Cricket

Australia's T20I squad for the upcoming series against Pakistan has been announced, with Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, and Spencer Johnson returning from injury. However, a new captain is yet to be confirmed, as Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, and Pat Cummins are all unavailable.Bartlett, Ellis, and Johnson were all ruled out of Australia's recent tour of the UK with various injuries. Johnson made his return to domestic cricket last Friday, while Bartlett and Ellis are expected to be fit for the three-match series against Pakistan, which begins on November 14.The 13-man squad is largely unchanged from the one that toured the UK in September, with Glenn Maxwell returning to the T20I fold after being rested for the T20I portion of that tour. Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk are expected to open the batting, as they likely will in the ODI series that precedes the T20Is against Pakistan.With the series finishing just four days before the opening Test against India in Perth, none of the Test players were made available. Marsh and Head are also missing the ODI series while on paternity leave.Australia will have a different coaching staff for the T20I series as well, with head coach Andrew McDonald, batting coach Michael Di Venuto, and bowling coach Daniel Vettori all resting ahead of the Test series. Assistant coach Andre Borovec will take charge, as he did for Australia's five-match T20I series against India in India last October. Former Australia batter Brad Hodge is also set to join the group as an assistant coach after touring with Australia's T20 World Cup squad as a coaching consultant in June. Matthew Wade, who is yet to retire from international cricket and captained Australia's T20I side in February, is reportedly set to join the squad as well in a coaching role.

Caoimhe Bray, the 15-year-old all-rounder, has made a remarkable debut for the Sydney Sixers in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL), becoming the youngest player in the competition's history. Despite comparisons to Australian legend Ellyse Perry, Bray remains unfazed and embraces the opportunity to learn from her idol.Bray's journey to the WBBL has been meteoric. As an eight-year-old, she played for her Under-11 club cricket team. Last season, she amassed 955 runs in the NSW Under-18 Brewer Shield and led her team to the title. Her all-round performance in a tri-series against New Zealand earned her a spot in the Australia Under-19 squad.In the WBBL Spring Challenge, Bray impressed with her pace bowling, clocking 112kph. Her five wickets in four games, including the dismissal of Laura Harris, caught the attention of the Sixers.On Sunday, Bray made her WBBL debut against the Adelaide Strikers. She claimed the wicket of Deandra Dottin and hit the winning runs, guiding the Sixers to victory. Despite her nerves, Bray remained composed and focused on her own game."I don't think it's anything like scary or overwhelming being compared to her [Ellyse Perry] because she's such a great person," Bray said. "I just love that people are even saying it."Bray's dual-sport career includes representing the Junior Matildas in football. Despite her WBBL contract, she intends to continue playing both sports for as long as possible.Bray's rapid rise has been a testament to her talent and dedication. Her ability to bowl at high speeds and her all-round skills have made her a valuable asset to the Sixers. As she continues to develop, Bray has the potential to become one of the most exciting players in Australian cricket.

Afghanistan A emerged victorious in the ACC Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024, defeating Sri Lanka A by seven wickets in a thrilling final at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground.Sri Lanka A, after winning the toss, opted to bat first. However, their innings faltered as they struggled to build partnerships. Sahan Arachchige stood out with an unbeaten 64 off 47 deliveries, including six towering sixes. Nimesh Vimukthi (23) and Pawan Rathnayake (20) provided some support, but Sri Lanka A could only muster 133/7 in their allotted 20 overs.Afghanistan A's bowlers were in top form, led by Bilal Sami's impressive three-wicket haul. Allah Ghazanfar also chipped in with two wickets.In the chase, Afghanistan A lost Zubaid Akbari for a duck in the first over. However, Sediqullah Atal (55) and Darwish Rasooli (24) steadied the ship with a crucial partnership. Karim Janat (33) and Mohammad Ishaq (16) then accelerated the scoring, guiding Afghanistan A to a comfortable seven-wicket victory.Sri Lanka A's bowlers failed to make an impact, with only Eshan Malinga, Dushan Hemantha, and Sahan Arachchige claiming wickets.Afghanistan A's triumph marks a significant achievement for the nation's cricket development program. The team's success in this tournament showcases the growing talent and potential within Afghanistan's cricketing ranks.

USA Cricket Parts Ways with Head Coach Stuart LawUSA Cricket has announced the departure of Stuart Law as the head coach of the men's national team. The decision, made in the midst of the team's ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 campaign, came as a surprise to many.Law's tenure, which began in April 2023, lasted just over seven months. During that time, the team achieved notable successes, including a T20I series victory over Bangladesh and a historic qualification for the Super-Eights stage of the T20 World Cup.However, despite these accomplishments, USA Cricket CEO Johnathan Atkeison stated that "it was not an easy decision to make." He added, "Unfortunately, we felt that a change was necessary for the next phase of competitive preparation."Venu Pisike, Chair of USA Cricket, expressed gratitude for Law's contributions. "We thank Stuart for his contributions to USA Cricket during his tenure. We wish him nothing but success in his future endeavors."The departure of Law leaves a void in the USA Cricket coaching staff. The team is currently second in the Cricket World Cup League 2 points table, with six wins in nine games. They are aiming to qualify for the 2027 ODI World Cup.USA Cricket has not yet announced a replacement for Law. The team's next match is scheduled for February 26 against Nepal in Dallas.

S. Ajith Ram, the joint-second highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy last year with 41 scalps, proved his worth once again by claiming four wickets on a placid surface against Chhattisgarh. Describing it as one of the most challenging conditions he had bowled on, the left-arm spinner said, "It was hot out there, and the pitch was very flat. It was tough when the batters had the upper hand, but it was a good experience."Ajith Ram explained his approach, emphasizing the importance of length and varying speeds and lines. "Length is mandatory, but I kept varying my speeds and adjusting my lines at times. It was a test of temperament. On these pitches, you need to be patient, and if you keep bowling at a particular spot, you can get rewards."Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh skipper Amandeep Khare expressed satisfaction with his batters' efforts and confidence in his bowlers' ability to secure at least three points. "We are quite happy with the effort the boys are putting in and the score we have got. We believe 500 is enough and are confident of restricting them," said Khare."Psychologically, if you score 500, it will also impact the other team. The surface helped the batters until tea, but in the final session, it started spinning more. We are playing three spinners and are hopeful our bowlers can get the wickets," he added.

India's star batters have suffered a significant decline in confidence due to the excessive use of rank turners in home matches, according to former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. This has adversely affected their home averages and overall careers.Harbhajan cited Ajinkya Rahane as a prime example, highlighting that his career has been hindered by these challenging surfaces. In the recent Test series against New Zealand, India lost on a Pune turner after managing only 156 and 245 runs, with New Zealand's Mitchell Santner taking 13 wickets.Harbhajan questioned the Indian team's strategy of relying heavily on turners, arguing that it has proven counterproductive. He pointed out that batters have lost confidence playing on these tracks, as they are unable to predict the ball's behavior."Our batters have lost a lot of confidence playing on these tracks. The biggest example is Ajinkya Rahane, a fine player. His career suffered because of these kind of surfaces," Harbhajan emphasized.He further explained that batters lose confidence when they are unsure whether to attack or defend on pitches where the ball turns excessively. This has led to a decline in their performance, even in overseas matches where the conditions are more favorable.Harbhajan also criticized the Indian team management's preference for bowlers who are accurate but lack the ability to turn the ball on flat decks. He suggested that bowlers like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who possess exceptional spin skills, should be utilized more effectively.Despite the challenges, Harbhajan believes that India has the talent to produce replacements for its aging players. He emphasized the importance of providing opportunities to young players at the right time, citing the examples of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma."The game will move on and we will get replacements," Harbhajan asserted. "It is about getting right opportunities at right time."However, he acknowledged that the upcoming Australia series and the World Test Championship final will be crucial for many players in the team.

Team India's recent Test series loss to New Zealand has sparked a wave of criticism, with former South Africa captain AB de Villiers weighing in on the matter. De Villiers believes that the perception of Indian players as exceptional spin players is outdated and that other teams have caught up.In the second Test, New Zealand's left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner exploited the Indian batters' weaknesses on a turning Pune track, taking 13 wickets in the match and handing India a 113-run defeat. This marked India's first Test series loss at home since 2012.De Villiers suggests that the belief in Indian players' spin prowess is a perception rather than a fact. He emphasizes that even the best batters can struggle against quality spin bowling on turning wickets. However, he also acknowledges the talent of Indian players, stating that they are "incredible players" who can play spin.De Villiers believes that India took a significant risk by preparing a turning track, which played into New Zealand's hands. He notes that New Zealand's bowlers, including part-timer Glenn Phillips, were able to exploit the conditions effectively."They lost the toss in the second Test. I think they took a big risk by really making sure that the wicket turns a lot from start to finish," said de Villiers. "With that, when you play against a street-smart team, guys like Glenn Phillips, no one thought of him as a spinner, but fiery spin right at the wickets quick, doesn't matter if you are a part-time spinner, you are in the match."De Villiers concludes that India's loss highlights the need for teams to adapt to different conditions and that the perception of Indian players as invincible spin players is no longer valid.

Bengal's seamer Ishan Porel made a triumphant return to competitive cricket, scalping three wickets on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Group-C match against Kerala at the Jadavpur University ground.After a frustrating day of no play due to a damp outfield, the match finally commenced at 3:30 p.m. Bengal captain Anustup Majumdar wasted no time in putting Kerala in to bat, hoping to exploit the bowler-friendly conditions.Porel, playing his first match in nearly nine months after recovering from fitness issues, justified his captain's faith. In his fifth over, he trapped Rohan Kunnummal (23) in front and had B. Aparajith caught behind in consecutive deliveries.Left-arm spinner Pradipta Pramanik then accounted for Aditya Sarvate in the next over, leaving Kerala reeling at 38 for four. Captain Sachin Baby (4) and Akshay Chandran (9) were at the crease when bad light stopped play after about one hour and 20 minutes of play.Bengal coach L.R. Shukla expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, saying, "Ishan had put up a lot of hard work before this match. He bowled well. We had a target of taking three wickets today. Our bowlers showed a positive mindset, it's good to take four. There will be some assistance for the bowlers in the morning. Hopefully, we can do well."

Pakistan's Exclusion of Fakhar Zaman Sparks ControversyPakistan's decision to exclude Fakhar Zaman from its white-ball squads for the upcoming series against Australia and Zimbabwe has drawn widespread criticism. The omission of the explosive opener has raised questions about the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) selection criteria and sparked outrage among fans and experts.Zaman, a key player in Pakistan's ODI and T20I setup, has been a consistent performer. His absence from these crucial tours has left many baffled. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi attributed the decision to both fitness concerns and Zaman's recent controversial social media activity.Naqvi explained that Zaman failed a fitness test and had not yet resolved a show-cause notice issued to him for criticizing the decision to drop former captain Babar Azam from the Test squad. The PCB has made it clear that public criticism of selection decisions will not be tolerated.Zaman's exclusion has overshadowed the announcement of new central contracts, with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan retaining top-tier status and Shaheen Afridi demoted to Category B. The omission of Zaman has triggered outrage on social media, with many questioning the PCB's rationale.Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi expressed his disappointment, saying, "Fakhar Zaman is a match-winner. He should have been in the team." Fans have also taken to social media to voice their displeasure, with many calling for Zaman's reinstatement.The PCB's decision has put the spotlight on the importance of fitness and discipline within the Pakistan team. While Zaman's fitness concerns are understandable, his social media activity has also raised questions about his professionalism.The PCB will need to address these issues and ensure that the team is united and focused on the upcoming challenges. The exclusion of Fakhar Zaman has sent shockwaves through Pakistan cricket and will undoubtedly be a talking point in the lead-up to the Australia and Zimbabwe series.