Cricket

India's bowlers fought valiantly for over 90 minutes, but Rachin Ravindra and Tim Southee's blistering partnership before lunch propelled New Zealand to a commanding lead in the ongoing Test match.After India's dismal first innings total of 46, they needed a strong start with the ball. Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah delivered, keeping the New Zealand batsmen in check with accurate bowling. They claimed the wickets of Glenn Phillips and Matt Henry, who appeared rattled and lacking confidence.However, Southee, known for his aggressive batting, provided stability for Ravindra. Despite the previous two batters falling to straight deliveries, Ravindra remained composed, trusting his partner. Southee's resilience allowed Ravindra to flourish, and he raced to his second Test century, his second international hundred in his hometown.From the 70th over onwards, Ravindra accelerated, scoring 56 runs off 38 balls. He lofted Kuldeep Yadav for a six to reach his fifty and continued to push the boundaries. Southee, initially cautious, also joined the attack, hitting an overpitched delivery from Ashwin for a six.Ravindra's confidence soared as he dictated the terms to the bowlers. Southee, too, found his rhythm, waiting patiently for the right deliveries to attack. By lunch, the duo had added an unbeaten 112 for the eighth wicket, giving New Zealand a lead of 299 runs.India's bowlers, who had toiled tirelessly, were left frustrated by the late onslaught. Ravindra and Southee's partnership, the second-quickest 100-plus stand against India, has put the visitors in a commanding position.

MS Dhoni, the legendary Indian cricketer and former captain, recently displayed his humility and warmth during a flight, winning the hearts of fans once more. A video shared on social media captured Dhoni boarding a plane with his wife, Sakshi, and daughter, Ziva.As Dhoni made his way down the aisle, he greeted passengers with handshakes and smiles, embodying the humility that has endeared him to millions. This simple yet heartfelt gesture thrilled everyone on board, with fans on social media commending him for staying grounded despite his massive fame.Dhoni's humility is a testament to his character and the values he holds. Despite his illustrious career and numerous accolades, he remains approachable and genuine. This quality has made him a role model for aspiring cricketers and fans alike.After announcing his retirement from international cricket in 2020, Dhoni wrapped up an illustrious career spanning nearly 16 years. He remains India's most successful limited-overs captain, leading the team to monumental victories in the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.Dhoni's leadership and composure in high-pressure situations have set a standard for future generations of cricketers. His ability to inspire and motivate his team, along with his strategic brilliance, has made him one of the greatest captains in the history of the game.Off the field, Dhoni is known for his philanthropy and social work. He has been involved in various initiatives to support underprivileged communities and promote education. His humility and compassion extend beyond the cricket field, making him a true ambassador for the sport and a role model for society.

Tayla Vlaeminck, the unlucky Australian and Melbourne Renegades fast bowler, has been ruled out of the WBBL for the third consecutive season due to a shoulder dislocation suffered during the T20 World Cup.Vlaeminck, 25, dislocated her bowling shoulder just moments into Australia's World Cup match against Pakistan, her first at a major tournament since 2018. She was subsequently ruled out of the World Cup, and the Renegades confirmed on Friday that she would play no part in the WBBL, which starts next Sunday.Vlaeminck's WBBL absence extends back to November 2021, when she played for the Hobart Hurricanes. She signed with the Renegades ahead of the 2022-23 season but has not played a single game due to a string of injuries.Vlaeminck has dislocated her left shoulder twice. The first occurred while playing for Victoria in the 2017-18 season. During the Australia A tour of England, which coincided with last year's Women's Ashes, she dislocated the same shoulder again while bowling, leading to corrective surgery.Before her Australian debut in 2018, Vlaeminck had undergone two ACL reconstructions. Stress fractures in her foot also forced her to miss the 2020 home T20 World Cup, the 2022 ODI World Cup, the Commonwealth Games later that year, and the 2023 T20 World Cup. Her foot injuries led her to train with professional dancers at the Australian Ballet as part of her rehabilitation.Vlaeminck's latest injury is a significant blow to the Renegades, who were hoping to challenge for the WBBL title this season. The team will now have to rely on other bowlers to fill the void left by Vlaeminck's absence.

Mitchell Starc's absence from Australia's Test team due to back surgery has raised concerns about the team's bowling depth and workload management. Starc acknowledged that Green's all-round abilities would be missed, potentially increasing the burden on the pace attack.With Green unavailable, Australia's selectors face a dilemma in finding a suitable replacement. The absence of an all-rounder could lead to increased bowling responsibilities for the likes of Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood.Starc emphasized the importance of having a genuine all-rounder in the team, as it provides an extra bowling option and allows for workload management. He noted that Australia has previously played series without an all-rounder, but it requires the bowlers to take on additional responsibilities.Starc will begin his red-ball summer against Victoria in the Sheffield Shield, alongside Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon. Hazlewood will then play in the Blues' following match against Queensland, while Starc will be rested.Australia's bowlers have adopted an extended-squad approach, recognizing the potential for workload management issues. Starc highlighted the importance of considering factors such as the length of the series, the duration of matches, and the conditions of the wickets.Despite the challenges posed by Green's absence, Starc expressed confidence in the team's ability to adapt. He praised the talent and work ethic of NSW prodigy Sam Konstas, suggesting that he could potentially handle the demands of Test cricket if called upon.

Travis Head, Australia's versatile all-format player, has signed a one-year deal to return to the Adelaide Strikers for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season. However, his hectic international schedule will limit his availability to a maximum of three games.Head, 30, captained the Strikers to the BBL title in 2017-18 but has not played for the club since the 2022-23 season. His return is a significant boost for the Strikers, who are looking to improve on their disappointing performance last season.However, Head's availability will be limited due to his commitments to the Australian Test team. The upcoming five-match Test series against India, followed by a Test tour of Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy, means he will only be available for three matches on January 11, 15, and 18.The BBL had hoped that Australia's Test stars would be available to give the competition a boost at the back end of this summer's tournament. However, there are concerns over player workload coming out of a gruelling Test series against India and with so little time to prepare for an overseas Test tour in spinning conditions in Sri Lanka.Head's workload has become a key consideration for Australia's selectors and coaching staff since he became an all-format player in the last 12 months. There were concerns over his decision to play in the recent Major League Cricket tournament in July, which came on the back of a busy period of playing that included the ODI World Cup, five home Tests, a T20I and Test tour of New Zealand, the IPL, and the T20 World Cup.Head is being rested from the ODI and T20I series against Pakistan ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, partly due to the upcoming birth of his second child. But his decision to add some BBL cricket in January means his next decent break will likely have to wait until after the Champions Trophy in February and March.New Strikers coach Tim Paine is aware of Head's workload but was keen to have him play some BBL matches. "We understand Trav has a hectic international schedule," Paine said. "But we also know how much he loves getting back in the blue whenever the chance arises and we look forward to our fans being treated to more of his magic this summer."

Pakistan's valiant efforts on day three of the second Test against England in Multan have set the stage for a thrilling finish. After conceding a 75-run first-innings lead, Pakistan's second innings looked in jeopardy at 156 for 8. However, a crucial 65-run partnership between Agha Salman (63) and Sajid Khan (22) rescued the hosts.Salman's gritty knock, which included 10 fours, and Khan's resolute contribution helped Pakistan post a respectable 221 in their second innings. This gave England a daunting target of 297 to win, the highest fourth-innings chase in Pakistan Test history.Before the crucial partnership, a light-hearted moment was captured on the stump microphone. After Noman Ali played a single off his hips, Salman inquired, "Did you play it?" Ali responded with a playful reference to cricket legend Brian Lara, saying, "Yes, just like Lara. Didn't you see it?"As the match resumed, England's openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett fell cheaply, leaving the visitors in a precarious position. Ollie Pope and Joe Root steadied the ship with an unbeaten 36-run stand, but England still face an uphill battle with 261 runs to chase on the final day.Pakistan's bowlers, led by Naseem Shah and Mohammad Ali, will be eager to exploit the conditions and secure a series-leveling victory. England, on the other hand, will need a monumental effort to pull off a historic chase and maintain their 1-0 series lead.

Pakistan's recent struggles in Test cricket, coupled with early exits from the last ODI and T20 World Cups, have raised concerns about the management of the sport by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the development of domestic talent.Despite a promising performance in the ongoing second Test against England in Multan, Pakistan lost the first Test despite scoring over 500 runs in their first innings. They were also swept 2-0 at home by Bangladesh in the preceding series.In response to the team's poor form, the PCB has appointed a new selection committee, reducing its size from seven to five members. Led by former pacer Aaqib Javed, the committee includes Aleem Dar, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, and Hassan Cheema. The captain and head coach have been stripped of their voting rights in the selection process.Aaqib Javed, who played in numerous memorable India-Pakistan matches, recently met with India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir. Javed revealed that Gambhir expressed concerns about Pakistan's decline."We met the Indian players during our series against Sri Lanka. Gautam Gambhir asked me, 'Aaqib bhai, what has happened to Pakistan cricket? There is so much talent, we all see it, but what have they done?'" said Javed.Javed believes that Pakistan's fall has diminished the excitement of India-Pakistan encounters. "He (Gambhir) also feels sorry about it, because there are a few (top-level) teams, and the Pakistan-India matches provide the biggest thrill. So if your team (Pakistan) falls like that, then one of the game's biggest matches loses its charm.""People in the ICC laugh about it," he added.The PCB's decision to revamp the selection committee and the concerns raised by Gautam Gambhir highlight the urgent need for Pakistan to address its cricket management and talent development strategies.

Alyssa Healy's absence from Australia's T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa was a major blow to the team's hopes of retaining their title. The captain revealed that she had suffered a ruptured plantar fascia in her foot, an injury that prevented her from taking the field.Healy sustained the injury while running between the wickets during Australia's penultimate group-stage game against Pakistan. Despite the pain, she attempted to play through the discomfort, but the decision was ultimately made to rest her for the semi-final."It's a bit sore," Healy said after the match. "I ruptured my plantar fascia. I completely ruptured one and partially ruptured the other."The injury is a significant setback for Healy, who is one of Australia's most experienced and successful players. Her absence was keenly felt in the semi-final, as South Africa cruised to an eight-wicket victory.Healy's availability for the upcoming WBBL season and India's tour of Australia remains uncertain. She admitted that she is unsure how long she will be sidelined."I don't know yet," she said. "We'll assess that when we get back. WBBL starts next Sunday so we'll reassess that as we go."Despite the disappointment of missing the semi-final, Healy praised her teammates for their efforts throughout the tournament."It was hard to watch, knowing that you can't really go out there and help," she said. "But it was good to see so many positives throughout the tournament. It hasn't ended the way we wanted, but I think we've played some amazing cricket."Healy also expressed her confidence in stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath, who led Australia to victory in their final group game against India."T-Mac's had the opportunity to captain in my absence before and done it outstandingly well," she said. "I can't fault the side at all in their optimism in taking on the challenge."

Tamil Nadu's Ranji Trophy campaign has begun with a strong start, as they prepare to face Delhi in the second round of the tournament. Despite the absence of key players like R. Sai Kishore and Washington Sundar, the team remains confident in their ability to secure a victory.In their previous encounter against Delhi, Tamil Nadu held the ascendancy, taking the first-innings lead in each of the three drawn matches. This time around, they will be looking to capitalize on their momentum and secure a crucial win.Delhi, on the other hand, will be eager to make amends for their drawn opening clash against Chhattisgarh. They will be without the services of Ayush Badoni, Anuj Rawat, and Hrithik Shokeen, who are currently representing India-A in the ACC Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup.Despite these absences, Delhi skipper Himmat Singh remains optimistic about his team's chances. "It is a very important match for us because if you want to qualify, you need wins against the other top teams in your pool," he said. "We will look to win this game at home."Tamil Nadu will be led by N. Jagadeesan in the absence of Sai Kishore. The team will be relying on the experience of senior players like Dinesh Karthik and Baba Aparajith to guide them through the challenges ahead.The match is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both teams possessing a strong blend of youth and experience. Tamil Nadu's pacers, led by M. Mohammed, will be looking to exploit the conditions, while Delhi's batters will need to be patient and disciplined in their approach.The outcome of this match could have a significant impact on the standings in Group B. A win for Tamil Nadu would strengthen their position at the top of the table, while a victory for Delhi would keep them in contention for a place in the knockout stages.