Cricket

Doug Bracewell, the seasoned New Zealand seamer, has faced a one-month suspension from the country's Sports Tribunal for violating anti-doping regulations. The suspension stems from the detection of cocaine and its metabolite in his system during an in-competition test conducted on January 13, 2023.Initially, Bracewell maintained that his cocaine use occurred out-of-competition, unrelated to his sporting performance. However, the Sport Integrity Commission contested this claim, arguing that the substance must have been consumed during the competition.Following the submission of expert evidence from both parties, the Commission reconsidered its position and accepted Bracewell's account. As a result, a three-month ineligibility period was agreed upon, which was subsequently reduced to one month due to Bracewell's successful completion of a Substance of Abuse treatment program.The tribunal imposed the one-month ineligibility period, effective from April 11, 2023, the date of Bracewell's provisional suspension. The 34-year-old has represented New Zealand in 28 Tests, 21 ODIs, and 20 T20Is since his international debut in 2011.Bracewell, a long-time Central Districts player, recently opted out of his contract with the club to pursue a freelance career. He is expected to participate in the Abu Dhabi T20 league as part of the New York Strikers and the SA20 as a member of the Joburg Super Kings.

Kane Williamson has hailed the "incredible" career of his close friend Tim Southee after the pace bowler announced his retirement from Tests following the England series.Williamson and Southee's careers have been intertwined since their junior and Under-19 days, through domestic cricket, and into all formats for New Zealand. The pair played their 100th Tests together against Australia earlier this year, with Williamson making his debut two-and-a-half years after Southee.Williamson, New Zealand's leading run-scorer in Test history, praised Southee's longevity and achievements. "To do it as long as Tim has is incredible as a fast bowler," Williamson said. "There's not many in the history of the game who have been able to achieve what he has."Southee's retirement marks the latest departure from an era of successful New Zealand players, including Ross Taylor, BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme, and Neil Wagner. Trent Boult has also stepped away from Tests and T20Is.Williamson acknowledged the changing landscape of the team but emphasized the excitement for the future. "It's life, isn't it," he said. "You do realize you are closer towards the end than the start."Williamson, who will return from a groin injury against England, also discussed his own career and the challenges of managing his body in the latter stages. "It's not major, which is good," he said. "But I've certainly had a few reminders that I'm not invincible."Despite missing the historic 3-0 victory in India, Williamson praised the team's performance. "To go over and play the way they did, so special, one of our all-time cricketing memories," he said.

Kane Williamson's return from injury has bolstered New Zealand's squad for the upcoming Test series against England, while Nathan Smith has earned his maiden Test call-up.Williamson, who missed the recent tour of India due to a groin injury, has recovered in time to take his place in the squad. His return could put pressure on Will Young, who impressed as player of the series in India.Smith, a 26-year-old allrounder, has been rewarded for his impressive performances in domestic cricket. He was the leading wicket-taker in last season's Plunket Shield and has also performed well for Worcestershire in the County Championship.Uncapped seamer Jacob Duffy has also been included in the squad, while Bear Sears and Kyle Jamieson are unavailable due to injuries. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, who took 13 wickets in Pune, will join the group for the second and third Tests in Wellington and Hamilton.Ajaz Patel, who claimed 15 wickets against India, has been omitted from the squad, meaning his record of taking all 85 of his Test wickets away from home will remain intact for now.The opening Test against England takes place in Christchurch from November 28. New Zealand will be looking to build on their 3-0 win in India, which has given them a chance of reaching the World Test Championship final."It's obviously a big series for the side in terms of the World Test Championship and to also now be farewelling someone like Tim Southee, only raises it up further," said New Zealand selector Sam Wells."Tim has had a fabulous career and will go down as one of the great Black Caps. I am sure the team and the public will want to give Tim a fitting send-off in what is a highly anticipated series."

Tim Southee, New Zealand's legendary seam bowler, has announced his retirement from Test cricket after a remarkable 18-year career. The 35-year-old will bid farewell to the longest format of the game on his home ground in Hamilton next month, at the conclusion of England's tour of New Zealand.Southee has been a cornerstone of the Black Caps' bowling attack since making his debut against England in 2008. He has claimed 385 Test wickets in 104 appearances, second only to Sir Richard Hadlee (431) among New Zealanders. His impressive tally includes 15 five-wicket hauls and three ten-wicket matches.Southee's recent performances have been particularly noteworthy. He played a key role in New Zealand's historic 3-0 series win in India, the first by a visiting team since 2012-13. Despite claiming just three wickets across the first two Tests, he dismissed India's captain, Rohit Sharma, for a duck in the series opener and their top-scorer, Sarfaraz Khan, for 150 in the second innings.Southee's retirement marks the end of an era for New Zealand cricket. He is the country's most prolific bowler in international cricket, with 770 wickets across formats to date. No other bowler in international cricket has matched his feat of reaching 300 Test wickets, 200 ODI wickets, and 100 T20I wickets.Beyond his bowling prowess, Southee has also been a valuable contributor with the bat. He has scored 93 Test sixes, second only to Brendon McCullum among New Zealanders. His maiden Test innings in 2008 saw him strike an unbeaten 77, which remains his highest score in the format.Southee's retirement announcement has been met with tributes from around the cricket world. He is widely regarded as one of the finest bowlers of his generation and a true ambassador for the game.

Melie Kerr, the New Zealand all-rounder, has been crowned the ICC Women's Player of the Month for October, marking her second time receiving the prestigious honor. Her exceptional performances during the T20 World Cup and New Zealand's subsequent tour of India earned her the accolade.Kerr's brilliance shone brightest in the T20 World Cup final, where she was named Player of the Match. Her crucial 43 runs and three wickets played a pivotal role in New Zealand's historic victory. Throughout the tournament, she showcased her all-round prowess, amassing 135 runs and claiming a tournament-record 15 wickets, earning her the Player of the Tournament award.Continuing her impressive form, Kerr made an immediate impact in India. In the solitary ODI she played, she grabbed a four-wicket haul and contributed an unbeaten 25 runs with the bat. Her overall tally for October stands at 160 runs and 19 wickets from just seven appearances."It's an honor to receive this award," said Kerr. "There are so many world-class cricketers who deserve it. It's a special month with the World Cup win, and I'm grateful to my team, coaches, and family for their support."Kerr's consistent performances have solidified her status as one of the most formidable all-rounders in women's cricket. Her ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes her an invaluable asset to any team.

Sri Lanka's spin-bowling all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand due to a left hamstring injury sustained during the second T20I on Sunday. Hasaranga, who has been Sri Lanka's most successful bowler in the T20I series, will be replaced by Dushan Hemantha, another legspin-bowling allrounder.Hasaranga's absence is a significant blow to Sri Lanka, as he has been in excellent form in recent matches. In the first T20I, he took 2 for 20 and scored an important 22 off 23 balls. In the second T20I, he took 4 for 17, including the wickets of New Zealand's top three batsmen.Sri Lanka already had another legspinner in the squad in Jeffrey Vandersay, but Hasaranga's absence will leave a big hole in the team's bowling attack. Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage are the other frontline spinners in the squad.Hasaranga becomes the second player to be ruled out of the series due to injuries sustained in the second T20I. New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is also unavailable due to a calf injury.The ODI series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand begins on Wednesday, with the first match to be played in Dambulla. The remaining two games will be played in Pallekele.

Sri Lanka has announced its squads for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against New Zealand, with Kusal Perera and Mohamed Shiraz making notable inclusions.Perera, who has been out of the ODI team for nearly a year, has earned a recall based on his impressive performance in the recent T20I series against West Indies, where he scored an unbeaten 55. Shiraz, a 29-year-old seamer, has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket, taking 84 wickets at an average of 18.75 in List A matches. However, he has only bowled four overs in international cricket so far.The T20I squad remains unchanged from the one that faced West Indies, with all-rounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe retaining his place. Dinesh Chandimal, who has not played international white-ball cricket since 2022, has also been included in the T20I squad after impressing in domestic competitions.Sri Lanka's batting lineup remains largely unchanged, with Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, and Charith Asalanka expected to form the core of the top order. In T20Is, Bhanuka Rajapaksa provides a power-hitting option in the middle order, while Janith Liyanage offers a more accumulative approach in ODIs, along with his seam bowling abilities.The spin department features the regular duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, with Jeffrey Vandersay and Dunith Wellalage also included in both squads. However, there are some changes in the seam-bowling department. Slingers Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara are only in the T20I squad, while left-armer Dilshan Madushanka and Shiraz are ODI bowlers who do not make the T20 outfit. Asitha Fernando is the only seamer to be included in both squads.The series against New Zealand will begin on November 9, with four matches (three T20Is and one ODI) to be played in Dambulla and the remaining two ODIs in Pallekele.

Tom Latham's astute captaincy played a pivotal role in New Zealand's historic Test series triumph in India, breaking the hosts' formidable home streak of 18 consecutive series victories. Latham's leadership style, characterized by simplicity and unwavering trust in his bowlers, proved to be a winning formula.After Tim Southee relinquished the captaincy following New Zealand's disappointing losses in Sri Lanka, Latham stepped into the role. He immediately implemented a straightforward approach, avoiding excessive tinkering with the bowling lineup. In the second Test, he placed his faith in left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, while in the third Test, he entrusted Ajaz Patel with the spin duties.Latham's unwavering belief in his bowlers paid dividends. Unlike Southee, who often sought to rotate bowlers frequently, Latham allowed his bowlers to settle into their rhythm and bowl extended spells. This strategy allowed the bowlers to develop a better understanding of the conditions and the opposition batters."He let bowlers just bowl. He let them stay, and he didn't try and introduce or change things just for the sake of change," said former New Zealand batter-turned-coach Craig Cumming. "The simplicity of doing that allowed them to be more successful."Latham's leadership also extended beyond bowling tactics. He fostered a positive and supportive environment within the team, which contributed to their success. The players felt empowered and confident under his guidance.New Zealand's series win in India not only marked a historic achievement but also propelled them into contention for the World Test Championship final at Lord's in June 2025. Latham's captaincy has been instrumental in their resurgence and has established him as a respected and successful leader in the world of cricket.

Will Young's rise to prominence in the New Zealand Test team has been a testament to his resilience and determination. After years of waiting in the wings as a reserve batter, Young seized the opportunity to make his mark in the historic 3-0 Test series win over India.With Kane Williamson sidelined due to injury, Young was thrust into the spotlight. However, instead of feeling the pressure, he embraced the challenge as a chance to establish his own identity. "I've been in and out through form or selection," Young said. "I've been a reserve batter for a number of years now, so I've come to know the feeling of running the drinks really well."Young's confidence stemmed from his preparation and the support of his teammates. "We had three really good camps leading into the series back home, and he [Williamson] was at those camps," Young said. "But it's great at the moment because we've got fantastic batters all throughout our line-up."Young's approach was to play to his strengths and not try to imitate Williamson. "I try not to bat like Kane, I try to bat like me and do it my own way," he said.The series victory was particularly satisfying for Young, as it marked the first time a New Zealand team had beaten India 3-0 on their home soil. "As a New Zealander coming over here and playing in Indian conditions, it's always going to be slightly more satisfaction of scoring runs against spin," Young said.Young's contributions were crucial, particularly in the third Test at Mumbai, where his scores of 71 and 51 helped New Zealand secure the series win. He finished the series as the third-highest run-getter, behind Rishabh Pant and Rachin Ravindra.Young's success is a reminder that even in the shadow of greatness, there is always an opportunity to shine. By embracing his own style and seizing his chance, he has become an integral part of New Zealand's Test team.