Cricket

Australia's dominance over England in the ongoing ODI series has highlighted the stark contrast between the two teams' current form and aspirations. While Australia has played with the poise and confidence of world champions, England has struggled to find their footing as they embark on a rebuilding phase.In both matches, England has squandered promising starts. At Trent Bridge, they collapsed from 213 for 2 to 280 all out, while at Headingley, they were on the verge of victory at 221 for 9 before Alex Carey's blistering 74 turned the tide.Australia's success has been built on key contributions from unexpected sources. Marnus Labuschagne's three wickets in the first match and Carey's match-winning innings in the second have been crucial. With Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Glenn Maxwell returning to the lineup at Headingley, Australia's bowling attack has also been formidable.England, on the other hand, has shown glimpses of potential but lacks consistency. Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith have been in good form, while Brydon Carse has impressed with his pace. However, their batting has been fragile, with Harry Brook's aggressive approach yet to yield the desired results.The series has also highlighted the challenges facing England as they attempt to rebuild their team. They have some talented players, but they need to find a way to combine their individual strengths into a cohesive unit. The return of Jofra Archer could provide a boost, but it remains to be seen how he will fit into the team's plans.Australia, meanwhile, is looking ahead to the upcoming Test series against India. Steven Smith's batting position is a key topic of debate, with the veteran batsman likely to play a crucial role in the Ashes.The third ODI at Chester-le-Street will be a crucial test for both teams. England needs to find a way to break Australia's winning streak and keep the series alive, while Australia will be looking to secure a clean sweep and further cement their status as the world's top ODI team.

Glamorgan emerged victorious in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup Final, defeating Somerset by 15 runs in a rain-affected match at Trent Bridge. The Welsh county claimed their second title in four years, while Somerset's treble bid ended in disappointment.In a match reduced to 20 overs per side, Glamorgan posted a competitive 186 for 7. Sam Northeast anchored the innings with an unbeaten 63, while Billy Root contributed 39. Timm van der Gugten's late cameo of 26 off nine balls boosted the total.Somerset's chase got off to a shaky start as they lost George Thomas run out in the third over. Andy Umeed (45) and Sean Dickson (44) provided some resistance, but Glamorgan's bowlers kept them in check. Ben Kellaway and Andy Gorvin picked up two wickets each, while Jamie Mcilroy and Dan Douthwaite held their nerve in the death overs.Despite a late surge from Dickson and Archie Vaughan, Somerset fell short of their target, finishing on 171 for 6. Vaughan's boundary off the last ball proved academic as Glamorgan celebrated their triumph.The victory marked a redemption for Glamorgan, who had lost in the Vitality Blast final and missed out on the Vitality County Championship title in recent weeks. Somerset, on the other hand, were left empty-handed after a disappointing end to their season.

Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the esteemed former Home Office chief inspector of constabulary for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, has announced his retirement as the independent chair of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) at the end of October. Flanagan's departure follows the recent retirement announcement of ACU head Alex Marshall.Flanagan's appointment in 2010 marked a significant chapter in the ACU's history. He succeeded Lord Paul Condon, who had established the unit in 2000 to combat the growing threat of match-fixing. Under Condon's leadership, the ACU imposed life bans on three international captains: Mohammad Azharuddin, Saleem Malik, and Hansie Cronje.As Flanagan approached the end of his tenure, he echoed Condon's concerns about the potential risks posed by T20 cricket, particularly domestic franchise leagues. In 2013, the Indian Premier League (IPL) was rocked by a corruption scandal, prompting Flanagan to urge cricket boards to strengthen anti-corruption laws to deter corrupt practices in domestic T20 leagues.Flanagan's retirement comes at a time when the ICC is actively seeking a replacement. The organization aims to present its recommendation for the next ACU chair during its quarterly round of meetings in October.

India's dominance continued on Day 3 of the third Test against Bangladesh as they declared their innings at 287, setting a formidable target of 515 for the visitors. The decision to declare was made by skipper Rohit Sharma, who displayed confidence in his team's ability to defend the total despite the remaining two days of the Test.The declaration came after centuries from Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill, who anchored India's innings with scores of 119 and 110, respectively. KL Rahul, who was batting on 22 at the time of the declaration, expressed disappointment at not getting more time at the crease, but Pant clarified that Rohit had communicated his plan to declare an hour in advance."When we came for lunch, there was a discussion going on about the innings declaration. Rohit bhai told us, 'We will bat for 1 more hour, whoever wants to score, can do so,'" Pant explained. "So, I returned with the mindset to score runs quickly."Rohit's decision to declare was not influenced by the personnel in the middle, as he had indicated his intention to declare within a specific time frame. After the match, Rohit paid tribute to Pant, who made a remarkable comeback to the Indian Test team after a long absence."He's been through some really tough times. The way he has managed himself through those tough times was superb to watch," Rohit said. "He came back in the IPL, followed by a very successful World Cup, and this is the format he loves the most."Rohit also praised Pant's determination to prepare for the Test match by playing in the Duleep Trophy. "Credit to him as well, he went on to play Duleep Trophy and got ready for this Test match and had an impact straightaway in the game," he added.With India's bowlers in top form, Bangladesh faces an uphill task to save the Test. The hosts will need to bat with resilience and determination to avoid a heavy defeat.

Australian batsman Steve Smith has heaped praise on Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah, acknowledging his exceptional skills across all formats of the game. Smith, who has faced Bumrah in 109 Tests, 160 ODIs, and 67 T20Is, described him as "arguably the best fast bowler across all three formats."Bumrah's versatility and ability to adapt to different conditions have impressed Smith. "He's a fantastic bowler, whether I'm up against him with the new ball, a slightly older ball, or even the old one," Smith said. "His skills with all types of deliveries are exceptional."The Indian team is set to embark on a challenging tour of Australia for a five-match Test series starting in November. The series kicks off with the first Test in Perth on November 22, followed by matches in Adelaide from December 6, Brisbane from December 14, the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne from December 26, and concluding in Sydney on January 3.India's historic back-to-back victories in the Border-Gavaskar Series in Australia during 2018-19 and 2020-21 highlighted their resilience and dominance in Test cricket. The 2018-19 series win, led by Virat Kohli, marked India's first Test series triumph on Australian soil.The 2020-21 series was even more impressive, as a young and injury-plagued Indian team, captained by Ajinkya Rahane, staged a remarkable comeback after being bowled out for just 36 in Adelaide. India clinched the series 2-1 with a thrilling victory at the Gabba, ending Australia's 32-year unbeaten streak at that venue.Now, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, Team India aims for a hat-trick of Border-Gavaskar Trophy wins in Australia. The series promises to be a thrilling contest between two of the world's top cricketing nations.

New Zealand's recent Test match in Galle against Sri Lanka ended in a narrow 63-run defeat, marking their fifth consecutive loss at the venue. However, two players emerged as bright spots for the Kiwis: seamer Will O'Rourke and batter Rachin Ravindra.O'Rourke, making his first appearance in the subcontinent, impressed with his pace and accuracy. Despite the dry conditions, he consistently bowled at speeds of 140kph and sent down short deliveries that troubled the Sri Lankan batters. His eight wickets for 104 runs, including six top-order dismissals, earned him praise from captain Tim Southee."Will's had a very short Test career so far, and he's certainly announced himself," Southee said. "He's got the skills to have a very good Test career. For him to come to his first Test in the subcontinent and walk away with a very impressive eight wickets for the match is nothing short of special."Ravindra, on the other hand, showcased his batting prowess with a gritty 92 in the fourth innings. Facing a challenging pitch and a tall target of 275, he played with composure and determination. His ability to punish loose deliveries and keep the scoreboard ticking impressed Southee."Rachin kept us in the hunt with that chase," Southee said. "It was a great knock in those conditions. It's not easy to bat - the ball was spinning, and doing all sorts [of things]. For a young guy without a lot of experience in this part of the world to go out and get 90-odd was great signs for him as well."Despite the loss, Southee identified the team's batting collapse on the third morning as a turning point. After reaching 255 for 4 overnight, New Zealand lost six wickets for 71 runs, allowing Sri Lanka to gain a crucial advantage."The last four or five fell for not many, and there was an opportunity to get a bigger first-innings lead," Southee said. "If we were able to press on and get more of a lead, things could have been different."Overall, the match highlighted the potential of O'Rourke and Ravindra while also exposing areas for improvement in New Zealand's batting. As they prepare for the next Test, the Kiwis will look to build on the positives and address the shortcomings that led to their defeat in Galle.

Indian batter Shubman Gill's hilarious mockery of teammate Mohammed Siraj during the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai has become a viral sensation. During the 22nd over of Bangladesh's second innings, Gill was caught on stump mic mimicking an old video of Siraj flagging fake Instagram accounts."Mohammad Siraj official hi official ID hai, baaki sab fake hain," Gill said, mocking Siraj's viral video. Even wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant couldn't help but chuckle at Gill's antics.Gill's lighthearted moment came after he bounced back from a duck in the first innings with a century in the second. His unbeaten 119, along with Pant's 109, helped India declare their second innings at 287-4 on day three.The Test marked Virat Kohli's return to the Indian team after the birth of his second child. However, the former captain managed only six and 17 runs in the match.India's bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, dominated the first innings, bundling out Bangladesh for 149. Bangladesh pace bowler Hasan Mahmud claimed five wickets in the first innings and reduced India to 34-3 in the first hour of play.Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain admitted that his team needs to improve their first innings batting ahead of the second Test in Kanpur. "Top of the order we have to be careful and put some runs, that is one learning from this match," he said.The two teams will now head to Kanpur for the second Test starting on Friday.

Victoria's Sam Elliott etched his name into Australian One-Day domestic cricket history with a remarkable performance against Tasmania in Melbourne. Elliott's devastating spell of 7 for 12, the second-best figures in the competition's history, propelled Victoria to a thrilling four-wicket victory.On a challenging pitch at the Junction Oval, Elliott wreaked havoc on Tasmania's batting lineup. His extra bounce and late seam movement proved too much for the visitors, who were dismissed for a paltry 126. Elliott's victims included Jordan Silk, Jake Weatherald, and Brad Hope, all of whom were caught behind.Victoria's chase got off to a shaky start, losing six wickets for 72 runs. However, Elliott and skipper Will Sutherland combined for an unbeaten 56-run partnership to guide their side to victory. Elliott's 19 not out included some impressive pull shots, while Sutherland contributed a composed 36 not out.Earlier, Tasmania's innings had been hampered by the early dismissals of Mitch Own and Caleb Jewell. Elliott's introduction into the attack proved disastrous for the visitors, who lost their middle order in quick succession. Matthew Kuhnemann and Gabe Bell's 34-run partnership for the 10th wicket provided some consolation for Tasmania.Victoria's victory was a testament to Elliott's exceptional bowling performance and the resilience of Sutherland and Elliott's partnership. The result leaves Victoria with a 1-0 lead in the One-Day Cup series against Tasmania.

India's bowling attack has drawn comparisons to Pakistan's legendary fast-bowling trio of Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, and Waqar Younis, according to former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali.Ali's praise comes after India's comprehensive 280-run victory over Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai. India's pacers, led by Jasprit Bumrah (4/50), Mohammed Siraj (2/30), and Akash Deep (2/19), outclassed Bangladesh's batting lineup, dismissing them for a meager 149 in the first innings.Bumrah's four-wicket haul and Akash Deep's early breakthroughs, combined with Siraj's consistency, left Bangladesh reeling. The dominant performance has drawn comparisons from Basit, who likened India's current pace attack to Pakistan's legendary fast-bowling trio."The Indian bowling unit is so impactful that they are on the level with pacers Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, and Waqar Younis. Right now, Mohammed Shami is not even playing," Basit remarked on his YouTube channel.Basit also expressed excitement about India's emerging pace talent, particularly 22-year-old Mayank Yadav. The young speedster impressed during the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL), clocking the fastest delivery of the season at 156.7 kph for Lucknow Super Giants. Basit believes Mayank's pace could be a game-changer in India's upcoming Test assignments, specifically against Australia."Mayank Yadav's ball is very dangerous. His bouncer is accurate. I wish to see him play a Test match in Australia," Basit said.With India's established pacers performing brilliantly, all eyes will be on how the selectors integrate budding talents like Mayank Yadav into the squad for future challenges.