Cricket

Western Australia's One-Day Cup title defense is back on track after a thrilling four-wicket victory over Queensland at the WACA Ground. Chasing 301, WA looked shaky at 149 for 6, but Hilton Cartwright's unbeaten 66 off 49 balls, including five fours and three sixes, guided them to victory with six deliveries to spare.Ashton Agar's unbeaten 21 off 27 balls played a crucial role in a match-winning 62-run partnership with Cartwright. WA's hopes of a fourth consecutive one-day title were in jeopardy after losses to South Australia and NSW. However, Cartwright's heroics have kept their hopes alive.Queensland's total of 300 was built around Usman Khawaja's 76 and Lachlan Hearne's 76. Michael Neser's late fireworks, including six fours and two sixes, gave Queensland's total a significant boost.WA paceman Jhye Richardson was named player of the match for his 3-36 in 9.3 overs. Richardson's dismissal of Ben McDermott in the third over and Michael Neser later in the innings prevented Queensland from posting a larger total.Cameron Bancroft, who had posted twin ducks in the recent Sheffield Shield draw with Queensland, managed 33 before being trapped lbw by Marnus Labuschagne. Sam Whiteman's half-century and Cooper Connolly's 39 off 42 balls set the platform for WA's victory.

Washington Sundar Wins India's 'Impact Fielder' Award for T20I Series Against BangladeshRising Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar has been recognized for his exceptional fielding skills, earning the India cricket team's 'Impact Fielder' Award for the recently concluded T20I series against Bangladesh. Sundar's outstanding performance on the field, including three catches and an impressive economy rate of just five runs per over, set him apart from his competitors.India's fielding coach, T Dilip, praised Sundar's remarkable improvement, noting that he appeared as a "different" player in terms of his fielding abilities. Dilip highlighted Sundar's "precision at the boundary line" and his ability to anticipate and cut angles effectively.Sundar's award came after a closely contested competition with Hardik Pandya and Riyan Parag. Pandya was hailed for his high energy levels on the field, while Parag was recognized for his ability to make difficult catches look effortless. However, Sundar's consistent performance and exceptional fielding skills ultimately earned him the top honor.Dilip also commended the collective spirit of the Indian team, emphasizing the importance of intent and energy in their fielding efforts. He praised the team's adaptability and anticipation, which allowed them to overcome challenges posed by different grounds and lighting conditions."When intent meets energy, the eagerness to convert every ball into an opportunity increases," said Dilip. "We were phenomenal in that aspect during this series."Sundar expressed his gratitude for the award, stating that he always strives to give his best on the field. He acknowledged the support of the coaching staff and his teammates, who created a positive and supportive environment.India's victory in the T20I series against Bangladesh marked a dominant 5-0 sweep of the Test and T20I series. The team will now turn their attention to a three-Test home series against New Zealand beginning on October 16, followed by a four-match T20I series in South Africa next month.

Scotland Opt to Bat First Against England in Women's T20 World CupIn a historic encounter, Scotland has chosen to bat first against England in the 17th match of the Women's T20 World Cup in Sharjah. This marks the first-ever meeting between the two nations in a women's T20I.Despite the unfamiliarity between the teams, there is a sense of familiarity due to the presence of players from both sides in the English domestic circuit. England, who are playing their first day game of the tournament, will face a Scotland team that has yet to register a win in the competition.Both teams have made changes to their lineups. England has replaced Alice Capsey with Sophia Dunkley and Lauren Bell with Linsey Smith. Scotland, meanwhile, has brought in Megan McColl for Priyanaz Chatterji.England currently sits third in Group B, tied with West Indies on four points but trailing on net run rate. A victory would elevate them to six points, level with first-placed South Africa. Scotland, on the other hand, is at the bottom of the group with no points.England will be aiming to boost their net run rate and secure a semi-final berth with a convincing win against Scotland. The Scots, despite their lack of success, will be eager to make a statement against their rivals.The match will also mark the farewell of Scotland's wicketkeeper-batter Lorna Jack-Brown, who has announced her retirement from international cricket to pursue a career as a police officer.

Cameron Green's injury has cast a shadow over Australia's preparations for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. The all-rounder's absence could pave the way for Cameron Bancroft's Test recall, according to former skipper Mark Taylor.Green has been ruled out of the five-match series due to a stress fracture in his lower back. The 25-year-old has a history of back injuries, having suffered four stress fractures in the past. However, he had been clear of any issues since 2019.Green's absence will force Australia to reshuffle their batting order. Taylor believes that Steve Smith will move back to his preferred number four spot, leaving the opening position vacant."I'd love to see a right-handed opening batsman get the opportunity," Taylor said. "And to me at the moment ... I would have Bancroft penciled in alongside (Usman) Khawaja."Bancroft has been in impressive form in the Sheffield Shield, topping the run-scoring charts for the past two years. He has also served a nine-month ban for his role in the 2018 ball-tampering incident.Taylor also suggested that young opener Sam Konstas could be included in the Test squad. Konstas has scored back-to-back centuries against South Australia in the Sheffield Shield.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series will begin on November 22 in Perth. Australia will be looking to retain the trophy after winning the previous edition in 2020-21.

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar is set to inspire young athletes during his highly anticipated visit to Texas, where he will lead a special cricket clinic as part of the National Cricket League (NCL) finals weekend. The clinic, to be hosted at the University of Texas at Dallas, aims to motivate aspiring cricketers and promote the sport at the grassroots level in the U.S."Cricket has given me so much, and now it's my turn to give back," Tendulkar said ahead of the event slated for Sunday morning. "I'm excited to meet these young players and show them that with hard work and passion, anything is possible."In addition to the clinic, Tendulkar, who made waves with his recent appearance at the iconic TX-OU football game, will also be a special guest at the Dallas Cowboys game on Sunday, further highlighting his high-profile engagement in the U.S. sports scene.NCL Chairman Arun Agarwal emphasized the significance of Tendulkar's involvement: "This is about more than cricket -- it's about inspiring hope and dreams. Having someone of Sachin's caliber mentoring these kids is a game-changer."The NCL's finals weekend is more than just a cricket tournament. Alongside the matches, fans will enjoy cultural celebrations, live Bollywood performances, and nightly themes, ranging from honoring local heroes to promoting sustainability. The tournament will conclude on October 14 at UT Dallas.With Tendulkar's participation and the introduction of the innovative 60 Strikes format, designed to engage U.S. sports fans with a fast-paced version of cricket, the NCL is positioning itself as a key player in the growing popularity of cricket in America.The NCL has attracted top cricketing talent, with icons like Sunil Gavaskar, Wasim Akram, and Sir Vivian Richards mentoring players. This season also features stars like Shahid Afridi, Suresh Raina, Shakib Al Hasan, and Chris Lynn, making the NCL a premier event on the global cricket stage.Headquartered in Dallas, the National Cricket League USA is revolutionizing cricket in the U.S. with its innovative 'Sixty Strikes' format. The event is endorsed by the ICC and supported by SEE Holdings.

Pakistan's Pitches: A Graveyard for Bowlers, a Haven for BatsmenIn 1980, Australian pace legend Dennis Lillee famously denounced a pitch in Pakistan as a "graveyard for bowlers." More than four decades later, little has changed.Lillee's frustration stemmed from a wicketless 21-over spell in Faisalabad, where Australia's bowlers toiled in vain as Pakistan piled up 382-2 in reply to Australia's 617 all out. The match ended in a turgid draw.Fast forward to 2023, and the situation remains dire. In the first Test in Multan, England rewrote the record books on a pitch described as "a road" by former captain Michael Vaughan. They amassed 823-7 declared, the fourth highest single innings in Test history.Harry Brook plundered 317 at almost a run a ball, while Joe Root became England's highest Test run scorer during his career-best 262. Their record-breaking stand of 454 for the fourth wicket highlighted the lifeless nature of the pitch.Despite the lack of assistance for bowlers, England's bowlers pulled off an innings and 47-run victory after Pakistan crumbled to 220 all out in their second innings. Pakistan became the first team to score 500 or more and lose a Test by an innings.The lack of help for bowlers in Multan has drawn criticism from experts. England batting great Kevin Pietersen said it was "helping destroy Test cricket." Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram called it a "perennial problem."Rashid Latif, a former Pakistan captain who has studied pitch preparation, believes the pitches are unnecessarily curated in favor of batsmen. "We can prepare good pitches, but our mindset is negative," he said.Former spinner Tauseef Ahmed, who played in the infamous 1980 Faisalabad Test, said Pakistani batters prefer flat pitches to score runs. "Even in domestic matches, we have such pitches so that players score big and get prominence," he said.In the last two years, Pakistan's pitches have become even more docile. Each Test wicket now costs an average of 42.13 runs, the highest anywhere in the world.Experts say the ideal soil mix for a Test pitch is around 60% clay with less sand, as found in Australia. This produces firm and bouncy tracks that begin to take more spin over five days, providing a balance between ball and bat.However, local groundsmen say pitch preparation in Pakistan is a complex process influenced by weather and interference from team management. They also point to the overuse of pitches, which leads to flat surfaces.Latif believes serious work is needed to improve the standard of pitches. He advocates for a research department to ascertain how good pitches can be prepared. He also wants to see Australian Kookaburra balls replaced with those with a more prominent seam to help bowlers.With the second Test in Multan and the third in Rawalpindi on the horizon, it seems unlikely that the bowlers will get any respite soon. Pakistan's pitches remain a graveyard for bowlers and a haven for batsmen.

Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has begun preparations for the upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand, starting October 18. Rohit, who recently led India to a 2-0 Test series sweep over Bangladesh, was seen hitting the nets on Friday.In a hilarious interaction, Rohit responded to a question about whether he would start his practice session with a six. "Pagal hogaya hai kya? (Are you mad or what?)" Rohit quipped, leaving fans in splits.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to announce the Indian squad for the New Zealand series. However, reports suggest that Rohit may miss one of the first two Tests in Australia due to personal reasons.The Border-Gavaskar series between India and Australia will commence on November 22 with the first Test at Perth. The second Test will be a day-night affair at Adelaide Oval from December 6 to 10. The third Test will be held at The Gabba in Brisbane from December 14 to 18.The traditional Boxing Day Test will take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30. The series will conclude with the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7.Rohit's participation in the Australia series remains uncertain, with the BCCI yet to issue an official statement on his status.

Pakistan's cricket team has come under fire from former batter Basit Ali following their humiliating defeat to England in the first Test of the three-match series in Multan. The loss marked Pakistan's sixth consecutive Test defeat, extending their winless streak to 10 matches in the format.Ali, in a viral rant on his YouTube channel, expressed his disgust with the team's performance, labeling it as "shameful." He questioned the place of star batter Babar Azam in the team, urging the selectors to drop him. Azam has not scored a Test century in over two years, and Ali believes that any other player would have been dropped long ago."Babar Azam needs rest. He should be the one saying, 'I need to rest'. It's been 18 innings without a significant performance. Any other player would have been dropped after three games, like Fawad Alam. This is the harsh reality. Babar should reduce his stance. It's too wide now. The whole world is laughing. Is this how you play?" Ali said.Ali also criticized captain Shan Masood, suggesting that he should be opening the batting instead of playing at number three. He questioned Masood's credentials as captain, saying, "I've always maintained that Shan is an opener and should be opening. But he played at number three. Now what will happen? Who will you drop? He should play in his rightful position. He doesn't even understand captaincy. What has become of this cricket team? It's shameful."The loss to England continues a painful stretch for Pakistan and will likely increase the pressure on Masood, who is reportedly set to be sacked by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The win is England's fourth consecutive Test triumph on Pakistan soil, after a 3-0 whitewash two years ago. England had only won two away Tests against Pakistan in the previous 61 years.

England vs Scotland Live Score: Scotland Aims for Redemption in Final MatchThe Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between England and Scotland in Sharjah marks the first encounter between these two sides. Despite their lack of previous history, Scotland boasts a wealth of County Championship experience.Scotland, already eliminated from the semi-final race, is determined to end their T20 World Cup campaign on a high note. With qualification for the next World Cup on the line, they are eager to avoid a winless exit.England, on the other hand, is looking to maintain their momentum after a strong start to the tournament. They will be keen to secure a victory that will boost their chances of reaching the knockout stages.The match promises to be an intriguing contest between two teams with contrasting fortunes. Scotland will be hoping to upset the odds and claim a famous victory, while England will be aiming to extend their winning streak and solidify their position as one of the tournament favorites.