Cricket

South Africa's captain, Laura Wolvaardt, has expressed concerns about the spin-friendly conditions they anticipate for the upcoming one-off Test against India, beginning on Friday."We've been facing a lot of spin in the nets, preparing for a spin-friendly wicket," Wolvaardt said. "India has a significant home ground advantage, and winning a Test in India is extremely challenging."The South African team has been practicing extensively against spin bowlers in the nets, with opener Tazmin Brits facing only spin during her recent net session. Brits was observed going down the pitch and even playing a reverse-sweep.Wolvaardt emphasized the threat posed by India's spinners, particularly as the match progresses. "Their spinners will be our biggest challenge, especially as the match goes on," she said. "During yesterday's net session, the ball was staying low and turning quite a bit."South Africa recognizes the importance of adapting to the conditions and countering India's spin attack. "We've been facing a lot of spin in the nets the last few days," Wolvaardt said. "I think that'll probably be the biggest threat — their spinners."The South African team is aware of the challenges they face in India, but they remain determined to perform well. "I think this Test will be a huge challenge for us," Wolvaardt said. "Hopefully, we're able to adapt to the conditions well."

India's captain Rohit Sharma delivered a masterful performance, leading his team to a decisive 24-run victory over Australia in their final Super Eights match of the T20 World Cup. The triumph secured India's place in the semifinals, where they will face defending champions England.Rohit's innings was a symphony of power and finesse, as he amassed 92 runs off just 41 deliveries. He combined brute force with elegant strokeplay, dispatching the Australian bowlers to all corners of the ground. His knock propelled India to a formidable total of 205 for five.In response, Australia showed their fighting spirit, with Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head leading the charge. Marsh struck 37 off 28 balls, while Head played a blinder, scoring 76 off 43 deliveries. However, the Indian bowlers, led by Kuldeep Yadav (2/24), Jasprit Bumrah (1/29), and Arshdeep Singh (3/37), kept the Australians at bay.Rohit's intent was clear from the outset. He emphasized the importance of putting pressure on the bowlers and scoring big totals. He stated, "I told you that 50s and 100s don't matter to me. Need to put the bowlers under pressure, and you need big scores for that."The Indian captain's approach paid dividends, as he targeted all areas of the field and kept the Australian bowlers guessing. His innings included several memorable shots, such as a down-on-one-knee six over deep mid-wicket off Pat Cummins.Despite Australia's valiant effort in the chase, they ultimately fell short, finishing on 181 for seven. India's victory was a testament to their dominance in the Super Eights, where they finished as group toppers with three wins in as many games.

Hardik Pandya's resurgence as an all-rounder for India in the T20 World Cup 2024 has silenced critics who questioned his place in the team. After a disappointing IPL 2024 campaign and fitness struggles, Pandya has rediscovered his form, delivering crucial performances for India.Ahead of India's match against Australia, Pandya hit back at critics who doubted his all-round abilities. "I've bowled for every team. It's become a topic of discussion," he said. "I need to work hard to fire on all cylinders. It gives me extra opportunity to contribute and lifts my confidence."In India's victory over Bangladesh, Pandya was named Player of the Match for his half-century and wicket. He acknowledged the team's unity and execution of plans. "We have played really good cricket," he said. "We can get better in some areas, but we are looking good."Pandya's return to form is a testament to his hard work and determination. Despite a serious injury, he remained focused on his recovery. "I wanted to come back, but God had other plans," he said. "Luck comes to people who work hard."India's final Super 8 match against Australia will be a crucial test for Pandya and the team. If they can maintain their momentum, they have a strong chance of reaching the semifinals. Pandya's all-round contributions will be vital to India's success.

India's approach to batting in the upcoming T20 World Cup semi-final against England has undergone a significant transformation since their conservative display in the 2022 semi-final. England had annihilated India by 10 wickets in that match, but India's head coach Matthew Mott believes his team has evolved since then."The way that they've approached it in the last couple of years is certainly taking the game on extremely hard in the power play," said Mott. "Rohit (Sharma) with the bat has led the way extremely well and shown leadership in that department, as has Jos Buttler for us."Mott highlighted India's remarkable consistency in reaching the knockout stages of ICC tournaments, despite their inability to win a trophy in over a decade. "What India has done incredibly well over the last few years is put themselves in semi-finals contention," he said. "But I think the consistency that they've shown over a length of time shows what a great group of players they are."England, on the other hand, have a point to prove despite being defending champions. They have not had the smoothest of runs in the competition, but Mott believes his team's best cricket is yet to come. "There's a general feeling that our best cricket is in front of us," he said. "I think we've been pretty good in patches, we've done some really good stuff over here, but we haven't put together that perfect game."The match is expected to be a close contest, with both teams possessing formidable batting lineups and skilled bowlers. "It's going to come down to on the day," said Mott. "If you take those key moments at the right time, you get over the line, if you don't, you go home."

India's skipper, Rohit Sharma, has emphasized the importance of composure and simplicity for his team as they prepare for the high-stakes T20 World Cup semifinal against England. Acknowledging past struggles with the fear of failure, Rohit stressed the need to approach the match with a clear mind.The Indian team is eager to avenge their crushing 10-wicket defeat to England in the 2022 semifinal at the Adelaide Oval. Rohit believes that treating the match as a normal game and focusing on their strengths will be crucial."We want to be a smart cricket team," Rohit said. "We have done well with role clarity and rely on the players making good decisions on the field."Rohit praised the team's performance in the Super Eight stage, particularly his own blistering 92-run knock against Australia. He emphasized the importance of staying calm under pressure, a strategy that has served him well throughout his career.Regarding the team's bowling strategy, Rohit remained non-committal on whether they would field four spinners. Wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel have been impressive in the West Indies leg of the tournament, but Rohit indicated that the team would assess the conditions before making a decision.

The T20 World Cup semi-finals are set, with India and England facing off in a rematch of last year's final, while South Africa takes on Afghanistan in the other match.Afghanistan will make their T20 World Cup semi-finals debut in the first semi-final in Trinidad, which begins at 6 AM IST on Thursday. India's match against England will be played from 8 PM IST in Guyana, also on Thursday.There are different rules for the semi-finals and finals. While there is a reserve day in place for the first semi-final between South Africa and Afghanistan, the same is not the case for the India-England humdinger.This is because India's semi-final was pre-decided to be played in Guyana, which has no reserve day. However, it has an extra 250 minutes scheduled if needed since it is a day game as per local time.If the India vs England semi-final is washed out, India will advance to the final by virtue of their higher group standing. The same is the case with the other semi-final, with South Africa advancing if no play is possible.In case of a rain interruption on the day's play, there won't be a fresh start on the rain reserve day. For the first semi-final, there's an extra 60 minutes at the end of the day's play and a further 190 minutes on the reserve day.

India's emphatic 24-run victory over Australia in the Super Eights of the ICC T20 World Cup was a testament to their collective brilliance. After Rohit Sharma's scintillating 92 propelled India to a formidable 205/5, the bowlers stepped up to restrict Australia to 181/7.Arshdeep Singh, who has emerged as a key cog in India's bowling attack, attributed his success to the pressure created by Jasprit Bumrah. "Jassi is bowling like a video game," Arshdeep said, referring to Bumrah's exceptional economy rate. "He puts pressure on the batters, forcing them to take risks, which gives me opportunities for wickets."Kuldeep Yadav, who played a crucial role with his spin, explained his strategy against Australia. "I tried to read the batsman and what he was expecting," Kuldeep said. "I started with a fuller ball, a flipper, to induce a sweep shot. Then I introduced the wrong'un, confusing the batters."The turning point of the match, according to Kuldeep, was Axar Patel's stunning one-handed catch in the second over. "That catch opened up the game for us," he said.Arshdeep, who has taken 15 wickets in the tournament so far, praised the entire bowling unit for their collective effort. "Everyone is clicking very well," he said. "The other bowlers stop runs from one end and get wickets from the other end."India's victory was a collective effort, with Rohit's batting brilliance, Bumrah's economical bowling, and the spin duo of Kuldeep and Axar playing pivotal roles. The team's confidence is soaring as they prepare to face England in the semifinals on Thursday.

India's formidable bowling attack, led by the spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja, is expected to give them an edge over England in the second semi-final of the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup. Former India all-rounder Robin Singh believes that India's current form and unbeaten record position them favorably against England, who have faced a challenging journey to the semi-finals.Singh highlights the depth and versatility of India's bowling attack, which suits the conditions at the Providence Stadium in Georgetown, Guyana. He emphasizes the importance of countering England's key bowlers, Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid, to make inroads into their batting lineup.India's recent performance against Australia, where their spinners registered combined figures of 3-45, demonstrates the effectiveness of their spin attack. Kuldeep Yadav, initially excluded from the playing eleven, has excelled in the Super Eights, taking seven wickets in three games.Singh emphasizes the collective effort of the bowling unit, stating that it's not about individual bowlers but about putting pressure on the batsmen as a team. He also praises the fast-bowling pair of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, who have been formidable throughout the tournament.As the teams prepare for their high-stakes encounter, the focus will be on how India's versatile bowling attack measures up against England's strong batting lineup. With a spot in the final on the line, the match promises to be a thrilling contest.

ICC Urged to End Pre-Scheduled India-Pakistan Matches, Ensure Fairness in TournamentsFormer English cricketer and commentator David Lloyd has sparked a debate by calling on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to eliminate pre-scheduled matches between India and Pakistan in major tournaments. Lloyd argues that these fixtures, which have become a staple in ICC events since 2013, compromise the integrity of the sport.Lloyd's concerns stem from the belief that such practices amount to "fixing fixtures" and manipulating the game's outcomes for commercial gain. He contends that these pre-arrangements undermine the fairness and quality of the competition, as teams may be incentivized to perform differently based on the prospect of facing India or Pakistan."We talk long and hard about fixing in cricket. That's fixed. It's just fixed for a major event," Lloyd said on TalkSPORT. "You can't fix the game itself. And that's only part of what we fix. We fix loads of stuff. In this particular World Cup, you're just trying to manipulate. It's just wrong."Lloyd also criticized the scheduling of the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup, particularly the lack of rest days for teams during the Super 8s stage. He noted that the tight schedule has adversely affected teams' performance and preparation time.Another concern raised by Lloyd was the inconsistency in semi-final rules, pointing out that the India vs England semi-final had no reserve day while the South Africa vs Afghanistan match did."It just isn't fair (to the teams)," Lloyd noted. "We're just manipulating the tournament for the benefit of a few."Lloyd and his fellow experts on the discussion outlined five critical points for the ICC to consider before the next World Cup:1. India and Pakistan should not automatically play each other in tournaments. Their matches should be determined by the draw and tournament progress, not pre-arranged.2. Uniform rules in the semi-finals, including provisions for reserve days for all teams.3. No predetermined teams should be set for the Super 8 and semi-finals. Teams should qualify based solely on their performance during the tournament.4. A fair distribution of matches and locations, ensuring no team plays all their matches at a single location while others travel extensively.5. No more fixed schedules that favor certain outcomes. The schedule should not be manipulated to promote specific results, thereby ensuring a fair and unbiased competition.These criticisms and proposed reforms reflect a broader call for fairness and integrity in the organization of international cricket tournaments. Lloyd’s comments aim to preserve the competitive spirit of cricket for all teams and fans.