Author: Kashish Chadha

Not just after the game with salary deduction, teams will have to pay big during in-game scenarios as well now in case they err as per the newly introduced playing conditions for slow over-rate in T20Is, the ICC announced on January 7. As per the new rule, teams will be allowed one fewer fielder outside the 30-yard circle for the remainder of their innings if they don’t start the final over by the stipulated time. This way, the ICC intends to hurt the notorious over-rate offenders where it would hurt them the most.  For a while now, the section of experts and…

The Day 3 of the New Year’s Ashes Test at SCG could easily have had a similar script repeating, resonating the dominance that the Australians have had, if not for a fantastic counter-attacking hundred from Jonny Bairstow and a fighting half-century from Ben Stokes. England found themselves staring down the barrel again, being reduced to 36/4 at the lunch break, still trailing Australia’s gigantic 416/8 declared by another 380 runs. Another defeat seemed imminent for the tourists when Bairstow joined Stokes for an admirable stand that took the game back to the opposition. After losing their openers Zak Crawley (18), Haseeb Hameed (6) cheaply, the visitors…

Former Australian cricketer Chadd Sayers called out spin legend Shane Warne for his incorrect assessments and excessive criticism aimed at “his own Aussie players” over the years. Warne has had a notorious habit of making assessments and remarks that he has later regretted. Two of the most telling recent examples of the same have come during the ongoing Ashes 2021-22 as he criticised the inclusion of Mitchell Starc and Usman Khawaja, only to be proven wrong by the two cricketers. Before the series began, Warne went after left-arm pacer Starc, asking for his non-selection because of struggles with the ball in the previous summer against…

India head coach Rahul Dravid said the team management will definitely have conversations with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant on how he can improve his shot selection while retaining his naturally aggressive style of play at the crease. Dravid said he will not be calling Pant to avoid playing the way he does at his best but believes it is important that the left-hander is maximising his ability by making better and wiser choices at the crease. “We know Rishabh plays positively and he plays in a particular manner and that has got him a little bit of success.But yeah, of course…

SA made an impressive feast of what was expected to be a very difficult chase of 240 runs in the final innings of the New Year’s Test in Johannesburg and levelled the three-match series 1-1 with a seven-wicket victory. Skipper Dean Elgar led his side from the front, playing a resilient knock of 96 not out to shepherd the run-chase as the Proteas overcame India’s grip at the Jo’burg fortress and breached it in fabulous fashion in the end. https://twitter.com/Cricketracker/status/1479119218712801281 Partnerships were the key for the Proteas. After an important top-order stand with Aiden Markram (31), the Proteas skipper had Keegan Pietersen (28), Rassie van der Dussen (40)…

Bangladesh fast-bowler Ebadot Hossain was elated after his performance in the first Test against New Zealand as his magnificent spell of 6/46 pushed his team to a historic maiden win on Kiwi soil on January 5. Hossain ran through the New Zealand batting unit in the second innings of the Test and helped dismiss them for a paltry 169, which meant their lead was only 39 after Bangladesh had piled on 458 to build a 130-run trail on the hosts in the first half. Inarguably the best spell of his career, the skiddy right-arm seamer got the prized scalp of Ross Taylor at the start of Day 5…

The Board of Control for Cricket in India on January 4 postponed the forthcoming season of the premier domestic first-class competition, keeping in mind the rising threat borne out of the surge in Covid-19 positive cases in the country. The Ranji Trophy, which was cancelled entirely last winter because of the pandemic, has now been delayed by the Indian board as it keeps a close eye on how the health situation develops around the nation with the looming threat of the third wave of the pandemic. Apart from the Ranji, the BCCI has also postponed the U-25 CK Nayudu Trophy and the senior women’s T20…

Having retired from competitive cricket this year after a glorious career, South African great AB de Villiers wishes to give something back to the game and believes he definitely has a role to play in the future with the national team and the Royal Challengers Bangalore set-up in Indian Premier League. De Villiers, who had retired from international cricket in early 2018, called it quits from competitive cricket entirely in November soon after finishing his IPL 2021 commitments with the Royal Challengers. Nobody can doubt De Villiers’ cricketing credentials. Inarguably one of the best cricketers to have ever graced the sport,…

Bangladesh scripted arguably their greatest ever cricketing triumph on January 5 in Mount Maunganui as they clinched their maiden Test win against New Zealand. The Asian Tigers also broke their longstanding losing streak and pulled off first-ever international victory on New Zealand soil versus New Zealand. An inspirational result at the start of the year, Bangladesh’s victory is a fantastic outcome for the livelihood of the Test match game and a great advert for the merits of the World Test Championship as a concept. Not a single soul in the world, not even the most passionate Bangladeshi fans, would’ve given their team…

Former off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq has turned down Pakistan Cricket Board’s offer to come on board as the national men’s team’s full-time head coach. He has denied a long-term gig with the side to manage his “business and personal commitments”, stated a report by The Indian Express. Mushtaq joined the Babar Azam-led Pakistan side in the build-up to the T20 World Cup in the United Arabic Emirates on an interim basis after head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis together gave their resignation from the side following the end of the West Indies tour. When Misbah and Waqar left in controversial circumstances, the PCB regime under new…