Cricket

New Zealand's cricketers have enjoyed a remarkable week, with both the men's and women's teams achieving historic victories. The men's team secured their first Test match win in India in 36 years, while the women's team triumphed in the T20 World Cup for the first time ever.The women's victory was particularly impressive, as they overcame the host nation India in the final. The Indian team had begun their campaign with a loss to New Zealand, which ultimately proved costly as the Kiwis edged past them in the group stage and advanced to the semifinals.Harmanpreet Kaur's Indian team now has a chance for immediate revenge, as they face New Zealand in the first of a three-match ODI series on Thursday. The Indian women will be eager to settle the score from the T20 World Cup, where they were thrashed 4-1 by the White Ferns.Amelia Kerr was the star of that series win for New Zealand, plundering 353 runs at an average of 117.66. She will be a key player for the Kiwis once again, along with captain Sophie Devine and veteran Suzie Bates.The Indian bowlers will have their work cut out for them, as they face a formidable New Zealand batting lineup. Renuka Singh, Radha Yadav, and Deepti Sharma will need to be at their best to contain the likes of Kerr, Devine, and Bates.In the men's Test match, New Zealand's victory was built on a solid batting performance. Tom Latham and Devon Conway both scored centuries, while Daryl Mitchell and Henry Nicholls made valuable contributions. The bowlers also played their part, with Tim Southee and Trent Boult taking seven wickets each.The victory was a significant achievement for New Zealand, as it ended India's long unbeaten streak at home. It also gave the Kiwis a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, with the second Test scheduled to begin on November 25.

India vs Oman Live Score: India A Squad Dominates Group BIndia's A squad has emerged as a formidable force in the Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, securing two consecutive victories in Group B. With their sights set on the semifinals, India will face minnows Oman in their final group stage encounter.The Indian squad boasts a talented roster, including Prabhsimran Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (captain), Nehal Wadhera, Ayush Badoni, Ramandeep Singh, Nishant Sindhu, Anshul Kamboj, Rahul Chahar, Rasikh Dar Salam, Vaibhav Arora, Aaqib Khan, Hrithik Shokeen, Anuj Rawat, and Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore.India's dominance in the tournament has been evident in their impressive performances. In their opening match, they outplayed Bangladesh by 37 runs, showcasing their batting prowess and disciplined bowling. Their second victory came against Afghanistan, where they chased down a challenging target of 166 with ease, thanks to a brilliant century from Prabhsimran Singh.Oman, on the other hand, has faced a more challenging path in the tournament. They suffered a narrow defeat to Bangladesh in their first match and were outplayed by Afghanistan in their second. However, they remain determined to make an impact in their final group game against India.The match between India and Oman promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams eager to secure a victory. India will be looking to maintain their unbeaten streak and solidify their position as one of the favorites for the title. Oman, meanwhile, will be aiming to upset the odds and prove their worth on the international stage.

New Zealand's skipper Tom Latham has emphasized the team's adaptability and focus on utilizing their bowling options effectively in the upcoming second Test against India. Despite their historic eight-wicket victory in the opening Test in Bengaluru, Latham stressed the importance of not having preconceived notions about the pitch conditions."We're trying to adapt as quickly as we can," Latham stated. "If it's a wicket that turns a little bit more, we've got four spinners in our line-up, but it's also about trying not to go into the game with too many preconceived ideas."Latham acknowledged that he has considered how to best utilize the team's spinners, including Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, and Glenn Phillips. He emphasized the need to gather information from previous matches and practice wickets to prepare for the conditions.Despite their impressive victory in Bengaluru, Latham emphasized that the team is not resting on its laurels. "We celebrated what was a special performance, but our attention has turned quickly to this game," he said. "We're trying to take the confidence from last week and take that into this game."Latham also addressed his lack of big scores, stating that his focus is on contributing to the team's success. "I've certainly been working hard behind the scenes to get my game where I want it to be," he said. "As a batsman, it's a really fine line."Latham praised Rachin Ravindra's approach in the first Test, highlighting his ability to balance attack and defense. "The way he played throughout that whole innings was outstanding," Latham said. "He put the foot down a little bit, played a little bit more attacking at certain stages, and then obviously sucked up a little bit of pressure at times as well."Regarding Kane Williamson's absence, Latham stated that he is working closely with the medical team. "It's a day-by-day thing with Kane," he said. "Hopefully, we'll find out a little bit more after the Test."

Former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee has issued a stern warning to his countrymen ahead of their upcoming Test series against India, describing the Asian giants as a "powerhouse that don't want to bow down" to anyone.Lee's comments come in the wake of India's eight-wicket defeat to New Zealand in the Bengaluru Test earlier this week. Despite the setback, Lee believes that India remains a formidable force in world cricket."This day and age, India is a powerhouse that don't want to bow down. They know how to win, and they know they can beat Australia; they know they can beat the Kiwis. They know they can beat anyone on any given day," Lee told 'Fox Cricket'.Lee suggested that India's recent performance against New Zealand may have been influenced by the aggressive approach adopted by England under Brendon McCullum, known as 'Bazball'."India just didn't go into their shell. Maybe it's Bazball brushing off on other cricketers around the world," he noted. "I know that India won't be proud of the way they played. They played some pretty loose shots."India's batting woes in the Bengaluru Test were evident in their first innings, where they were bowled out for a paltry 46 runs, their lowest Test score at home. Lee believes that the team needs to assess conditions more accurately and make better decisions."But, you've got to weigh up the risk factor as well. There are times when you've got to go, 'Okay, well, maybe the big shots aren't working today'. Maybe, just rein it in a little bit. I don't think they sort of summed up the conditions as quickly as what they should have done," Lee said.Before departing for Australia, India will play two more Test matches against New Zealand in Pune (October 24-28) and Mumbai (November 1-5). These matches will provide the team with an opportunity to fine-tune their preparations for the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

India's head coach Gautam Gambhir has expressed his unwavering support for under-fire batter K.L. Rahul, emphasizing that the team management's opinion holds more weight than social media criticism. Rahul's recent struggles, including a duck in the first innings and a meager 12 in the second innings of the opening Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, have drawn widespread criticism.However, Gambhir remains confident in Rahul's abilities, stating that "social media does not matter one bit." He highlighted Rahul's impressive knock of 68 in the first innings of the Kanpur Test against Bangladesh as evidence of his batting prowess. "He is batting really well," Gambhir asserted. "He has capability of scoring runs. That's why he has been backed by the team."Despite Gambhir's support, Rahul's place in the team is under scrutiny following Sarfaraz Khan's maiden century in the first Test. Khan's performance has made the competition for batting spots more intense, and Rahul will need to deliver in the second match to retain his place.New Zealand currently holds a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after their eight-wicket victory in Bengaluru. The defeat was a humbling experience for India, who had previously swept Bangladesh 2-0, including a rain-affected victory in Kanpur."Cricket, sports are a big leveller," Gambhir said of the Bengaluru loss. "If we have enjoyed days like Kanpur we had to endure what happened in Bengaluru. We didn't show any intention to bat out the remainder of the two and a half days."India's batting collapse in Bengaluru, where they were dismissed for a record-low 46 in the first innings, has raised concerns about the team's ability to compete against a strong New Zealand side. Gambhir acknowledged the need for improvement, stating that "everyone is judged. International cricket is all about being judged."

Australia's search for a Test opener against India has taken an unexpected turn, with New South Wales coach Greg Shipperd suggesting that white-ball wicketkeeper Josh Inglis should be considered alongside prodigy Sam Konstas.Inglis, 29, has been in impressive form in the Sheffield Shield this season, scoring two centuries and averaging over 50. Despite never having opened in first-class cricket, Shipperd believes Inglis' aggressive style and international experience make him a viable candidate."I'd have Inglis and Konstas in the conversation as one-two, two-one, and let the Australian selectors mull over those two," Shipperd said. "His performances for Australia have been first-class, and I think they're looking for a style of player at the top of the order, and Inglis may fit that brief."However, Inglis' lack of experience as an opener remains a concern. He has only batted above No. 6 in first-class cricket, and his highest score in that position is 122.Konstas, on the other hand, has shown promise as an opener, becoming the third-youngest player to score twin centuries in a Shield game. Shipperd believes Konstas has the skills and temperament to succeed at the highest level."He's really poised and balanced. Anytime you get through the first 25 overs of a Victorian attack with a new ball that shows you've got something," Shipperd said.Despite Konstas' impressive start, Shipperd acknowledges that he may benefit from more time in Shield cricket before making his Test debut."I'm not sure. That's a very good question, though," Shipperd said. "Yes, he was made to wait. So whether that made him or he was already made anyway, because he was scoring multiple hundreds across the course of that journey between him not being selected and then finally selected, I think at around 21.""But Sam, I do see a lot of that skill level and that poise at the crease, shots on both sides of the wicket, in front of the wicket, behind the wicket. I think he's got what it takes."The Australian selectors will have a tough decision to make when choosing their openers for the first Test against India. Inglis' experience and aggressive style could be a valuable asset, while Konstas' potential and impressive start in Shield cricket make him an intriguing option.

Pune is preparing a unique pitch for the second Test against New Zealand, aiming to neutralize the visitors' seamers who secured their first Test win in India in 36 years in Bengaluru. The pitch is expected to be bald, low-bounce, and made of black soil, a departure from the usual surfaces in India.However, New Zealand batsman Daryl Mitchell remains unfazed by the potential changes. He emphasizes the team's adaptability and resilience, stating that they cannot alter the surface and must react to the conditions. Mitchell acknowledges that he has been searching for form, but he remains confident in his ability to contribute to the team's success.With Kane Williamson still unavailable due to a groin strain, Will Young is expected to retain his spot at No. 3. He played a crucial role in New Zealand's chase in Bengaluru, forming an unbeaten 75-run partnership with Rachin Ravindra. Mitchell also praises the seamless transition of Young and Ravindra into the international setup.Another standout performer for New Zealand in the first Test was Will O'Rourke, who made his Test debut in India and impressed with a match haul of seven wickets. Mitchell highlights O'Rourke's height, release point, and ability to move the ball both ways as factors that make him a challenging bowler to face.Despite the potential challenges posed by the Pune pitch, Mitchell remains optimistic about New Zealand's chances. He believes the team will devise a plan to take 20 wickets and score enough runs to secure a positive result.

India's humiliating 46-all out collapse in the first Test against New Zealand has sparked severe criticism from former cricketer Manoj Tiwary. Tiwary lambasted the team's selection and decision-making, particularly the bizarre choice to bat despite a rain-washed day.Tiwary questioned the logic behind captain Rohit Sharma's decision, emphasizing that common sense should have prevailed. He argued that the team should have opted for three pacers and given more overs to Ravichandran Ashwin, who has over 500 Test wickets.Tiwary also criticized coach Gautam Gambhir for failing to guide Sharma in his selection process. He pointed out that Sharma himself admitted to misreading the pitch, which could have been avoided with proper guidance."Good captains make mistakes, but the coach's role is crucial in providing constant guidance," Tiwary said. "I don't know why that didn't happen."Tiwary expressed concern about the impact on pacer Akash Deep, who was dropped from the XI after an impressive performance in the Bangladesh series. He suggested that Deep's confidence may have been shattered by the decision.With two Tests remaining in the series, Tiwary urged India to make a comeback. He emphasized the need for better decision-making and a more balanced approach to team selection.

India's men's cricket team faces an uphill battle in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, trailing 0-1 after the first match. The focus now shifts to the second Test, scheduled to be played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.The pitch at the MCA Stadium has been under scrutiny, with concerns raised about its potential to favor spin bowling. India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, inspected the surface and engaged in discussions with the curators. The pitch is expected to be a turner, similar to the one used in the first Test against Australia in 2017, which proved challenging for India.New Zealand's batting mainstay, Daryl Mitchell, acknowledged the potential challenges posed by the pitch but expressed confidence in his team's ability to adapt. "We can't change the surface. For us, it's reacting to what's coming at us and adapting on the fly," Mitchell said.India's fielding coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, assured that the team will not repeat the mistakes made in the first Test in Bengaluru, where they misread the conditions. "I don't think it was a massive miss. The conditions just caught us on the back foot a little," Doeschate said.The second Test promises to be a crucial encounter for both teams. India will be desperate to level the series, while New Zealand will aim to consolidate their lead. The pitch conditions will play a significant role in determining the outcome of the match.