Related Posts

‘Challenge to throw a punch at India and say this is our turf,’ says Healy ahead of 1st ODI after T20I series loss

Healy announced her retirement ahead of the ongoing home series against India, stating that she’ll hang up her boots after leading the Aussies in the one-off Test, starting March 6.

Australia are coming off a 2–1 T20I series defeat to India, a result that underlined the visitors’ growing confidence and depth. On the eve of the ODI series opener, Healy, who will be playing the final One-Day International series of her career, struck a tone that was equal parts respectful and defiant, making it clear that the hosts see the ODI leg as an opportunity to respond.

“They’re playing some really good cricket. We’re being really challenged at the moment, and they’re full of confidence, as they should be. They’re playing really well, you know, they’ve got a big trophy in their cabinet that they’re really proud of, and they’ve got every right to come out here and play the way that they have,” Healy told reporters at The Gabba.

India’s recent success, including their ODI World Cup triumph and the hard-fought T20I series win on Australian soil, has shifted the balance of power narrative between the two heavyweights. But as the format changes to 50 overs, Healy believes the contest resets.

“I guess for us it’s now a challenge for us to bounce back and sort of throw the next punch in this format and say that, you know, this is our turf, these are our conditions, and this is the way that we play this ODI format. So hopefully we can go out there and do that,” she said.

The three-match ODI series, beginning Tuesday, offers Australia a chance to reassert themselves in conditions they traditionally dominates. Healy acknowledged India’s pedigree, describing them as a side worthy of their status, as she said, “We know they’re a talented side; they are the world champs, and probably for the first time for a little while, you know, it’s an opportunity for us to come hard at them. So I’m looking forward to that.”

For Australia, the recent T20I loss has also been framed internally as part of a broader evolution. The team that once faced scrutiny for dropping a single match in a multi-game series is now navigating a generational shift and embracing it.

“100 per cent. When you look at our squad over the last probably five or six years, we’ve been transitioning naturally anyway. So it’s taken place. I remember the absolute blow-up when we lost a game in India. At one point in time, we lost one game out of a, you know, six or seven game series, and it was uproar that the Australian team had lost. So now to sit back and reflect on, you know, losing that first league of a series, it’s actually an opportunity for our side to sit back, reflect, review and go, this is how we can be better and continue to challenge what is a really good side,” Healy mentioned.

Cricket Australia named Sophie Molineux as Healy’s successor, and the all-rounder took up her first captaincy assignment with the T20I series, which the home team lost 1-2. As Healy looks ahead to the remainder of the series and beyond, her belief in the group’s direction remains unwavering.

“I think the future’s in great hands. I’m looking forward to seeing what this team can offer over the next 10 to 15 years. And I’ve got no doubt that we will bounce back pretty quickly.”

With momentum on India’s side and pride on the line for Australia, the ODI series shapes as another compelling chapter in a rivalry that continues to raise the bar in women’s cricket.

–IANS

vi/bc

Ashes: Bethell, Potts, Tongue added to England Lions squad for two-day game vs PM’s XI

London, Nov 24 (IANS) Amid calls from experts and pundits for England players to participate in the two-day pink-ball Test against the Prime Minister’s XI ahead of the second Ashes Test in Gabba, the visitors have released three players – Jacob Bethell, Matthew Potts and Josh Tongue – to join the England Lions for the fixture that is set to be played on November 29 and 30 in Canberra.

The match, scheduled for Manuka Oval, will be a day/night fixture and played with the pink ball. The England Lions team, including the three players joining from the Ashes squad, will travel to Canberra on Tuesday.

“The Lions group, including the three players linking up from the Ashes squad, will travel from Perth to Canberra on Tuesday,” the England Cricket Board said in a statement on Monday.

The highly anticipated first Test of the Ashes series between arch-rivals Australia and England concluded in just two days as the hosts clinched an eight-wicket win to go one up. Ahead of the second Test in Brisbane’s Gabba, which begins on December 4, the England Lions will play a two-day Test against the Prime Minister’s XI.

Earlier, former England captain Alastair Cook had suggested that the senior men’s team play the two-day Canberra Test against PM’s XI, which would help them prepare for the crucial Gabba game.

“In this situation, I would want to go and play in the pink-ball game against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra, not just leave it to the Lions players. It can be an uncomfortable decision as you are opening yourself up to failing again, but putting yourself under pressure can have long-term benefits. However much you practise in the nets, you cannot replicate the feeling of time in the middle,” he had written in his column for the Sunday Times.

His comments followed skipper Stokes’ indication that England intends to stay firm and will travel straight to Brisbane on November 26 to begin their preparations for the second Test.

England’s decision to add Bethell, Potts and Tongue to the England Lions squad indicates that the skipper and coach are inclined towards the key members of the team practising in Brisbane rather than playing the two-day game.

–IANS

vi/ab

Champions Trophy: Rizwan is at fault for chewing up too many dot deliveries, says Mumtaz

New Delhi, Feb 24 (IANS) Former Pakistan women’s captain Urooj Mumtaz criticised skipper Mohammad Rizwan for playing too many dot balls in the middle overs phase, which ultimately led to their six-wicket defeat to India in the 2025 Champions Trophy clash in Dubai.

Though Rizwan made 46 to be Pakistan’s second-highest run-scorer as the side posted 241 in 49.4 overs, he took 77 balls to make that score and played 29 dot balls in between 11 to 24 overs. Pakistan’s middle overs slowdown started just after ending the power-play at 52/2, with their overall dot ball percentage standing at 48 per cent.

“Rizwan, time and again, is at fault of chewing up too many dot deliveries. Then there is one release shot that comes out. He was on 40-odd from something like 70 deliveries at the point where he looked like taking another release shot.”

“He was 30 off 68 (24 off 53) at one point when he hit that one four. Saud (Shakeel), on the other hand, is not the normal aggressor; it is Rizwan who is normally the aggressor when he does get going and does get set,” said Urooj to ESPNcricinfo.

Rizwan was involved in a 104-run partnership with Saud Shakeel, but it had taken 144 balls for that to happen. Urooj also felt Rizwan going slow also put pressure on left-handed batter Shakeel to break free.

“I think Rizwan, in his 46 off 77 – strike rate of 59 – just wasn’t good enough because we’re talking about a team where the best batter in the team (Babar Azam) is obviously out of form, hasn’t been churning out those big runs… and he got out early. Imam (had) that unfortunate run-out.”

“So it was down to Rizwan as captain to put his hand up and show that brave attitude. Maybe even not just trying to botch everything down, but maybe just better strike rotation, (the lack of) which I thought was a massive fault, and probably applied a little bit more pressure on Saud as well,” she concluded.

–IANS

nr/ab