Cricket

Team India Suffers Setback as Mayank Yadav Ruled Out of South Africa SeriesNew Delhi: Indian cricket has suffered a significant blow with the news that tearaway pacer Mayank Yadav will miss the upcoming four-match T20I series against South Africa due to injury. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-member squad for the series, which begins on November 8, confirming Mayank's absence.Mayank, who made his international debut in the recent home T20Is against Bangladesh, has been plagued by recurring injuries. An abdominal muscle issue forced him to miss the entire Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season.Despite his injury woes, Mayank made a striking tournament debut for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2023. He consistently bowled at speeds over 150 kph and earned the Player of the Match award in his first two games.In his four overs against Gujarat Titans, Mayank claimed 3 wickets for 27 runs, reaching a top speed of 155.8 kph. In his second IPL game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), he improved upon that, clocking 156.7 kph - the fastest ball recorded in IPL 2023.Mayank consistently exceeded the 150 kph mark, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 14 in his four overs. Notably, he became the first player in IPL history to win the Player of the Match award in his first two matches.In the squad announcement, India included all-rounder Ramandeep Singh and pacer Vijaykumar Vyshak. Notably, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Reddy, who featured in the Bangladesh T20Is, are absent as they will be traveling to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.Meanwhile, spin-bowling all-rounder Axar Patel, along with pacers Yash Dayal and Avesh Khan, have been added to the squad.Mayank's absence is a major setback for Team India, who will be looking to build on their recent success against Bangladesh. The pacer's ability to bowl at high speeds and generate swing would have been a valuable asset against South Africa's strong batting lineup.

Jos Buttler's return to the helm of England's white-ball team has been further delayed due to a persistent calf injury. The 34-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has been sidelined for four months and will miss the upcoming ODI leg of the Caribbean tour.Buttler's injury woes began in June during England's T20 World Cup campaign. He has not played a competitive match since their semi-final defeat to India. Despite missing the Hundred and the T20I and ODI series against Australia, Buttler was expected to make his comeback in the Caribbean.However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that Buttler has suffered a "slight setback" in his rehabilitation. As a result, he will fly directly to Barbados for the five-match T20I series starting on November 9.In Buttler's absence, Liam Livingstone will captain England in the ODIs. It will be his first time leading the team in this format. Harry Brook, who stood in for Buttler against Australia, is currently in Pakistan preparing for the third Test.England will announce a replacement player in due course. Jordan Cox and Rehan Ahmed are potential candidates, as they were originally intended to join the tour as additional players.Buttler's continued absence has raised concerns about his international future. However, incoming white-ball coach Brendon McCullum has assured that Buttler remains a key part of his plans. McCullum has praised Buttler's leadership and ability to inspire his teammates.Marcus Trescothick, England's interim white-ball coach, has also expressed confidence in Buttler's return. He believes that Buttler will seamlessly reintegrate into the team and continue to contribute significantly.

Rishabh Pant's Injury Raises Concerns for Team IndiaTeam India's hopes of a strong start to the Test series against New Zealand were dealt a blow on Thursday when wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant was forced to leave the field due to a knee injury. The incident occurred on the final ball of the 37th over, as Pant was struck on the right knee by a delivery from Ravindra Jadeja.Pant immediately collapsed to the ground in pain, and the physio was called onto the field to assess the injury. After a brief examination, Pant was helped off the field by the physio and a substitute fielder. The extent of the injury is still unknown, but any setback to Pant's recovery could have a significant impact on India's plans for the ongoing Test series and the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.Pant has been a key figure in India's middle order in recent years, and his dynamic presence is vital for the team's stability. He is known for his aggressive batting style and his ability to score runs quickly, and his absence would be a major blow to India's chances of success.The injury to Pant is a reminder of the physical demands of Test cricket, and the importance of staying fit and healthy. Pant has had a history of injuries in the past, and he will be hoping to make a speedy recovery from this latest setback.Fans and teammates alike are hoping for a positive update on Pant's condition, and they will be keeping their fingers crossed that he will be able to return to the field soon.

India's Test opener Shubman Gill is facing a potential setback ahead of the first Test against New Zealand, scheduled to begin on October 16. According to reports, Gill has complained of neck and shoulder pain, raising concerns about his availability for the match.The 25-year-old informed the team management about his discomfort on Monday, and a final decision on his selection will be made on the morning of the Test. Gill's absence could pave the way for Sarfaraz Khan or Dhruv Jurel to make their way into India's playing XI.Gill has established himself as a key figure in India's Test batting lineup, particularly at the No. 3 position. He played a pivotal role in India's recent Test series victory over Bangladesh, scoring a century in the first Test.In fact, Gill boasts an impressive batting average in the second innings of Test matches since 2020, making him one of India's most reliable batsmen in challenging conditions.Sarfaraz Khan, who recently scored a double century for Mumbai in the Duleep Trophy, is the frontrunner to replace Gill in the lineup. After a promising start to his Test career against England, Sarfaraz was unfortunate to miss out on selection after KL Rahul's return from injury.However, if Sarfaraz does enter the XI, India's batting order may need to be adjusted. The team will have to decide whether to promote Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, or Rishabh Pant up the order to fill the No. 3 spot.India will face New Zealand after a dominant 2-0 Test series win over Bangladesh. History favors India, as New Zealand has never won an away Test series in the World Test Championship (WTC).However, the weather could play a significant role in the outcome of the match, with rain predicted to impact play on all five days. The overcast and rainy conditions could also influence India's team selection.

Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami has provided an encouraging update on his recovery from injury, sharing photos on social media of himself lifting weights in the gym. Shami has not played since the World Cup final loss to Australia last November, but he is eyeing a return in the highly-anticipated Australia series later this year.Shami's omission from India's 15-member squad for the New Zealand Test series is believed to be part of a longer recovery plan. He underwent surgery following an injury in the World Cup and is gradually working his way back to full fitness.In Shami's absence, the pace attack will be led by Jasprit Bumrah, supported by Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep. The three Tests will take place across Bengaluru (October 16-20), Pune (October 24-28), and Mumbai (November 1-5).The selectors have also included young talents like Mayank Yadav and Prasidh Krishna in the reserves to provide additional pace options. India are currently leading the World Test Championship (WTC) standings and will aim to consolidate their top spot. The New Zealand series is crucial preparation for India as they gear up for a challenging five-Test tour against Australia.With India aiming to reach their third consecutive WTC final, every series seems vital — and so is Shami's eventual return to full fitness. The 32-year-old is one of India's most experienced and successful fast bowlers, and his return will be a major boost to the team's chances of success.

Cameron Green, Australia's promising all-rounder, has been diagnosed with a fifth stress fracture in his lower back, necessitating lower spine surgery. The injury is expected to sideline him for at least six months, ruling him out of the upcoming summer of cricket.Green's injury is a significant setback for Australia, who were counting on him to play a key role in the upcoming Test series against India, the tour of Sri Lanka, and the Champions Trophy. The 23-year-old has been a consistent performer for Australia in recent years, averaging over 30 with the bat and 25 with the ball in Test cricket.The surgery that Green will undergo has been successful for many players in the past, including Jason Behrendorff, James Pattinson, and Matt Henry. However, the recovery time can be lengthy, with most players taking at least nine months to return to full fitness.Cricket Australia's medical staff are baffled by how Green's latest injury occurred, as they have been carefully managing his workload in recent years. Green has a history of stress fractures in his lower back, with four previous injuries occurring during his junior days and in 2019.Despite his injury history, Green has been a key player for Australia in all three formats of the game. He has played 18 Tests, 13 ODIs, and 10 T20Is for his country, scoring over 1,000 runs and taking over 50 wickets across all formats.Green's absence will be a major blow to Australia's hopes of success in the upcoming summer of cricket. The team will be hoping that he can make a full recovery and return to the international stage as soon as possible.

Quick bowler Lance Morris has suffered a quad strain in training, casting doubt on his immediate return to action. The injury is expected to sideline him for a brief period, with the aim of returning before the end of October.Morris, who made his international debut against West Indies last season, was carefully managed in his return to action after recovering from back problems. He played for South Australia in Sydney in late September but will miss Western Australia's one-day game against Queensland on Sunday.The 24-year-old is targeting the October 25 clash with Tasmania at the WACA as his return date. A fully fit Morris would be in contention for the Australia A four-day or Australia ODI squads, which are due to be named early next week.Speaking last month, Morris expressed his hope to play Sheffield Shield cricket in the early part of the season. However, he will now miss the match against Tasmania from October 20. WA's next Shield match against Tasmania on November 1 overlaps with the first Australia A game against India A and the start of the ODI series against Pakistan."Frustrating to have to stop for a couple of months. I'm at that stage in my career with a Cricket Australia contract.... it's a transition into a 12-month cricketer," Morris told ESPNcricinfo. "But the silver lining is I've stayed fit and I feel stronger than ever. Whereas if I ignored it and cracked on with things, there's every likelihood that I would spend 12 months on the sidelines."Meanwhile, Mahli Beardman is set to make his first appearance of the season for Western Australia. The young fast bowler was surprisingly called up to Australia's squad in England last month but was never officially added to the touring party.

The West Indies' hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the Women's T20 World Cup have been dealt a blow with the injury to all-rounder Stafanie Taylor. The 33-year-old suffered a knee injury during Thursday's eight-wicket win over Bangladesh and was forced to retire hurt on 27.Taylor's injury is a major concern for the West Indies, as she is a key player in their lineup. She is a versatile all-rounder who can bat, bowl, and field, and her experience is invaluable to the team.West Indies captain Hayley Matthews said that Taylor's injury is a "knee problem" and that the team is "trying to look after her really well." Matthews also praised Taylor's fighting spirit and said that she "knows how to manage her body pretty well."The West Indies will face undefeated England in their last Group B game on Tuesday. Pool rivals South Africa are also in the running for a semi-final spot.Matthews said that the West Indies are "up for the challenge" of facing England. "If you want to be competing and winning World Cups, you're going to have to beat the best teams in the world," she said.The West Indies will need to win their last group game against England to secure a place in the semi-finals. If they can do that, they will be one of the favorites to win the tournament.

Legspinner Abrar Ahmed, who has been a key figure in Pakistan's recent Test resurgence, is currently undergoing treatment in a Multan hospital after falling ill during the ongoing first Test against England.Abrar, who bowled 31 overs on day three of the match, complained of a high fever and body aches on the morning of the fourth day and did not take the field with the rest of his team-mates. A PCB statement said he had undergone a number of tests, and a further update would be issued once results were received.Abrar's illness is a major blow to Pakistan, who are already without several key players due to injury. The 25-year-old has been one of Pakistan's most consistent performers in recent months, taking 24 wickets in his last four Tests.He endured a difficult time with the ball against England, with the tourists singling him out for attack. For much of the second half of the day, he was reduced to bowling outside leg stump from around the wicket to Joe Root and Harry Brook. It did drag his economy rate down, but he was the only frontline bowler to go wicketless, with his final figures reading 35-0-174-0.It is in stark contrast to his debut on this very ground against the same opposition in 2022, when he took 11 wickets in the game - and five before lunch on day one - to catapult him to the top of Pakistan's red ball spin pecking order.But injuries have dogged him consistently throughout his career. He made his professional debut for Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL as an 18-year old but then spent a number of years out of the game with a persistent back injury. He sustained a nerve injury during a tour game ahead of Pakistan's three Test tour of Australia, ultimately missing all of them, as well as the first Test against Bangladesh in August.Pakistan named Noman Ali and Zahid Mahmood in the squad for the ongoing first Test against England, but released them ahead of the start of the game.