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Washington Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Australia's Caribbean cricket tour ends with a perfect 8-0 record in tests and T20s
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Australia completed a sweep of the Twenty20 international cricket series with a three-wicket victory over West Indies on Monday to finish its Caribbean tour with an 8-0 record. Australia went into the last game on a 7-match winning streak following the 3-0 test series sweep and victories in the first four of the T20 internationals. It was Australia's first sweep of a five-game T20 series and only the second at the most elite level after India's in New Zealand in 2019-20.
BBC News
06-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
McCullum admits England mistake with Edgbaston toss
Coach Brendon McCullum admitted England "probably" made a mistake in deciding to bowl first during their 336-run defeat by India in the second Test at Ben Stokes stuck with his preferred tactic of chasing in the fourth innings but that gave India first chance to bat on the pitch and they piled up 587 in the first there, they were in control of the match and completed victory on the final day by dismissing England for 271, having been set an effectively impossible target of 608."I think as the game unfolded we probably looked back on that toss and said 'did we miss an opportunity there?' and it's probably fair," McCullum told BBC Test Match Special."We didn't expect that the wicket would play quite as it did and hence we probably got it slightly wrong." McCullum's words were a rare admission from this England camp that they have made an error. They usually remain steadfast in their wish to look forward rather than back and find the positives in any of England's highest 10 fourth-innings chases have come under Stokes and McCullum, including 371 to win the first Test last week and 378 against India at Edgbaston in has influenced Stokes' decision to bowl first in 10 of the 11 matches he has won the toss in England. This is only their second defeat when doing so."We thought this pitch might get better to bat on as we went through the five days but as we saw it didn't," McCullum than blame the toss, Stokes pointed to England's inability to knock over India's lower order in the first innings, where they recovered from 211-5."No-one's got a crystal ball, no-one really knows what a wicket's going to do," Stokes said."Having them 211-5, we were happy there - even five-down at the end of day one."We just weren't able to bust them open. We had a chance to potentially bowl them out for under 350 on that wicket, which would have been a good effort."Stokes said he was not concerned by his bowlers' toil during the match. England have responded by adding seamer Gus Atkinson, who has missed the first two Tests with a hamstring injury, to an otherwise unchanged squad for the third Test at Lord's which starts on Thursday. Jofra Archer could also come in for his first Test in four years after a series of injuries, while Sam Cook and Jamie Overton could also come into contention given the quick squad for third Test against India: Ben Stokes (captain), Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer, Sam Cook, Jamie Overton, Shoaib Bashir. Rested Bumrah to make India return India captain Shubman Gill confirmed his star bowler Jasprit Bumrah will "definitely" return at Lord's, having sat out this match to manage his return from a back Bumrah's place, Akash Deep took a superb 10-187 across the match."He bowled with so much heart and skilfully with his lengths," Gill said."He moved it in both directions, which was tough to do. He was magnificent for us."In making 269 in the first innings and 161 in the second, Gill scored 430 runs across the Test - the second most across both innings in Test victory, India's first at Edgbaston, is also his first as captain."I am feeling comfortable with my game and if we can win the series that would be a great achievement for us," Gill, 25, said."Every day is a learning curve for me."
Khaleej Times
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Afghan cricket team needs more matches, especially against top sides: Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan, captain of Afghanistan's T20 cricket team, has voiced concern over the limited number of international fixtures the national side has played—particularly against top-tier teams. 'We're not getting enough cricket as a nation to continue improving, especially against the big sides. Playing regularly against strong teams is what helps you grow,' Khan told Khaleej Times in an interview on Wednesday. Highlighting the impact of past opportunities, Khan pointed to Afghanistan's strong performances in recent ICC tournaments. 'In the last 4–5 years, we've had more chances to play the big teams—but mainly in World Cups, not in bilateral series. You saw the results: we reached the semi-finals in the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and had five or six wins in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. The more we play, the better we get,' he said. Khan stressed the importance of bilateral series in building consistency and long-term success. 'If we get more bilateral opportunities, I truly believe we can be a team that wins a World Cup in the next 3–4 years.' The Afghan cricket star made these remarks after being announced as the Brand Ambassador for MH Developers in Dubai. Despite the national team's potential, Khan noted that Afghanistan hasn't played much international cricket in recent months. 'We haven't had a series in the past 4–5 months. Our players are busy with franchise leagues, but as a national team, we've been inactive,' said the leg-spin maestro. Still, Khan remains optimistic about the country's cricketing future. 'We have a lot of talent back home, but what they need is opportunity. I don't doubt their ability. Once they play against top teams, they gain belief, and that's when performances start to improve.' Afghanistan's last international appearance was in the ICC Champions Trophy in February 2025. Khan also emphasised the importance of domestic leagues, noting how they allow young players to gain exposure and experience. 'Countries with strong domestic leagues allow their young players to play alongside international stars for a month or two. That's how they grow. I hope we can build something similar in Afghanistan, where our young talent can gain experience and develop faster,' he concluded.
The Guardian
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
England v India: second men's cricket Test, day one
Update: Date: 2025-07-02T09:00:12.000Z Title: Preamble Content: 'It's called a Test for a reason' is one of Test cricket's most enduring cliches. Generally speaking, though, its deployment references the sporting aspect: what happens out there in the middle. But the reality is somewhat different. Though the game remains testing, an extended examination of will and skill, for those with requisite ability and mentality the more significant test is abandoning friends, family and life for months at a time and year after year – while also being expected to perform. As such, and though there were other operative factors, it is not entirely surprising that, on recent tours to India and Pakistan, England won the first Test of the series before losing the others. Similarly, in the most recent Ashes, Australia won the first two then lost the second two, and when South Africa last visited, they won the first before being clattered in the second and third. Or, in other words, it's hard not to fear for India. Of course there's the playing aspect – a young team and a novice captain, coming to terms with the retirements of three champions, facing hosts who may just be maturing from something special into something serious. We know, though, that they can play – and they proved it at Headingley, a match it should have been impossible for them to lose. Yet lose it they did, meaning they arrive at Edgbaston trailing 1-0 with four matches still to go. It may not be a long way back, but it is a long way home. Play: 11am BST
Washington Post
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Kamindu Mendis inches closer to another test century as Sri Lanka closes in on Bangladesh's total
GALLE, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka edged closer to Bangladesh's formidable first-innings total on a sun-drenched Friday morning, reaching 465 for six at lunch on Day 4 of the series-opening cricket test and cutting the deficit to just 30 runs. At the heart of the reply stood Kamindu Mendis — composed, unflappable, and inching ever closer to yet another test century.
