Cricket

Lauren Down, a seasoned New Zealand cricketer, is making a triumphant return to the international stage after a maternity leave. She will join the White Ferns squad for their upcoming tour of England, which includes three ODIs and five T20Is starting on June 26.Down, who has amassed 28 ODIs and 13 T20Is, last played for New Zealand at the 2023 T20 World Cup in South Africa. Since then, she has taken a break from cricket to welcome her first child."We're thrilled to have Lauren back," said White Ferns head coach Ben Sawyer. "She has dedicated herself to regaining her fitness and confidence over the past four months, and this tour provides the perfect opportunity to reintegrate her into the team."Down will be joined by fellow middle-order batter Mikaela Greig, who made her international debut in March against England. Greig's selection is a testament to her impressive performances for New Zealand A.Pace bowler Rosemary Mair will miss the tour due to back pain, while seamer Lea Tahuhu will remain in New Zealand for the birth of her second child. Off-spinner Leigh Kasperek will join the squad for the T20I leg.Molly Penfold returns to the team as a seam bowling option after her strong showing against England A in March. Hayley Jensen, who sustained a calf injury during the New Zealand A series, is still recovering and was not considered for selection.Sawyer emphasized that the tour is part of New Zealand's long-term planning for major events, including the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in October and the 50-over tournament in India next year."Every series is an opportunity to evaluate our best playing XI," said Sawyer. "With the T20 and one-day World Cups approaching, it's crucial to assess how Lauren and Mikaela can contribute to our team."England emerged victorious in their recent T20I and ODI series against New Zealand in New Zealand. However, Sawyer remains optimistic about his team's chances in England."We didn't achieve the results we desired when we faced England at home, but we witnessed some promising performances from our players," said Sawyer. "Playing a world-class team like England in their own backyard will be a challenge, but we're confident that we've prepared ourselves to succeed."

Pakistan's women's cricket team has announced a 17-member squad for their upcoming tour of England, which will feature three T20Is and as many ODIs. The squad is led by experienced all-rounder Nida Dar and includes several key players from the ongoing white-ball series against West Indies.The only notable omissions from the squad are Bismah Maroof, who recently retired from international cricket, and Sidra Nawaz, who was part of the ODI squad but did not play a game. The official squad announcement does not distinguish between players selected for the T20I and ODI legs of the series, suggesting that all 17 players will be available for both formats.Pakistan's tour of England comes after a disappointing home series against West Indies, where they narrowly missed out on victories in several matches. West Indies, led by the impressive Hayley Matthews, won the ODI series 3-0 and have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.Pakistan will be hoping to turn their fortunes around in England, where they will face a tough challenge against one of the world's top teams. The T20I matches will be played on May 11, 17, and 19, while the ODIs will follow on May 23, 26, and 29. Pakistan will also play a warm-up T20 on May 9 and a one-day game on May 21 against an ECB Development XI side.The ODIs are part of the ICC Women's Championship 2022-25, with this being Pakistan's eighth and final series in the current cycle. Pakistan are currently fifth with 16 points on the ten-team table, with the top five qualifying for the 2025 ODI World Cup directly.

Rohit Sharma: Playing the Best Cricket of His Life, Says He'll Retire When He's Not Good EnoughFormer England batter Geoffrey Boycott may have suggested that Rohit Sharma is past his prime, but the Indian skipper has emphatically declared that he is currently playing the best cricket of his life.Leading his team in the absence of stalwarts Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, Rohit guided India to a dominant 4-1 victory in the five-match Test series against England. In the decisive Dharamsala Test, India inflicted an innings and 64 runs defeat on the visitors, wrapping up the match within three days.Reflecting on his own performance, Rohit asserted that he will not hesitate to retire the day he feels he is no longer up to the mark. "One day, when I wake up and feel, I am not good enough then I will retire straight away," he said. "But in the last few years, I am playing the best cricket of my life."Head coach Rahul Dravid echoed Rohit's sentiments, praising the skipper's exceptional leadership and ability to bail the team out of difficult situations. "Rohit Sharma has been exceptional in this series," Dravid said. "In Rajkot, when we were 3 down inside the first hour, we needed someone to get us that hundred. In Ranchi also, he batted amazingly."Rohit also highlighted the importance of nurturing young players, especially in the absence of senior stars. "When you win a Test, everything has to fall into place," he said. "Lot of things we did right through the match. [Absent stars] At some stage, people are going to go, we know that. All these guys are short on experience but they've played a lot of cricket. We have got to nurture them and make them understand the game.""When put under pressure, they responded pretty well," Rohit added. "Credit goes to the entire team for that. We talk about scoring runs, but it is as important to take 20 wickets to win the Test match. Everyone, all the bowlers came and responded. They wanted to make a difference with the ball in hand."

Tim Southee, a veteran New Zealand bowler, finds himself in a solitary predicament as the team prepares for the second Test against England. With just two days remaining before the match, Southee was the only player on the Hagley Oval field, running shuttles alone.This week marks a significant milestone for Southee and his teammate Kane Williamson, who will both play their 100th Tests together. However, for Southee, the occasion is tinged with a sense of pressure and introspection.New Zealand is trailing 1-0 in the two-Test series, and Southee's recent Test record has come under scrutiny. Former captain Ross Taylor has criticized Southee's performance, highlighting his lack of wickets.Southee acknowledges his struggles and is determined to improve. "I haven't got the wickets I would have liked," he said. "I still feel like there's more to it. I have probably not been where I should be as the most experienced bowler seamer in the side."Despite his recent setbacks, Southee remains confident in his abilities. He has worked with stand-in bowling coach Kyle Mills to identify areas for improvement. "I've felt okay at times," Southee said. "Sometimes you feel good and you don't get the wickets. I think it's just about trusting your game."Southee's longevity and adaptability are remarkable. He is the first bowler to play 100 internationals in each format. His desire to evolve remains strong, as evidenced by his solo training session."The desire to train, to work hard away from the game is still there," Southee said. "I still wake up every morning hoping to go out there and do people proud and put performances on the board."Southee's solitary figure on the field serves as a reminder of the pressure and expectations that come with representing his country. He and New Zealand will hope that he can rediscover his form and contribute to a successful week.

Rajat Patidar's underwhelming debut series against England has sparked speculation about his future in the Indian Test team. With just 63 runs in three matches, the middle-order batter has failed to live up to expectations. However, despite Patidar's struggles, South African legend AB de Villiers believes the Indian team will give him a longer rope.De Villiers, who played alongside Patidar in the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise, praised the Indian team's culture of supporting players through lean patches. He pointed out that India's strong performances in the series have created a buffer for Patidar, allowing him to survive despite his lack of runs."Rajat Patidar not having the series of a lifetime or the one to remember. But the good thing about this Indian team and the culture is that you will survive in that side because of the great cricket they are playing and the results coming their way," de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.De Villiers also highlighted Patidar's positive attitude and likability as factors that could influence the team management's decision to retain him. "If Patidar's attitude is catchy and if he is a likable character in the dressing room, Rohit and the selection panel will have the ability to say, 'Hold on, we do believe this guy has a future and we see him as a part of the team moving forward. Even though he hasn't been scoring runs, let's give him a longer run'," said the former South Africa captain.Former India opener Aakash Chopra also weighed in on Patidar's inclusion for the final Test, predicting his inclusion in the XI. "I think Rajat Patidar will play the fifth Test match. I think he will get another chance," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.The fifth and final India-England Test begins from March 7. Patidar will be hoping to make a significant contribution and prove his worth to the Indian team.