cricket
SportAustralian Associated PressIndia going in cold for final against NZ
The inaugural world Test championship will be decided from Friday between favoured India and No.1-ranked New Zealand in Southampton.
SportAustralian Associated PressKnight shines in 100th captaincy game
Heather Knight fell agonisingly short of a century in her 100th game as England captain with a well-struck 95 as her side finished day one of the women's Test against India on 6-269.Leading from the front at the Bristol County Ground, Knight was given out lbw in the final hour of play, just five runs short of what would have been her second Test century.
SportAustralian Associated PressNZ carry finals hoodoo into WTC decider
An upbeat New Zealand will take on an undercooked India aiming to become Test cricket's first official world champions when they clash in the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) final in Southampton.The one-off match at the Rose Bowl marks the culmination of a two-year cycle of the WTC, which was launched in 2019 to create Test cricket's own pinnacle event.
SportAustralian Associated PressBig-name withdrawals hurt T20 Cup preps
Australia's Twenty20 World Cup preparations have hit turbulence with Steve Smith ruled out of two warm-up tours.Smith will miss the white-ball tours of the West Indies and Bangladesh because of an elbow injury.
SportAustralian Associated PressTendulkar pushes for World Cup in Tests
The World Test Championship should be held every four years on the lines of the World Cup in the shorter formats of cricket, says batting great Sachin Tendulkar.India and New Zealand will contest the inaugural five-day WTC final in Southampton from Friday for Test cricket's biggest honour, along with a winner's cheque of $1.
SportAustralian Associated PressUsed pitch not good for England: Knight
England women's cricket captain Heather Knight was disappointed to learn her side's Test match against India will be played on a used wicket.England and India have not played each other across four days since 2014, but will meet at Bristol's County Ground on Wednesday to kick off Knight's side's summer.
SportAustralian Associated PressNZ clear Williamson, Watling for WTC final
New Zealand have cleared captain Kane Williamson and wicketkeeper BJ Watling to play in the inaugural World Test Championship final against India, while retaining Ajaz Patel as specialist spinner in their 15-man squad.Williamson and Watling missed the eight-wicket victory over England at Edgbaston due to injuries.
SportAustralian Associated PressPaine gets behind embattled coach Langer
Australia Test captain Tim Paine has strongly defended Justin Langer, following recent criticism of his coaching style and relationship with players.Langer, who is in the final year of his contract as coach, was reportedly given fierce feedback in an end-of-season review and told he needed to change his ways.
SportAustralian Associated PressLabuschagne helps blast Glamorgan to win
A half-century from Australian Test star Marnus Labuschagne has helped Glamorgan to their first Blast win of the season, hammering Essex by seven wickets at Sophia Gardens.Figures of 2-13 from Ruaidhri Smith and Andrew Salter's 2-31 limited Essex to 6-153 from their 20 overs.
SportAustralian Associated PressLatham hails NZ's 'fantastic' England win
New Zealand's stand-in captain Tom Latham is celebrating being part of a first series win in England for 22 years, hailing a "fantastic achievement" for his side.The Black Caps are on their way to the World Test Championship final against India in Southampton next week in great heart, having replaced their next opponents on top of the International Cricket Council rankings after their emphatic eight-wicket win at Edgbaston.
SportAustralian Associated PressNew Zealand humble England in second Test
New Zealand crushed hosts England by eight wickets in the second and final Test to seal a 1-0 series win after chasing down a target of 38 runs on the fourth day at Edgbaston.The result meant New Zealand, who thoroughly outplayed the hosts in the match, secured a first Test series win in England since 1999 and only their third overall in the country.
SportAustralian Associated PressDe Kock's unbeaten ton puts Proteas on top
Quinton de Kock rediscovered his batting form with a career-best, unbeaten 141 as tourists South Africa seized control of the first Test against a wilting West Indies on day two in Saint Lucia.The Windies reached 4-82 in their second innings at stumps, still 143 behind South Africa's first innings score of 322, having been bowled out for a paltry 97 on the opening day.
SportAustralian Associated PressNZ build lead in 2nd Test v England
Fast bowlers Olly Stone and Mark Wood have helped England rally from a torrid time in the field as New Zealand moved into the lead on day three of the second Test at Edgbaston.The Black Caps were 74 runs behind at the start of play and 23 ahead as they reached lunch 5-326, but things could, and should, have been better for Joe Root's side.
SportAustralian Associated PressWarner, Stoinis pull out of UK's Hundred
Australia batsman David Warner and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis have withdrawn from the inaugural season of The Hundred due to complications related to the COVID-19 pandemic.Both players have been named in Australia's preliminary squads for the white-ball tours to the West Indies and Bangladesh, which clash with The Hundred's July-August window.
SportAustralian Associated PressDunk, Faulkner lead Qalandars to PSL win
Ben Dunk and James Faulkner have played starring roles for Lahore Qalanders to help the competition leaders to a 10-run win over Peshawar Zalmi on the resumption of the Pakistan Super League.The Qalandars slipped to 4-25 after 7 1/2 overs before left-hand batsman Dunk, who made 48, combined with Tim David in an 81-run partnership to re-set the innings.
SportAustralian Associated PressNgidi gives Proteas advantage over Windies
Seamer Lungi Ngidi showed all his guile to take 5-19 as South Africa skittled the West Indies for 97 and seized the initiative on the first day of the first Test in Saint Lucia.The hosts posted their lowest Test total against South Africa, who reached 4-128 at the close on Thursday - a lead of 31 runs on a wicket that is proving difficult to score on.
SportAustralian Associated PressNZ begin chase of England in 2nd Test
Dan Lawrence has been left stranded on 81 not out as England were dismissed for 303 on the second morning of the second Test against New Zealand at Edgbaston.England had started the day 7-258 and added another 45 runs in good time.
SportAustralian Associated PressEngland make steady start in second Test
Dom Sibley and Rory Burns batted throughout the morning session of England's second Test against New Zealand, cheered along by the biggest home crowd since 2019 as they reached 67 without loss at Edgbaston.As a nominated government pilot event there were 17,000 fans in attendance as the stadium operated at 70 per cent capacity.
SportAustralian Associated PressNZ skipper Williamson out of second Test
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the decisive second Test against England at Edgbaston.1 batsman has been managing a tendon injury in his left elbow for several months and, with the forthcoming World Test Championship final against India being the squad's overwhelming priority, he will not be risked this week.
SportAustralian Associated PressEngland players' social posts under review
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has vowed to take "relevant and appropriate action" after questions were raised publicly about historical tweets from several England players.Fast bowler Ollie Robinson has been ruled out of England's second Test against New Zealand starting at Edgbaston on Thursday after historical tweets came to light last week when he made his debut at Lord's.
SportAustralian Associated PressChristian in, Aussies call for T20 cover
Australia have added six players to their extended Caribbean touring party amid expectations of a wave of withdrawals from weary Indian Premier League stars.Justin Langer's side will assemble in Brisbane for a training camp later this month before departing for the West Indies.
SportAustralian Associated PressEngland's Robinson suspended for tweets
England fast bowler Ollie Robinson has been suspended from international cricket pending an investigation into tweets he posted in 2012 and 2013 that used racist and sexist terms.The posts came to light earlier this week when he made his test debut against New Zealand.
SportAustralian Associated PressEngland settle for draw with NZ at Lord's
England captain Joe Root believes there was never a "realistic opportunity" to chase down 273 in 75 overs as his side elected for a safety-first approach in the drawn first Test against New Zealand.The Black Caps had set the game up on the final day by advancing their overnight 62 for two to 6-169 for a lead of 272, with Kane Williamson hopeful of tempting England in the final two sessions by declaring during lunch.
SportAustralian Associated PressEngland set 273 to win Lord's Test vs NZ
England have been set 273 to win the first Test at Lord's after New Zealand's batsmen upped the ante on the final morning before declaring at the lunch interval.New Zealand started the last day, where 98 overs are scheduled to be bowled, 165 ahead and, with eight wickets in hand, plenty in reserve to push for a victory that would have seemed unlikely following Friday's washout.
SportAustralian Associated PressLabuschagne stars in Glamorgan win
Marnus Labuschagne has found form in England, ensuring Glamorgan handed Lancashire their first defeat of the County Championship season.The Australian Test star scored an unbeaten 63 and fittingly hit the winning runs as Glamorgan wrapped up a six-wicket victory early on the third morning in Cardiff.
