Cricket

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 Team of the Tournament, recognizing the outstanding performances of players throughout the competition. India's skipper Harmanpreet Kaur stands as the sole Indian representative in the prestigious lineup.Kaur emerged as a beacon of hope for India amidst a challenging campaign. She topped the team's scoring charts and ranked fourth overall in the tournament, amassing 150 runs in four innings. Her two half-centuries propelled her to an impressive average of 150 and a strike rate of 133.92, the fifth-best in the competition. Kaur's blistering 52 off 27 balls against Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in keeping India's semifinal hopes alive.South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt, the tournament's captain, provided a solid foundation for her team at the top of the order. She surpassed 30 runs in all but one of her games, including four scores over 40. Her highest score came in South Africa's opening match, but it was her resilient 42 in the semi-final that laid the groundwork for a successful chase against Australia.Tazmin Brits, South Africa's opener, formed a formidable partnership with Wolvaardt, driving the team to the final. Brits accumulated 187 runs in six innings, averaging an impressive 37.40. She surpassed 40 runs in three innings, including a match-winning unbeaten 57 in South Africa's opening fixture against the West Indies.England's Danni Wyatt-Hodge emerged as a firecracker at the top of the order, notching up the most runs for her side. She registered scores of 40+ in each of England's first three games. Wyatt-Hodge's tournament highlight was an unbeaten 26-ball 51 against Scotland, guiding England to a 10-wicket win in a record partnership alongside Maia Bouchier.New Zealand's Melie Kerr, the Player of the Final and the Player of the Tournament, starred in her team's title-winning campaign. She contributed both with the bat and ball, scoring 135 runs in six innings and taking 15 wickets, becoming the tournament's leading wicket-taker. Her impressive 3 for 24 in the final, including the crucial wickets of Wolvaardt and Bosch, was pivotal in New Zealand's victory.Deandra Dottin shone for the West Indies on her return to international cricket. She scored 120 runs in five innings, averaging 40, and played a crucial role in the middle order. Her tournament-high nine sixes were unmatched, and she also contributed with the ball, taking five wickets, including a standout performance of 4 for 22 in the semifinal against New Zealand.Bangladesh's wicketkeeper Nigar Sultana Joty had a standout performance, excelling both behind the stumps and with the bat. She scored 104 runs in four innings, with a top score of 39 against the West Indies. Her best contributions came with the gloves, where she made six stumpings and took one catch, the highest total among wicketkeepers in the tournament.Afy Fletcher came up clutch with the ball for the West Indies, finishing off with the third-most wickets. Despite not picking up a wicket in their opening game, the 37-year-old returned with strong performances, taking 10 wickets in total, including two 3-wicket hauls against Scotland and England.New Zealand's Rosemary Mair bookended her tournament with two outstanding displays. She returned the best figures for the White Ferns in their crucial opening win over India, taking 4/19, and was excellent again in the final, taking 3/25. With probing accuracy and big movement, Mair proved an important weapon for the champions.South Africa's Nonkululeko Mlaba made her team's tournament come to life with a brilliant 4/29 in their first game against the West Indies. She remained crucial throughout, varying her speeds and lengths to great effect. Her scalp of Tahlia McGrath ended a promising stand for Australia in the semi-final, and she also removed Suzie Bates and Melie Kerr in the final.Australia's reliable pacer Megan Schutt had a typically impactful outing, troubling batters throughout the innings. Her ability to maintain control was matched by her wicket-taking prowess. She was at her best in the group game against New Zealand, striking first and then taking wickets of Melie Kerr and Eden Carson to seal a dominant win for Australia.

Jasprit Bumrah Shines in England Legends' T20 World Cup 'Team of the Tournament'In a surprising turn of events, Jasprit Bumrah emerged as the sole Indian representative in a 'Team of the Tournament' selected by renowned English cricket commentators Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain. The team, compiled based on performances in the group stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup, notably excluded star Indian players Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Arshdeep Singh.Atherton and Hussain, now respected commentators, meticulously analyzed and justified their choices on Sky Sports Cricket. Despite Virat Kohli's status as the all-time leading run-scorer in T20 World Cup history, his meager five runs in the tournament thus far have left him on the outside looking in."We had Bumrah, obviously. He had to be in," Hussain remarked. Bumrah's exceptional performance in India's first three matches, including two Player of the Match awards against Ireland and Pakistan, earned him a well-deserved spot.The English duo also recognized the contributions of several unsung heroes of the tournament. Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Scotland's Brandon McMullen, and USA's Aaron Jones all made the cut.Gurbaz, fresh off his IPL 2024 triumph, has been a revelation, amassing 167 runs in four innings at a blistering strike rate of over 150. McMullen has been even more explosive, boasting a strike rate of 170.Australia's Marcus Stoinis was the lone all-rounder selected by Atherton and Hussain. Stoinis ranks third in the tournament's run-scoring charts with a remarkable strike rate of 190. His versatility extends to bowling, where he has claimed six wickets in four games at an economical rate of 5.77.The Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup commences on Wednesday, June 19, with hosts USA facing South Africa in Group II.

Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden has unveiled his IPL Team of the Tournament, featuring a star-studded lineup of players who have excelled throughout the season. Ahead of the grand finale between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad, Hayden has selected 12 exceptional individuals who have showcased their brilliance on the field.Hayden's team boasts a formidable opening pair in Sunil Narine and Travis Head. Narine, the Kolkata Knight Riders' talisman, has amassed an impressive 482 runs, including a century and three fifties, while Head has accumulated 567 runs for the finalists, including a hundred and four half-centuries.At the pivotal number three spot, Hayden has chosen Virat Kohli, the Royal Challengers Bangalore's batting maestro. Kohli has emerged as the tournament's highest run-getter, slamming 741 runs in 15 games, including a century and five fifties.The middle order is equally formidable, with Rajasthan Royals' captain Sanju Samson (531 runs) and Riyan Parag (573 runs), Lucknow Super Giants' Nicholas Pooran (499 runs), and Hyderabad's Heinrich Klaasen (463 runs) all contributing significantly to their respective teams' success.In the spin department, Hayden has opted for Rajasthan's Yuzvendra Chahal (18 wickets) and KKR's Varun Chakaravarthy (20 wickets), both of whom have been instrumental in their teams' bowling attacks.Leading the pace bowling charge is Mumbai Indians' Jasprit Bumrah (20 wickets), who has consistently delivered match-winning performances. He is joined by Rajasthan's Avesh Khan (19 wickets) and Sandeep Sharma (13 wickets), who have also impressed with their pace and accuracy.Hayden's Team of the Tournament:1. Sunil Narine2. Travis Head3. Virat Kohli4. Sanju Samson5. Nicholas Pooran6. Riyan Parag7. Heinrich Klaasen8. Yuzvendra Chahal9. Varun Chakaravarthy10. Jasprit Bumrah11. Avesh Khan12. Sandeep Sharma