Cricket

The Ranji Trophy Elite Group C encounter between Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, scheduled to commence on Wednesday at the St. Xavier's College ground, faces the threat of rain. Heavy downpours have already forced the cancellation of the visitor's nets session on Monday. While both teams managed to squeeze in some practice on Tuesday morning, the evening's heavy rainfall has cast a shadow of doubt over the match's timely start.Rain has been a persistent obstacle in Kerala's recent matches. Nearly five sessions of play were washed out in their encounter with Punjab at the same venue three weeks ago. Despite their comprehensive victory over Punjab, rain affected Kerala's away matches against Karnataka and Bengal, resulting in draws.Kerala's captain, Sachin Baby, has indicated that the team will rely on its strength at home, particularly its spin troika of Jalaj Saxena, Aditya Sarwate, and B. Aparajith. The lower-order fightback led by Saxena and Salman Nizar in the drawn encounter against Bengal has been a positive sign for Kerala. With Mohammed Azharuddeen finding form, the team will hope for contributions from its other top-order batters against Uttar Pradesh.Uttar Pradesh, on the other hand, showed signs of hitting their stride against Punjab. Nitish Rana and Madhav Kaushik scored runs, while key bowlers like Shivam Mavi had a good outing with the ball. However, the visitor will miss Rinku Singh, who is away on India duty. Despite this absence, Uttar Pradesh has enough depth in its batting to overcome Rinku's loss.Captain Aryan Juyal may consider playing veteran leg spinner Piyush Chawla given the venue's propensity to favor tweakers. Saurabh Kumar and Shivam Sharma are the two spin-bowling all-rounders in the side, and Kerala will have its task cut out against one of the better-balanced teams in the group.

Karnataka and Kerala were forced to share a point each after their Ranji Trophy Elite Group-C encounter at the Alur Grounds ended in a frustrating draw due to persistent rain. The match was marred by inclement weather, with only two sessions of play possible out of a total of 12.On the opening day, Kerala managed to reach 161 for three in the final session. However, the second day's play was completely washed out, leaving both teams with a solitary point. The result was particularly disappointing for Karnataka, who had also been forced to settle for a draw in their rain-affected opening tie against Madhya Pradesh.Kerala, on the other hand, had secured a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Punjab in their first game, giving them a total of six points. Karnataka, with just one point from two matches, will now travel to Patna to face Bihar from October 26. Kerala, meanwhile, will clash with Bengal in Kolkata.The draw has left both teams in a precarious position in the standings. Karnataka, the eight-time Ranji Trophy champions, will need to secure victories in their remaining matches to stay in contention for a place in the knockout stages. Kerala, too, will need to perform consistently to maintain their position in the top half of the table.The weather conditions have played a significant role in the early stages of the Ranji Trophy, with several matches being affected by rain. The BCCI will be hoping for better weather in the coming weeks to ensure that the tournament can be completed as scheduled.

West Indies' tour of Sri Lanka has been marred by controversy over the state of the pitches, with the visitors expressing dissatisfaction with the turning tracks prepared for the T20I series. Coach Daren Sammy claimed a "moral victory" for his team, suggesting that their performance forced Sri Lanka to produce more favorable conditions for the second and third matches.However, in the first ODI in Pallekele, West Indies faced another challenging surface, compounded by unfavorable weather conditions. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the team's innings was interrupted by rain in the 39th over. The delay not only prevented Sri Lanka's bowlers from bowling with a wet ball but also forced West Indies to contend with a slippery ball throughout the second innings.Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka acknowledged the impact of the wet ball on his team's victory, while debutant Nishan Madushka, who played a crucial role in the match-winning partnership, echoed this sentiment. He noted that the West Indies bowlers struggled to grip the ball, resulting in reduced turn on the wicket.Despite the challenging conditions, West Indies' bowlers initially dominated, taking three wickets in the first three overs. However, Madushka and Asalanka's partnership turned the tide in Sri Lanka's favor. The batters repeatedly hit the ball into waterlogged areas, significantly altering the condition of the ball. West Indies' bowlers appealed to the umpires to change the balls, but their requests were denied.Sri Lanka's strategy of prolonging the game until bowling became more difficult proved effective. Madushka revealed that Asalanka instructed the team to drag the game to 20 or 25 overs before reassessing. This positive mindset contributed to his own performance and the team's eventual victory.With the remaining two ODIs also scheduled to be played in Pallekele, conditions are likely to continue playing a significant role in the outcome. From West Indies' perspective, they have faced a substantial disadvantage thus far on the tour.

Persistent rain has washed out the opening session of the first Test between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru, casting a shadow over India's hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final.India, currently atop the WTC standings, are aiming for their third consecutive appearance in the final. However, the inclement weather in Bengaluru has disrupted their plans. With no play possible on the first day, the teams took lunch without a ball being bowled or the coin being flipped.India's quest for a smooth qualification has been hindered by the rain, as weather forecasts predict further disruptions in the coming days. A start-stop approach is expected for the first three days at the least, which does not bode well for Team India.India's position at the summit of the WTC standings is precarious, with Australia and Sri Lanka lurking behind. India has accumulated 74.24 percentage points after 8 wins, 2 losses, and a draw from 11 matches in the 2023-25 cycle. Australia (62.50 percentage points) and Sri Lanka (55.56 percentage points) are eager to challenge India for a place in the WTC Final.India's recent 2-0 series victory against Bangladesh had boosted their hopes of securing a WTC Final berth. A clean sweep against New Zealand would have guaranteed their qualification even before the high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia from November 22.However, the rain in Bengaluru has thrown a spanner in the works. India will need to make the most of the remaining days of the Test series to secure a positive result and maintain their position at the top of the WTC standings. The World Test Championship final will be played at Lord's next June, and India will be determined to make their third consecutive appearance.

The 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season has been plagued by inclement weather, with the latest victim being the Madhya Pradesh-Karnataka Elite Group-C match at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. The second day of the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to overnight rain that left the ground unplayable.The bowlers' run-up areas at both ends were particularly affected, and despite clear skies and sunshine throughout the day, they remained soggy and slippery. The groundstaff employed various methods to dry out the damp spots, including super-soppers, exhaust fans, and heavy rollers, but their efforts proved futile.This incident comes on the heels of another major venue, Kanpur, being criticized for its failure to restart play for two full days during the recently concluded Test series against Bangladesh. While Indore has experienced unseasonal rains in recent days, some locals and former office-bearers have alleged that much of the infrastructure, such as ground covers, was moved to Gwalior for a T20I match against Bangladesh last Sunday and had only returned on Saturday.However, Rohit Pandit, the Chief Administrative Officer of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, denied these claims, stating that they generally do not cover the entire ground for domestic matches. He also expressed uncertainty about why the game could not be started despite the rain stopping at 4.30 a.m.The match was eventually called off at 3.55 p.m., with rain forecast until October 15. The decision to cover the entire ground with sheets will be at the discretion of the curator.

Queensland and Tasmania shared the One-Day Cup points after rain and bad light curtailed their match in Melbourne to just 16 overs.Matt Renshaw's half-century was the only highlight for Queensland, who posted 128 for 5 in the rain-affected encounter. The left-hander struck 51 off 36 balls, including four fours and three sixes.Persistent rain delayed the start of the match by four-and-a-half hours, and the game was eventually reduced to a 20-over affair with 50-over powerplay rules.Tasmania, who had been skittled by Victoria on the same surface two days earlier, unsurprisingly sent Queensland in to bat.Gabe Bell and Beau Webster made early breakthroughs for Tasmania, removing Ben McDermott and Max Bryant respectively.Renshaw and Lachlan Hearne then combined for a 79-run stand in just 8.4 overs, striking seven fours and four sixes between them.Webster broke the partnership, and Matt Kuhnemann picked up his first wicket for his new state against his old side, bowling Jack Wildermuth for 8.Hearne holed out to deep midwicket off Bell in the 15th over, and the umpires checked the light after 16 overs and called a halt to proceedings.Play never resumed, and the points were shared.Queensland will remain in Melbourne and face Victoria on Friday, with Australia Test opener Usman Khawaja set to play after missing the clash with Tasmania.

England vs Australia: T20I Abandoned Due to Rain, ODI Series LoomsThe highly anticipated third and deciding T20I between England and Australia was unfortunately abandoned due to persistent rain in Manchester on Sunday. The match was called off shortly after 4pm, leaving both teams to share the spoils in the three-match series.The visitors had emerged victorious in the opening match in Southampton, while England responded with a thrilling chase in Cardiff. However, the weather conditions in Manchester proved too challenging for any meaningful cricket to take place.Both teams were expected to recall key fast bowlers for this game. Jofra Archer and Josh Hazlewood had been rested in Cardiff, while Australia had only 11 players to choose from due to Mitchell Marsh's illness. However, the rain prevented any XIs from being named.Attention now turns to the five-match ODI series, which begins on Thursday in Nottingham. The forecast for the ODI series is more promising, and both teams are expected to field strong lineups.England have named Harry Brook as captain in place of the injured Jos Buttler, while Australia will welcome back Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, and Mitchell Starc for the 50-over games.The ODI series will serve as an important preparation for next February's Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Both England and Australia will be looking to experiment with various options over the five games, which will be played in the space of 11 days.

Rain Washes Out Historic Test Matches: A Look Back at Abandoned EncountersIn the annals of cricket history, there are matches that stand out for their thrilling contests, record-breaking performances, and unforgettable moments. However, there are also those that are remembered for a different reason: being abandoned due to inclement weather.One such match was the Dunedin Test during India's tour of New Zealand in 1998-99. The first Test of the series was scheduled to be played at Carisbrook, Dunedin, but rain and wet conditions prevented any play throughout the five days. The toss never took place, and the match was called off without a single ball being bowled.A similar fate befell the one-off Test between Afghanistan and Bangladesh at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground on the outskirts of Delhi. Rain and wet conditions again prevented even the toss from happening, leading to the abandonment of the match.The Greater Noida stadium has been Afghanistan's adopted home for their 'home' series in recent years. The match against Bangladesh was the eighth Test in history that didn't see even a single ball being bowled, and the first in 26 years since the India vs New Zealand game in December 1998.Here is a complete list of the eight abandoned Tests in history:1. England vs Australia - Old Trafford - 18902. England vs Australia - Old Trafford -19383. Australia vs England- Melbourne- 1970-714. New Zealand vs Pakistan - Dunedin - 1988-895. West Indies vs England - Georgetown, Guyana - 1989-906. Pakistan vs Zimbabwe - Faisalabad - 1998-997. New Zealand vs India - Dunedin- 1998-998. Afghanistan vs New Zealand - Greater Noida - 2024These abandoned matches serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the weather and its impact on even the most anticipated sporting events. While fans may be disappointed when a match is called off, the safety of the players and the integrity of the game must always come first.

Persistent rain has washed out the entire first day of the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, leaving the teams frustrated and the series in limbo.The umpires made an inspection at noon, despite the relentless downpour, and decided to abandon play for the day. The chances of any cricket being played were so slim that the teams had not even bothered to leave their hotel.The forecast for the remainder of the day is equally bleak, with more rain expected. The outlook for tomorrow is also not promising, with overcast conditions predicted for much of the day.The teams had already been forced to cancel their practice sessions on Thursday due to the inclement weather.Bangladesh currently hold a 1-0 lead in the two-match series after securing their maiden Test victory over Pakistan in the previous encounter. Pakistan had fielded an all-pace attack in that match, but have included legspinner Abrar Ahmed in their squad for this Test.Bangladesh, meanwhile, are expected to recall Taskin Ahmed to replace fellow fast bowler Nahid Rana. However, the final playing XIs will not be known until at least Saturday morning.Originally scheduled to be played in Karachi, this Test was shifted to Rawalpindi due to ongoing construction at the National Stadium.With the first day of the Test washed out, the series is now in jeopardy. The teams will be hoping for a break in the weather on Saturday, but the forecast is not encouraging.