It is not easy to score two consecutive Test centuries unless one knows how to play the good ball on its merit and punish the bad ball to full effect.
Australia's cricket captain Pat Cummins acknowledged the team's batting struggles after a surprising nine-wicket loss to Bangladesh in Darwin. Despite excellent preparations, the top-ranked Test nation failed to post significant scores, with only Steve Smith and Cameron Green showing resilience. Cummins hinted at potential team changes and emphasised the need for batters to review their approach ahead of the second Test.
Virat Kohli's sister, Bhawna shared a heartwarming post and a special message for her brothers on social media on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan on Friday.
India captain Shubman Gill on Friday spent considerable time fine-tuning his game against that variation at the team's training session ahead of the upcoming second Test against Sri Lanka, in Colombo.
Prasidh Krishna's hostile spell and Manav Suthar's two wickets helped India keep Sri Lanka under pressure on Day 3, despite 50's from Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Sonal Dinusha in Colombo on Tuesday.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has urged Australia and cricket's powerbrokers to increase Test tours to the South Asian nation, emphasising its importance for his team to gain experience in diverse conditions and improve in the format.
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar expressed his bewilderment at how the current generation of cricketers, primarily raised on T20 cricket, has managed to seamlessly adapt to the rigorous demands of Test cricket. He compared their transition to pop singers mastering classical ragas, highlighting the significant technical and mental adjustments required. Manjrekar's comments come as young Indian players, many with IPL backgrounds, are actively participating in Test series, showcasing their versatility across formats.
East Zone captain Vaibhav Sooryavanshi took a successful DRS review to get the wicket of the well-set Aryan Juyal for 46 off the bowling of Mukesh Kumar.
At 41, Roelof van der Merwe aims to conclude his international cricket career at the upcoming ODI World Cup, ideally in Centurion, South Africa, representing the Netherlands. He discusses his dedication to national duty over franchise cricket, his fitness goals for future World Cups, and his continued impact as a left-arm spinner and fielder. He also highlights the potential of the European T20 Premier League to unearth new talent.
Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, the IAF chief, has strongly advocated for India to achieve greater self-reliance in unmanned aerial systems and other critical defence technologies, stating, "Technology delayed is technology denied." He stressed the importance of indigenous development to avoid dependency on other countries for components.
A world-class Test team can't afford to have a bowling attack that allows batters to feel comfortable. To be the world's best Test team, all departments of the game should be strong and striking.
Namibia stunned depleted South Africa by 18 runs in Windhoek, with Ruben Trumpelmann taking 3-24 and Jan Frylinck smashing 60 as the hosts defended 163-9.
Australia captain Pat Cummins has encouraged all-rounder Cameron Green to adopt an aggressive approach against Bangladesh in the upcoming Test series.
Former Australia Test stalwart Mike Hussey has indicated he would consider a batting coaching role with England for next year's Ashes series, following an 'off-the-cuff' approach from new England coach Stephen Fleming.
India faced early pressure in the second Test against Sri Lanka, reaching 88 for two at lunch on day one. Openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal were dismissed after a solid start, with Devdutt Padikkal and Shubman Gill at the crease. The session also saw some on-field drama and a dropped catch.
England closed in on a first home Test series win for two years as Pakistan slumped to 53/3 at lunch on the fourth day of the second Test at Lord's on Sunday.
Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal is under scrutiny for a potential ICC Code of Conduct breach following a heated altercation with Sri Lankan pacer Asitha Fernando during the second Test. The incident involved physical contact, with Jaiswal's helmet touching Fernando's forehead after Jaiswal's dismissal. India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak acknowledged the 'heat of the moment' but stated Jaiswal should not have made body contact. Match referee Andy Pycroft may invoke Article 2.12, which could lead to a reprimand, fine, or demerit points for Jaiswal.
India have never looked so vulnerable in Test cricket in recent times. They need a complete reset of their approach to Test cricket, and perhaps a new coach with fresh ideas could revitalise Shubman Gill and his boys.
Sri Lanka's Sonal Dinusha has etched his name in cricket history by becoming only the third Sri Lankan and ninth overall batter to score three centuries in a two-match Test series, achieving the feat against India in Colombo.
Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam sustained a hand injury during a warm-up match, raising concerns about his availability for the upcoming three-match Test series against England, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has come under fire from former players after sacking head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul, and sending back seven players, including national T20 captain Salman Ali Agha, in the middle of their Test series against England. The drastic changes followed Pakistan's heavy defeats in the first two Tests, prompting widespread condemnation for the timing and impact on team morale and stability.
Devdutt Padikkal struck his second century of the series, capitalising on Sri Lanka's early dropped chances to make 117 and steer India towards a strong first-innings total.
Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue claimed five wickets each to dismiss Pakistan for 171 in the first Test at Headingley, before Joe Root's unbeaten 37 guided England to 112-2.
India's top centrally-contracted cricketers, including Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, underwent mandatory fitness tests at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. These assessments, featuring the Bronco Test, 2k run, and YoYo test, are crucial for the upcoming eight-month home season, which includes series against Afghanistan and West Indies, and the Asian Games.
Indian left-arm spinner Manav Suthar faced a challenging day in the second Test against Sri Lanka, conceding over five runs an over initially, but impressed spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule with his resilience and ability to bounce back with two crucial wickets.
'This is not the first time this government has show us the 'darkest day of democracy''
Pakistan pacer Mohammad Abbas expressed deep concern over the team's persistent issues, including poor fielding and an inexperienced pace attack, following their heavy 194-run defeat to England at Lord's, marking their 10th loss in 11 away Tests.
Shubman Gill showcased exceptional athleticism by taking a sensational one-handed catch against Sri Lanka on Day 3 of the first Test in Galle.
The Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) is set to review a controversial rule allowing DPL franchises to pick three local league players outside the auction, following widespread disrepute caused by the inclusion of cricketer Dev Chaudhary in the New Delhi Tigers squad.
Meerut Mavericks fast bowler Kartik Tyagi has lauded captain Rinku Singh, stating that the left-hander is 'almost in the Top 5 batters' globally for his ability to dominate pressure situations in the death overs.
Bangladesh secured a landmark nine-wicket victory over Australia in Darwin, marking their first-ever Test win in Australia and one of Test cricket's greatest upsets, despite a defiant century from Cameron Green.
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer believes K L Rahul performs best when not burdened by captaincy.
Team India batter KL Rahul hailed Karnataka teammate Devdutt Padikkal's maiden Test century and backed the young left-hander to become a more consistent run-scorer for India.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made 40 before captain Ishan Kishan stroke a fluent knock of 39 not out to help East Zone down Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final match.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam has declared himself 90 percent fit and available for the second Test against England at Lord's, aiming to lead a rejuvenated side after their innings defeat in the first match. He emphasised the need for senior players, including himself, to take responsibility and hinted at potential changes if performance doesn't improve.
Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has achieved a rare feat in Test cricket, becoming only the fourth player in history to score over 4,000 runs and take 350 wickets. He joins an exclusive club alongside legends like Kapil Dev, Ian Botham, and Daniel Vettori, reaching the milestone during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Nasser Hussain believes the Women's T20 World Cup has arrived at the perfect time for Deepti Sharma and Smriti Mandhana, while warning that India's bowling combination remains the team's biggest concern.
Devdutt Padikkal on Tuesday asserted that Test cricket remains his "ultimate goal", and subtle technical adjustments to his batting has helped him make an instant impact in the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
India's vice-captain KL Rahul expressed his delight at the team's comprehensive 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle, stating that the team 'ticked most of the boxes' they had discussed prior to the match and gained significant confidence for future spin-dominated assignments.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) are reportedly dissatisfied with the arrangements and facilities for the upcoming Asian Games cricket tournament in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Concerns include inadequate dressing rooms, distant washrooms, and small hotel rooms. As a result, India might send a 'B' team instead of the previously announced full-strength squad, pending a report from a BCCI observer.