Australia has avoided a repeat of the infamous Jonny Bairstow stumping after captain Steve Smith withdrew an appeal for a potentially controversial run out during Friday’s Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan in Lahore.
‘Reached the end of the road’: Buttler steps down as England captain amid side’s horror form run
Jos Buttler has announced he will tomorrow stand down as England’s one-day captain, after his side once again failed to move past the group stage of a white-ball tournament.
Australia into Champions Trophy semis after washout against Afghanistan
- Points shared after rain halts Australia’s chase of 274
- Afghanistan hopes rest on England crushing South Africa
Australia went through to the Champions Trophy semi-final thanks to a no-result in the Lahore rain on Friday night, but looked well on track to get there on their own dime against Afghanistan before the abandonment for a wet outfield 12.5 overs into their chase. According to statisticians, that is too early to use the recalculation formula to award a win, but even those with a far more basic grasp of mathematics could see that 109 was an awfully long way towards a target of 274, and one wicket down was not a factor. With Travis Head rampaging on 59 from 40 balls, Australia were going at 8.5 an over and needed 4.5 from there.
Still, it was a shame not to at least see the possibility of a twist via Afghanistan’s spinners, with Rashid Khan not getting a bowl before the rain. There was extra frisson around this game given it was the first ODI between the sides since the Maxwell miracle at Mumbai in 2023, when the Australian all-rounder became the only player ever to make a double century in the second innings of a one-day game. This time around he wasn’t required to face a ball, though he contributed a very tidy 1 for 28 as a bowler in the first innings.
Continue reading...Aussies through to knockouts as downpour disrupts Head’s trademark blitz
Australia has qualified for the Champions Trophy semi-finals after Friday’s Group B match against Afghanistan ended without a result in persistent rain in Lahore on Friday.
‘The race is tight’: Breakers wicketkeeper Tahlia Wilson named Player of the WNCL after national snub
It’s been a bittersweet week for Tahlia Wilson.
Gujarat Giants captain Ash Gardner plunders third fifty in captain’s knock as title race heats up
Australian all-rounder Ash Gardner produced a captain’s knock to steer the Gujarat Giants towards a crucial six-wicket victory over the Royal Challengers in Bengaluru on Friday morning AEDT.
‘All on the line’: Rain threatens to disrupt de facto knockout as Australia seeks revenge against Afghanistan
Rain is threatening to disrupt the Champions Trophy clash between Australia and Afghanistan in Lahore, which looms as a de facto quarter-final for the two nations.
‘Never thought I’d be in this position’: South Australian recruit Mackenzie Harvey to lock horns with ex-teammates in One-Day Cup final
Less than 24 months after he was dumped from Victoria’s contract list, South Australian opener Mackenzie Harvey will lock horns with his former teammates during this weekend’s one-day cup final in Adelaide.
Matt Kuhnemann ‘never doubted’ his bowling action before being cleared by ICC
- Spinner was reported for having a suspect action in Sri Lanka Tests
- 28-year-old looms as critical to Australia’s hopes in India in 2027
Matt Kuhnemann has declared he never doubted the legality of his own action, after Australia’s new spin sensation was cleared to continue bowling by the ICC.
Kuhnemann’s two-and-a-half-week ordeal was finally put to bed on Wednesday night, when the ICC informed him he had passed tests on his action. The news came after Kuhnemann had been reported for having a suspect action during Australia’s triumph in Sri Lanka, where he was the leading wicket-taker.
Continue reading...Every Champions Trophy scenario explained… and how Aussies can lose and still go through
Three nations have already been eliminated from the Champions Trophy, while there is a three-horse race in Group B for the two remaining vacancies in the semi-finals.
‘Time is done’: Poms fed-up with ‘self-deluded’ side… and one man must pay the price — UK View
England’s sorry early exit at the Champions Trophy has sparked a swift and ruthless search for a scapegoat — and the UK papers will tell you there’s only one contender: Jos Buttler.
Sore ankle the main reason for Mitchell Starc skipping the Champions Trophy tournament
Star paceman Mitchell Starc has revealed a sore ankle was the main reason he opted out of the Champions Trophy tournament, but said “personal views” also contributed to his decision not to play.
‘No excuses’: England roasted over embarrassing exit as Afghanistan stun Poms in thriller
Opener Ibrahim Zadran’s 177 and five wickets by Azmatullah Omarzai helped Afghanistan knock England out of the Champions Trophy with a thrilling eight-run victory on Wednesday.
‘Disappointing’: Aussie spinner breaks silence in defiant message over bowling allegation
Australian spinner Matt Kuhnemann has broken his silence after he was cleared of a suspect bowling action following an ICC investigation.
‘Situation is very bad’: Fresh boycott calls as Aussies, England stuck in big cricket conundrum
On the day the Champions Trophy began in Pakistan, Sydney-based former international taekwondo medallist Roman Abasy came across a photograph that made his stomach sink.