Cricket

In the realm of Test cricket, the toss holds immense significance, particularly at the Galle International Stadium in Sri Lanka. Traditionally, teams opt to bat first to capitalize on the most favorable batting conditions. However, this strategy is not merely about maximizing runs but also about mitigating the potential pitfalls that emerge later in the match.In the recently concluded first Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, the hosts won the toss and elected to bat. Despite the early signs of a challenging pitch, Sri Lanka managed to post a respectable 305 in their first innings. However, the match took a dramatic turn as the pitch deteriorated, making batting increasingly difficult.New Zealand's batters initially enjoyed the more favorable conditions on day two, but they too succumbed to a late collapse. The match ultimately swung in Sri Lanka's favor as the pitch became more treacherous, with 14 wickets falling on day four and two wickets within 15 minutes on day five.Both teams acknowledged the importance of setting the tone early on, whether with the bat or ball. New Zealand head coach Gary Stead emphasized the significance of accumulating runs in the first innings to minimize the pressure in the second. Sri Lanka batting coach Thilina Kandamby echoed this sentiment, highlighting the need to establish a positive mindset and avoid collapses.However, both teams identified areas for improvement. New Zealand could have capitalized on their strong position on day three, but they lost their remaining five wickets for 86 runs. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, experienced batting collapses in both innings, particularly among their top-order batters.Sri Lanka's tail-enders have also been a concern, with minimal contributions in terms of runs. The team has brought in Milan Rathnayake to address this issue, but Kandamby emphasized that they are actively working to improve the overall batting depth.As the second Test approaches, both teams will be eager to learn from their mistakes and seize the initiative. The toss will once again play a crucial role, but the ability to adapt to the changing conditions and capitalize on key moments will ultimately determine the outcome.

New Zealand's hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final hang in the balance as they prepare for the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. The Black Caps have lost all five Tests in Galle, but their margins of defeat have narrowed with each outing.Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are brimming with confidence after consecutive Test victories under interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya. They have made two changes to their XI, bringing in Milan Rathnayake and Nishan Peiris for Lahiru Kumara and Ramesh Mendis.New Zealand may consider replacing Mitchell Santner with Michael Bracewell, who bowled more threateningly in the first Test. The pitch is expected to be another rank turner, with Will O'Rourke, Tim Southee, and Asitha Fernando likely to create significant footmarks.Dinesh Chandimal has been asked to move up to No. 3 for Sri Lanka, while Kane Williamson's record in Galle is modest. However, Williamson's runs have been a key predictor of New Zealand's success over the past 15 years.Sri Lanka's Prabath Jayasuriya has an outside chance of becoming the equal-fastest bowler to reach 100 Test wickets, while Ajaz Patel has a strong record in Galle with two five-wicket hauls.New Zealand need a win to keep their WTC final hopes alive, while Sri Lanka can move closer to Australia in the standings with another victory. The match is expected to be a close contest on a challenging pitch.

The Super Smash 2024-25, New Zealand's premier domestic T20 cricket tournament, is set to kick off on Boxing Day with a blockbuster clash between defending champions Auckland Aces and 2021-22 and 2022-23 winners Northern Districts at Seddon Park in Hamilton. The women's Super Smash will also commence on the same day, with Northern Brave facing Auckland Hearts at the same venue.Defending women's champions Wellington Blaze will begin their quest for a ninth Super Smash title on New Year's Day against Northern Brave in Hamilton. Last year's men's finalists Canterbury Kings will open their campaign on the second day of the competition against Otago Volts in Alexandra, while last season's women's finalists Central Hinds will play their first game against Otago Sparks on December 31.The tournament, which will run from December 26 to February 2, will be played across ten venues in New Zealand and comprise 64 games - 32 men's and women's double-headers. For the first time in the competition's history, the final will be played at a pre-determined venue, with the Basin Reserve in Wellington hosting both the men's and women's elimination finals on February 1 and the two finals on February 2."The Super Smash keeps on growing in popularity and it's really exciting to see it continue to be so accessible to kiwis across the country," said NZC CEO Scott Weenink. "It's a fantastic opportunity to showcase our game to fans both new and old, while building the profiles of our domestic teams and our rising stars."The tournament will run concurrently with New Zealand's men's white-ball series against Sri Lanka, which includes T20Is and ODIs from December to January 11. The New Zealand women's players are expected to be available for the entire Super Smash tournament.

The upcoming Test tour of India poses a formidable challenge for New Zealand's batters, particularly in deciphering the intricacies of the turning ball and the occasional skidding delivery, according to former Black Caps opener Martin Guptill.India and New Zealand, the finalists of the inaugural World Test Championship, will engage in a three-Test series from October 16 in Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai. Guptill emphasizes the difficulty of scoring runs in India due to the unpredictable nature of the ball's trajectory."You feel like you can never score sometimes," Guptill said. "The ball's turning square, then the same sort of ball comes through and it skids on straight. You never know which one's going to turn and which one's going to go straight, so you have to always be thinking, you have to always be mentally on song and on (the top of) your game."Guptill stresses the importance of seizing any advantage against India, who have won their last 17 home series. "To try and get on top of India is extremely difficult. But when you feel like you are, you have to try and take that as long as possible in the game," he said.Given their current form, Guptill finds it challenging to identify the greater threat between Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah. "Both of them," he said. "You can't take away (the fact) that (Ravindra) Jadeja scored 86, 89 or something, wasn't it? (They had a) 199 run partnership, you think you've got India against the ropes and then you've got these two come out and bat."Jadeja and Ashwin rescued India in the opening Test against Bangladesh in Chennai, forming a 199-run partnership for the seventh wicket. "While Jadeja is probably the better batter, I mean, Ashwin goes about his work in a completely different way and is very effective in the way he scores his runs," Guptill said.Guptill also highlights the potential of young Kiwi pacer Will O'Rourke, whose extra pace troubled Sri Lanka's batters in the Galle Test. "He's got a little bit of extra pace behind him, which some of our bowlers don't have and he's got a bit of height, which gives him that little bit of extra bounce," Guptill said.While acknowledging the need for change in New Zealand's Test side, Guptill reserves judgment on whether the younger generation can fill the void left by the likes of Kane Williamson. "I can't comment on that at the moment. I mean, you don't know until these new guys come through and start playing whether they're up to it or not," he said.

Australia's dominance over New Zealand continued as they secured a 3-0 series sweep in the final T20I in Brisbane. Georgia Wareham and Ashleigh Gardner played pivotal roles in the victory, showcasing their all-round abilities.Wareham's legspin restricted New Zealand to 146 for 6, claiming two wickets for 21 runs. Her promotion to No. 3 in the batting order proved effective, as she smashed 26 off 16 balls to ease the run-rate pressure.Ellyse Perry and Gardner then combined for a 61-run stand, with Perry contributing 36 and Gardner 33. Despite late dismissals, their partnership put Australia on the brink of victory.New Zealand's innings was anchored by Georgia Plimmer's maiden T20I half-century (53). However, their hopes of a strong finish were dashed by a late collapse, losing five wickets for 28 runs. Annabel Sutherland picked up two wickets in an over, while Wareham and Gardner also contributed with crucial dismissals.Wareham's performance at No. 3 offers Australia options ahead of the T20 World Cup. Her ability to strike the ball powerfully and play comfortably against both pace and spin could prove valuable in the tournament.Gardner's all-round display earned her the Player of the Series award. Her 1 for 27 with the ball and 33 runs with the bat highlighted her versatility.

New Zealand's recent Test match in Galle against Sri Lanka ended in a narrow 63-run defeat, marking their fifth consecutive loss at the venue. However, two players emerged as bright spots for the Kiwis: seamer Will O'Rourke and batter Rachin Ravindra.O'Rourke, making his first appearance in the subcontinent, impressed with his pace and accuracy. Despite the dry conditions, he consistently bowled at speeds of 140kph and sent down short deliveries that troubled the Sri Lankan batters. His eight wickets for 104 runs, including six top-order dismissals, earned him praise from captain Tim Southee."Will's had a very short Test career so far, and he's certainly announced himself," Southee said. "He's got the skills to have a very good Test career. For him to come to his first Test in the subcontinent and walk away with a very impressive eight wickets for the match is nothing short of special."Ravindra, on the other hand, showcased his batting prowess with a gritty 92 in the fourth innings. Facing a challenging pitch and a tall target of 275, he played with composure and determination. His ability to punish loose deliveries and keep the scoreboard ticking impressed Southee."Rachin kept us in the hunt with that chase," Southee said. "It was a great knock in those conditions. It's not easy to bat - the ball was spinning, and doing all sorts [of things]. For a young guy without a lot of experience in this part of the world to go out and get 90-odd was great signs for him as well."Despite the loss, Southee identified the team's batting collapse on the third morning as a turning point. After reaching 255 for 4 overnight, New Zealand lost six wickets for 71 runs, allowing Sri Lanka to gain a crucial advantage."The last four or five fell for not many, and there was an opportunity to get a bigger first-innings lead," Southee said. "If we were able to press on and get more of a lead, things could have been different."Overall, the match highlighted the potential of O'Rourke and Ravindra while also exposing areas for improvement in New Zealand's batting. As they prepare for the next Test, the Kiwis will look to build on the positives and address the shortcomings that led to their defeat in Galle.

Australia has banned the pre-game activity that nearly sidelined Ashleigh Gardner for the T20 World Cup. The all-rounder has urged her team's batters to step up in the third T20I against New Zealand in Brisbane on Tuesday.Gardner missed the series opener in Mackay after colliding with teammate Georgia Wareham while attempting to catch a "Vortex" ball in a warm-up drill. The incident initially raised concerns about a potential eighth career concussion, but Gardner was cleared and returned with a player-of-the-match performance in the second T20I."It's been nice to get back out there after a weird occasion," Gardner said. "I've had a lot of head knocks in the past; I know when I am concussed and when I'm not."The Vortex ball has been removed from Australia's pre-match routine. Captain Alyssa Healy opted to bat first in the second T20I, but the team's innings faltered, losing their last seven wickets for 28 runs.Despite the batting collapse, Australia's bowlers secured a 29-run victory. Gardner believes there is room for improvement in their final hit-out before the World Cup in Dubai."There's still a lot left in the tank," she said. "Hopefully in this last game if we do bat first we can put a massive total on the board."Gardner highlighted the team's batting depth, with Annabel Sutherland entering at the fall of the sixth wicket. "Sutherland at eight is pretty ridiculous," she said. "We know our bowling unit is good enough to restrict them."

India's dominance in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 cycle continues unabated as they extended their lead at the summit with a resounding 280-run victory over Bangladesh in Chennai. The triumph solidifies their position as the team to beat, with a percentage of 71.67%.Ravichandran Ashwin was the architect of India's success, earning Player of the Match honors for his all-round brilliance. His century in the first innings and six-wicket haul in the second proved decisive. Bangladesh, chasing a mammoth target of 515, were bowled out for 234, with Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja sharing the spoils.The victory propelled India to 12 crucial WTC points, further cementing their grip on the top spot. Bangladesh, on the other hand, slipped to sixth in the standings with a percentage of 39.29%.Meanwhile, Sri Lanka boosted their chances of reaching the WTC final with a thrilling 63-run victory over New Zealand in Galle. Dhananjaya de Silva's side now occupies third place with a 50% win rate, putting them in contention for a top-two finish.Prabath Jayasuriya emerged as the hero for Sri Lanka, claiming match figures of 9-204 and earning the Player of the Match award. His tactical brilliance in holding off bowling New Zealand out on the fourth day allowed the bowlers to return refreshed on the final day.Sri Lanka's victory has made them a strong contender for a spot in the WTC final. With a potential maximum percentage of 69.23%, they need a clean sweep against South Africa and a 2-0 series win over Australia at home to secure their place.The race for the final two spots in the WTC finale at Lord's is heating up, with India, Sri Lanka, and England all in contention. The upcoming series will be crucial in determining who will join Australia, the current table-toppers, in the battle for the coveted trophy.

Sri Lanka's relentless bowling attack, led by Prabath Jayasuriya's exceptional performance, secured a resounding 63-run victory over New Zealand in the first Test at Galle. The triumph marks a significant milestone for Sri Lanka, propelling them to third place in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings.Jayasuriya, the left-arm spinner, was the architect of Sri Lanka's triumph, claiming a match-winning haul of 9 for 204. His eight-wicket haul in the second innings, including a five-wicket burst on the final morning, proved decisive in dismantling New Zealand's resistance.After Sri Lanka posted a formidable 305 in their first innings, New Zealand responded with a competitive 340, thanks to a gritty 70 from Tom Latham. However, Sri Lanka's bowlers, including Ramesh Mendis and Jayasuriya, kept the pressure on, restricting New Zealand's lead to just 35 runs.In their second innings, Sri Lanka amassed 309, with Dimuth Karunaratne contributing a crucial 83. New Zealand's bowlers, led by Ajaz Patel and Will O'Rourke, fought back, but Sri Lanka's batting depth proved too strong.With a target of 275, New Zealand began the final day with hope, but Jayasuriya's early strike against Rachin Ravindra (92) shattered their momentum. O'Rourke's dismissal shortly after sealed New Zealand's fate, handing Sri Lanka a comprehensive victory.O'Rourke, despite his disappointment, emerged as a standout performer for New Zealand, claiming eight wickets in the match. However, it was Jayasuriya's brilliance that ultimately proved the difference, earning him the Player-of-the-Match award.The result has significant implications for both teams in the WTC. Sri Lanka's victory keeps their hopes of reaching the final alive, while New Zealand's defeat complicates their path to qualification.With just a two-day break, the two teams will reconvene in Galle for the second Test, starting on Thursday. Sri Lanka will be aiming to seal the series, while New Zealand will be desperate to bounce back and level the contest.