Cricket

David Warner's recent comments about potentially returning to the Australian Test team have sparked a flurry of speculation, but his wife, Candice, has unequivocally stated that "it's not happening."Earlier this month, the 37-year-old Warner surprised the cricket world by expressing his willingness to don the baggy green once more, particularly against India in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With Steve Smith likely to drop down to his usual No. 4 position and Cameron Green nursing a back injury, an opening spot has become available.Warner's statement resonated with fans, who saw an opportunity for the veteran batsman to fill the void. However, Candice Warner has now put an end to any such hopes."He's very passionate about playing for Australia, and I think if George Bailey or Andrew McDonald called him up, he would jump at it," she said. "But it's definitely not going to happen."Candice Warner emphasized that her husband's comments were not a reflection of any disrespect towards the current openers or those vying for selection. She explained that if Warner were to consider a comeback, he would have to follow the same path as everyone else, including playing in the Sheffield Shield."If he genuinely didn't think he was capable of doing it, he wouldn't have said that," she added. "But it's not happening. End of discussion."Warner retired from international cricket in July 2023, ending a remarkable career that included 7,363 Test runs and 17 centuries. While his return would have been a welcome sight for Australian fans, it appears that the door is firmly shut on that possibility.

New Zealand's historic Test series victory in India has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. After securing the first Test in Bengaluru by eight wickets, the Kiwis sealed the series with a commanding 113-run win in Pune, marking their first series triumph on Indian soil.This victory snapped India's remarkable 12-year unbeaten streak at home, a testament to the Black Caps' resilience and determination. It also ended India's impressive run of 18 consecutive home series victories, a streak that had stood since England's triumph in 2012.New Zealand's veteran pacer Tim Southee expressed his team's elation at their historic achievement. "It's a very, very tough place to come," Southee said. "But I think you look at this one in particular, 12 years, 18 series. It's nice to be that side that's broken that run."Southee's words underscore the magnitude of New Zealand's accomplishment. India is renowned for its formidable home record, with its spinners wreaking havoc on visiting batsmen. However, the Kiwis defied the odds, showcasing their adaptability and skill in challenging conditions.The victory is a testament to the depth and quality of New Zealand's squad. Led by the experienced Kane Williamson, the team boasts a balanced attack and a resilient batting lineup. Their ability to adapt to different conditions and outplay India on their home turf is a testament to their tactical acumen and mental fortitude.New Zealand's historic triumph has sent a clear message to other teams worldwide: it is possible to defeat India in India. The Black Caps' victory has inspired hope and belief that even the most formidable teams can be overcome with the right combination of skill, determination, and belief.As the series moves to Mumbai for the third Test, New Zealand will aim to complete a 3-0 clean sweep. India, on the other hand, will be eager to salvage some pride and avoid a humiliating whitewash. The final Test promises to be an intriguing battle between two evenly matched teams, with the Kiwis looking to cement their status as one of the world's leading Test sides.

Mohammad Rizwan: Pakistan's New Limited-Overs CaptainPakistan's newly appointed limited-overs captain, Mohammad Rizwan, has revealed that he never actively sought the role. Rizwan took over from Babar Azam as Pakistan's white-ball captain following the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) latest leadership announcement. He will lead the team in the upcoming three-match ODI and T20I series against Australia."I never desired or asked for captaincy. If it's granted by Allah, one shouldn't refuse. I never sought captaincy," Rizwan said.He emphasized that his focus as captain will be on developing future leaders for the team. "Regarding the past, everyone had their opinions on this. Even when Saifee was captain, I offered him suggestions, and he did the same for me. Now that I've become captain, all the players will be captains for the team. My focus will be that when I leave cricket, there will be more captain material ready for the team," he added.Pakistan is coming off a 2-1 Test series win at home against England and is set to face Australia in an ODI series starting on November 4, followed by three T20Is. The ODIs will take place in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth, while the T20Is will be hosted in Brisbane, Sydney, and Hobart.Reflecting on his new role, Rizwan said, "One of my wishes is to see the Pakistan team in the same kind of atmosphere that we had a couple of years ago. We were all with each other at any stage, whether things were working for us or not. Because of that, a lot of things worked in our favor back then.""The same things are present now also. But the difference is that we have more young talent along with seniors, and we wish that we all as a team gel together. It's a bit difficult when the seniors are playing and when the young lot comes and takes time to understand things. I guess during the Australia series, we will regain the same momentum that we had earlier," he added.Rizwan's appointment as captain has been met with mixed reactions. Some believe that he is the right man for the job, while others question his leadership abilities. However, Rizwan is determined to prove his critics wrong and lead Pakistan to success in the upcoming series against Australia.

Pakistan's newly appointed white-ball captain, Muhammad Rizwan, has acquiesced to the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) revised selection policy, which eliminates his voting privileges in the selection of touring squads and playing elevens. This decision comes after initial hesitation from Rizwan.According to a source within the PCB, Rizwan agreed to the new system after discussions with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and senior selector Aaqib Javed. Under this system, Rizwan's input in the selection process will be purely advisory.The PCB's new selection policy was implemented following Pakistan's humiliating defeat against England in the first Test in Multan. The board appointed three new selectors – Aaqib, Azhar Ali, and Aleem Dar – and granted them sweeping powers to select teams without the consent of the captain or head coach.Pakistan's white-ball head coach, Gary Kirsten, resigned on Monday due to his disagreement with the new selection process and other issues with the PCB.The PCB has assured Rizwan that he will be consulted in finalizing teams, but the ultimate decision will rest with the five selectors. The selection committee is now responsible for selecting touring squads and playing elevens.To ensure effective communication, the PCB is sending national selector Asad Shafiq with the team to Australia for the white-ball matches. Shafiq will consult with the other selectors in Pakistan to select the playing eleven.

England's recent 2-1 Test series defeat to Pakistan has exposed a glaring weakness in their batting lineup against spin bowling. Former England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott has labeled the team "flat track bullies," criticizing their inability to adjust to challenging conditions.After winning the first Test in Multan, England lost the second and third Tests, with all 40 of their wickets falling to spinners. Sajid Khan and Noman Ali combined for a staggering 39 wickets, highlighting the English batters' vulnerability against spin.Boycott has sharply criticized the England batting, particularly their aggressive "Bazball" approach implemented by coach Brendon McCullum. He argues that this approach is ill-suited for spinning pitches, which demand a more nuanced and adaptable batting style."England are flat-track bullies on good batting pitches... spinning pitches demand adjustments," Boycott wrote in his column for The Telegraph UK.He pointed to the example of Harry Brook, who scored a triple century in the first Test but struggled against spin in subsequent innings. "A perfect example is Brook. He scored a brilliant 317 in the first Test and in the next four innings he was naive with no idea against spin and totalled 56 runs," Boycott wrote.After piling up 823 runs in the first Test, England failed to cross 300 again in any innings of the second and third Tests. In the second innings of both the final two Tests, England collapsed for a total of under 150 (144 and 112).Boycott expressed concern that these results will be forgotten as England will not tour the subcontinent again on spinning pitches for nearly three years. "The saddest thing is that England do not play in India or Pakistan again on spinning pitches for nearly three years, so our players will quickly be back to being praised by some supporters as the best batsmen England have ever had. All I say to that is you must be kidding," Boycott wrote.England's series defeat has left them 6th in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle table, significantly reducing their chances of making the WTC final.

Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has expressed his disappointment over the departure of Gary Kirsten as Pakistan's white-ball coach. Kirsten's tenure lasted only seven months, having joined in April 2024 ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024.Pietersen criticized Pakistan cricket for the decision to part ways with Kirsten, calling it "one step forward, two steps back." Kirsten has a successful coaching career, having won the 2011 Cricket World Cup as head coach of India.Despite Pakistan's 2-1 Test series victory over England, Kirsten's exit has created uncertainty in the team's white-ball setup. Pietersen questioned the decision on social media, stating that Pakistan has "too much talent to keep doing this kind of stuff."Kirsten's tenure as Pakistan's white-ball coach was marked by a disappointing group stage exit at the T20 World Cup 2024. Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali suggested that Kirsten's disagreement with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over key decisions, including the appointment of Mohammad Rizwan as white-ball captain, contributed to his departure.Pakistan has appointed Test head coach Jason Gillespie as the interim white-ball coach for the upcoming ODI series against Australia. Aaqib Javed and Saqlain Mushtaq are potential candidates for the permanent role.

As the curtain falls on India's home Test series against New Zealand, questions linger about the future of four stalwarts: Virat Kohli, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rohit Sharma. With the next home series not scheduled until 2025, concerns arise over whether these veterans will still be donning the whites for India.Since 2012, India has dominated home soil, winning 42 out of 55 Tests. This quartet has played a pivotal role in this success, featuring in 22 of those victories. However, recent performances have raised doubts about their continued dominance.Kohli, once a batting colossus, has struggled against spin in Asia since 2020, averaging a mere 28.3. His dismissals in Pune to Mitch Santner exposed a perceived length issue. Rohit Sharma, too, has abandoned his dependable Test approach, opting for a more aggressive style that has often led to his downfall.Ashwin, despite his remarkable consistency, has shown signs of decline. His lengths have been inconsistent, allowing opposition batters to attack him. Jadeja, known for his nagging accuracy, has also seen his economy rate rise in recent home Tests.The team management's decision to move on from Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, who were also part of India's golden home run, highlights the changing landscape. The quartet's contributions have been immense, but their longevity remains uncertain.As fans gather at the Wankhede Stadium for the final Test, they should take the opportunity to acknowledge the quartet's achievements. Their dominance at home has been a testament to their skill and dedication. Whether they continue to grace the Indian Test team beyond 2025 remains to be seen, but their legacy will undoubtedly endure.

Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar is set to enter the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction pool, scheduled for next month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Sundar, who impressed with 11 wickets in the second Test against New Zealand, is unlikely to be retained by his current franchise, SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH).According to reports, Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Gujarat Titans have expressed interest in acquiring Sundar's services. The all-rounder is keen on entering the auction, where he could potentially command a significant sum.While SRH has the option to retain Sundar using the Right to Match (RTM) card, they are reportedly considering retaining only three players ahead of the mega auction. Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, and Abhishek Sharma are expected to be the retained players.Interestingly, Cummins, who captained SRH in 2024, will reportedly receive a pay cut of INR 2 crore, despite leading the team to the finals last season. SRH is expected to finalize the retentions of Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy soon.The IPL has set October 31 as the deadline for retentions. If SRH finalizes five retentions, they will have one RTM card available at the auction, which can only be used for an uncapped Indian player.Sundar's impressive performances in recent matches have made him a valuable asset for any IPL franchise. His all-round abilities, including his effective spin bowling and solid batting, make him a versatile player who can contribute in multiple ways.The upcoming IPL auction promises to be an exciting event, with several top players set to go under the hammer. Sundar's availability will undoubtedly attract the attention of multiple franchises, and he is likely to fetch a substantial contract.

Shreyas Iyer's Future with Kolkata Knight Riders Uncertain Amidst Retention TalksAhead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 retentions, the future of Shreyas Iyer with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) remains uncertain. Despite leading KKR to the IPL 2024 title, media reports suggest a lack of communication between the player and the franchise.According to Times of India, KKR has finally initiated talks with Iyer but is not considering him as their top retention pick. Sources close to the developments express surprise at this decision, given Iyer's proven leadership abilities and success with Delhi Capitals.Multiple franchises have reportedly approached Iyer for a leadership role, indicating his high demand in the league. Sources believe that if he enters the auction pool, several teams will be eager to acquire his services.Meanwhile, former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh has suggested five possible retentions for KKR: Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Phil Salt, and Sunil Narine. He believes these players form the core of the team's success in the previous season.However, the final decision on retentions rests with the KKR management. It remains to be seen whether they will prioritize Iyer's leadership qualities or opt for a different strategy. The IPL 2025 retentions will provide clarity on the future of Shreyas Iyer and the Kolkata Knight Riders.