Cricket

Samit Dravid, the son of legendary Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid, has earned his maiden call-up to the India Under-19 squad for the upcoming multi-format home series against Australia Under-19. The series, scheduled for September and October, will feature three 50-over matches and two four-day games.Dravid, an all-rounder, has impressed with his performances in the ongoing Maharaja T20 Trophy in Karnataka. Batting in the middle-order for the Mysuru Warriors, he has scored 82 runs at a strike rate of 114 in seven innings.Mohamed Amaan, a middle-order batter from Uttar Pradesh, will captain the India Under-19 50-over squad, while Madhya Pradesh's Soham Patwardhan will lead the team for the four-day matches.The 50-over matches will be played in Puducherry on September 21, 23, and 26, followed by the four-day games in Chennai starting on September 30 and October 7.

Australia A and India A will engage in a multi-format series in Queensland during August, providing a platform for emerging players to showcase their skills and vie for higher honors. The series will feature three T20s in Brisbane, three 50-over games in Mackay, and a four-day match on the Gold Coast.Tahlia McGrath, Australia's vice-captain, will lead the T20 and 50-over squads, while Queensland allrounder Charli Knott will captain the four-day side. The squads comprise a blend of established domestic players and rising stars eager to make their mark.The four-day game offers a rare opportunity for players from both countries to experience long-form cricket. McGrath expressed her excitement for the series, stating, "It presents those of us not playing in the Hundred with the chance to prepare for a huge summer against a strong opposition."National selector Shawn Flegler emphasized the importance of the series in assessing domestic talent and preparing nationally contracted players for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. Australia will face New Zealand in a three-match T20I series in mid-September before heading to Bangladesh for the World Cup.The series against India A marks the beginning of a busy season for Australia, which includes the WBBL, a short tour of New Zealand, and the multi-format Ashes in January.

India's women's cricket team captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, has expressed her support for the implementation of a points-based system in multi-format cricket series. She believes that such a system would enhance motivation and add significance to each match.In recent times, India has played multi-format home series against England and Australia without a points system. This will continue in the upcoming series against South Africa, which begins with ODIs on Sunday. However, Australia and England employ a points system in their women's multi-format Ashes series, ensuring that every match carries weight.Kaur emphasized the importance of a points system, particularly for Test matches. Unlike other formats, Tests lack a marquee championship like the World Cup to provide context. As a result, Tests often suffer from a lack of significance.India has recently achieved impressive victories in Tests against both England and Australia. However, the absence of a points system meant that India could not capitalize on these wins to secure an overall series victory.Kaur believes that a points-based system would address this issue. "I think it's totally a BCCI or ICC thing," she said. "But as players, if points are there, I think we are more pumped up. I think it will be more challenging and we will love to have them."The implementation of a points system in multi-format cricket series would not only enhance motivation but also provide a clearer indication of the overall winner. It would add context to each match and make the series more competitive and engaging for both players and fans.