Tuesday, June 23
Captain AB de Villiers' explosive 63 not out off 30 balls propelled South Africa Champions to a dominant 88-run victory over India Champions in the World Championship of Legends. India's batting faltered, with only Stuart Binny offering resistance. Rain intervened with India struggling at 111/9, well short of the DLS target.
India created a Test cricket milestone by fielding five left-handed batters for the first time in their history during the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford. Sai Sudharsan replaced Karun Nair, Shardul Thakur stepped in for the injured Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Anshul Kamboj debuted in place of Akash Deep.
Lancashire County Cricket Club honored Farokh Engineer and Clive Lloyd by naming stands after them at Old Trafford. Engineer, who played for Lancashire from 1968 to 1976, contributed significantly to the club's success, including four Gillette Cup wins. Lloyd, the two-time World Cup-winning captain, also had a twenty-year association with Lancashire, reshaping their cricket fortunes.
Yashasvi Jaiswal's bat handle dramatically snapped while facing Chris Woakes during the fourth Test's opening session at Old Trafford. Despite the equipment malfunction, the young opener remained composed, contributing to India's steady start. At lunch, India reached 78/0, with Jaiswal and KL Rahul blunting the English attack, frustrating the bowlers who struggled to find consistency under overcast conditions.
Injuries have prompted India to reshuffle their playing XI for the crucial 4th Test against England, with Anshul Kamboj, Shardul Thakur, and Sai Sudharsan stepping in. In a post on X, Mohammad Kaif has criticized Shubman Gill's decision to include Sudharsan over Karun Nair, who had replaced Sudharsan in the second test.
Crystal Palace supporters have vehemently protested UEFA's decision to exclude their club from the Europa League due to multi-club ownership concerns. Fans delivered a symbolic suitcase of fake money to UEFA headquarters, demanding the decision be reversed. A post on X by the Holmesdale Fanatics also mirrored the sentiment among fans regarding the decision.
Kranti Goud, a 21-year-old pace sensation from a small village in Madhya Pradesh, delivered a match-winning performance for India, claiming 6 for 52 against England. Her journey from humble beginnings, supported by her coach Rajiv Bilthare and later Chandrakant Pandit, culminated in a series-clinching victory.
Ahead of the Manchester Test, a surprising statistic reveals England's lower-order batsmen—Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, and Jofra Archer—possess more combined first-class runs than India's top four. This highlights England's batting depth, contrasting with India's less experienced top order. As England leads the series 2-1, their strong lower order could be pivotal.
