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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially made two changes to its playing conditions that will come into effect in men’s international cricket soon. The changes include the long-argued two-ball rule in one days and a new, more structured concussion-substitute protocol. The two-ball rule in 50-over games has been updated to shift balance back in the favour of the bowlers. Currently, two new balls are used in each inning from opposite ends, in alternate overs throughout the innings. Under the new rule, two balls will be used for 34 overs in the same way, but from 35th over onwards, the…

In addition to these changes to the playing conditions, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has tweaked the boundary catch law as well. The regulation, which has until now allowed fielders to legally tap the ball multiple times outside the boundary provided they weren’t grounded beyond the line, will now tighten that leeway. Implemented from later this month, as per the ICC’s updated playing conditions, such catches will no longer be valid under the new rule. An airborne fielder outside the boundary rope will be allowed to touch the ball only once, that too while in the air. The second contact…

Steven Smith has escaped surgery on his dislocated finger, which he sustained during the World Test Championship (WTC) final at the Lord’s. Smith was fielding in the slips on the third day when attempting to grab a thick edge off Temba Bavuma, and he injured his finger. Smith immediately left the field for the hospital, and looked in pain as he was clutching his right shoulder while leaving, and walked off the field even before the physios came. The finger is now in a splint, which means even if he manages to recover from the injury, the splint will stay…

It’s official now. Babar Azam is heading down under to the Big Bash League to join the Sydney Sixers, who have signed him as their pre-draft international pick ahead of the upcoming season. The Pakistani star batter will join Steve Smith in the squad, as the Sixers become the last BBL team to finalise their pre-draft overseas signings. But the long wait doesn’t seem to have come at any cost for them. Babar brings along a mountain of runs, tons of experience, and a booming fanbase that follows the right-hander around. “It’s an exciting opportunity to play in one of…

Nicholas Pooran retiring from international cricket at 29 might have come as a shock to fans, but West Indies coach and former player Daren Sammy says he saw it coming. Sammy, speaking to media after West Indies’ sixth straight defeat on England’s tour, said he is already planning life after Pooran, and even preparing himself to brace for more such retirements. “My instincts told me something like that would happen,” he said, clearly not blindsided like the rest of us.”Nicholas sent me a text message, and so did I have a conversation with his agent as well… When we first…

There is a certain kind of dullness associated with practicing in the nets. It’s monotonous. It’s repetitive, and at times, you do not even know what you’re doing, watching the same thing over and over again. That is until you have a player like Jasprit Bumrah in the squad, weaving magic for fun, and in the process, fizzling out ennui ever so effortlessly. Morne Morkel, India’s bowling coach for the summer, couldn’t help but fall for the Indian quick going full tilt with the Dukes ball. “Bumrah knows how to get himself ready, he knows how to prepare. I was…

In a shocking announcement, West Indies batter Nicholas Pooran has retired from all international cricket. Pooran, who will turn 30 this October, made his international debut in 2016 in a T20I game against Pakistan. Despite being the most capped T20I player for West Indies with 106 appearances and the highest run scorer for the side (2275 runs) in the same format, his shortest format career spanned only eight years. The ODI format even less, having made his debut in 2019. He ends his career with 1983 ODI runs in 61 games and 2275 T20I runs in 106 games. Pooran, who…

Jamie Smith may not have looked forward to his role as England’s ODI opener against West Indies doubling up as a rehearsal for the high-octane red-ball series against India, but that is exactly what it was. With England’s focus shifting to their first assignment for the new World Test Championship cycle, which is also against a gargantuan Indian side, white-ball cricket exposure has offered them benefits, so says Smith. “There’s an opportunity there to go and play, and experience opening when the ball is still swinging and nipping around against quality bowlers,” he said after England wrapped up a 3-0…

Kagiso Rabada is gearing up for a comeback to South Africa’s red-ball side after completing his one-month ban for recreational drug use. Almost two weeks out from the World Test Championship (WTC) Final, he is fully aware of everything that lies ahead of him, both on field and off field. During his Indian Premier League (IPL) stint with Gujarat Titans (GT), he had to leave India and return home for ‘personal reasons’, which were not made public until the news about his consuming the banned substance came out. Speaking for the first time since the ban, Rabada acknowledged the need…

Punjab Kings (PBKS) ended the group stages in second place, and their win over Mumbai Indians (MI), on top of their clinical run throughout the season, helped them lock the spot to get two cracks at the final. They have run through their first chance, and for the final chance, they meet MI again. One downside about the Qualifier 1 for PBKS was that it was played at the venue which was their home for some part of the tournament. Home venues this season have not exactly been very kind to teams on average, and similar was the case with…