Sports

Cardiff: Former England opener and Glamorgan legend Hugh Morris has passed away at the age of 62 after a long battle with bowel cancer. The announcement was made by Glamorgan County Cricket Club, mourning the loss of their former captain who played a pivotal role in the county’s success. Born in Cardiff in 1963, Morris made his debut for Glamorgan at just 17 and went on to have a distinguished 17-season career. As captain, he led Glamorgan to the County Championship title in 1997 before announcing his retirement. Internationally, he represented England in three matches. Former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri was among those who played under Morris’ captaincy at Glamorgan, expressing his grief on social media and paying tribute to Morris’ honesty, dedication, and impact on the game. Ste...

Thiruvananthapuram: The Indian Women’s cricket team continued their dominant run in the T20 series against Sri Lanka Women by securing a convincing victory in the fourth match. Both teams showcased explosive batting, setting their highest scores in T20 Internationals, but India’s batting firepower proved too strong to overcome. Batting first, India posted a formidable total of 221 for 2 wickets, led by brilliant half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. Mandhana, after a quiet start in the series, struck 80 runs off 48 balls with 11 fours and 3 sixes, while Shafali contributed 79 runs from 46 balls, hitting 12 fours and a six. The duo put together a 162-run opening partnership, marking the highest opening stand for India in T20 Internationals. Both batters narrowly missed o...

New Delhi: Delhi’s batting sensation Dhruv Shorey continued his phenomenal run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, equalling a world record by scoring five consecutive List A centuries. Playing for Vidarbha, Shorey showcased his exceptional form in the group stage clash against Hyderabad on 26 December, helping his team secure a comprehensive 89-run victory. Spectacular Knock Against Hyderabad Batting at number three for Vidarbha, Shorey faced 77 balls, smashing 6 sixes and 9 fours to score 109 runs. His innings not only guided Vidarbha to a massive total but also cemented his place among List A cricket’s elite performers. Matching N. Jagadeesan’s Record With this achievement, Shorey has matched the record of Tamil Nadu’s N. Jagadeesan, who previously held the record for five c...

Melbourne: The Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on 27 December 2025 has entered cricket history, with 20 wickets falling on the very first day, equalling a rare 123-year-old record. This marked the first time in Ashes history since 1902 that so many wickets fell on day one. The historic clash drew a record-breaking crowd of 94,199 spectators, setting a new world record for a single day attendance at an international cricket match, surpassing the previous record of 93,013 during the 2015 World Cup final. Kevin Pietersen Criticises Pitch and Raises Double Standard Concerns The challenging Melbourne pitch has sparked controversy. Former England star Kevin Pietersen criticised the surface and highlighted what he called “double standards”. Posting on social media, Pie...

New Delhi / Mohali: Star Indian batsman Shubman Gill has been spotted in intense net practice sessions at his home ground in Mohali, ahead of India’s upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. A video circulating on social media shows Gill back in his rhythm, playing aggressive shots around the wickets — a reassuring sign for fans as India begins a critical white-ball season. Dropped from T20I Squad and Deputy Captaincy Gill recently faced challenging times, having been excluded from the T20I squad due to inconsistent performances. In addition, he lost the deputy captaincy role, replaced by in-form wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan, while all-rounder Axar Patel was appointed as deputy for the team led by Suryakumar Yadav. The selectors’ decision has been seen as a tough call, sending a...

Melbourne, MCG: The fourth Test of the Ashes 2025 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) turned into one of the fastest and most thrilling matches in cricket history. England, led by Ben Stokes, defeated Australia in just two days, showcasing the dominance of their bowling attack. Despite Australia having already secured the series with victories in the first three Tests, this win reduced the series margin to 3-1 and restored pride for the visiting side. Bowling Dominance Decides the Match After losing the toss, Australia batted first but were bundled out for 152 runs. England responded with only 110 runs, giving Australia a first-innings lead of 42 runs. In their second innings, Australia again faltered, being all out for 132, leaving England with a modest target of 175 runs, which t...

New Delhi: The presence of Indian cricket superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma has injected new energy into the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, one of India’s premier domestic one-day tournaments. Representing Delhi and Mumbai respectively, the duo has not only attracted fans but also provided young players a golden opportunity to learn from two of the modern greats. How Much Do Players Earn? In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, match fees are determined by experience, specifically the number of List-A matches a player has participated in. The BCCI has classified players into three categories: Senior players (40+ matches): ₹60,000 per match Mid-level players (21–40 matches): ₹50,000 per match Junior players (0–20 matches): ₹40,000 per match Reserve players earn half the fee of t...

Melbourne, MCG: The fourth Test of the Ashes 2025 between Australia and England turned into a nightmare for the home side, as Australia’s batting collapsed dramatically in both innings. The Kangaroos failed to cross 200 runs in either innings, leaving England with a modest target of 175 runs for victory. A Dark Day for Australian Cricket For Australian cricket fans, this was a day to forget. Playing at home, the team’s complete capitulation stunned spectators and analysts alike. It marked the first time in nine years that Australia was bowled out for under 200 in both innings on home soil. The last occurrence was during the 2016 Hobart Test against South Africa. England’s Bowlers Dominate Australia posted 152 runs in the first innings, raising hopes for a comeback in the second...

Melbourne, MCG: December 27, 2020, remains a defining moment in Indian cricket history. After the humiliating collapse for 36 runs in the Adelaide Test, the team was low on confidence, with captain Virat Kohli returning home and key bowlers injured. In this testing scenario, stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane took charge at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and played a remarkable innings of 112 runs, instilling belief and laying the foundation for India’s historic win at the Gabba. A Masterclass in Patience and Leadership Chasing Australia’s 195-run first innings total, India lost early wickets, putting the team under immense pressure. Rahane stood firm amidst the morning fog and the menacing swing of Australian fast bowlers. Partnering first with Rishabh Pant and then Ravindra Jadeja...

Durban, Newlands: The SA20 season-4 opener delivered an extraordinary night of cricket as Durban Super Giants defeated MI Cape Town by 15 runs in a high-octane match, despite a brilliant century by MI Cape Town’s Ryan Rickelton. Record-Breaking Batting by Durban Super Giants Batting first, Durban Super Giants posted a massive 232/5, setting the highest SA20 score at Newlands. New Zealand’s new opening duo Devon Conway and Kane Williamson gave a blazing start, scoring 96 runs in just 8.3 overs. Williamson contributed 40 runs off 25 balls, before MI captain Rashid Khan took a spectacular diving catch at mid-off. England’s Jos Buttler and Henrich Klassen kept up the momentum with quickfire contributions of 20 and 22 runs respectively. Conway, who looked in formidable form, scored 64 ...