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And has a team made more than ten times their first-innings total in the second like India did?

Steven Lynch22-Oct-2024New Zealand took the lead in Bengaluru in the 44th over of the match – is this a record for the team batting second in a Test? asked Alistair Lynch (no relation!) from Bermuda
The sensational start to the first Test in Bengaluru last week saw New Zealand pass India’s 46 all out in 43.3 overs (261 balls).Surprisingly perhaps, that’s quite a way off the record, and it’s not even the quickest in 2024! The fastest known is just 30.4 overs (184 balls), by South Africa after bowling New Zealand out for 45 in Cape Town in January 2013. And also at Newlands, in January 2024, India took the lead over South Africa (55) from the last ball of the 33rd over of the match (198 deliveries in all).We don’t have ball-by-ball details of some early matches, and there are two where it’s possible the lead was acquired quicker: at Lord’s in June 1896, after Australia were all out for 53 in 22.3 five-ball overs (113 balls), and in Melbourne in February 1932, when South Africa were bundled out for 36 in 23.2 six-ball overs (140 balls).Another questioner, Vijay Bedekar from India, asked how often the total of the team batting first had been passed by the second team’s openers, as New Zealand managed in Bengaluru. This was the 28th such occasion: the highest total involved was 365, by West Indies in Georgetown in April 1972, when New Zealand’s openers Glenn Turner and Terry Jarvis replied with an opening stand of 387.In Bengaluru India followed 46 all out with 462, over ten times as many. Has any team scored more than ten times their first-innings total before? asked Hugh Abetz from Australia, among others
India’s excellent comeback in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru last week was only the second time a team had made more than ten times their score from the other innings (considering completed innings only). The only bigger difference came at Edgbaston in 1924, when South Africa were bowled out for 30 in their first innings, but recovered to make 390 in the second, 13 times as many. They still lost by an innings, as England had scored 438.The biggest difference in a first-class match came in a famous County Championship match in 1922, also at Edgbaston. Hampshirewere bowled out by Warwickshire for 15 in their first innings, but following on, they ran up 521 – nearly 34 times as many – and went on to win by 155 runs.Was India’s 46 all out the lowest Test total by a team playing at home? asked Avyaan Ishaan from India
India’s remarkable collapse to 46 all out against New Zealand in Bengaluru was the joint 18th-lowest Test total of all (England also made 46 against West Indies in Port-of-Spain in March 1994).Six of the 17 lower totals were made in home Tests, including the smallest of all – New Zealand’s disastrous 26 all out against England in Auckland in March 1955. Three of the others were suffered by South Africa in their early Tests in the 19th century, when they were very weak.It was easily India’s lowest at home, previously 75 against West Indies in Delhi in November 1987. More recently, in April 2008, they were bowled out before lunch on the first day in Ahmedabad for 76 by South Africa.India’s 46 all out is their lowest Test total at home•AFP/Getty ImagesWhat’s the lowest first-innings total that still led to a win in a Test? asked Rahul from India
I think this question was sent, rather optimistically, in the middle of India’s excellent comeback against New Zealand in Bengaluru last week. If India had ended up winning, they wouldn’t quite have broken this particular record: England beat Australia in Sydney in January 1887 despite being bowled out for 45 in their first innings.In all, 13 Tests have been won by a team that scored less than 100 in their first innings. The list includes England’s 81 for 7 declared in a rain-affected match against West Indies in Bridgetown in January 1935 and, for completeness, a rather questionable 14th instance – England’s declaration at 0 for 0 in the controversial Test in Centurion in January 2000, when South Africa’s captain Hansie Cronje accepted a bribe to help manufacture a result.Joe Root made his highest score in his 147th Test. Has anyone else made their highest score at a later point in their career? asked Chris Goddard from England
You’re right that Joe Root made his highest score (so far!) in his 147th Test, with 262 against Pakistan in Multan earlier this month. The only man to make his highest score later than that is the South African Jacques Kallis, whose best of 224 came in his 150th Test, against Sri Lanka in Cape Town in January 2012.Kumar Sangakkara made his highest score in his 122nd Test (319 against Bangladesh in Chattogram in February 2014), and Sachin Tendulkar in his 119th (248 not out against Bangladesh in Dhaka in December 2004).Your query set me wondering about the equivalent record for bowlers, and it’s held by the recently retired James Anderson, whose best bowling figures came in his 129th Test – 7 for 42 against West Indies at Lord’s in September 2017. His longtime team-mate Alastair Cook had his best bowling figures – his only wicket, in fact, that of Ishant Sharma – in his 105th Test, against India at Trent Bridge in July 2014. Glenn McGrath picked up his best bowling figures in his 104th Test, that man Root in his 102nd, and Allan Border in his 101st.Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

In our second batch of report cards for 2022: Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, South Africa, Ireland, Netherlands and more

03-Jan-2023Australiaby Andrew McGlashan
A year of significant success in Australian international cricket, with one notable exception. Another World Cup won for the generational women’s side, plus a Commonwealth Games gold medal and Ashes; dominant home Test form for the men, capped by a series win over South Africa for the first time in 17 years, a victory overseas in Pakistan, and a likely place in the World Test Championship final.The year began with Pat Cummins’ Test side completing a 4-0 Ashes victory over a demoralised England (but how that changed in the months ahead) with a lone wicket standing between them and a whitewash. Though Australia would later in the year surge through their home Test summer against West Indies and South Africa, their most significant result came in Pakistan, where, having billed it as a 15-day marathon, they grabbed a historic series win on the final day.Expanding on the theme of re-engaging as good tourists, the men’s team also earned significant plaudits for completing the tour of Sri Lanka amid the country’s crippling economic crisis. The scenes in Galle, where a Test match took place against the backdrop of anti-government protests will not be forgotten in a hurry. On a purely cricketing level, having taken a 1-0 lead on a raging turner, it was something of a missed opportunity when they lost the second match.It was the all-conquering women’s team who, almost inevitably, won the global prizes. They went unbeaten through the ODI World Cup in New Zealand, capped by Alyssa Healy’s stunning 170 in the final, then followed that by taking the gold medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. The Ashes Test in Canberra was a classic. Their depth is astonishing and Meg Lanning will also be back early in 2023 for the T20 World Cup.For the men, the major prize that escaped was the big disappointment of the year. Their T20 World Cup campaign never got going after a huge defeat to New Zealand in the opening game and it’s likely to be a very different team that fronts up in 2024. However, before then, it’s eyes on the ODI World Cup and a year that will define how great this Test side is.High point
It would have been a surprise if Australia had not held aloft the World Cup in Christchurch in April, but that in itself brings significant pressure. The women’s team, though, show little sign of losing their aura. For the men, winning the deciding Test of the Pakistan tour was a huge feather in Cummins’ cap – it was his and Mitchell Starc’s brilliant reverse swing that finally burst open the series.Low point
A home World Cup brings so many opportunities, but this year’s men’s T20 event fell flat for Aaron Finch’s team. In one sense they were caught out by the format’s fine margins – they lost fewer games than Pakistan – but a muddled build-up permeated the campaign and they could not haul in the huge run-rate hit they suffered against New Zealand at the SCG. Interestingly, and perhaps significantly, their exit did not damage the tournament itself, which was a compelling three weeks.ResultsMen
Tests: P11 W7 L1 D3
ODIs: P17 W11 L6
T20Is: P21 W13 L7 NR 1Women
Tests: P1 D1
ODIs: P12 W12
T20Is: P16 W12 L1 NR3Sri Lanka Women reached the final of the T20 Asia Cup after beating Pakistan by one run in Sylhet•Asian Cricket CouncilSri Lankaby Andrew Fidel Fernando
This is not something we are used to saying about Sri Lanka’s international sides over the past few years, but in 2022 there were genuine moments of joy. Across both the men’s and women’s sides, there were heartening tournament runs, and emerging stars who suggested they could be consistent for years to come.In the women’s side, Sri Lanka seemed to be moving past their long-term overdependence on Chamari Athapaththu through Harshitha Madavi. In Sri Lanka’s excellent Asia Cup, she was easily the team’s highest scorer, with 202 runs (almost double Athapaththu’s tally), which was enough to place her second overall. With the ball, 21-year-old offspinner Kavisha Dilhari also had a good tournament, though Sri Lanka’s best was 36-year-old left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera.For the men, Pathum Nissanka put his mark on the T20 format, having initially emerged in Tests, while others such as allsorts fingerspinner Maheesh Theekshana and left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka also promised plenty – Theekshana outperforming the world-class Wanindu Hasaranga in some matches.While the year’s best moments came in white-ball matches, Sri Lanka weren’t particularly awful in Tests either, though they were hardly spectacular. They lost badly in India, as expected, but they will be hurt more by the Test match losses at home to Australia and Pakistan. They did bounce back in both those series to draw, but their hopes of making the World Test Championship final are very slim.High point
For both men and women: the Asia Cup. The women made a run into the final, despite their board having essentially forgotten they existed through the course of the pandemic. They lost to India in the title match but won five of their eight matches in the tournament, beating Bangladesh, and then Pakistan in the semi-final.The men’s charge to the trophy was spectacular. They lost to Afghanistan in the first game but then scorched their way to the final, winning close games initially, before speeding past Pakistan in consecutive games to win the title. Given the difficult year Sri Lanka has had with its economic crisis, this was a victory that boosted the national mood. Beating Australia in a five-match ODI series (albeit one that didn’t count toward the Super League) had a similar effect.Low point
Having won the Asian title, Sri Lanka had serious hopes of making a run at the men’s T20 World Cup. But they lost their first match, to Namibia, and then lost to New Zealand, Australia and England in the main competition. That they had lost most of their top-choice seamers to injury made it all seem worse.ResultsMen
Tests: P8 W3 L4 D1
ODIs: P11 W6 L4 NR1
T20Is: P25 W11 L14 Women
ODIs: P6 W1 L5
T20Is: P21 W10 L11South Africa have had heartbreaking exits from World Cups before, but the 2022 one ending with a defeat to Netherlands will sting the most•ICC via GettySouth Africaby Firdose Moonda
A year that started off with much promise spiralled downwards alarmingly and South Africa ended 2022 at a crossroads. The national set-up, including the teams and the administration, is floundering, while a new franchise T20 league, the SA20, has been launched in a bid to save the game from a financial abyss. The question on everyone’s minds is whether the SA20 can inject new life into the game, especially the domestic game, which has been completely neglected.After beating India and Bangladesh at home and drawing the series in New Zealand, South Africa rose to the top of the World Test Championship points’ table, but they could not sustain their run. With injuries robbing them of at least one main batter on their next two tours, and inexperience rife in the line-up, they were dismissed for under 200 in seven successive Test innings and lost series in England and Australia.South Africa have only four Tests scheduled for this year. With a diminishing first-class structure, the future of the red-ball game is under scrutiny in the country. The white-ball game isn’t faring much better. After losing series to Bangladesh and India and forfeiting a rubber in Australia to accommodate the SA20, South Africa remain out of contention for automatic qualification for the 2023 ODI World Cup.The women’s team followed a similar trajectory. They started the year well, with an ODI series win over West Indies. They lost only one match in the round-robin stage of the 50-over World Cup and looked set to challenge for their first final but fell away completely in the semi-final against England. The team went on to lose ODI and T20I series in England, were disappointing at the Commonwealth Games, and said goodbye to two key players, Lizelle Lee and Mignon du Preez. The 2023 T20 World Cup, at home, will be a tough test.The person tasked with dealing with these multiple problems is director of cricket Enoch Nkwe, who began work in July. His most pressing task is to appoint national coaches – the men’s team need a replacement for Mark Boucher, while the women’s team coach Hilton Moreeng’s contract runs out at the end of March.High point
Back-to-back successful chases against India suggested South African cricket was on the up at the start of 2022: they scored 240 to hand India their first Test defeat in Johannesburg and 212 in Cape Town to complete a morale-boosting victory. Keegan Petersen, the Player of the Series, scored three fifties in four innings, suggesting South Africa had found a new mainstay at No. 3.Low point
In what could well be remembered as the lowest point since readmission, South Africa were booted out of the T20 World Cup after losing their final group match to Netherlands. After beating India in what was considered their toughest match, South Africa sleepwalked through what should have been their easiest, failing to chase 159. Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi went at more 11 runs an over each and none of the batters scored more than 25. It was a result that beggared belief and brought an ignominious end to Boucher’s term as the national men’s coach.Results
Men
Tests: P11 W6 L5
ODIs: P12 W6 L5 NR1
T20Is: P18 W9 L7 NR2Women
Tests: P1 D1
ODIs: P18 W10 L6 NR2
T20Is: P9 W3 L6Finn Allen batted at a strike rate of over 260 in New Zealand’s 89-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup•Associated PressNew Zealandby Deivarayan Muthu
The last year was one of unprecedented change in New Zealand cricket: Trent Boult, Jimmy Neesham and Martin Guptill all turned down their central contracts to pursue gigs in T20 leagues around the world. Boult’s partner-in-swing, Tim Southee, took over the Test captaincy from Kane Williamson, who is still in charge of the white-ball sides. The women got match-fee parity with the men in a new five-year deal.On the field, however, it wasn’t as rosy as in 2021. The World Test champions of the inaugural cycle suffered a sharp decline, losing five of eight Tests they played, including a 3-0 whitewash in England.But New Zealand men enter the ODI World Cup year in better health: they are the No. 1 team in the format and have beefed up their spin resources for the tournament in India. Wellington allrounder Michael Bracewell has emerged from the fringes to become a vital member of the side.On the T20I front, New Zealand surprised Australia en route to progressing to the knockouts of the men’s World Cup for a second successive time, but Pakistan raised themselves from the dead and stopped them in their tracks in the semi-final.Overall New Zealand men navigated the changing landscape well, as their win-loss ratio of 1.80 suggests; only India and Australia are above them on this list among Full Members.The women finished third from bottom in an eight-team ODI World Cup, but they bounced back strongly in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where they toppled England to bag the bronze. They also won T20I series against Bangladesh at home and against West Indies away.High point
Finn Allen’s no-holds-barred assault that produced 42 runs off 16 balls set the scene for New Zealand’s first victory against Australia in Australia since 2011. At the SCG, Devon Conway dovetailed beautifully with Allen to propel New Zealand to 200 for 3 in the opening game of the Super 12s in the T20 World Cup. Mitchell Santner, Southee and Boult then skittled the hosts for 111. It put Australia on the path to an early exit and New Zealand into the semi-finals.Low point
From the zenith of their WTC win in England in 2021, New Zealand hit a nadir when they were swept 3-0 on their return to the country in 2022. Southee and Williamson looked cooked at different points, but there was a bright spot: Daryl Mitchell notched up three centuries in as many Tests on that tour.ResultsMen
Tests: P8 W2 L5 D1
ODIs: P16 W10 L4 NR2
T20Is: P22 W15 L6 T1Women
ODIs: P18 W10 L6 NR2
T20Is: P14 W11 L3Pakistan made it to the final of the T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup, but couldn’t get over the line in either•ICC via Getty ImagesPakistanby Danyal Rasool
Pakistan drew a clear line between white- and red-ball cricket in 2022. T20I success headlined the narrative again – Babar Azam’s side continued to lay strong foundations in the format, reaching the final of the Asia Cup, and then of the T20 World Cup, though defeats in each, as well as a 4-3 series defeat to England left Pakistan frustrated at multiple final hurdles. A tri-series win in New Zealand did not seem to adequately compensate.The 8-1 record in ODIs in 2022 is encouraging going into a World Cup year, though a dismal showing in Test cricket cast a shadow. Just one win in nine Tests killed their WTC final hopes; they were second on the table this time last year. There were no home wins all year, and they suffered their first ever home-series whitewash. Throw in yet another administrative shake-up, with Ramiz Raja out and Najam Sethi back in, and Pakistan look to be in transition both on and off the field heading into 2023.The women’s side generally fell in line with expectations, with the odd surprise result. Their performances in international tournaments let them down, with just one win in seven at the 50-over World Cup, as well as defeats in all three Commonwealth Games matches. A win over India that carried them to the Asia Cup semi-final provided the brightest spark, though a defeat to Thailand, as well as a home T20I series loss to Ireland, offered stark reality checks.High point
Pakistan needed a Netherlands win to avoid elimination from the T20 World Cup, and when that happened, their campaign burst into life. They beat Bangladesh to make the final four, then swept New Zealand to reach a World Cup final – a showing that seemed unlikely at the start of their campaign.Low point
A fortnight after England bested them in the World Cup final, they arrived to play a three-match Test series in Pakistan. They had only ever won two Tests in the country, but a Pakistan bereft of ideas and inspiration were blown away in all three Test matches, their dynamism throwing Pakistan’s stale approach to the format in sharp relief.ResultsMen
Tests: P9 W1 L5 D3
ODIs: P9 W8 L1
T20Is: P26 W14 L12Women
ODIs: P13 W6 L7
T20Is: P17 W10 L7FTW: Ireland celebrate knocking England over at the T20 World Cup•AFP/Getty ImagesIrelandby Peter Della Penna
The bar had been set quite low in 2021 by both the men and women – losses to UAE, Netherlands, Namibia and USA for the former; finishing runner-up in the T20 World Cup European Regional Qualifier to Scotland for the latter – so any sort of improvement in 2022 would have been seen as a success.Both sides managed to put the previous year behind them, and how. The men began the year pulling off an improbable 2-1 ODI away series win over West Indies with a Covid-depleted squad. A month later, they exorcised some of their demons from the T20 World Cup in 2021, besting the qualifier hosts Oman in a knockout semi-final to secure their spot at this year’s T20 World Cup in Australia.When they got there, not only did they beat West Indies at the end of the opening round to secure a spot in the Super 12s – their first time in the second phase of the tournament since 2009 – they went on to hand eventual champions England their only loss of the tournament.The women kicked off 2022 with their first T20I win over South Africa since 2016. At the T20 World Cup Qualifier in Abu Dhabi in September, they not only exacted revenge against Scotland, they then knocked out Zimbabwe in a semi-final to clinch a place at the T20 World Cup for the first time since 2018. To underscore that these results were not a fluke, they ended the year beating Pakistan 2-1 in a T20I series in Lahore.High point
Captain Andy Balbirnie making a half-century to guide his side to an epic upset of England at the T20 World Cup.Low point
Craig Young giving up 24 off the final over to Michael Bracewell as New Zealand chased a target of 301 to win by one wicket in the first ODI, in Malahide in July.Results
Men
ODIs: P6 W2 L4
T20Is: P27 W11 L16Women
ODIs: P9 W3 L6
T20Is: P16 W8 L8Netherlands booked their berth at the 2024 T20 World Cup by knocking South Africa out of the 2022 tournament and finishing in the top four in their group•Getty ImagesNetherlandsby Peter Della Penna
It was a tale of two halves in 2022 for Netherlands. Not only did the men go winless in 12 ODIs across the first half of the year, head coach Ryan Campbell had a close brush with deathRoelof van der Merwe’s running catch to dismiss David Miller, a catalyst for the team’s first ever win over South Africa, which secured them an automatic berth in the 2024 T20 World Cup.Low point
Going winless in 15 ODIs, and in the process falling out of contention for an automatic berth on rankings points in the World Cup ODI Super League.ResultsMen
ODIs: P15 W0 L15
T20Is: P15 W8 L7Women
ODIs: P7 W0 L7
T20Is: P9 W4 L5Namibia kicked off the T20 World Cup with a shock win over Sri Lanka, but it was mostly downhill from there•Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/Associated PressNamibia, USA, Nepal, Papua New Guineaby Peter Della Penna
After a series of historic firsts in 2021 – including maiden T20 World Cup appearances for Namibia and Papua New Guinea, and a maiden T20I victory over a Test nation recorded by USA over Ireland – 2022 represented a mixed bag for the next rung of Associate teams.Having made it to the Super 12s of the T20 World Cup in the UAE in 2021, Namibia looked like they would repeat the feat in 2022, having started the opening round with a thumping win over Sri Lanka. But they then managed to stumble against the two Associate sides, including a previously winless UAE on the last day when a simple victory would have taken them through to the Super 12s.USA’s lack of consistency harmed them throughout the year and eventually led to head coach J Arunkumar’s contract not being renewed. They scored victories over Scotland and Oman in ODIs, but fell short against both Zimbabwe and Netherlands in the T20 World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe. It means their T20 World Cup debut will have to wait until 2024, when they co-host the event with West Indies.Nepal went undefeated in the group stage of their T20 World Cup Qualifier field in Oman, only to be tripped up by UAE in a semi-final contest with a spot in the T20 World Cup on the line. Head coach Pubudu Dassanayake’s second stint in charge of the national team ended abruptly in July, when he was released from his contract early to take a head coaching role closer to home in Canada.Papua New Guinea’s streak of 18 straight ODI losses was finally broken when they beat UAE in March. Still, their woeful record in Cricket World Cup League Two (two wins out of 28 matches with eight matches remaining) resulted in the dismissal of Carl Sandri as head coach and means they may struggle to retain ODI status when pitted against Canada and Jersey, who will be coming up from the ICC Challenge League to compete in the six-team repechage tournament ahead of the ICC World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe in 2023.High point
Namibia demolishing Sri Lanka by 55 runs in the opening encounter of the T20 World Cup at Geelong.Low point
Nepal captain Sandeep Lamichhane being arrested and held in custody without bail over allegations of sexual assault.Report cards for the other top teams. More in our look back at 2022

On several fronts things have stalled for the women’s game in India amid the Covid-19 pandemic

Annesha Ghosh26-Jul-2020It should have been a busy year for Indian women’s cricket. There was the promise of a lot of action after India’s maiden run to the T20 World Cup final in March – an expanded four-team Women’s T20 Challenge followed by a tour of England for players to get back into the ODI groove ahead of next year’s World Cup – but Covid-19 put paid to that. “Even nature has started conspiring against women’s cricket,” Shanta Rangaswamy, the former India captain who is also part of the BCCI’s Apex Council, told ESPNcricinfo. What about efforts to get things moving, though?What’s the status of the Women’s T20 Challenge?A potential clash with the Women’s Big Bash League after the rejigging of the IPL calendar might force the Women’s T20 Challenge to be shelved in its entirety this year if the BCCI is unable to host it outside its traditional slot: on the sidelines of the IPL, which will now be held in the UAE between September 19 to November 8. The WBBL is scheduled for a run between October 17 and November 29.Clarity on the fate of the T20 Challenge might arrive only after the IPL Governing Council meets. The availability of overseas stars is a concern anyway, and ESPNcricinfo understands that – pending clearances from the BCCI – at least three India players could also be WBBL-bound. The seasoned ones among them are likely to line up for new franchises and one might be in for a debut.

It is going to take some time because this needs following of protocol as interviews will need to be taken by a committee as per the BCCI’s new constitution, and this will have to be cleared by them, and it’s very difficult to do it without a face-to-face meetingSourav Ganguly on appointing a selection panel for India women

Given India haven’t played since the T20 World Cup final on March 8 and may not play now until January next year, when they tour Australia for a bilateral ODI series, the WBBL could possibly be the only opportunity for at least a handful of their players to play any top-flight cricket this year.Selection panel: ‘It is going to take some time’There is no selection panel for the women’s team since January this year. The five-member Hemlata Kala-led panel, which was handed an extension in October last year, officially finished its term on January 22, after the final of the quadrangular series featuring India A, India B, Thailand and Bangladesh in Patna. Earlier that month, the Indian board had invited applications from former national players to fill up the positions, with the deadline set on January 24 – the age limit was 60, representation at the international level was mandatory, and candidates must have retired at least five years previously. Former India batter Jaya Sharma, one of the applicants, however said that there’s been no response from BCCI as yet. “None of the applicants, including myself, seem to have heard back from the BCCI since,” Sharma told ESPNcricinfo.And nothing might happen in a hurry either, according to BCCI president Sourav Ganguly. “The BCCI will start making the appointments [in due course of time] because given there’s no cricket at the moment, and the complete lockdown, and we not being able to go to [the board headquarters in] Mumbai,” Ganguly told ESPNcricinfo. “It is going to take some time because this needs following of protocol as interviews will need to be taken by a committee as per the BCCI’s new constitution, and this will have to be cleared by them, and it’s very difficult to do it without a face-to-face meeting.”Since there is no women’s cricket at the moment till October, I think we will get it done before that.”According to the board’s constitution, a three-member Cricket Advisory Committee is in place to pick the men’s national selection committee, but no such provision is in place for the women’s panel.It is, however, worth noting that conducting interviews online is an option, and has been availed by several candidates during the appointment of the current men’s and women’s national team head coaches; the BCCI, too, has conducted its business via online meetings for the past few months.PTI An ECB proposal turned downIndia had a tour of England for a bilateral limited-overs series scheduled for July-August this year. That couldn’t happen, but the ECB had suggested tweaking it into a tri-series, also involving South Africa, tentatively in September. But it was cancelled after the BCCI opted to pull out.ALSO READ: ‘Very difficult to perform instantly’ after downtime – Poonam YadavESPNcricinfo has learnt that the Indian board withdrew primarily because – although never confirmed in an official statement – of the worsening Covid-19 situation in India. The ECB, however, is understood to have been prepared to cover costs for India’s accommodation and travel, including a charter flight if required, as the English board has done for the West Indies and Pakistan men’s teams currently touring the UK.It is unclear if concerns over players getting adequate pre-tour training played a part in the cancellation. The BCCI is expected to organise a biosecure training camp in Ahmedabad for the men’s team ahead of their tour of Australia in December, according to an report. With a women’s ODI World Cup scheduled in New Zealand in February-March, one wonders if the board has let go a chance for its women – especially ODI stalwarts Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami, who haven’t played international cricket since early November last year – to get some much-needed game time under their belts.Wanted: a dedicated pointsperson for women’s cricketFollowing the retirement of Ratnakar Shetty, who had been in charge of the women’s game during his tenure as the BCCI general manager (game development) until March 2018, the responsibility of handling women’s cricket fell to Saba Karim, adding to his managerial duties in cricket operations. A role that has long warranted dedicated personnel responsible for affairs related to the women’s game has yet again come up for debate with Karim’s resignation last week and the BCCI inviting applications for Shetty’s post – not Karim’s – after over two years.ALSO READ: WC final could have sparked women’s cricket revival. Then Covid-19 happened”This [enforced] break seems a good time to consider a distinctive head who would only be in charge of all things women’s cricket,” a former selector told ESPNcricinfo. “They all have [the last three general managers], including Dr [MV] Sridhar, no doubt taken women’s cricket forward. But given the profile of the national team has grown manifold in the past three years alone, the A tours now taking place, and an inaugural [women’s] Under-19 World Cup next year, the responsibilities are plenty.”You need someone with the vision to make women’s cricket more popular, increase grassroots investments, make sure there are dedicated coaches and support at all levels, and the feeder line for the senior team is well-nourished.”Another former selector noted, “If there’s a dedicated NCA faculty of trainers, coaches and other staff for female cricketers, India would be world-beaters.”

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso took a page out of hockey's playbook as he suggested a new rule proposal for MLB.

While speaking to media ahead of the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, Alonso, who is making his his fifth All-Star appearance, suggested that players should not get ejected for charging the mound or fighting. Instead, he believes MLB should follow hockey's style, which tolerates fighting to happen between players during games.

"If there's one rule I could change, I don't think people should get ejected after charging the mound or fighting," Alonso said. "So I think it should be hockey style. No teams. No nothing. That's when people can like seriously get hurt. … If you go out and charge the mound, then you should be able to, but if the pitcher or hitter or whoever charges, if they don't want to fight, they take a knee and then they don't have to fight. But if someone charges the mound, it's one vs. one, hockey style, and then that's it."

Alonso has been involved in multiple benches clearing incidents over his career. This includes when the Mets faced the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022, and Alonso was taken down by Cardinals first base coach Stubby Clapp.

If Alonso's pitch were to become a rule, it would intend to keep these brawls to one-on-one conflicts, rather than getting entire teams involved as the benches clear. Though MLB appears more focused on other changes to the game at this time, including potentially bringing the Automated Ball-Strike System to MLB in 2026, Alonso made his plea for the idea.

Inspired by Jamaica’s great sprint queens and thinking of her compatriots impacted by Hurricane Melissa, Chinelle Henry has pledged to deliver on her big-hitting reputation as Brisbane Heat’s trump WBBL draftee.The 30-year-old hopes to follow West Indies team-mates Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin in making waves in Australia, selected by Heat to provide late innings big-hitting and medium pace.Henry was training in Antigua and then flew to Australia through Miami when catastrophic winds up and storms caused at least 28 deaths and wrecked homes and businesses in Jamaica.”Every time I pick up my phone .. it’s the first thing I see and there’s not really much I can do but send support,” Henry said on arrival in Brisbane on Monday, ahead of Sunday’s season opener.”It’s a really hard time for people in Jamaica who’ve lost a lot due to this hurricane and now it’s about how we regroup as a country.”Henry has played 57 ODIs and 65 T20Is for the West Indies and admits choosing cricket over track and field or soccer was the “correct choice”.But the former sprinter has been influenced by her country’s sprint stars as much as its cricketers, with Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce leaving a mark.”Track and field … that was my first love,” she said. “But dad was always playing and just dragging me along and somewhere along the way it developed. I’m really proud to be here today [representing Jamaica].”This year in all T20s across the Women’s Premier League (WPL), internationals and Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL), Henry has a strike-rate of 155.95, the third-highest of anyone with at least 300 runs.”That’s [power hitting] the reason why I’m here, why the team signed me,” she said. “Walking out on the field … whatever’s going to happen, I’ll stick to my style.”Henry will team up with Indian star Jemimah Rodrigues, who broke Australian hearts with a match-winning knock in the T20 World Cup semi-final, at Heat.She expects India’s title on home soil to supercharge the women’s game and has faith West Indian cricket can rise again.”Every time we have a game or series, that’s the first comment,” she said when asked to assess the state of the game in her country.  “Our cricket’s not what it used to be [but] every time we put on that maroon we fight for the badge.”It’s about trusting and believing in the process to getting back to that team that everyone was so used to talking about.”Heat, who finished as runners-up last season, start their season in a rematch of that final with Melbourne Renegades at Allan Border Field on November 9

Liverpool's season crashed to a new, depressing low with a 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest at the weekend. The defending champions currently sit 11th in the Premier League table following a sixth defeat in seven matches and now boss Arne Slot has come in for a huge amount of stick over comments after the damaging loss at Anfield.

• Season falters as Slot makes feelings clear

  Slot’s side have already lost two more league matches than in the entirety of the previous title-winning season. The shock 3-0 loss at home to Forest was the Reds heaviest home defeat in four years, highlighted significant defensive vulnerabilities and a lack of heart, with goals conceded to Murillo, Nicolo Savona, and Morgan Gibbs-White.
  It was Forest's second consecutive win at Anfield, a result that has piled immense pressure on Slot, whose side has now lost six of their last seven matches across all competitions, with the only win coming against Real Madrid in the Champions League. 

  Ahead of Wednesday's visit of PSV Eindhoven, Slot said: "The Forest defeat gave us a bit of a smack in the face." This comment has greatly annoyed many Liverpool fans.

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  Liverpool fans: 'We must be punch drunk by now'

  The reaction was much like @aeren__09, who said: "What about the 5 losses before that?" Which was a view @Bishop_Yayo agreed with, saying: "Oh dear lord…. The others defeats had no effect on yous? 😭😭😭😭."

  And @dannwaneri added: "If it took losing 3-0 at home to Forest to give you "a smack in the face," you're not paying attention. The warning signs have been there for months. This should've been obvious long before now."

  Meanwhile, @Northeastred said: "We’ve had that many ‘smacks in the face’ recently we must be punch drunk by now…"

  And with the Champions League clash on the horizon, @DavidOf39525906 chipped in with: “Can he pls just shut up and focus on the PSV game."

  The comments continued with @easykilltv adding: "Felt like a full blown punch to the face for me along with the other defeats."

  And @Jcf1081 said: "Losing to Man United at home wasn't? Standards are in the bin at this club with this clown in charge."

• Slot: 'I feel guilty for it'

  The Reds boss said: "It's ridiculous, unbelievable. I have said many times you will never find enough excuses for us to perform like this. It's unexpected for the club, for me for everyone. We are conceding more goals than last season. This time last season we conceded zero set-pieces; now it's nine. The number of goals is close to ridiculous for a club like us."

  The Dutchman added: "I take the responsibility, I feel guilty for it. We are busy working on it, I'm at the club where we aren't just used to being successful but also at times when we aren't. We are going to give extra effort. As a manager I try to lead by example and try even harder!"

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  Trip to London after PSV clash for Liverpool

  Liverpool travel to West Ham on Sunday in a crucial Premier League match at the London Stadium as both teams are struggling with poor form and mounting injuries. The Hammers, currently 17th in the table, are hoping to capitalise on the Reds' recent slump. The Anfield side are in 12th position, having won just one of their last six league games, leading to pressure on Slot to improve the season. The east Londoners are set to welcome back Lucas Paqueta from suspension, providing a much-needed boost in midfield, while Crysencio Summerville is a doubt due to injury. The Reds have a strong historical record against West Ham, winning 37 of their 59 total meetings, and are backed as favourites despite their current form.

يعتقد ستيف ماكمانامان لاعب ليفربول السابق، أنه يجب على كل لاعب في الفريق أن يتحمل مسؤوليته بعد الهزيمة أمام نوتينجهام فورست بثلاثية نظيفة في ملعب أنفيلد.

وقد زادت هذه النتيجة من التدقيق على حامل لقب الدوري الانجليزي الممتاز بعد سلسلة نتائج مخيبة للآمال هذا الموسم.

وقال ماكمانامان في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “Tribuna”: “النقد يقع على عاتق الجميع، جميعنا قلنا إنهم كانوا رائعين”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. ليفربول إيكو تكافئ محمد صلاح رغم الهزيمة بثلاثية أمام نوتينجهام فورست

وأضاف: “هذا العام كان الأمر مخيب للآمال، الأمر لا يتعلق بفان دايك ولا صلاح بل كل واحد منهم، عليهم أن يتحملوا مسؤولية كل شئ، يمكنك أن تتقبل كل الثناء عند الفوز بالدوري ولكن عندما تسير الأمور في الاتجاه المعاكس، يمكنك أن تتقبل النقد”.

وواصل: “اللاعبون ليسوا جيدين بما يكفي وعليك أن تستجيب، ربما لم تساعد التعاقدات الجديدة الفريق إطلاقاً، لقد انضم خمسة أو ستة لاعبين جدد وقد ساعدوا الفريق، لم تساعد مأساة جوتا الكثيرين، بالطبع لم تساعد وليس لدينا أدنى فكرة عن تأثيرها عليهم، عليك أن تعمل”.

وختم: “العمل كان بداية نهضة ليفربول لأن مبارياتهم كانت تعتبر أسهل حتى يناير وبدءهم بهذه الطريقة يفقدهم الثقة في المستقبل”.

يستعد منتخب إنجلترا، بقيادة المدرب توماس توخيل، لخوض آخر مبارياته في إطار التصفيات المؤهلة إلى بطولة كأس العالم نسخة 2026، مساء اليوم ضد نظيره ألبانيا.

ويحل منتخب إنجلترا ضيفًا على خصمه منتخب ألبانيا، في الجولة الأخيرة من تصفيات قارة أوروبا المؤهلة إلى النسخة المقبلة من كأس العالم، في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، كندا والمكسيك.

ويحتل منتخب إنجلترا صدارة المجموعة الحادية عشر برصيد 21 نقطة، في حين أن منتخب ألبانيا لديه 14 نقطة في المركز الثاني.

وضمن منتخب إنجلترا تأهله إلى منافسات كأس العالم منذ الجولة قبل الماضية، في شهر نوفمبر، ويسعى إلى تحقيق الفوز من أجل العلامة الكاملة. موعد مباراة إنجلترا وألبانيا اليوم في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026

تنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة 7 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 8 بتوقيت السعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة إنجلترا وألبانيا اليوم في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026

تُذاع المباراة عبر قناة bein sports hd2. معلق مباراة إنجلترا وألبانيا اليوم في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026

سيعلق حفيظ دراجي على أحداث مباراة اليوم.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا.

Celtic may now be forced to cope without one of their key men in a crucial clash against Hearts this weekend following the news that he has multiple injury concerns.

Rodgers admits "difficult" moments at Celtic

With less than a year remaining until his current contract expires at Celtic, Brendan Rodgers is on course to have a final season to forget in Scotland. His side are currently five points behind shock leaders Hearts in the Scottish Premiership and defeat against Dundee last weekend slammed home the problems that the Bhoys are currently facing.

Having his say on Celtic’s recent dip in form, Rodgers admitted that they currently find themselves in a “difficult” moment – telling reporters: “If I’m honest, I think that it is difficult.

“We understood what we wanted to be as a football team in the summer and we never quite managed to get there. So of course we now have to live with that. So that’s something that every day we’re trying to improve and make better.

“But there’s absolutely no doubt that we’re in a difficult moment and we have to stand together and come through, and that’s what’s going to be important if we’re going to progress.”

Each moment to forget has ignited concerns over Rodgers’ Celtic future. There remains no breakthrough in contract talks and potential candidates to take his job like Ange Postecoglou are now beginning to emerge.

Whilst speculation continues to arrive, however, Rodgers must attempt to turn Celtic’s form around and could be forced to do so without one of his most important players this weekend.

Maeda now a doubt to face Hearts

As revealed by Rodgers, Daizen Maeda is now a doubt to face Hearts this weekend amid both hamstring and lower back injuries. The forward missed last weekend’s defeat at the hands of Dundee as well as the clash against SK Sturm Graz in the Europa League. Now, he could be missing for a crucial game in the title race.

Although the forward has not been at his best so far this season, his absence still comes at a frustrating time. Described as “amazing” by Rodgers last season, the Celtic boss desperately needs Maeda to come back fit and firing in time for the Hearts clash.

Rodgers must finally ditch Yang & unleash Celtic's "terrific talent"

With Celtic under pressure to beat Sturm Graz in the Europa League, Brendan Rodgers must bench Yang Hyun-Jun and start his “terrific talent” instead.

ByBen Gray Oct 23, 2025

At his best, the Japan international scored 33 goals in all competitions last season and there’s no doubt that a player of that calibre would make all the difference for the Bhoys in their current form.

After a travel day on Monday, Major League Baseball is back in a big way with a loaded Tuesday night slate featuring plenty of pitchers to bet on. 

When betting on the prop market in baseball, I love targeting starting pitching matchups that I believe to be favorable, and there are a few starters that are worth a look on June 11.

New York Yankees righty Marcus Stroman, Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler and San Francisco Giants righty Jordan Hicks are among the top players to target, but maybe not in the way you’d expect. 

Let’s dive into these plays for Tuesday’s 15-game slate. 

Best MLB Prop Bets for Tuesday, June 11

• Marcus Stroman OVER 16.5 Outs Recorded (-125)
• Zack Wheeler OVER 1.5 Walks Allowed (-145)
• Jordan Hicks UNDER 16.5 Outs Recorded (-125)

Marcus Stroman OVER 16.5 Outs Recorded (-125)

Marcus Stroman lasted just 4.2 innings in his last start for New York, but he had cleared 16.5 outs recorded in five straight starts prior to that outing.

Stroman has been solid for this season, posting a 3.04 ERA and 4.82 Fielding Independent Pitching, and he was elite in May, posting a 1.67 ERA and a .191 opponent batting average that month. 

I think this could be a bounce-back spot for Stroman, even though the Kansas City Royals have been a solid offense this season. We’re not asking Stroman to even get through six innings to clear this prop, and he’s done it in more than half of his starts in 2024. 

Zack Wheeler OVER 1.5 Walks Allowed (-145)

Zack Wheeler has been elite for the Phillies this season, but I’m actually fading him against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday.

In 13 starts, Wheeler has walked two or more batters in eight games, tallying 26 total walks. 

Boston doesn’t draw a ton of walks (16th in the league), but Wheeler has cleared this prop in five straight games. He usually pitches pretty deep into games – 10 starts with at least 6.0 innings pitched – which gives him more chances to rack up the free passes. 

Even at this price, Wheeler is a solid fade candidate tonight. 

Jordan Hicks UNDER 16.5 Outs Recorded (-125)

The last time Giants righty Jordan Hicks started, I faded him in this prop, and I’m going back to the well tonight. 

Hicks is a converted reliever, and the Giants have played things safe with him this season when it comes to his pitch count and innings pitched. 

Hicks has gone under 16.5 outs recorded in 10 of his 13 starts and each of his seven starts since the beginning of May. 

While Hicks has thrown over 90 pitches on several occasions, he’s also been pulled through five innings in games where he’s failed to reach 80 pitches. 

Until we see Hicks reach the sixth inning in a game, he’s a must fade at anything above 14.5 outs.