Category: Sports

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has praised Jacob Bethell’s impressive century in the final Test of the ongoing Ashes series at the Sydney Cricket Ground, labeling the 22-year-old as a new star of English cricket.

Bethell’s Maiden Century

Bethell notched his first Test century off 162 balls. At 22 years and 78 days, he became the second youngest batter to score an Ashes hundred in the 21st century, following only former England captain Alastair Cook, who achieved the milestone in 2006 at the age of 21.

Vaughan’s Praise

Vaughan shared a post on X, commending Bethell’s technique and temperament under pressure. “A star has been born here at the SCG. The tempo, technique and class of Jacob Bethell today is the blueprint for England’s future Test batters,” Vaughan wrote on X.

Match Situation

At the end of Day Four, Bethell stood as England’s lone warrior in their second innings, finishing unbeaten on 142. The visitors took a lead of 119 runs but lost eight wickets as they crossed the 300-run mark.

Pressure on England

Vaughan has recently criticized the England setup as the team heads towards another defeat Down Under. Ben Stokes’ side has already lost the Ashes, intensifying the pressure on captain Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum, and managing director of cricket Rob Key.

The former cricketer believes England’s much-lauded Bazball philosophy, while entertaining at times, has not delivered when it has mattered most. He expressed, “We know at the end of Ashes tours, particularly when you’ve had two goes at trying to win the Ashes, generally personnel does change. If this management carries on, they clearly have to carry on and change. They have to change the culture around the group. They seem to have created a cult around the way this team play and talk. A lot of it is nonsense. That has to change,” Vaughan said on Fox Cricket.

He added, “They haven’t won a big, big series, home and away. This team has won in Pakistan and New Zealand, but you don’t get remembered for winning in those countries.”

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has clarified that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has assured it of Bangladesh’s continued and unhindered involvement in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, firmly rejecting media reports that suggested the Board was issued an ultimatum.

In a statement released following formal correspondence with the ICC, the BCB addressed its concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in India, including a request to relocate the team’s matches. The ICC reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Bangladesh’s participation and expressed readiness to collaborate closely with the Board on security-related matters.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has received a response from the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the Board’s expressed concerns over the safety and security of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, including the request for relocation of the team’s matches.

“In its communication, the ICC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the full and uninterrupted participation of the Bangladesh team in the tournament. The ICC has conveyed its willingness to work closely with the BCB to address the concerns raised and has assured that the Board’s inputs will be welcomed and duly considered as part of the detailed security planning for the event,” the BCB stated.

Earlier, reports had emerged that the ICC had asked Bangladesh to travel to India to fulfill their fixtures or risk forfeiting competition points. The BCB quashed these reports, stating that no such “warning or ultimatum” was communicated to them, and all claims are “completely false”.

“The BCB has also taken note of certain reports published in a section of the media suggesting that the Board has been issued an ultimatum in this regard. The BCB categorically states that such claims are completely false, unfounded and do not reflect the nature or content of the communication received from the ICC.

“The Board will continue constructive engagement with the ICC and relevant event authorities in a cooperative and professional manner to arrive at an affable and practical solution that ensures the smooth and successful participation of the team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The Bangladesh Cricket Board remains firmly committed to placing the highest priority on the safety, security and well-being of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team,” the statement read.

The BCB had approached the ICC after holding an emergency meeting on January 4, formally requesting that Bangladesh’s fixtures be moved to ensure the safety of players and officials.

This move followed a decision by Indian Premier League (IPL) side Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman, the lone Bangladeshi player in the league. The franchise acted after receiving a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in response to reported atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is currently slated to feature in Group C, with matches against West Indies, Italy, and England scheduled in Kolkata on February 7, 9, and 14, respectively, before a final group fixture against Nepal in Mumbai on February 17.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has launched a fierce critique of the current England setup, accusing the side of developing a “cult” mindset and warning that sweeping changes may be unavoidable following another faltering Ashes campaign.

Pressure Mounts on England’s Leadership

Pressure is mounting on captain Ben Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum, and managing director of cricket Rob Key as England edges towards defeat in the Sydney Test, a result that would see the series conclude 4-1 in Australia’s favour. England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Richard Gould has arrived in Sydney, with reports in The Telegraph indicating a formal review of the tour has already begun as the final match unfolds.

Critique of Bazball Philosophy

The veteran believes that England’s much-lauded Bazball philosophy, while entertaining at times, has fallen short when it mattered most. “We know at the end of Ashes tours, particularly when you’ve had two goes at trying to win the Ashes, generally, personnel does change. If this management carries on, they clearly have to carry on and change. They have to change the culture around the group — they seem to have created a cult around the way this team plays and talks. A lot of it is nonsense. That has to change,” Vaughan said on Fox Cricket.

“They haven’t won a big, big series, home and away. This team has won in Pakistan, they’ve won in New Zealand, but you don’t get remembered for winning in those countries,” he added.

Missed Opportunities Against Australia

Vaughan also highlighted England’s failure to exploit Australia’s injury troubles as a major missed opportunity. Australia has been without Josh Hazlewood for the entire series, while captain Pat Cummins has featured in just one Test. “There’s a frustration with not just ex-England players but also the ex-Aussie players. We generally all felt this England side, with the talent that they have, led by Ben and Baz, had a great opportunity here in Australia. This was a chance for England, and they haven’t taken it,” Vaughan said.

Concerns About Preparation and Tactics

“The preparation has been very poor, their stubbornness in the way they play has been very poor, they haven’t accepted you need to go up and down the gears in Test match cricket, and obviously their bowling has been found wanting, and the one thing I never thought I’d say, Ben Stokes’ tactics haven’t been quite right on this trip either,” he added.

The criticism adds to growing scrutiny of England’s leadership and direction as the Ashes draw to a close with familiar questions lingering over strategy, selection, and long-term planning.

England’s 22-year-old batter Jacob Bethell made a significant mark in cricket history by scoring a century in the final Test of the ongoing Ashes series at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday. With this achievement, he became only the second youngest player to reach this milestone in the storied rivalry.

Change in the Batting Order

Bethell stepped into the No. 3 position, taking over from seasoned batter Ollie Pope, who has struggled for runs during the tour. When Bethell arrived at the crease in England’s second innings, the team had already lost opener Zak Crawley on the fifth ball and was trailing Australia by 179 runs.

Key Partnerships

Initially, Bethell formed an 81-run partnership with Ben Duckett, who was out in the 20th over after scoring 39 runs. After Joe Root’s quick dismissal, Bethell solidified the innings by putting together a 100-run partnership with vice-captain Harry Brook.

Century Milestone

Bethell reached his maiden Test century off 162 balls, sealing the landmark with a slog over wide long-on. At 22 years and 78 days, he became the second-youngest batter to score an Ashes hundred in the 21st century, following former England captain Alastair Cook, who achieved the feat in 2006 at 21 years old.

This century also marked Bethell as the first England No. 3 to score an Ashes hundred in 14 years, since Jonathan Trott. Since 2001, only former captain Michael Vaughan and Mark Butcher have recorded centuries batting at the No. 3 position in the Ashes series.

Bethell’s Career Stats

As of now, Bethell has played five Tests, amassing 312 runs at an average of 34.66 across 10 innings. He has also accumulated 1,172 runs in first-class cricket.

Injury Concerns for England

England faced another hurdle during the first session of Day 4, as captain and all-rounder Ben Stokes left the field early with a right adductor complaint. Stokes bowled just 10 deliveries at the start of Wednesday’s play before pulling up in his follow-through, clutching his right groin. He exited during the 28th over of Australia’s second innings, and the England team later confirmed he was dealing with an adductor issue.

Although Stokes returned to bat in the second innings, he managed only one run off five deliveries before being dismissed. It remains uncertain if he will bowl again in the match as the hosts chase the final target.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has confirmed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) will provide support to ensure Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup, starting February 7, proceeds without interruption.

Additionally, the board mentioned that the ICC responded to their request to relocate matches outside India due to security concerns while also expressing their readiness to collaborate closely with the BCB to address all relevant issues and consider their inputs as part of the security arrangements.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has received a response from the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the Board’s expressed concerns over the safety and security of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, including the request for relocation of the team’s matches, ” the BCB stated.

“In its communication, the ICC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the full and uninterrupted participation of the Bangladesh team in the tournament. The ICC has conveyed its willingness to work closely with the BCB to address the concerns raised and has assured that the Board’s inputs will be welcomed and duly considered as part of the detailed security planning for the event.”

“The BCB has also taken note of certain reports published in a section of the media suggesting that the Board has been issued an ultimatum in this regard. The BCB categorically states that such claims are completely false, unfounded and do not reflect the nature or content of the communication received from the ICC.”

“The Board will continue constructive engagement with the ICC and relevant event authorities in a cooperative and professional manner to arrive at an affable and practical solution that ensures the smooth and successful participation of the team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The Bangladesh Cricket Board remains firmly committed to placing the highest priority on the safety, security and well-being of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team,” the statement read.

As per the current schedule and plans devised by the ICC, Bangladesh, drawn in Group C, are slated to play their opening three matches in Kolkata: West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14, before concluding the group stage against Nepal in Mumbai on February 17.

Indian top seed Anahat Singh faced a tough challenge in the women’s Under-19 final at the prestigious British Junior Open squash, held at the University of Birmingham on Tuesday. Anahat, ranked 29th in the world, was narrowly defeated by French second seed Lauren Baltayan with scores of 9-11, 11-7, 3-11, 9-11. This marked her ninth BJO final across various age groups.

Semi-Final Performance

Anahat advanced to her first women’s under-19 final by overcoming Egypt’s Malika El Karaksy (3/4) in the semifinals, winning 11-8, 11-7, 11-9 in just 28 minutes. Notably, she had defeated Malika in last year’s BJO U-17 final and in the World Junior Championships quarterfinals, consistently executing shots aimed at the front corners and transforming those opportunities into winners.

Path to the Final

Before her semifinals, Anahat triumphed over Egypt’s Barb Sameh (5/8) with scores of 11-4, 10-12, 11-9, 11-3 to reach the final four. Earlier matches included a convincing win against Malak El Maraghy (Egypt, 9/16) with scores of 11-3, 11-3, 11-6 in the last-16 and a straight-sets victory against Hong Kong’s Wing Kai Gladys Ho, 11-1, 11-3, 11-3 in the second round, after receiving a bye in the first round.

Remarkable Achievements

The Delhi player had a breakout year in 2025, achieving a career-high world ranking of 28 in only her second season on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour, and defeating two top-20 players. Recently, Anahat narrowly prevailed over former world No. 10 Joshna Chinappa 11-8, 11-13, 11-13, 11-6, 11-8 in the final of the HCL Squash Indian Tour 4 at the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai.

In November, she further showcased her talent by winning 3-2 against the seasoned Chinappa in an exciting all-Indian women’s final at the Daly College SRFI Indian Open squash in Indore. As the top seed and then-ranked 33rd worldwide, Anahat clinched victory in a 55-minute match with scores of 11-8, 11-13, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, marking her 13th PSA title.

Former champion Lakshya Sen is set for an exciting all-Indian showdown against the rising star Ayush Shetty in the opening round of the India Open Super 750 badminton tournament. The tournament will take place at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium from January 13-18. Additionally, former world champion PV Sindhu will face Vietnam’s Thuy Linh Nguyen in the same round.

Venue Change and Significance

The India Open, a prestigious event on the HSBC BWF World Tour, will transition from the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium to a larger multi-purpose hall within the Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex. This venue will also host the BWF World Championships in August later this year, allowing players to familiarize themselves with the conditions.

Challenging Openers for Indian Contingent

The Indian players were not granted an easy opening round. Lakshya’s match against former world junior bronze medallist Ayush Shetty means that only three of the four Indian men’s singles players will have a chance to advance to the next round. The winner of this clash could potentially face fourth seed Chou Tien Chen from Chinese Taipei or Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto in the second round.

In another singles matchup, former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth is set to compete against world No. 12 Lin Chun-Yi, a bronze medallist from the 2024 Taipei Thomas Cup. If he advances, a possible second-round opponent could be Christo Popov, who made history last month as the first French player to win the BWF World Tour Finals men’s singles title.

H S Prannoy, who entered the main draw following the withdrawal of Denmark’s Anders Antonsen, will begin his campaign against last edition’s finalist Lee Cheuk Yiu from Hong Kong.

Women’s Singles Battles

In the women’s singles, PV Sindhu will take on Nguyen, who has bested her in their last two encounters. Nguyen, currently ranked 22 in the world, is recognized as one of the most improved players on the circuit last year. Should Sindhu succeed, she would likely face second seed Wang Zhi Yi or her Chinese teammate Gao Fang Jie in the second round.

Malvika Bansod, making her return after a long injury layoff and competing with a protected ranking, will open against Pai Yu Po of Chinese Taipei.

Double Trouble in the Doubles Category

In the doubles events, former champions Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy have been given a comparatively easier opener against the USA’s Chen Zhi Yi and Presley Smith. Their first significant test may come in the quarter-finals if they face China’s eighth seeds Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi.

Two-time All-England semi-finalists Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will clash with Thailand’s Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn and Sukitta Suwachai, with a potential second-round matchup against Chinese seventh seeds Li Yi Jing and Luo Xu Min on the horizon.

In another intriguing opening-round bout, top seed An Se Young is set to face former world champion Nozomi Okuhara, while third seed Akane Yamaguchi will go against her fellow compatriot Riko Gunji.

The International Cricket Council has reportedly informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that their request to stage Bangladesh’s World Cup matches outside India on security grounds has been declined.

Last week, the BCB formally asked the ICC to shift all of Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches out of India, citing growing concerns about the safety and security of its contingent. ICC authorities and BCB officials held a virtual meeting, and according to an ESPNcricinfo report, the ICC is understood to have stated that Bangladesh would need to travel to India to fulfil its fixtures or risk forfeiting competition points.

However, the BCB claimed that no such warning or ultimatum was communicated to them. An ICC source also mentioned that no decision has been taken on the BCB’s request to relocate all of Bangladesh’s matches to a venue outside India.

Neither the ICC nor the BCCI has issued an official statement clarifying the outcome of the call.

This uncertainty arises with less than a month left before the 20-team tournament begins on February 7. India and Sri Lanka will co-host the event, which will run through March 8.

Bangladesh, drawn in Group C, is slated to play its opening three matches in Kolkata: against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14, before concluding the group stage against Nepal in Mumbai on February 17.

The BCB’s outreach to the ICC followed a directive from the BCCI to IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh seamer Mustafizur Rahman, who had been signed at the December auction for Rs 9.2 crore. He was the sole Bangladesh player picked up at the IPL 2026 auction.

England captain and all-rounder Ben Stokes walked off the ground early on day four of the fifth Ashes Test match with a right adductor complaint.

Stokes bowled only 10 deliveries at the start of the day’s play before pulling up in his follow-through while holding his right groin. He left the field during his 28th over of Australia’s innings, with the England camp confirming he was dealing with an adductor concern. “Ben Stokes is currently being assessed for a right adductor complaint. We will provide an update when more information is available,” England Cricket stated.

Down 3-1 in the series, England’s tour has been plagued by injuries, with Stokes joining Gus Atkinson (hamstring), Jofra Archer (side strain), and Mark Wood (knee) on the list of fast bowlers unable to perform.

In Stokes’ absence, Harry Brook took over the captaincy duties as England bowled the hosts out for 567 runs.

Later in the second session, as England began to chip away at Australia’s lead, team management confirmed that Stokes would bat but likely down the order.

England lost the early wicket of Zak Crawley (1) in their second innings at the Sydney Cricket Ground. However, they recovered through Jacob Bethell, who hit a half-century and formed an 81-run second-wicket partnership with Ben Duckett (42) before Duckett was dismissed by Michael Neser.

Joe Root then came to the crease, but the Australdigihunt targeted England’s leading run-getter in Test cricket effectively. Bethell continued to score runs, achieving his second fifty of the series.

Root struggled at the crease and was eventually trapped LBW by Boland for 6 runs. Brook joined Bethell, and the duo put together a positive 57-run partnership, bringing the deficit down to nine runs with seven wickets remaining. England reached Tea in a promising position at 174/3.