Cricket

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has unveiled an ambitious plan to reinvigorate cricket participation in state-sector education, aiming to train secondary-school teachers as cricket coaches. This initiative is part of the ECB's Inspiring Generations strategy, which seeks to address the disparity in cricket participation between private and state-educated pupils.The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report highlighted that privately educated pupils are 13 times more likely to play professional cricket than their state-educated counterparts. To address this, the ECB plans to support cricket provision in 500 state secondary schools by 2030, with up to £26 million earmarked for improving facilities in 16 towns and cities.The ECB also aims to provide free cricket for 3.5 million primary-school pupils over the next six years, reinforcing the link between primary and secondary education. Additionally, the talent pathway will be restructured to improve the flow of state-school players into county age-group programs.The ECB has pledged to support 70 players per year at the South Asian Cricket Academy and 21,000 young people over the next three years at the African Caribbean Engagement (ACE) program. These initiatives aim to increase diversity and inclusion in cricket.The strategy document covers planning up to the end of 2028, including the ECB's hosting of the Women's World Cup in 2026, men's and women's home Ashes series in 2027, and the return of cricket to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould emphasized the importance of the strategy, stating that it is the roadmap for the future of cricket. Deputy Chair Clare Connor highlighted that the aim of becoming the most inclusive sport in the country has been in train even before the ICEC report.The ECB has accelerated many of its measures in response to the ICEC report's criticisms of racism, classism, and sexism in English cricket. However, the board has pushed back on the ICEC's recommendation to equalize domestic pay across the sexes by 2029 and 2030 at international level.The ECB's plans could face a snag if they do not receive the £35 million investment into grassroots cricket promised by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The board remains hopeful that the prospect of the Women's World Cup will encourage the government to carry through with this investment.

England fought back on the opening day of the series-deciding third Test in Rawalpindi, reducing Pakistan to 73/3 at close. Home spinner Sajid Khan starred with a six-wicket haul, while Jamie Smith's rearguard 89 helped England post 267.On a dry and spin-friendly pitch, 13 wickets fell on day one, with all but one going to the spinners. Pakistan's Sajid and Noman Ali dominated the morning session, bowling unchanged for 42 overs and taking 9 wickets between them.England's spinners came to the fore in the final session, with Shoaib Bashir dismissing Abdullah Shafique and Jack Leach accounting for Saim Ayub. Gus Atkinson was the only fast bowler to grab a wicket, dismissing Kamran Ghulam.Smith's 89, which included six towering sixes and five fours, enabled England to add 149 for their last four wickets. He shared a 105-run partnership with Gus Atkinson (39) for the seventh wicket.Sajid completed his third five-wicket haul by removing Rehan Ahmed and Jack Leach. England lost captain Ben Stokes early in the afternoon session, but Smith and Atkinson's partnership kept them in the game.The morning session was dominated by Sajid and Noman, who exploited the turning and low-bouncing pitch. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett made a confident start, but England lost three wickets in quick succession.Noman had Crawley caught off a miscued drive, while Sajid removed Pope and Root leg before. Duckett was trapped lbw by Noman for 52, and Harry Brook was bowled behind his legs by Sajid for five.Both teams included three spinners on a grassless pitch, which Pakistan dried with fans and heaters. Sajid and Noman shared all 20 wickets in Pakistan's second Test win to level the series at 1-1.

The India-Pakistan clash in the women's T20 World Cup on October 6, 2024, shattered records by attracting the highest attendance ever witnessed at a group stage match in the tournament's history. The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that the match, held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, drew an astounding 15,935 spectators."The India versus Pakistan match at the Dubai International Stadium on 6 October set a new record for the highest attendance at a group stage match in Women's T20 World Cup history," the ICC stated. "This Group A clash in the 2024 edition drew an impressive crowd of 15,935, showcasing the intense rivalry between the two neighbors."The ICC also highlighted the remarkable growth in attendance for the women's T20 World Cup 2024, with a total of 91,030 fans attending matches, representing a significant 30% increase from the previous edition."The thrilling final between New Zealand and South Africa at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday saw 21,457 fans in attendance, a remarkable 68% increase from the last final in South Africa," the ICC said. "The group stages and semi-finals also witnessed strong support, attracting 69,573 fans, a 21% rise compared to the previous edition, highlighting the expanding global appeal of women's cricket."The ICC attributed the impressive turnout to the growing interest in women's cricket among diverse audiences. "Women's cricket is reaching new heights, and the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 in the UAE is a shining example of the sport's expanding impact," said ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice. "The impressive turnout demonstrates the growing global support for women's cricket and the potential for hosting elite women's sport in this region."

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has denied the Cricket Association of Bengal's (CAB) request to reschedule two home domestic matches due to the impending Cyclone Dana. The CAB had sought to postpone the Ranji Trophy and U-23 Col CK Naidu Trophy matches against Kerala and Railways, respectively, scheduled for this week in Kolkata and Kalyani.The Bengal senior team was set to host Kerala at the Jadavpur University Campus' second Ground in Kolkata for the third round of the Ranji Trophy, commencing on Saturday. The CAB had hoped for a longer gap between matches this season, but the BCCI declined their request. After the Bengal-Kerala encounter, both teams will have a week's break before their next fixtures.The Bengal Under-23 team was scheduled to host Railways Under-23 from October 27 to 30 at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani. However, the recent Bengal vs Bihar Ranji Trophy match at the same venue was washed out due to heavy rain, raising concerns about the upcoming match. The Under-23 team will have a week-long break before their next match against Vidarbha in Nagpur from November 8 to 11.Meanwhile, the Bengal senior team will be without key players Abhimanyu Easwaran, Abhishek Porel, and Mukesh Kumar for the next two Ranji Trophy rounds. The trio has been selected for India A's shadow tour of Australia.The BCCI's decision to reject the CAB's request has left the association disappointed. However, the matches will proceed as scheduled, with the Bengal teams hoping to overcome the challenges posed by the weather and the absence of their star players.

South Africa's decade-long wait for a Test victory in the subcontinent has finally come to an end, with their triumph in Mirpur marking a significant milestone for the young and inexperienced squad. The victory, their first in the region since 2014, has instilled a renewed sense of confidence and belief within the team.Despite the absence of experienced players in the subcontinent, South Africa's stand-in captain Aiden Markram hailed the win as a testament to the team's potential. "It's special. We're a pretty young, slightly inexperienced group, so to come to the subcontinent and get a win is great for us and the environment," Markram said.The victory is particularly significant given South Africa's recent struggles in the subcontinent. After their last Test win in Galle in 2014, they endured a string of heavy defeats, losing 10 out of 14 Tests. However, the win in Mirpur has sparked memories of a time when South Africa were a dominant force in the region.Between 2007 and 2014, South Africa lost only three out of 15 Tests in the subcontinent, racking up series wins over Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the UAE. They were the most successful team in Asia during that period, apart from India and Sri Lanka.However, their dominance ended in 2015, when they were outplayed 3-0 in India. Since then, they have struggled against spin bowling, which has been their Achilles heel in the subcontinent.In Mirpur, spin once again proved to be a major threat, with South Africa losing five of their top six to Taijul Islam in the first innings. However, Kyle Verreynne's brilliant century, his second in Tests, helped South Africa take a healthy lead.Verreynne's innings was particularly impressive, as he faced 115 deliveries from spinners, scoring almost half his runs with sweeps. His ability to play spin effectively was crucial to South Africa's success.The victory has also highlighted the importance of Kagiso Rabada, who took a six-for in the second innings. Rabada's wicket-taking ability is second to none, and his performance in the subcontinent has further enhanced his reputation.The win in Mirpur has given South Africa a much-needed boost ahead of their return to the subcontinent next year. They will face Pakistan and India in two Tests each, and the experience gained in Bangladesh will be invaluable."The biggest thing we take from it is the belief and the confidence that we actually can do well here as a team," Markram said. "I believe that's where a lot of the game is played, from a confidence and belief and a mental side of things. It will help the team a lot as far as moving forward and seeing if we can put back-to-back performances together goes."

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has urged selectors to abandon the experiment of using Steve Smith as an opener and instead opt for a specialist opener for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Test series against India.Clarke's suggestion stems from Smith's struggles at the top of the order since David Warner's retirement. Smith, who prefers batting at No. 4, has failed to replicate his success as an opener.With all-rounder Cameron Green ruled out due to injury, Australia faces a shortage of reliable openers. Clarke believes the team should not repeat the mistake of moving Smith to the top and instead select a specialist."We made a mistake in getting Steve Smith to open the batting in Test cricket, so let's not make the same mistake," Clarke said. "Let's pick a specialist opener, whoever is best equipped."Australia has several options for the opener's position, including Sam Konstas, Marcus Harris, Josh Inglis, and Nathan McSweeney. However, Clarke expressed skepticism about the latter two, questioning their experience and suitability for the role."How can you justify Josh Inglis is a better person to open the batting in a Test match against this Indian attack than a specialist opener?" Clarke asked. "He scored Shield runs, yes, but he bats in the middle order."Clarke also highlighted the lack of runs from specialist openers in the current Shield cricket season. He suggested Cameron Bancroft as a potential candidate, citing his consistent performance over the past three seasons."I would probably go with Cameron Bancroft because he's been the leading run scorer for the last two years in Shield cricket," Clarke said. "I care about Shield cricket. I think he's earned the right to be selected based on runs."Clarke's comments come amid speculation that Warner may return from retirement for the India series. However, the former captain believes Australia should not rely on Warner and instead focus on developing a long-term solution at the top of the order.

South Africa's Test resurgence continued in emphatic fashion as they secured a commanding seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first Test at Dhaka's Shere Bangla National Stadium. This triumph marks the Proteas' first Test win in Asia since 2014 and significantly boosts their standing in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25.Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto's decision to field first proved costly as South Africa's bowlers exploited the favorable conditions to skittle the hosts for a mere 106 runs in the first innings. Kagiso Rabada led the charge with 3/32, while Lungi Ngidi and Simon Harmer chipped in with two wickets each.In response, South Africa posted a solid 308, thanks to a resilient century from Kyle Verreynne (114 off 144 balls). Wiaan Mulder (54 off 112 balls) and Dane Piedt (32 off 87 balls) provided valuable support, giving the Proteas a substantial 202-run lead.Bangladesh's second innings started promisingly, but Rabada's impressive 6/46 reduced them to 112/6 at one stage. However, a gritty knock of 97 from Mehidy Hasan allowed Bangladesh to reach 307, setting South Africa a target of 106 runs to win.South Africa chased down the target with relative ease, with Tony de Zorzi contributing 41 off 52 balls and Tristan Stubbs finishing unbeaten on 30 off 37 balls. This victory not only gives the Proteas a 1-0 lead in the two-match series but also elevates them to fourth place in the WTC standings.India (68.06) and Australia (62.50) continue to hold the top two spots, with Sri Lanka at third with 55.56 point percentage. South Africa's win improved their point percentage to 47.62, allowing them to jump ahead of New Zealand and England. Meanwhile, Bangladesh's loss dropped their point percentage to 30.56, leaving them in seventh place.

In a dramatic turn of events during the second Test between India and New Zealand in Pune, Sarfaraz Khan's unwavering conviction led to the dismissal of Will Young, stealing a crucial wicket for the hosts.The incident occurred in the 24th over of New Zealand's innings. Young, batting on 18, attempted to glance a delivery from Ravichandran Ashwin to the fine-leg boundary. However, he missed the ball, and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant collected it cleanly behind the stumps.Despite Pant's uncertainty, Sarfaraz, positioned at short-leg, was adamant that he had heard a faint sound. As the countdown to review commenced, Sarfaraz pleaded with skipper Rohit Sharma to send the decision upstairs. With Virat Kohli also backing his claim, Rohit reluctantly agreed.The Ultra-Edge technology subsequently confirmed a slight spike as the ball passed Young's glove. The Indian team erupted in jubilation as Sarfaraz's instincts proved correct. Ashwin claimed his second wicket of the morning session, having earlier dismissed Tom Latham for 15.Sarfaraz's unwavering belief and the subsequent review not only highlighted the importance of close-in fielders but also showcased the growing influence of technology in cricket. The incident served as a reminder that even the most subtle of sounds can make a significant difference in the outcome of a match.New Zealand ended the morning session at 92 for 2 in 31 overs, with Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra unbeaten on 47 and 5 respectively. The match remains evenly poised, with both teams looking to gain an advantage in the crucial second Test.

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his disappointment over the exclusion of Kuldeep Yadav from the playing XI for the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. Gavaskar criticized the move, suggesting it indicated "panic" from the team management.India entered the second Test trailing 0-1 in the three-match series, making three changes to their lineup. New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss and chose to bat first at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium. India dropped Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and KL Rahul. Shubman Gill returned to the side, Akash Deep replaced Siraj, and Washington Sundar was included for his first Test match since March 2021.Gavaskar commented on the team changes during the match. "I do not see a lot of teams making three changes unless there are injury concerns. Washington Sundar's inclusion tells you they are worried about their batting. More than his bowling, they need his batting down the order as the cushion," he said.Gavaskar questioned the decision to leave out Kuldeep Yadav, noting his potential effectiveness against New Zealand's left-handed batters. "Yes, there is a lot of talk about the left-handers in the New Zealand batting unit, but I would have picked Kuldeep Yadav, who can also turn it away from a left-hander," he added.With pressure on India to secure a win in Pune, Gavaskar's comments highlight the critical nature of team selection decisions as they aim to preserve their home dominance and secure a spot in the WTC final.