursuit of victory began cautiously, with openers Mayank Agarwal and Shubman Gill negotiating the early overs without any major alarms. However, the task ahead remains daunting, as the pitch is expected to deteriorate further and assist the spinners.If India can pull off this chase, it will be a remarkable achievement, considering their struggles in the first two Tests of the series. A victory would also prevent New Zealand from completing their first-ever series whitewash in India in a series of three Tests or more.

Australia's white-ball season kicks off with a three-match ODI series against Pakistan, marking the first international cricket action for both teams in nearly a year. The series serves as a crucial preparation for Australia's Champions Trophy campaign, while Pakistan aims to build a competitive squad for the home tournament.Despite the absence of Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, and Cameron Green, Australia's ODI team remains largely settled. Pat Cummins, Marnus Labuschagne, and Glenn Maxwell headline the lineup, with Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short vying for Head's spot.Pakistan, on the other hand, has undergone significant changes since their last ODI outing. Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah return to the squad, while Mohammad Rizwan takes over the captaincy. The team is still searching for a stable XI, with Faisal Akram, a promising left-arm wristspinner, a potential inclusion.The series will be played on a pitch that has traditionally favored fast bowlers, and the overcast conditions could further assist the quicks. Australia holds a 10-4 win record against Pakistan at the MCG, but the visitors will be eager to break their recent losing streak.

Captain Liam Livingstone's maiden ODI century, coupled with a crucial 140-run partnership with Sam Curran, propelled England to a thrilling five-wicket victory over West Indies in the second ODI at Bridgetown, Barbados. The triumph leveled the three-match series at 1-1.Livingstone, who had been touted as one of England's most promising talents, finally showcased his full potential with a masterful innings of 124 not out from 85 deliveries. His century, which included 12 fours and four sixes, was a testament to his growing maturity and confidence as a batsman.West Indies had set England a formidable target of 329 after Shai Hope's 117 anchored their innings. Phil Salt's 59 and Jacob Bethell's maiden ODI half-century provided a solid foundation for England's chase.However, it was Livingstone's partnership with Curran that proved decisive. The duo combined for 140 runs, with Curran contributing a valuable 52 from 50 balls. Livingstone's ability to control the chase and accelerate when necessary was particularly impressive.Despite the loss of wickets at regular intervals, England remained composed and never allowed the required run rate to get out of hand. Livingstone's calm and collected approach at the crease inspired his teammates and ultimately led to the victory.The match was not without its moments of drama. West Indies had England on the ropes at 176-4 in the 30th over, but Livingstone and Curran's partnership turned the tide in England's favor.The victory was a significant boost for England, who had lost the first ODI by eight wickets. It also highlighted the growing depth and talent within the English ODI squad.

Captain Pat Cummins has downplayed the significance of the "bat off" for the final spot in Australia's Test team, but acknowledges its value as a "final piece of information." The four contenders for the vacant opening spot, Marcus Harris, Nathan McSweeney, Sam Konstas, and Cameron Bancroft, have been showcasing their skills in the Australia A game against India A.While McSweeney has emerged as the standout performer, Cummins emphasizes that the Australia A games are not the sole determinant for selection. He notes that some players have limited Shield cricket experience, while others have played for over a decade. The quartet is expected to get another chance to impress in the second four-day game at the MCG.Cummins is not concerned about making a late decision, as the current selection panel and leadership group prioritize giving players certainty. He believes that whoever is selected will have gained valuable experience and be well-prepared for the pressure of a Test debut.Regarding the batting order, Cummins suggests that Marnus Labuschagne could potentially open the batting to accommodate McSweeney at No. 3, his usual position in first-class cricket. However, he emphasizes that the batting order will be determined based on the overall functionality of the team.Cummins feels physically refreshed after skipping the UK tour to focus on training. He explains that he opted out of a Shield game to prioritize gym work and build up his fitness. He believes the ODIs against Pakistan will provide him with a good lead-in to the first Test.It remains uncertain whether Cummins will play all three ODIs against Pakistan. He has confirmed his participation in the first two, but may miss the final game in Perth to avoid unnecessary travel. If he does miss the Perth match, Australia will need to find a captain, with Mitchell Marsh unavailable due to paternity leave.

Mohammed Shami's much-anticipated return to competitive cricket has been further delayed, as the Bengal pacer's name was conspicuously absent from the squad for their upcoming Ranji Trophy matches against Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.The 34-year-old has been sidelined since the 2023 ODI World Cup due to an Achilles heel injury that required surgery in February. Despite months of rehabilitation, Shami's fitness remains a concern, prompting the BCCI to recommend that he play for Bengal first to assess his condition.Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla had expressed optimism about Shami's availability for the away matches, but the pacer's absence has raised doubts about his readiness for international duty.Shami himself had indicated a desire to play domestic matches before joining the Indian team for the Australia tour. "It's better that I play one or two domestic matches before going to Australia," he had said. "I don't know when I can play next, but the day I feel comfortable bowling 20-30 overs and get the nod from the doctors, I'll make a run to play a match."However, it appears that Shami has not yet reached the desired level of fitness. The pacer's absence from the Bengal squad suggests that he may not be ready for the rigors of international cricket just yet.The delay in Shami's return is a setback for both the player and the Indian team. Shami is a key member of the Indian pace attack, and his experience and skill would be invaluable in the upcoming Test series against Australia.The BCCI will continue to monitor Shami's progress and make a decision on his availability for the Australia tour at a later date. In the meantime, the pacer will focus on regaining full fitness and proving his readiness for international duty.

Australia A emerged victorious in the four-day match against India A in Mackay, despite a controversial ball-change incident that marred the start of the final day.India A were left fuming after umpire Shawn Craig announced that the ball had been replaced due to scratches, a decision that wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan labeled as "stupid." Craig explained that the ball had been changed to prevent further damage, but Kishan's dissent earned him a report for inappropriate behavior.Despite the controversy, Australia A resumed their chase with Nathan McSweeney and Beau Webster at the crease. McSweeney, who is vying for a spot in Australia's Test squad, played a composed innings, finishing unbeaten on 88. Webster provided solid support, scoring 61 not out as the pair put on an unbroken 141-run partnership for the fourth wicket.India A's bowlers struggled to make inroads on the final morning, with Sai Sudharsan's six overs of spin proving particularly ineffective. The match ended with Australia A securing a comfortable victory, having bowled out India A for 107 and 312 in their two innings.The ball-change incident has raised questions about the umpiring decisions in the match. According to Law 41.3.4, umpires are required to award five penalty runs to the opposing side if they believe the ball has been unfairly changed. However, no such penalty was imposed in this case.Cricket Australia has been contacted for comment on the incident, which has added an unexpected layer of drama to the closing stages of the match.

Despite New Zealand's slim lead of 143 runs with only one wicket remaining in their second innings, spinner Ajaz Patel believes India will face a challenging chase on a deteriorating Wankhede pitch.Patel, who claimed five wickets in India's first innings, highlighted the unpredictable nature of the pitch as a key factor in the match's outcome. He noted that the pitch has historically exhibited less turn and bounce in the morning sessions compared to the afternoons, making it crucial to understand how it will play in the crucial morning session."It's turning quite sharply, it's inconsistent in terms of how much it does turn and bounce, but as a spinner it's encouraging as well that you're going to get something out of the surface and for batting it's quite challenging," Patel said. "It is certainly turning from both ends, it's just the bounce is a little bit variable, so from a batting perspective that can be a challenge as well."Patel acknowledged Rishabh Pant's counter-attacking 60 as a pivotal moment in the match. "I felt like I bowled really well but Rishabh batted exceptionally, he's been phenomenal throughout this tour and he's kind of the player that's put pressure back on us, regardless of the situation," He said. "As long as you're putting the ball in good areas and you have a good plan and a good set field, then it's about him taking the option and he is being very, very good and taking the right options."Despite his own success and the commendable performance of New Zealand's spin attack, Patel refrained from claiming superiority over their Indian counterparts. "I don't necessarily believe we've out-bowled the Indian spinners, the class of the Indian bowling attack is quite phenomenal," the spinner said. "For us as a spin bowling group, we've grown a lot and we can continue to show that everyone is quite capable, there's a lot of communication between us and we make sure that we're all aware of what the plan is at a certain given time."As the match enters its final stages, the focus will be on how the pitch plays and how both teams adapt to the challenging conditions. India will need to navigate the deteriorating surface and chase down the target without losing too many wickets, while New Zealand will aim to exploit the pitch's inconsistencies and defend their lead.

Mohammed Shami, India's premier fast bowler, will miss Bengal's upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka due to an ongoing ankle injury. The Bengal squad, announced on Saturday, did not include Shami's name.However, there is a strong possibility that Shami will return to action in Bengal's subsequent match against Madhya Pradesh, scheduled to begin on November 13 in Indore. Sources close to the team have indicated that Shami is unlikely to be rushed back into action and will make his competitive return at his own pace.Shami, who has taken 229 wickets in 64 Tests, has been recovering from an ankle injury since the conclusion of the 2023 Men's ODI World Cup. He underwent surgery in February and has been undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.Despite his absence, Bengal remains in a strong position in Elite Group C of the Ranji Trophy, holding fourth place with five points after three matches. Coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla will be hoping that Shami's return will provide a significant boost to the team's title aspirations.Shami's last competitive match was the 2023 Men's ODI World Cup final against Australia, where he emerged as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 24 scalps. He played a pivotal role in India's historic Test series win in Australia in 2018/19, claiming 16 wickets in four matches.If Shami recovers in time, he could be available for the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against Australia in Brisbane, starting on December 14. His return would be a major boost for India, who are looking to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after their triumph in 2020/21.