Sunday, August 30, marks the end of the line for hundreds of NFL dreams. At 6 p.m. ET, all 32 franchises have to submit finalized 53-man rosters to league headquarters, cutting their locker rooms down nearly in half after going through the preseason with a maximum of 90 guys on the depth chart.
The majority of the players released will be undrafted free agents and practice squad veterans. Some, however, will have enough cache to make even casual fans take notice when they're waived or traded,
There won't be many stars cast aside or dealt to new locker rooms when rosters are set -- here's our list of one per team who could be cut. But there will be a handful of former Pro Bowlers and first round picks suddenly looking for new jobs. Who could that include? We've got some ideas.
All salary cap savings data come from Over the Cap.
Salary cap savings: $0

#sunday #bowlers #we 've #marks

New Delhi: India's team management and selectors are working on backups for the middle order ahead of the ODI World Cup next year. TOI has learnt that Tilak Varma's name has come up as a potential backup option for Shreyas Iyer in the top six of the batting lineup.

Tilak, being a left-handed batter, is seen as someone who can break the monotony of right-handers in the batting lineup. Tilak has been asked to work on his bowling since it is believed that his off-breaks have a lot of potential. The team management, in fact, has flagged the dearth of bowling options in the top order, citing it as a reason for extra pressure on the lower order and the bowlers.

The planning for the ODI World Cup will only begin in earnest when India reach New Zealand in October, since most of the first-choice players will not be available for the ODI series against West Indies at home from September 27. A full-strength T20 team is also scheduled to travel to ****** an for the Asian Games at the same time.

"Head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill feel there isn't any backup ready for the middle order. With Hardik Pandya and Nitish ****** ar Reddy being ****** e to injuries, they want someone in the top order who can at least chip in with four overs in an ODI," a BCCI source said.

Over the last year, the team management has been compelled to play either Washington Sundar or Axar Patel at No. 5 or No. 6 to balance the playing XI. In the last series in England, Ishan Kishan was sent in ahead of vice-captain Iyer.

"The team has to be prepared for conditions in South Africa in the World Cup. Iyer got injured in Australia and his game against pace and bounce is untested of late. The team already has two ageing players in Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. They are having niggles as well. KL Rahul too will be over 35 by the time the World Cup comes around. Ravindra Jadeja isn't a certainty either. The fielding of the team has suffered due to fitness issues. The team management feels that they need younger backups ready," the source said.
The selectors, it is learnt, are not comfortable with playing batters out of position. Last year, Ruturaj Gaikwad was played at No. 4 and scored a hundred against South Africa in Raipur. But he has not been picked in the ODI team since.

"Gaikwad was picked as backup opener since Gill was injured. The team management feels Tilak could have been tried in that place. That's why they don't want to rush Devdutt Padikkal in the ODI setup because he found his calling in white-ball cricket while opening the batting," the source said.

The team for the West Indies series, however, will be an anomaly since Iyer, Tilak, Ishan and Axar will not be available. The selectors are more focused on picking another wicketkeeper for the series.
The selection committee is due to meet by September 3 to pick the team for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in Delhi from September 13.

Sources said that the selectors are l

Suryakumar Yadav has admitted that he only has himself to blame for failing to establish a longer career in ODI cricket, despite becoming one of India's most successful T20 batters.

The former India T20I captain played 37 ODIs and scored 773 runs at an average of 25.76, numbers that never quite reflected the impact he had in the shortest format. His final ODI appearance came in the 2023 World Cup final against Australia, and he has not featured in India's 50-over setup since.

Suryakumar, who led India to T20 World Cup glory earlier this year, acknowledged that his ODI career remains a source of disappointment. Rather than pointing to selection calls or circumstances, he accepted responsibility for not doing enough to adapt to the demands of the format.

"Hypothetically, we can say anything - that if I had come into the team in 2016, I could have played Tests and probably done well in ODIs too. But the reality is that I played only one Test and one innings. After that, the other players came back and started playing again, so it didn't happen. But definitely, I am disappointed with myself when it comes to ODI cricket.

"It was a white-ball format, just like T20s, but to be very honest, I personally feel I did not put in as much effort as I should have for that format," Suryakumar Yadav said on Aakash Chopra's YouTube channel.
While T20 cricket has allowed Suryakumar to thrive with his aggressive strokeplay, he believes ODI cricket demands a far more calculated approach from batters.

He described the 50-over game as the most difficult format for a batter because situations can change rapidly, particularly for those coming in at No. 4, 5 or 6.

"I feel ODI cricket is probably the most difficult format to play as a batter, whether you are batting lower down the order or anywhere else. You can be two down for zero if you are batting at No. 4, or four down for 24 if you are batting at No. 6. Anything can happen. You have to bat almost like you do in a Test match. You see off the bowlers initially, give them respect and slowly build your innings. You may bat at a strike rate of 50 or sometimes 75, then take it to 100 and eventually finish at 130 or 140, much like you do in T20 cricket," he added.

According to Suryakumar, the challenge was not simply about batting in a different format. He struggled to work out exactly how he needed to construct an innings in ODI cricket, particularly in the middle order.
Suryakumar revealed that he knew he was likely to occupy a middle-order role, but failed to put the same level of preparation into ODI cricket that he now gives T20 cricket.

"Personally, I feel I could not crack how to approach that format. I knew I was probably going to bat at No. 5 or 6, but even then, I did not work hard enough to understand the format. By the time I could blink, those 20-25 games had gone. I don't even know when it happened or how it went by. And yes, I definitely regret not playing more ODI cricket. I wonde

Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has opened up about his bowling spell in East Zone's opening Duleep Trophy 2026 match, saying he always enjoys bowling and joking that captain Ishan Kishan did not know he was a "wicket-taker."

Sooryavanshi, who was named East Zone vice-captain for the tournament, made an impact with the ball in the second innings against North East Zone. The left-arm spinner took two wickets in a three-over spell as East Zone completed an innings and 210-run win on Tuesday.

Speaking in a video shared by BCCI Domestic, Sooryavanshi said batters enjoy bowling just as much as bowlers enjoy batting.

"If you ask any batter, they always enjoy bowling. A batter always enjoys bowling and a bowler always enjoys batting equally," Sooryavanshi said.

The teenager said Kishan brought him into the attack because East Zone needed a breakthrough, but added that the captain did not know what he was capable of with the ball.

"Opponent team's wickets weren't falling, so I was asked to bowl two or three overs. Ishan bhaiya felt like he was taking a risk, but he didn't knew that I am a wicket-taker," he added.
Sooryavanshi's spell changed the innings quickly.

He first dismissed Kishan Lyngdoh, who was caught at deep covers while trying to play an aerial shot. Three ***** later, he got left-handed batter Imliwati Lemtur to edge behind, with Kishan taking the catch behind the stumps.

The Bihar youngster said he knew he had only three overs to bowl and wanted to make the most of them.

"I had only one thing in my mind: that even if I take five wickets, I'm only going to get to bowl three overs only. So (the plan) was to bowl as well as I can and target one spot only and finish my spell well."

The Rajasthan Royals batter did not have much success with the bat in the match. He scored eight in East Zone's only innings but said contributing with the ball made up for it.

"It was a lot of fun because batting didn't go so well in the match. So, contributing with the ball was great. And of course, when a batter takes a wicket, there's no greater enjoyment than that, so it was a lot of fun!" he concluded.

Sooryavanshi now has four wickets in First-Class cricket.

East Zone have qualified for the Duleep Trophy semi-finals and will face Central Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 2 in Bengaluru. The match starts at 9:30am on Sunday, while the final begins on September 6.

#only #batter

Pakistan's struggles in England have deepened after their batting collapsed for 110 in the first innings of the Lord's Test, prompting a brutal ****** sment from former England captain Michael Vaughan.

Pakistan arrived at Lord's hoping for a response after being beaten by an innings and 53 runs in the opening Test. The return of regular captain Babar Azam had also provided some optimism, but his comeback did little to change the visitors' fortunes.

Babar managed only eight runs, while Abdullah Shafique (5), Shan Masood (1) and Mohammad Rizwan (7) all fell cheaply. Opener Azan Awais offered some resistance with 46, but Pakistan were bowled out for just 110.

Vaughan was scathing in his ****** sment of the Pakistan batting line-up, arguing that England's bowlers were operating without any real fear of being punished.

"I'll be brutally honest. The England bowlers aren't being challenged at all. And this Pakistan batting lineup is possibly the easiest batting lineup I've seen in a long time to bowl to. And not only that, I think as a bowler, I think they're all queuing up to bowl because they know there are wickets out there," Vaughan said on the BBC Test Match Special.

"You're not going to get hurt. There's no batter that's going to hurt them. No one's going to damage their figures, and it's really, 'roll up, roll up, who wants to get the wickets?'," he added.

The former England skipper continued his criticism by questioning whether Pakistan's current batting unit was even of Test-match standard.

With England's bowlers repeatedly finding breakthroughs, Vaughan suggested the visitors had made life remarkably easy for the hosts.

"I think they all know that Pakistan aren't going to get big scores. So you're only going to be out there for 40 to 50 overs, so you give everything in every spell, you keep going to Joe Root saying, Err, I'll bowl another one.' There are so many wickets out there," said Vaughan.

He then made a particularly harsh comparison, suggesting Pakistan's batting resembled a second-division county side rather than an international Test team.

"It's so easy. They're still doing a good job, and they're still looking very threatening. And I think this bowling attack, the way they're bowling, will challenge better batting lineups if they continue in this fashion. But this is Pakistan batting. Is it second division county cricket? There's no way that they are batting in any standard to say that, that is a Test match batting lineup," he added.

Pakistan's batting woes have been compounded by the absence of opener Imam-ul-Haq, who did not bat in the first innings after suffering a calf strain while fielding at Lord's.

England capitalised on Pakistan's collapse to take a commanding position in the Test. The hosts finished the second day on 81/3 in their second innings, extending their overall lead to 261 runs.

After Pakistan's innings ended inside 38 overs, England remain firmly in control of the secon

TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: In his first press conference of the tour, Shubman Gill termed qualifying for the World Test Championship as the "ultimate goal," a sentiment he maintained while preparing to leave the country. In between his two media interactions, the Indian captain saw his team register a comprehensive win in Galle and then settle for a draw in a fixture they were well positioned to win in Colombo. Although the series was won, the trophy secured, and his undefeated run as captain checked off crucial boxes, India left behind crucial WTC points needed to boost their win percentage.

As captain, he had his most challenging few days under the sun in Colombo when Sonal Dinusha and the Sri Lanka's tail frustrated the visitors and prevented them from getting the result they desperately wanted. There were moments he would helplessly stand and observe from the short-cover position, have an intense chat with head coach Gautam Gambhir when nothing worked and then even egg his teammates on when their shoulders started dropping.

"It gets very frustrating," he said regarding the challenges, explaining the questions that follow. "Was follow-on the best decision, was it not? But then you have to go back in the moment and see, what can I do? Did I make the best decision in that moment? Yes, I did. Then you can't do anything about it. You have to keep trying your best, and I think we did that," added the Indian captain.

While they struggled to remove the Sri Lankan tail in both innings, Gill was not ready to pin the blame on any of his teammates and lauded their effort.

"We tried all that we could, and at the end of the day, even from the players, you can expect them giving their 100%, their top efforts, and I don't think there was any lacking in intensity or the efforts that we put in," said Gill.
Highlighting the volume of overs the spinners bowled on a surface which became easier to bat as the game progressed, Gill gave them 10/10 for effort and intent, and continued to focus on the ultimate goal - the World Test Championship.

"The spinners bowled 50-60 overs on the trot for three days. Fielding for three days is not an easy task in these conditions with the heat. In terms of effort, I would say 10 out of 10 for the effort and the intent. A lot of learning, so many things won't always go as you plan, but as long as we still have a chance to qualify for the World Test Championship," added Gill.

India operated with in-out field positions for most of the match, offering significant protection against the sweep, especially when Sonal Dinusha was at the crease. While it did open up easy singles, Gill felt there couldn't have been a better plan as the slow turn off the surface meant bowled and LBW were the dismissals out of the equation.

"The ball was spinning but the wickets were not in play. As a batsman, if you know that your bowlers do not have 2 modes of dismissal in play, then it becomes easier to bat. Unless you are play

NEW DELHI: India captain Shubman Gill on Thursday ruled out any injury concern for Mohammed Siraj after the pacer appeared to be below his best during the drawn second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Siraj bowled at a reduced pace and often used a shorter run-up during the Test. His fitness also came under the scanner after he landed heavily while trying to take a catch in Sri Lanka's first innings.

Gill, however, made it clear that Siraj was not carrying an injury.
Gill said Siraj had not been feeling his best even during the first Test in Galle and was also returning to international cricket after a break.

"Firstly, Siraj is not injured. He didn't feel well even in the first match (at Galle). He last played against Afghanistan in June…so he was playing almost after a couple of months. It takes time for someone to come back to the rhythm.

"Even in the first Test, we felt that his pace was slow. But sometimes when you play more, you come back to the rhythm. But as far as the injury is concerned, there is nothing," he said.

Siraj's lack of his usual pace was noticeable as India struggled to finish off Sri Lanka on the fifth day. The hosts batted through the final day, with Sonal Dinusha scoring an unbeaten 133 to secure a draw.
India had reduced Sri Lanka to 229/6 by the end of the fourth day but could not force the remaining wickets on the final day.

"It gets very frustrating. We attacked a lot in the beginning. But I think as the match went on, the wicket got slower. It was not like the ball was not moving and when the ball was spinning, the wickets were not in play. It was not like the wicket was very flat," said Gill at the post-match press meet.

The India captain said Sri Lanka's defensive approach made it difficult for his bowlers to create chances.

"Unless you are playing a shot and looking to make a run, then it is difficult to take a wicket. We tried all that we could, and I don't think there was any lack of intensity or the efforts that we put in. The spinners bowled 50-60 overs on the trot for three days.

"Fielding for three days is not an easy task in these conditions. I would say 10 out of 10 for the effort and the intent. They also played really well," he added.

Gill also felt India could have been in a better position if they had taken their chances on the fourth day.

"On day 4, we thought we had created chances. If there was a little more pressure, the wickets would have come and then maybe the result would have been better. But as long as we still have a chance to qualify for the World Test Championship (final), it's fine."
Gill was pleased with the progress made by Prasidh Krishna.

"I think he's been in the pick of our bowlers. When things are not happening, he's been our go-to bowler, especially this season. He's created chances, which is what I want as a captain. We want a go-to bowler when wickets are not guaranteed. I think he did that brilliantly," he said.

#India #siraj

The NFL has had more than 100 Pro Bowlers in recent years because of players who were either too injured or disinterested in participating. Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who started only seven games and threw more interceptions than touchdowns, was a Pro Bowl replacement last season.
The league announced Wednesday that it is doing away with the game. Instead, the NFL will name 88 Pro Bowlers it will honor in Los Angeles before the Super Bowl in February.
Commissioner Roger Goodell explained the reasoning after NFL owners wrapped up their meeting in Atlanta.
"I think this is something that we talked to our players about, the Pro Bowl players in particular," Goodell said, via Mark Maske of Front Office Sports. "We had conference calls the last couple years: What's working? What's not? What would you like to see? And the number one thing that came out—and there were a lot of wonderful comments by the players—one is: 'We want to be honored and celebrated as a Pro Bowl player.' . . . It just opened my eyes. I never really thought about it in the context of that. It's not honoring the replacement players. It's honoring the guys who are selected by the fans, by the players, by the coaches.
"And so that was really the core of it, is: How do we do this in the right way? And our players, you know, they did what they normally do. They had great recommendations on how to do that. And second, a willingness to lead that the all-star format doesn't really work for our game. . . . It's something that we felt strongly about. And I think our players, they deserve to be celebrated when they get the Pro Bowl honor."

#goodell #replacement #last

Apparently a Pro Bowl, well, event that included Joe Flacco and Shedeur Sanders was a bridge too far.
The NFL will officially eliminate the Pro Bowl as a competition and simply apply the honorific to deserving players, many of whom have contract escalators for being named a Pro Bowler. The league made the announcement Wednesday, Aug. 26. The move also aligns with the NFL's ongoing initiatives to emphasize player safety. Playing an all-star exhibition, in any form, didn't square nicely with that objective.
Moving forward, the AFC and NFC rosters will continue to be constructed with 44 players apiece. However with no need for last-minute replacements, there won't be a dilution to the honor that had become so commonplace in recent years. Players, coaches and fans will continue to annually supply equally weighted votes to determine the 88 Pro Bowlers.
"The Pro Bowl has always been about recognizing the players who distinguish themselves as the very best in the NFL," said Peter O'Reilly, the NFL's EVP of club business, international and league events.
"A Pro Bowl selection will return to its original purpose, honoring the best of the best. We want that distinction to carry even greater meaning for the players, their families, their clubs and our fans."

#league

All good things have to come to an end. All things that aren't so great tend to also have an expiration date. So it is with great understanding and precious little passion that sports fans learned today that the NFL is eliminating the Pro Bowl Games.
Look, life is too darn short to be negative all of the time. But poll 10 people and at least nine will tell you they have had better things to do than check in on the Pro Bowl Games, a somewhat competitive replacement for the actual football game that had been held since 1938.
Still, it's the end of an era.
So often the phrase "addition by subtraction" gets trotted out in conversation. It's overused because it is hard, at scale, to take something away and have things be better. This is a rare case where the idea applies, though.
The NFL will still honor 88 Pro Bowlers with an announcement in late December. Gone is any need to scramble for replacements when scores of players pass on the opportunity to be part of the festivities. In lieu of watching these guys play patty cake on the gridiron or, uh, dodgeball, we'll get to focus on their accomplishments and debate who earned the honor and who was snubbed.

#things #games #great #december

NEW DELHI: When Ishan Kishan walks out to bat, the image that usually comes to mind is that of a left-handed batter hitting big sixes, playing brutal pull shots and putting bowlers under pressure. Kishan is known for his aggressive style in white-ball cricket. But on Tuesday, the 28-year-old made it clear that he also loves the challenge of red-ball cricket.

The East Zone captain led his team to a massive innings and 210-run win over North East Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 2 in Bengaluru.

"I enjoy red-ball [cricket] very much. I think people don't believe me when I say that smiles, but it's, I'm being very honest, I really do enjoy red-ball cricket," Kishan told Cricinfo.

Kishan has played 32 ODIs and 55 T20Is for India, apart from 134 IPL matches. His last of two Test appearances came in July 2023. Despite his limited opportunities in Test cricket, his love for the red-ball format remains strong.

"It's always fun to be part of it because I love that challenge when, you know, yes, it's easier to bat on flat tracks and it's fun as well, but the competition which goes around in Test match[es] is some different-level thing," he said.

The match against North East Zone was Kishan's 65th first-class appearance. His previous first-class game was against Baroda in the Ranji Trophy in November 2025. In the nine months between the two matches, Kishan played 59 games across international and domestic cricket, including the IPL.

As someone who has played plenty of white-ball cricket, he admitted that moving back to the red ball was not easy.

"Situations will get tricky," he said in Bengaluru, where the Duleep Trophy is being held. "It will not be easy for us as players to just move around from white ball to red ball, red ball to white ball; change of format, change of gameplay, but that is the fun part about this game," Kishan said.

He spoke about the pressure and challenges that players deal with away from the field.

"You need to understand, as a sportsman, life can be harsh on us. It just looks very simple, like [a] player just comes here, plays their matches, and they leave. It's not like that. They go around, they keep on thinking, there's so much going on in their head every time."

But Kishan believes players cannot keep making excuses if they want to succeed.

"If you want to make it big," Kishan said, "you want to make it count, you can't have many excuses. But at the same time, I feel you should just think about getting better and not cry about things which you cannot control."
Kishan's innings in the match lasted only four runs. He reached out for a wide ball and tried to guide it behind point before being caught behind.

The wicketkeeper-batter admitted that the shot came naturally and he immediately regretted playing it.

"I was in the middle of the shot, and I was like 'what the heck I was trying to do!' I should know this is [a] Test [first-class] match and I need to leave a few **** . So

It was one of the riskiest singles Dhruv Jurel would have taken in his Test career. Anxious to complete his second Test century — and first overseas hundred — after being stranded on 99 for 12 ******* and made to wait by rain while on 95, Jurel punched the ball towards mid-off and sprinted for a single that just wasn't on.

The ball travelled quickly to the fielder after bouncing. But luck smiled on the 25-year-old batter. The fielder missed the direct hit and Jurel dived to complete the run and his century, which came off 171 ******* and had the entire Indian dressing room applauding as they shared the tension. Mohammed Siraj celebrated wildly, giving Jurel a bear hug.

Powered by Jurel's composed and flawless unbeaten 115 off 177 ******* , with nine fours and two sixes, and Rishabh Pant's entertaining 63 off 89 ******* , with six fours and two sixes, India declared at 503 for nine. Then, they reduced Sri Lanka to 8/2 on Day Two of the second and final Test in Colombo on Monday.

The hosts were clearly unhappy about being asked to bat in fading light. Yashasvi Jaiswal pulled off a brilliant diving catch at gully to send back Lahiru Udara for one off Prasidh Krishna in the second over.

In the third over, the hosts suffered another blow when nightwatchman Prabath Jayasuriya was trapped LBW for two by a fast, full delivery from Manav Suthar. Jayasuriya's agitated reaction after being dismissed reflected Sri Lanka's unhappiness at being asked to bat so late in the evening.

Kamil Mishara was batting on five when stumps were drawn at 5:51pm after an extended session. Shubman Gill and Co. deserve credit for their bowlers' early blows, as they did not leave the field even when the covers were being brought on because of the dark, wet conditions a few minutes earlier.

With the hosts trailing by 495 runs, India are now in control of the Test.

Jurel was involved in two vital partnerships, adding 112 for the seventh wicket with Pant, which lifted India from 307 for six, and 39 for the eighth with Manav Suthar. During his stand with Pant, Jurel played the ideal foil, reaching a patient fifty off 97 ******* .

Like Devdutt Padikkal, Jurel has enjoyed a breakout series. Having arrived in Sri Lanka without a fifty in eight innings and under pressure from Sarfaraz Khan for the No. 6 spot, he made a crucial 51 in the first Test and now has 173 runs in two Tests at 86.50.

Rishabh Pant, meanwhile, struck his 21st Test half-century and became India's leading run-scorer in World Test Championship history, surpassing Shubman Gill. Pant now has 2,948 runs in 42 WTC Tests, ahead of Gill's 2,917.

Earlier, India resumed on 300 for five and lost debutant Saransh Jain early for six.

#jurel

Shoriful Islam became the first left-arm fast bowler in 140 years to take a seven-wicket haul in a Test innings against Australia, producing Bangladesh's standout performance in the second Test in Mackay.

The 25-year-old pacer from Panchagarh returned figures of 7/48 from 15 overs as Bangladesh bowled Australia out for 210 in their first innings at the Great Barrier Reef Arena. Shoriful also top-scored for Bangladesh with 14 runs in their first innings.

Despite his performance, Bangladesh suffered a crushing defeat, with the second Test ending inside two days.

Shoriful's seven-wicket haul put him in a select group of left-arm fast bowlers to have achieved the feat against Australia.

The last left-arm pacer to take seven wickets in a Test innings against Australia was England's **** Barlow, who finished with 7/44 in the second innings of the Manchester Test played from July 5 to 7, 1886.

Barlow had also taken seven wickets against Australia in the Sydney Test in January 1883.

The first left-arm pacer to take seven or more wickets in a Test innings against Australia was England's Tom Emmett. He took 7/68 from 59 overs in the first innings of the Melbourne Test played from January 2 to 4, 1879.

Shoriful is now only the fourth left-arm fast bowler to take a seven-wicket haul in a Test innings against Australia.

The best bowling figures by a left-arm bowler against Australia, however, belong to former England spinner Hedley Verity. He took 8/43 in the second innings of the Lord's Test in 1934, played from June 22 to 25.

The overall best bowling figures against Australia in Test cricket remain with England's Jim Laker, who took all 10 Australian wickets for 53 runs in the second innings of the Manchester Test in July 1956.

#test #australia

Portugal have found a rather unexpected way to avenge their FIFA World Cup heartbreak against Spain.

Just over a month after Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. were knocked out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup by their neighbours, Portugal got one back — not on a football pitch, but on a cricket field.

Portugal defeated Spain by 57 runs in the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Sub Regional Qualifier C in 2026, ending Spain's campaign and keeping their own dream of reaching the 2028 T20 World Cup alive.

The football defeat had come in July, when Spain edged Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16 at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington, USA. Mikel Merino scored the decisive goal in stoppage time of regulation time, sending Ronaldo's Portugal out of the tournament.

This time, though, it was Portugal celebrating at Spain's expense.
Led by former Australia international Moises Henriques, Portugal produced a composed performance to claim the crucial qualifying victory.

Spain captain Christian Munoz-Mills won the toss and chose to field, but Portugal built a competitive total of 160/6.

Dhavalkumar Norotam made 23 and Christopher De Freitas scored 39 as Portugal made a steady start without quite managing to dominate the Spanish attack. Henriques, meanwhile, contributed 18 but could not convert his start into a substantial innings.

Portugal accelerated late in the innings through Craig Cachopa, who struck 25 off 21 ****** , while Carlos Nunes added 15 off nine. Jeremy Martins provided an important final push with an unbeaten 18 off just eight deliveries.

Yasir Ali and Lorne Burns were Spain's best bowlers, taking two wickets apiece.

Spain's chase initially threatened to become interesting, but Portugal's bowlers quickly put the brakes on the pursuit.

Sebastian de Oliveira made the breakthrough early, while Martins also chipped in as Portugal reduced Spain to 32/3. Yasir Ali and Daniel Doyle Calle then began rebuilding the innings and gave Spain hope of mounting a serious chase.
Siraj Ullah Khadem changed the complexion of the contest in the 11th over when he bowled Yasir for 29.

With the pitch making life difficult for incoming batters, Portugal steadily tightened their grip. Khadem finished with impressive figures of 2/19, while Edward Fleming delivered the decisive blow with a three-wicket haul for just 13 runs.

Spain's promising chase soon turned into a procession, and Martins completed the job by bowling Lorne Burns as Portugal wrapped up a 57-run victory.

The triumph sends Portugal into the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier in 2027, putting them one step closer to a place in the global qualifying tournament for the 2028 T20 World Cup.

Portugal join Jersey and Denmark in the Europe Qualifier, while Scotland enter directly because of the exceptional circumstances surrounding their participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Italy and the Netherlands, meanwhile, advance directly to the Global Qualifier.

For Portugal,

Mitchell Starc made a stunning start to the second Test against Bangladesh, taking a wicket with the first ball of the match before finishing the opening day with six wickets. Bangladesh's Shoriful Islam later matched Starc's six-wicket haul as 18 wickets fell on a dramatic day of Test cricket on Saturday.

Shoriful, who returned to the Bangladesh side after recovering from a side strain that kept him out of the first Test, finished with 6-35.

Australia were 165-8 at stumps and had taken a 101-run lead. Cameron Green was unbeaten on 51, while Nathan Lyon was not out on 10.
Australia won the toss and decided to bowl first. Captain Pat ****** mins felt the pitch could offer some help to the bowlers early in the morning.

"The wicket looks pretty good, but if there is any moisture in it, it might be this morning," ****** mins had said during the toss.

Starc quickly proved his captain right.

Shadman Islam was caught at gully off a leading edge from the very first ball, giving Starc his record fourth career wicket with the first delivery of a match.

Starc then removed Tanzid Hasan before having Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto caught lbw in the third over.

Bangladesh, which had surprisingly won the first Test of the two-match series, was suddenly in deep trouble.

Starc took his fourth wicket when Cameron Green made a grass-top catch to dismiss Mominul Haque for 9. Mominul was the only Bangladesh batter among the first four to score a run. Starc then trapped Litton Das lbw for his fifth wicket before taking his sixth after lunch. He finished with figures of 6-12 from 10 overs, while ****** mins took three wickets.
Bangladesh were dismissed for just 64 shortly after lunch. It was their lowest total while batting first in Australia since South Africa were bowled out for 36 in 1932.

No. 11 batter Shoriful Islam was Bangladesh's highest scorer with 14.

The pitch continued to be difficult for batting even after the morning session. Australia's batters also found it hard to score freely.

Starc was delighted with his incredible first session and spoke to his wife, television commentator and former Australia captain Alyssa Healy while walking off the field at lunch.

"Six (wickets) in the first session, can't beat that," Starc told his wife, television commentator and former Australia captain Alyssa Healy while walking off the field at lunch. "Obviously a little bit of anger."
After Bangladesh were bowled out, Australia looked to take control of the Test.

But Shoriful Islam had other plans.

The left-arm Bangladesh fast bowler made an impressive return after missing the first Test because of a side strain. He took six wickets for 35 runs and helped Bangladesh fight back.

Australia lost eight wickets before the end of the day and finished on 165-8. Green stood firm and remained unbeaten on 51, while Lyon was not out on 10. Australia therefore ended the day with a 101-run lead.

#bangladesh #wicket #wicke

NEW DELHI: "Arey nahi nahi!" Sanat Sangwan bursts into laughter when asked if his father was a fan of Sri Lankan batting legend Sanath Jayasuriya and whether that inspired his name.

The 25-year-old southpaw has been Delhi's most consistent batter in the last two domestic seasons. Sangwan managed only 385 runs in his debut Ranji Trophy season in 2024-25, but his stay at the crease gave Delhi's fragile batting line-up some ******* urance. The only problem was that he was not able to convert his starts. He turned that around in the 2025-26 season, amassing 828 runs at an average of 69, including three hundreds.

Sangwan explained the hard work behind those runs, which has earned him a spot in the North Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy, starting from Sunday (August 23) at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.

"You have to put a lot of effort into preparing for red-ball cricket during the off-season. Conditions are different, and as an opener, it is always difficult while facing the new ball. And sometimes you might have to walk out to bat in the afternoon or sometimes even when the lights are not good. So keeping all things in mind, I prepare more for red-ball cricket during the off-season," Sangwan said in a select media interaction organised by Delhi Premier League's (DPL) franchise South Delhi Superstarz.
"I prefer to go to the nets at around 8 am when there is a little moisture on the wicket. I try to replicate the conditions that I get in matches. I practise a little earlier because the more I practise in difficult conditions, the easier it becomes to adapt. I ask the net bowlers to start with a new ball. Then, after an hour, I give them another new ball. I try to face more new ******* in the nets so that the situation doesn't feel easy for me in a match," he explains his preparation.

While talking about his preparation for red-ball cricket, Sangwan goes into the details of his training and love for the format, and also explains why it gives him so much joy.
"I love this format. From the start, you see the opener go out to bat with the new ball. Then the conditions get better, and then the second new ball comes again. There is a lot in this format. It is a difficult format. It tests your skill, patience and fitness. The result is not in your hands. You can come back at any time. If you take two or three wickets quickly, or have a good partnership with the bat, you can change the game. I have worked a lot on my cricket since I was 19. Red-ball cricket is my favourite format," he says.
Sangwan isn't soothing to the eyes like other southpaws. His cover drives are not as elegant as any other left-handed batters, but he knows how to put a price on his wicket, has a great temperament and his batting mantra is pretty simple: "Tire the bowlers in the first hour."
"In red-ball cricket, I try to select my shots according to what I have prepared. I don't play the cover drive early in my innings. I try to avoid cutting the ball

Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad has delivered a blunt verdict on Pakistan, describing them as a "poor side" and backing England to complete a 3-0 clean sweep in the three-Test series.

Speaking on The Love for Cricket Podcast, Broad was critical of Pakistan's current Test team and suggested England should be expected to dominate the series.

"They are a poor side, they are not a really good side. You would imagine and you'd think that England should win 3-0. And pretty comfortably," Broad said.

The former England pacer, however, acknowledged that a clean sweep cannot be taken for granted. He added that failing to win the series would represent a major disappointment for the hosts.

"But that isn't guaranteed. But if England don't come out with a Test match series win, it really is a huge failure," Broad said.

His comments came after Pakistan endured a difficult opening two days in the first Test at Headingley in Leeds. Pakistan were bowled out for just 171 on the opening day, with England's bowlers exposing the tourists' batting problems.

England then took firm control with the bat, reaching 366-8 by stumps on Day 2 to secure a 195-run first-innings lead.

Joe Root and Harry Brook were among four England batters to register half-centuries. Root made 66 and shared a 150-run partnership with Jordan ******* , who scored 73, while Dan Lawrence contributed 51 on his return to Test cricket after two years.

Brook, meanwhile, narrowly missed out on a century at his home ground. The world's top-ranked Test batter made 91 after surviving an early scare when he was dropped on one. He was eventually dismissed by Pakistan spinner Ali Usman, who claimed 5-92 for his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

England maintained a brisk scoring rate of 4.46 runs per over, although the approach was less aggressive than the traditional Bazball style ******* ociated with the previous Stokes-McCullum era.

Root also missed an opportunity to add another landmark century to his record. After reaching 66, England's new Test captain was trapped lbw by Khurram Shahzad and wasted a review, with the ball-tracking showing it would have hit the middle stump.

At stumps, Jamie Smith was unbeaten on 16, with Jofra Archer yet to score.

With England already holding a commanding position in the first Test, Broad's prediction of a 3-0 series victory will only add to the pressure on Pakistan as the visitors look to fight their way back into the contest.
133395898

#england #first #root #side

Sri Lanka batter Dinesh Chandimal was taken to hospital for precautionary scans after suffering an awkward fall while attempting to save a boundary during India's second innings on Day 4 of the first Test at the Galle International Stadium on Tuesday. The incident occurred during the fourth over of India's second innings when Chandimal sprinted from deep midwicket towards deep square leg to stop a shot from KL Rahul.

Chandimal managed to save two runs but tumbled awkwardly after crossing the boundary. His body twisted over his upper body during the fall, leaving him in visible discomfort.

The Sri Lankan batter was seen clutching his right shoulder, head and neck immediately after the incident. He was ******* sed on the field by the Sri Lankan team doctor and physiotherapist before gingerly walking off the ground. He was subsequently taken to hospital for precautionary scans. Further updates on his condition are awaited.

Meanwhile, Pasindu Sooriyabandara will replace Dinesh Chandimal as the concussion replacement. The match referee has approved the concussion replacement.
Meanwhile, India strengthened their position in the Test during the opening session on Day 4. After bowling Sri Lanka out for 284 on Day 3, India took a 174-run first-innings lead and reached 116/4 at lunch, extending their overall advantage to 294 runs.

India suffered an early blow when Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for a duck by Asitha Fernando off the third ball of the opening over.

KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal then steadied the innings, putting together a 64-run partnership for the second wicket. Rahul scored 35 before Prabath Jayasuriya dismissed him, while Jayasuriya also removed India captain Shubman Gill for 8.

Padikkal continued to counter the Sri Lankan bowlers and made 44 before being trapped lbw shortly before lunch. Rishabh Pant was unbeaten on 21 at the interval.

India in commanding position

At lunch, India were 116/4 in 29 overs, with a commanding overall lead of 294 runs.

Brief scores: India 462 & 116/4 (Rishabh Pant 21*, Devdutt Padikkal 44; Prabath Jayasuriya 2/42) lead Sri Lanka 284 by 294 runs.

#India #chandimal #jayasuriya #second

Devdutt Padikkal said his maiden Test century against Sri Lanka was the result of two years of hard work and preparation, after the left-hander scored a career-best 167 in the first Test at Galle.

Resuming from an overnight score of 131, Padikkal batted for 230 ***** and hit 15 fours and a six to help India reach 460/9 on a rain-hit second day. The Karnataka batter said he had long prepared himself to make the most of an opportunity at the international level.

"Definitely. I've dreamt of this moment. For the last two years, I've been working really hard to try and make sure that when I get that opportunity, I can do something special like this, and I'm really happy to do that," Padikkal said.
Padikkal played with positive intent against spin, using confident footwork and attacking shots to put pressure back on the bowlers.

"I think we have discussed that at length, especially when you're playing spin, it's important that you have certain plans in your head.

"You cannot go out there and expect to react all the time. It's important that we have a couple of shots in your head that you want to play as soon as you go out there, so that you can put some pressure on the bowler as well. So, I think over the last year or so, we have really worked on trying to find ways in our own strengths that you can really implement to make sure that you put pressure back."

He said clarity and complete commitment to every shot had improved his footwork and confidence.
Padikkal did not stop after reaching his century and converted it into 167. He said staying focused immediately after reaching a milestone was crucial.

"I think honestly, it's just the hunger to score more runs. I just enjoy batting out there, and the moment you get to 100, it's easy to relax and feel that relief. But it's important that for me, the next 20-30 ***** are the really important phase that I try and make sure that I'm completely focused, completely there.

"I think when I get past those first 10 ***** after 100, I think it makes my job a whole lot easier and over the years, I've seen so many cricketers get big runs, get big hundreds, especially back in Karnataka. So just watching them bat makes me want to do the same."

Padikkal expects the Galle pitch to become more challenging over the next few days. After his long innings in humid conditions, however, his celebration plans were simple: "Not really. I think I'm tired, so I'm just going to go back to bed now," he concluded.

#years

India wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel revealed that the visitors had a clear plan to score quickly but sensibly on the rain-affected second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. India eventually ended the day at 460/9, with Kuldeep Yadav unbeaten on 12 and Prasidh Krishna on 1.
Jurel walked in after India had already lost KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant but played an attacking knock to keep the momentum going. The right-hander struck 51 off 68 deliveries, including four fours and a six. He added a crucial 55-run partnership with Manav Suthar, helping India cross the 400-run mark.

"There was a plan to score runs briskly, but sensibly. We weren't looking to go bonkers from ball one, but there was a plan," Jurel said during the post-match press conference.

The India batter also revealed that his previous experience of playing in Sri Lanka with India A helped him understand the conditions and approach the innings with confidence.

"I know conditions here, having played for India A here. I was under no pressure, it's a privilege to play for India," Jurel added.

Jurel was given a reprieve on 29 when Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva dropped a difficult chance at first slip. However, the captain later made amends by taking a spectacular catch to dismiss Jurel off Prabath Jayasuriya.
The standout performer for India was Devdutt Padikkal, who continued his sensational form from Day 1 to score a magnificent 167 off 230 ******* . Padikkal's innings included 15 fours and a six, and he became only the third Indian batter to score 150 or more against Sri Lanka from the No. 3 position, joining Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara.

Jurel was full of praise for his teammate and pointed out that Padikkal has consistently delivered whenever opportunities have come his way.

"Devdutt scores whenever he gets a chance," Dhruv Jurel said.

Padikkal's dismissal eventually triggered another phase of Sri Lankan pressure, with Prabath Jayasuriya finishing with 4/109 and Keshara Nuwantha taking 3/175.
Despite India's imposing total, Jurel knows the job is far from finished. The wicketkeeper-batter stressed that India's bowlers will need to maintain discipline and be prepared for long spells when Sri Lanka begin their first innings.

"We need to bowl long spells here and be consistent with lengths. We need to take 20 wickets," he said.

The second day was heavily disrupted by rain, with the morning session completely washed out before play finally resumed at 2:35 PM local time. India began the day at 288/2 and lost seven wickets for 172 runs, but still managed to build a formidable first-innings total. KL Rahul scored 82 after returning to the crease following cramps on Day 1, while Rishabh Pant made 39 and Ravindra Jadeja contributed 13.

#jurel #first #rahul

TimesofIndia.com in Galle: The build-up to the second day of the Test focused on how many runs India needed before making Sri Lanka bat. Bat once and bat big had been the undertone of this fixture, and India's solid start on the opening day pointed in that direction. However, just like the weather, the mood changed at a frantic pace when Sri Lanka took the second new ball to dent India's hopes of batting the hosts out of the contest.

Three overnight batters, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul (who retired hurt on Day 1) and centurion Devdutt Padikkal, were dismissed in the first ninety minutes of play after the weather kept both camps confined to the dressing room for over five hours. From 'how much is too much' to 'how long will they survive', the nature of the conversations changed after a period in which the Sri Lanka bowlers sustained pressure.

Debutant Keshara Nuwantha was the wrecker-in-chief, and his adjustment of length proved ideal for the Day 2 surface, which offered sharp turn and encouraging bounce. Day 3 is widely considered the moving day in a multi-day fixture, but it came earlier than usual as Pant couldn't convert his start, Rahul was undone by sharp turn and an even better catch, and Jadeja was trapped in front by a delivery that went on with the arm from the perfect length.

Amid all the first-session chaos, the most **** ured batter from the visitors' camp held fort for a while, continuing from where he had left off, and looked set for a double hundred before falling for 167. Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya took the prized wicket of Padikkal and later dismissed another set batter, Dhruv Jurel, who scored a breezy 51. Before being dismissed, Jurel looked very **** ured and added valuable runs with Manav Suthar, pushing India's total to a number that keeps them in a dominant position.
The right-hander remained busy, and there was a sense of urgency in his stand with Suthar as they negotiated the Sri Lanka attack during the closing hour of play. They got together when Jadeja was dismissed in the 99th over, with the scoreboard reading 377/6, and added 55 runs for the seventh wicket. Gill, in the pre-match press conference, had stressed the contributions from the lower order, and the partnership between Jurel and Suthar was the kind of effort he was looking for to keep the momentum on their side.

Galle was gloomy, the skies were angry, and the heavy downpour in the early hours meant the scheduled early start to make up for lost overs wasn't possible. To make matters worse, the constant hide-and-seek between clouds, sun and rain continued for over five hours, and even the groundstaff's best efforts were not enough as the rain refused to relent.
They kept removing the covers after seeing clear skies, but all the hard work was undone as the strong crosswinds kept bringing the dark clouds over the stadium. The moment clear skies ahead offered hope, the darkness in the rearview forced the over-100-member team to keep panning and cr

Australia captain Pat ***** mins admitted his side were outplayed in all departments after Bangladesh completed a historic nine-wicket victory in the first Test at Darwin's Marrara Oval on Sunday.

The defeat gave Bangladesh their first Test win on Australian soil and only their second victory over Australia, following their maiden triumph in Dhaka in 2017.

Cummins pointed to Australia's first-innings performance as the key turning point, conceding that his side needed to find a way to bat for longer after Bangladesh's bowlers made early inroads.

"Probably that day one. You know, I thought our preparation was pretty much spot on. I thought it was excellent. So, no excuses. They played really well. I thought the day one wicket was doing a little bit early, but obviously got to try and find a way to bat a little bit longer than we did, and then, just couldn't penetrate with the ball," ***** mins said after the match.

Australia were dismissed for 198 in their first innings after ***** mins won the toss and elected to bat. Bangladesh responded with 426, taking a commanding 228-run lead that ultimately proved decisive.

The hosts showed more resistance in their second innings, reaching 284, with Cameron Green scoring a century. However, Mehidy Hasan Miraz's five-wicket haul helped Bangladesh restrict Australia's lead to just 56 runs before the visitors chased down the target in 14.2 overs.

Cummins acknowledged that Bangladesh maintained control once they had established their advantage.

"Yeah, they did. I think they outplayed us in all facets, really. I thought they were really patient and quite disciplined. And, yeah, once we were behind, it was really hard to get back," he said.

The Australian captain also admitted that the team's batting performances could come under scrutiny before the second Test in Mackay, Queensland, beginning on August 22.

"I think every time there's a game like this, you always kind of look at your match-ups and your make-up of the team for the next one. But, we only just finished, so we'll have a think about it. We're pretty good at bouncing back, so no doubt the batters and every group will get together and have a good think about this one and where we can improve," ***** mins said.

While Australia's batting came under pressure, ***** mins praised Josh Hazlewood for reaching the milestone of 300 Test wickets. Hazlewood finished with six wickets across Bangladesh's two innings.

"Josh, he hasn't had a great run for injuries the last couple of years, but he's one of the hardest workers and just showed his class. And, you know, didn't have too much in it, seam-wise, still picking up six really important wickets. So he was fantastic," ***** mins said.

He also singled out Green, whose 104 was his third Test century and first in Australia. The allrounder spent 201 ***** at the crease and combined with Australia's lower order to prevent Bangladesh from winning by an innings.

"And then Greeny,

Ravindra Jadeja has opened up about the struggles he faced during the early stages of his India career, admitting that being pushed down the batting order often affected his confidence and made him question the team's faith in his batting ability. As India look to continue their dominance after a commanding Day 1 against Sri Lanka, Jadeja reflected on his growth as a Test batter and revealed how he developed the temperament to play long innings.

"When I started, I used to bat at number 4. If you look at my entire Ranji Trophy career, my average is more than 60. Whatever Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy first-class cricket I have played domestically, my batting average is more than 60. So somewhere, I had that belief that I had that ability. But sometimes what happens is that you come into the Indian team and you don't get that batting number," Jadeja said in a chat with broadcasters ahead of day two's play, which has been delayed due to rain.
The all-rounder admitted that regularly batting at No. 8 or 9, and sometimes even below Ravichandran Ashwin, affected his confidence during the initial years of his international career.

"Sometimes the situation is such that I have batted at number 8 and 9 as well. So, when you are sitting in the dressing room with your pads on, next to you, a fast bowler is selecting a ball. Seeing all those things, my morale and confidence would go down. Sometimes you think to yourself, 'I have to go and score runs,'" he added.

Jadeja explained that watching bowlers prepare to bat ahead of him often made him feel that the team did not have complete confidence in his batting.

"And in that same dressing room, a fast bowler is selecting the ball, thinking, 'Come on, now bowling is coming.' So because of all those things, my confidence was literally disturbed. I would think, 'Oh man, what is this? The team doesn't even have confidence in me?' So I have seen that in my early days, that I didn't get that number. Very low, many times I even went in to bat below Ashwin. So somewhere, all those things disturbed me," Jadeja revealed.
Jadeja's reflections came after India produced a dominant batting display on the opening day of the Test against Sri Lanka. India finished Day 1 on 288/2, putting themselves in a strong position after the rain-affected day's play. Devdutt Padikkal was the star of the day, scoring a magnificent unbeaten 131 to register his maiden Test century. KL Rahul also played a crucial knock of 77, while Rishabh Pant remained unbeaten on 27 at the close of play.

#jadeja #India #trophy #Career

Devdutt Padikkal marked his return to Test cricket in style, scoring his maiden century in the format during India's first innings of the Galle Test against Sri Lanka.

The Karnataka left-hander produced a composed yet attacking knock, handling the challenging conditions with maturity and putting pressure on the Sri Lankan bowlers. Padikkal was particularly effective against spinners Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha, combining caution with well-timed aggression.

The 26-year-old came into the Test on the back of a century against SLC XI in the warm-up game and continued his strong run of form when it mattered most.

Padikkal may have found it difficult to break into India's playing XI had Sai Sudharsan been fit and available for the series. However, his century has strengthened his case for a continued run at No.3.

Speaking after the close of play on Day 1, Padikkal revealed that determination was key to getting through a physically demanding innings in Galle, where the heat and humidity took a toll.

"In this knock, determination for me was playing through that tiredness and fatigue that I was feeling, especially towards the third session. I think it was getting really hot, and we were losing a lot of fluid. We were sweating all the time. So it was really important that I was determined enough to keep going and keep pushing forward," Padikkal said in a video shared by BCCI.

The batter also stressed the importance of maintaining concentration on a surface that did not make batting easy.

"It wasn't the easiest of wickets to bat on. I think we had to make sure that we didn't play too many last shots. We had to make sure that we kept our minds in the game as long as possible because, like I said, again, when you get tired, it's easy to lose that discipline, and I think as a team we did that well today," he added.

Padikkal shared a 150-run partnership with KL Rahul before Rahul retired hurt on 77 after suffering from cramps. For Padikkal, the century was particularly significant as he had not played a Test for India since 2024 and had waited almost two years for another opportunity.

His return to the side came after a prolific run across domestic cricket and the IPL. Strong performances in the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy, along with his IPL form, helped him force his way back into the reckoning.

Padikkal admitted that the long wait had tested his patience but also gave him time to improve his game.

"Patience for me, I think it was more to do with what I've gone through before this game. I think my last Test was in 2024. So it's been a long time coming, and I've had to patiently wait, look on from the outside. It's never easy. But at the same time, it gave me time to really work on my game and perfect things that needed perfecting. And I'm really glad that all that hard work came to effect today. It feels great," said Padikkal.

The left-hander also revealed that he felt nervous as he approached the thr

Devdutt Padikkal made a strong statement in India's first Test against Sri Lanka, dominating the opening day in Galle and strengthening his case for a permanent place at No. 3. Drafted into the playing XI after Sai Sudharsan was ruled out with an injury, Padikkal produced a magnificent unbeaten 131 on Day 1. He looked completely at ease against Sri Lanka's spinners and helped India finish the rain-curtailed opening day on 288/2 after 73 overs.

His performance has now earned high praise from former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar, who believes Padikkal's ability against spin makes him an ideal No. 3 option for India even after Sudharsan returns.
While Padikkal was compiling his century, Manjrekar took to X to highlight the batter's impressive technique against spin.

"Devdutt Padikkal god sent for India v spinners. Excellent technique, both in defence & attack."
Manjrekar later elaborated on Padikkal's strengths during a discussion on Sony Sports, pointing to his ability to combine defence, strike rotation and attacking strokes against spin.

"Devdutt Padikkal was the big change that India had, I really think selection is so good that when you see Padikkal walk in and play spin so comfortably, because he's good in defense against spin, he's good at picking 1s and 2s when the field is slightly deep, and then he's also good at playing attacking shots, and that too off the back foot on slow, turning pitches, " Manjrekar said.
Padikkal repeatedly used the depth of the crease to negate Sri Lanka's spinners while also stepping out whenever the bowlers offered him an opportunity. One of the standout moments came when he charged Prabath Jayasuriya and lofted the left-arm spinner over long-on for a six.

For Manjrekar, however, it was Padikkal's ability to score off the back foot on a slow, turning surface that particularly impressed him.

"That's something remarkable. On slow, turning pitches, to hit shots off the back foot with a straight bat and the pull shot tells you that it's somebody who wants to get onto the back foot, and the best way to play spin on a slow, turning pitch is to play the majority of the bowling off the back foot, " he added.

"Along with that, he's also got this knack of going down the pitch and hitting the ball over the sight screen. So on pitches where there is going to be an emphasis on spin, India should bat him at number 3 even if Sai Sudharsan comes back, because he looks such a formidable player against spin, I think it was godsent for India, Devdutt Padikkal at No. 3 with the kind of spin talent he has," Manjrekar said.
Padikkal was handed the No. 3 role following Sudharsan's injury and responded with a career-defining performance. His unbeaten 131 also made him the first Indian batter to score a Test century on Independence Day, while he became only the second Indian cricketer after Virat Kohli to score an international century on August 15.

#devdutt #good

KL Rahul's condition after retiring hurt on the opening day of India's first Test against Sri Lanka is not a major concern, with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak saying the senior batter is "fine now" after suffering cramps.

Rahul scored a patient 77 off 162 ******* before leaving the field during the final session. He had formed a crucial 150-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal, helping India take control of the contest.

"KL batted really well, was getting cramps everywhere. fine now," Kotak told reporters after the day's play.
The biggest highlight of India's batting effort was Padikkal's unbeaten 131, his maiden international century. Returning to Test cricket after last playing against Australia in Perth in 2024, the Karnataka batter looked confident and composed throughout his innings.

Kotak praised the work Padikkal has put in over the past two years and also highlighted Sai Sudharsan's progress.

"Credit to Devdutt Padikkal for preparing & working hard in last 2 years. Both he, Sai are batting well. They are new ball batter," he added.

Padikkal reached his hundred from 134 ******* and struck a variety of shots against Sri Lanka's pace and spin attack. He was particularly effective against left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, using sweeps, punches and attacking shots to keep the bowlers under pressure.

"[To me] its important how they bat in different phases," Kotak said, underlining the importance of adapting to changing conditions during an innings.
India ended the day at 288 for two, with Padikkal unbeaten on 131 and Rishabh Pant on 27. Shubman Gill made a valuable contribution before being dismissed by Jayasuriya.

Rahul's departure was the only concern for India, although Kotak's update should ease worries about the batter's condition. Padikkal also battled dehydration late in the humid day but continued his innings.

With India firmly in control after the opening day, attention will now turn to whether Rahul is fit to return and how Padikkal and Pant build on the strong platform.
133264997

#test

Josh Hazlewood made a strong return to Test cricket after more than a year, taking six wickets in Australia's first innings against Bangladesh in Darwin. He bowled 28 overs and conceded 89 runs, taking two wickets on Day 2 before claiming four more on Saturday.

The performance took Hazlewood's Test wicket tally to 301, making him only the ninth Australian bowler to reach the 300-wicket mark.
Hazlewood also created history by becoming the first Australian fast bowler to take a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh in international cricket.

Before his 6/89, Ian Harvey held the best figures by an Australian pacer against Bangladesh. Harvey took 4/16 in an ODI at Darwin in 2003. Hazlewood's effort has now moved ahead of that mark.

However, the overall best bowling performance by an Australian against Bangladesh still belongs to spinner Stuart MacGill, who took 8/108 in a Test at Fatullah in 2006. Nathan Lyon has also recorded three five-wicket hauls against Bangladesh, while Shane Warne has two.
Hazlewood's six-wicket haul also places him among the leading fast bowlers to perform against Bangladesh in Tests. New Zealand's Chris Cairns remains at the top with 7/53, while India's Zaheer Khan also took seven wickets in a Test innings against Bangladesh.

For Australia, Mitchell Starc also claimed two wickets in the ongoing Test, taking his career total to 435 Test wickets. He is now the 11th-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket.

Hazlewood's return has therefore been significant not only for Australia's ongoing Test but also for his place in the country's bowling history.

#wicket #Cricket #taking #darwin

Test cricket returns to Australia's tropical Top End for the first time since 2003 when the hosts take on Bangladesh in a two-match series beginning Thursday.

The first Test at Marrara Stadium in Darwin will be Bangladesh's first Test tour of Australia in more than 20 years. It also starts a 12-month period in which Australia are scheduled to play at least 20 Tests, including series against South Africa, India and England.

Australia are set to bring back their main bowling attack, with Pat **** mins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon returning from injuries. Mitchell Starc is also in the side.

Injuries have meant the four have rarely played together in recent series. Hazlewood's expected return means Scott Boland will miss out, while allrounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster are also in the starting XI.

"We know Scotty's class, it is always a pretty tight call," **** mins said at a press conference on Wednesday. "There is not much you can say to Scotty except there is a lot of cricket coming up.

"He knows his worth, and how good he is, and I am sure he will be out there at some point pretty soon."
Australia's bowling attack looks settled, but there are questions over the batting order.

Jake Weatherald, the first Test player from Australia's Northern Territory, has kept his place after Australia's Ashes win over England last season despite his recent form. He is expected to open with Travis Head.

Usman Khawaja's retirement has allowed Australia to play both Green and Webster in the same XI. Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith will bat at No. 3 and No. 4, with Labuschagne also looking for runs to strengthen his position in the side.
Bangladesh will be without Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam for the first Test. Shoriful could return for the second match in Mackay from August 22 to 26.

Rana, 23, is one of Bangladesh's quickest bowlers and was a key part of their ODI series win over Australia two months ago. He suffered a side strain during a T20I against Zimbabwe in July.
The series against Bangladesh begins a schedule of 20 Tests for Australia over the next 12 months, with another match possible if they qualify for the World Test Championship final.

After the second Bangladesh Test, Australia will tour South Africa for three Tests in October. They will then host New Zealand for four Tests before a five-Test series in India.

Australia will also play a one-off day-night Test against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March to mark the 150th anniversary of matches between the two countries.

The schedule will conclude with an away Ashes series beginning in June.

#series #bangladesh #match #play

Test cricket returns to Australia's tropical Top End for the first time since 2003 when the hosts face Bangladesh in a two-match series starting Thursday.
The series opener at Marrara Stadium in Darwin marks Bangladesh's first test tour Down Under in over two decades and kicks off a 12-month period of 20 test matches for the Aussies including tours of world test champion South Africa, India and England.
Australia's so-called Big Four could be reunited in the hosts bowling attack with Pat ******* mins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon returning from injuries.
Pace bowlers ******* mins, Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc and offspinner Lyon have been the longtime front line attack for Australia but injuries have limited the frequency of all four combining in the same XI in recent series.
The inclusion of evergreen pace bowler Scott Boland in the squad, with allrounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster, gives Australia plenty of options with the ball.

#test #lyon #first #hosts

CHENNAI: With Australia's development squad sweating it out in Chennai, their next generation of spin bowlers are getting a taste of what it takes to succeed in conditions vastly different from home. For left-arm spinner Joel Davies, leg-spinner Lloyd Pope and off-spinner Jack Sinfield, the challenge is not just about making an impression in India but also pushing their claims for a place in the national setup. Still standing firmly in their way is veteran Nathan Lyon.

Davies, 22, recently made his T20I debut after a promising series in Bangladesh with four wickets in three games, and claimed 3-17 in his first match. However, the conditions there offered a different challenge from what he had expected.

"I don't think it was quite what I was expecting. It didn't spin as much as I was anticipating. But it was awesome to get exposure to different conditions. In terms of the temperature, it was very similar to Chennai," Davies told TOI.

While Lyon remains Australia's first-choice Test spinner, Davies believes the depth emerging through state cricket could eventually provide the selectors with several options.

"He is still doing a great job. So, I think he'll keep hanging around while he's still fit. But I think there are some very good options around state cricket at the moment," he said.
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Australia selector Tony Dodemaide had earlier described Davies to TOI as "a very exciting prospect".

#conditions #lyon