Sydney, Jan 8 (IANS) Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith reflected on his side’s 4-1 Ashes series triumph with pride and perspective, describing the fifth Test as a fitting end to the hard-fought campaign. He also stated that the team knows how crucial every Test is in terms of WTC, with the side continuing to dominate at the top of the rankings. “It was nice to finish on a high note, and we know the importance of every Test match in terms of WTC. It was a good game of Test cricket and …
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Sydney, Jan 8 (IANS) Australia claimed a 4-1 Ashes series win after securing a five-wicket victory in the fifth Test at the SCG, as Usman Khawaja bowed out as a winner in his farewell Test.After bowling England out for 342 early on day five, Australia set themselves a 160-run target to win.Chasing 160, the hosts made a brisk start, with Travis Head and Jake Weatherald putting on a 62-run opening partnership to set up Australia’s run chase.The tourists, however, spoiled Usman Khawaja’s hopes …
Sydney, Jan 3 (IANS) Australian stand-in captain Steve Smith is ready to relinquish captaincy to a younger candidate in the absence of captain Pat Cummins if that is what the selectors wish to do. With Usman Khawaja hanging up his cricket boots on Sunday after the Sydney Test, Nathan Lyon has already been ruled out due to injury. Smith will now be the oldest player in the Australian XI, side by side with Scott Boland. When asked about possibly being involved in the 2027 Ashes series in England, …
Sydney, Jan 2 (IANS) Australia skipper Pat Cummins and former Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan congratulated Usman Khawaja after the veteran Australian batter announced that he will retire from international cricket after the fifth and final Ashes Test, scheduled from January 4 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The 39-year-old opener will retire as one of Australia’s most prolific run-scorers; 30 more in his farewell Test will see him pass Michael Hussey’s tally of 6,235 into 14th among Australian men.C…
Sydney, Jan 2 (IANS) England have included off-spinner Shoaib Bashir and seamer Matthew Potts in their 12-man squad for the fifth Ashes Test against Australia, to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Sunday. Fast bowler Gus Atkinson is the only absentee from the side that secured a four-wicket victory in the fourth Test inside two days at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The pacer has been ruled out of the match due to a hamstring injury.The inclusion of Bashir and Potts gives Engl…
Sydney, Jan 2 (IANS) Veteran Australia batter Usman Khawaja announced on Friday that he will retire from international cricket after the fifth Ashes Test against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground.Khawaja called a press conference and made the announcement with his family by his side two days out from the match, ahead of the team’s net session with the Aussies aiming to claim another 12 World Test Championship points and finish the series as 4-1 victors.“I’m here to announce today that I w…
Dubai, Dec 31 (IANS) Harry Brook’s gritty effort at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has reshaped the Test Rankings, as the England batter moved three places to be ranked second in the latest ICC rankings, while Mitchell Starc edged closer to India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah’s top spot following a standout bowling display throughout the series.Brook, who scored a total of 59 runs in a low-scoring match, has moved to second position. The 26-year-old English star has surpassed the Austral…
New Delhi, Dec 24 (IANS) After a roller coaster 2025, the Indian men’s cricket team faces a jam-packed 2026, headlined by a home T20 World Cup defence, lots of ODI matches, and some tough World Test Championship (WTC) assignments in overseas conditions.It was a memorable 2025 for India, as they won the Champions Trophy in Dubai, especially with their four-pronged spin strategy bearing fruit. In terms of T20Is, the side’s upswing continued with wins in bilateral series at home and abroad, inc…
New Delhi, Dec 24 (IANS) South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has revealed that India duo of Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah apologised to him after making remarks in their own language during the first Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Bavuma, who captained South Africa to 2-0 Test series win over India, noted that while such words are not easily forgotten, he harbours no ill will. A stump mic incident during day one’s play caught Bumrah and Pant referring to Bavuma as ‘bauna’ while appea…
New Delhi, Dec 22 (IANS) Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was full of praise for New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy, whose five-wicket haul on Day 5 of the final Test against West Indies on Monday helped his side clinch a 2-0 victory in the three-game series. Duffy registered 5/42 in the West Indies’ second innings as the Caribbean side was dismissed for 138 while chasing an unlikely victory target of 462.The fast bowler also set a new New Zealand record, surpassing Kiwi legend Richard Hadlee…