Cricket

Jos Buttler, England's white-ball captain, is targeting a return to action in Lancashire's T20 Blast quarter-final against Sussex on September 4. Buttler has been sidelined since the T20 World Cup due to a calf injury but has been working diligently to regain fitness.Buttler's return is a major boost for Lancashire, who are battling to avoid relegation in the County Championship and have struggled in the Metro Bank Cup. The T20 Blast represents their best chance of salvaging their season and reaching Finals Day.Lancashire coach Dale Benkenstein is optimistic about Buttler's availability, stating that he has been "doing a lot of rehab" and is "very keen to play." A fitness test on the day of the match will determine his participation.Buttler's return will also be a welcome sight for England, who face Australia in a T20I and ODI series in September. Buttler has been backed to continue as England's white-ball captain despite the departure of head coach Matthew Mott. He will work alongside interim coach Marcus Trescothick during the series.Lancashire will also be bolstered by the return of Saqib Mahmood and Phil Salt, who were rested for the Championship defeat to Surrey. Liam Livingstone and George Dockrell are also expected to be available.Mahmood's workload is being carefully managed after two injury-plagued summers, while Salt has been nursing a back injury. Benkenstein believes that having a full-strength team for the knockout stages gives Lancashire a "best chance" of reaching Finals Day.However, Buttler and other England players named in the T20 squad will not be available for Finals Day on September 14, which clashes with the second and third T20Is against Australia.

A controversial ball-change decision in the first Test between England and Sri Lanka in Manchester has sparked outrage, with Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews labeling it "unfair."During Sri Lanka's second innings, England took a new ball at 4-146, a move that Mathews believes shifted the momentum in England's favor. With a slender 24-run lead, Sri Lanka had been in a strong position, but the new ball allowed England's pacers to exploit the firmer cherry.Mathews, who was batting on 59 at the time of the ball change, was dismissed in the 10th over after the new ball was taken. "It was unfortunate, to be honest," Mathews said. "Yesterday we were sitting pretty until the ball was changed."Mathews argued that the ball change disadvantaged batters on both teams, as they had worked hard to take the shine off the old ball. "The batters are waiting to get rid of the hardness of the ball, and it's unfortunate that the ball was changed and it started swinging and it changed the whole complexion of the game," he said.This is not the first time England has been criticized for a ball-change decision. In last year's Ashes Test at the Oval, Australia great Ricky Ponting expressed frustration at a similar incident.England eventually won the opening Test by 5 wickets, but the ball-change controversy has left a sour taste in the mouths of Sri Lankan players and fans.

England is poised to secure a victory over a resilient Sri Lanka in the first Test at Old Trafford. At the end of the third day, Sri Lanka had fought back to 204-6 in their second innings, trailing by a mere 82 runs.Angelo Mathews (65) and Kamindu Mendis (56 not out) led a determined rearguard action, erasing the 122-run deficit from the first innings. However, England, who had earlier declared on 358 with Jamie Smith making his maiden Test century, remain favorites to take the lead in the three-match series on Saturday.Resuming the day with a 23-run lead and four first-innings wickets remaining, Smith extended his overnight score of 72 to 111 off 148 balls, becoming the youngest wicketkeeper to score a Test hundred for England. Gus Atkinson departed for 20, caught behind off debutant fast bowler Milan Rathnayake's first Test wicket. Smith followed three overs later, edging a delivery from left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya to wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal.Tail-enders Mark Wood and Matthew Potts then shared a stand of 33 to bolster England's lead. Sri Lanka, given a few overs to bat before lunch, made a disastrous start as Nishan Madushka was bowled by Chris Woakes for a duck. Atkinson then had Kusal Mendis caught behind by Smith, also without scoring, leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 1-2.Dimuth Karunaratne and Mathews dug in after lunch, gradually reducing the deficit. However, Sri Lanka slipped to 95-4 when Chandimal retired hurt after a blow to the thumb. Mathews proved obdurate, but was eventually caught at point by Matthew Potts off Woakes' bowling.Milan Rathnayake was caught in the deep for 10, but Mendis remained unbeaten at stumps, giving Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope.

England's second Test summer has witnessed another ball change that has favored the hosts. During the first Test against Sri Lanka at Emirates Old Trafford, the umpires agreed to England's request to replace the worn-out Dukes ball after 41 overs of Sri Lanka's second innings.At the time, Sri Lanka held a slender lead of 24 with Angelo Mathews and Kamindu Mendis at the crease. The introduction of a firmer ball with a more pronounced seam revitalized England's quicks. Mathews, who had reached 59, was dismissed by Chris Woakes in the 10th over with the new ball, ending a 78-run partnership.Despite only taking one more wicket before the close, England created numerous chances with the replacement ball. Mathews and Kamindu were dropped by Joe Root and Gus Atkinson, respectively, while Woakes had two lbw decisions overturned on review.Coincidentally, Woakes was also the beneficiary of a controversial ball change during last season's Ashes Test at the Kia Oval. Australia's Usman Khawaja questioned the switch to a newer, harder ball, which differed from the one used for the previous 37 overs.Sri Lanka, however, expressed no complaints about the ball change. Former England international Ian Bell, Sri Lanka's batting coach, acknowledged the poor condition of the original ball's seam and accepted that the change made batting more challenging. He emphasized the need for consistency in future ball changes.England centurion Jamie Smith praised Woakes for exploiting the conditions with the new ball. Meanwhile, England will provide an update on Mark Wood's fitness on Saturday after he experienced discomfort in his right thigh.

A Fan's Incredible One-Handed Stunner Steals the Show at England-Sri Lanka TestIn a thrilling moment that captivated the crowd at the England-Sri Lanka Test in Manchester, a fan became an instant sensation with an extraordinary one-handed catch. The incident occurred on the third day of the first Test, leaving spectators in awe and commentators praising the fan's athleticism.As England's Mark Wood attempted a pull shot off a bouncer from Asitha Fernando, the ball soared into the deep mid-wicket stands. Amidst the anticipation, a fan with a pint in one hand extended his other hand and executed a flawless one-handed catch. The crowd erupted in cheers, and even England coach Paul Collingwood couldn't help but be impressed.The fan's remarkable catch not only showcased his exceptional reflexes but also highlighted the passion and excitement that permeate the sport of cricket. It served as a reminder that even in the midst of a high-stakes Test match, moments of pure joy and camaraderie can emerge.The incident also underscored the importance of fan engagement in sports. The fan's catch became a viral sensation on social media, with many praising his skill and the unique atmosphere it created at the match. Such moments help foster a sense of community and shared experience among fans, making sporting events even more memorable.

England's wicketkeeper Jamie Smith played a pivotal role in pushing the team to a 23-run first-innings lead over Sri Lanka in the ongoing first Test at Old Trafford. Smith's unbeaten knock of 72 helped England reach 259-6 before play was halted due to weather on Day 2.Resuming on 22-0, England faced early setbacks as Sri Lanka's Asitha Fernando claimed the wickets of Ben Duckett (18) and Ollie Pope (6). Dan Lawrence survived an lbw review but was later dismissed for 30, while Joe Root fell for 42.However, Smith and Harry Brook steadied the innings with a 62-run partnership. Brook reached a half-century for the 13th time in 15 Tests, continuing his impressive start to his career in the format.After tea, Smith carried England past Sri Lanka's total of 236 all out. He has now scored three half-centuries in his four Test matches, showcasing his immediate impact in the Test arena.Sri Lanka, who were reeling at 6-3 on Day 1, have shown resilience in the match. Asitha Fernando has been their standout bowler, claiming figures of 3-68.The weather played a significant role on Day 2, with rain washing out the morning session and leading to an early end to the day's play. The teams will be hoping for better conditions on Day 3 as they look to gain an advantage in the series opener.

Sri Lanka's batting lineup faced a dramatic collapse on the opening day of the first Test against England at Old Trafford, losing their first three wickets for no runs in just 10 balls. However, a resilient performance from Dhananjaya de Silva and debutant fast bowler Milan Rathnayake helped the visitors recover to a respectable total of 236 all out.De Silva, who won the toss and elected to bat, played a captain's knock, scoring a top-scoring 74. Rathnayake, playing in his first Test match, made a valuable contribution with a gritty 72, his third first-class fifty. The pair forged a crucial eighth-wicket partnership of 63, which helped Sri Lanka regain some momentum after their early setbacks.England's bowlers were impressive, with Chris Woakes leading the charge with 3-32 in 11 overs. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir also played a key role, taking 3-55 in 23 overs, including the crucial wicket of De Silva.Sri Lanka's initial collapse was a major setback, with Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, and Angelo Mathews all falling cheaply. Kusal Mendis showed some resistance with 24, but he too was dismissed by a superb delivery from Mark Wood.Despite the early setbacks, De Silva and Rathnayake showed great determination and resilience. De Silva played with authority, hitting 10 fours and a six, while Rathnayake played a more cautious role, but still managed to score at a decent pace.England's bowlers were unable to break through the De Silva-Rathnayake partnership until the 72nd over, when Bashir finally dismissed Rathnayake. However, by that time, Sri Lanka had already reached a respectable total and had given themselves a chance to compete in the match.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced two significant changes to its upcoming home season schedule. The first T20I against Bangladesh, originally scheduled for Dharamsala on October 6, has been moved to Gwalior. Additionally, the venues for the first and second T20Is against England in January 2025 have been swapped.The relocation of the Bangladesh T20I from Dharamsala to Gwalior stems from ongoing renovations to the dressing rooms at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium. This marks the second international fixture to be shifted out of Dharamsala in recent times, following the relocation of the third Test between India and Australia to Indore in February 2023 due to outfield issues.The inaugural international match at the new Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Gwalior will be the T20I against Bangladesh. It will also be the first international fixture in the city since 2010, when Sachin Tendulkar made history by scoring the first double-century in men's ODIs.Regarding the England tour, the first T20I was initially scheduled for Chennai on January 22, with Kolkata hosting the second on January 25. However, the venues have been swapped at the request of Kolkata Police due to prior Republic Day commitments.India's 2024-25 home season commences with two Tests and three T20Is against Bangladesh from September 19 to October 12. New Zealand will then visit for three Test matches from October 16 to November 5.Following a tour of Australia for five Tests from November 22 to January 7, India will return home to host England for five T20Is and three ODIs from January 22 to February 12. The ODIs against England will be India's only scheduled 50-over games before the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

James Anderson, England's legendary fast bowler, has hinted at a potential return to competitive cricket after his international retirement. Despite turning 42 recently, Anderson believes he still has the skills and desire to contribute as a bowler.Following his final Test match at Lord's, Anderson has been assisting England's bowlers in a coaching capacity. However, he may consider stepping back from this role during the upcoming tours to Pakistan and New Zealand, opening up his schedule for overseas opportunities."I feel there's something there, that I still want to play a little bit more," Anderson said. "I'm pretty open to anything at the minute. Things will become clearer as the rest of the year progresses."Anderson has not played white-ball cricket since 2019, but he remains England's all-time leading ODI wicket-taker. He believes he can still be effective in this format, having bowled at England's batters in the nets recently."I don't know how seriously I'm actually thinking about this myself right now," Anderson admitted. "But the bowling thing is still a definite option for me, the way my body feels right now, the way my head is."Anderson also expressed his desire to give back to Lancashire, the county where he developed as a young bowler. "I've played more Tests than I have first-class games for Lancs," he said. "Whenever I've gone back, I've tried my very best and loved it."Despite his age, Anderson remains confident in his ability to bowl fast and effectively. "There will be a time when I can't turn my arm over at all and I can't bowl at 50mph, never mind 80, so while I can do that, I want to keep doing it," he said.Anderson's potential return to competitive cricket would be a remarkable achievement for a player of his age. It would also provide a valuable opportunity for younger bowlers to learn from one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time.