Category: Sports

Performers in Test victories for Australia and New Zealand experienced significant gains following the most recent update in the ICC Men’s Player Rankings. Players from both teams celebrated as Australia secured an unassailable 3-0 series lead against England in the home Ashes series, while the Black Caps achieved a 2-0 series victory over the West Indies in Mount Maunganui.

Notable Gains in the Rankings

These performances have propelled several Australian players close to the top positions in the Men’s Test batting and bowling rankings.

In Adelaide, Travis Head excelled with a second-innings score of 170 off 219 balls, leading Australia to an 82-run victory. His performance allowed him to move up four places to joint third (815) in the rankings, alongside teammate Steve Smith.

Alex Carey also showcased his talent, scoring a century in the first innings, which enabled him to climb six spots up the rankings to ninth place with a career-high rating of 737.

New Zealand’s Dominance

Over in New Zealand, strong batting performances ensured a 2-0 series victory against the West Indies. Rachin Ravindra’s unblemished scores of 72 and 46 propelled him five places up to 13th. Devon Conway’s outstanding scores of 227 and 100 elevated him to a career-high ranking of 681, tying him for 17th. Kavem Hodge’s impressive innings of 123 not out resulted in an 11-place jump to 66th, marking his highest career ranking and rating.

Bowling Rankings

On the bowling front, two Australdigihunt are now well-positioned to challenge Jasprit Bumrah for the top Test bowler spot. Mitchell Starc remains in third, while Pat Cummins moved up four spots to second with a rating of 849. Both took ten wickets in Adelaide, with Cummins trailing Bumrah by just 30 rating points. Starc also secured third place on the Test all-rounders’ list after a crucial half-century in the victory, tying with Ashes rival Ben Stokes at a rating of 311.

T20I Rankings Updates

Improvements were also noted in the Men’s T20I Player Rankings following the five-match T20I series between India and South Africa, which India won 3-1.

The final match was an offensive showcase in Ahmedabad, with India scoring 231 runs in the first innings. Tilak Varma was the leading scorer for India, achieving 73 off 42 balls, which surpassed Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka and secured him third place with 805 rating points. Dewald Brevis’ quick innings of 31 runs helped him break into the top 10.

India defended their total effectively, thanks to Jasprit Bumrah’s excellent spell of 2/17 in four overs, making him the only bowler in the match to finish with an economy rate below a run per ball. This performance resulted in a 10-place leap, tying for 18th in the bowling rankings with Maheesh Theekshana (622).

Varun Chakaravarthy’s impressive four-wicket performance solidified his leading position in the rankings with a rating of 804, comfortably ahead of Jacob Duffy in second place with 699.

Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan delivered a stunning performance, smashing a 33-ball century against Karnataka in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match. This innings marks the second-fastest hundred by an Indian in List A cricket, just one ball short of the national record earlier set that same day by Bihar skipper Sakibul Gani, who achieved the milestone in 32 balls against Arunachal Pradesh.

Kishan’s remarkable achievement adds to an impressive streak of form. Recently, he was a surprise inclusion in the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, shortly after leading Jharkhand to their first-ever Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy victory.

During the SMAT campaign, Kishan topped the scoring charts with 517 runs and played a crucial role in the final against Haryana, where he scored a blistering century off just 45 balls. This feat made him only the second player to score a hundred in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final and the third-fastest century in a men’s T20 final. With five centuries in the tournament, he now shares the record for the most hundreds in SMAT history alongside Abhishek Sharma.

Kishan’s explosive abilities are also well recognized at the international level. He holds the record for the fastest double century in One-Day Internationals, which he achieved in just 126 balls against Bangladesh in 2022.

The Vijay Hazare Trophy saw several outstanding performances on Wednesday. Youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi began the excitement with a 36-ball century for Bihar, later converting it into an 84-ball 190. Following him, Gani hit a record-breaking century and Ayush Loharuka made 116 runs off just 56 balls, guiding Bihar to a colossal total of 574 runs against Arunachal Pradesh.

Next up, Ishan Kishan nearly broke Gani’s record, finishing his innings with 125 runs off 39 deliveries as Jharkhand posted 412/9.

Thanks to Kishan’s stellar performances in the domestic arena, he has earned a recall to the international setup, as he is included in India’s T20I squad for the five-match series against New Zealand and the T20 World Cup set for February 2026.

Bihar is making waves in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, recently achieving the highest team total in List A cricket during the Plate League opener against Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday.

Record-Breaking Total

Batting first, Bihar set an astonishing total of 574 runs for the loss of six wickets, exceeding the previous List A record of 506/2 established by Tamil Nadu against Arunachal Pradesh in the 2022 Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Outstanding Individual Performances

Teenager Vaibhav Suryavanshi led the charge with a spectacular 190, supported by captain Sakibul Gani’s unbeaten 128 and Ayush Loharuka’s fluent 116. Suryavanshi’s century came off just 36 balls, making him the youngest centurion in List A cricket. This remarkable feat ranks his century as the second-fastest by an Indian, following Punjab batter Anmolpreet Singh’s 35-ball century against Arunachal last season.

Overall, Suryavanshi’s 36-ball ton is tied for the fourth-fastest in the history of List A cricket. He completed his 150 runs in only 54 deliveries before being dismissed for 190 off 84 balls.

Strong Partnerships Fuel Success

Suryavanshi was instrumental in building Bihar’s daunting total, first forming a 198-run opening partnership with Mangal Mahrour (33). He further maintained the momentum with another century stand, adding 103 runs for the second wicket alongside Piyush Kumar Singh, who fell just two runs short of his half-century.

The onslaught continued, with Ayush contributing to a strong 130-run partnership for the third wicket with Piyush. Skipper Gani, who joined Ayush for a 94-run partnership, achieved an impressive 32-ball century, marking the third-fastest in List A cricket. His innings concluded at 128 runs off just 40 balls, featuring 10 fours and 12 sixes.

After topping the points table in the inaugural season before narrowly missing out in the final, Soorma Hockey Club is set to enter the second season of the Women’s Hockey India League (HIL) determined to go one step further and mount another serious title challenge.

Strong Goalkeeping Unit

One of Soorma Hockey Club’s greatest strengths lies in their goalkeeping department. The team features legendary goalkeeper and co-captain Savita, who recently achieved the milestone of 300 international caps for India, highlighting her longevity and impact at the highest level. She was also named ‘Goalkeeper of the Tournament’ last season and will continue to guide the team from the post.

Supporting Savita is Nidhi, the first-choice goalkeeper for the Indian Junior Women’s Team, who delivered an impressive performance at the recently concluded FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup in Chile. Having leading goalkeepers from both the Indian senior and junior women’s teams gives Soorma Hockey Club a notable advantage in goal.

Solid Defence

In defence, the club will once again rely on the experienced Australian Penny Squibb and India’s rising talent, Jyoti, who returns after an outstanding previous season where she was named ‘Player of the Tournament’. Joining them in the defensive lineup this season is Japan’s Shihori Oikawa, a seasoned international with 193 caps and 56 goals for her country. Jyoti Chhatri will provide additional support at the back.

Midfield Leadership

The midfield will be spearheaded by India captain Salima Tete, who will continue to lead Soorma Hockey Club this season as co-captain. Known for her high work rate, leadership, and ability to control the tempo of the game, Salima will be integral in linking defence and attack.

She will be supported by national teammates Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke and Baljeet Kaur, along with Ajmina Kujur, Binima Dhan, Hina Bano, and Nisha from the junior setup. Adding further international experience and flair to the squad are Sarah Robertson, with over 200 international caps for Scotland and Great Britain combined, Uruguay’s Vilar Del Valle Dupuy, and Argentina’s Jimena Maria Cedres.

Dynamic Attack

Up front, Soorma Hockey Club will feature the prolific Argentine, Maria Jose Granatto, who has netted 145 goals in her senior career and is certainly a player to watch in their attacking lineup. They will also rely on the attacking prowess of 24-year-old Olivia Shannon from New Zealand and India’s young attacking duo, Sonam and Mumtaz Khan. Sonam had a breakout season in the previous edition, finishing as the highest Indian goalscorer and claiming the ‘Upcoming Player of the Tournament’ award. She will look to build on her impressive form from last season.

Coaching and Strategy

Soorma Hockey Club will once again be guided by Head Coach Jude Menezes, whose tactical acumen and calm leadership were crucial to the team’s consistency last season. He will focus on building from last season’s positives and driving his squad to capitalize on their potential.

Team Strengths

Soorma Hockey Club’s primary strength lies in their blend of experienced Indian and international players across all positions. With veterans like Savita in goal, Penny Squibb and Shihori Oikawa in defence, Salima Tete in midfield, and Maria Jose Granatto in attack, the team is formidable on paper.

Addressing Weaknesses

However, the club will need to tackle the loss of key international players from last season, including Charlotte Englebert, Sophie Louise Hamilton, and Maria Verschoor. Englebert, who finished as the league’s joint top scorer with five goals, leaves a significant scoring gap. It will be essential for their forwards to hit the ground running and begin scoring early in the tournament to gain an advantage over their opponents.

Soorma Hockey Club will play their first Women’s Hero HIL 2025-26 fixture against Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers on December 29, 2025, in Ranchi.

England has announced their playing XI for the fourth Ashes Test against Australia, making two changes from the Adelaide game. Jofra Archer has been ruled out for the remainder of the series due to a side strain, and Ollie Pope will miss the upcoming match.

New Faces in the Squad

Jacob Bethell, a left-handed batting all-rounder, comes into the side and is listed to bat at No. 3. Fast bowler Gus Atkinson also returns after missing the last outing. The fourth Ashes Test is set to begin on Boxing Day, December 26, at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) stated, “England have made two changes to the XI that played in the third Test in Adelaide. Fast bowler Jofra Archer has been ruled out for the remainder of the tour with a left side strain, and Surrey batter Ollie Pope misses out.”

Series Context

England has already lost the series, with Australia winning the first three matches and taking an unassailable 3-0 lead. The Ben Stokes-led side lost their opening match by eight wickets in Perth, and similarly fell to defeat in the second Test at the Gabba.

The visitors showcased a competitive performance in the third Test at the Adelaide Oval, extending the match to the fifth day. Despite a strong closing on Day 4, the Aussie bowlers efficiently secured the final four wickets on the last day, sealing the win.

England’s Playing XI for the MCG Test:

• Zak Crawley
• Ben Duckett
• Jacob Bethell
• Joe Root
• Harry Brook
• Ben Stokes (c)
• Jamie Smith (wk)
• Will Jacks
• Gus Atkinson
• Brydon Carse
• Josh Tongue

India’s 14-year-old batting sensation, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, made headlines once again by smashing a 36-ball century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy Plate league opener for Bihar against Arunachal Pradesh at the JSCA Oval Ground on Wednesday.

Suryavanshi’s century off 36 balls is now the second-fastest hundred by an Indian man in overall List A cricket, following Punjab batter Anmolpreet Singh’s 35-ball century against Arunachal in the Vijay Hazare competition last season. Overall, Suryavanshi’s 36-ball ton ranks as the joint-fourth-fastest ever in the world in List A cricket. The extraordinary teenager racked up his 150 off just 54 deliveries before being dismissed for 190 off 84, with Bihar currently at 379/2 in 39 overs.

Earlier this month, Suryavanshi scored an unbeaten century for Bihar against Maharashtra in an Elite Group B Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. He tallied an unbeaten 108 off 61 balls, marking his maiden ton in the T20 domestic circuit and his third overall in the format. This century also made him the youngest batter to score a century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, achieving the feat at 14 years and 250 days.

The young cricketer previously set the record for the highest score by an Indian in U19 Asia Cup history, amassing 171 off just 95 balls against the UAE. He also smashed a century against the Australia U19 team in Brisbane during a Youth Test match in November. His most recent jaw-dropping innings took place in the Rising Stars Asia Cup, where he scored 144 off 42 balls for India A against UAE, which included 11 fours and 15 sixes.

His 32-ball hundred made him the youngest man to score a century for any national representative side at the senior level, breaking a 20-year-old record. Last month, Instagram spotlighted Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s journey on its official page, making him only the second Indian cricketer after Virat Kohli to receive this honor.

Kirstie Gordon, the captain of Nottinghamshire’s Blaze team in English domestic women’s cricket, has decided to return to international cricket with Scotland, over six years after her last appearance for England.

The 28-year-old left-arm spinner, born in Huntly, began her international career with Scotland at just 14 years old. However, in 2018, she chose to focus on a full-time cricket career within the English domestic system.

During her time with England, Gordon earned selection for the 2018 T20 World Cup and played in a one-off Test against Australia in 2019.

“It’s always been in the back of my mind in the last couple of years to return to Scotland, and it has helped having Craig Wallace (Scotland head coach) in my ear! He’s been on the phone a few times and I feel like I’ve really connected with him and his vision for the team. If you couple that with the chance to play again with two of my best mates in Kathryn (Bryce) and Sarah (Bryce), it feels like it’s the right moment to come home,” Gordon said in a Cricket Scotland statement.

“I made my Scotland debut very young, and I was fortunate to go to the first global qualifiers in Thailand in 2015, so I had some awesome experiences with Scotland at that time, but I was really keen to try and take my cricketing career as far as I could. Going to Loughborough for university, the opportunities and avenues to play at a higher level really opened up from there. I eventually decided to stop my Scotland career and become a local player in order to play for Loughborough Lightning.”

“I guess I did that while not really knowing what the prospects were, but I then was selected for England at the World Cup in the West Indies. It was probably always on my radar that I wanted to play at the highest level, so I absolutely loved it, and I’m really grateful for those opportunities,” she added.

Between 2012 and 2017, Gordon represented Scotland in 60 international matches before switching to England. Now, after recovering from a back injury, she plans to be ready for the start of the 2026 domestic season and will be available for future Scotland selections.

“It’s exciting to hear Kirstie is now available for selection for Scotland and we are delighted to welcome her back home. She’s obviously a top-class player and an excellent person, and having got to know her I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work with her. I think the most pleasing thing about her decision is that it shows the strength of our squad, that somebody of Kirstie’s ability is wanting to come and challenge to compete for a place in the team. We have created a strong group and culture on and off the pitch, and it’s fantastic that she wants to join it and be part of the journey,” head coach Craig Wallace said.

Scotland are gearing up for the T20 World Cup qualifiers, which will take place in Nepal in January 2026.

“The standard (of Scotland cricket) now is much higher, and there’s real competition for places, and I absolutely think it’ll be a great place to be part of. There’s also a number of young spinners pushing through, and I’m keen to help them if I can, so that when I eventually leave the game, I’ve added some value to help improve Scottish cricket even more.”

“I’m hoping like everyone else is that the team will be successful in Nepal and qualify for the World Cup in the summer, but this decision is not about the short term – hopefully for a number of years, I can be a part of Cricket Scotland as a player as well as supporting the younger players coming through. Whatever that looks like, I’m eager to get involved,” Gordon said.

Former captain Ricky Ponting has offered his insights into Cameron Green’s emerging international career, labeling the all-rounder as one of Australia’s most intriguing long-term prospects, even as his performances in Test matches face scrutiny.

Ashes Series Performance

Green has had a challenging Ashes series, with Australia already clinching the series after the first three Tests. In these matches, he scored 76 runs and took just two wickets, having limited opportunities with the ball.

Ponting acknowledged that, despite Green’s growing experience, quantifying his overall impact in Test cricket remains challenging. “It’s actually quite hard to get a gauge on him yet as an international player. He averages under 30 in Australia now. His career averages just over 30,” Ponting stated on The ICC Review.

He added, “He’s made two Test match hundreds in 30-odd Test matches. He’s had back surgery, and his bowling pace is probably not quite what it was 12 months ago.”

Career Overview

Since his debut against India in Adelaide five years ago, Green has played 35 Tests, scoring 1641 runs at an average close to 33, while also capturing 37 wickets. “But there is a very complete package there if it all comes together. And we’ve seen him play some pretty remarkable innings,” Ponting remarked.

He highlighted Green’s incredible 100 in New Zealand last year and another century in India, albeit on a very flat pitch. Green made his maiden Test century in Ahmedabad with a score of 114, coming in during a tricky situation against India. His best performance came in March 2024, when he scored an unbeaten 174* in Wellington, leading Australia to a significant 172-run victory.

Value in the Dressing Room

Beyond individual performances, Ponting noted the value Green adds to the Australian dressing room, emphasizing that consistency in approach is his main challenge moving forward. “Talking to the players, talking to the coaching staff, they absolutely love what he brings to the group,” Ponting said.

He pointed out that Green’s biggest task is to identify the right style for him to play and to commit to it over time. “The biggest challenge he has is, he’s just got to find out the right way and right style for him to play, work out what’s going to work for him, and then commit to that and stick to it for a long period of time.”

Ponting suggested that Green’s inclination to always search for solutions can sometimes complicate his process, recommending a simpler approach. “Apparently, he’s a very deep thinker about his own game and likes to tinker with things a lot. But if I had some advice for him, it’d be just keep things as simple as you can, think about what you’ve done at domestic cricket and take your domestic game to the Test match and back it in for a while,” he concluded.

Skipper Ben Stokes has come out in defense of his teammates after it was revealed that England’s mid-Ashes break in Noosa between the second and third Ashes Tests was allegedly a stag do, causing excessive drinking by some players.

The England Cricket Board is currently investigating claims of the English team’s drinking culture after a video of Ben Duckett went viral, appearing to show intoxication.

Stokes has hit back at the viral social media post and ‘stag do’ rumours, saying his main concern is the well-being of his teammates.

“How I handle this moment right now is the most important thing to me. The welfare of everyone in there and probably some certain individuals as well is the most important thing to me right now as England captain,” Stokes told reporters at a press conference before the Boxing Day Test, as quoted by Fox Cricket.

“This kind of stuff is very, I don’t know if close to me is the right wording, but something that I have first hand experience of how it can affect people. And as I said, my role as England captain is to protect my players as much as I possibly can.

“We have a goal still to try and achieve out here on this trip. It’s not gone anywhere near to plan whatsoever,” he said.

Stokes continued, “Looking after my players is one of the main things that I need to get out of this because we need to go out there and win two games of cricket.

“I know how this kind of stuff can affect people and as I said, I will always protect my players as much as I possibly can.

“Right here right now, that is my main job as England captain is to ensure that they know that they have my backing because the most important thing to me, sitting here right now, is a group of players who I can get into a best possible state to go out there and try and perform for this country and the remaining of this trip.”

Stokes was quick to shut down that line of questioning when asked whether his players had done anything wrong in Noosa. “I’ve just answered everything there. I’ve just said I will always continue to support my players,” he said.

“I have a responsibility as captain out on the field to try and win games of cricket, but in moments like these, I have that other responsibility of making sure that I will always protect my players in a moment where I feel that is necessary,” he further said.

Indian opener Shafali Verma credited her recent success to acknowledging and addressing her batting flaws, marking her transformation into a more confident and compact player.

Verma was named Player of the Match for her unbeaten knock of 69 runs off 34 deliveries, guiding India to a seven-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in the second T20I match. Reflecting on her previous inconsistency and technical issues that led to her exclusion from the squad ahead of the World Cup final, Shafali noted, “Cricket always teaches you things. It’s important to accept your weaknesses. That’s the only way you can improve. The ball was holding a bit at the start, so I tried to play along the ground and take singles. They bowled well at the start. It was a good knockout.”

She also expressed gratitude to head coach Amol Muzumdar for his guidance, particularly in conditions where the ball wasn’t coming onto the bat freely. “The coach told me to play along the ground initially and then go for aerial shots. I kept myself calm, tried to play along the ground, and the ball was coming on nicely. I know I can score runs if I play the ball on the ground,” she added.

Shafali made a notable return to the India squad for the ODI World Cup semifinals and final after Pratika Rawal’s injury, where she scored a match-winning half-century and took two wickets in the final against South Africa.

In the game against Sri Lanka, India opted to bowl first and faced early challenges from skipper Chamari Athapaththu, who attacked fiercely during the PowerPlay. However, Sneh Rana’s introduction proved pivotal. Filling in for an unwell Deepti Sharma, Rana bowled with precision, conceding only 11 runs in her four overs and dismissing Athapaththu, which shifted the game in India’s favor.

With Athapaththu’s departure, Sri Lanka’s innings struggled. Harshitha Samarawickrama showed promise but lacked support as Indian spinners tightened their grip. Vaishnavi Sharma managed a few runs but took crucial wickets, while Sree Charani bounced back from a tough series opener to claim two dismissals. Three run-outs further hampered Sri Lanka, restricting their total to a score that posed little threat to India’s robust batting lineup.

India’s chase got off to a rocky start with Smriti Mandhana dismissed for 16, but Shafali quickly took control, punishing any loose or short deliveries and attacking both spin and pace. She targeted Inoka Ranaweera and Shashini Gimhani, while Athapaththu faced the brunt of her onslaught, conceding a 4, 6, and 4 in the final over of the PowerPlay. Jemimah Rodrigues provided solid support, scoring quickly against the spinners as India achieved victory in the 12th over.