Eighteen months after the 2023 World Cup final heartbreak, India finally has its revenge.
‘Strict bubble’: Smith’s twist on India’s controversial CT advantage as Aussie tormentor looms
Australia captain Steve Smith says his team are confident they can counter India’s quality spin attack in their Champions Trophy semi-final in Dubai on Tuesday.
Australia’s semi-final hopes against India depend on spin battle, says Smith
- Captain believes key is how batters take on ‘middle overs’
- Australia still to decide how many spinners to include
White-ball cricket is often about the powerplay at the start of an innings and the death overs at the end, but the Australia captain Steve Smith believes it is the overs in the middle that will decide the Champions Trophy semi-final against India on Tuesday.
Australia go into the Dubai lair that dry pitches and expat fans have turned into a home from home for India with Rohit Sharma’s team seeking to snare them in a web of spin. India used four spinners in their last match against New Zealand, the quartet taking nine wickets, five going to the recalled Varun Chakravarthy.
Continue reading...Youngster gets another surprise Aussie call-up as huge selection decision looms for India semi
Cooper Connolly has officially been added to Australia’s Champions Trophy squad, replacing the injured Matt Short.
India down NZ to lock in blockbuster semi-final clash as Aussies dodge absurd scenario
Spinner Varun Chakravarthy returned figures of 5-42 as India beat New Zealand by 44 runs on Sunday to set up a semi-final clash with Australia in the Champions Trophy.
Champions Trophy: Chakravarthy spins out New Zealand to ensure India top group
- India 249-9; New Zealand 205 – India win by 44 runs
- Australia await for India in Dubai semi-final
India beat New Zealand by 44 runs in a low-scoring contest at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday to top Group A in the Champions Trophy.
Electing to field, New Zealand restricted India to 249 for nine with Matt Henry, who took five for 42, leading a fine team bowling display backed up by their characteristic sharp catching.
Continue reading...‘F***, what a catch’: Virat Kohli stunned as Kiwi star pulls of ANOTHER all-time screamer
Glenn Phillips has done it again.
Aussies’ 2000km gamble pays off as ‘crazy’ reality of India advantage sinks in
Australia’s decision to fly to the United Arab Emirates in preparation for a potential semi-final against India has paid off as the Champions Trophy’s scheduling comes under further scrutiny.
‘Utter humiliation’: England’s ‘shocking’ 24-year low amid ‘slavish desire to copy Australia’
England’s focus shifts quickly towards the 2027 World Cup after Jos Buttler’s men were bundled out of the Champions Trophy with three humbling group-stage defeats.
McCullum weighs in on captain’s future after ‘sad’ demise as England complete CT humiliation
Coach Brendon McCullum backed Jos Buttler to play a big role for England after standing down as the team’s white-ball captain following a dismal Champions Trophy campaign.
South Australia’s 13-year trophy drought finally over in ‘absolutely brilliant’ scenes
South Australia’s trophy drought is over.
Matthew Short’s quad injury opens the door for Jake Fraser-McGurk’s ODI return
A quad injury for Australian opener Matthew Short has opened the door for Jake Fraser-McGurk’s ODI return ahead of the Champions Trophy semi-finals.
Australian captain Steve Smith withdraws appeal for potentially controversial run out
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...