Former England spinner turned broadcaster Alex Hartley has claimed that several senior players gave her cold shoulder and Sophie Ecclestone even refused a TV interview with her during the ongoing Women's Ashes because she criticised fitness standards of a few players after their early exit from T20 World Cup. Having gone down in three ODIs and the opening T20, England have already lost the Ashes. Following England's defeat in the opening T20 on January 20, Hartley said she was ignored by players. "Sophie Ecclestone refused to do a TV interview with me today," she told the BBC's TMS podcast. "I've been hung out to dry by the England team: none of them will talk to me on the boundary edge. "The reason I said that they were not as fit as Australia is because I want them to compete with Australia, I want them to be better than Australia, and I want them to win Ashes and World Cups. I'm giving my opinion, and I've been given the cold shoulder from the England team ever since." Hartley however clarified that she remains on talking terms with some of the current players. "Not all of them have given me the cold shoulder. I don't want to say that they've all been the same, because they haven't. Some of the players have been absolutely outstanding: I've spoken to them in the street, at the ground, wherever. But a few individuals - coaches, players - they literally haven't looked at me." Hartley played 28 ODIs and four T20s for England. (With agency inputs)
21 January,2025 10:29 PM IST | London | mid-day online correspondentInternational Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah has held discussions with International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach ahead of the Extraordinary IOC Session in Lausanne from January 30, as the sport's inclusion at the Summer Games beyond the 2028 edition continues to gather pace. The ICC posted images from the meeting of the two leading administrators on social media on Tuesday. "Momentum continues to build around cricket's inclusion as an @Olympics sport at the @LA2028 Games and beyond, with ICC Chair Mr. JayShah meeting International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Mr. Thomas Bach in Lausanne, Switzerland this week," the ICC posted on X. Shah attended a seminar involving LA 2028 International Federations at the Olympic House here. He was joined by ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice with the "meeting focusing on key areas of collaboration between the ICC and the IOC in the build-up to the Los Angeles Games". “This was the first time Mr Shah was meeting with Mr Bach and they explored potential avenues for collaboration in promoting the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect within the cricketing world,” the ICC said in a statement. “It is an exciting time for cricket with tremendous opportunity to engage with existing and new fans ahead of the LA 2028 Games, paving the way for potential future collaborations with the Olympic movement that will benefit athletes, fans, and the global sporting community,” it added. Shah said the meeting was an important milestone ahead of cricket's return to the Olympics after 128 years. "...It was a productive meeting and an important milestone on the road to LA 2028. The inclusion of cricket in the Olympic Games represents a watershed moment for our sport and a real opportunity for transformative growth for 2028 and beyond,” Shah said. “We discussed a range of critical issues and continued to build relationships with our friends across the Olympic movement. We look forward to the next three and half years working in collaboration with the IOC and LA 2028.” Shah, who was elected as ICC chairman last year and took over the role on December 1, has been actively pushing for cricket's inclusion in the Olympics. He was in Brisbane last month during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and met 2032 Brisbane Olympic Organising Committee head Cindy Hook and Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley with an aim to convince them to include cricket in the 2032 Olympics. The sport is not yet confirmed for the 2032 edition in Brisbane. The sport's T20 format was confirmed for the 2028 LA Games at the 141st IOC Session in 2023 which took place in Mumbai. Cricket last featured in the Olympics at the Paris Games in 1900. (With agency inputs)
21 January,2025 08:57 PM IST | Lausanne (Switzerland) | mid-day online correspondentThe absence of wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson from India’s ICC Champions Trophy squad remains one of the most perplexing decisions made by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee. Despite boasting impressive statistics in the 50-over format, Samson was overlooked in favour of Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul, the two preferred wicket-keepers for the tournament. Samson’s exclusion from Kerala's Vijay Hazare Trophy squad is believed to have played a significant role in his omission from the Champions Trophy. This has prompted his father to launch a vehement criticism against the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA), suggesting that certain officials may harbour a personal bias against his son. Samson was absent from Kerala's preparatory camp, which led to his exclusion from the Vijay Hazare Trophy squad. While Samson contended that he had notified his unavailability well in advance, KCA President Jayesh Jeorge expressed dissatisfaction with receiving only a brief 'one-line text' from the wicket-keeper batter. “There are people within KCA who have something against my child. We’ve never spoken out against the association before, but this time it has gone too far. Sanju isn’t the only one who missed the camp, yet other players in the same situation were selected,” Viswanath, Samson’s father, was quoted as saying by Mathrubhumi English. Samson himself, however, remains eager to engage in dialogue with the KCA to resolve the issue, emphasizing that he simply wants his son to be given a fair opportunity to play. “It’s not about Jayesh George (KCA President) or Vinod S Kumar (Board Secretary); it’s the smaller individuals in between who are poisoning everything over trivial matters. We are sportspeople, not involved in the business side of sports. All I want is for my son to be given a fair chance. If there’s any mistake, we are open to discussion and willing to resolve it,” he added. In response, KCA President George stated that Samson would be eligible for selection again provided he attends the state's camps. "Sanju is currently in Kolkata and will be playing against England. There is nothing more to add on this matter. However, he will be included in the Kerala team again if he attends the camps. If he misses the camp, he will be excluded," George said. (With agency inputs)
21 January,2025 05:02 PM IST | Thiruvananthapuram | mid-day online correspondentIndia opener Smriti Mandhana inched closer to the top position, climbing to the second spot in the latest ICC women's ODI batting rankings following a stellar series against Ireland. Mandhana, the only Indian in the top 10, had blasted 135 in the third ODI, besides scoring 41 and 73 in the opening and second game. The 28-year-old currently has 738 points to her name, while South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt (773 points) is at the top, followed by Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu (733) in the third place. Jemimah Rodrigues, who scored her maiden hundred in the second ODI against Ireland, jumped two place at the 17th spot, while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who missed the series, is at the 15th spot. Deepti Sharma, with 344 points, is placed at the sixth spot in the allrounders' list which is headed by Australia's Ashleigh Gardner, who claimed four wickets and scored 146 runs in the Ashes to claim the top spot from South Africa veteran Marizanne Kapp. In the bowling rankings, headed by Sophie Ecclestone, Deepti also improved a spot to fourth with 680 rating points. Gardner was productive with both bat and ball, as the Aussies claimed all three ODIs against England down under. She scored her first ODI ton against England, compiling a run-a-ball 102 in Hobart. That performance followed another Player-of-the-Match effort in the first One-Dayer at North Sydney Oval, where she took 19-3 off 6.1 overs before hitting 42 not out off 44 balls to steer Australia home and help the hosts get off to a strong Ashes start. The Aussie is now up to a career-high 469 rating points in the All-Rounder ODI Rankings, 25 points ahead of next-best Kapp. She has also set a new career-best of 648 rating points as a batter, having climbed five spots to break into the top 10 of the list. (With agency inputs)
21 January,2025 04:44 PM IST | Dubai | mid-day online correspondentEngland captain Jos Buttler said Tuesday he wants to build an 'alliance' with new white-ball coach Brendon McCullum, as they named their side for the first of five T20s in India. Ben Duckett will open alongside Phil Salt, who will also keep wicket for the match at Kolkata's Eden Gardens on Wednesday. Harry Brook was named Buttler's deputy. England's first white-ball assignment under McCullum, who was previously in charge only of England's Test side, also includes three ODI matches. The series will be followed by the eight-team ODI Champions Trophy starting February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai. Buttler said he is looking "to build that coach-captain alliance" after McCullum forged a successful partnership with Test skipper Ben Stokes. "It's not a new set-up as Baz (McCullum) has been around for a while," Buttler told reporters on the eve of the T20 opener. "There's a lot of players in this squad that have been with him in the Test set-up for a number of years already," he added. "I'm just looking forward to building that relationship in the white-ball set-up." England continued with Buttler as white-ball captain despite a disappointing ODI World Cup in India in 2023 when the defending champions won only three of their nine matches. Last year the 34-year-old Buttler struggled with a calf injury. He will be playing in India as a batsman only with Salt taking over the gloves starting with the T20s. Jofra Archer leads a pace-bowling unit that includes Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson. Buttler spoke up for players having their families with them on tours, after the family time of Indian players was restricted following their recent 3-1 Test defeat in Australia. "I think it's great to be able to have families on the tour with you, to live that life out with your family as well," he said. "I don't think it affects the cricket too much, I think it's something that is very manageable." England XI: Ben Duckett, Phil Salt (wk), Jos Buttler (capt), Harry Brook (vice-capt), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood (With agency inputs)
21 January,2025 04:39 PM IST | Kolkata | mid-day online correspondentFit-again pacer Mohammed Shami's comeback would be keenly watched when the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian T20 team takes on an evenly-matched England in a five-match series starting here on Wednesday, aiming to make up for the recent Test disasters that have caused considerable turmoil and heartbreak. The white-ball rubber, comprising five T20Is and three ODIs after that, presents an ideal platform for both the teams to experiment with combinations and assess form before next month's Champions Trophy. Shami, despite missing four matches, emerged as India's leading wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup 2023 with 24 scalps, including a sensational 7/57 in the semifinal against New Zealand at the Wankhede. Interestingly, the pacer has claimed the same number of wickets - 24 at an average of 29.62 - in his limited T20I career and will aim to improve on that while proving his fitness. Shami was sidelined after the lost final against Australia on November 19, 2023 due to an ankle injury that required surgery. The recovery from that was followed by swelling on his left knee during the domestic comeback some weeks back. Following his inclusion in India's Champions Trophy squad, Shami's return will garner national attention. With pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah nursing a back injury and his Champions Trophy participation doubtful, Shami's comeback assumes greater significance. The 34-year-old made his competitive return in the Ranji Trophy for Bengal, guiding them to their first win of the season with a seven-wicket haul. He followed it up with impressive performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (11 wickets) and the Vijay Hazare Trophy (five wickets). Shami's T20I career has been sporadic, with just 23 appearances since his debut in 2014. His last outing in the format was against England in the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal. With the Rohit Sharma-led Indian Test set-up still reeling from a horror tour of Australia, a good performance from the T20 side has become imperative especially after the Board had to step in to reinforce diktats on team discipline. Axar's new beginning All-rounder Axar Patel will debut as India's vice-captain in the T20I format. He has been rewarded for his stellar all-round contributions in India's triumphant T20 World Cup campaign in the Caribbean last year. Axar played a crucial knock of 47 off 31 balls in the final against South Africa and took nine wickets at an average of 19.22 across eight matches. The Gujarat player has already outlined his vision for India's middle order, emphasising a flexible approach with players floating between No. 3 to 7 depending on match situations. Curious case of Sanju Samson All eyes will also be on Kerala's Sanju Samson, who faces another critical juncture in his career after being omitted from India's Champions Trophy squad. He was subsequently ignored by Kerala selectors for their Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh. The wicketkeeper-batter has proven his mettle several times, becoming the first Indian to score successive T20I centuries in the recent series against South Africa being a case in point. Promising all-rounder Nitish Reddy, who scored his maiden Test century against Australia in December at Melbourne, has also earned a spot in the squad, giving the team another option pace-bowling all-rounder along with the redoubtable Hardik Pandya. England's fresh start For the Jos Buttler-led England, the series marks a new chapter under head coach Brendon McCullum, who signed a three-year contract following Matthew Mott's resignation following their T20 World Cup exit. Known for revolutionising Test cricket with his aggressive 'Bazball' approach, McCullum will now seek to replicate that success in the limited-overs format. It would not be a new territory for the New Zealand great, who was also at the helm of Kolkata Knight Riders after playing for the franchise in the inaugural IPL. England will miss key players Reece Topley, Sam Curran, and Will Jacks, but promising 21-year-old Jacob Bethell, who impressed in the ODI series against the West Indies last year, will look to shine. Bethell has averaged 57.66 and struck at 167.96 in his seven T20I appearances. Test opener Ben Duckett has been given the position in the shortest format for the first time in six years. Like Shami, England's fiery pacer Jofra Archer will be under the spotlight as he returns from injury to lead their pace attack ahead of the Champions Trophy. The playing XI finalised for Wednesday also includes pace bowler Mark Wood, who has recently recovered from a right elbow injury. But conditions in India, with the possibility of heavy evening dew, could pose a challenge for bowlers. After Wednesday's game, the series would move to Chennai for the second T20I (January 25), followed by matches Rajkot (Jan 28), Pune (Jan 31) and Mumbai (February 2). The ODI leg will start in Nagpur on February 6, followed by Cuttack (February 9) and Ahmedabad (February 12). (With agency inputs)
21 January,2025 04:15 PM IST | Kolkata | mid-day online correspondentDebutant left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma recorded astonishing figures of 5/5, including a hat-trick, as India demolished Malaysia by 10 wickets in an utterly one-sided U19 Women's T20 World Cup match that was done and dusted in less than 18 overs on Tuesday. Vaishnavi's figures are the best ever in the tournament's history as Malaysia were bundled out for a paltry 31 in 14.3 overs. Fellow left-arm spinner Ayushi Shukla (3/8) also chipped in as India bowlers ran through Malaysia's batting line-up without much ado. 𝕎 𝕎 𝕎#TeamIndia's left arm spinner & debutant Vaishnavi Sharma becomes the first Indian bowler to pick up a hattrick in #U19WomensWorldCup tournament! 🙌🏻#U19WomensT20WConJioStar 👉 #INDWvMASW, LIVE NOW on Disney+ Hotstar! pic.twitter.com/DaEdFnus07 — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 21, 2025 India barley batted an eyelid while chasing down the target in 2.5 overs, reaching 32 for no loss. G Trisha made an unbeaten 27 off 12 balls with five fours. The lowest total in a women's T20I, however, is 6 -- shared by Maldives and Mali. In the men's game, Ivory Coast has held the record since being bowled out for just seven runs in a 264-run defeat by Nigeria in Lagos last year. Now, India are on top of their group with four points, same as Sri Lanka but the former has better Net Run Rate ¿ +9.1 to Lanka's +5.5. But that easy chase was the fruit borne out of Vaishnavi's impeccable spell. There was appreciable turn and bounce on offer in the pitch here, and she used it to the hilt as the home side batters had no answers to her guile. Nur Ain Binti Roslan, Nur Isma Dania and Siti Nazwah were her hat-trick victims, and she achieved the feat in the 14th over, that saw Malaysia further stumbling from 24 for six to 30 for nine. "This was a dream debut to get a hat-trick and five-wicket haul. My journey has had its ups and downs. "I look up to Radha Yadav (India senior left-arm spinner) and Ravindra Jadeja. I had visualised how to get wickets here last night," said Vaishnavi after the match. Earlier, she had the wickets of Malaysia skipper Nur Syuhada and Nuriman as none of the home side batters were able to reach double digits. In fact, India had bowled 10 wides and Malaysia's scoreboard would have been even more anaemic if those runs were not there. (With agency inputs)
21 January,2025 03:42 PM IST | Kuala Lumpur | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the first T20I match against England, Team India skipper Suryakumar Yadav recollected the memories of when he used to play at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata during the Indian Premier League (IPL). The five-match T20I series against England will begin on Wednesday at the iconic Eden Gardens. The second and third matches will be held on January 25 and 28 in Chennai and Rajkot, respectively. The fourth game of the series will be played on January 31 in Pune. Mumbai will host the final match of the T20I series on February 2. "It's a vintage-type feeling. It feels good when you come here. It feels good to think about it. When I sit in the room and think that when I used to play matches here in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, it was also a beautiful memory," Suryakumar Yadav said in a video posted by BCCI on X. Also Read: IND vs ENG T20Is: Important factors to watch out for in the series! Suryakumar Yadav played for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) from Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2014, the year in which the franchise wanted to lift the title. He represented KKR for four years during which he was able to garner 608 runs from 54 matches. Further, Suryakumar Yadav stated that when he used to play for KKR, he never thought of captaining Team India to the same venue. "I remember in 2014 when I came to KKR for the first time. Since then, till today, after 10-11 years, I never thought that I would ever lead India. But today, standing on this ground, thinking that I'm going to lead because this is also a historic stadium. It's fun to think about it and has been a beautiful journey," the right-hand batter added. Youngsters Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel have retained their places in the 20-over squad. Seamer Harshit Rana who was in the T20I squad against South Africa but couldn't make it into the playing eleven has also been named in the 15-member lineup for the upcoming series. People will also keep tabs on Mohammed Shami as the veteran will feature in the international circuit after 2023. Last year, Shami returned to domestic cricket with Bengal after undergoing ankle surgery that kept him sidelined for nearly a year. Shami had also been a part of Bengal's squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Shami had made an impressive comeback to competitive cricket, having last featured in the ODI World Cup 2023 final. Following ankle surgery and overcoming a series of setbacks, he returned to action for Bengal in a Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh in November. Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Mohammed Shami will be leading the Indian seam armoury. Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, and Washington Sundar will be in charge of the spin attack. India squad for T20I series against England: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel (vc), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel (wk). (With ANI Inputs)
21 January,2025 02:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAustralia great Ian Healy stated that the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) 10-point guidelines are an admission of reducing discipline in Team India and he also urged other nations to stay careful to avoid similar situations. Following Team India's Test series loss against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the BCCI has released new guidelines which will apply to all players. It also includes the rule of staying for the entire duration of scheduled practice sessions and travel together to and from the venue. The policy also placed restrictions on the time the players would get with their families while on tour. "The reshaping of Indian cricket. A strict, strong response from Indian cricket authorities basically admitting they have let discipline of their national team slip badly," Healy told SEN Radio on Tuesday. Also Read: IND vs ENG T20Is: Jasprit Bumrah among the active players with most wickets "It made for extraordinary reading that the following issues could go unapproved for so long. "Maybe administrators and players have disrespected the dream of representing a powerhouse of the sport. Australia - plus other countries - be aware as to how far things can get off the rails without noticing the effects. Stay vigilant. Take all that into the contest," he added. The restrictions were imposed after a few players travelled separately alongside their families during the Australian tour. In the past, some of the senior cricketers have also travelled to and fro from stadiums in personal vehicles, which BCCI's operation team would arrange with the help of state units. There has been criticism about one of the main support staff's personal manager being allowed access to the team hotel as well as in the hospitality box, earmarked for the national selectors. The BCCI has now barred personal managers or assistants of players and support staff members from staying in the team hotel. (With PTI Inputs)
21 January,2025 12:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the Champions Trophy 2025, former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal named Hardik Pandya as the player who completes India's playing XI for the marquee event. Hardik Pandya played a crucial role in India's ODI World Cup 2023 campaign before an injury made him ruled out of the tournament. His explosive skills with the willow and ability to deliver performances with the ball make him a valuable asset for the Blues ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025. "The main player in the Indian team, without him the playing XI is incomplete is Hardik Pandya. He is my favourite, he is remarkable with the bat and the ball. He finishes the game as well," Kamran said on his YouTube channel. Also Read: It all ends in a flourish! Since his debut, Hardik Pandya has featured in 86 ODIs in which he accumulated 1,769 runs including 11 half-centuries. His career-best score in the format is of unbeaten 92 runs. With the ball, he has claimed 84 wickets and his best bowling figures are four wickets for 24 runs. Apart from Kamran, former India cricketer Suresh Raina recently stated that the star all-rounder will be extremely important for India during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. "The most important role will be Hardik Pandya's--when he bowls and whether he bowls in tandem with Kuldeep Yadav," Raina said on Star Sports Press Room. For the Champions Trophy 2025, Rohit Sharma will be captaining the Indian pack and Shubman Gill is appointed as his deputy. Champions Trophy 2025 will run from February 19 till March 9. It will be hosted by Pakistan and UAE, with India playing its matches in UAE under a hybrid model. The eight-team tournament will feature 15 50-over matches and will be played across Pakistan and in Dubai. India squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja. (With ANI Inputs)
21 January,2025 09:38 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAfter the recent updates to BCCI’s guidelines which barred personal managers or assistants of the players and support staff members from staying in the team hotel, India head coach Gautam Gambhir’s manager Gaurav Arora, who was with him in Australia, is staying in a separate hotel here. India take on England in the first of a five-match T20I series at the Eden Gardens tomorrow. Also Read: ‘Matches like these give me confidence’ ITC has two hotels on the Eastern Bypass road. Gambhir’s manager is staying at the hotel hosting the England team, ITC Sonar, while Gambhir along with the Indian team are situated in ITC Royal Bengal. However, both hotels are adjacent to each other and one can move between them from within.
21 January,2025 08:11 AM IST | Kolkata | Debasish DattaADVERTISEMENT
