Saturday, July 04
In October 2026, the ICC and MCC will introduce a new catching rule in cricket, disallowing 'bunny-hop' catches where fielders jump from outside the boundary to touch the ball. Fielders can still push the ball from within the boundary, step out, and dive back in to complete a catch.
Following a challenging day three in the WTC final, Australian assistant coach Daniel Vettori praised Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram's resilient partnership. South Africa now needs just 69 runs with eight wickets remaining. Vettori acknowledged the difficulty of taking the remaining wickets and expressed concern over Steve Smith's finger injury.
Sam Burns fired a stunning 65 at Oakmont, seizing the US Open lead at three-under, as other top players faltered. J.J. Spaun sits one stroke back, followed by Viktor Hovland. Heavy rains suspended play, while McIlroy barely made the cut and DeChambeau missed it, along with Mickelson. Scheffler and Rahm are seven shots behind Burns.
India's 2025 Test squad in England signals a generational shift, contrasting sharply with the experienced 2021 team under an experienced Virat Kohli. Led by Shubman Gill, the new side lacks veteran presence due to retirements. While the bowling attack retains key figures like Bumrah and Jadeja, depth is a concern.
The ICC has revamped playing conditions for men's international cricket, effective mid-June and July. A key change in ODIs involves using two new balls only until the 34th over, aiming to balance bat and ball. Stricter concussion substitute rules now require teams to pre-name five role-specific replacements.
South Africa defeated Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord's, ending Australia's decade-long unbeaten streak in ICC tournament finals. This defeat marks only Australia's fourth loss in 14 global finals over 50 years.
The Indian men's hockey team faced a defeat against Australia in the FIH Pro League. India initially led with a 2-0 score, thanks to Abhishek's goals. However, Australia made a strong comeback in the second half. They scored three goals to win the match 3-2. This loss marks India's fifth consecutive defeat in the tournament.
India's Arya Borse and Arjun Babuta secured a dominant victory in the ISSF World Cup, defeating China's Olympic and world champions Zifei Wang and Lihao Sheng 17-7 in the 10m air rifle mixed team event. Their exceptional performance earned India its second gold medal in the tournament. Norway secured the bronze.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, once guided by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, now steps into a senior role for India's Test series in England. With Rohit and Virat absent, the young Indian team, led by Shubman Gill, faces a tough challenge. Coach Jwala Singh emphasizes the need for Jaiswal to balance aggression with caution, anchoring the batting lineup in demanding English conditions.
Aiden Markram's century has put South Africa in a commanding position in the ICC World Test Championship Final against Australia. Chasing 282, the Proteas ended day three at 213 for two, needing just 69 more runs to win.
