Monday, May 04
England’s last Ashes win in Australia came in 2010–11 under Andrew Strauss, achieved through control, discipline and belief rather than bravado. Arriving as the world’s No.1 side, England set the tone early, with Alastair Cook’s epic 235 in Brisbane and dominant wins in Adelaide and Perth. A draw in Melbourne and Graeme Swann’s decisive spell in Sydney sealed a commanding 3–1 series victory that reshaped English cricket’s belief in Australia.
The Women's Premier League 2026 kicks off in Navi Mumbai with a grand opening ceremony. Yo Yo Honey Singh and Jacqueline Fernandez will perform. The tournament features defending champions Mumbai Indians against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the first match. The schedule includes matches in Navi Mumbai and Vadodara, culminating in a final on February 5.
The Women's Premier League returns for its 2026 season on January 9. Defending champions Mumbai Indians face former winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening match. The tournament features a double round-robin format with five teams competing. Top three teams advance to the play-offs. Matches will be held in Navi Mumbai and Vadodara.
FIDE and Freestyle Chess ended a long-running dispute over world championship authority by agreeing to stage the first official FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship. The conflict began in late 2024 over title rights, sparking public clashes and player concerns. A renewed dialogue in 2025 led to reconciliation, aligning Freestyle’s tour with FIDE governance and creating a unified championship framework.
Sarfaraz Khan smashed the fastest fifty in Vijay Hazare Trophy history. His explosive 62 off 20 balls was a highlight. Mumbai narrowly lost to Punjab by one run. Punjab finished top of Group C. Both teams qualified for the quarter-finals.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stole the show in the third India vs South Africa U19 ODI, despite an emotional moment at the toss after losing it. The 14-year-old captain bounced back with a stunning 127 off 74 balls, becoming the youngest skipper to score a Youth ODI century. Supported by Aaron George’s 118, India posted 393/7 and crushed South Africa by 233 runs to sweep the series.
Former Bangladesh batter Rajin Saleh recalled receiving crucial batting advice from Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly during a difficult 2004 series against India. Tendulkar advised him to mentally reset after each innings, while Ganguly urged him to play fearlessly. Saleh then scored in the 80s in the next match, crediting their support.
West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder expressed discomfort with the India-Pakistan rivalry's intensity, citing excessive on-field theatrics and the trophy incident after the Asia Cup final. He also lamented Pakistani players' limited franchise league opportunities due to political dynamics. Holder believes the rivalry has crossed a line, impacting cricket beyond the pitch.
Mitchell Starc’s Ashes heroics capped a series that underlined both his durability and evolution. As the left-armer moves closer to the game’s all-time highest wicket-takers, his childhood coach Neil de Costa recalls the defining philosophy that shaped Starc’s career: bowl fast, swing hard and ignore anyone who tells you otherwise.
England's white-ball captain Harry Brook has publicly apologised for a nightclub altercation in New Zealand, admitting his behaviour was wrong and caused embarrassment. The incident, which occurred before the Ashes tour, resulted in a fine and a final warning. This apology surfaces as the ECB begins a thorough review of the team's disappointing Ashes campaign, with off-field conduct under scrutiny.
