Author: Kashish Chadha

Former India batsman-turned-commentator, Sanjay Manjrekar, bemoaned a couple of cricket’s longstanding rules, asking for the removal of the free-hit from the white-ball versions of the game and calling leg-byes extremely unfair. Manjrekar feels both – the free-hit imposed after instances of no-balls and leg-byes added to the batting team’s kitty – don’t do justice to the bowlers, who are already having to deal with mostly batting-friendly conditions in limited-overs cricket. Manjrekar wrote against the two rules in an article for the Hindustan Times and expressed why he wants the ‘free-hit’ and ‘leg-byes’ removed from the laws of cricket. “Free hit…

Reflective of how Rishabh Pant has taken Test cricket by a storm, England left-arm pacer Tymal Mills said although he doesn’t “like watching” the traditional format, he immediately tunes in the moment the explosive Indian wicketkeeper-batsman walks in. In between a difficult phase in the 2019-20 season where he lost his place facing question marks over his form and fitness, Pant has been excellent for India in Test match cricket. Pant hasn’t shelved his natural instincts in order to succeed at the Test level and has looked to play aggressively throughout. Pant has now played 20 Tests for India with 1,358 runs…

A terrific century from Perera helped Sri Lanka bounce back strongly from their losses in the first two ODIs against Bangladesh and clinch a comprehensive victory in the final one-dayer in Dhaka on Friday. Perera smashed 120 runs off 122 deliveries, his 6th ODI century and 1st since being appointed the 50-over captain recently, and aided Sri Lanka’s quest to get past Bangladesh and finally get on board in the ICC Super League after six matches. The Sri Lankan captain’s measured knock featured 11 fours and 1 six as he allowed his team to post a strong total of 286/6…

Qalandars will be taking on United to resume the earlier suspended Pakistan Super League 2021 on Tuesday (June 1) at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The PSL 2021 was brought to a halt during its traditional window in March after a cluster of COVID-19 positive cases among players and support staff. News also did the rounds on how the biosecurity bubble deployed for the tournament in Pakistan wasn’t as secured, forcing the Pakistan Cricket Board to ultimately postpone the PSL 2021 indefinitely. However, after much headache, the PCB authorities successfully managed to find a suitable alternative window…

Australia’s head coach is under scrutiny as his players are concerned with the coaching methods that former opening batsman has operated with during his tenure, says a report in The Sydney Morning Herald. According to the report, the players aren’t pleased with the lack of freedom and restricted environment within the dressing room under David Langer and team manager Gavin Dobey.  In an end-of-season review of the team, players and support staff reportedly raised their concerns around Langer’s style of operation, opening up on how they are finding it difficult to cope up with his intensity and mico-management of things. …

Netherlands will be hosting Ireland in the opening game of their exciting three-match ODI series, scheduled for Wednesday (June 2) at the Sportpark Maarschalkerweerd in Utrecht. The Dutch will finally begin their campaign in the ongoing ICC Super League cycle against their Irish counterparts, with some advantage of home conditions in their favour. Netherlands also hosted their other European rivals, Scotland, in the build-up to the Ireland challenge and drew 1-1 in a two-match series at Hazelaarweg in Rotterdam. Ireland have had two series in the Super League so far, both in foreign conditions in England and Afghanistan. They pulled…

Out of favour India batsman Robin Uthappa reminisced an incident reflecting MS Dhoni’s cheekiness and humour as the great former India skipper gave ex England batsman Kevin Pietersen a memorable response. The two-part story that Uthappa recalled is related to the 2011 Lord’s Test where Dhoni, as he went a bowler short because of Zaheer Khan’s injury, brought himself on to bowl and nearly dismissed Pietersen. Dhoni’s gentle medium fast-bowling got Pietersen into trouble, as he initially got one to come into the batsman sharply and appealed for the LBW to which the on-field umpire didn’t respond positively. But on the following…

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman broke down as he spoke of his struggle of dealing with a positive COVID-19 test just after the Indian Premier League 2021 was suspended.  Seifert, who was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders camp, was hoping to travel back home with the rest of the New Zealand contingent once the IPL 2021 was postponed on May 4.  However, just a few hours before the scheduled departure, Seifert gave a positive test and had to enter another phase of quarantine in India. “I got pulled aside and told I had tested positive and my heart sank straightaway when…

Before India and New Zealand take the field for the much-anticipated final of the World Test Championship, it is understood the ICC is yet to finalise the playing conditions for the ultimate clash in Southampton, starting June 18. Special attention is due to be paid to the possibility of a draw, with confusion as to what happens in case there is no outright result after five days of play. TOI reported that the ICC could finalise the playing conditions for the WTC final by the end of this week. Earlier, when the WTC was formulated, the ICC wrote that a…

NZ head coach Gary Stead admitted it has been “frustrating” for his players to see rain jeopardise their crucial outdoor practice sessions ahead of the two-match Test series in England against the hosts. The Kiwis are based at Rose Bowl, Southampton, since their arrival in the UK, but haven’t had much practice time despite coming out of their three-day quarantine period because of the bad weather. Of course, New Zealand players aren’t entirely short of preparation since they had taken part in a couple of pre-tour camps back home. “It’s been a little bit frustrating, because you come over and guys just…