Swashbuckling India opener Shafali Verma has climbed to sixth place in the latest ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings following a string of impressive half-centuries. The 21-year-old has moved up four places after scores of 69 not out off 34 balls in the second T20I against Sri Lanka, followed by unbeaten knocks of 79 off 42 deliveries and 79 off 46 balls in the third and fourth matches in Thiruvananthapuram. Seasoned India all-rounder Deepti Sharma continues her reign at the top in the bowlers’ list with compatriot Renuka Singh Thakur joining her in the top 10.Thakur gained eight places to reach joint-sixth position following a match-winning haul of four for 21 in the third match that India won by eight wickets to seal the series. 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
31 December,2025 09:44 AM IST | London | PTIAustralian all-rounders Ellyse Perry of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Annabel Sutherland of Delhi Capitals on Tuesday withdrew from next month’s Women’s Premier League, citing personal reasons. The WPL announced in a release that Indian all-rounder Sayali Satghare will join RCB in place of Perry, while Australian leg-spinner Alana King will replace Sutherland for DC. 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
31 December,2025 09:41 AM IST | Mumbai | PTIInjured fast bowler Jofra Archer was on Tuesday named in England’s provisional squad of 15 players for the T20 World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka in February, despite nursing a left side strain which he sustained during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide. Another pacer, Joshua Tongue, uncapped in limited-overs cricket, was included in the squad to be captained by Harry Brook. Archer will, however, miss the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka from January 22, which includes three ODIs and three T20Is. England will open their T20 World Cup campaign against Nepal on February 8 in Mumbai. 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
31 December,2025 09:38 AM IST | London | PTIJacob Bethell is keen to lock down the number three spot for England, but admitted Tuesday he has “a lot more to do” to make the position his own. The 22-year-old was recalled for the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne to replace the under-performing Ollie Pope and impressed. He hit a gritty 40 in difficult batting conditions in the second innings to help steer England to a four-wicket victory and their first win in Australia since 2011. Bethell is likely to get another opportunity in the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney starting Sunday. “I like three,” he told English media in Melbourne. “You come in when the ball is new and in some scenarios the ball’s going all over the shop. But in other scenarios it presents opportunities to score when bowlers are trying to take wickets and the field is attacking, there’s loads of gaps. “I’ve still got a lot more to do to call it my position,” he added. “I would like to [make the spot his own]. I would like to just nail down any role in the team.” Bethell made his Test debut against New Zealand in Christchurch a year ago, crunching half-centuries in each of three Tests during the series after Pope slid down the order as wicketkeeper. 40No. of runs scored by Jacob Bethell in the second innings of the Melbourne Test against Australia 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
31 December,2025 09:13 AM IST | Melbourne | AFPIn the fifth women's T20I match against Sri Lanka, Team India emerged victorious by 15 runs at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. In an attempt to chase a target of 176 runs, the Sri Lankans managed to score 160 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs. Opening batswoman, Hasini Perera, scored 65 runs in 42 balls, which was laced with eight boundaries and a maximum. Imesha Dulani emerged as the second-highest run-scorer for Sri Lanka. In her knock of 39 deliveries, she accumulated 50 runs, with the help of eight boundaries. Team India's Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Sneh Rana, Vaishnavi Sharma, Nallapureddy Charani, and Amanjot Kaur bagged one wicket each. Having put to bat first, Team India posted a total of 175 runs for the loss of seven wickets. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur played a blistering knock of 68 runs off just 43 deliveries, which was laced with nine boundaries and a maximum. Team India's opening batswomen departed early. Facing six balls, Shafali Verma managed to score just five runs, including a boundary. Gunalan Kamalini returned to the pavilion after scoring 12 runs in 12 balls, with the help of two boundaries. Harleen Deol registered 13 runs in 11 balls, which was laced with two boundaries. Richa Ghosh also scored five runs in six balls, including a boundary. Deepti Sharma was dismissed for seven runs in eight balls. Amanjot Kaur garnered 21 runs in 18 balls, and also smashed a boundary and a maximum. Arundhati Reddy played a fiery knock of an unbeaten 27 runs. Her knock came in 11 balls, including four boundaries and a maximum. Along with her, Sneh Rana stayed unbeaten on eight runs off six balls, with the help of a boundary. Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu, Rashmika Sewaandi, and Kavisha Dilhari registered two wickets each to their names. Bowling three overs, Athapaththu conceded 21 runs, whereas Sewwandi was smashed for 42 runs in four overs. Dilhari leaked 11 runs in two overs. Nimasha Meepage also picked up one wicket by conceding 25 runs in three overs. Malki Madara and Inoka Ranaweera went wicketless in the fifth women's T20I match against Team India. Completing her quota of four overs, Madara gave away 37 runs, and Ranaweera leaked 39 runs in four overs.
30 December,2025 11:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, all-rounder Matthew Short said that it will be tough to make the cut in Australia's squad for the marquee event. Short, who is a two-time Big Bash League (BBL) Player of the Tournament and captain of the Adelaide Strikers, has been in fine touch for his franchise. So far, he has registered two half-centuries against Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Stars and picked up three wickets. Speaking about his chances of making it to the Australian squad for the global showpiece, Short said that he is more mature and has played a lot of T20 cricket. "I am a lot more mature (than 2024), I have played a lot more around the world, a lot more T20 cricket. But it is a bloody good Australian team. It is going to be hard to crack in, but I will have to wait and see," he stated. So far in the ongoing BBL, the 30-year-old cricketer has scored 134 runs in three matches with an average of 44.66 and a strike rate of 145.65. He was in the reserves during his side's previous campaign last year, when losses to India and Afghanistan prevented the Aussies, then 2023 50-over World Cup champions, from reaching the semifinals, as they exited in the Super Eight Stage. He has made 21 T20I appearances for Australia and has garnered 382 runs, including a half-century. With the ball, he has also registered eight wickets to his name. Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, Short went to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for Rs 15 crores. He previously played for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 2023 season, scoring 117 runs in six matches at an average of 19.50, with a strike rate over 127, and a best score of 36. This year, in 21 T20s, he has made 736 runs at an average of 40.88 and a strike rate of 160, including a century and seven fifties in 20 innings, and has picked up 10 wickets. In the T20 World Cup 2026, Australia are placed in Group B with Sri Lanka, Ireland, Oman, and Zimbabwe and will start off against Ireland on February 11 at Colombo. (With ANI Inputs)
30 December,2025 08:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the fifth and final women's T20I match against Team India, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu won the toss and elected to bowl at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The hosts have made two changes as Smriti Mandhana makes way for debutant Kamalini G, and Sneh Rana comes in place of Renuka Singh Thakur. On the other hand, Malsha Shehani has been dropped for Inoka Ranaweera, and Malki Madara has been picked up ahead of Kawya Kavindi. After winning the toss, Athapaththu said that her side would like to bowl first and that playing against the World Champions is a great opportunity for youngsters. "We'll bowl first, played some good cricket last game. We learnt a lot this year, played against World Champions. This opportunity's great for youngsters. We'll carry the positives into the new year," she stated. The hosts' skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur, said that the "Women in Blue" will be looking to conclude the series on a high note. "We were okay to bat first also. It's an important match, so let's take it that way. How we started this series, that's exactly how we want to finish. G. Kamalini makes her debut, Sneh Rana's back, Smriti and Renuka are resting," said the 36-year-old cricketer. The "Women in Blue" are already leading the series 4-0, and will look to register a whitewash against their distant rivals. Team India's Deepti Sharma is just falling short of one wicket to become the leading wicket-taker in the history of the format. So far, she has 151 wickets to her name in 132 appearances for the "Women in Blue" in T20 matches. Currently, Deepti is enjoying the top spot with Australia's Megan Schutt with 151 T20I scalps. Her best bowling figures in the T20Is are four wickets for 10 runs. IND W vs SL 5th T20I: Confirmed playing XI India: Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh (WK), Kamalini G, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Arundhati Reddy, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sree Charani. Sri Lanka: Hasini Perera, Chamari Athapaththu (C), Imesha Dulani, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Rashmika Sewwandi, Kaushini Nuthyangana (WK), Nimasha Meepage, Inoka Ranaweera, Malki Madara.
30 December,2025 07:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentHead coach Andrew McDonald has opened up about Australia's Test batsman Marnus Labuschagne's batting and also spoke about what is keeping the right-hander far from scoring runs, according to a report by SEN. So far in the ongoing five-match Ashes Test series, Labuschagne has managed to score 174 runs in four matches, with the fifth and final clash yet to be played. In eight innings, he has batted with an average of 24.86, including two half-centuries and a top score of 65 runs. Speaking about Labuschagne's batting, Andrew McDonald said that he gets himself in bad positions that later create a bit of error in his game. "I think with Marn - and he won't mind me saying this - it's probably when he loses his intent to score, he gets himself in bad positions. His Shield work early in the season and even his one-day batting was outstanding, and it's when he's putting pressure back onto the bowlers and looking to score. There's periods where he goes back into his shell and really trusts his defence and I think within that, creates a little bit of error in his game," he said as quoted by SEN. Despite his batting struggles, the head coach heaped praise on Labuschagne by labelling him as a "quality player". "He's working on it, we saw early in the summer how he played. It's a difficult game and batting on some of these surfaces is tricky. It's about having that mindset of going out there and scoring runs and we've been consistent in that view from our end. We think it's a mindset piece and his intent to score ... we'd like to see him get busier in his innings. He still averages in the 40-plus in Test cricket, he's had a lean period, but he's a quality player," said McDonald. ENG vs AUS 5th Test: Date and Venue With the series already in the bag, Labuschagne will be hopeful of delivering big knocks in the fifth and final Test match against the "Three Lions". The Aussies are leading the five-match Ashes Test series by 3-1 against England. The final Test match is scheduled to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 4. (With ANI Inputs)
30 December,2025 06:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, England have announced their 15-member squad, which also comprises the likes of pacer Josh Tongue. The 28-year-old pacer is yet to make his first appearance for England in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) or T20 Internationals (T20Is). So far, he has played eight Test matches for the side and has picked up 43 wickets. Along with the squad for the global tournament, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has also named the team for the white-ball series against Sri Lanka, which is scheduled to be played in January-February. Harry Brook has been appointed as captain of the "Three Lions" for the T20 World Cup 2026. Meanwhile, Tongue's inclusion in the squad comes after his stunning performance in the Boxing Day Test match of the ongoing Ashes series. His bowling heroics helped the "Three Lions" to secure a win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This was also England's first win on Australian soil since 2011. The 28-year-old pacer also became the first England bowler to take a five-wicket haul in a Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the 21st century. He has been included in Sri Lanka's tour squad, too, which precedes the World Cup. England's star pacer Jofra Archer has also been included in the World Cup squad, but is not a part of the squad for the Sri Lanka series. Currently, the pacer is recovering from a side strain that forced him to sit out of the third and fourth Test matches. Swashbuckling batsman Liam Livingstone failed to find a place in either the T20 World Cup 2026 squad or for the Sri Lanka series. England will play three ODIs and then three T20Is on their Sri Lanka tour, starting January 22. The Three Lions will begin their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign by playing a match against Nepal on February 8. England squad for ODIs in Sri Lanka: Harry Brook, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Luke Wood. England squad for T20I World Cup 2026: Harry Brook, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood. England squad for T20Is in Sri Lanka: Harry Brook, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood. (With ANI Inputs)
30 December,2025 05:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Melbourne Cricket Ground’s seam-friendly pitch for the fourth Ashes Test was rated “unsatisfactory” on Monday by the ICC after it ended inside two days. Under the world governing body’s four-tier rating system “unsatisfactory” is the second lowest, characterising a pitch “favouring the bowlers too much”. 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
30 December,2025 09:18 AM IST | Melbourne | AFPThe Chaudhary brothers, Anuj and Atul, starred with bat and ball as Dnyandeep Seva Mandal (Nerul) produced a commanding all-round performance to take firm control against Swami Vivekanand International School (Borivli) in the boys U-14 Dreams Sports Mumbai School Sports Association inter-school Giles Shield league match at Karnataka Sports ground (Cross Maidan), on Monday. In the two-day match, batting first on Day One, Swami Vivekanand were bundled out for 137 runs in 38.5 overs. Despite the modest total, a few fighting contributions helped them cross the 100-run mark. Harsh Pandhare top-scored with 36, while Shauryakant Upadhyaya and Abhiraj Thakur chipped in with 23 each, but the lack of substantial partnerships proved costly as wickets fell at regular intervals. Right-arm fast bowler Atul Chaudhary led Dnyandeep’s attack with some incisive bowling as he extracted enough movement to consistently trouble the batters. Atul returned figures of 5-40 from 13.3 overs. He was well supported by Lavish Singh (2-33 in seven overs), Pranav Raje (2-24 in five overs) and Aryan Chauhan (1-17 in six overs). In reply, Dnyandeep batted with authority and maturity to post a formidable 188-3 in 45 overs, putting themselves in a position of complete dominance. The innings was anchored by Anuj Chaudhary, who scored 52 off 78 deliveries. He was ably supported by Lavish (50 off 58 balls), who continued his fine all-round display. Atharv Kalel remained unbeaten on 50 off 80 balls alongside Shivam Singh (15 off 37 balls). For Swami Vivekanand, Sanchit Gawade (1-19 in six overs) was the most economical bowler. Divyam Lodha (1-72 in 16 overs) and Abhiraj Thakur (1-31 in four overs) also chipped in.
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