Cricket

Yorkshire legspinner Jafer Chohan has earned his maiden England call-up for the men's limited-overs tour of West Indies, becoming the first graduate of the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) to achieve international recognition.Launched in 2021, SACA aims to address the underrepresentation of British South Asian players in professional cricket. Co-founded by Dr. Tom Brown and former England bowler Kabir Ali, the academy's research revealed that British Asians constitute only 5% of cricketers at the top level, despite representing 30% of recreational players in England and Wales.Chohan, released by Middlesex at age 17, joined Yorkshire in 2022 and has established himself in their T20 side. His England call-up follows an impressive 2024 Vitality Blast campaign, where he claimed 17 wickets at an average of 15.52, including a standout performance of 5 for 14 against Durham.Despite his form and the value of wrist-spin in shorter formats, Chohan has yet to feature in the men's Hundred. However, Yorkshire recently announced his three-year contract extension until 2027.England's selection of Chohan reflects their search for spin options following the retirement of Moeen Ali, SACA's president, and the need for a successor to Adil Rashid. Chohan has received mentorship from Rashid, both at Yorkshire and at his cricket center in Bradford."It's an absolute dream to be selected," said Chohan. "I've worked for this my whole life."Warwickshire's Dan Mousley and Hampshire's John Turner are the other uncapped players in the 14-man squad.Chohan's selection aligns with England's unconventional approach under managing director Rob Key, who emphasizes attributes over domestic averages. This approach has been evident in the selection of Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir for the Test tour of India and Josh Hull for the final Test against Sri Lanka.With Test head coach Brendon McCullum set to take over the limited-overs role in 2025, this left-field thinking is expected to continue as England rebuilds after disappointing World Cup performances.Jos Buttler will return as captain following a calf injury, but a decision on his wicketkeeping role will be made closer to the tour. Phil Salt is the only viable stand-in in the original squad, although Jordan Cox and Jamie Smith could be included from the Pakistan Test party.

The Women's T20 World Cup is set to commence on Thursday in Sharjah, with the likes of India, England, and South Africa aiming to dethrone the dominant Australia. The tournament, originally scheduled for Bangladesh, was shifted to the UAE due to political unrest.Australia, the defending champions, have won six of the nine editions of the tournament and will be the team to beat once again. Led by Alyssa Healy, they boast a formidable squad featuring Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, and Grace Harris. Their pace duo of Tayla Vlaeminck and Darcie Brown will also be key.England, the inaugural champions, will be buoyed by their recent Ashes victory over Australia. They possess a strong spin attack led by Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, and Charlie Dean. Veteran Nat-Sciver Brunt will provide experience and leadership in the batting department.India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, has consistently challenged Australia but has yet to win a major title. They will rely on their spin-heavy attack and the batting prowess of Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet, and Richa Ghosh.South Africa, who reached the final last year, will be determined to go one better. Led by Laura Wolvaardt, they have a balanced team that includes experienced players like Marizanne Kapp and Chloe Tryon.The tournament will feature two groups of five teams each. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals. Australia, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka are in Group A, while England, South Africa, West Indies, Bangladesh, and Scotland are in Group B.The pitches in the UAE are expected to favor spinners, which could benefit teams like India and England. The tournament promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with several teams capable of challenging Australia's dominance.

Former England opener Ian Bell has heaped praise on India's wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, describing him as an "entertainer" who he would "leave everything to watch."Pant, who has emerged as India's all-format player in recent years, returned to competitive cricket in the 2024 IPL after recovering from a serious car accident. He went on to win the T20 World Cup with the Indian team in Barbados in June.Since making his international return, Pant has been an integral part of the Men in Blue across formats."The player I enjoy watching the most is Rishabh Pant. I'm so pleased he is back. I love watching him. Some of his innings (against England) were incredible under pressure as well. When Rishabh comes out to bat, I would definitely sit down and stop everything else to watch him. He is certainly an entertainer which is great to watch," Bell told IANS.Bell, a veteran of 118 Tests, 161 ODIs, and eight T20Is, also picked Australian greats Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath as the toughest bowlers he faced during his career."I feel very lucky to have faced some of the greats of the game early in my career. Cricket is a game of partnerships, whether you bat in the middle or whether you're bowling. Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath together are the best I have faced. Those two would go out as best," he said.When asked about his thoughts on the current England team, Bell said, "It's been fascinating to watch since Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes took over, there's a lot of talk about Bazball and a lot of aggression they play with. They've managed to allow the players to guard with some freedom. I think that's the real skill, Ravi Shastri had that ability as well to be able to pick pressure away from players. I think that's a really important skill as a coach. McCullum and Stokes allowed this team to show their talent and pushed them into positive."

India's Aggressive Batting Approach: A Flexible and Effective Alternative to 'Bazball'In the wake of England's 'Bazball' revolution, India has emerged with its own aggressive batting approach that is proving equally effective. While 'Bazball' emphasizes relentless attacking, India's mindset is more adaptable, allowing for both aggressive and patient play depending on the conditions.The decision to replace Cheteshwar Pujara with Shubman Gill at No. 3 reflects India's desire to increase scoring rates. This move has paid dividends, with Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal showcasing their ability to switch between aggressive and defensive modes.India's batting lineup has been heavily influenced by T20 cricket, with players like Gill, Jaiswal, and Virat Kohli having captained IPL teams. This experience has instilled in them a wide range of shot-making abilities, allowing them to adapt to different situations.Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz acknowledged the difficulty in planning against India's "all-format batting." He noted that India's players are adept at playing the situation, making them a formidable opponent in all three formats of the game.While 'Bazball' has been credited with revitalizing Test cricket, India's approach demonstrates that there are multiple ways to play the game aggressively and effectively. India's flexible mindset and ability to execute their plans with precision make them a formidable force in the world of Test cricket.

Travis Head's all-round brilliance propelled Australia to a 49-run victory over England in the rain-affected fifth and final ODI at Bristol, securing a 3-2 series triumph for the world champions.England, chasing a formidable target, were cruising at 202-2 thanks to a century from Ben Duckett (107) and a half-century from Harry Brook (72). However, Australia's slow bowlers turned the tide, with Head claiming an ODI-best 4-28 as England collapsed to 309 all out.Australia's chase got off to a blistering start, with Matthew Short (58) and Head (31) putting on 78 for the first wicket in just over seven overs. Rain intervened with Australia well ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) target, and the umpires eventually called off the game with Australia on 165-2 after 20.4 overs.Head's performance was particularly impressive, as he not only took four wickets but also made a valuable contribution with the bat. His 31 off 24 balls helped set the tone for Australia's chase, while his bowling proved decisive in England's collapse.Duckett's century was his second in ODIs, and he played a key role in England's strong start. Brook continued his impressive form with another half-century, but England's middle and lower order failed to provide the necessary support.The victory marked a successful end to Australia's tour of England, which also included a 2-0 Test series win. It was a particularly satisfying result for Head, who has emerged as a key player for Australia in recent months.

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.

Australian spinner Adam Zampa has etched his name in the history books by surpassing former paceman Nathan Bracken to become the eighth-highest wicket-taker for Australia in One-Day Internationals (ODIs). Zampa achieved this milestone during the fourth ODI against England at Lord's on Saturday.Despite Australia's disappointing performance in the match, Zampa emerged as a beacon of hope for the bowling attack. He claimed two crucial wickets for 66 runs in eight overs, including the dismissals of half-centurions Ben Duckett and Harry Brook.Since his ODI debut in 2016, Zampa has amassed an impressive tally of 175 wickets in 102 matches. His average of 27.99 and best figures of 5/35 highlight his consistency and ability to strike at crucial moments. He has also registered 11 four-wicket hauls and a five-wicket haul in ODIs.Bracken, a prominent Australian pacer from 2001-09, once ranked number one in the 50-over format. He took 174 wickets in 116 ODIs at an average of 24.36, with best figures of 5/47. Bracken's five 4-wicket hauls and two five-wicket hauls in ODIs further demonstrate his prowess as a wicket-taker.Pace legends Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee remain the joint-highest wicket-takers in ODIs for Australia, with 380 wickets each.In the fourth ODI, England posted a formidable total of 312/5 in their 39 overs. Liam Livingstone's blistering 62* off 27 balls, including seven sixes, provided the finishing touches. Zampa was the pick of the Australian bowlers, while Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, and Josh Hazlewood also claimed wickets.Australia's chase faltered as they were skittled out for 126 in 24.4 overs. Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse wreaked havoc with the ball, taking four and three wickets respectively. England leveled the five-match series 2-2 with a convincing 186-run victory.Harry Brook's outstanding performance earned him the 'Player of the Match' award.

Mitchell Starc's nightmare at Lord's on Friday was a chilling reminder of the brutal onslaught he endured at the hands of Rohit Sharma during the T20 World Cup earlier this year. In the fourth ODI between Australia and England, Starc was subjected to a relentless assault by Liam Livingstone, who smashed 29 runs off his over, equaling the costliest over by an Australian bowler in ODIs.Starc's torment began in the final over of England's innings, with the home team needing 15 runs to win. Livingstone, who had already struck a blistering 67 off 27 balls, took aim at the Australian left-arm pacer, hitting four sixes in a row. The over, which read 6, 0, 6, 6, 6, 4, brought back haunting memories of Rohit's sensational knock in the T20 World Cup match.In that match, Rohit played arguably the best innings of the tournament, smashing eight sixes and seven fours in his 41-ball 92. The highlight of his innings was the third over bowled by Starc, in which the Indian captain plundered four sixes and a four off the pacer, making it a 29-run over.Starc's struggles against Livingstone and Rohit have exposed a vulnerability in his bowling that opposition batters are eager to exploit. The Australian pacer, who has been one of the most feared bowlers in world cricket, is now facing questions about his ability to handle the pressure in high-stakes matches.After the match, Starc admitted that he had bowled five bad balls and that Livingstone had punished him for them. "I've played a lot against him. He had a good tournament, especially in our game. I think he targeted that wind in St. Lucia as well. If you look at the runs from each end, one end went for a lot more than the other. I bowled from that end," Starc said on the LiSTNR Sport podcast.Starc's struggles are a concern for Australia, who are looking to regain their dominance in ODI cricket. The team has lost two of the first four matches in the series against England, and Starc's inability to contain the opposition's batters is a major factor.