Cricket

India's preparations for the upcoming Women's Asia Cup and World Cup are in full swing, and the team's spin and fast-bowling departments are taking shape. With Radha Yadav and Deepti Sharma as the established first two spinners, the battle for the third spinner's spot is heating up between Shreyanka Patil and Asha Sobhana.Patil and Sobhana both played key roles in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's WPL 2024 title triumph, with Patil offering batting depth and Sobhana providing variety with her wrist-spin. Former India captain Anjum Chopra believes the decision will be based on variety and form."If I have to pick skillful spinners, I would want a left-arm spinner, off-spinner, and leg-spinner," Chopra said. "Then the second question comes of the form. Radha Yadav is coming back into form, and Shreyanka brings a lot of value in terms of her bowling, fielding, and batting."In the fast-bowling department, Arundhati Reddy has made a strong case for herself with impressive performances in the recent T20I and ODI series against South Africa. Her seam-bowling all-round ability and fielding prowess have caught the attention of the team management."Arundhati has done reasonably well on coming into the Indian team," Chopra said. "She adds a lot of quality in terms of the fielding department and can bat well."India's success in the Women's Asia Cup has been built on consistency and a wide range of bowling options. Chopra believes the team needs to maintain that consistency and explore more bowling options."First and foremost thing will be the consistency and options of the playing 12," Chopra said. "Then the different wickets that they'll be playing on. They've seen Bangladesh and will now be playing in Sri Lanka. So who bowls when, where, how are scenarios and, situations, in terms of the bowling options as well."Chopra also highlighted the need for a genuine all-rounder who can contribute in all three departments. "At this point of time, apart from Pooja Vastrakar, I don't see anyone filling that gap," she said. "If they can get those quick legs onto the park, they can get those utility players on the path that will really balance out things in all departments."

Alice Capsey, the 18-year-old English cricket sensation, has opened up about the challenges she has faced in balancing her demanding schedule and maintaining her mental well-being. Despite her impressive achievements, Capsey has taken a step back this season to prioritize her personal growth and performance.Since her breakout season in the inaugural Women's Hundred, Capsey has played a staggering 93 top-level T20 matches, leading to a toll on her physical and mental health. She has opted out of regional cricket this season to focus on her international commitments and take breaks when necessary."I've been under the spotlight for the last three years, and it's taken its toll," Capsey admitted. "I've taken a step back this year to prioritize myself and focus on what matters to me as a person and a cricketer."Capsey's decision has paid dividends, as she recently scored a career-best 67 not out against New Zealand in the third T20I, securing victory for England. She acknowledged that she is still learning and developing as a player, but she is confident in her role at No. 3 in the batting order."I know that it's not going to come off every time, but on nights like these, it's about going big and securing the win," Capsey said. "I feel the most calm and controlled I've felt in a very long time."England head coach Jon Lewis has expressed his desire for Capsey to become one of the team's top-five batters in ODIs, while also recognizing her current focus on the shorter format. Capsey has also been keen to contribute with her part-time offspin, but she acknowledges the strength of England's spin-bowling department."I'd love to bowl, but I stand no chance with those three," Capsey said, referring to Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, and Charlie Dean. "They perform day in, day out, and when I do get the opportunity, I'm going to make the most of it."As England prepares for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, Capsey is embracing the team's experimental approach and the opportunity to explore different options. She believes that the team's adaptability and freedom to play to their strengths will be crucial to their success.

Northern Diamonds' Beth Langston made a triumphant return from injury, claiming a stunning six-wicket haul to lead her team to a thrilling four-wicket victory over Sunrisers in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.Langston, who had been sidelined since July 2022 due to a ruptured ACL, showcased her exceptional pace and accuracy, bowling six overs and four overs from the Pavilion End to dismantle the Sunrisers' batting lineup. Her wickets included opener Jo Gardner, Jodi Grewcock, Mady Villiers, Flo Miller, Amara Carr, Eva Gray, and Amu Surenkumar.Sunrisers were bowled out for a mere 109 runs in 31 overs, with only Gardner managing to score over 20. Northern Diamonds' bowlers, including Lizzie Scott, Phoebe Turner, and Erin Burns, shared the remaining wickets.In response, Northern Diamonds faced a shaky start, losing four wickets for 32 runs. However, Burns, who finished unbeaten on 35, and Hollie Armitage (33) steadied the innings with a 43-run partnership. Despite losing Langston for eight, Burns guided her team to victory with 25.2 overs to spare.Sunrisers' Kate Coppack impressed with three wickets, but it was Langston's performance that stole the show. Her six-wicket haul is the best by any bowler in regional cricket this summer.Northern Diamonds' victory propelled them to second place in the table, all but securing a semi-final berth with five games remaining. Sunrisers remain in the top four despite their third loss in nine matches.Langston's return is a major boost for Northern Diamonds and England, who will be looking to defend their World Cup title in India later this year. Her performance is a testament to her resilience and determination, and it bodes well for the future of English women's cricket.

India's women's cricket team displayed an exceptional performance in the third T20I against South Africa, securing a comprehensive 10-wicket victory. Opting to bowl first, India's bowlers, led by Pooja Vastrakar and Radha Yadav, put on a dominant display, restricting South Africa to a mere 84 runs in 17.1 overs.Pooja Vastrakar was the star of the show, claiming four wickets for just 13 runs, while Radha Yadav chipped in with three wickets for six runs. Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, and Deepti Sharma also contributed with a wicket each.South Africa's batting lineup struggled to cope with India's disciplined bowling attack. Tazmim Brits top-scored for the visitors with a 23-ball 20, while Anneke Bosch and Marizanne Kapp made 17 and 10, respectively.In response, India's openers, Shafali Varma and Smriti Mandhana, made light work of the target, scoring 88 runs without losing a wicket in just 10.5 overs. Shafali Varma contributed 27 runs, while Smriti Mandhana remained unbeaten on 54, guiding India to a comfortable victory.The win leveled the three-match series 1-1, with the final T20I scheduled to be played on Thursday. India will be looking to secure the series victory, while South Africa will be determined to bounce back and force a decider.

Guyana Amazon Warriors Bolster Squad with Chloe Tryon and Erin Burns for WCPL 2024Ahead of the 2024 Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL), Guyana Amazon Warriors have made significant additions to their squad by signing South African allrounder Chloe Tryon and Australian allrounder Erin Burns.Tryon, a seasoned campaigner with 98 T20I appearances for South Africa, brings a wealth of experience and versatility to the Amazon Warriors. She has amassed 1136 runs and claimed 35 wickets in the shortest format of the game. Currently touring India with the South African national team, Tryon is known for her power-hitting and ability to contribute with the ball.Burns, on the other hand, has played 162 T20 matches, including 117 in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) for Sydney Sixers and Hobart Hurricanes. She has accumulated 2429 runs and taken 80 wickets in T20 cricket. Burns was part of the Barbados Royals team that emerged victorious in the 2023 WCPL.The Amazon Warriors, who reached the final of the tournament last season under the leadership of Stafanie Taylor, have retained the services of several key players. Taylor, Shabnim Ismail, Karishma Ramharack, Shemaine Campbelle, Natasha McClean, and Shakera Selman will continue to form the core of the team.With the addition of Tryon and Burns, the Amazon Warriors have strengthened their batting and bowling departments. They still need to fill seven more spots in their 15-member squad. Six of these players will be selected through the WCPL draft scheduled for July, while the remaining overseas pick will be announced before the start of the season.The 2024 WCPL will take place in Trinidad from August 21 to 29, with all seven matches being played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. The tournament, now in its third season, will feature Trinbago Knight Riders, Amazon Warriors, and Royals as the participating teams.

Persistent rain washed out the second women's T20 International between India and South Africa in Chennai on July 8, leaving the visitors with a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. India must now win the third and final T20I on Tuesday (July 9) to avoid a rare home series defeat.The match began 15 minutes late due to rain, which continued to interrupt play throughout South Africa's innings. However, the heavens opened during the innings break, forcing both teams to remain in their dressing rooms.As the overs began to dwindle, the nagging drizzle made it impossible to meet the cut-off time for a five-over-a-side contest, prompting the umpires to abandon the match.Earlier, Tazmin Brits played a measured half-century as South Africa overcame some mid-innings jitters to post a challenging 177 for six after being asked to bat first. Brits (52 off 39 balls) received solid support from Anneke Bosch (40 off 32 balls), helping the Proteas reach their second-highest T20I total against India.Openers Laura Wolvaardt (22 off 12 balls) and Brits put on a 42-run opening stand before pacer Pooja Vastrakar dismissed Wolvaardt in the fifth over. Brits continued her brisk scoring alongside Marizanne Kapp (20 off 14 balls), as they accumulated 66 runs during the powerplay.Brits reached her 11th T20I half-century, but her partnership with Bosch ended at 38 when Deepti Sharma dismissed her in the 14th over, with the score reading 113 for three.The Indian bowlers, particularly the spinners, kept the South Africans in check, forcing them to use sweep shots frequently. Vastrakar bowled the final over and dismissed Nadine de Klerk (14 off 9 balls), but Jemimah Rodrigues dropped Annerie Dercksen (12 not out), who punished the Indians with three fours in a row off the last three balls of the innings.Vastrakar and Deepti claimed two wickets each for the hosts.

India's women's cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, faced off against South Africa in the second T20I match of their three-match series in Chennai on July 7. South Africa had won the first match, giving them a 1-0 lead in the series.India made one change to their lineup, bringing in wicketkeeper-batter Uma Chetry in place of Richa Ghosh, who had suffered a concussion in the previous match. South Africa, on the other hand, fielded an unchanged eleven.India won the toss and elected to bowl first. The South African openers, Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, got off to a solid start, putting on a 40-run partnership before Wolvaardt was dismissed by Deepti Sharma for 21. Brits continued to anchor the innings, scoring a well-paced 44 off 40 balls.Marizanne Kapp and Chloe Tryon then took over the scoring duties, adding 46 runs for the third wicket. Kapp played a blistering knock of 34 off 22 balls, while Tryon contributed with a steady 22 off 25 balls.Nadine de Klerk and Anneke Bosch provided some late fireworks, scoring 18 and 16 runs respectively, to help South Africa post a competitive total of 147/6 in their allotted 20 overs.In response, India's batting lineup struggled to get going. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana were dismissed cheaply, leaving India reeling at 12/2. Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma tried to steady the ship, but both fell in quick succession, leaving India in a precarious position at 43/4.Harmanpreet Kaur and Pooja Vastrakar then put on a brief partnership of 26 runs, but both were dismissed within a span of three overs, leaving India's hopes hanging by a thread.Arundhati Reddy and S Sajana showed some resistance in the lower order, but their efforts were not enough as India fell short by 27 runs, losing the match by 120/9.South Africa's Ayabonga Khaka was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/19 in her four overs. Nonkululeko Mlaba and Sinalo Jafta also chipped in with two wickets each.With this victory, South Africa took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The final match of the series will be played on July 9 in Chennai.

India's women's cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, chose to bowl first after winning the toss in the opening T20I against South Africa in Chennai. The decision was influenced by the black-soil Chepauk surface, which Kaur believed would assist spin bowling.India opted for a three-pronged spin attack, including left-arm spinner Radha Yadav, who was the Player of the Series in Bangladesh, along with Asha Sobhana and Deepti Sharma. Offspinner Shreyanka Patil was surprisingly omitted from the XI.In the batting department, D Hemalatha was given an opportunity to cement her position at No. 3 in the absence of the injured Yastika Bhatia. Richa Ghosh played her 50th T20I in the match.South Africa, led by Laura Wolvaardt, were not disheartened by having to bat first. They welcomed the return of allrounder Chloe Tryon, who had missed the earlier part of the tour due to a back injury. Opener Tazmin Brits also made her comeback after missing the Test due to illness.The series is crucial for both teams as they prepare for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in October. While India will participate in the Women's Asia Cup later this month, this could be South Africa's final series before the World Cup.India are aiming to complete a clean sweep of the tour, having already won the ODI series 3-0 and the one-off Test in Chennai last week.

India's women's cricket team is gearing up for the upcoming Women's T20I series against South Africa, which will serve as their final preparation before the Asia Cup (T20) and the T20 World Cup. The team is placing a strong emphasis on improving its fielding, recognizing it as a crucial aspect of their success."Fielding is a game-changer," said batter Jemimah Rodrigues. "We have clarity in our plans across the three departments, and we're working hard to keep getting better in fielding."Rodrigues praised head coach Amol Muzumdar's focus on fitness and fielding. "Since Amol sir has come, we've been hearing the same thing in every team meeting: fitness and fielding are non-negotiable," she said. "We've been working specifically on these areas."The Indian women's cricket team has set high standards in fielding, and they are determined to maintain them. "We will continue to do everything to maintain it," said Rodrigues. "We will work hard, and the results will come."The experience gained during the Women's Premier League (WPL) will also be beneficial for the team in the World Cup. "The best part about our team is that it has been a consistent team for a very long time," said Rodrigues. "Also, having the WPL experience is a plus."The wicket at Chepauk, where the T20I series will be played, is expected to be a high-scoring one. "We got to score 500 runs in the opening day of the Test, which speaks a lot about the wicket here," said Rodrigues. "We will assess the conditions and then go about it."South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt indicated that her team would field their strongest possible XI during the T20 series. "We will be looking to play the strongest XI we can," she said. "We have plans leading up to the World Cup, and we want to nail down different combinations."South Africa experimented with spin options during the one-off Test against India, and Wolvaardt said this would continue in the T20 series. "It's a good time to see if we could perhaps use more spin in the powerplay and the death," she said. "India will probably bowl spin throughout the innings, but it all depends on the conditions."