Cricket

In the twilight of their careers, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal faced off in the 2017 Australian Open final, both battling injuries and fading from prominence. Despite the odds, they delivered an unforgettable match, with Federer emerging victorious. In a poignant moment, Federer expressed his willingness to share the title with Nadal, acknowledging the sport's unforgiving nature.Similarly, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali had faded from view in Pakistan cricket, with no recent first-class appearances and dwindling hopes of a national team return. However, in a remarkable turn of events, they emerged as the stars of Pakistan's recent Test series against England, sharing 39 of the 40 English wickets to fall.Sajid, awarded the Player of the Series, echoed Federer's sentiment, crediting Noman's mentorship and experience. "Nomi bhai is one of the most experienced players on the Pakistan domestic circuit," Sajid said. "We should be sharing these Player of the Series awards. He's a great spinner who has mentored and helped me as well."For England, the series was a disaster, but for Pakistan, it will be remembered for the resurgence of Sajid and Noman. Their dominance over England's batters seemed inevitable in hindsight, but when England reached 211 for 2 in the first innings in Multan, it was Sajid and Noman's reputations that were on the line.Despite Sajid's insistence that he felt no pressure, the weight of expectation was evident. "There wasn't so much pressure [of the series] but [there was] some pressure of the comeback," he admitted. "The captain, the vice captain, the whole team was gelling well together. We play domestic cricket together, on these kinds of wickets, so there wasn't that much pressure."Noman, the elder statesman at 38, recognized the significance of their performance. "We're grateful we had the conditions for the opportunity to win the series this way," he said. "The way we came back is especially pleasing, and we hope we get similar conditions in future and we'll pose difficulties for other teams."However, Noman also acknowledged the shortcomings in Pakistan's spin strategy. "I think if you want to prepare spinners, you need to play more red-ball cricket," he said. "You get all kinds of conditions in first-class cricket with new and old ball. When you do that, it gives you a lot of experience."As Pakistan contemplates the future of their spin attack, the lessons learned from this series will be invaluable. If they are to continue employing a spin-heavy approach, they must invest in developing their spinners through regular first-class cricket.

England's head coach Brendon McCullum has expressed disappointment over his team's 2-1 series defeat to Pakistan, acknowledging that they "had an opportunity to have been better than that." After a dominant victory in the first Test, England succumbed to back-to-back losses in Multan and Rawalpindi, where Pakistan's spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali wreaked havoc.McCullum admitted that he was surprised it took Pakistan until the second Test to prepare spinning pitches, a tactic that has been England's undoing on recent tours of the subcontinent. He praised the Pakistani spinners for their exceptional bowling, but emphasized that England's batsmen failed to adapt to the challenging conditions.Despite the defeat, McCullum remains confident in his team's batting group, which he believes is the best England has. However, he acknowledged that they need to improve their ability to handle spin-friendly surfaces. The focus will also fall on England's spinners, who were outperformed by their Pakistani counterparts.McCullum emphasized that England will learn from their mistakes and use the lessons from this series to improve their performance in future matches on spinning pitches. He stressed the importance of holding firm during difficult periods and seeking continuous improvement.

Pakistan's cricket team has achieved a remarkable feat by securing a 2-1 series victory against England on home soil. This triumph marks their first Test series win since 2021.After suffering an innings defeat in the series opener, Pakistan displayed resilience and determination to level the series in Multan. They then rolled out a raging turner in Rawalpindi, where their spin twins, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, wreaked havoc on the English batters.Ali and Khan claimed 19 of the 20 English wickets in the second Test, while also contributing useful cameos with the bat. Their performances vindicated Pakistan's bold selection call to drop three frontline players, including Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Afridi.Sajid Khan, despite sustaining a cut on his chin while batting, returned to the field and spun a web around the English batters. Pakistan captain Shan Masood praised his team's character and fighting spirit, highlighting the contributions of players who "literally bled for us."England, on the other hand, struggled to adapt to the turning tracks and Pakistan's in-form spinners. Their usual tactics of swashbuckling batting proved inadequate, leading to a meager 112 in their second innings. Only Joe Root managed to offer some resistance with a score of 33.England captain Ben Stokes acknowledged the challenges faced by his team and expressed disappointment with their inability to match Pakistan's intensity. He emphasized the need to move on from the setbacks and prepare for the upcoming challenge in New Zealand.Pakistan's victory is a testament to their resilience and the effectiveness of their spin attack. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of home advantage in Test cricket.

The third and final ODI between Sri Lanka and West Indies commenced with West Indies captain Shai Hope electing to bowl first. The West Indies made two changes to their lineup, bringing in Evin Lewis and Matthew Forde, while Sri Lanka remained unchanged.Matthew Forde opened the bowling for West Indies and immediately impressed, conceding only 1 run in his first over. However, Jayden Seales struggled at the other end, conceding 14 runs in his first two overs. Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando got Sri Lanka off to a solid start, scoring 24 runs in the first four overs.Seales finally found his rhythm in the fifth over, bowling a maiden. However, Nissanka broke the shackles in the next over, hitting a boundary off Alzarri Joseph. Fernando joined the party in the seventh over, smashing a glorious four off Seales.Forde continued to impress, bowling another maiden in the eighth over. Nissanka and Fernando kept the scoreboard ticking, adding 20 runs in the next three overs. Seales returned to the attack in the 12th over and conceded another boundary to Nissanka.The West Indies bowlers struggled to contain the Sri Lankan openers, who reached 50 runs in the 13th over. Nissanka and Fernando continued to dominate, scoring boundaries at regular intervals. Seales finally broke the partnership in the 17th over, dismissing Nissanka for 32.Fernando continued to play aggressively, hitting another boundary off Joseph in the 18th over. However, he was dismissed in the next over by Seales, caught by King for 24. Sri Lanka reached 80 runs in the 20th over, with Charith Asalanka and Dinesh Chandimal at the crease.

Virat Kohli's struggles against spinners in Asian conditions continued in the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. Chasing a daunting target of 359, India lost two quick wickets before Kohli and Washington Sundar steadied the innings with a 20-run partnership.However, Mitchell Santner dismissed Kohli leg-before wicket for 17, leaving India in a precarious position. Kohli's dismissal marked the first time a left-arm spinner had dismissed him in both innings of a Test match.Santner's brilliance continued as he bowled Sarfaraz Khan for 9, completing his second five-wicket haul of the match. He became the first New Zealand spinner to claim two five-wicket hauls in a single Test on Indian soil since Steve O'Keefe in 2017.Santner's performance put New Zealand in a commanding position as India struggled to chase down the target. His guile and accuracy proved too much for the Indian batters, who were unable to cope with his variations.Kohli's dismissal highlighted his ongoing difficulties against spinners in Asian conditions. Despite his impressive record against pace bowlers, he has struggled to adapt to the slower, turning pitches of the subcontinent.Santner's success against Kohli and the Indian batters demonstrated the importance of spin bowling in Asian conditions. Spinners can exploit the dry, dusty pitches to create turn and variation, making it difficult for batters to score runs.As the series progresses, India will need to find a way to counter the threat posed by Santner and other spinners. If they are unable to do so, they may struggle to win the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

In the third and final ODI of the series in Pallekele, West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran elected to field first after winning the toss. Sri Lanka, who hold an unassailable 2-0 lead, will bat first for the first time on a surface expected to favor spin.Sri Lanka has made two changes to their lineup, bringing back opener Pathum Nissanka and seamer Dilshan Madushanka. Nishan Madushka and Dunith Wellalage have been omitted, resulting in Sri Lanka fielding two frontline seamers for the first time in the series."He impressed me a lot," said Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka of Madushka. "He didn't play as a debutant, he played as a mature player. I think he'll do a lot of things for the country."West Indies, on the other hand, has made three changes, with batters Evin Lewis and Jewel Andrew, and fast-bowler Matthew Forde joining the team. Seventeen-year-old Andrew will make his international debut, while Lewis returns to ODI cricket for the first time since July 2021. Alick Athanaze, Romario Shepherd, and Hayden Walsh have been dropped.The match will be played on a fresh pitch with relatively even square boundaries. Spin will be a factor, but it is expected to be slower, with the ball potentially sliding onto the bat as the evening progresses. There is a possibility of rain during the game.

New Zealand's all-rounder Amelia Kerr has been ruled out of the remaining two ODIs against India due to a left quadricep muscle tear. The injury, sustained during the opening game, is expected to sideline her for approximately three weeks.Kerr's absence is a significant blow to New Zealand's hopes of climbing the Women's ODI Championship table. Currently ranked sixth, the White Ferns need a top-six finish to secure direct qualification for the 2026 ODI World Cup.The 22-year-old was a key figure in New Zealand's recent T20 World Cup triumph, finishing as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 15 scalps. She continued her impressive form in the opening ODI against India, taking 4 for 42 and scoring an unbeaten 25.Kerr's injury also casts doubt on her participation in the upcoming Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) for the Sydney Sixers. As a platinum-category pick, she was expected to play a pivotal role for the Sixers. However, she could miss up to eight of their 10 league games even if she recovers within the estimated three-week timeframe.New Zealand head coach Ben Sawyer expressed disappointment over Kerr's injury. "We're really gutted for Melie," he said. "Injuries are always a challenging time for a player, and we know how disappointed she is to not be able to play these games.""Everyone knows how much of an integral part of this team Melie is, so we'll certainly miss her. But we're wishing her a speedy recovery."The remaining two ODIs between New Zealand and India will be played on October 27 and 29 in Ahmedabad. The White Ferns will face a tough challenge against the world champions without their star all-rounder.

India's pursuit of a record-breaking 359 against New Zealand in the second Test at Pune hit a major roadblock on Saturday, despite a promising start. After losing captain Rohit Sharma early, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal kept India in the game with a blistering half-century.Jaiswal's 62-run partnership with Shubman Gill provided India with the momentum they needed. The 22-year-old was in scintillating form, scoring a rapid 77 off just 65 balls, including three sixes and nine fours. However, his dismissal by Mitchell Santner in the 22nd over proved to be a turning point.Disaster struck in the very next over when Rishabh Pant was run out for a duck, leaving India reeling at 127/4. The run-out, described as "avoidable," shifted the momentum in New Zealand's favor. Pant's dismissal also saw him join an unwanted list, becoming only the third Indian batter to be dismissed for a duck via run-out while batting in the top seven positions since 1990.With India losing momentum, the task of chasing down the daunting target became even more challenging. Virat Kohli, who was involved in the mix-up that led to Pant's run-out, will need to play a crucial role if India is to have any chance of victory.The match is evenly poised heading into the final day, with India needing to bat with patience and determination to reach their target. New Zealand, on the other hand, will be looking to capitalize on their advantage and secure a series-leveling victory.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, the prodigious Indian opener, has etched his name into the annals of Test cricket history with his remarkable achievements in 2024. The 22-year-old left-hander has become only the third Indian cricketer to amass over 1000 runs in home Tests in a single calendar year, joining the legendary Gundappa Vishwanath and Sunil Gavaskar.Jaiswal's stellar run began in July 2023 when he made his India debut. Since then, he has accumulated over 1300 runs in his short Test career, averaging an impressive 60. His tally includes three centuries and eight fifties, showcasing his exceptional batting prowess.In the second Test against New Zealand at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune, Jaiswal further cemented his place in cricket history. He became the first Indian and only the second batter to hit more than 30 sixes in Test cricket in a calendar year, joining New Zealand's Brendon McCullum.During India's chase of a formidable 359-run target, Jaiswal led the charge with a gutsy half-century. His 77 off 65 balls, including a crucial 62-run partnership with Shubman Gill, kept India in the hunt for a remarkable victory.Jaiswal's achievements have not gone unnoticed. He has been hailed as one of India's most exciting young talents in Test cricket. His ability to score runs consistently, both at home and away, has earned him comparisons to some of the greatest batsmen in the game.As Jaiswal continues to break records and establish himself as a force to be reckoned with, Indian cricket fans can look forward to many more memorable performances from this rising star.