Cricket

The Indian cricket team is gearing up for a busy Test season, with a two-match series against Bangladesh in September, followed by a three-match series against New Zealand and a five-match series against Australia.Captain Rohit Sharma has already begun his preparations for the upcoming challenges. Videos on social media show Sharma engaged in intense training sessions with India's assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. The sessions include rigorous cardio exercises in a park.Nayar, who joined the Indian support staff last month, has been working closely with Sharma. The skipper's last Test appearance for India was in March 2024 against England, where he scored a century in the first innings.The Bangladesh series will be a good warm-up for India before they face New Zealand and Australia. Bangladesh has improved significantly in recent years and will pose a tough challenge.The New Zealand series will be a stern test for India. The Kiwis are one of the top Test teams in the world and will be looking to avenge their defeat in the World Test Championship final last year.The Australia series will be the ultimate challenge for India. The Aussies are the current World Test champions and have a formidable record at home. India will need to be at their best to win the series.The upcoming Test season will be a crucial one for India. They will be looking to build on their success in the World Test Championship and establish themselves as the best Test team in the world.

The upcoming Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test series, commencing on September 18 in Galle, will feature a unique twist: a rest day scheduled to accommodate Sri Lanka's presidential elections on September 21. This marks the first instance of a rest day in a Test match since 2008, when Bangladesh and Sri Lanka accommodated a parliamentary election.The two-Test series forms part of the 2023-2025 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Sri Lanka last hosted a rest day in a Test match in 2001 against Zimbabwe, due to a full moon being a public holiday in the Buddhist nation.Historically, Sundays were designated as rest days in Test matches in England until the 1990s. However, this practice has since faded into obscurity.New Zealand and Sri Lanka last met in a Test series in early 2023, with New Zealand emerging victorious 2-0 on home soil. New Zealand's last tour of Sri Lanka in 2019 resulted in a 1-1 draw in the Test series and a 2-1 victory for New Zealand in the T20Is.New Zealand's tour of Sri Lanka follows a one-off Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida. The Black Caps have a busy summer of cricket ahead, with Test series against India and England before Sri Lanka returns to New Zealand in December for three T20Is and three ODIs.

New Zealand's 2024-25 home season promises an exciting array of international cricket, with tours from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Australia confirmed. The schedule features six ODIs and eight T20Is for the men's team, while the women will play six ODIs and six T20Is.The highlight of the season will be the three-Test series against England, which will conclude a busy summer of nine Tests for New Zealand. The Tests will be followed by a T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka in late December and mid-January.After the Sri Lanka tour, the men's team will head to Pakistan for an ODI tri-series in preparation for the Champions Trophy. They will then host Pakistan for five T20Is and three ODIs in late March and early April, which may overlap with the IPL.The women's team will host Australia for three ODIs in December, followed by three T20Is in March. Sri Lanka's women will also tour New Zealand in March for a six-match series.Five of the women's T20Is will be played as double-headers with the men's T20I series against Pakistan.

England's dominance over New Zealand and Pakistan this summer can be traced back to a pivotal T20I loss in New Zealand in March, according to captain Heather Knight. That defeat sparked a conscious effort to address mental barriers in T20 chases, leading to a ruthless streak that has characterized England's recent performances.Knight praised the team's improved skill level and relentless pressure, which has kept New Zealand's key players quiet. Despite the opposition's struggles, Knight emphasized the quality of England's bowling attack, led by spinners Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, and Charlie Dean.The hosts have also showcased their batting depth, with Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt securing the opening berth and Sophia Dunkley rediscovering her form. Dunkley's versatility and ability to bat up and down the order could earn her a place in the T20 World Cup squad as the spare batter.However, England faces a selection conundrum with teenage left-arm seamer Mahika Gaur, who has missed games due to injury. Knight acknowledged the need to manage young fast bowlers carefully, but Gaur remains in contention for the World Cup squad.England's spin-heavy attack is likely to travel to Bangladesh, with Lauren Filer providing raw pace and Nat Sciver-Brunt increasing her bowling load. Freya Kemp is also returning to her allrounder role after a back injury.Knight emphasized that England's recent success is not solely due to the opposition's performances, but also reflects the team's ongoing improvement. She highlighted the team's ability to beat anyone on their day, as demonstrated in the Ashes series and the T20I series win in India.As England prepares for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, Knight expressed confidence in the team's ability to continue their winning ways in a major tournament.

England's women's cricket team has welcomed a rising star to their ranks, with 20-year-old seamer Ryana MacDonald-Gay receiving her maiden senior call-up for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand.MacDonald-Gay, who has impressed with her performances for South East Stars in the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy, has been added to the 14-player squad as cover due to minor injuries within the group.The young bowler has a proven track record, having represented England at Under-19 and England A levels. In the current season's Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy, she has emerged as the second-leading wicket-taker, claiming 12 wickets at an impressive average of 11.75.England head coach Jon Lewis praised MacDonald-Gay's abilities, stating, "Ryana has been a standout bowler in domestic 50-over cricket and had a good 50-over tour of New Zealand with our England A team. We have brought her in at this point as we have a couple of niggles in the squad. We have been really impressed with her skill level and accuracy."MacDonald-Gay's journey in cricket began at the tender age of 15 when she made her debut for Kent. She has since represented Oval Invincibles in the Women's Hundred, showcasing her versatility across different formats.During England A's tour of New Zealand in March, MacDonald-Gay made a significant impact, taking six wickets in two 50-over matches and five wickets in two T20s. Her performances caught the attention of the national selectors, leading to her inclusion in the senior squad.MacDonald-Gay's addition to the team adds depth to England's bowling attack and provides them with a promising young talent for the future. She is expected to join the squad in Durham on Tuesday ahead of the first ODI against New Zealand at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday.

England's T20I squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand has been announced, with Sophia Dunkley making a swift return after being recalled to the ODI squad last week. The 16-strong squad remains largely unchanged from the one that defeated Pakistan 3-0 last month, with Freya Kemp set to feature as an allrounder as she continues her recovery from a back injury.Dunkley's recall is a testament to her impressive form at regional level, where she is the leading run-scorer in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. She has also performed well in the Charlotte Edwards Cup T20 competition, scoring two half-centuries.Kemp, who made her international debut in 2022, has been gradually returning to action after suffering a back stress fracture during England's tour of the Caribbean. She has played as a batter only in recent months, but England head coach Jon Lewis hopes to see her bowl during the New Zealand series.The absence of Mahika Gaur from the squad is due to a side strain. Gaur, who made her ODI debut for England last year, will have finished her A-Levels by the time the T20Is start, but Lewis has indicated that she will be involved in squad activities as she continues her development.Lewis emphasized the importance of the New Zealand series as preparation for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh later this year. He said, "This five-match series against a strong New Zealand side is really important for us and also vital preparation as we build towards the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh."

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies witnessed a shocking turn of events as former champions Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and regular contenders New Zealand failed to advance to the Super Eight stage.Pakistan, alongside India, was expected to comfortably qualify from Group A. However, a Super Over loss to the host nation USA and a failed run chase against India left them one point short of qualification. Sri Lanka and New Zealand, on the other hand, found themselves in groups with multiple favorites. Sri Lanka was grouped with Bangladesh and South Africa, while New Zealand faced two-time champions West Indies and Afghanistan.Subpar performances and tactical blunders contributed to the downfall of these heavyweights. Pakistan's benching of Tim Southee, the all-time leading wicket-taker in T20Is, in a crucial encounter against Afghanistan proved costly. New Zealand's death-over bowling collapse against West Indies effectively eliminated them from the tournament after two losses in their opening games. Sri Lanka, after two losses and a No-Result against Nepal, finished third in their group with three points.The precarious nature of the pitches in the United States became a point of contention. Pakistan and Sri Lanka felt undone by the bizarre wicket at Nassau County Stadium in New York, believing that different circumstances could have yielded different results. Rain also played spoilsport, denying Sri Lanka and Pakistan their crucial fourth game, which may have altered their fortunes.Despite the setbacks for these established teams, the tournament has highlighted the rise of cricket in associate nations. The host USA defied expectations by beating Pakistan and qualifying for the Super Eight with five points, thanks to a spirited performance from Saurabh Netravalkar.

Lockie Ferguson's Record-Breaking Spell Powers New Zealand to VictoryIn a remarkable display of bowling prowess, New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson etched his name into the history books with an unprecedented spell in a T20 International against Papua New Guinea. The right-arm pacer produced the most economical 4-over spell in T20I history, conceding a mere 4 runs while claiming 3 wickets.Ferguson's spell was a masterclass in accuracy and control. He bowled an astonishing 24 dot balls, denying the PNG batsmen any scoring opportunities. His victims included Lega Siaka, Charles Amini, and Damien Ravu, who were all dismissed for single-digit scores.Ferguson's performance surpassed the previous record held by Canada's Saad Bin Zafar, who had figures of 4-4-0-2 against Panama in 2021. It also became the best-ever spell (in terms of economy) at the T20 World Cup, eclipsing the previous mark set by Tim Southee (3/4) against Uganda in the same tournament.Ferguson's heroics helped New Zealand bowl out Papua New Guinea for a paltry 78 runs in 19.4 overs. The PNG batsmen struggled to cope with Ferguson's pace and accuracy, and they were unable to build any meaningful partnerships.Charles Amini was the only PNG batsman to reach double figures, scoring 17 runs. Trent Boult, Tim Southee, and Ish Sodhi also chipped in with two wickets each for New Zealand.With the victory, New Zealand finished their T20 World Cup campaign on a high note. Ferguson's record-breaking spell will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most dominant performances in the history of the format.

New Zealand, a team once considered among the favorites in T20 cricket, faces Papua New Guinea in their final match of the 2024 T20 World Cup. The match, scheduled for June 17 at Tarouba, holds significant implications for both teams.For New Zealand, it's a chance to end their disappointing tournament on a high note. The team, featuring a golden generation of players, has struggled to find form, with none of their senior batters performing consistently. Trent Boult, their star bowler, has confirmed that this will be his last T20 World Cup, adding to the sense of urgency.Papua New Guinea, on the other hand, will be looking to exit the tournament with a memorable performance. They have shown glimpses of their potential, giving co-hosts West Indies a scare in their opening match. Their spinners have been impressive, and their fast-bowling unit has been consistent.The match will be the first-ever encounter between the two teams. New Zealand will be heavily favored, but Papua New Guinea will be determined to prove that they belong on the world stage.