Ahead of the third Test match of the Ashes series against England, former cricketer Michael Clarke feels that the Australian selectors will pick Usman Khawaja for the clash. The third Test match of the Ashes series between England and Australia is scheduled to be played from December 17 at the Adelaide Oval. Earlier, Khawaja was ruled out of the second Test match as he failed to recover from his back spasms. Later, Travis Head replaced him at the top of the order. Speaking about him, Clarke said that when a player reaches a certain age, he gets picked for big tournaments such as the World Cup or an Ashes series. "I think the selectors will pick him [Usman Khawaja]. I think he'll be back at the top of the order. I don't know if I would make a change, to be honest. I think I've said before, normally with senior players like that and certainly when you get to that age, you're selected for big tournaments, either a World Cup or an Ashes series, and at the end of those, your time is done, he said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo. Further speaking, the former cricketer also said, considering that Australia is leading the contest and with Travis Head at the top, Clarke doesn't feel the need for selectors to go back at Khawaja. "Australia are 2-0 up. We've got someone at the top of the order that scored an unbelievable hundred [Travis Head]. I don't know if they need to go back to that now. I know that might be hard on Uzzy because he's had a wonderful career and been a big player," he said. Additionally, Australia's captain Pat Cummins will mark his return to international cricket after recovering from his back injuries. The 32-year-old hasn't played at the international level since the third Test against the West Indies in July. Australia squad (third Test only): Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster. (With ANI Inputs)
11 December,2025 04:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPakistan's star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi revealed how Australia's ace pacer Mitchell Starc has influenced his career. He said that Starc is a major inspiration in shaping his bowling style. Over the years, Starc has been one of the main pillars of the Australian bowling lineup, and he recently overtook Pakistan's legendary bowler Wasim Akram for the most Test wickets by left-arm pacers. Speaking about him, the Pakistani bowler said, "He's a legend. When 'Starcy' played that 2015 World Cup, I was playing for the Under 16 Pakistan team at that time, so...I followed him to try to bowl many times the way he swung the ball. He bowled a fuller ball throughout that World Cup and had very good success". Further speaking, Afridi said that the 35-year-old pacer can be a role model for any youngster. "The last time we chatted, I told him that I watched him (in 2015) ... and that's why I bowl fuller to batters. I can say he's a role model for any youngster... he's been the best for Australia for many years," he signed off. Currently, Starc is busy featuring in the five-match Ashes Test series. The Aussies are leading the contest by 2-0 against the "Three Lions". The third Test match between England and Australia is scheduled to be played from December 17 at the Adelaide Oval. Ahead of the series decider, the hosts will look to secure a win to clinch the series, whereas Ben Stokes-led England will play for pride. The Englishmen will be eager to register a win to keep the series alive. Australia's Pat Cummins will mark his return as captain, and his inclusion will also boost the team's bowling line-up. Along with Cummins, veteran spinner Nathan Lyon is also expected to return to action for the third clash. The pacer has missed out on action since Australia's 3-0 sweep against the West Indies in July, after experiencing back soreness. Following the injury, he missed out on the two matches of the ongoing Ashes series. On the other hand, Lyon was sidelined as Australia opted for an all-seam attack for the day-night match at the Gabba in Brisbane. The Cricket Australia (CA) officials have confirmed his return for the third Test match. (With ANI Inputs)
11 December,2025 04:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAll-rounder Vijay Pawle, 36, became the highest paid player across all editions of the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) on Tuesday when defending champions Majhi Mumbai team used their Right to Match card to pick their skipper, who had a base price of Rs 3 lakh, for a whopping Rs 32.50 lakh at the Season 3 player auction. An elated Pawle is planning to use the funds to build a home at his village, Mangle, in Sangli district. “We have a small family house currently. I’m planning to expand the current structure with this money,” Pawle told mid-day over the phone from his village in Sangli on Wednesday. In the first two editions of the ISPL, Pawle was bought by the Mumbai team for Rs 13.50 lakhs and Rs 14.50 lakh respectively. “I was expecting to do well at the auction this time, but did not anticipate this [amount]. I’m looking forward to giving my best to my team,” he added. The eight-team ISPL Season 3 will be begin on January 9 in Surat. Interestingly, Pawle represented Maharashtra in 2023-24 and played alongside India players like Kedar Jadhav and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. When asked about the difference in playing tennis-ball and leather-ball cricket, he said: “Actually, everyone feels that a career can only be made in leather-ball cricket only and that tennis cricket is a waste of time, but the ISPL has proved this wrong.” Before taking up cricket though, Pawle underwent a tough phase from 2011 to 2013. “I’m from a middle-class family. I took up various jobs to begin with. I was a Medical Representative in Pune and then even worked at a few grocery shops at my village. In the evening, I used to practice and play tennis-ball matches with which I earned a little prize money. That’s how my journey as a professional cricketer started,” said Pawle, who also plays for the Ratnagiri Jets in the Maharashtra Premier League. “If I play well in the MPL and stay fit, I can play in the Mushtaq Ali Trophy again. I aspire to play in the IPL too,” Pawle concluded. Rs 3lVijay Pawle’s base price at the ISPL Season 3 auction Jan 9Starting date of ISPL Season 3 in Surat Top 5 buys at ISPL-3 auction . Vijay PawlePrice: Rs 32.50 lakhTeam: Majhi MumbaiRole: All-rounder . Ketan MhatrePrice: Rs 26.40 lakhTeam: Chennai SingamsRole: Batter . Rajendra SinghPrice: Rs 26.10 lakhTeam: Bengaluru StrikersRole: Bowler . Sanjay KanojjiyaPrice: Rs 24.55 lakhTeam: Ahmedabad LionsRole: Batter . Saif AliPrice: Rs 23.65 lakhTeam: Tigers of KolkataRole: Batter
11 December,2025 03:45 PM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureYet to stamp his authority in the shortest format, Shubman Gill would be eyeing major gains on home soil when a well-rounded India look to extend their dominance over South Africa in the second T20I here on Thursday. Just one day gap here With only a travel day separating the first two games of the five-match series, Gill won’t mind getting straight into the middle in search of a substantial knock. India steamrolled South Africa in the series opener but the middling returns from Gill, since his T20 comeback in Asia Cup back in September, remains a talking point. Following an impressive debut as Test captain in the UK, Gill was brought back into the T20 setup. Even though Sanju Samson and his Punjab teammate Abhishek Sharma were doing the job at the top of the order, the team management showed immense faith in Gill’s abilities as a T20 opener. The batter from Kerala was displaced and he has since then struggled to find a place in the playing eleven. The Test and ODI captain can seamlessly perform the role that Virat Kohli performed for India till the T20 World Cup last year but the team, with batting options till number eight, has doubled down on its fearless approach since the triumph in Barbados, leaving little room for an anchor. Gill certainly can’t go hammer and tongs like Abhishek Sharma in the Powerplay and therefore needs to figure out what works best for him. Besides Gill, captain Suryakumar Yadav, who has failed to find consistency over the past 12 months, is also facing additional scrutiny. Surya’s form vital for WC Couple of months down the line, Suryakumar would be leading India’s World Cup defence at home and considering the added responsibility, flow of runs from his bat form a crucial piece of the puzzle heading into the ICC showpiece. ZeroNo. of half-tons scored by Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill this year 15.07 Suryakumar Yadav’s average across 18 T20Is in 2025 126.45Suryakumar Yadav’s strike rate in 2025 — nearly 40 less than his career SR of 164.05 26.30Shubman Gill’s average in 13 T20Is since this year’s Asia Cup 4.00Gill’s average in his three T20Is vs SA till date This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 December,2025 03:43 PM IST | Mullanpur (New Chandigarh) | PTIIt has been 12 years since she first donned India colours and in all these years Smriti Mandhana has realised one thing — that there is nothing in the world that “she loves more” than the game of cricket. India’s greatest left-handed woman batter, Mandhana reflected on her journey from making her debut back in 2013 to playing a big role in team’s World Cup triumph a month back. Reflecting on what drives her, Mandhana added, “I don’t think I love anything more than cricket. Wearing that Indian jersey is the motivation that drives us. You keep all your problems aside, and that thought alone helps you focus on life,” she said at the Amazon Sambhav Summit here on Wednesday. She always had clarity about her ambition. “As a kid, the madness for batting was always there. No one understood it, but in my mind, I always wanted to be called a world champion.” Mandhana said the trophy felt like a culmination of the team’s long struggle. “This World Cup was the reward for the battle we fought over the years. We were waiting for it so badly. I’ve been playing for more than 12 years — many times things didn’t go our way. We visualised it before the final, and when we finally saw it on the screen, it gave us goosebumps. It was an incredible, special moment,” the Indian vice-captain said. Mandhana said the presence of veterans Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami at the final heightened the emotion. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 December,2025 03:42 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIAt a loss to explain South Africa’s capitulation in the series-opener, their batting coach Ashwell Prince said the visitors simply failed to answer the questions posed by India’s “formidable” bowlers while being dismissed for their lowest T20I total of 74 here. Chasing 176, South Africa folded in 12.3 overs in a 101-run defeat in the opening match of the five-match series that marked the beginning of the two sides’ build-up towards the global showpiece in India and Sri Lanka from February 7. “Obviously after a batting performance as such, that is one department that we will have to improve on quickly,” Prince said at the post-match media interaction at the Barabati Stadium, here on Tuesday. “I thought the Indian bowlers, quite a formidable bowling attack, asked a lot of good questions. Ultimately, as a batting unit, we’re not able to answer the questions. Tonight we weren’t up to the task.” Prince said the bounce should not be an excuse as they are used to playing on lively wickets back home. “I think any score that you keep to under 180 in T20 cricket is a chaseable score absolutely. There was a bit of bounce, it seemed like, but being South Africans, we should be accustomed to bounce. As I said, the Indian bowlers asked a lot of good questions. Ultimately, we weren’t able to answer,” he said blaming the batting unit. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 December,2025 08:20 AM IST | Cuttack | PTIVirat Kohli’s push to regain the top ODI batter spot received a boost as he moved up to second place in the latest ICC rankings released on Wednesday. Kohli’s two-spot jump comes after he scored 302 runs across three matches against South Africa. He trails Rohit Sharma by just eight ranking points. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 December,2025 08:01 AM IST | Dubai | PTIIndia’s ace all-rounder Hardik Pandya feels a positive mindset has helped him return to the ground “stronger, bigger and better” after injury setbacks led to self-doubt. Pandya’s return from a nearly two-month layoff due to a left quadriceps injury propelled India to a massive 101-run win against South Africa in the opening T20I here on Tuesday. The 32-year-old all-rounder blazed to an unbeaten 28-ball 59 and 1-16 with the ball. “My mindset was really about coming back stronger, bigger, better. Injuries test you mentally and at the same point in time, it kind of puts a lot of doubts... and a lot of credit to the loved ones,” said Pandya in a video posted on bcci.tv. “I’ve stood strong, I’ve done a lot of things with grace and that has helped me to become even more confident, back myself and really trust my skillset... I really believe in myself as a player. I’ve always believed that if you don’t believe in yourself, how would others believe you,” Pandya added. Pandya says he derives a energy from the crowd, which helps him live up to the expectations. “You should be a rockstar. You come, perform for 10 minutes and the crowd goes berserk, that has been the biggest motivation for me.” FourHardik Pandya’s elevated spot in the latest ICC T20I rankings for all-rounders This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 December,2025 07:44 AM IST | Cuttack | PTITeam India has won the first T20I match against South Africa by 101 runs at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. Former South African pacer Dale Steyn feels that Suryakumar Yadav's secure and welcoming captaincy brings out the best in the players. Speaking on JioStar, Steyn said, "When you have the backing of your team and feel comfortable in your environment, you can have open conversations with your players. You're not threatened by your spot or by the captaincy". "You put the team first and say, 'What's best for the individual? What's best for the team?' That's the kind of captain everyone wants, someone who's secure, welcoming, and willing to adjust for the greater good. Even if it's just for a game or a series, that flexibility brings out the best in your players," he added. The former pacer also said that when such a captain asks a player to bat at number six instead of three, the player understands the strategy behind it. "So when he tells someone, 'You can't bat at three today, I need you at six,' the batter understands because the captain has backed him before. That's a fantastic skill and a great leadership quality," said the Phalaborwa-born cricketer. Premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya played a crucial role for the side in the series opener. With the willow, he smashed a fiery, unbeaten half-century and also bagged a wicket. Following his heroics, the right-hander was named the "Player of the Match". With the dominating victory, the "Men in Blue" have taken a 1-0 lead against the Proteas. The second T20I match between Team India and South Africa is scheduled to be played on Thursday at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA Stadium in Punjab. IND vs SA 2nd T20I: Full Squads India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Shuvam Dube, Washington Sundar, Jitesh Sharma, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy. South Africa: David Miller, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (C), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen, Donovan Ferreira, Quinton de Kock, Tristan Stubbs, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Lutho Sipamla, Ottniel Baartman. (With PTI Inputs)
10 December,2025 05:02 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAustralia has announced its 15-man squad for the third Test match of the Ashes series against England. The match is scheduled to be played at the Adelaide Oval from December 17. Ahead of the match, Pat Cummins will mark his return as captain, and his inclusion will also boost the team's bowling line-up. Along with Cummins, veteran spinner Nathan Lyon is also expected to return to action for the third clash. The pacer has missed out on action since Australia's 3-0 sweep against the West Indies in July, after experiencing back soreness. Following the injury, he missed out on the two matches of the ongoing Ashes series. On the other hand, Lyon was sidelined for the as Australia opted for an all-seam attack for the day-night match at the Gabba in Brisbane. The Cricket Australia (CA) officials have confirmed his return for the third Test match. The other question remains over Usman Khawaja. The 38-year-old is confident he will overcome a back injury in time for the match, but it remains to be seen whether he will reclaim his spot at the top of the order. Travis Head made scores of 33 and 22, opening with Jake Weatherald in Brisbane. Ahead of the third match, the "Three Lions" under the captaincy of Ben Stokes will play for pride. They will look to secure a win in order to keep the series alive. The hosts, on the other hand, will look to clinch the series by registering their third consecutive win in the high-profile rivalry between teams. The hosts will miss the services of their star pacer, Josh Hazlewood, as he has sustained hamstring and Achilles injuries. After the Adelaide clash, the series moves on to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test, with the fifth and final match at the Moore Park in Sydney starting on January 4. Australia's squad for the third Test match of the Ashes series: Pat Cummins (captain), Steve Smith, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster. (With Inputs from Agencies)
10 December,2025 04:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTeam India, under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav, emerged victorious by 101 runs against South Africa at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. During the match, Team India bowlers showcased exceptional skills with the ball and bowled out the visitors for just 74 runs. The star pacer for the hosts, Arshdeep Singh, spoke about his bowling partnership with lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah. He said that Bumrah is a "gentle senior" and being a Punjabi helps him to gel easily. "My relationship with him is very good. He's a gentle senior, never harsh on youngsters and always very polite. Being Punjabi as well, it's easy for both of us to gel," said Arshdeep. The 26-year-old pacer also said that bowling with Bumrah makes things easier as the batsmen try to play rash shots in an attempt to get runs off him. "Bowling with him makes things easier for me because batters usually look to attack my overs. Even bad balls can get me wickets because they know they won't get easy runs at the other end. It benefits me, and I absolutely enjoy bowling alongside him," he said. Arshdeep and Bumrah are the only two Indian bowlers by far who have completed 100 wickets in the shortest format of the game. Arshdeep has 107 wickets in 69 T20Is, whereas Jasprit has claimed 101 wickets in 81 matches of the format. Premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya played a crucial role for the side in the series opener. With the willow, he smashed a fiery, unbeaten half-century and also bagged a wicket. Following his heroics, the right-hander was named the "Player of the Match". With the dominating victory, the "Men in Blue" have taken a 1-0 lead against the Proteas. The second T20I match between Team India and South Africa is scheduled to be played on Thursday at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA Stadium in Punjab. India squad for the T20I series against South Africa: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar. (With ANI Inputs)
10 December,2025 04:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
