Cricket

Big Bash League 2021-22

It was an inspired performance from injury-struck Fawad Ahmed as he helped Adelaide Strikers beat Big Bash League (BBL) leaders Perth Scorchers by six wickets. The Pakistan-born leg-spinner took three wickets for 30 runs in his four overs to restrict mighty Perth for a below par 127/9 in the first innings. The win keeps their slightest hopes of making the playoffs alive. It is worth noting that Ahmed has been struggling with rib injury ever since the start of the campaign. The outstanding performance also meant that he was adjudged ‘Man of the Match'.&nbsp;Rib injury sustained one day before joining the StrikersThe right-arm spinner was injured in a Premier Cricket side match playing for Melbourne University. The very next day he went on to sign for Adelaide Strikers but has struggled badly to regain full fitness in the entire season so far.&nbsp;&nbsp;"I think it was just before coming (to Adelaide), a day before, I played a game for Melbourne Uni in grade cricket," Fawad told Fox Cricket after the match.&nbsp;"I dived on the boundary and it was hurting badly when I came here and started training with the Adelaide Strikers.&nbsp;"I missed the first couple of games and then the first three or four games I played in huge pain.&nbsp;"I'm getting a bit more pain on the side rather than on the ribs and it's swollen big time … it's still hurting, I can't dive, and I can't slide," the 39-year-old added.&nbsp;Ahmed dismissed opener Kurtis Patterson (25), Laurie Evans (39) and tailender Jason Behrendorff (0). He also bowled with an economy of 7.50. Chasing a 128-run total, there were no real issues for the Strikers as they got over the line with 18 balls to spare and also earned a Bash boost point. Debutant Ian Cockbain ended as the top-scorer with 35 off 24 deliveries.&nbsp;The standout performances might have come too little, too late for the Strikers as they struggle to get into the top four with two league matches remaining. In the last match, Rashid Khan's record six-wicket haul also helped Peter Siddle-led side register a big win against Brisbane Heat. The win against league leaders helps them to 20 points from 12 matches, four behind Hobart Hurricanes who are in fourth position. The win was their fourth of the season while opponents Perth, despite the defeat sit at the top of the pile with 37 points and are well in preparation for the playoffs.

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'It's still hurting, I can't dive, and I can't slide,' Fawad Ahmed delivers match-winning performance with injured ribs

Perth Scorchers made short work of a depleted Sydney Sixers’ side to win their fourth Big Bash League (BBL) title. The Ashton Turner-led side continued their dominance over Moises Henriques’ Sixers with a massive 79-run win at Docklands Stadium, Melbourne. Chasing a stiff target of 172, Sixers were bundled out for 92 with 22 balls still left in the innings.&nbsp;Monumental collapseSixers’ run chase got off to a poor start as the hero of qualifier against Adelaide Strikers, Hayden Kerr got out for two runs in the second over to Jason Behrendorff. Inexperienced opener Nicholas Bertus could not make an impact either with run-a-ball 15. Back after injury, Daniel Hughes turned out to be the only batter who showed some fight as Scorchers’ bowlers rushed through Sixers’ lineup. With Hughes getting out for a 33-ball 42, Sixers could not add much to the score and collapsed. The defending champions lost seven wickets for just 30 runs. Experienced campaigners Henriques and Christian got out for single-digit scores as they crumbled under pressure. Andrew Tye was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets to his name. Tye was on a hat-trick in the 14th over which Nathan Lyon survived. Jhye Richardson took two wickets whereas other four bowlers picked up one wicket each.&nbsp;Early collapseEarlier, after winning the toss, Henriques asked Scorchers to bat first. Henriques’ plan worked in the powerplay overs as Scorchers were reduced to 25/4 in six overs. Jackson Bird got the wicket of opener Kurtis Patterson whereas spinners did the rest. Left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe got rid of Josh Inglis. On the other end, Lyon got two big wickets of Mitchell Marsh and Colin Munro.&nbsp;&nbsp;Match-winning counter-attackSkipper Turner and Laurie Evans changed the game in the middle overs with a 104-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Turner scored 54 runs off 35 deliveries whereas Evans continued the onslaught in the slog overs. Ashton Agar contributed with a 15-run cameo but Evans remained unbeaten for a match-winning 76-run knock off 41 deliveries including four fours and as many sixes. His knock helped Scorchers post 171/6. O’Keefe was the most expensive bowler as he conceded 43 runs despite taking two wickets.&nbsp;In the first qualifier clash, Scorchers had beaten Sixers by 48 runs. For Sixers, players affected by Covid-19 and injuries led to them fielding a depleted side. Also, they did not get permission to include star batter Steve Smith in the final.

Recovering from 25/4, Perth Scorchers beat Sydney Sixers by 79 runs to win record fourth BBL final

Sydney Sixers overcame numerous challenges on and off-the-field to beat a red-hot Adelaide Strikers and book a rematch with Perth Scorchers in the final after a humiliating 48-run defeat in the first qualifier. Hard-hitting batter Hayden Kerr promoted to the top of the order in absence of Covid-19 positive Josh Phillipe and unfit Daniel Hughes, scored an unbeaten 98 to guide Sixers to a four-wicket in the final-ball thriller at Sydney Cricket Ground.&nbsp;&nbsp;Change in order worksChasing a tricky total of 168, Kerr single-handedly took charge of the run chase while Justin Avendano struggled in the powerplay overs and managed just one runs off eight deliveries. Jake Carden too disappointed with a 13-ball 10 followed by skipper Moises Henriques’ 16-ball 13 and veteran all-rounder Daniel Christian’s disappointing one-run knock. Despite mediocre batting at the other end, Kerr kept Strikers’ skipper Peter Siddle on his toes. Siddle also rued the missed opportunity in the fourth over when Matt Renshaw an easy chance of Kerr’s when the latter was batting for just 19.&nbsp;&nbsp;Much-needed supportThe 25-year-old reached his half-century off 31 deliveries in the 11th over. With four wickets down, Sixers were on track in the run chase with 101 runs from 14.1 overs. Finally, Kerr found some support in Sean Abbott who scored 41 runs off just 20 balls including two fours and two sixes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dramatic final overAbbott was quick between the wickets too but lost his wicket off the first ball of the final over with 12 more needed from five deliveries. Ben Dwarshuis, the half-centurion of previous match got promoted to no.7, but he got run out for a duck trying to help Kerr get back on strike. New batter Jordan Silk managed a single off the third delivery. When Sixers needed 10 off final three deliveries, Kerr cleared the boundary and hit Harry Conway for a maximum. He followed it up with a couple of runs. Before the final ball, Silk walked off the field almost limping to give chance to debutant wicketkeeper-batter Jay Lenton as all three results were possible. But off the final delivery, Kerr held his shape and flicked one towards deep mid-wicket where the fielder fumbled, and the ball went for boundary.&nbsp;&nbsp;Unreal numbersKerr missed a well-deserved century as he remained unbeaten for 98 off 58 deliveries including 10 fours and two sixes. It was also his maiden half-century in T20 cricket. Before the encounter, he had 87 runs from just 11 innings.&nbsp;Worst possible startAfter Henriques asked Strikers to bat first, the visitors got off to a poor start losing three wickets for just 21 runs in form of Alex Carey, Matthew Short and Travis Head. Once again, mid-season English recruit Ian Cockbain steadied the ship. Cockbain shared a crucial 83-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Jonathan Wells. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 48 runs off 42 deliveries including two fours and two sixes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ideal finishStrikers recovered very well as they scored 105 runs from the last 10 overs. Matt Renshaw contributed with an unbeaten 20-ball 36 cameo including three fours and two sixes. Wells walked off the field 67 not out from 52 balls including five fours and one six. The two shared a 63-run partnership for the fifth wicket from 34 deliveries. For Sixers, Abbott was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets in his four overs, conceding 27 runs.

Hayden books Sydney Sixers' rematch with Perth Scorchers in BBL final with unbeaten 98 in eventful last over

Ben McDermott continued his purple patch as he went past 50 for the fourth time in BBL 11. His knock of 93 from 61 balls helped the Hobart Hurricanes cruise to victory over the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba. McDermott’s innings helped the visitors chase down the target of 145 with ease.&nbsp;After he closed out 2021 with a pair of history-making hundreds, McDermott's innings tonight was a more measured effort, coming as it did in pursuit of a mediocre 8/144 from the Heat, who were still missing a dozen members of their regular squad with COVID-19.&nbsp;McDermott’s controlled innings helped him to become the leading run-scorer in BBL history. He also shared a 117-run partnership with Peter Handscomb who remained unbeaten at 27 off 33. &nbsp;Hurricanes are now in the fourth spot on the points table.&nbsp;Lachlan grinds it out for Heats&nbsp;Batting first Heat could only manage a 144/8. Lachlan Pfeffer top scored with 69 off 51. Barring Pfeffer no one else got going in the batting department. Promoted to no.3 after batting at six two days ago, 30-year-old Lachlan Pfeffer held the Heat innings together.&nbsp;With 2/23 Sandeep Lamichanne was the pick of Hobart bowlers. The Nepal spinner proved his worth in the shortest format yet again. Mitchell oven picked 2/25 while Tim David picked 1/17.&nbsp;Defending a mediocre score , Brisbane bowlers never really stood a chance as the Hurricane batters marched on to the target . Will Prestwidge was the only Heat bowler to get wickets as he finished with 2/37.

Hurricane alert: McDermott’s sensational 93 off 61 blows Heat away at the Gabba

Perth Scorchers have been docked one Bash point for using Brayden Stepien incorrectly in a Big Bash League (BBL) 2021-22 game against Adelaide Strikers. Stepien was used incorrectly as a central replacement player by the Scorchers. However, the deduction will have no effect on the team's final position. According to Cricket Australia (CA) Code of Conduct Commission, Perth Scorchers were found guilty by Alan Sullivan, commissioner of the QC. According to his verdict, the player was ineligible to be part of the team as he kept wickets for 14 overs in the encounter against the Strikers. He came on for Laurie Evans, who was injured and had to sit out. The Scorchers also missed Josh Inglis, as he was called to the Australian national team for the recently-concluded Ashes 2021-22. As the rule book states, a player has to be in the squad list on official terms before being drafted into the team as a substitute. Stepien was not named in the official squad before the start of the match and was therefore ineligible to be part of the team. His involvement has now cost the team a Bash point, for the breach of the rule. One of the main reasons for the incident is the rising Covid-19 cases which had forced Cameron Bancroft to sit out, as he was contracted the virus. It was also confirmed that the Adelaide Strikers were not awarded the Bash point and will have no impact on their outcome. In the middle of this saga, the Scorchers management has requested the CA to host their finals at the Marvel Stadium to avoid any further spread of the pandemic and potential postponements. "The League's firm belief is that we must work together with our clubs to do all we can to protect the finals series using the lessons from the season so far," BBL General Manager Alistair Dobson said in reference to the request made by the Scorchers. "As such, we have made the difficult decision to stage the first week of the finals series in Melbourne. This decision provides all participating clubs the best possible chance of participating in a finals match with the strongest squad available,” he added. &nbsp;The playoffs of the BBL will start on Friday (January 21) with the venues yet to be finalised.

Perth Scorchers penalised for using a player incorrectly

India’s Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Unmukt Chand created history at Docklands Stadium, Melbourne as he became the first Indian male cricketer to play in Big Bash League (BBL) 2021-22.&nbsp;&nbsp;Unimpressive debutThe former Indian cricketer came in to bat at no.5 in the 15th over of Melbourne Renegades’ run chase against Hobart Hurricanes. Renegades needed 45 more runs from 31 deliveries to win the match with skipper Aaron Finch set on the other end.&nbsp;At the start of the innings, Chand was troubled by the pace of Riley Meredith, who was picked by Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the previous edition of IPL 2021 for Rs 8 crore.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the 18th over, the 28-year-old showed first signs of aggression but it led to his departure. The Delhi-born batter tried to take on Nepal leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane but got caught at the mid-wicket boundary. He scored just six runs from eight deliveries.&nbsp;&nbsp;Finch’s knock in vainThe slow knock from the Indian batter changed the course of the match for Renegades. Finch’s valiant knock came to an end in the penultimate over. Australia’s white-ball skipper scored 75 runs off 42 deliveries including six fours and four sixes. After Shaun Marsh’s 51-run knock, he did not get much support from the other end as Renegades finished the season with a defeat by six runs.&nbsp;Earlier, Matthew Wade-led Hurricanes posted a challenging total of 182/5 on the board. Despite getting in-form batter Ben McDermott early in powerplay overs, Hurricanes did well in the powerplay overs. Opener Caleb Jewell scored 28-ball 35 whereas skipper Wade missed his half-century by two runs. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 48 runs from 39 deliveries including four fours and one six. D’Arcy Short contributed too with his 22-ball 37 but it was Tim David who helped Hurricanes finish with a flourish. David hit four sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 20-ball 46.&nbsp;Forgettable season for ChandChand was ignored from Renegades’ 12 clashes despite a dismal run in the season. It was followed by a cryptic tweet from Chand last week which read, “Feels more like a vacation. Thanks Melbourne!!”. In the end, he was given a chance in a dead rubber for Renegades as they were already out of the playoffs contention.

Unmukt Chand creates history with mere 6-run knock in 6-run defeat on BBL debut

Perth Scorchers beat Melbourne Stars by 50 runs in a Big Bash League (BBL) match played on January 2 (Sunday) at the Junction Oval, Melbourne.&nbsp;&nbsp;Stars, while chasing 180 runs got off to a flying start after their openers created a solid partnership of 78 runs off 51 balls. But Melbourne’s batsmen utterly failed to make full use of the good start produced by two openers- Joe Clarke (52 off 32 balls) and Thomas Rogers (32 off 25 balls) and lost their remaining 9 wickets within just 52 runs.&nbsp;A total batting collapseApart from the two openers, only Charlie Wakim (20 off 24 balls) and Hilton Cartwright (12 off 10 balls) managed to reach the two-digit mark. Middle order’s poor batting display meant Stars could somehow reach a mere total of 130 runs in 18.5 overs, falling 50 runs short of their target.&nbsp;&nbsp;For Scorchers, English fast bowler Tymal Mills picked up three wickets. &nbsp;&nbsp;Earlier, Perth Scorchers skipper Ashton Turner won the toss and chose to bat first.&nbsp;&nbsp;Opener Cameron Bancroft was sent back to the pavilion only in the third over of the innings after the Aussie managed to score just 5 runs. But the other opener, Curtis Patterson, played a superb knock and scored a half-century to help his side in reaching a commendable total of 180 for 8 wickets.&nbsp;&nbsp;The 28-year-old Aussie scored 54 off just 39 deliveries and his innings was comprised of 4 boundaries and 2 sixes. Patterson looked pretty dangerous but Pakistan’s Haris Rauf eventually picked up the crucial wicket in the 12th over of the innings.&nbsp;&nbsp;Patterson wanted to play a pull shot but eventually managed to play it squarer than he would have liked and ended it playing it down to Wakim at deep square leg.&nbsp;Colin Munro played another gutsy innings of 40 off just 20 balls. The Kiwi hit 4 sixes to frustrate the opponent bowlers.&nbsp;&nbsp;Melbourne Stars bowlers would surely be disappointed after they conceded 18 extra runs. Rauf and Afghanistan’s Qais Ahmad picked up two wickets each for the Melbourne side.&nbsp;Bizarre incidentMeanwhile, skipper Turner and umpire Bruce Oxenford got involved in a pretty bizarre incident after the latter strangely reversed his decision after initially giving the batter out caught behind.&nbsp;Turner tried to pull a delivery but missed it and the ball went to wicketkeeper Joe Clarke.&nbsp;A noise was heard as the ball passed Turner, with Oxenford giving the Scorchers skipper out caught behind.&nbsp;But Oxenford became thoughtful suddenly and started pondering his decision. Turner wasted no time in yelling out “helmet”.&nbsp;&nbsp;Replays eventually proved Turner to be correct as the ball did miss the bat and come off the helmet.

Stars suffer monumental collapse in run chase, lose 10 wickets within 52 runs

The Big Bash League's clubs were left scratching their heads for the replacement when England and the Wales Cricket Board (ECB) recalled their T20I squad members ahead of West Indies tour later this month.&nbsp;As many as six players taking part in the ongoing BBL 2021-22 season have been summoned by the cricket board. Sam Billings, Saqib Mahmood, George Garton, James Vince, Tymal Mills and Reece Topley are the players in question.&nbsp;According to a report on the official website of Cricket Australia, the players will have to report back home before entering a pre-tour isolation by January 7.&nbsp;Both Billings and Mahmood have been in red-hot form and the side is already grappling with key players missing out having tested positive for COVID-19.&nbsp;Billings and Mahmood, as well as George Garton (of the Adelaide Strikers), will bow out after the bout between their respective teams today in Sydney. Tymal Mills played his final game of BBL 11 earlier in the day for the Perth Scorchers.Chris Jordan is another member of England's T20I squad against the West Indies who was part of the BBL, but he has already returned home.&nbsp;England's 16-player T20I squad includes Billings and Mahmood (Sydney Thunder), George Garton (Adelaide Strikers), Chris Jordan (who has already returned home) and James Vince (Sydney Sixers), Tymal Mills (Perth Scorchers) and Reece Topley (Melbourne Renegades).&nbsp;Sunday's (January 2) game will be Billings and Mahmood's final appearance for the Sydney club – Garton was named an X-factor sub for the Strikers for the same game – while Mills likely signed off during Perth's victory over Melbourne Stars earlier the same day.Topley has been named in the Renegade's squad for Monday's Melbourne derby, and it is yet to be seen whether Vince will sneak in one final match for the Sixers on Tuesday before departing. England are set to tour former champions West Indies for a five-match T20I series later this month. All five games will be played at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, with the first of those beginning on January 22.&nbsp;The series marks England's first white-ball venture since the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, where they made the semi-finals. The England Test side are currently in Australia and have already lost the Ashes 3-0 with two games still to go.

Covid effect: Influx of England players' pull out leaves BBL in a fix for replacements

Sydney Sixers have been dealt a heavy blow ahead of their Big Bash League (BBL) playoff clash with Adelaide Strikers after Josh Philippe tested positive for Covid-19. The blow adds salt to the injury for the Sixers who were unable to register Steve Smith for their playoff encounter against Perth Scorchers last week. As things stand, the Sydney squad remains depleted with a feisty contest in hands against Strikers. A tweet from ‘cricketcomau’ confirmed the news and read, “A massive blow for the Sixers with Josh Philippe ruled out of BBL Finals due to COVID. Head to the CA Live app for the latest squad details ahead of tonight's Challenger final #BBL11.” The 24-year-old former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) wicketkeeper-batter will be a major miss for the defending champions as he was a vital player for the team in winning the BBL title in the 2020 and 2021 seasons. In 15 matches so far this season, he has racked 429 runs at an average of 33.00 with a best score of 99 not out against Melbourne Stars back in December. He is the highest scorer for the Sixers this season and will leave big shoes to fill in for the remaining encounters. According to reports, Nick Bertus will don the gloves for the pink army, who has brief experience at the domestic level with New South Wales (NSW) and also captains the Parramatta side in the Premier Cricket. He was drafted into the squad ahead of their qualifier encounter against Perth Scorchers last week, where the Sixers stumbled to 55/7 before they lost dismally by 48 runs while chasing a target of 190 runs. The Sixers finished second in the BBL league standings on 35 points and qualified for the playoffs as runner ups, giving them two shots of reaching the final. They will now have to be at their fluent best, without Philippe, who will be the missing piece in the puzzle.&nbsp;&nbsp;Philippe was capped 10 times by the Australian senior side in T20Is while he also played three ODIs after the breakthrough season. He was adjudged 'Man of the Tournament' in the last season of BBL as the Sixers won the competition. He was previously associated with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Former RCB player ruled out of Sydney Sixers' BBL playoff after testing positive for Covid-19

Sydney Sixers all-rounder Daniel Christian has taken to the social media ahead of the Big Bash League (BBL) final against Perth Scorchers on Friday (January 28) to address his team's inability to field a fully fit playing XI. The Sixers are struggling to put together a fully fit squad due to the outbreak of Covid-19 in their camp. The defending champions have made it to their third consecutive final to defend their crown, but with star players unavailable, Christian took a dig at Cricket Australia (CA). The board recently disallowed Steve Smith from joining the Sixers squad while Josh Philippe, their highest scorer in the current season, was ruled out due to Covid-19. Also, Daniel Hughes was unfit for the match and Jordan Silk limped off the field in the qualifier against Adelaide Strikers. &nbsp;In the early hours of Thursday (January 27) morning, Christian tweeted, “Shout out to anyone* in Melbourne that wants a game of cricket tomorrow night. My team is struggling to get 11 covid free, fit players on the park. Warm up starts at 6.30pm at Marvel Stadium. “Free beer afterwards, potentially out of a large cup. “DM if keen. “*no test cricketers.” Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers also had a crack on the tweet with his reply, “I’m keen if u can guarantee me my 4 overs?” &nbsp;Meanwhile, England's 2019 World Cup hero Jofra Archer also replied with a question, “Do I have to pay subs?” The perilous situation in the Sixers camp has been a topic of debate. Christian's tweet to call out fans has brought the pandemic issue on the front page once again. On the other hand, CA's rule of not allowing Smith to join has added fuel to the fire. It will be a top-of-the-table clash in the finals of the BBL as the Sixers finished second in the BBL standings with 35 points while Perth Scorchers topped with 40 points in 14 league matches. In three encounters so far this season the Scorchers have come out on top on all occasions. This includes the qualifier encounter last Saturday, where Sixers were beaten in a one-sided encounter by 48 runs.

Christian offers 'free beers' ahead of BBL final in a cheeky tweet; asks fans to fill in for Covid-hit Sixers' playing XI

Pakistan's young fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain will undergo a test as his bowling action was reported by the umpires in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL 2021-22).&nbsp;As per a report by ESPNCricinfo, Hasnain's bowling action will be tested on January 18 at the biomechanics laboratory in Lahore which is accredited by International Cricket Council.&nbsp;Interestingly, before getting called up by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ahead of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 which is scheduled to start on January 27, Hasnain was accused of throwing the ball by Australian all-rounder and Sydney Sixers captain Moises Henriques. Initially, the fast bowler was supposed to get tested in Australia on January 19 but PSL commitment led to the change in venue.&nbsp;&nbsp;The 21-year-old express fast bowler recently finished a five-game stint for Sydney Thunder as a replacement for England's Saqib Mahmood. He took three wickets on his BBL debut against Adelaide Strikers.&nbsp;&nbsp;In total, he took seven wickets from five games helping Chris Green-led Thunders qualify for the playoffs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Henriques was heard saying ‘Nice throw, mate’ in the 12th over as Hasnain troubled him with raw pace. While other Thunder's bowlers were taken to the cleaners, Hasnain turned out to be the most economical as he conceded 22 runs in his quota of four overs.&nbsp;While Hasnain’s tests are awaited, he will be able to bowl for Quetta Gladiators in the opening games of PSL 2022 as it is a domestic event. However, in the past, PSL has not allowed bowlers with suspected bowling action to bowl in the league.&nbsp;&nbsp;If the tests do not go Hasnain’s way, he will be banned from bowling in competitive cricket until he makes changes to his action and gets clearance from ICC.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hasnain has played for Pakistan in 18 T20Is and 7 ODIs taking 12 and 17 wickets respectively. Despite a decent record, Hasnain was not a part of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad which qualified for the semi-final. After his successful stint, he can be considered for this year’s T20 World Cup to be played in Australia if he passes the test.

Pakistan's fast-bowling sensation reported for suspected illegal bowling action after Aussie's on-field complaint

Former India U-19 World Cup-winning captain Unmkut Chand will finally get his chance in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) after Melbourne Renegades announced their playing eleven for next game. The Delhi-born player was signed by the Melbourne franchise on the eve of the tournament but was not included in the playing eleven by the Renegades management. He will now make his debut in a dead-rubber clash against Hobart Hurricanes, as the Renegades are already out of the playoff race, languishing bottom of the table.&nbsp;A picture tweeted by the Melbourne Renegades' Twitter account showcased 28-year-old Chand in the playing eleven. The former India U-19 player was only part of the squad and was itching to get some game time after becoming only Indian cricketer in the Australian T20 league.&nbsp;Renegades tweeted: “4 changes to our squad for our clash against the @HurricanesBBL, Unmukt's in and Finchy's taking the reins.”&nbsp;Chand's early disappointmentEarlier in the campaign, the right-handed batter attracted the attention of Renegades' team management by showing his disappointment. The 28-year-old took to Twitter on January 11 and wrote, “Feels more like a vacation. Thanks Melbourne!!”.&nbsp;The player was unhappy as he did not get to don the red jersey despite a dismal batting show by the Renegades in the ongoing tournament.&nbsp;Too little, too late for the RenegadesThe 2019 champions have so far endured a tough time in the BBL season as they have won only three matches so far. The sloppy show has seen them pick up just 15 points from 12 matches; their net run rate sees them drop below Brisbane Heat, who also have 15 points.&nbsp;Chand's arrival will not be the only change for the Renegades. Aaron Finch will also return and lead the side. Alongside Chand and Finch, there are a couple of more changes as Zak Evans, Mitch Perry also return to the Renegades squad. The Melbourne-based franchise will close its campaign against Sydney Thunders on Wednesday (January 19) after the action will switch over to playoffs.

8 losses and one cryptic tweet later, Unmukt Chand finally set to make BBL debut for Melbourne Renegades

Haris Rauf missed his chance of becoming the second bowler to take two hat-tricks in BBL history despite Peter Siddle-led Adelaide Strikers losing three wickets off consecutive deliveries in the final over.&nbsp;&nbsp;Melbourne Stars’ stand-in skipper Adam Zampa handed the ball to Pakistan speedster to bowl the final over of the innings. After three singles off the first three deliveries, Rauf got the wicket of Harry Nielsen as the batter missed the line and ended up getting bowled. His second wicket was Strikers’ skipper Siddle who also got bowled trying to play a slog off the penultimate delivery. Rauf was on a hat-trick against the no.10 batter Harry Conway but he managed to get his bat on a fast 146.8 kmph delivery. Conway and Rashid Khan tried to get a couple of runs but Conway got run out after a good through from Joe Clarke in the deep.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rauf finished with two wickets for 25 runs in his quota of four overs. He bowled a brilliant final over conceding just four singles. Also, he kept cameo-specialist Rashid at bay. Strikers could manage to post only 139/8. Only Jonathan Wells made a mark with a 56-ball 68 in the middle order.&nbsp;The economical last over came into play as Strikers bowlers kept the game alive till death overs. Opener Clarke did the heavy lifting as an inexperienced Stars top order collapsed. With Beau Webster struggling to find gaps or hit boundaries, Clarke led the way for Stars with his 58-ball 83 laced with three fours and four sixes. With his wicket in the penultimate over, the game was still alive.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, Qais Ahmad was cool as a cucumber as he hit a six on the first ball of the final over. It was the very first ball he faced in the innings. It was followed by a wide delivery which gave Stars a win by five wickets with five balls to spare.&nbsp;&nbsp;With this win, Stars moved from the bottom of the table to register their fourth win of the season. On the other hand, Strikers moved to the bottom with just two wins from 10 games.

3 wickets in 3 balls! Haris Rauf’s double blow in final over sinks Siddle's Strikers

The current 11th edition of Big Bash League (BBL) has not been a remarkable outing till now for the Melbourne Stars team. Stars are currently on the bottom of the league table. Their stand-In skipper Adam Zampa feels that his side do not deserve to be where they are currently. Regarding the latest Covid-19 outbreak that saw Stars have their captain Glenn Maxwell ruled out, Zampa said that he is “glad” that he had it and gotten it out of the way.&nbsp;“I'm glad that I've kind of had it and gotten it out of the way,” Zampa, was quoted while talking to cricket.com.au, on Sunday (January 9).&nbsp;"But my team is now sitting in last place and we're staring down the barrel of missing the semis again so it's getting desperate times in terms of performance and getting to the back-end of the tournament.&nbsp;"The silver lining is 'yeah, I've had it and hopefully I'm passed fit, and I can get through the next six games OK' but we're sitting last on the table, which I really don't think is where we deserve to be sitting," expressed Zampa.&nbsp;&nbsp;The derby went onStars previously had their two games- against the Scorchers and against Strikers- cancelled but despite the multiple Covid-19 positive cases the high-voltage derby match between the Stars and Melbourne Renegades got the permission to take place on January 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;The 29-year-old expressed his disappointment as he wanted to have a full squad in a crucial match like a derby.&nbsp;&nbsp;"You would think that you would want two full-strength squads available for a game ... Renegades-Stars, Scorchers-Sixers and Sixers-Thunder, these competitions are built on days like that," he said.&nbsp;"I think the derby day was taken the piss out of a little bit and that was because it was set in stone on January 3.&nbsp;"It is obviously a great opportunity for some of those guys that came in and played."&nbsp;New role for ZampaRegarding his new role of being the leader of the side the leg-break bowler said that he has mentally always been prepared to be the captain and now it's a great way to learn about it.&nbsp;"I try to think about the game as if I'm a captain anyway while I'm out there and it's a great way to learn about it," Zampa said.

BBL derby 'taken the piss out of'; Zampa expresses disappointment amid Covid-19 scare

Defending Big Bash League (BBL) champions Sydney Sixers have had mix season so far as they lie third in the table in BBL's 2021-2022 edition, but one thing is certain Hayden Kerr is enjoying the current season as he eyes an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract. With 16 wickets in 10 matches so far, the talented all-rounder has been at his prolific best as Sixers try to defend their title. Kerr, 25, will have his eyes set on a mega-contract as he attracts the attention of IPL franchises. With an average of 11 and an economy of 7.04, he has been the glittering line for the Sydney-based franchise in the BBL 2021-22 season. His 16 scalps have come at a strike rate of 9.3, which makes him one of the deadliest bowlers in the BBL. Kerr's tally of 16 wickets is only surpassed by Peter Siddle of Adelaide Strikers and Andrew Tye of Perth Scorchers, both with 18 wickets each. The IPL 2022 season is due to begin in April as team managements are on the hunt to reshape their franchises ahead of the latest season. Kerr's prospect of expectations has been bolstered by the addition of two more franchises. So with teams on the hunt, the youngster could be a cheap but reliable asset with his proven record in the BBL. His batting ability could also be a vital reason why teams could make him a priority signing. The IPL auctions are due to be taking place in February, with little overseas option available at a cheap rate the franchises could do with the left-arm medium-pacer. The signing could revive the memories of David Warner's signing back in 2009 when he was picked by Delhi Daredevils (DD) when the New South Wales star roused to the occasion before he was an international star. The rest is history in the case of Warner, as he has gone down as one of the best T20I players in recent memories. Another star from the same province could bring back the memories of 2009. The numbers also make good reading for Kerr, he scored a debut fifty with the bat in the Sheffield Shield with an unbeaten 62. All his BBL wickets have been mustard in the current season with the best figure of 32/4 against Perth Scorchers in January of this year. &nbsp;Once struggling with a back injury, Kerr was forced to concentrate on batting, when he was 18. But his recent renaissance has once again attracted the attention of franchises all around the world. An IPL contract could just be a matter of time for the talented all-rounder as his performances are getting better day after day. Currently, Kerr's focus should remain on the Sixers as they face tough competition to retain their crown. Sixers sit third, while the likes of Scorchers and fellow rivals Sydney Thunders give them a tough task.

With 16 wickets in 10 games, Australia fast bowler wishes to get picked in IPL 2022

21-year-old Mohammad Hasnain made a dream Big Bash League (BBL) debut for Sydney Thunder at the Sydney Showground Stadium with a triple wicket-maiden. Bowling his first BBL over, Hasnain derailed Adelaide Strikers run chase single-handedly with three wickets in four deliveries.&nbsp;&nbsp;The young Pakistan fast bowler took the wickets of openers Matthew Short and Jake Weatherald off consecutive deliveries followed by the wicket of Jonathan Wells in the third over of the run chase. Strikers were 24/0 after two overs chasing a 173-run target.&nbsp;Hasnain’s first dismissal was Short who was playing a rampant knock in the powerplay overs. He flicked a length ball but timed it straight to deep square leg fielder Daniel Sams. The opener got out after scoring 13 runs off six deliveries. He got more swing off the next delivery and trapped Weatherald in front of the stumps.&nbsp;On the hat-trick ball, Hasnain bowled it full and straight but Jonathan Wells managed to keep it out. However, on the next delivery Wells threw his wicket away trying to beat the short mid-wicket fielder Ben Cutting. From 24/0 in two overs, Strikers went to 25/3. The only run scored in the over was via leg byes.&nbsp;After three quick wickets, Strikers failed to recover and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. The notable contributions from Strikers include Matt Renshaw’s 21-ball 30 and Harry Nielsen’s 31-ball 39. The visitors got bundled out for 144 with five more deliveries to go. Hasnain did not get more wickets in the innings but did not leak runs. In the next three overs of his spell, he conceded 20 runs.&nbsp;&nbsp;This was Strikers’ sixth consecutive defeat in the season. They are placed seventh on the points table with just nine points in the bag. On the other hand, this was Thunder’s fifth win of BBL 2021-22 from eight encounters.&nbsp;Earlier opener Matthew Gilkes helped his side post a fighting total of 172/7. Gilkes anchored the innings and scored 93 runs from 57 deliveries including nine fours and three sixes. He got out off the penultimate over of the innings missing his maiden BBL century. For Strikers, Wes Agar and skipper Peter Siddle took three wickets each.&nbsp;

3 wickets in one over! Pakistan fast bowler derails Strikers run chase on BBL debut

Perth Scorchers stormed into the Big Bash League (BBL) 2021-22 final after thrashing Sydney Sixers by 49 runs at the Docklands Stadium, Melbourne. The Sixers were all out for 140 from 19.2 overs in their run chase of 190. Sixers would have lost by a bigger margin if not for no.9 batter Ben Dwarshuis 66-run knock from 29 balls.&nbsp;The Scorchers made 189/3 after winning the toss and batting first. Josh Inglis top-scored for Scorchers with 79. Inglis shared a record 120-run opening partnership with Kurtis Patterson to set the team up for a daunting total in the qualifier. The wicketkeeper-batter scored at a strike rate of 161.22. He hit nine fours and one six in his match-winning knock.&nbsp;In the Scorchers’ innings Patterson smashed his fourth half century of the tournament, including four fours and two sixes off just 33 balls to set the tone for the match. In a late cameo, all-rounder Mitchell Marsh smashed 28 from 21 balls including four fours, before he was caught by Moises Henriques.&nbsp;Justin Avendano was first man out for the Sixers for a third-ball duck after he skied one to Inglis off Jason Behrendorff in the second over. His opening partner Josh Philippe chopped one on from Jhye Richardson in the third over for five from eight balls to have the Sixers reeling at 8/2. Behrendorff had his second wicket in the fourth over when Jordan Silk cut one to a wide slip to make it 11/3.&nbsp;&nbsp;Things got even worse when the Sixers fell to 41/6. A slower ball from Richardson had Moises Henriques edging the ball behind. A stellar throw from Ashton Turner, ran out Sean Abbott for three runs as the collapse continued apace, the Sixers falling to 55/7 in 12 overs.&nbsp;Richardson, Behrendorff, Ashton Agar and &nbsp;Andrew Tye all nabbed two wickets each for the Scorchers, while Peter Hatzoglou had one.&nbsp;Dwarshuis saved Sixers from further embarrassment. He hit 18 off his first six balls but the required run rate was already out of grasp. Dwarshuis smashed the best ever score by a No.9 on his way to his first BBL half century to give the Sixers some positivity heading into the second qualifier. Dwarshuis reached 50 off just 24 balls including five fours and three sixes. He had support from Hayden Kerrm who scored 22 off 18 deliveries.&nbsp;Inglis was crowned ‘man of the match’ and the Scorchers now await the winner of the clash between the Sixers and the winner of the Thunder’s match against the Strikers in an attempt to add another BBL trophy to their cabinet.

Inglis powers Scorchers to BBL final; Sixers' no.9 batter Dwarshuis creates history with quickfire 66

Melbourne Renegades' Cameron Boyce has created history in the Big Bash League (BBL) by taking a double hat-trick against Sydney Thunders. The 32-year-old is the first player in the BBL to achieve the feat after he scalped four wickets in four balls. Boyce has now joined a rare club of players in the record books as he joins Lasith Malinga, Andree Russell, Alfonso Thomas and other few names in the list.&nbsp;TimelineAfter a bright start and an 80-run opening stand, both Alex Hales and Usman Khawaja were going well. However, on the last ball of the seventh over Boyce dismissed Hales through Unmukt Chand on 44 runs. The 32-year-old returned to bowl the ninth over and scalped Jason Sangha (2) and followed that with back-to-back LBW's. First Alex Ross (0) became his hat-trick victim and then Daniel Sams (0), to achieve the rare feat. He ended with figures of 21/5 in his four overs.&nbsp;Rarity in T20 CricketBoyce joins a unique list of players to have taken a double hat-trick in T20 cricket, he joins Russell, Rashid Khan, AL-Amin Hossain and Curtis Campher. Russell did his trick in September 2013 against India A. He managed to scalp Yuvraj Singh, Kedar Jadhav, Naman Ojha and Yusuf Pathan. While, Al-Amin managed to scalp four in four between UCB and BCB Eleven in a domestic tournament of Bangladesh.&nbsp;&nbsp;Boyce arrives late for RenegadesThe Renegades have endured a tough time in the BBL and are languishing bottom of the table. Wednesday's (January 19) encounter is the last of the current campaign. But Boyce's heroics have given them some encouragement as they close the campaign. In 13 matches so far they have only 16 points.&nbsp;Boyce will certainly enjoy the day as he joins some greats of the game to a hat-trick. Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Peter Siddle have taken hat-tricks for Australia. He is the eighth bowler to take a hat-trick in the BBL history and the first from Melbourne Renegades to achieve the feat.

Cameron Boyce creates BBL history with first-ever ‘Double Hat-trick’

Adelaide Strikers are now just one win away from a place in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2020 final after defeating Sydney Thunders by six runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Batting first, Strikers put on a formidable total of 184/6 on the back of a 38-ball 65 from English wicketkeeper=batter Ian Cockbain. In reply, Thunders could manage 178/6 in their 20 overs.&nbsp;Strikers got off to a good start with openers Alex Carey and Matt Short sharing a 41-run partnership in just 4.3 overs. Carey scored 23 of 14 balls and was the first to go when he was caught by Daniel Sams off Tanveer Sangha's bowling. Cockbain joined Short and the duo stitched together a fine 50-run partnership for the second wicket. Short was struck in front by Jason Sangha and was dismissed for a well-made 39 of 28 balls. Jonathan Wells, Matt Renshaw and Thomas Kelly chipped in with 18, 15 and 16 respectively to help Strikers reach 184/6. Cockbain hit six fours and three sixes in his match-winning knock.&nbsp;&nbsp;For Thunder, Tanveer Sangha was the pick of the bowlers as he conceded just 15 runs and took wickets in his four overs.&nbsp;Gurinder Sandhu too picked up two wickets along whereas Jason and Nathan McAndrew chipped in with a wicket each.&nbsp;In reply, Sydney lost Alex Hales early for just nine runs and Usman Khawaja too followed his opening partner shorty after getting himself to a start. Jason and Alex Ross added 90 runs for the third wicket. Sangha's 61 of 43 balls and Ross' 39-ball 56 setup the chase beautifully. However, Peter Siddle struck twice to get rid of Sangha and Daniel Sams in the 17th over. With nine runs required of the last three balls, Ross succumbed when Henry Thornton held onto a stunning outfield catch despite colliding with Alex Carey. Harry Conway struck twice in the last over to seal the final spot for Strikers.&nbsp;Conway was pick of the bowlers with two wickets for 33 runs in his four overs. Slightly on the expensive side, captain Peter Siddle picked two wickets too but conceded 41 in his quota of four overs. Short and Thornton contributed with a wicket each.&nbsp;Adelaide Strikers stretch their unbeaten streak to six games with a six-run win &nbsp;over Sydney thunder and now &nbsp;are just one win away from a place the BBL finals. Cockbain has been a huge boost for their batting side despite not being part of their initial list in the tournament. The 34-year-old has scored 191 runs from five innings in his BBL debut series including two half-centuries

English wicketkeeper takes Strikers to BBL qualifier as Sangha's 61-run knock falls short in run chase

For the 27-year-old Ben Dwarshuis, who was South African all-rounder Chris Woakes' replacement in Delhi Capitals in second phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL), it was a memorable game in the Big Bash League (BBL) after Sydney Sixers beat Melbourne Renegades by 45 runs. Sixers pacer Dwarshuis picked up his maiden five-wicket BBL haul to help his side in clinching a marvelous victory.&nbsp;Dwarshuis played an instrumental role in restricting their opponents within a mere total of just 105 runs.&nbsp;A good totalBatting first, Sixers scored a formidable total of 150 for 6 in 20 overs. Sixers skipper Moises Henriques played a brilliant knock of 49 off 35 deliveries. His innings of comprised of four boundaries and 1 six. Henriques seemed settled enough to score a half-century but eventually he was dismissed by Aussie pacer Kane Richardson.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the final over of the innings, the skipper went to play a shot over deep midwicket to go past his half-century but his shot could produce enough power as Mackenzie Harvey standing at deep midwicket took the catch.&nbsp;&nbsp;Another Sixers batsman and opener of the batting lineup Jack Edwards was also handy with the bat after he managed to notch 40 runs off 34 deliveries in order to give a good start to the innings.&nbsp;&nbsp;Shadab Khan at the end scored 12 off 7 balls to help his team in registering the total of 150.&nbsp;&nbsp;Richardson and Cameron Boyce took two wickets each for Melbourne Renegades.&nbsp;Losing openers earlyIn reply, Renegades looked unsettled after losing two wickets (both their openers) within first two overs. Australia international Shaun Marsh seemed patient enough to seal victory for his team but lack support from the other end proved to be too costly for the Renegades. Marsh scored 39 off 36 deliveries.&nbsp;For Sixers, Hayden Kerr provided the vital breakthrough by bowling out Marsh.&nbsp;&nbsp;Apart from Marsh, only two other batsmen (Sam Harper and Kane Richardson) managed to reach the two-digit mark. Wicketkeeper Harper scored 15 off 7 balls and Richardson bagged 15 off 10 deliveries.&nbsp;For Sixers, their left-arm fast bowler Dwarshuis bowled four overs and picked up crucial five wickets by conceding just 26 runs. His fabulous bowling display also earned him the Man of the Match award.&nbsp;

Chris Woakes' replacement in Delhi Capitals claims maiden five-wicket haul in BBL; Sixers beat Renegades by 45 runs

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ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026: Marizanne Kapp's catch was dropped thrice and she went on to lead South Africa to a 6-wicket win with her unbeaten 81.

Radha Yadav dropped two catches of Marizanne Kapp including a sitter at long-on.

India head coach Amol Muzumdar has backed Radha to perform in upcoming matches.

Radha Yadav

India head coach refuses to blame Radha for SA defeat after 2 dropped catches

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South Africa's Marizanne Kapp and Chloe Tryon celebrate after beating India by 6 wickets in Women's T20 World Cup clash. (Getty)

Kapp's magic helps SA hand India first brush of defeat in Women's T20 World Cup 

Harmanpreet Kaur scripted history during India women vs South Africa women during T20 World Cup 2026 clash as he became the first-ever cricketer to play 200 T20Is

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur in this frame. (Getty)

Women's T20 World Cup: Harmanpreet Kaur becomes first-ever cricketer to bag this

India won the toss and chose to bat first against South Africa in their Women's T20 World Cup 2026 clash. India made two changes to their playing XI

India won the toss and invited South Africa to bowl first in their Women's T20 World Cup clash

Here are the playing XIs of both the teams:

South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt (2nd from L) flips the coin while India captain Harmanpreet Kaur (2nd from R) looks on in this frame. (Getty)

Women's T20 WC: India elect to bat against SA with 2 big changes in playing XI

Pakistan suffered an embarrassing 23-run defeat against Bangladesh to stare at early elimination from the Women's T20 World Cup 2026

Bangladesh players celebrate their team's win over Pakistan in their Women's T20 World Cup clash. (Getty)

Pakistan all but out of Women's T20 World Cup after losing to Bangladesh 

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FIFA World Cup matches tomorrow ft Argentina, Portugal, France, and more; schedule, live stream

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England's WTC campaign continues to go downhill as they faced a 12-point deduction, nullifying the points earned from first Test win against New Zealand.

After the horrific 253-run defeat at The Oval, England have been docked 12 WTC points.

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IND vs AFG: Hashmatullah Shahidi has been handed a demerit point by the ICC for running on the pitch's danger area despite warnings from on-field umpires.