Babar Azam (left) and Shan Masood (right) Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali has linked the country’s recent struggles in Test cricket to the decline of departmental cricket, which he believes played a major role in developing players.Azhar, who represented Pakistan in nine Tests and 31 ODIs, described departmental teams as a key “nursery” for the…
Devdutt Padikkal plays a shot during day one of the first Test against Sri Lanka. (AP Photo) NEW DELHI: India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak credited Devdutt Padikkal’s preparation and improved back-foot game after the left-hander produced a composed unbeaten 131 to put India in a strong position on the opening day of the first Test…
PV Sindhu spars with Ayush Shetty at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. (Photo: Tanuj Lakhina) New Delhi: In badminton, a point, a set, a match and, by extension, a title, can be decided not just by a drop shot, a smash or a fake at the net. External factors such as the weather, the draft…
Devdutt Padikkal announces himself with maiden Test 100 (Image: BCCI) Devdutt Padikkal marked his return to India’s Test setup in style, smashing his maiden Test century during the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. The left-hander, who has won two IPL titles with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, produced a fluent and…
Steve Smith etched his name into the Test record books on Day 2 of the first Test against Bangladesh, equalling Joe Root’s world record for the most catches by a non-wicketkeeper in Test cricket. Smith started the match with 215 catches and completed the landmark by taking three catches at second slip during Bangladesh’s first…
Pakistan have been handed a fitness concern ahead of their three-Test series against England after captain Babar Azam was forced to retire from a warm-up game following a blow to his hand.Babar was batting on five for Pakistan against a Professional County Club Select XI when a rising delivery from England Under-19 pacer Manny Lumsden…
Josh Hazlewood of Australia, right, celebrates (AP) Josh Hazlewood reached a major milestone in his Test career on Saturday, becoming the ninth Australian bowler to claim 300 wickets in the format during the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin.The Australia quick completed the landmark on his way to a 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket,…
Yashavi Jaiswal (BCCI Photo) When Yashasvi Jaiswal walked out to bat in Galle for the first Test against Sri Lanka, he was playing the 30th Test of his career. The milestone came with an unusual record – Jaiswal has played each of his first 30 Tests at a different venue.The India opener has never played…
India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal, right, and KL Rahul run towards the same end (AP Photo) Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed in bizarre circumstances during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Saturday, after a confusing mix-up with KL Rahul left both India batters stranded at the same end.The incident occurred when Keshara Nuwantha bowled a…
Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill (BCCI Photo) NEW DELHI: India began Independence Day with a special moment in Galle as head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Shubman Gill and the Team India players gathered to hoist the Tricolour ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka. The occasion was even more special for Indian cricket as…
