Cricket

Indian cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur has been nominated for the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) Team of the Decade. The 50-player shortlist recognizes the most outstanding players from the league's 10-year history.Kaur, a right-handed batter, has played 62 matches for Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Renegades in the WBBL. She has scored 1440 runs at an average of 37.89, including seven half-centuries. Her consistent performances have earned her a place among the league's elite players.The WBBL Team of the Decade will be selected by a panel of experts, including Cricket Australia Director Clea Smith, Mel Jones, Lisa Sthalekar, Matthew Mott, Quentin Hull, Laura Jolly, and Alistair Dobson. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite players through the Big Bash App from November 11-24.The final 12-player team will be announced at the WBBL 10 Final on December 1. As per league rules, the team can include a maximum of three overseas players.Kaur's nomination is a testament to her exceptional talent and contributions to the WBBL. She is the only Indian player on the shortlist, highlighting her status as one of the most respected and admired cricketers in the world.The WBBL Team of the Decade will honor the players who have shaped the league's history and inspired generations of young cricketers. Kaur's inclusion on the shortlist is a fitting recognition of her achievements and her role in the growth of women's cricket.

Sydney Thunder's batting prowess and Sam Bates' exceptional bowling performance propelled them to a commanding 19-run victory over Brisbane Heat in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) at the WACA Ground.England captain Heather Knight led the Thunder's charge with an unbeaten 59, while Phoebe Litchfield (40) and Chamari Athapaththu (33) provided valuable contributions. The trio's efforts propelled Thunder to a formidable total of 170 for 5.In response, Brisbane Heat's Charli Knott (55) and Grace Harris (41) threatened to pull off a remarkable run chase. However, Bates' devastating spell of 4 for 25 proved too much for the Heat, who were eventually bowled out for 151.Thunder's innings got off to a solid start as Georgia Voll and Athapaththu put on a 52-run opening partnership. Athapaththu and Litchfield continued the momentum, striking seven boundaries each. Knight then took over, unleashing a flurry of shots to further bolster Thunder's total.Heat's Jess Jonassen emerged as the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 for 22. However, the rest of the bowling attack struggled to contain Thunder's star-studded batting lineup.Brisbane Heat's run chase began promisingly, but Harris' luck ran out when she was caught in the deep for 41. Knott kept the Heat's hopes alive with a maiden WBBL half-century, but her dismissal by Bates proved decisive.Bates' exceptional performance has seen her claim 12 wickets from just four games this season. "I'm not sure if there's a real secret behind [my form]," Bates said. "It's nice to be contributing finally. I had a pretty ordinary season last year, so I reflected quite a bit on that. I changed some little things and they're paying off, which is nice."

Sydney Sixers continued their dominance over Hobart Hurricanes in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL), securing a six-run victory in Hobart on Saturday. Sixers captain Ellyse Perry starred with a magnificent 86 off 62 deliveries, leading her team to a competitive total of 155 for 7.Perry's innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, featuring 11 fours and two sixes. She received support from Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Elyse Villani, Chloe Tryon, and Lauren Smith, who all contributed valuable cameos.Hobart Hurricanes' chase began promisingly with Lizelle Lee hitting a boundary off the first ball. However, her dismissal the following delivery set the tone for a challenging innings. Despite a solid start, the Hurricanes lost wickets at crucial intervals, including those of Australian representatives Nicola Carey and Heather Graham.Villani's four boundaries in the power surge overs kept the Hurricanes in contention, but her dismissal and the subsequent loss of Tryon and Molly Strano to the impressive Caoimhe Bray proved decisive.Bray, a talented 15-year-old schoolgirl, played a pivotal role for the Sixers, capturing the key wickets of Carey and Tryon. English spinner Sophie Ecclestone was another standout performer, showcasing her exceptional skills in defending the total.Perry's match-winning knock extended her impressive form in the WBBL, with the all-rounder now boasting an aggregate of 252 runs from four innings. The victory marked the Sixers' 19th win in 21 encounters against the Hurricanes, who have now lost seven straight matches to the Sydney team.

Perth Scorchers emerged victorious in their WBBL clash against Brisbane Heat at the WACA, securing a 28-run win. Beth Mooney's crucial half-century and Alana King's exceptional five-wicket haul proved instrumental in the Scorchers' triumph.Mooney's innings was a tale of two halves. Initially struggling against Shikha Pandey's pace, she gradually found her rhythm and played a pivotal role in rescuing her team from a precarious position. Her 77 runs off 54 deliveries, including nine boundaries, propelled the Scorchers to a competitive total of 142 for 8.Brisbane Heat's chase got off to a shaky start as they lost both openers within the powerplay. Grace Harris's aggressive start was short-lived, and the Heat found themselves struggling at 38 for 3. Laura Harris's valiant 40 off 21 balls briefly threatened to turn the tide, but King's devastating spell in the final overs extinguished any hopes of a Heat victory.King's five-wicket haul, her best in the WBBL, was a testament to her exceptional skill and accuracy. She claimed the last four wickets in quick succession, including the crucial dismissal of Laura Harris, to seal the win for the Scorchers.The Scorchers' victory improved their record to 2-1, while the Heat dropped to 2-2. Mooney's late-innings heroics and King's match-winning performance were the key factors in the Scorchers' success.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled a revamped Future Tours Programme (FTP) for women's cricket, introducing dedicated windows for major competitions and expanding the ICC Women's ODI Championship.Women's Premier League (WPL) WindowThe Women's Premier League (WPL), India's premier women's franchise competition, will find a new home in the January-February window from 2026 onwards. This shift has prompted Australia to move its marquee home summer to February-March to avoid a clash with the WPL, where Australian players are highly sought after.Hundred and WBBL WindowsThe Hundred, England's 100-ball competition, and the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL), Australia's domestic T20 league, have been allotted dedicated windows in August and November, respectively. This will provide greater clarity and consistency in the women's cricket calendar.ICC Women's ODI Championship ExpansionThe ICC Women's ODI Championship has been expanded to 11 teams, with Zimbabwe becoming the latest entrants. This follows the addition of Bangladesh and Ireland to the ongoing cycle, which will culminate in the ODI World Cup in India in October 2023. The inclusion of Zimbabwe ensures that all of the ICC's Full Members, except Afghanistan, are now part of the championship.T20 Champions TrophyAs part of its strategic plan to have at least one women's global tournament each year, the ICC has introduced a T20 Champions Trophy to be held in Sri Lanka in 2027. This tournament will add to the already crowded calendar, which includes the LA Olympics in August 2028 and the T20 World Cup in September 2028.Other Key Decisions* The ICC has introduced a new points system for the ICC Women's ODI Championship, which will determine qualification for the ODI World Cup.* The ICC Women's T20 World Cup will be expanded to 12 teams from 2024 onwards.* The ICC has committed to increasing investment in women's cricket, including funding for development programs and coaching initiatives.These changes aim to enhance the visibility, competitiveness, and sustainability of women's cricket globally.

Melbourne Stars Triumph Over Hobart Hurricanes with Bhatia's Stellar KnockIn a thrilling Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) encounter at Junction Oval, the Melbourne Stars emerged victorious over the Hobart Hurricanes by a comfortable seven-wicket margin. Indian opener Yastika Bhatia played a pivotal role in the Stars' success, anchoring their chase with a classy half-century.Batting first, the Hurricanes posted a competitive total of 133 for 7. Nicola Carey and Chloe Tryon provided the backbone of their innings, contributing 44 and 35 runs respectively. However, the Stars' bowling attack, led by Marizanne Kapp and Kim Garth, kept the Hurricanes in check.In response, the Stars chased down the target with ease, reaching 136 for 3 with 13 balls to spare. Bhatia led the charge with a superb 57 off 46 deliveries, including seven boundaries and a six. Meg Lanning and Annabel Sutherland also made significant contributions with the bat.Bhatia expressed her gratitude to Lanning for her guidance during the power surge, which helped her navigate the Hurricanes' bowling attack. She also acknowledged the presence of her family, making the victory even more special.Heather Graham provided some resistance for the Hurricanes, dismissing both Stars openers. Carey also claimed the crucial wicket of Lanning. However, the Stars' batting depth proved too strong, with Bhatia, Lanning, and Sutherland guiding them to a comfortable victory.Indian offspinner Deepti Sharma made her Stars debut in this match, taking 1 for 27 from four overs. Her economical spell further bolstered the Stars' bowling attack.

Hobart Hurricanes' record-breaking chase of 174 against Brisbane Heat on Saturday marked a significant moment in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL). England batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge played a pivotal role in the victory, smashing 62 runs off just 35 deliveries.Heat's innings was anchored by Grace Harris' 75, who opened the batting for Australia in the recent World Cup. However, Hurricanes' bowlers managed to restrict Heat to a total of 173 for 5.Wyatt-Hodge and fellow opener Lizelle Lee set the tone for Hurricanes' chase with a blistering 55-run partnership in the opening six overs. Wyatt-Hodge continued to dominate the innings, hitting six fours and three sixes.Despite losing Lee for 38, Wyatt-Hodge remained unfazed and rallied her team. She was eventually dismissed by legspinner Grace Parsons, but not before leaving Hurricanes with a manageable target of 33 runs from the final three overs.Elyse Villani's reverse-swept boundary in the final over sealed the victory for Hurricanes, who secured a seven-wicket win with two balls remaining.Wyatt-Hodge's performance earned her the player-of-the-match award, while Parsons' economical spell of 1 for 15 kept Heat in the contest.The victory ended Heat's undefeated start to the WBBL season and marked a record-breaking day for Hurricanes. Their previous best WBBL chase came in October 2021, when they hauled in a target of 145 against Melbourne Stars.

Sydney Thunder's Georgia Voll has etched her name in the record books with a scintillating 92-run knock, leading her team to a resounding 64-run victory over Adelaide Strikers. The triumph marks Thunder's biggest win in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) and their second victory in three matches this season.Voll, who joined Thunder from Brisbane Heat on a three-year deal, seized the opportunity to open the batting and unleashed a barrage of boundaries. Her innings, which included three sixes and 12 fours, propelled Thunder to their highest total of 212 for 5.The 21-year-old shared a 54-run opening stand with Chamari Athapaththu before combining with Phoebe Litchfield for a 96-run partnership off just 52 balls. Litchfield also contributed a valuable 49, showcasing her creative strokeplay with scoops and reverse sweeps.In reply, Adelaide Strikers struggled to keep pace with Thunder's onslaught. Only Katie Mack's 51 provided some resistance, as Shabnim Ismail and Sam Bates wreaked havoc with the ball. Ismail claimed 3 for 18, while Bates returned career-best figures of 4 for 21, dismantling the Strikers' middle and lower order.The result leaves Adelaide with a 1-2 record in the shortened 19-game season, while Thunder have emerged as early contenders with two wins from three matches. Voll's performance has been a revelation, showcasing her potential as a top-order batter and providing a glimpse of what Thunder can achieve this season.

Sydney Sixers have received a significant boost with the return of Australian captain Alyssa Healy, who has recovered from the injury that forced her to miss the latter stages of the T20 World Cup. Healy, who suffered a ruptured plantar fascia in her right foot during Australia's match against Pakistan, is now available for the WBBL and will make her comeback in Friday's clash against Melbourne Stars at North Sydney Oval.Healy's return is a major boost for the Sixers, who have struggled in her absence. They lost their opening match of the tournament to defending champions Adelaide Strikers and will be looking to bounce back against the Stars. Healy's experience and leadership will be invaluable to the Sixers, who are aiming to win their third WBBL title.Speaking after Australia's semi-final loss to South Africa, Healy admitted that she had wrestled with the decision over whether to try and play in the World Cup. "It was a really hard decision to make last night as to whether or not we're going to give it a punt or not," she said. "I tried to make the 'team decision' and sat myself down, instead of taking the risk."Healy's return to fitness is a timely boost for the Sixers, who are also missing New Zealand allrounder Amelia Kerr. Kerr is doubtful for the entire competition after picking up an injury in India. However, the Sixers have been impressed by the performances of Scotland's Sarah Bryce, who has been in excellent form with the bat.The Sixers will be hoping that Healy can make a quick return to form and help them challenge for the WBBL title. They have a tough match against the Stars on Friday, but Healy's presence will give them a major boost.