Monday, July 13
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has rejected calls from over 160 lawmakers to boycott England's Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan, citing a preference for a coordinated International Cricket Council (ICC) approach to address the Taliban's persecution of women and girls in Afghanistan, rather than taking unilateral action.
In the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney, Damien Fleming highlighted Jasprit Bumrah's rare aggression, which rallied his team. Bumrah took 32 wickets and stood out despite India's loss. Fleming credited Bumrah but also acknowledged Travis Head's performance and the potential of Prasidh Krishna and young talents like Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Cameron Norrie avoided disqualification after accidentally hitting a spectator with his racket during an ATP Tour tournament in Auckland. The uninjured woman laughed off the incident as Norrie apologised. The Briton, who was born in Auckland, went on to lose the match. As per rules, he could have been disqualified.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will use a hybrid model. Matches will be played in Pakistan and Dubai. India's refusal to travel to Pakistan led to this decision. India will play in Dubai. This arrangement gives India an advantage, according to some former Pakistan players, who feel this is unfair. The tournament runs from February 19 to March 9.
Sunil Gavaskar suggests that following India's failure to qualify for the World Test Championship final, selectors might make significant changes to the Test squad for the England series starting in mid-June, focusing on future prospects with an eye towards the next final in 2027.
Sunil Gavaskar criticises Virat Kohli's shoulder bump with Sam Konstas during the Boxing Day Test at the MCG as 'simply not cricket.' Gavaskar suggests that Kohli's reaction to Australian fans' booing increased pressure on his teammates and contributed to his inconsistent performance throughout the series. Kohli’s on-field antics were coupled with his struggles in form. After scoring an unbeaten century in Perth, he failed to maintain consistency throughout the series.
Mike Hussey lauds Pat Cummins' Test team as one of Australia's best, having achieved significant wins like the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and World Cups. Under Cummins' captaincy, the team has maintained a core group, leading to consistent victories despite age concerns. Kerry O’Keeffe praises their resilience in tough situations, highlighting the legacy of this experienced yet successful team.
Australia secured a spot in the World Test Championship final by defeating India in the fifth Test in Sydney. The win also marked Australia's first series win against India in a decade. Captain Pat Cummins expressed his delight at holding the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and qualifying for the WTC final. Australia will face South Africa in June.
Ravi Shastri and Ricky Ponting commended the record-breaking attendance of the India-Australia Test series, suggesting the rivalry may now be cricket's biggest. The series saw 837,000 attendees, with 375,000 at the Melbourne Test alone. Both praised the players' performances and Australia's ability to turn the series around, emphasizing the growing interest and intensity of this cricket rivalry.
India lost the final Test to Australia, leading to a 1-3 series defeat. Australia reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade. India's inconsistency and reliance on star players like Jasprit Bumrah were evident. Australia celebrated their triumph, while questions loom over India's form, fitness, and team transitions as they missed the World Test Championship final.
