Sports News Cricket: Latest Updates on India, Australia, Pakistan and More
Cricket is one of the most popular and exciting sports in the world, with millions of fans following the action on and off the field. Whether it is the thrill of the T20 format, the drama of the Test matches, or the prestige of the World Cup, there is always something to look forward to in the cricketing calendar. In this blog post, we will bring you the latest news and updates on some of the major cricketing nations, such as India, Australia, Pakistan, and more.
India
India are gearing up for a challenging T20I series against Afghanistan, starting from January 11, 2024. The series will mark the return of two of India’s biggest stars, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have not played a T20I since the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal against England. The duo will be keen to prove their form and fitness ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, which will be held in the Caribbean and the United States in June. India will also look to test their bench strength and give opportunities to some of the young and promising players, such as Riyan Parag, who recently smashed the second-fastest century in Ranji Trophy history1.
Australia
Australia are enjoying a dominant run in the international arena, having swept Pakistan 3-0 in the Benaud-Qadir Trophy Test series, and winning the ODI series 2-1. Australia’s batting has been led by the prolific David Warner, who scored a farewell century in his final Test match, and the consistent Usman Khawaja, who made a successful comeback after a long injury layoff. Australia’s bowling has been equally impressive, with the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon wreaking havoc on the opposition batsmen. Australia will now shift their focus to the T20 format, as they prepare to host Pakistan for a five-match T20I series, starting from January 12, 20242.
Pakistan
Pakistan are facing a tough time in their tour of New Zealand, having lost the first two Tests by an innings and 176 runs, and 101 runs, respectively. Pakistan’s batting has been exposed by the pace and swing of the New Zealand bowlers, especially Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and Kyle Jamieson. Pakistan’s bowling has also been ineffective, failing to contain the likes of Kane Williamson, who scored a double century in the first Test, and Henry Nicholls, who scored a century in the second Test. Pakistan will hope to salvage some pride in the T20I series, which will begin from January 12, 20243. Pakistan will also look to sort out their captaincy issues, as Babar Azam has been ruled out of the tour due to a thumb injury, and Mohammad Rizwan has been appointed as the stand-in skipper.
Other News
- Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma have been nominated for the ICC Player of the Month Award for December 2023, for their stellar performances in the T20I series against Australia4.
- Gambling sponsorships on playing attire and equipment will be permitted in international bilateral matches, raising concern over the spectre of sports betting in cricket.
- The Cricket World Cup 2024 is just six months away, and England still do not know where they are playing, as the venues and fixtures have not been finalized yet.