Cricket

The advent of T20 cricket initially suggested it was a format tailored for younger players. However, over time, experienced veterans have dominated the game, challenging the notion that it's solely for the young.As the upcoming T20 World Cup approaches, several teams are fielding squads that resemble "dad's armies," with a significant number of players over the age of 30.Australia:Australia's squad boasts only one player under 25, Cameron Green. The core of the team revolves around seasoned veterans such as David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Mathew Wade, all of whom are on the wrong side of 30. Mitchell Marsh, at 32, has been handed the captaincy ahead of Pat Cummins, signaling a preference for fresh ideas over reputation.England:The defending champions, England, have opted for continuity, fielding a similar team to the one that triumphed in Australia in 2022. Led by Jos Buttler and an aging leadership group, the squad is packed with experienced players like Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, and Mark Wood. While they may appear similar to their previous campaign, players like Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, and Jofra Archer have gained valuable experience since then.New Zealand:Kane Williamson continues to lead New Zealand into major tournaments, and he will be joined by a core of senior players who are well past their 30s. Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Devon Conway, Michael Bracewell, Mitch Santner, and Jimmy Neesham form the backbone of the team. Rachin Ravindra, at 24, is the only player under 25, but the firepower of Glenn Phillips and Finn Allen will provide support to the experienced core.Pakistan:Finalists in the last edition, Pakistan will be led by Babar Azam and a similar-looking team. The squad includes the return of Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim, who have performed well in the Pakistan Super League. The inclusion of Azam Khan, Abrar Ahmed, and Saim Ayub brings freshness to the team. Experienced campaigners like Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Afridi will provide stability.

England batter Lauren Winfield-Hill has signed a contract with Queensland to play in Australia's Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) next summer. The 33-year-old, who has played in nine matches for Queensland in the past, will join the team after the conclusion of the English domestic season.Winfield-Hill's decision to join Queensland comes after she expressed concerns about the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) decision to defer Yorkshire's entry into Tier 1 of the new women's domestic competition. She described the move as "unsettling" for her Northern Diamonds team.Winfield-Hill is based in Brisbane during the Australian summer as she is married to former Queensland and Brisbane Heat pace bowler Courtney Winfield-Hill. She has been a consistent performer for Queensland in the past, scoring 194 runs at an average of 32.33 last season, including a half-century in the final.Queensland have also added four teenagers to their squad for the upcoming season: Sienna Eve, Elsa Hunter, Lauren Kua, and Kate Pelle. Eve and Hunter are both all-rounders, while Kua is a wicketkeeper-batter and Pelle is a batter.New South Wales have also announced their female contract list for the 2024-25 season. The Blues have added four teenagers to their squad: Eve, Hunter, Kua, and Pelle. They have also released Scotland international Saskia Horley, who has moved permanently to the UK.The WNCL is Australia's premier domestic women's cricket competition. It is contested by eight teams from around the country. The competition will be played from October 2024 to March 2025.

England emerged victorious in the second T20I against Pakistan at Edgbaston, Birmingham, securing a 1-0 lead in the four-match series. The first match was abandoned due to rain.Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, played a valiant innings, scoring 32 runs off 26 deliveries at a strike rate of 123.08, including four boundaries. However, his efforts proved insufficient to secure a win for his team.With his knock, Babar surpassed India's Rohit Sharma to become the second-highest run-scorer in T20Is. Rohit has amassed 3974 runs in 151 matches for India, while Babar now boasts 3987 runs in 118 matches for Pakistan. India's Virat Kohli remains the leading run-scorer in T20Is, with 4037 runs from 117 matches.After the match, Babar expressed his admiration for his bowlers, acknowledging their exceptional performance. He noted that he and Fakhar Zaman had formed a significant partnership, but subsequent batters failed to capitalize on their momentum."It was a par score, our bowlers bowled very well. In the batting, there were moments, but we didn't finish well. Small partnership between me and Fakhar and later on, there was no big partnership," Babar said.He emphasized the adaptability and role clarity within the team, stating that if he and Fakhar had remained at the crease for a few more overs, the outcome could have been different."We are flexible, everyone knows their role. We have decided each player's role. If you are not in good form, we are flexible. The way Fakhar dominated after wickets fell ... if me and Fakhar had batted for three more overs, it would have been a different ball game," he added.

Pakistan and England faced off in a highly anticipated T20I match at Edgbaston, Birmingham, with Pakistan winning the toss and electing to bowl first. The match marked the return of Jofra Archer to the England team after a lengthy absence due to an elbow injury.Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, welcomed the return of Shadab Khan to the lineup after he was rested for the final two T20Is against Ireland. Haris Rauf also made his comeback after recovering from a shoulder dislocation.England, on the other hand, opted to leave out Sam Curran, the player of the tournament at the 2022 T20 World Cup, in favor of Chris Jordan and Liam Livingstone.The match began with England's openers, Jos Buttler and Phil Salt, putting on a solid partnership. However, Pakistan's bowlers struck back with regular wickets, including the dismissal of Buttler for 31.Jonny Bairstow and Harry Brook steadied the innings for England, but they were unable to accelerate the scoring rate. Pakistan's bowlers maintained a tight line and length, restricting England to 161/8 in their allotted 20 overs.In response, Pakistan's openers, Babar Azam and Saim Ayub, got off to a cautious start. However, Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman provided the impetus with aggressive batting.Rizwan scored a quickfire 37, while Zaman played a crucial knock of 56. Shadab Khan also contributed with a valuable 34, guiding Pakistan to a comfortable victory with 10 balls to spare.

England and Pakistan Set for T20I Series Ahead of World CupEngland and Pakistan will face off in a three-match T20I series at Headingley on Wednesday, marking their first encounter since the thrilling 2022 T20 World Cup final. While the stakes may not be as high this time, both teams are eager to prove their credentials as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup in Australia.Despite their World Cup success, both England and Pakistan have struggled in T20I cricket since then. England has won only two of their nine T20I series, while Pakistan has a similar record. Both teams were also eliminated from the ODI World Cup in the first round.However, this series serves as a crucial warm-up for the T20 World Cup, and both teams are taking it seriously. England has recalled Jofra Archer, who is making his first T20I appearance in over a year, while Pakistan is expected to field a strong bowling attack led by Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah.England captain Jos Buttler is keen to avoid a repeat of their disappointing ODI World Cup performance. "We're presented with a new opportunity, a different format," he said. "We want to give a better account of ourselves."Pakistan captain Babar Azam is also looking forward to the series. "We're excited to play against [Archer]," he said. "We have that pace of bowlers in Haris Rauf and Shaheen, so I wouldn't say we're fearful, but we are excited."The weather forecast for Headingley is overcast, which could impact the game. However, both teams are determined to put on a good show and prepare for the World Cup.

India's women's cricket team has made significant strides in the latest ICC Women's T20I rankings, reflecting their impressive performance in the recently concluded series against Bangladesh. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has climbed three places to 13th in the batters' list, while Richa Ghosh has moved up two spots to 23rd.Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav has also made a notable jump, rising seven places to 23rd in the bowlers' rankings. Titas Sadhu has also improved her position, moving up 18 spots to 60th. These rankings come just months before the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, where India will be hoping to make a strong impact.England's players have also made progress in the rankings. Heather Knight has risen four places to 18th in the batters' list, while Amy Jones has moved up three places to 26th. All-rounder Sarah Glenn has climbed two spots to fourth in the bowlers' rankings, behind teammate Sophie Ecclestone.Sri Lanka's players have also been rewarded for their success in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier event. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu, who was the leading run-scorer at the tournament, has risen two places to equal seventh on the batters' list. She has also moved up one place to fifth in the all-rounders' rankings.Inoshi Fernando and Udeshika Prabodhani have also made gains in the bowlers' rankings, moving up five spots each to 19th and 30th respectively. These rankings reflect the growing strength of women's cricket around the world, with players from various nations making their mark on the international stage.

Kemar Roach, the veteran West Indies fast bowler, has hailed James Anderson as "one of the greatest" in history as the English legend prepares for his final Test match at Lord's this summer. However, Roach has also issued a challenge to his West Indies teammates to "ruin" Anderson's farewell by defeating England in the series.Roach's comments come after a strong start to the County Championship season, where he took 6 for 46 in Surrey's win over Warwickshire. His international teammates, Jayden Seales and Jason Holder, have also found form playing for Sussex and Worcestershire, respectively.With Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph also in the squad, West Indies will have one of their strongest seam attacks in years when they face England in three Tests from July 10-30. Roach believes that a series win is achievable, despite the potential distraction of Anderson's farewell."It's a very highly talented and skillful group," Roach said. "We've not had the best of times over here in England, so it's more about focusing on us - not what they're going to do for him. He's going to get what he deserves. But it's all about us working hard to get what we deserve, which is a series win over here in England."Roach and Anderson have played against each other in 12 Tests dating back to 2012. "He's a great fast bowler, probably one of the greatest," Roach said. "It's sad to see him go, but we all know you can't play forever. He's done fantastically for England and he deserves whatever he gets."Anderson confirmed on Saturday that the Lord's Test will be his last. "First Test match against us… hopefully, we ruin it," Roach said, laughing. "He's highly respected. He's always given me great advice as well. He will go down as one of the greatest to ever do it. I wish him all the best after that Test match, and hopefully he enjoys whatever comes next."Roach believes that West Indies' seam attack is among the best he has played in. "With Shamar and Jayden Seales now - Alzarri as well - they have added a lot of X-factor to the bowling unit. On any given day, they can have a great spell and be devastating. That is what you want. You just want it as consistently as possible, to have those great days.""To have three guys like that in the team, a captain to have that to select, for any given day or any given surface [is great]. As a group, we are pretty confident. England is always our biggest series… We want to put up a good fight, put on a good show. We haven't won a Test series in England for quite a while so it is good to come with some confidence, and hopefully we can do it this time."Roach turns 36 next month, but his devastating spell for Surrey on Sunday evening proved that he remains a potent wicket-taking threat. He has spent the past two weeks working hard on his "balance at the crease" with bowling coach Jade Dernbach, and found prodigious reverse-swing to dismantle Warwickshire's batting line-up."I felt good," he said. "It's been a tough couple of weeks for me, trying to work on some things, but it's always good to get rewards for some hard work. As a fast bowler, you always want to see the stumps flying around. I'm building with Surrey. [I want to] get myself in good physical shape, the right mental space, and then when it gets to the West Indies tour, I will build on that.""I have no retirement time in sight. I think I can go as long as I want, but obviously it's all on performances. The older you get, you need to have performances to stay in the team. I've been doing well, but I just want to keep helping the youngsters so they're in a good space, mentally and physically. I'll be happy to see those guys going after me and breaking those records if they have to."Roach has two more games remaining in his fourth stint at Surrey, at home to Worcestershire and away at Hampshire, and has helped them secure an early lead at the top of the table in their bid for a third successive Championship title. "To get that win, moving us further up the top of the table, is a fantastic feeling," he said. "Let's continue the hard work, finish off and hopefully go for that trophy."

West Indies Cricket Board (CWI) has announced an exciting schedule of home tours for 2024, featuring visits from South Africa, England, and Bangladesh. The tours will provide ample opportunities for the West Indies team to prepare for the T20 World Cup and showcase their skills against some of the top cricketing nations.The home season kicks off with a three-match T20I series against South Africa in May, followed by a two-Test series in August. The Proteas will also play a four-day warm-up game in Tarouba before the Test matches.After a white-ball tour of Sri Lanka in October, West Indies will host England for a three-match ODI series and a five-match T20I series. The matches will be played across Antigua, Barbados, and St Lucia.Bangladesh will then visit the Caribbean for an all-format tour from November to December. The tour will include two Test matches, three ODIs, and three T20Is. West Indies will return to the Arnos Vale Ground in St Vincent for the first time since 2014 for the T20I series. Bangladesh will also play a warm-up game before the Tests in Antigua.CWI CEO Johnny Grave expressed his excitement about the upcoming tours, stating that they will provide valuable experience for the West Indies team. He also noted that Grenada and Dominica missed out on hosting games this year due to stadium improvements but will be included in the schedule for 2025.

India's Test series triumph against England earlier this year was etched into the memories of cricket enthusiasts for its thrilling matches and memorable moments. One such moment was the witty remark by Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who instructed his fielders to avoid "roaming around as if they're in a garden."This statement, captured by the stump microphone, went viral and amused fans. Recently, Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin, who was part of the Test series, shared his humorous take on Rohit's comment."Rohit said not to roam around in the garden, and he's right. These guys really walk as if they're in a garden," Ashwin said during a promotional event.Ashwin also highlighted the importance of keeping the ball dry for reverse swing, a technique he employs effectively. He expressed his frustration with fielders who would apply saliva or sweat to the ball, hindering his ability to generate reverse swing."If you put sweat on the ball, how can I bowl reverse swing?" Ashwin said. "That's how he reacts."Ashwin also had a hilarious take on the size of boundaries in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season."The boundary in Jaipur is huge. When I saw that, I told Dhruv Jurel, 'At least let it be somewhere.' Watching that, I felt at this stage of my career, I would need a bicycle to reach the boundary," Ashwin said."Then in the next stadium, I felt I could walk and the next I could run. In one, I felt if I spit my chewing gum, it will cross the boundary rope for a six," he added.Rajasthan Royals will face Delhi Capitals in their next IPL match on Tuesday at the Arun Jaitely Stadium.