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.
Aussie skipper’s injury woes persist as WBBL breakout star earns maiden call-up
Alyssa Healy’s foot injury has officially kept her out of Australia’s upcoming T20 tour of New Zealand with the captain needing to continue her rehabilitation.
Smith set for awkward Aussie dilemma after franchise move as Stokes makes big Ashes call
Australia’s batting superstar Steve Smith will play in English cricket’s Hundred competition for the first time in 2025, it was announced on Tuesday.
Washout leaves Australia set for last four but potentially short of game time | Geoff Lemon
They should beat Afghanistan to progress, but the batters would have benefited from a hit-out against South Africa
If you were an Australian supporter of a certain pragmatic bent, you might be quite pleased with a washout against South Africa at the Champions Trophy. With a win already banked, you slide past your most dangerous opponent in Group B without having conceded any advantage to them. It leaves you level with them on three points and guaranteed a semi-final as long as you can beat an Afghanistan team that, despite their recent advancements and the memorably close result last time you played, you should still beat anytime, anywhere across a format as extended as 50 overs.
If you’re an Australian supporter of the sort of bullishness natural to Australian supporters, including any past or current Australian player, you would say that you always want to play the best teams because you’ll beat them while having a grand old time in the process, and that sliding past your most dangerous opponent is just a missed opportunity to bank a second win, go to four points, and all but guarantee your semi-final before the final group game against Afghanistan comes into it.
Continue reading...Australia v South Africa: Champions Trophy cricket match washed out – as it happened
Persistent rain in Rawalpindi meant no play was possible in the heavyweight Group B clash
“Just a heads up Rob...” begins Alistair Connor. “Check out weather.com , the rain’s only getting worse in Rawalpindi. Can’t see any sort of match happening. Or are you contractually or diplomatically obliged to avoid mentioning that?”
It’s more that I’m one of nature’s optimists you can’t always trust the weather apps.
‘This is wrong’: Cricket world debates India’s ‘huge advantage’ in Champions Trophy
As Pakistan departed Dubai and New Zealand readied itself for a visit to the Emirates, the absurdity of what is clearly a compromised Champions Trophy came into full view.
Why ‘frustrating’ end to Aussie blockbuster leaves England on brink of embarrassing exit
Australia and South Africa have never faced off in the Champions Trophy, and Pakistan’s weather gods have ensured that statistical anomaly remains intact for another four years.
Perry’s superb knock unrewarded as unbelievable snub backfires in super over thriller
Ellyse Perry’s stunning unbeaten 90 was not enough for the Royals Challengers Bengaluru to claim victory as they fell to the UP Warriorz in a super over in a thrilling Women’s Premier League clash.
‘Fraud from the start’: Ugly cricket fallout as Kiwi stunner exposes giant’s ‘terminal, slow’ decline
Rachin Ravindra struck a superb 112 to lead New Zealand into the Champions Trophy semi-finals with a five-wicket win over Bangladesh, in turn dumping out hosts Pakistan who have been left to deal with an ugly fallout.
Ben Stokes to skip the Hundred in order to focus on England’s Ashes tour
- England captain to prioritise fitness for Australia series
- Moeen Ali also withdraws and retires from county game
Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali have both withdrawn from this year’s Hundred. England’s Test captain has chosen to focus on his fitness and his duties with the red ball, and Moeen has decided to retire from county cricket so he can grasp the opportunities offered by global franchise leagues.
The competition has brought only bad luck to Stokes, who in five appearances has scored only 14 runs at an average of 3.50 and sustained one serious hamstring injury, while playing for Northern Superchargers last August. That pulled muscle kept him out of all cricket for two months and, after a recurrence while playing for England in New Zealand late last year, he required surgery from which he is recovering.
Continue reading...‘Still got his passport?’ Leap that sparked shock Aussie greatness as Poms’ massive miss sinks in
Josh Inglis’ stunning Champions Trophy century made England finally wake up and realise that a multi-format star slipped through their fingers.
Virat Kohli century steers India to Champions Trophy win over Pakistan
- Group A: India, 244-4, bt Pakistan, 241, by 6wkts
- Kohli’s 51st ODI century seals victory in Dubai
Virat Kohli’s record-extending 51st one-day century secured a six-wicket win over Pakistan in Dubai that puts India on the verge of qualifying for the Champions Trophy semi-finals.
After Pakistan were bowled out for a disappointing 241 in 49.4 overs, Kohli took centre stage, ticking off 14,000 ODI runs en route to 100 not out off 111 balls – with a final cover drive sealing his century and India’s victory, which leaves their rivals on the brink of early elimination.
Continue reading...