New Zealand defeated West Indies by an innings and 12 runs in 2nd Test

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New Zealand defeated West Indies by an innings and 12 runs in the 2nd Test.

Nz vs WI: Kiwis put up a clinical show against the visitors in the second game to seal the series. New Zealand defeated West Indies by an innings and 12 runs in the second test at Basin Reserve.

Tom Latham and Co. took a little extra than an hour for wrapping up the game on the fourth day. West Indies skipper Jason Holder and Joshua de Silva put up a good 80 runs stand to survive the third day.

Earlier, West Indies won the toss and opted to bowl.

New Zealand innings:

New Zealand could not get a good start with the openers departing early. Will Young tried to control the innings but went soon after crossing 40 runs.

Henry Nicholls on the other end stood up for the challenges and completed his 150 runs. Nicholls trying to advance to his double century but was caught on the way off Rostan Chase in 174 runs.

At the end of the first innings pacer, Neil Wagner amassed quickfire 66 from 42 to end the innings. New Zealand finished the first innings on 460 runs in a loss of 10 wickets.

West Indies:

In retaliation, West Indies was wrapped for only 131 runs on the third day. Blackwood came out as a lone warrior scoring 69 from 92 balls.

Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson picked five-for each to dismiss the visitors.

New Zealand stand-in skipper Tom Latham enforced a Follow-on after a bit of hesitation.

West Indies was wrapped up by hosts on the fourth day of the second test. John Campbell, Jason Holder, and Joshua De Silva emerged as the only players to breach 50 runs mark in the follow on.

New Zealand bagged the series with a clean 2-0 and advanced to equal Australia on ICC Test Championship points. They sit at number three in the points table with the recent series win.

New Zealand Squad:

Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell, Will Young, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel

West Indies Squad:

Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Darren Bravo, Jermaine Blackwood, Shamarh Brooks, Roston Chase, Jason Holder (c), Joshua Da Silva (wk), Alzarri Joseph, Chemar Holder, Shannon Gabriel, Keemo Paul, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shimron Hetmyer.

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Australia vs India Test Series: Ashish Nehra picks his first choice openers for the Test

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Australia vs India Test Series: Ashish Nehra picks his first choice openers for the Test.

Australia vs India: The former Indian bowler shared his thoughts on the batting pair for the much-awaited Test series against Australia. Ashish Nehra picks his first choice openers for the test cricket and showed faith in them to play big.

The opening is something which India needs to ponder on, we cannot call it a weakness. The opening pair of the Indian team in Test format has been an issue for a while. The Men in Blue has four options for the opening slot for the test games – Prithwi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul.

Later after the second game, Rohit Sharma will join the side to provide much-needed strength. The toss-up for the slot is between Gill, Shaw, and Mayank Agarwal.

Looking at the scores of these players in the recently concluded series does not show a promising character. None of these has been consistent for the side which is a sign to worry.

Recent Forms of Openers:

Shubman Gill got a chance in the third ODI and scores 33 runs and amassed 43 and 65 in the practice game against Australia A. Mayank Agarwal got the initial start in the ODIs but failed to capitalize, getting 22 and 28 in the two ODIs and managed a duck and a half-century in the practice game.

Shaw on the other side has been lanky this time, he has duck 19, 40, and 3 runs in the recent games.

It will be a big challenge for the Indian skipper to choose the best pair for the opening but if Ashish Nehra would get the chance to pick, he will go with KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal as his initial pairs.

Rahul has been out of the test game for almost a year but has impressed everyone with his white-ball form. It would be a sparkling sign for Men in Blue if Rahul keeps his white-ball form in test format too.

I will go with Rahul and Mayank, Ashish Nehra:

Indian Test opening is something that has been in talks every time, I would not call it a weakness but it is a concern for Virat and Co. All the four options excluding Rohit Sharma, everyone one of them has good talent but the form is not with them. I would go with Rahul and Mayank to open the batting. If Rahul gets runs in the way he is getting in White Ball format, then he can be dangerous,” Nehra said in a video on Cricbuzz.

Nehra backed Mayank Agarwal as the opening slot because of the form he showed in the previous tour of Australia in 2018-19. Mayank making his debut in Australia showed his class with 76 and 42 at MCG while scored 77 at Sydney.

Team India bagged the series with 2-1 and it was India’s first test series win in Australia after 71 years.

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Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2021 Dates Revealed, SMAT 2021 Fixtures and Dates

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Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2021 Dates Revealed, SMAT 2021 Fixtures, and Dates.

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2021: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday took the much-delayed decision on the conduction of the domestic circuit games. BCCI went with SMAT this time and mailed the respective state units to assemble in the bio-secure hubs.

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2021 will be played from January 10 to 31 with all the safety precautions. All the participating sides will be asked to report to the bio-secure hub on 2nd January.

After releasing the itinerary for the much-awaited SMAT 2021, BCCI was questioned on when Ranji Trophy will be conducted. There has been no clear statement on Ranji Trophy Games while SMAT will go as per the schedule.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah said, “After having gone through the feedback and response received, I am delighted to announce to you that BCCI is planning to kick start the domestic Circuit 2020-21 with the scheduling of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament.”

All the participating teams will have to assemble in their allotted hub by Saturday, 2nd January 2021. The tournament will begin from Sunday, January 10 and the final will be played on 31st January.”

The secretary of BCCI, Jay Shah said the decision on conducting Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy will be taken once the league stages of SMAT are done.

The Board will subsequently seek feedback from the members on organizing any other domestic tournament after the group stages of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy,” he said.

The members are requested to factor a subsequent tournament in their planning and make arrangements accordingly,” Shah wrote.

SMAT hint for IPL 2021:

Some cricketing Pundits feel the SMAT is the hint for the addition of the ninth or tenth team in IPL. However, it can be understood that IPL mega Auctions might take place. SMAT could be a scouting term for the franchises ahead of IPL 2021.

BCCI might be keen on conducting Vijay Hazare Trophy before Ranji Trophy as it will be concluded in the short time period of one month like SMAT.

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Babar Azam ruled out of the three T20Is against New Zealand due to fractured thumb

IPL 2021 Updates: Franchises likely to Demand for the Change in the Rules

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IPL 2021 Updates: Franchises likely to Demand for the Change in the Rules.

IPL 2021 Updates: In the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League, the existing franchises might demand change in some of the rules. Though in the course of 13 years of Indian Premier League there have been a lot of changes to the Rules.

Mostly the rules get changed or revised if some of the existing franchises pressurize the BCCI. In the past thirteenth season of IPL, there have been a lot of tweaks in the Rules and Regulations to make the game more exciting.

However, this time as per the reports, BCCI is getting requests from some of the franchises to increase the limit of Foreign Players in the Playing 11 in a match.

The rule of overseas players in a team has been constant throughout the Indian T20 League. This rule has never been disturbed by the Board. But this time it is something that’s might get a tweak.

The BCCI permits franchisees to play 4 overseas players in a team for a match. There has been demand from the franchises to increase the limit of foreign players. It has been reported that some of the franchises have approached the Board for the change.

Demand For the increase in Foreign Players:

According to BCCI officials, Such requests are being made for the last two years.

A couple of existing franchises have approached the Board demanding an increase in the number of foreign players. However, BCCI is yet to take any stance on the demand, and the decision is yet not taken,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying by InsideSport. 

This is certain that there are going to be tweaks in the rules and regulations of IPL. With the addition of a ninth team to the pool of eight, BCCI might bring up exciting changes to the League.

But the official clarity is not going to come out till the Auctions. Once auctions are completed then everything will be clear to the fans and franchises.

The demand for the increasing number of foreign players might go undiscussed as this will reduce the chances of Indian Talents. BCCI and IPL don’t want to do that. The League was formed taking up this idea for the opportunity to the budding talents.

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Babar Azam ruled out of the three T20Is against New Zealand due to fractured thumb

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Babar Azam ruled out of the three T20Is against New Zealand due to fractured thumb.

Babar Azam ruled out: Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam suffered a thumb fracture during the practice session before the start of the tour. He is now ruled out of the whole T20I series against New Zealand.

Azam injured his right thumb while practicing in the nets on Sunday creating a hole in the lineup. The batting powerhouse would be out of the game for at least 12 days.

The Pakistan Cricket Board on Sunday said, Babar Azam now faces the race with the time to get fit for the upcoming test event against New Zealand. We hope he recovers in time for the first test game.

I have got in touch with Babar Azam and he is sad to miss out from the T20I series against New Zealand. He was fully focused and keen on playing the games,” Misbah-ul-Haq said about Azam.

We have a very long cricketing season forward and we now hope that Azam gets his fitness as early as possible so that he can return to the competitive cricket,” Misbah-ul-Haq in a statement.

Imam-ul-Haq and Shadab Khan also Ruled Out

Babar’s injury becomes more important as batsman Imam-ul-Haq has been ruled out a day before after he fractured his left thumb while practicing. Pakistan’s T20I Vice-Captain, Shadab Khan is also complaining of Groin niggle.

Pakistan and New Zealand are scheduled to play three-game T20I series and two Test games to end the tour. The tour will begin with T20Is on December 18, Friday.

Pakistan Squad for the tour of New Zealand 2020-21:

Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Faheem Ashraf, Haider Ali, Abdullah Shafique, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Musa Khan, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Qadir, and Wahab Riaz.

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Mitchell Starc’s return to the Test side will be a good sign, Josh Hazlewood

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Mitchell Starc’s return to the Test side will be a good sign, Josh Hazlewood.

Australia vs India: The speedster Josh Hazlewood feels, Mitchell Starc’s return to the test side will be a good sign for the Australian squad. The home team will get much-needed strength after the pacer Mitchell Starc returns in the test squad. His pink ball numbers are huge to blow everyone’s mind, said Josh Hazlewood.

Starc is an integral part of our test side and attack. Everyone knows his figures in test cricket, especially with the pink ball. The management welcomes him with an open arm,” Hazlewood in the virtual news conference.

The pace spearhead has pulled out of the Twenty20 series against India after the first T20I. He took the decision after learning about his family’s illness but Cricket Australia has announced his return on Sunday to the test side.

Starc would be ready to jump in, Hazlewood:

“I think he would be good to go now. Nothing goes to plan. He would have done everything possible over last week and he is a professional cricketer. I feel he would be ready to go and jump straight into the game.”

With Mitchell Starc’s comeback, the Australian blowing lineup will daunting. Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, spinner Nathan Lyon would provide enough options to Aussies skipper.

However, the batting this time looks a bit lanky even though Steve Smith will be the part. Aussies have been backstepped by the number of injuries. Earlier, Warner was ruled out due to Groin Injury however, he says he is fit now and just needs another 10 days to gain full match fitness.

The opening batsman, young Will Pucovski has been ruled out due to a concussion. He won’t be available for the first test game.

The all-rounder Cameron Green was also sent for a medical examination after being hit by Jasprit Bumrah’s straight drive into the head. The incident took place in the second practice match against India A in Sydney.

When asked about the preparations for the test game against India, Hazlewood told me there is nothing to do right now, everyone is going through the same thing, so it’s a pretty usual one.

Hazlewood has dismissed skipper Kohli for the fourth consecutive time in ODIs in 2020.

I have got some luck last time in the ODIs. A little bit to take into the next format but its usually a fresh start. Virat is a destructive batsman and scored some runs in the past.”

It is important to get him early, once he gets the initial start then he can be crazy for the opposition. I have got him twice in a test game so hope to do that again,” he added.

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Australia vs India: “Someone has to score 500 runs to win the series,” Dravid

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Australia vs India: “Someone has to score 500 runs to win the series,” Dravid.

Australia vs India Test Series: The Former Test great, Rahul Dravid speaks on the chances of India winning the upcoming series against Australia. Dravid told that someone needs to score at least 500 runs in the four games to bag the series.

The all-time Test great aka “The Wall of Indian Cricket” remembers the last tour of Australia in 2018-19 where Cheteshwar Pujara smacked 521 runs in four games. Pujara was the leading run-scorer in the previous series against Australia on Australian soil. In the tour, Team India registered a series win 2-1.

Dravid said someone definitely needs to take the responsibility to score big in every single innings to tackle the gigantic Australian lineup. Be it Cheteshwar Pujara himself as Men in Blues will miss the services of skipper Virat Kohli after the first game. Kohli has been given a paternity leave for the birth of his first child. Virat will leave Australia after the first Day/Night Test game.

Who will be Pujara in the Series, Dravid:

Who is going to the Pujara this time in the Australian Test Series?” ESPNCricinfo quoted Dravid as saying during a webinar, organized by L&T Financial Services Mutual Fund’s annual conclave The Winner’s Circle.

I am saying that because last time when India toured Australia in 2018-19 Pujara scored over 500 runs and you will need one of your batsmen to repeat that. Either it can be Pujara, Kohli cannot do that because he won’t be available throughout the series. If one batsman goes over the mark and scored big for you, then the game will become much easier for India.

Dravid has faith in the Indian bowling lineup. Our lineup can pick quick wickets, batting is one area that can win you the series.

Our bowling lineup is capable of taking 20 wickets. They will impose tough conditions. Australia will try to put up the conditions which will be favoring fast bowlers. So will we able to match that?”

I think Indian bowlers can pick 20 scalps over five days but do we have someone who can put up 500 runs over the series. If we get that then it would become much easier. But if Smith or Warner, who missed the last series, gets going and score 500 runs for their side, then I think they will have the edge,” he said.

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IPL 2021: Top 10 Players who earned most from Indian Premier League (IPL)

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IPL 2021: Top 10 Players who earned most from Indian Premier League (IPL).

IPL 2021: The upcoming version of the Indian Premier League has become a trending topic to discuss among the pundits. With BCCI planning to expand the existing 8 franchise League to nine or maybe ten, the excitement is on another level.

There is no doubt that IPL pays most in the terms of money and that’s why it is called one of the most lucrative leagues in the World.

So, here we brought to you 10 players who earned most from the Indian T20 League till the 2020 season of IPL.

10 Players who earned most from IPL:

MS Dhoni (India)

Money Earned: 137.8 Crores

IPL Franchise: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS)

IPL Most Money Rank: 1

Rohit Sharma (India)

Money Earned: 131.6 Crores

IPL Franchises: Mumbai Indians (MI) and Deccan Chargers (DC)

IPL Most Money Rank: 2

Virat Kohli (India)

Money Earned: 126 Crores

IPL Franchises: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

IPL Most Money Rank: 3

Suresh Raina (India)

Money Earned: 99.7 Crores

IPL Franchises: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujrat Lions (GL)

IPL Most Money Rank: 4

Gautam Gambhir (India)

Money Earned: 94.6 Crores

IPL Franchises: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi Daredevils (DD)

IPL Most Money Rank: 5

AB de Villiers (South Africa)

Money Earned: 91.5 Crores

IPL Franchises: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Delhi Daredevils (DD)

IPL Most Money Rank: 6

Yuvraj Singh (India)

Money Earned: 84.6 Crores

IPL Franchises: Mumbai Indians (MI), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Delhi Daredevils (DD), Royal Challenger Bangalore (RCB), Pune Warriors India (PWI) and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP)

IPL Most Money Rank: 7

Sunil Narine (West Indies)

Money Earned: 82.7 Crores

IPL Franchises: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

IPL Most Money Rank: 8

Shane Watson (Australia)

Money Earned: 77.1 Crores

IPL Franchises: Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Royal Challenger Bangalore (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR)

IPL Most Money Rank: 9

Robin Uthappa (India)

Money Earned: 75.2 Crores

IPL Franchises: Rajasthan Royals (RR), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Pune Warriors India (PWI), Royal Challenger Bangalore (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI).

IPL Most Money Rank: 10

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Williamson and Boult added to the New Zealand T20I side against Pakistan

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Williamson and Boult added to the New Zealand T20I side against Pakistan.

NZ vs Pak: Kane Williamson and Trent Boult have been added to the New Zealand T20I side against Pakistan. Both the cricketers will be available after the first game. New Zealand and Pakistan will play the three-game T20I series starting December 18.

The duo of Glenn Phillips and Devon Conway are also named in the extended squad for New Zealand. Both the players have involved in the record partnership for the 3rd wicket in T20Is.

Phillips and Conway added 181 runs for the third wicket against West Indies making it the highest ever 3rd wicket stand. The match against the West Indies was held two weeks ago.

Kane Williamson and Trent Boult along with Tim Southee, Kayle Jamieson, and Daryl Mitchell will be available after the first T20I match. The Twenty20 series is scheduled to begin just after three days of the ongoing Test match at Wellington, New Zealand.

All three T20Is will be held at different venues with all the safety precautions. The first one will be at Eden Park, Auckland on 18th December while the second and third are set to be played at Seddon Park, Hamilton ( 20th December), and McLean Park, Napier (22th December).

The pacer, Loki Ferguson had earlier pulled out of the series after the scan suggested bone stress injury on his lumbar spine. His further availability will be subjected to the next assessment and scan results.

Ferguson ruled out:

Lokie’s injury concern is a setback for the New Zealand side considering what he brings to the side with his bowling. We are waiting for more information on his rehab program,” Selector Gavin Larsen said.

Speedster Hamish Bennett was also ruled out of the series after he sustained an abdominal tear in round three of the Ford Trophy.

Jacob Duffy has earned his maiden call-up for the T20I squad after an impressive cricket in the domestic circuit.

Spin spearhead Mitchell Santner will lead the side in the absence of Kane Williamson. However, he is reported to take a break from cricket. He is been with the team regularly after CPL.

His place in the side will be backed up by leg spinner Ish Sodhi and Todd Astle. Both the player will join the squad once the stand-in skipper, Mitchell Santner announce a break.

New Zealand T20 Squads GAME 1:

Mitchell Santner (c), Doug Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Todd Astle, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner.

New Zealand T20 Squad GAMES 2 and 3:

Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Todd Astle, Martin Guptill, Kyle Jamieson, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee.

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Australia vs India: Marnus Labuschagne ready to open if the team wants

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Australia vs India: Marnus Labuschagne ready to open if the team wants.

The Australian batsman, Marnus Labuschagne during a live video conference said he is flexible to bat anywhere. The home team is currently backstabbed by the number of injuries to the side in the ongoing series. Marnus Labuschagne said, he is ready to open if the team wants him to take that role.

The test series will begin from 17th December with the first game as the Day/Night pink ball test.

The opener, David Warner and Will Pucovski has been ruled out of the first game due to injuries. The former batsman suffered Groin Injury and is not fully convinced to take part in the first test game. While the latter struck the ball into his head during batting in the first test practice match against India A. Puckvski is ruled out due to concussion.

Marnus Labuschagne on opening:

Look, whatever is best for the team, whatever the team wants, that’s our work as players that we do what is best for the side. If management wants me to open the innings, then that’s what I will do, it is a team sport and it is more importantly winning the matches. If this is the best way to win games then we will surely follow that,” Labuschagne said during a live video conference on Saturday.

The most probable opening batsman, Joe Burns is struggling for his form of late. Talking about Burn’s form Marnus said, “ I spoke to Burns a few nights ago, he is doing alright, we have all been there where we just want to score runs. A few bad innings cannot judge a player’s ability. We have full faith in Joe and if he is taken to the side he will surely do good for the side. I just hope he gets some runs in the second innings of the second test practice game against India A.”

The game gets a bit tough for the batsmen when the day comes to an end.

We face best bowlers in nets, Labuschagne:

I saw a few overs in the evening and wickets, it gets much supportive to the bowlers when it starts to be dark. But that’s not a big deal it is a part of the Day/Night game. It becomes a bit touch to bat but exciting at the same time when you play against the best. It is going to be really good.”

The batsman also heaped praises on the bowlers, we are good at batting that is just because we face some of the deadly bowlers in the nets. Hazlewood, Cummins, Pattinson and Starc, and a lot more are the best in the business and we are proud to have them.

When asked about the opposition bowling, Labuschagne said, look we are all prepared for the game. In international matches, you see a lot of each other. They (Indian bowlers) are definitely doing good. Jasprit Bumrah especially the last ODI performed really nice but we are ready to accept the challenge.

India and Australia will be playing for the four-game test series starting 17th December. The series will carry huge importance as it will be counted in the World Test Championship.

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