Author: Mishaal Mubarak

India and Pakistan are all set to meet in the Asia Cup, which will be their first encounter since a brief military standoff between the two countries in May following the Pahalgam terror attack. The captains of both sides, speaking to media on the opening day of the tournament, said that players have not been instructed to keep a lid on aggression, as long as it stays on the field. Asked if the political backdrop might weigh on India when they face Pakistan on September 14, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav said aggression is what makes the sport exciting. “Temper? Aggression…

South Africa managed to win an ODI series in England after 27 years, and boy, did they make sure they did so in style. The second ODI at Lord’s wasn’t really equally poised, with the visitors ahead in almost every phase, but Jofra Archer’s cameo brought the game to the last ball. England needed one six to win, and South Africa were looking for anything but six. Senuran Muthusamy managed to get it done for his side, handing England their eighth ODI defeat this year. With the series won by South Africa, all the hosts can hope for is a…

England have made one change to the XI that lost by five runs against South Africa in the second ODI at Lord’s, bringing in Jamie Overton for Saqib Mahmood. This will be Overton’s first game since announcing his break from red-ball cricket to focus on the shorter formats. Overton will form the pace attack with Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse, while Adil Rashid remains the sole specialist spinner. This means England will have to rely on Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell, who conceded 112 runs for one wicket in the second ODI, and possibly Joe Root to divide the ten…

England have lost two ODIs against South Africa in the ongoing three-match series, and like clockwork, have resorted to tweaking their squads for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa and Ireland after each defeat. Following the mauling at Headingley, where the side was totalled for 131 runs, they added Jordan Cox to the Ireland T20Is. The defeat at Lord’s, though not as miserable, had them exclude Ben Duckett from the squads to give the opening batter some respite ahead of next month’s white-ball tour of New Zealand, where the side will play three T20Is and as many ODIs. Duckett…

Australia have included middle-order batter Marcus Stoinis in the squad for the three-match New Zealand series, which begins on October 1 in Mount Maunganui. Stoinis rejoins the side after missing the two white-ball series against West Indies and South Africa. He later revealed his absence from both series was pre-planned with the Australian coach and chief of selectors, in a bid for him to feature in the Hundred. He will be adding firepower to the Australian middle order and could be used for his medium pace as the side loses two of their fast-bowling options to retirement (Mitchell Starc) and…

England have played 21 ODIs since the 2023 ODI World Cup. Out of these 21, they won only seven, and were bowled out in eleven. When measuring their form with those dismal numbers, their mauling in the first ODI against South Africa at Headingley doesn’t seem too extraordinary. Sure, losing seven wickets for just 29 runs seems scandalous by any standard, but their consistent unawareness of how to play the format was destined to be met with such an end one day. South Africa, on the other hand, didn’t slow down with a small task thrown their way. They wrapped…

Jordan Cox, initially excluded from all three of England’s white-ball series against South Africa and Ireland, has earned a call up for T20I series against Ireland later this month. Cox was adjudged the Player of the Tournament in the recently concluded the Hundred and is in incredible form. He scored 367 runs at 61.16, and a strike-rate of 173.93 during the competition, steering his side the Oval Invincibles to their third title running. His blistering 40 from just 28 balls in the final helped Invincibles set a respectable target on board. Despite being left out of the squad earlier, Cox…

Australian captain Pat Cummins wouldn’t settle for missing out on playing the Ashes, which begins on November 21 in Perth. Cummins, whose scans revealed lumbar bone stress, will sit out the upcoming white ball series against New Zealand and India. However, he is ready to get ‘a bit aggressive’ to ensure he leads the Australian side in the home Ashes series. The Australian quick has not played any form of cricket since winning the Caribbean Test series in July, missing out on the white-ball series against West Indies and South Africa. Speaking to the reporters in Brisbane, Cummins seemed hopeful…

England had a day full of horrors against South Africa in the first ODI at Headingley, but none of them would want it to vanish from their memory as earnestly as the debutant Sonny Baker. Baker, who was handed the debut ODI cap by Jos Buttler in the presence of his family, did not see anything going his way after that. He followed up his first-ball duck with a miserable time with the ball, leaking 76 runs in his seven wicketless overs, bagging the worst bowling figures by an English bowler on debut. However, England’s captain Harry Brook threw his…

Australian Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins might not play any competitive cricket in the lead-up to the Ashes after scans revealed lumbar bone stress in his lower back. This rules him out of Australia’s white-ball series versus New Zealand (three T20Is) and India (three ODIs and five T20Is) in October and November. Cummins has been out of the side since Australia’s 3-0 red-ball series win against West Indies in July, missing the T20I leg of the Caribbean tour as well as the ODI and T20I series against South Africa in Australia’s Top End. Interestingly, his workload this year has…