Cricket

Washington Freedom, owned by Sanjay Govil, is gearing up for the second season of Major League Cricket (MLC) with renewed optimism. Led by captain Steve Smith and coach Ricky Ponting, the team boasts a formidable roster featuring international stars like Travis Head, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Maxwell, and Saurabh Netravalkar.Govil expressed confidence in the team's ability to succeed, citing their competitive lineup and the growing popularity of cricket in the US. He highlighted the recent CBS news report indicating that over 35 million Americans watch cricket, making it the fifth largest cricket media market for the ICC.The success of the T20 World Cup in the US, particularly the India-Pakistan match in New York, has significantly increased awareness and generated excitement for the sport. Govil believes that the US has a huge appetite for sports and that cricket is well-positioned to gain a significant following.He emphasized the importance of passion in driving the growth of cricket in the US, noting that every owner in the MLC is willing to invest in the sport. He also highlighted the interest from advertisers, with Verizon being a major sponsor for Washington Freedom.Govil expressed gratitude for the ICC's decision to grant MLC List-A status, which provides additional motivation for players to perform at their best. He also praised Saurabh Netravalkar, a rising star in US cricket who has impressed with his bowling skills and humble demeanor.With cricket set to be part of the Olympics in LA 2028, Govil anticipates a surge in investment and infrastructure development for the sport in the US. He believes that the US has the potential to excel in cricket and that the Olympics will provide a major impetus for its growth.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has hailed the illustrious career of David Warner, who recently announced his retirement from international cricket. Ponting praised Warner's exceptional impact across all three formats, highlighting the difficulty in finding a suitable replacement.Warner's 15-year international career culminated in Australia's elimination from the T20 World Cup at the Super Eight stage. Ponting, who played alongside and coached Warner, expressed his admiration for the opener's achievements."I put my arm around him and said, '...just take a moment tonight to sit back by yourself and reflect on what's been an unbelievable career across all three formats for Australia,'" Ponting said. "We know he retired in the summer from Test cricket, but you'll struggle to find a guy that's had as big an impact on all three forms in Australian cricket than David Warner has."Warner's retirement leaves a significant void in the Australian team. Pacer Josh Hazlewood acknowledged the challenge of filling Warner's absence in the dressing room."We'll definitely miss him around the group, out in the field and off-field. (An) amazing all-format career," Hazlewood said. "It's sort of been a slow burn with Test cricket, and ODI cricket and now T20. So, life without him, we've sort of gotten used to it a little bit … it's always different when you lose a player that's been there for so long.”Despite his retirement from international cricket, Warner has indicated a willingness to consider a return to the Australian ODI team for the Champions Trophy early next year, contingent on his continued strong performance.

Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting recently presented the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy to Pat Cummins, the current Test and ODI captain of Australia, in recognition of his exceptional achievements as the ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year 2023.Cummins enjoyed a remarkable 2023, leading Australia to victory in both the ODI World Cup and the World Test Championship. He also retained the Ashes urn with a drawn series in England.In addition to his captaincy success, Cummins was also a standout performer on the field. He finished as the sixth-highest wicket-taker across all formats in 2023, and was second only to teammate Nathan Lyon in the wicket-takers list in Tests. Cummins also made valuable contributions with the bat, including a crucial knock in the Edgbaston Test and useful cameos in the World Cup against Afghanistan and South Africa.Ponting praised Cummins' achievements, saying, "It gives me great pleasure to present the ICC Men's International Cricketer of the Year 2023 to none other than Australian Test and One-day captain Pat Cummins. Congratulations buddy, very well deserved, a magnificent year for you and for your team."The International Cricket Council (ICC) shared a video of the presentation on their Instagram handle, showcasing the moment when Ponting handed over the trophy to Cummins.Cummins' success is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and leadership skills. He has established himself as one of the most respected and successful cricketers in the world, and his achievements in 2023 have further cemented his legacy.

Amidst the ongoing T20 World Cup, Indian cricket star Hardik Pandya has been making headlines both on and off the field. Prior to the tournament, rumors of marital discord between Pandya and his wife, Natasa Stankovic, had surfaced. However, the couple has remained silent on the matter.Despite the off-field distractions, Pandya has been delivering impressive performances on the pitch. His contributions with both bat and ball have been crucial for the Indian team's success in the tournament.In a recent encounter with former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, Pandya briefly discussed his personal life. When asked about his well-being, Pandya responded that everything was "all good." This brief exchange has sparked speculation that the rumors of marital problems may be unfounded.Meanwhile, Natasa Stankovic has restored their wedding pictures on Instagram, further fueling the belief that the couple is on good terms. The actress's absence from Mumbai Indians matches during the recent IPL season had initially raised concerns about their relationship.On the cricketing front, India has secured a berth in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup. Skipper Rohit Sharma expressed relief at the team's progress, acknowledging the challenges posed by the newly-laid pitch at Nassau County ground.Arshdeep Singh, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shivam Dube played pivotal roles in India's successful chase against USA. Rohit praised their maturity and composure under pressure.The Indian team will carry the momentum from their group stage victories into the Super 8 stage. They will be aiming to maintain their winning streak and secure a place in the semifinals.

India's Triumph in T20 World Cup: Rohit Sharma's Captaincy Lauded by Ricky PontingIn a thrilling encounter at the T20 World Cup 2024, India emerged victorious over arch-rivals Pakistan by a narrow margin of 6 runs. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has heaped praise on Indian skipper Rohit Sharma for his exceptional leadership during the high-stakes match.Despite a brief stay at the crease, scoring 13 runs off 12 deliveries, Rohit's impact on the game extended far beyond his individual performance. Ponting, in a video posted on the ICC's official Instagram account, commended Rohit's "outstanding" captaincy, highlighting his ability to effectively utilize his bowling resources."Rohit Sharma is a very experienced captain," Ponting remarked. "I just saw him and said, 'Mate, your captaincy today was outstanding.' I don't think he could have done much more."Ponting also praised Hardik Pandya's exceptional performance, describing him as "outstanding" in the crucial game. He noted that Rohit's familiarity with his bowlers, having worked with them in the IPL, gave him a deep understanding of their strengths and weaknesses."He understands them, knows when he can use them," Ponting said. "But it's one thing for the captain to set a plan, the bowlers are going to go ahead and execute it, and Hardik was outstanding."Ponting observed that the wicket conditions changed significantly during the second innings. As the sun emerged, the wicket dried out rapidly, favoring the seamers. However, Rohit's astute captaincy allowed India to adapt and adjust on the run."I thought he did a really good job with the ball as well," Ponting added. "Their spinner bowled four overs for 20 and Patel picked up a big wicket. The wicket was definitely different in the second innings. Pakistan got the ball to hold up through natural variation, but when the sun came out, the wicket dried out quite quickly. I thought he did that really well."Rohit's leadership played a pivotal role in India's victory, showcasing his ability to make quick decisions and inspire his team to perform under pressure. His experience and understanding of the game proved invaluable in guiding India to a hard-fought win.

Ricky Ponting, the legendary Australian cricketer and two-time World Cup-winning captain, believes that India has the potential to end their ICC trophy drought but emphasizes the importance of mental fortitude and peaking at the right time.India, who last won an ICC trophy in 2013, began their T20 World Cup campaign with an emphatic victory over Ireland. Ponting, speaking from New York, acknowledged India's strong squad but stressed the need to overcome the immense pressure that comes with representing a cricket-obsessed nation."You've got to try and keep a clear mind where you can focus on the task at hand rather than thinking too far ahead or worrying about any sort of external pressures," said Ponting. "There's no doubting the talent (in India squad), but we also shouldn't forget that the World Cups are not easy to win."Ponting highlighted the importance of raising the game in the latter stages of the tournament. "One thing you know about World Cups, you have to have your best players playing well at the right time. Australian teams are playing their best cricket right at the back half of the tournament and peaking again at the right time in a major event," he said.Six months ago, Australia lifted the ODI World Cup trophy under Pat Cummins' captaincy, demonstrating their ability to peak at the right moment. Ponting believes India has the talent to match the likes of Australia, England, and South Africa, who he considers the top four teams in the ongoing tournament."I mean, it's not so much about power hitting, it's about strike rates as well," said Ponting when asked if India lacked the power-hitting capabilities of their rivals. "If you look at the strike rates of the Indian batters, they'd probably match up pretty well against players from other countries."Ponting also emphasized the importance of opening with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli throughout the tournament. "What we've seen with Rohit over the last couple of years is that he is playing a lot more of an aggressive role at the top of the order than he probably once did. Virat is coming off another magnificent IPL opening the batting for RCB, so I would definitely be going that way," he said.In terms of spin bowling, Ponting believes India is well-covered with the likes of Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel in their squad. "A lot of Australia's success as well revolves around how well Adam Zampa bowls. We saw that in the 50-over World Cup and what he's done for the Australian T20 cricket in the last four or five years has been outstanding. Spin might play a bigger role as the tournament goes on...Wrist spin obviously even more important," he added.

Babar Azam's reinstatement as Pakistan's captain ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup has sparked a renewed sense of optimism among fans and experts alike. The nation's premier batsman had resigned from captaincy in all formats after Pakistan's disappointing performance at the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, less than a year later, Babar finds himself back in the hot seat, carrying the hopes of a nation on his shoulders.Ricky Ponting, one of the most successful captains in cricket history, believes that Babar's second tenure as captain could be more fruitful than his first. Speaking to ICC, Ponting emphasized that captaincy is not always suited to the best players. "Captaincy sits better with some players more than others," said Ponting. He stressed that captains need to focus not only on their own performance but also on the improvement of the entire team.Ponting believes that Babar may have been a victim of this during his first tenure. "Babar, when he first started, I had the feeling his numbers went down on the back of it," he said. However, Ponting believes that Babar may have learned from his first experience as captain, which could pave the way for success in his second term.Pakistan's form in the lead-up to the 2024 T20 World Cup has been far from impressive. However, with India waiting for them on June 9, Babar has a golden opportunity to prove that the Pakistan Cricket Board has made the right choice in backing him again.

T20 World Cup 2024: Ponting Advises Lowering Expectations on ScoresFormer Australian captain Ricky Ponting has urged teams and batters to adjust their expectations for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, citing the likelihood of slower pitches in the West Indies. Ponting believes that the high-scoring totals witnessed in the recent IPL 2024 may not be replicated in the World Cup, especially during the latter stages.Ponting's comments stem from the recent low-scoring match between Sri Lanka and South Africa in New York, where Sri Lanka was bowled out for 77. The match featured a high number of dot balls, highlighting the challenges batters may face on the drop-in pitches used at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.Ponting emphasized that the day-time conditions in New York contributed to the ball swinging and seaming, making it difficult for batters to score freely. He advised teams to adjust their strategies and lower their expectations on scores, particularly in the early stages of the tournament.The ICC's decision to build a cricket stadium from scratch in New York and install drop-in pitches has raised concerns about the playing conditions. Head curator Damian Hough has stated his intention to create a balanced contest between bat and ball, which may result in slower pitches.Ponting believes that the pitches in the West Indies, which will host the Super Eights and knockout matches, could also become slower towards the end of the tournament. He noted that the lack of recent cricket on many of the Caribbean venues may have affected the preparation of the wickets.India captain Rohit Sharma echoed Ponting's sentiments, acknowledging that the New York pitch did not appear conducive to high scores. He emphasized the need for teams to adapt quickly and adjust their game plans accordingly.Ponting's advice serves as a reminder that the T20 World Cup 2024 will present different challenges compared to the high-scoring IPL. Teams and batters will need to adjust their expectations and strategies to succeed in the tournament's unique conditions.

David Warner's impending retirement from international cricket will leave a significant void in the Australian team beyond his prolific run-scoring, according to former captain Ricky Ponting. Warner's final international appearance will be at the T20 World Cup 2024, marking the culmination of his phased retirement from Australia duty.Despite a challenging IPL season with Delhi Capitals, where Ponting served as head coach, Warner's experience and winning mentality make him an invaluable asset to the team, especially in major tournaments like the World Cup. Ponting believes that Warner's absence will be felt not only in terms of runs but also in his leadership and competitive spirit.Replacing Warner will be a daunting task, but Ponting is confident that the "extreme talent" of Jake Fraser-McGurk will eventually fill the void at the top of the order. Fraser-McGurk, who will serve as a traveling reserve during the World Cup, has already made his debut for Australia in ODIs and impressed with his performances for Delhi Capitals.Ponting also highlighted the potential of the current Australian team to achieve something "very special" by winning trophies across all formats. With a strong group of players and experienced leaders like Mitchell Marsh and Pat Cummins, Australia has a chance to unite the World Test Championship, ODI World Cup, and T20 World Cup.