Cricket

Kanpur's Green Park Stadium Under Fire for Poor Drainage SystemThe second Test between India and Bangladesh at Kanpur's Green Park Stadium has been marred by poor facilities, particularly the inadequate drainage system. Despite no rain on Sunday, Day 3 was abandoned due to a wet outfield, sparking outrage among fans and cricket experts.The drainage system at Green Park has been a recurring issue, with the stadium lacking the modern infrastructure expected of international cricket venues. The lack of proper drainage has led to multiple delays and disruptions in the ongoing Test match.On Day 1, rain interrupted play, and Day 2 was completely washed out due to a wet outfield. However, the decision to abandon play on Day 3, when there was no rain, left fans particularly frustrated. Umpires conducted multiple inspections throughout the day, but the outfield remained unfit for play, resulting in another frustrating delay.The lack of drainage has drawn comparisons to other stadiums with better infrastructure. Fans and pundits have argued that the match would have resumed sooner at more advanced grounds.The recurring issues at Green Park have raised questions about its suitability as a host for future international matches. The stadium's poor facilities have cast a shadow over the ongoing Test match and have sparked concerns about the future of cricket in Kanpur.

England and Australia faced off in a thrilling fifth and final ODI match, with Australia winning the toss and electing to field. England openers Phil Salt and Ben Duckett got off to a strong start, putting on 58 runs in the first 6 overs.Salt was particularly aggressive, hitting two sixes and a four off Aaron Hardie's bowling. However, Hardie eventually got his revenge, dismissing Salt for 45 off a short ball that was caught by Marnus Labuschagne at point.Duckett continued to play positively, hitting a four off Josh Hazlewood's bowling. However, he was also dismissed by Hardie, who bowled him for 27. Will Jacks came in at number 3 and played a solid innings, scoring 26 runs off 29 balls.England's middle order struggled to maintain the momentum, with Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, and Liam Livingstone all falling cheaply. Jacob Bethell and Brydon Carse provided some resistance, but England were eventually bowled out for 179 in 44.2 overs.Australia's bowlers were impressive, with Hardie taking 3 wickets for 32 runs and Hazlewood taking 2 wickets for 29 runs. Mitchell Starc also bowled well, taking 1 wicket for 36 runs.In reply, Australia's openers Travis Head and Matthew Short got off to a solid start, putting on 40 runs for the first wicket. However, England's bowlers fought back, with Olly Stone dismissing Head for 22 and Adil Rashid dismissing Short for 25.Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne then steadied the innings, putting on 50 runs for the third wicket. Smith was eventually dismissed by Rashid for 30, but Labuschagne went on to score an unbeaten 62 off 76 balls.Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Hardie provided some late fireworks, hitting 24 and 22 runs respectively. Australia eventually reached their target with 5 overs to spare, winning the match by 6 wickets.

Australia, led by stand-in captain Steven Smith, will face England in the decisive third ODI at Bristol, with both teams seeking to clinch the series. Australia has been forced to make changes due to an injury to Mitchell Marsh, while England has rested Jofra Archer.Despite the series being on the line, England has opted to rest Archer, who has played two consecutive matches. Olly Stone returns to the side as the only change, with Harry Brook confirming that he would have also chosen to bowl first on an overcast day.Australia's captaincy duties fall to Smith, who has frequently filled in as skipper in recent years. Sean Abbott has also been dropped after three costly outings, with Aaron Hardie returning to the team. Cooper Connolly makes his debut, providing Australia with another spin option and an additional left-hander in the lower order. Alex Carey has lost his spot, while Matthew Short will open the batting.England's lineup remains largely unchanged, with Ben Duckett, Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Olly Stone, Matthew Potts, and Adil Rashid all retaining their places.Australia's team for the match is as follows: Travis Head, Matthew Short, Steven Smith (capt), Josh Inglis (wk), Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardie, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, and Josh Hazlewood.The match is expected to be a close contest, with both teams eager to secure the series victory. The weather forecast predicts rain later in the afternoon, which could potentially impact the outcome of the game.

New Zealand's batting woes continued on day four of the first Test against Sri Lanka, despite valiant efforts from Glenn Phillips and Tom Blundell. The visitors resumed on 249 for 5, trailing by 353 runs, but lost three wickets in the first session to slip further behind.Phillips and Blundell, who had both scored half-centuries overnight, added 64 runs for the sixth wicket before Peiris dismissed them both. Phillips was caught at long-on for 78, while Blundell was trapped lbw for 60.Mitchell Santner then joined forces with Phillips to put on another 64 runs for the seventh wicket. Santner struck 48 not out off 56 balls, including two sixes and a four.However, New Zealand's lower order could not provide the necessary support, and they were eventually bowled out for 335, still 179 runs behind Sri Lanka's first-innings total of 602 for 5 declared.Peiris was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, finishing with figures of 5 for 155. He was ably supported by Prabath Jayasuriya, who took 3 for 77.New Zealand now face an uphill battle to save the match. They need to bat out the remaining two days without losing any further wickets, a task that looks increasingly unlikely given their fragile batting lineup.

Sanath Jayasuriya's remarkable success as Sri Lanka's interim head coach has prompted Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to extend his contract for a year. Since taking over in July, Jayasuriya has guided the team to notable victories, including an ODI series win over India, a Test triumph at The Oval, and another Test victory against New Zealand in Galle.Jayasuriya's appointment as permanent head coach was initially uncertain, as SLC had advertised the position following Chris Silverwood's departure. However, the team's improved performances under Jayasuriya's leadership have convinced SLC to offer him a longer-term contract."We are in the final stages of negotiating the contract with him," said SLC CEO Ashley de Silva. "Probably in the next two or three days you will get to hear more."Jayasuriya's initial role as cricket consultant, appointed in December 2022, was primarily focused on working with the High Performance Centre. However, he accompanied the team to the T20 World Cup and subsequently assumed the head coach position.Under Jayasuriya's guidance, Sri Lanka has also experienced setbacks, including a T20I series loss to India and two Test defeats in England. Nonetheless, the team's overall progress has been significant, with a strong chance of qualifying for the World Test Championship final.Jayasuriya's contract extension will extend beyond the current World Test Championship cycle. Feedback from players has been overwhelmingly positive, with Angelo Mathews, the most experienced Test player, praising Jayasuriya's leadership."Sanath Jayasuriya was superb as cricket director and now as coach," said Mathews. "He communicates well and has given us a lot of freedom. We are all working towards one goal, and now everyone is on the same page. He's also done a superb job grooming the players. He has been amazing. I wish him all the very best."Jayasuriya's previous stints as chief selector were marked by mixed results. However, his current assignment has brought greater stability to the team.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is gearing up for its mega auction, and franchises are preparing their retention and release lists. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has set the retention rules, allowing teams to retain a maximum of six players.With the increased retention cost, franchises must carefully balance retaining key players and acquiring new talent through the auction. Here are the top six candidates who could be retained by each franchise:Chennai Super Kings:* Ruturaj Gaikwad* Ravindra Jadeja* Shivam Dube* Daryl Mitchell* Matheesha Pathirana* MS DhoniMumbai Indians:* Hardik Pandya* Rohit Sharma* Jasprit Bumrah* Suryakumar Yadav* Ishan Kishan* Anshul KambojRoyal Challengers Bengaluru:* Virat Kohli* Mohammed Siraj* Will Jacks* Glenn Maxwell* Cameron Green* Yash DayalRajasthan Royals:* Sanju Samson* Jos Buttler* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Trent Boult* Yuzvendra Chahal* Sandeep SharmaKolkata Knight Riders:* Shreyas Iyer* Rinku Singh* Phil Salt* Sunil Narine* Andre Russell* Harshit RanaGujarat Titans:* Shubman Gill* Rashid Khan* David Miller* Sai Sudharsan* Mohammed Shami* Rahul TewatiaLucknow Super Giants:* KL Rahul* Quinton de Kock* Nicholas Pooran* Ravi Bishnoi* Marcus Stoinis* Mayank YadavDelhi Capitals:* Rishabh Pant* Tristan Stubbs* Mitchell Marsh* Jake Fraser-McGurk* Axar Patel* Abishek PorelPunjab Kings:* Sam Curran* Arshdeep Singh* Kagiso Rabada* Liam Livingstone* Shashank Singh* Ashutosh SharmaSunrisers Hyderabad:* Pat Cummins* Abhishek Sharma* Travis Head* Heinrich Klaasen* T. Natarajan* Nitish Kumar ReddyThe status of uncapped players may change before October 31st. Players representing the national team before the deadline will not be considered uncapped. However, those making their international debut on November 1st will still be classified as uncapped for the IPL 2025 season.

Rain Delays Start of Third Day in India-Bangladesh TestThe third day of the second Test between India and Bangladesh at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur has been delayed due to a wet outfield caused by overnight rain. The match was scheduled to resume at 9:30 AM IST, but the start has been pushed back to noon.The outfield was deemed unfit for play after an inspection by the umpires. The rain has also prevented any practice sessions for both teams.Bangladesh will resume their first innings at 107 for 3, with Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim at the crease. India's bowlers, led by Akash Deep (2/34) and Ravichandran Ashwin (1/22), will be looking to make early inroads into the Bangladesh batting lineup.The entire second day of the Test was washed out without a ball being bowled. Only 35 overs were possible on the opening day, with Bangladesh losing three wickets.India are leading the two-match series 1-0, having won the first Test in Chennai by 280 runs. A win in Kanpur would give India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council has decided to retain the controversial Impact Player rule for the 2025 season. Introduced in 2023, the rule allows teams to substitute a player from the starting lineup with a specialist batsman or bowler during the match.The decision was made at a meeting of the Governing Council on Saturday, despite mixed reactions from team owners. Some franchises, such as the Delhi Capitals, had expressed concerns that the rule diminished the importance of all-rounders.However, the Governing Council believes that the Impact Player rule adds an exciting dimension to the game and gives teams more strategic options. "It's also quite exciting for the fans as well," a source told PTI after the meeting.Statistics support the Governing Council's view. Since the introduction of the Impact Player rule, the nine highest totals in the IPL have been scored. Teams have consistently crossed 220 and even 250 runs in recent seasons.BCCI secretary Jay Shah acknowledged the pros and cons of the rule. "The negative is that it makes the allrounder's role redundant. The positive is that it creates a spot for an Indian player to showcase his talent," he said.The Impact Player rule could have significant implications for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). It could allow former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to play one more season, with Shivam Dube playing solely as a power hitter.The rule also provides opportunities for young Indian players to showcase their skills. By allowing teams to substitute a player based on the match situation, the Impact Player rule creates a platform for emerging talents to make an impact.Overall, the Governing Council's decision to retain the Impact Player rule is a testament to its belief that the rule enhances the excitement and strategic depth of the IPL.

Lancashire's relegation from Division One of the Vitality County Championship was confirmed on the third day of their final match of the 2024 campaign against Worcestershire at Visit Worcestershire New Road. The Red Rose county's fate was sealed as relegation rivals Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire picked up sufficient points from their meeting at Trent Bridge to both guarantee their own safety.Lancashire's fall from grace has been rapid after finishing runners-up in 2022, when they came so close to winning the title, and then fourth 12 months ago. The make-up of their side has altered from two years ago with players leaving, call-ups to franchise cricket, and injuries.The Red Rose county has suffered four innings defeats in a season for the first time in their history, including three in succession. It was their fourth relegation from the top flight since last winning the title in 2011 - in 2012, 2014, 2018, and now 2024.Worcestershire had already guaranteed their own safety with a game to spare and now have their sights on trying to secure a top-six finish. They resumed on 119 for 7 and Matthew Waite completed an excellent half-century off just 37 balls with four sixes and two fours.He was given staunch support by Logan van Beek during a free-flowing partnership of 84 from 15 overs. Waite (60) eventually fell to Anderson Phillip when he went for a pull through midwicket but gloved the ball to Keaton Jennings at second slip.Joe Leach, in his final match before retiring, received a standing ovation from supporters on his way to the wicket but made only two before he was bowled off the inside edge to give Phillip his fifth wicket. Van Beek and Jack Home added 26 useful runs for the final wicket before the former on 48 from 70 balls chopped on to George Balderson.Phillip finished with figures of 13-2-65-5 and Tom Bailey 15-5-22-3. Lancashire were left 35 minutes batting before lunch and they suffered an early setback. Skipper Jennings drove at a widish delivery from Waite and the ball flew to Rob Jones who held onto a head-high chance at second slip.Josh Bohannon had an escape in the same over before he had scored when Waite failed to hold onto a sharp one-handed return catch away to his right. But there was another breakthrough when Harry Singh pushed forward to Leach and was caught behind.The wickets continued to tumble after lunch when Bohannon attempted to work Leach to leg and was lbw. It became 30 for 4 when Rocky Flintoff attempted a straight drive and was also leg before. Keeper Matty Hurst and George Bell tried to repair the damage and added 43.But Hurst gave his wicket away when he tamely clipped Waite to Home at mid-wicket. Home came into the attack and accounted for Luke Wells (38) who lost his middle stump working to leg. Waite picked up a third scalp when George Bell missed a straight ball and was lbw.Ethan Brookes added to Lancashire's woes in his first over after tea as Bailey became another lbw victim to a delivery which cut back. Determined resistance came from Phillip and Balderson who added 56 for the ninth wicket.But the innings was wrapped up with Balderson (38) caught low down by Waite at mid-on off Brookes and then Phillip (30) was collected at cover by Brookes off van Beek. Bad light halted play at 5.10 pm after one over of Worcestershire's second innings.