Month: November 2023

IMAGE: Glenn Maxwell last played a Test match in 2017. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters
Australia great Ricky Ponting thinks outstanding all-rounder Glenn Maxwell should be seriously entertained for a Test recall following his astonishing success in the recently concluded ICC World Cup and a T20I series against India.
Maxwell, who last played a Test in 2017, has been in top form, with a double-century against Afghanistan in the ODI World Cup and now a century against India in the third T20I of the five-match series, all in a winning cause.
“I could see him getting back into a Test line-up because of the all-round game that he brings in those conditions. The (201) not out in that game against Afghanistan, which is the most remarkable one-day innings I’ve ever seen.
“I’ve been around a lot of games, watched a lot of games, played a lot of games, I’ve never ever seen anything like that,” Ponting was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
After the third T20I against India, Maxwell leaves India with a solid reputation after leading his country to a World Cup victory, but the superstar wants to shine best on the Test arena.
The squad for the first Test in Perth against Pakistan is expected to be named in the coming days.
The series against Pakistan begins on December 14 in Perth, with matches in Melbourne and Sydney following before a two-match series against the West Indies at home in January.
Australia is presently third in the ICC World Test Championship standings after sharing the spoils with arch-rival England earlier this year when regaining the Ashes.

Uganda have made history by qualifying for their first-ever ICC T20 World Cup by securing the last available spot from Africa and completing the 20-team lineup for the tournament to be held in the Caribbean and the United States next year.
Uganda secured their spot by beating Rwanda in the Africa qualifiers on Thursday, pushing out former regional powerhouse Zimbabwe, whom they beat by five wickets on Sunday in their first-ever T20 international win over a full-member team.
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Rwanda were dismissed for 65 after being asked to bat first by Uganda, who chased the target in 8.1 overs at the Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek, Namibia.
Namibia were the second team to qualify from the region, having previously played in the 2021 and 2022 editions.
Celebrations just got started! T20 World Cup-bound Uganda once again took the famous nursery school rhyme to the global audience.
Ekibobo kili mu nyumba led by coach @OgwangOyuku Indeed the boys got the big basket in the house.#CricketCranesInColour#Twaake@PlasconUgandapic.twitter.com/V9ySSE4PKs
Uganda Cricket Association (@CricketUganda) November 30, 2023
In total, eight teams have booked their spots through the regional qualifying matches. Ireland and Scotland took the European slots, Nepal and Oman qualified from Asia, Canada qualified from North America and Papua New Guinea took up the East Asia-Pacific slot.
The US will participate in the tournament their first-ever major ICC event by virtue of being joint hosts along with the West Indies.
Australia, England, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka qualified on the basis of their top-eight finish in the previous T20 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan and Bangladesh qualified by being the two next top teams in the ICC T20 rankings at the end of last years T20 World Cup.
The 2024 event will be played in two phases a knockout round and a main round.
The top two teams in each of the four groups of five will move to a Super Eights phase, where the remaining sides split into two groups of four. The top two in each group will then make their way to the semifinals.
The tournament will be held from June 4 to 30 at seven venues across the Caribbean and three in the US, including Dallas, Florida and New York.
ICC T20 World Cup 2024 teams: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, England, India, Ireland, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Uganda, United States, and West Indies.

Jaiswal, Kishan help India thrash Australia to go 2-0 up

Hazratullah Zazai brought up his fifty with a six  •  Abu Dhabi T10

IMAGE: In a fun-filled rapid fire round Neeraj Chopra opened up on several topics. Photograph: Marko Djurica/Reuters
If he hadn’t picked up javelin as a sport then what would world champions and Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra choose as a career? In an exciting rapid India’s golden boy opened up on his alternate career options!
The star javelin thrower was in Bengaluru to speak at Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India.
He played a rapid-fire question game at the event.
On the first thing that comes to his mind when he sees Bengaluru, Neeraj said, “I have trained here in 2016-17, I remember it. It was really good.”
Neeraj said that when it comes to playing cricket, he can do both batting and bowling well, though he prefers to do bhatta (throwing) style of bowling.
“I can bat well. I can also bowl some good bhatta (throw) balls if asked to,” said Neeraj.
Neeraj said that his role model is javelin thrower Jan Zelezny, who has a world record in the discipline. He is a Czech Republic athlete who holds the record of the best throw in men’s javelin throw with 98.48 metres. He also a world and Olympic champion.
Asked about his favourite sports movie, Neeraj replied, “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag”. The movie is based on life of legendary Indian athlete Milkha Singh and was released in 2013.
On what he would have been if not a sportsperson, Neeraj said, “I like Photography a lot. I like to take pictures wherever I go.”
On being asked to name the most stylish cricketers, Neeraj said, “Shreyas Iyer, he likes clothes and sneakers a lot. Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli are also stylish.”
This year has been a memorable one for Neeraj.
Neeraj lived up to expectations to win gold at the Asian Games, his compatriot Kishore Kumar Jena took home a silver medal as Indian athletes put up a power-packed performance at the Hangzhou Olympic Stadium on October 4. Neeraj defended his title and scripted history at the continental event.

IMAGE: Ricky Ponting backed Cameron Bancroft to succeed David Warner at the top of the order. Photograph: Carl Recine/Reuters
ICC Hall of Famer and former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting feels that batter Cameron Bancroft is leading the race to succeed David Warner and Usman Khawaja at the top of Australia’s Test batting.
Earlier, this year, Warner announced that he plans to bring down the curtains to his illustrious Test career following the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) Test against Pakistan next year. As he prepares for the final phase of his career in white clothing, there are a host of openers eyeing his place in the Australian team.
While Marcus Harris and Matthew Renshaw have been used as reserve batters in recent tours to India and England, Ponting thinks Bancroft has jumped to the top of the pecking order on the back of some sensational form at domestic level in Australia over the last few years.
The 31-year-old scored four centuries and made more runs than any other player during the 2022/23 summer in Australia’s domestic Sheffield Shield competition and is once again among the top run-scorers this season.
In 11 matches, Bancroft scored 945 runs at an average of 59.06, with four centuries and a fifty to emerge as the top run-getter.
In his first-class career, Bancroft has made 9,389 runs at an average of 39.12, with 25 centuries and 33 fifties in 261 innings. His best score is 228n.o.
The batter’s numbers in Australian whites are not really great, as in 10 Tests, he has made 446 runs at an average of 26.23, with just three fifties in 18 innings. His best score is 82n.o.
While Bancroft has not represented Australia since 2019, Ponting expects the in-form right-hander will be given another chance at the international level.
“If you look at those three guys, I think it is quite clear that Bancroft is the one that has got the runs on the board and I would not be surprised if they (selectors) go that way,” Ponting told Australian radio station SEN on Thursday as quoted by ICC.
“If you wind the clock back about six months it might have been a slightly different order than what it is now. I think they probably had Harris as the one that would come back in a while ago. To me now it sort of feels (there is) a bit more of a groundswell behind Cameron Bancroft getting first crack,” he added.
The batting legend also expects all-rounder Mitchell Marsh to be in Australia’s playing XI following an excellent Ashes series against England (250 runs with a century and fifty in six innings) and the ICC Cricket World Cup in India (441 runs in 10 innings with two centuries and fifty) and that fellow all-rounder Cameron Green will have to bide his time and wait for his next chance.
“I think Cameron Green might just have to sit back and bide his time and wait for the opportunity to come back,” Ponting said.
“He can get a truckload of runs in Shield cricket and sort of force his way back into the side. Labuschagne has been outstanding at No.3 for Australia, it is very much a specialist position,” he added.
Australia’s series against Pakistan kicks off with the first Test in Perth on December 14, with matches in Melbourne and Sydney to follow ahead of a two-match series against the West Indies at home in January.
Australia currently sit in third place in the ICC World Test Championship standings after they shared the spoils against arch-rival England when retaining the Ashes earlier this year.

photoDetailsenglish2693672In the realm of sports, tales of romance often unfold beyond the boundaries of the playing field, weaving stories of love, friendship, and commitment. One such enchanting narrative is the love story between Indian cricket maestro Rohit Sharma and his better half, Ritika Sajdeh. A journey that commenced with a chance encounter during an ad shoot blossomed into a timeless saga of friendship evolving into happily ever after. From their initial professional collaboration to a grand wedding and the joys of parenthood, the story of Rohit and Ritika encapsulates the essence of a fairy-tale romance within the dynamic world of cricket. Let’s delve into the chapters of their extraordinary love story, where each moment is a testament to enduring love and companionship.
https://zeenews.india.com/photos/sports/rohit-sharmas-love-story-with-ritika-sajdeh-from-professional-bonds-to-eternal-ties-the-magical-love-story-of-rohit-sharma-and-ritika-sajdeh-that-bowled-us-over-in-pics-2693769In the realm of sports, tales of romance often unfold beyond the boundaries of the playing field, weaving stories of love, friendship, and commitment. One such enchanting narrative is the love story between Indian cricket maestro Rohit Sharma and his better half, Ritika Sajdeh. A journey that commenced with a chance encounter during an ad shoot blossomed into a timeless saga of friendship evolving into happily ever after. From their initial professional collaboration to a grand wedding and the joys of parenthood, the story of Rohit and Ritika encapsulates the essence of a fairy-tale romance within the dynamic world of cricket. Let’s delve into the chapters of their extraordinary love story, where each moment is a testament to enduring love and companionship.
Rohit Sharma and Ritika Sajdeh first met during an ad shoot where Ritika, a sports event manager and Yuvraj Singh’s rakhi sister, managed Rohit. Despite warnings, destiny had different plans.
From Professional to Personal:
Initially, their relationship was professional, with Ritika managing Rohit’s cricket engagements. As they spent more time together, a strong friendship evolved into a romantic connection, marking the beginning of their love story.
The duo’s journey from friends to partners spanned six years. Rohit Sharma surprised Ritika with a heartfelt proposal at Borivali Sports Club, Mumbai, where he began his cricketing career at the age of 11.
On June 3, 2015, Rohit and Ritika officially got engaged, followed by a grand engagement party where they exchanged rings. The ceremony, held at Borivali Sports Complex, witnessed the presence of Bollywood personalities.
The couple tied the knot on December 13, 2015, at Mumbai’s Taj Lands Hotel. Their wedding, attended by cricket and Bollywood stars, was preceded by a lavish party hosted by the Ambanis, showcasing the perks of being the captain of Mumbai Indians.
Three years into their marriage, Rohit and Ritika welcomed their daughter on December 30, 2018, naming her Samaira. The couple kept the pregnancy under wraps initially, later sharing the joyous news through social media.
Ritika, a strong pillar behind Rohit, continues to provide unwavering support. Their happy marriage and adorable family moments serve as inspiration, setting relationship goals for many.
In a social media tribute, Rohit expressed affection and commitment on completing five years of marriage, while Ritika reminisced with a heartfelt post, declaring her dibs on him for all their future lifetimes.
Rohit Sharma, with a net worth of around Rs 162 crores, enjoys a luxurious lifestyle. His 6000-square-feet apartment in Ahuja Towers, Worli, and a collection of high-end cars reflect his success and financial prowess.
Rohit and Ritika’s love story, from a chance meeting to a fairy-tale wedding and family life, epitomizes the journey from friendship to a lifetime bond. Their story remains an enduring example of love and companionship.

Phillips was seen applying saliva on the third day. © AFP
New Zealand cricketer Glenn Philips is under the scanner after he was spotted using saliva on the ball during the third day’s play at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Phillips was caught on TV applying saliva on the ball twice in the 34th over of the innings.
According to Law 41.3 of the game that was updated and put into effect on October 1, 2022, the team will be penalised five runs.
“When cricket resumed following the onset of Covid-19, playing conditions were written in most forms of the game stating that applying saliva to the ball was no longer permitted. MCC’s research found that this had little or no impact on the amount of swing the bowlers were getting. Players were using sweat to polish the ball, and this was equally effective. The new Laws will not permit the use of saliva on the ball, which also removes any grey areas of fielders eating sugary sweets to alter their saliva to apply to the ball. Using saliva will be treated the same way as any other unfair methods of changing the condition of the ball,” the law states
“We are aware of it (Phillips using saliva) and we have informed (to the authorities,” Mominul Haque told reporters when his attention was drawn to the incident. Bangladesh team manager Nafees Iqbal echoed the same sentiment adding that he had seen it immediately when it happened on the field.
On-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Paul Reiffel didn’t intervene or take any sort of action at the time of the incident. New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson refused to divulge into details and revealed that he wasn’t aware of the incident when it had happened.
“The first I heard of it was about 35 seconds ago. So, yeah, I have no idea what happened, or when it was, or what was seen,” Jamieson told reporters after the third day’s play. “Yeah, I didn’t see it. I’ll have to go back and watch the footage. But, yeah, I didn’t see it.
Nepal were awarded five penalty runs in the previous instance when Alishan Sharafu used saliva during an ODI match against UAE in November 2022.
Bangladesh are in control of the ongoing Test after dragging their lead past the 200-run mark by stumps on the third day. They still have seven wickets left to add to their tally.
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A day after the BCCI decided to give Rahul Dravid and the rest of the support staff an extension with the Indian cricket team, the head coach offered a fresh twist to the development as he remained mum around the tenure of his new contract. Dravid will continue to remain Team India head coach, but for how long remains a mystery. Dravid, who was in Delhi along with the BCCI chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar to pick India’s squads for the T20I, ODI and Test series against South Africa, informed reporters that he is yet to sign any official document, adding to the suspense around the length of his new stint.
India coach Rahul Dravid remains Team India head coach(Reuters)
“Nothing’s out officially. I haven’t signed anything as yet so once I get the papers, we will discuss it. And maybe then you can” Dravid told reporters as they tried to get an answer out of him before entering the car, a video of which was posted on PTI’s X handle.
It is believed that Dravid will continue till the T20 World Cup 2024, his and India’s third shot at winning a World Cup in three years. In 2022, India lost to England in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup in Australia and just 10 days ago, finished runner-up at the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. It’s imperative to take note that winning the Asia Cup on September and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in March-April, are the only two major piece of silverware India have won under Dravid.
With VVS Laxman taking command of the T20I squad that is currently playing a five-match series against Australia at home, Dravid will return to the job starting India’s all-format tour of South Africa, which commences December 10 with the T20Is. This will mark Dravid’s first assignment of his fresh stint. He was the head coach in 2021 as well when India toured South Africa for Tests and ODIs but lost both to return home empty-handed.
Following the SA tour what winds up on January 7, Dravid will oversee proceedings as England come to India for a full-fledged five-Test series, to be played across Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Rajkot, Ranchi and Dharamsala. By the time the series concludes in mid-March, Dravid will receive a break due to the 17th season of IPL. In between, Afghanistan will also visit India to play three T20Is from January 11.
Immediately after the IPL is the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA, which will run from June 3 to June 30. India are also slated to tour Australia at the end of the year, and in a year highlighted by Test cricket, it will be very interesting to see whether Dravid stretched beyond the ICC event. While the BCCI is eager for Dravid to extend his tenure, the ultimate decision hinges on whether “The Wall” himself desires it.
Since his retirement in 2012, Dravid has been actively engaged in Indian cricket, initially as the coach for Under-19 and A teams, and later as the director at the National Cricket Academy. In addition, he contributed as a broadcaster around 2014. He of course replaced Ravi Shastri as coach in November of 2021 but not before being persuaded by his former India teammate, captain and the then-serving BCCI president Sourav Ganguly.