Monday, May 11
Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes the upcoming Ashes series will be a crucial test for England's aggressive 'Bazball' style. He notes Australia are the favourite, given England's poor record Down Under. Hussain praises the current team's clarity and conviction in their approach. He feels this series represents a culmination of their planning to succeed in Australia.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan predicts a 2-2 Ashes series draw, with England winning the opener in Perth. He cited the absence of Australian fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood due to injuries as a significant advantage for Ben Stokes' side. This situation could lead to unexpected selections for Australia's bowling attack.
England and Australia will start the new Ashes series in Perth on Friday, stepping into a rivalry that has carried its own history for more than a century. England arrive with a clear target: to take back the urn for the first time since 2015. The article revisits five memorable series, highlighting iconic moments like Ben Stokes' Headingley heroics in 2019 and England's narrow 2005 victory.
India have now lost four of their last six Tests at home -- a trend that has shred the aura of invincibility that the team enjoyed in its backyard. Under Gambhir, India have eight wins from 18 Tests -- four of them have come against lowly Bangladesh and West Indies.
Indian cricketer KL Rahul finds IPL captaincy more taxing than international duty, citing extensive meetings and ownership reviews. The Indian batter revealed that the constant questioning from owners, often lacking cricket insight, leaves him mentally and physically drained post-tournament. Rahul, now a player for Delhi Capitals, has stepped down from captaincy.
Shubman Gill has been discharged from hospital and continues to recover from a stiff neck at the team hotel in Kolkata. His participation in the Guwahati Test remains a 50-50 call, with the BCCI medical team monitoring his progress. India may travel with or without their captain on Wednesday, with a final decision expected in the coming days.
After the victory, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma’s wild celebrations were captured in a video circulating on social media. He leapt in the air, punched his fists with delight, and embraced head coach Shukri Conrad.
Gurpreet Singh narrowly missed world championship gold in the 25m Centre Fire Pistol, securing a silver medal on inner-10 count. This marks his second World Championships individual medal. India concluded the event with 13 medals, placing third overall behind China and South Korea. Gurpreet's strong comeback performance was a highlight of India's successful campaign.
IPL 2025 marked a shift from loyalty to pragmatism as franchises made tough calls on big names. CSK released Matheesha Pathirana and traded Ravindra Jadeja, while KKR parted ways with Andre Russell despite past backing. Declining returns, evolving conditions and rising domestic power-hitters have pushed teams toward data-led decisions, signalling a more ruthless, results-first IPL era.
