Cricket

Gautam Gambhir's tenure as Team India's head coach has hit a roadblock, with the team suffering a series loss in Sri Lanka and a clean sweep at home against New Zealand in Tests. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly considering a change in leadership if India fails to perform in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.Gambhir's appointment as head coach came after a successful stint with Kolkata Knight Riders, where he led the team to a title victory. However, his tenure with the national team has been marked by disappointing results. The ODI series loss in Sri Lanka was followed by a humiliating 0-3 defeat against New Zealand in the Test series at home.The BCCI is reportedly considering replacing Gambhir as Test coach with a specialist like VVS Laxman, while retaining him for white-ball cricket. This decision would be based on India's performance in Australia.According to reports, Gambhir and the team's think-tank have had disagreements over team selection and other decisions. These differences have reportedly created a rift within the team, which could impact their performance in the upcoming series.Gambhir recently met with BCCI selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar and India's ODI and Test skipper Rohit Sharma to discuss the team's recent performances. The meeting reportedly focused on the factors that contributed to the Test series loss against New Zealand.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia will be a crucial test for Gambhir's future as Test coach. If India fails to perform, the BCCI may be forced to make a change in leadership.

Australia's head coach, Andrew McDonald, has secured a contract extension until the end of 2027. This extension will see him lead the team through the defense of their ODI World Cup title in 2027 and the next cycle of the World Test Championship.McDonald's initial appointment in 2022 was for a four-year term, which would have taken him to early 2026. The extension adds two more years to his tenure, ensuring his guidance through a crucial period for Australian cricket.During his tenure, McDonald has overseen significant success for the men's team, including the 2023 ODI World Cup and World Test Championship titles. The extension provides him with the opportunity to achieve further milestones, such as Test series victories in India and England, which have proven elusive in recent years.McDonald's leadership has been instrumental in fostering a positive and inclusive culture within the team. He has praised the professionalism and commitment of his fellow coaches and staff, crediting them for creating a successful and unified environment."I am very fortunate to have an exceptional group of leaders, players, coaches, and staff who are fully invested in the ongoing well-being, success, and development of this group," McDonald said.Australia is currently vying for a spot in next year's WTC final at Lord's. The upcoming India series will be pivotal in their qualification prospects. Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins has expressed his willingness to extend his tenure, potentially allowing him to continue working alongside McDonald until 2027.Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley lauded McDonald's contributions, stating, "Andrew has proven to be an outstanding men's head coach who as well as delivering exceptional results has built a strong coaching team, methodology, and an excellent environment for the team to perform at its best."

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club has appointed former Australian coach Darren Lehmann as their new head coach on a two-year contract. Lehmann, 54, will take over from John Sadler, who departed in September after the team's Vitality Blast quarter-final defeat.Lehmann, a highly experienced coach, has a proven track record of success. He guided Australia to victory in the 2013-14 Ashes series and led Brisbane Heat to the Big Bash League title in 2012-13. He also served as assistant coach for Brisbane Heat's recent BBL triumph.Lehmann's appointment is a significant coup for Northamptonshire, who finished fourth in Division Two of the County Championship last season. The club is eager to return to Division One and challenge for major honors.Lehmann's coaching philosophy emphasizes player development and creating a positive team environment. He believes in fostering a culture of hard work, dedication, and accountability."Northamptonshire has a great history in our game, and I am looking forward to meeting the players and learning about the club and its past," Lehmann said. "The selling point for me is a group that wants to get better and follow their and the club's dreams, create memories, and play at the highest level possible."Lehmann's arrival is expected to boost Northamptonshire's chances of success. His experience and expertise will be invaluable as the team looks to improve its performances and achieve its goals.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Terminates Chandika Hathurusinghe as Head CoachTwo days after suspending Chandika Hathurusinghe, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has terminated his contract as the national team's head coach. The decision was made on the grounds of misconduct and breach of employment terms.BCB President Faruque Ahmed revealed that Hathurusinghe had assaulted a Bangladesh cricketer and taken more leaves than stipulated in his contract. The board issued a show-cause notice to Hathurusinghe, seeking an explanation for these alleged offenses.Hathurusinghe responded to the notice, prompting an emergency board meeting to review the situation. After careful consideration, the BCB deemed Hathurusinghe's explanation unsatisfactory and unacceptable, finding his actions consistent with misconduct and dereliction of duty."His termination comes into immediate effect," a BCB release stated.This marks the end of Hathurusinghe's second stint as Bangladesh coach, despite his contract extending until January 2023. During this tenure, Bangladesh achieved a historic Test series victory in Pakistan. However, the team's performances in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup were disappointing.Phil Simmons has been appointed as the new head coach until the Champions Trophy in February 2025.

Mahela Jayawardene Returns as Mumbai Indians Head CoachFormer Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene has been reappointed as the head coach of the Mumbai Indians franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Jayawardene previously held the position from 2017 to 2022, leading the team to three IPL titles.After stepping down as head coach, Jayawardene took on the role of Global Head of Cricket for the Mumbai Indians, overseeing the franchise's cricketing operations across all levels. However, he has now returned to the helm of the IPL team, replacing Mark Boucher, who left the position after the 2023 season.Jayawardene expressed his excitement about his return to the Mumbai Indians, saying, "My journey within the MI family has always been one of evolution. In 2017, the focus was on bringing together a talented group of individuals to play the best cricket ever and we did very well. Now to return, at the same moment in history, where we look ahead at the future and the opportunity to further strengthen the love of MI, build on the vision of the owners, and continue to add to the history of Mumbai Indians, is an exciting challenge I am looking forward to."Jayawardene's return to the Mumbai Indians is expected to bring stability and experience to the franchise. He is known for his astute tactical acumen and ability to get the best out of his players. Under his leadership, the Mumbai Indians have consistently been one of the most successful teams in the IPL, winning the title in 2017, 2019, and 2020.The Mumbai Indians will be hoping that Jayawardene can help them regain their dominance in the IPL. The team has struggled in recent seasons, failing to qualify for the playoffs in the last two editions. Jayawardene's experience and leadership will be crucial in guiding the Mumbai Indians back to the top of the IPL standings.

Somerset County Cricket Club has appointed Trevor Griffin as the inaugural head coach of their newly established women's team. Griffin, a highly experienced coach with a proven track record of success, has signed a two-year deal with the club.Griffin's coaching journey began with the Devon Cricket Board and Chance to Shine, before he joined the University of Exeter as a cricket development officer. He then worked for Canterbury Cricket in New Zealand before returning to England to take up the role of analyst and assistant coach at Western Storm.In 2017, Griffin was promoted to head coach of Western Storm, leading the team to two Kia Super League titles in 2017 and 2019. He subsequently coached Sunrisers and London Spirit in The Hundred, and also had a successful four-season spell in charge of Sydney Thunder in the WBBL.Griffin's appointment marks a significant step in Somerset's commitment to developing women's cricket in the southwest region. The club has a long history of supporting women's cricket, and Griffin's expertise and experience will be invaluable in building a competitive team that can challenge for top honors."I'm absolutely thrilled to be the first Head Coach of Somerset Women," said Griffin. "Women's cricket is growing rapidly, and I'm excited to lead this team into a new era. We have a great opportunity to build on the strong foundations that have been laid in the southwest, and I'm confident that we can create a team that will inspire the next generation of players."Somerset director of cricket, Andy Hurry, said: "Trevor is a highly respected coach with a wealth of experience. He has a deep understanding of the women's game and a proven ability to develop players and teams. We are delighted to have him on board, and we believe he is the ideal person to lead our women's team into the future."Griffin will oversee the reintegration of women's cricket into the county game at Taunton, working closely with the club's staff and players to build a squad that can compete at the highest level.

Yorkshire County Cricket Club has appointed Anthony McGrath as their new men's head coach on a five-year deal. McGrath, a former England all-rounder and Yorkshire academy graduate, returns to his home county after a successful stint as director of cricket at Essex.McGrath's coaching career began at Yorkshire following his retirement in 2013. He then moved to Essex in 2014 as assistant coach to Chris Silverwood. Under McGrath's guidance, Essex earned promotion to Division One in 2016 and won the County Championship title the following year.When Silverwood left to become England head coach, McGrath was promoted to head coach. He led Essex to a Championship and T20 Blast double in 2019, followed by the Bob Willis Trophy in 2020. In the 2023 season, Essex finished second in Division One and were beaten finalists in the Blast.McGrath inherits a Yorkshire team that has returned to Division One after relegation in 2022. The club was also docked 48 points in the 2023 season for its handling of the racism scandal involving former player Azeem Rafiq.McGrath's remit will be to improve the performance and management of the men's first team. He will officially start his role on November 1."It is a great honor to be appointed Head Coach of Yorkshire Cricket's Men's team," McGrath said. "I know the history of this great club and the passion of the members and supporters, and I am absolutely determined to develop a team capable of delivering the success they deserve."Essex captain Tom Westley praised McGrath as "one of the most influential figures I have come across during my career."Yorkshire's interim CEO, Sanjay Patel, said: "We're delighted to appoint Anthony as Head Coach. During the past nine years with Essex, Anthony has proved himself to be one of the most exciting and successful coaches in English cricket."

Sanath Jayasuriya, the legendary Sri Lankan cricketer, has been appointed as the permanent head coach of the Sri Lankan men's cricket team until the conclusion of the 2026 T20 World Cup. This decision comes after Jayasuriya's impressive performance as interim coach since early July.Under Jayasuriya's guidance, Sri Lanka has achieved significant victories in recent months. They secured their first bilateral ODI series win against India in 27 years, defeated England in a Test match away from home for the first time in a decade, and whitewashed New Zealand 2-0 in home Tests. These results have boosted Sri Lanka's chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship final.Sri Lanka Cricket's Executive Committee stated that Jayasuriya's appointment was based on the team's strong performances under his interim leadership. This is Jayasuriya's first major coaching role, and he has emphasized the importance of creating an environment where players feel free to express themselves.Jayasuriya's previous involvement with the Sri Lankan team was as chief selector, a position he held twice. However, he was banned for two years by the ICC for violating its anti-corruption code.Jayasuriya's first assignment as head coach will be the upcoming limited-overs matches against West Indies in Dambulla and Pallekele. The team will be looking to continue their winning ways under his leadership and secure a spot in the World Test Championship final.

Ravichandran Ashwin, the veteran Indian all-rounder, has heaped praise on Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir, the former and current head coaches of the Indian cricket team, respectively. Ashwin, who has played under both Dravid and Gambhir, believes that their passion for Indian cricket is "palpable."Dravid, who took over as head coach in 2021, guided India to its maiden ICC T20 World Cup title earlier this year. Under his leadership, India also achieved notable victories in Test series against England, Australia, and Bangladesh.Gambhir, who succeeded Dravid as head coach in 2023, has had a mixed start to his tenure. India won the T20I series against Sri Lanka but suffered an unprecedented ODI series defeat to the same opposition. However, they bounced back to complete a Test series sweep over Bangladesh.Ashwin, who has witnessed the transition from Dravid to Gambhir, believes that there is no significant difference in their approach or passion for Indian cricket. "I don't see huge differences in how they approach the game or the passion they have for Indian cricket," Ashwin said. "Their passion is at the highest level."Ashwin also praised Dravid and Gambhir for their knowledge and love for the game. "They bring an incredible amount of love to that dressing room," he said. "To have them pass on their knowledge, it's like having two cricketing geeks to talk cricket with."The new era of Indian cricket under Gambhir has begun with a mixed bag of results. India will now shift its focus to the T20I format for the three-match series against Bangladesh, followed by a three-match Test series against New Zealand.