Cricket

South Africa's women's cricket team has appointed Laura Wolvaardt as captain for their upcoming tour of India, which begins on June 16. Wolvaardt will lead the team in both Test and ODI formats.The tour will commence with three ODIs in Bengaluru, followed by a one-off Test and T20Is in Chennai. The squad for the T20Is will be announced later.South Africa will be without the services of experienced players Lara Goodall (hamstring injury), Chloe Tryon (back), and Ayanda Hlubi (groin), who are currently recovering from injuries. However, they may be included in the T20I side.Interim coach Dillon du Preez emphasized the importance of negating Indian spinners during the tour. "We had big focus on options against spin and it was good to see the buy-in from the team," he said.Du Preez also urged the team to remain calm under pressure. "The key for us would be to assess the conditions as soon as possible, be calm under pressure and try and play key moments in the game better than the opposition," he added.South Africa's Test/ODI squad for the India tour:* Laura Wolvaardt (c)* Anneke Bosch* Tazmin Brits* Nadine de Klerk* Annerie Dercksen* Mieke de Ridder* Sinalo Jafta* Marizanne Kapp* Ayabonga Khaka* Masabata Klaas* Sune Luus* Eliz-Mari Marx* Nonkululeko Mlaba* Tumi Sekhukhune* Nondumiso Shangase* Delmi Tucker

India's T20 World Cup Preparations Intensify with Warm-Up Match Against BangladeshAs the countdown to the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2024 draws near, the Indian cricket team has arrived in New York to acclimatize to the conditions and fine-tune their preparations. Skipper Rohit Sharma emphasized the importance of getting used to the pitch and conditions ahead of their tournament opener against Ireland on June 5.India's lone warm-up match before the marquee event will be against Bangladesh on June 1. This game will provide the team with a crucial opportunity to test the nature of the pitch and overall conditions. It is also significant because India's matches will start at 10.30 AM local time, requiring the players to adjust to day-time matches after playing under lights in the IPL for the past two months."We're looking to understand the conditions more importantly (before the tournament proper) as we haven't been here before," Rohit told ICC. He stressed the need for his side to get into a "rhythm" before the real action starts, using this warm-up match as a springboard.The challenge for the Indians will be to adapt to the drop-in turf, something they don't encounter often in international cricket. "It's just about getting into that rhythm of getting the feel of the ground, pitch and stuff like that," Rohit said.Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto also expressed his excitement about the warm-up match, despite Bangladesh's recent shocking series defeat against the USA. He praised the excellent construction of the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, noting that it looks "crazy" and "feels great."The warm-up match is expected to draw a large crowd, as fans in New York are eager to witness the World Cup action. Rohit expressed his hope that the stadium will be packed for their matches. "People in New York will be very interested in coming and watching the World Cup, as it is happening for the first time here," he said.

India's decision to field four spinners in their T20 World Cup squad has sparked debate, with skipper Rohit Sharma defending the strategy as part of a well-thought-out plan. The inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal as wrist-spinners, along with Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel as left-arm spinners, has raised questions about the team's balance.Former Australian captain Michael Clarke believes India's spin-heavy approach could be a game-changer. "I think India have taken a risk with the squad they have picked, but in the conditions I have played in the Caribbean, how you play spin is going to be a huge part of whether you succeed or not," Clarke said on ESPN.Clarke also highlighted India's status as favorites due to their extensive match preparation. "If you look at the favorites for the World Cup, it's got to be India just because of the amount of cricket they have played," he added.The decision to prioritize spin reflects India's belief in the effectiveness of slow bowling in the Caribbean conditions. The pitches in the region are typically slow and low, providing assistance to spinners. Additionally, the presence of four spinners allows India to rotate their bowlers and maintain pressure on the opposition.However, some critics argue that the inclusion of four spinners could leave India vulnerable to pace-heavy attacks. The absence of a genuine fast bowler in the squad could be a concern, especially against teams with strong batting lineups.Despite the differing opinions, India's decision to field four spinners is a bold move that could pay dividends in the Caribbean conditions. The team's success will ultimately depend on the ability of their spinners to control the opposition's scoring rate and create wicket-taking opportunities.

The 2024 Men's T20 World Cup is set to make history as it ventures into the United States for the first time. The tournament, scheduled to commence on June 2, will feature 20 teams vying for the coveted title.India, led by star players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, will kick off their campaign at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on June 9. They will face Pakistan in a highly anticipated clash, followed by matches against Ireland and the United States. India's final group game against Canada will take place at the Central Broward Park in Florida.The tournament will also mark the first time the West Indies has hosted a Men's T20 World Cup since 2010. Nine stadiums across the Caribbean and three in the USA will host the matches.However, two iconic Caribbean stadiums, Sabina Park in Jamaica and Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad, will not be part of the tournament due to high costs. Instead, the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad will host one of the semi-finals.The other semi-final will be played at Guyana's Providence Stadium, while the final will take place at the 28,000-seater Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 29.

India, the inaugural T20 World Cup champions, maintain their dominance at the top of the ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings ahead of the upcoming tournament. With 264 rating points, India leads the pack, followed by Australia (257 points) and defending champions England (254 points).The West Indies, two-time winners, have surged to fourth position with 252 points, buoyed by their recent 3-0 series victory over South Africa. This triumph has pushed South Africa down to seventh place. New Zealand sits at fifth with 250 points, while Pakistan and South Africa are tied at 244 points, with Pakistan holding a slight edge.Individual performances have also been noteworthy. West Indies opener Brandon King has climbed to eighth position in the batting rankings after amassing 159 runs in the recent home series. Johnson Charles, named Player of the Match in the third T20I, has jumped 17 places to 20th. Kyle Mayers has moved up 12 places to 31st, and left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie has soared 84 places to 27th after taking eight wickets.In the latest weekly update, England captain Jos Buttler has moved up to seventh position, while Jonny Bairstow has risen eight places to 36th. Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has advanced from 57th to 51st. In the bowling rankings, Shaheen Afridi has ascended three places to 11th, and Imad Wasim has climbed 14 places to 38th.For the USA, Steven Taylor has made significant progress, advancing 28 places to 109th in the batting rankings. Bangladesh's Rishad Hussain has moved up 38 places to 52nd in the bowling rankings.As the T20 World Cup approaches, these rankings provide a snapshot of the teams and players to watch. India's dominance, the West Indies' resurgence, and the individual brilliance on display promise an exciting tournament.

Virat Kohli, the former Indian skipper and one of the most prolific batsmen in the world, is gearing up for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup. In a recent interview, Kohli shared his thoughts on his journey leading up to the tournament and reflected on his emotions prior to his World Cup debut against Bangladesh in 2011.Kohli's debut performance was nothing short of spectacular. He formed a formidable 203-run partnership with Virender Sehwag, becoming the first and only Indian player to achieve a century in their World Cup debut match. His unbeaten 100 runs off 83 deliveries propelled Team India to a total of 370, ultimately securing an impressive 87-run victory."It was against Bangladesh in Dhaka, my first game and I was nervous. Yes, I will not lie. There is a different sense of excitement in the air when you come for a World Cup and I could obviously sense that. I was the youngest member of that team and I was getting to play with all these greats of Indian cricket in a World Cup game," Kohli said on Star Sports."For me it was definitely a moment where I was a bit nervous heading into the game and definitely the night before I was quite nervous but that is a good sign as well because your body is preparing you to enter a situation where you're alert, you're not taking things for granted. I think that nervousness helped me to be aware, be alert and be absolutely precise in the execution of my plans," he added.Kohli has been one of the best batsmen in all formats but his T20 World Cup exploits are second to none. He is the leading run scorer in the history of the tournament having scored 1141 runs in 25 innings taking his average to be an unbelievable 81.50.India will face Bangladesh in a warm-up game on June 1 as a part of their preparation in the T20 World Cup set to be held in the USA and West Indies.

The 2024 T20 World Cup, the ninth edition of the prestigious ICC event, is set to captivate cricket enthusiasts worldwide. Jointly hosted by the United States and the Caribbean islands, the tournament promises thrilling matches and intense competition.Teams and Format:The tournament will feature 20 teams, an increase from the 16 that participated in the previous edition. The teams have been divided into four groups of five each:* Group A: India, Pakistan, USA, Ireland, Canada* Group B: England, Australia, Namibia, Scotland, Oman* Group C: West Indies, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Uganda, Papua New Guinea* Group D: South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Netherlands, NepalIn the initial group stage, each team will play against the other teams in their group once. The top two teams from each group will advance to the "Super 8s" stage, while the remaining three teams will be eliminated.The "Super 8s" stage will see the eight qualified teams divided into two groups of four each. Again, each team will play against the other teams in their group once. The top two teams from each group will reach the semi-finals, and the winners of the semi-finals will qualify for the final.India's Fixtures:India, one of the tournament favorites, will face the following opponents in the group stage:* Ireland (June 5, New York)* Pakistan (June 9, New York)* USA (June 12, New York)* Canada (June 15, Florida)Warm-Up Fixtures and Playing Conditions:Seventeen teams will participate in warm-up games scheduled from May 27 to June 1. Teams can utilize all 15 members of their squad in these matches. India's only warm-up game is against Bangladesh on June 1.Tied games will be decided by a "Super Over." If the "Super Over" also results in a tie, it will continue to follow "Super Overs" until a winner can be decided.Only the first semi-final has a reserve day, in addition to 60 minutes of extra time to finish the match on June 26 itself. If not, the game moves to June 27. There will be 250 additional minutes available to finish the second semifinal on the scheduled day (June 27) itself. For the final on June 29, there is a reserve day in place on June 30.

The highly anticipated T20 World Cup is set to commence on June 2nd, with experts predicting a thrilling final between India and Australia. This would be a rematch of the 2019 ODI World Cup final, where Australia emerged victorious.According to cricket experts from Star Sports, India and Australia are the frontrunners to reach the summit clash on June 29th. Former India pacer Sreesanth expressed his belief that India will avenge their ODI World Cup defeat and claim their second T20 crown. Sreesanth was a crucial member of the 2007 T20 World Cup-winning team under MS Dhoni.The tournament will be co-hosted by the USA and West Indies from June 2nd to 29th. India has been placed in Group B alongside Pakistan, Ireland, USA, and Canada. Their campaign begins on June 5th against Ireland in New York, followed by the highly anticipated clash with Pakistan on June 9th at the same venue.Other experts who shared their predictions include Brian Lara, Sunil Gavaskar, Paul Collingwood, Chris Morris, and Matthew Hayden. They all agreed that India and Australia possess the strongest squads and are the favorites to reach the final.India will be eager to prove their dominance in the shortest format of the game, while Australia will be looking to defend their title and extend their reign as T20 World Champions. The tournament promises to deliver high-octane action and intense rivalry, with the best teams in the world vying for the coveted trophy.

The search for India's next men's cricket head coach is underway, but one prominent name, MS Dhoni, is ineligible for the role. The BCCI requires applicants to be retired from all forms of cricket, and Dhoni continues to play in the IPL for the Chennai Super Kings.Despite his retirement from international cricket in 2020, Dhoni's popularity and experience have made him a popular choice among fans. However, his IPL involvement disqualifies him from the head coach position.Dhoni's potential involvement with the team remains open. He previously mentored India during the 2021 T20 World Cup, and there are no indications that he will retire after the 2024 IPL season.The BCCI received over 3,000 applications for the head coach position, including some hoax applications. The final list of candidates has not been disclosed.Among the potential candidates mentioned in the media are Gautam Gambhir, Stephen Fleming, and Ricky Ponting. However, the BCCI has not confirmed any names.