Cricket

India vs Australia Live Score: India's Semifinal Hopes Hinge on Crucial Clash with Injury-Hit AustraliaIndia's Women's T20 World Cup campaign faces a pivotal test as they take on defending champions Australia in a must-win match in Sharjah. The match holds immense significance for India's semifinal aspirations, as they currently sit second in Group A with four points, behind Australia's six points.New Zealand's impressive eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka has intensified the pressure on India, as the Kiwis are also on four points and can potentially reach six points. India's 82-run victory over Sri Lanka boosted their net run rate from negative to positive, but they will need another convincing win to keep their knockout hopes alive.Australia, on the other hand, have all but secured their semifinal berth with three wins from three matches and an impressive net run rate of +2.786. However, the defending champions have suffered two injury setbacks, with skipper Alyssa Healy and fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck sidelined.India will be eager to capitalize on Australia's injury woes and secure a victory that would significantly enhance their chances of reaching the last four. Despite their setback against New Zealand in their opener, India's massive win over Sri Lanka has instilled confidence in the team.The match promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams desperate for a win. India will be looking to control their destiny by securing another net-run-rate boosting victory, while Australia will be determined to maintain their unbeaten record and secure their place in the semifinals.

Australia's Women's T20 World Cup title defense has been met with a potential setback as batter Phoebe Litchfield has been ruled out of the warm-up matches due to groin soreness. The news emerged ahead of Australia's first warm-up against England in Dubai on September 29.Adding to the injury concerns, Grace Harris, who has been sidelined since April 2024 due to calf strains in both legs, is also not yet ready to return to the field due to a "new niggle." However, she has resumed training.Cricket Australia (CA) stated that an update on the availability of both players for the World Cup proper will be provided in the coming days. Australia will play a second warm-up match against West Indies on October 1 before opening their tournament against Sri Lanka on October 5.India, Pakistan, and New Zealand are the other teams in Australia's Group A. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals on October 17 and 18, with the final scheduled for October 20.Litchfield's absence from the warm-up games is a blow to Australia's preparations, as she has been a key member of the team in recent years. She was part of the squad that won the 2020 T20 World Cup and has scored over 1,000 runs in T20Is.Harris's return to fitness would be a significant boost for Australia, as she is a powerful hitter and a reliable fielder. Her experience and leadership would also be invaluable to the team.Australia will be hoping that both Litchfield and Harris can recover in time for the World Cup, as they aim to defend their title and claim their sixth T20 World Cup crown.

Hardik Pandya, India's swashbuckling all-rounder, has sparked speculation about a potential return to Test cricket after posting a video of himself practicing with a red ball on Instagram. However, former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has cast doubt on the possibility, citing Pandya's injury history and the physical demands of the longest format.Pandya, who hasn't played a Test match since September 2018, underwent back surgery in 2019. Patel believes that Pandya's body may not be able to withstand the rigors of four-day and five-day matches."I'm not looking at Hardik Pandya (in Tests)," Patel said on Jio cinema show during the second India vs Bangladesh Test in Kanpur. "He was practicing with the red ball only because the white ball wasn't available. I don't think his body allows four-day and five-day matches. He has to play at least one first-class game (before being considered for selection in Tests), which is very unlikely."Last year, Pandya was offered a place in the World Test Championship final against Australia but declined, stating that he did not want to be a regular Test player.Pandya's last first-class appearance was in December 2018. He also skipped this year's Duleep Trophy due to workload management.Patel's comments echo concerns raised by other experts about Pandya's fitness and durability. The all-rounder has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, including back, shoulder, and hamstring issues.If Pandya does not return to Test cricket, it would be a significant blow to India's hopes of regaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from Australia in the upcoming series. Pandya's all-round abilities, including his aggressive batting and effective medium-pace bowling, would be a valuable asset to the team.However, it appears that Pandya's focus will remain on limited-overs cricket, where he has established himself as one of the world's leading all-rounders.

England's preparations for the upcoming three-Test series against Sri Lanka have been thrown into disarray following the withdrawal of all-rounder Chris Woakes from The Hundred tournament due to injury. The news comes just days after captain Ben Stokes was assisted off the field during a Hundred match with a suspected hamstring injury.Woakes, 35, was a key member of England's Test squad and was expected to play a significant role in the series against Sri Lanka. However, his withdrawal from The Hundred has raised concerns about his fitness ahead of the first Test, which begins on August 21 at Old Trafford."Chris Woakes has withdrawn from the competition with injury. The England bowling all-rounder will no longer be a part of this year's competition," Birmingham Phoenix announced on their Instagram account late Monday.The injury to Woakes is a major blow to England, who are already without Stokes. The Test skipper sustained a suspected hamstring injury while playing for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred. If both all-rounders are ruled out of the Sri Lanka series, England's squad depth will be severely tested.England's preparations for the series are now under scrutiny as they await further assessments on the fitness of Woakes and Stokes. The team management will be hoping that both players can recover in time for the first Test, but their absence would be a significant setback.

Hardik Pandya's injury woes have cast a shadow over his captaincy aspirations, leading to Suryakumar Yadav's appointment as India's T20I skipper for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.Chief selector Ajit Agarkar emphasized the importance of a captain's availability, stating that Pandya's fitness concerns were a major factor in the decision. "The biggest thing is the captain should be on the park more often than not," Agarkar said.The selectors also cited feedback from the dressing room regarding Pandya's leadership and man-management skills, which they deemed insufficient. By handing the reins to Suryakumar Yadav, they aim to "press the reset button" ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup."We feel that Surya has the necessary qualities to be a good captain," Agarkar added. "Two years is a long time, so it gives us a chance to look at things differently."Pandya's injury during the 2023 ODI World Cup further complicated the situation, leaving the selectors with a dilemma. "When Hardik got injured, it was a challenge," Agarkar said. "We don't want that situation going forward again."Despite Pandya's absence, the selectors did not consider him for the vice-captaincy, instead opting for Shubman Gill. "Shubman is a three-format player and shows a lot of qualities," Agarkar explained. "We want someone who can learn from SKY and Rohit Sharma."Pandya's career trajectory has taken a rollercoaster turn, from being the captain-in-waiting to having the leadership door shut for now. The selectors have challenged him to regain peak form and fitness."He's still a very important player for us," Agarkar said. "Those skill sets are hard to find."Suryakumar Yadav, known for his exceptional T20 batting, now has the opportunity to prove his mettle as a captain. "SKY's got a good cricketing brain," Agarkar said. "We think he is a deserving candidate."

Pakistan's hopes of a strong start to their T20 World Cup campaign have been dealt a blow with the ongoing injury concerns surrounding all-rounder Imad Wasim. Despite initial reports suggesting a precautionary absence, it has emerged that Imad's rib injury is more severe than initially disclosed.The 33-year-old missed Pakistan's opening match against USA, which they narrowly lost in the Super Over, and his absence has left a significant void in the team's balance. In his stead, Pakistan opted for Azam Khan and Shadab Khan as their specialist spinners, but both struggled to make an impact.Azam was dismissed for a golden duck, while Shadab's bowling performance drew criticism from captain Babar Azam. The lack of wicket-taking options from the spin department has been a major concern for Pakistan, who have traditionally relied on their spinners to control the middle overs.Imad's injury history is a cause for concern. He has battled a chronic knee injury throughout his career, which has limited his ability to play longer formats. Ahead of the 2019 World Cup, he was given extra time to pass a fitness test due to his knee injury.In 2023, Imad initially retired from international cricket but returned earlier this year with the sole aim of participating in this World Cup. However, his participation in the tournament is now in doubt, and his absence would be a major setback for Pakistan.With Pakistan already facing an uphill battle to qualify for the Super 12 stage, Imad's potential unavailability could prove to be a decisive factor in their hopes of progressing in the tournament.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has defended the decision to conduct a military training camp for players during the final days of Ramzan, despite concerns that it may have contributed to recent muscle injuries.The camp, held at Kakul, Pakistan's premier military training academy, was intended to enhance player fitness and power. However, following the camp, several key players, including Azam Khan, Mohammad Rizwan, and Irfan Niazi, sustained injuries that sidelined them during the home series against New Zealand.Naqvi dismissed claims that the camp was responsible for the injuries, emphasizing that fitness training does not cause injuries. He acknowledged that Pakistan players' fitness levels lag behind their international counterparts and vowed to prioritize fitness in the future.Azhar Mahmood, Pakistan's assistant coach, echoed Naqvi's sentiments, stating that the injuries occurred during cricket matches and were unrelated to the military training. He pointed out that the players who sustained injuries had participated in the first game of the series.The PCB has maintained that the injuries are minor and will not result in long-term unavailability. Pakistan is scheduled to tour Ireland and England for seven T20I matches and will announce a preliminary World Cup squad by May 1.The military training camp was initiated by Naqvi, who expressed concern over the lack of six-hitting power among Pakistani players. He emphasized the need for improved fitness to enhance power and performance.While the camp's timing, coinciding with the final phase of Ramzan, raised concerns, the PCB cited precedent for military involvement in Pakistan cricket training. Misbah-ul-Haq's Pakistan team famously organized a similar camp before a Test series against England, which resulted in a drawn series and Pakistan's rise to the top of the Test rankings.

Jofra Archer, the enigmatic English fast bowler, has expressed his desire to represent his country at the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Caribbean. However, he has also cautioned that he may struggle to endure another "stop-start year" after battling persistent injuries over the past three years.Archer has been sidelined since May 2023 due to an elbow injury, but the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is planning his return to international cricket during the four-match T20I series against Pakistan in late May, just before the World Cup. He is expected to be included in England's provisional World Cup squad, which must be submitted to the ICC by May 1.England will kick off their World Cup campaign at Kensington Oval in Barbados with matches against Scotland and Australia on June 4 and 8, respectively. Archer was born and raised on the island and has trained with England squads there on recent tours, but he has never played an international match there."I really do want to be in the team," Archer said in an interview with The Athlete's Voice by 4CAST. "I really do want to be playing back at home… I'd love my family and my dogs at that first game back. I haven't played for England at all this year, so I think it would be really fitting if that could happen."Archer traveled to India last month with Sussex's pre-season tour, which he described as a "good gauge" and a "valuable check" on his progress. Rob Key, England's managing director, stated earlier this month that Archer had returned to the Caribbean to continue his rehabilitation, while also ruling him out of contention for Test cricket this summer."The last two years have been really stop-start, so I just think that everyone's going to just take it a bit easy," Archer said. "If I'm ready then fine, happy days. But if I'm not, they're still supporting me until whenever I am ready.""Worst-case scenario, even if I don't make it to the World Cup for whatever reason, there's still the T20 Blast, there's still the Hundred. There's still cricket that I haven't got a chance to play in the last couple of years. As much as I want to play in the World Cup, if it doesn't happen for whatever reason, at least I still know I could be somewhat active as well."Archer also discussed the impact of negative social media comments on his mental well-being during his time on the sidelines. "Everybody - honestly, everybody - has an opinion. It doesn't matter what you do or how good you are, everyone will have a go at you at some point," he said."Even now, any time England or my franchises post, all of the comments are - or if I post training clips, people are like: 'He'll probably be injured tomorrow.' It's just stupid comments like that… I really need people to take accountability for what they say, because if you're saying that stuff, you've got to answer for it."

Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull has raised concerns about the fitness of Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya, suggesting that he may be suffering from an undisclosed injury. Doull's comments stem from Pandya's limited bowling appearances for Mumbai Indians in the ongoing IPL 2024 season.After opening the bowling in the first two matches, Pandya has refrained from bowling in the subsequent two encounters. In the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he bowled a single over but did not return to the attack after conceding 13 runs.Doull believes that Pandya's reluctance to bowl is indicative of an underlying injury. "You go out and make a statement by opening the bowling in game no. 1, and suddenly, you are not required. He's injured. I'm telling you there is something wrong with him. He is not admitting it. But there is something wrong with him for sure. That is my gut feeling," Doull said on Cricbuzz.Pandya's injury concerns are particularly troubling given his recent return from an ankle injury sustained during the Cricket World Cup 2023. He has only played a handful of matches since then, and an injury setback could jeopardize his participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.When asked about his decision to not bowl against Delhi Capitals, Pandya stated that he would bowl at the "right time." However, his limited bowling appearances have raised questions about his fitness.The issue has also sparked controversy among fans, with some booing Pandya during Mumbai Indians games. However, Virat Kohli has defended the all-rounder, urging the crowd to cheer him on.