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Usman Qadir interview: Fans and Ex-cricketers should appreciate Babar Azam

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan
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Usman Qadir interview: Fans and Ex-cricketers should appreciate Babar Azam

Usman Qadir, son of Pakistan’s legendary cricketer Abdul Qadir, has managed to make a name for himself despite carrying the huge expectations and legacy of his father. The spinner made his international debut for Pakistan in 2020 and has gone on to represent the Asian nation in 25 T20Is and one 50-over game. Usman has picked 32 wickets in 22 international matches so far.

The leggie recently grabbed headlines for his bold move to relocate to Australia with hopes of pursuing his cricketing career down under. He’s currently playing for the Hawkesbury Club in Sydney, and the talented bowler hopes to represent Australia in the international arena too. Usman has already displayed his exploits in T20 leagues such as the Big Bash League (BBL) and Pakistan Super League (PSL).

During an exclusive interview with Arvind Kalyana Krishnan for CricBlog, Usman Qadir drew light on the cricketing dreams he had while growing up. Further on, he also spoke about the upcoming Champions Trophy. The 31-year-old revealed the fact that the stadiums in Pakistan itself are not ready. He was hopeful of the pitches and stadiums getting ready before the commencement of the tournament.

The Champions Trophy 2025 is all set to take place in Pakistan. This ICC tournament starts on February 19 with the hosts scheduled to take on New Zealand in the opening game. However, having said that, it is to be noted that stadium renovations in Pakistan have put a huge question mark on their ability to host the tournament.

While speaking to Arvind Kalyana Krishnan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the Women’s Ashes Test match, Usman Qadir also came in support of Babar Azam. He backed the Pakistani batter despite his poor form in the recent past. He urged Babar Azam’s critics to think twice before criticising the batting maestro. Moreover, he stated that the people who criticize Pakistan’s star batter while sitting in front of the television shouldn’t forget Azam’s achievements.

Pakistan legspinner Usman Qadir shares his thoughts on Pakistan's stadiums for Champions Trophy & Babar Azam's critics.

Usman Qadir interview: Pakistan need to ensure they get the stadiums ready for the Champions Trophy

Below is the entire conversation between Arvind Kalyana Krishnan and Usman Qadir:

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: Right now, with the Champions Trophy that’s going to take place…..Based on the pitch conditions and current form, what do you think? Are there any favourites?

Usman Qadir: I think that they need to make the stadium first. Let them make that first…..We will then have to see if they will be able to make the pitch or not. But yeah, once they make the stadium, then they should be able to make the pitch. I think that the wicket would support the spinners more in Pakistan….All the spin-friendly wickets as well.

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: As for Babar Azam, no doubt people consider him to be one of the best players. However, his form of late hasn’t been great. So what is your opinion on his current form? Do you have any opinions?

Usman Qadir: Well, I have a lot of opinions of my own, but all I want to say is that if a player is playing well, then y’all shouldn’t go behind him. You just have one player after all these years and you go behind him? So yeah, it’s just that our (Pakistan’s) ex-cricketers and cricketers who are behind him can’t see that a guy has gone on to become so big and score so many runs and achieve so much. Instead of appreciating him, they criticise him.

Also, when you go behind someone so much then it’s pretty obvious that their form will become poorer. You sit in front of the TV and criticize him for no reason. The amount of runs he scores is more than the runs his critics have made in their whole careers. I think people should think carefully and think twice before saying anything.

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: Ok, now my last question to you is that cricket is in your DNA, it’s in your blood, so when you were growing up, was there any kind of family pressure?

Usman Qadir: As such there wasn’t anything like that. For me, I wanted to play international cricket, and god gave me that. So as for the rest, I don’t know what the future holds…..That’ll depend.

IND vs ENG 4th T20 2025 Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Possible XIs, Pitch Report

Sparsh Telang
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0
IND vs ENG 4th T20 2025 Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Possible XIs, Pitch Report

Varun Chakaravarthy’s second T20I five-fer also went in vain as England kept their series hopes alive with a 26-run win over India in Rajkot. Adil Rashid’s excellent middle-overs squeeze choked India’s scoring, derailing their chase on a pitch that only got tougher to bat on in the second innings.

The bandwagon now moves to Pune for the fourth T20I, where India will aim to seal the series.

Match Details

  • IND vs ENG 4th T20 2025
  • Time: 7:00 PM IST
  • Venue: Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

IND vs ENG 4th T20 2025 Possible Playing XIs

Rinku, fit again, should make his return to the XI, while there’s a strong possibility of Ramandeep Singh replacing Washington Sundar in the side. Besides, Arshdeep could come in for Bishnoi, who has struggled to find his rhythm this series.

India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi/Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy

Jacob Bethell, who is likely to have recovered by now, should replace Jamie Smith in the XI, with the rest of the side remaining unchanged.

England: Phil Salt (wk), Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler (c), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium Pune Pitch Report

Pune hasn’t hosted a T20 since India’s last encounter with Sri Lanka in January 2023, over two years ago.

In 13 IPL matches in 2022, a total of 4,108 runs were scored at a rate of 8.18 runs per over. Unlike many other venues, teams batting first at the MCA Stadium had the upper hand, winning 10 of the 13 games. On the black soil surface here, spinners typically prove more effective, often being more economical than pacers.

The weather during the match is expected to be clear, with temperatures around 21°C, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted game.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for IND vs ENG 4th T20 2025 – Top Dream11 Picks for the Match

Top wicket-keeper picks:

  • Jos Buttler: The highest run-scorer of the series and easily England’s most comfortable batter on this tour, Jos Buttler is a must-pick for this match.

Top batter picks:

  • Abhishek Sharma: His style of play almost always guarantees bonus fantasy points for boundaries and a high strike rate. He also bowled an over each in Rajkot & Chennai, and if Bishnoi doesn’t feature, he could be called upon again as India’s third spinner. Given all these factors, Abhishek makes for an excellent captain or vice-captain choice.
  • Tilak Varma: Tilak, the man in form with an average of 103.8 and a strike rate of 167.3 in T20Is since 2023, is a top pick for this game. However, risk-takers and those playing grand leagues might consider leaving him out.

Top all-rounder picks:

  • Hardik Pandya: Batting at No. 5 and consistently bowling key overs, Hardik Pandya is an absolute must-pick for all the right reasons.
  • Axar Patel: Consistently among the wickets against a struggling England batting line-up against spin, Axar is a top pick for this match, especially in Pune, where finger spinners have proven to be effective.
  • Liam Livingstone: Livingstone’s stock and selection percentage have surged after his knock of 43 (24) in Rajkot. Given that he might contribute with a couple of overs as well, he’s a great pick for this game.

Top bowler picks:

  • Varun Chakravarthy: The Player of the Match in Kolkata, with figures of 2/38 in Chennai, and another Player of the Match award for his 5-fer in Rajkot, Chakravarthy has been exceptional, spinning a web around the English batters. It goes without saying — he’s a must-pick.
  • Jofra Archer: After a forgettable outing in Chennai, Archer bounced back with 2/33 in the last match. He’s been in great rhythm overall, and his high selection percentage makes him a top pick for this T20I.

Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Team

  • Sanju Samson: Jofra has had Samson’s number in this series, dismissing him three times in as many attempts, leading to some chatter among the public about Sanju’s struggles against fast bowling. That said, I’d still want to back him in my fantasy team, especially with his wicketkeeping duties.
  • Phil Salt: Salt has had a rough time in this series, scoring only nine runs in three innings, causing his selection percentage to drop sharply. However, his dismissals haven’t followed any clear pattern, and he could easily come up with a big score anytime, making him a solid pick for grand leagues.
  • Ben Duckett: Duckett’s stock has risen following his 26-ball half-century in Rajkot, with his selection percentage jumping from 30.33% to over 60% for this match. The only reason he doesn’t make it to the top picks section is the abundance of strong options available.
  • Suryakumar Yadav: Since the T20 World Cup, Suryakumar has averaged just 21.3 across 12 innings, and he hasn’t quite gotten going in this series either. However, with his immense ability, he’s always a threat to explode at any moment, making him a fine option for grand leagues.
  • Jamie Overton: Standing at 6’5’’ with the ability to hit the deck hard and a handy lower-order batting skill, Overton is an enticing option for your fantasy team.
  • Adil Rashid: The architect of England’s middle-overs choke in Rajkot, Adil Rashid is the only English bowler to record an economy rate under seven and the only bowler with an economy below six in this series. He has been bowling well and could be a good pick for your fantasy team.
  • Mark Wood: The 35-year-old has been bowling with high pace and excellent rhythm, and with his extremely low selection percentage, he could be a terrific differential pick, especially if England bowls first.
  • Arshdeep Singh: If he plays, it’s a no-brainer pick, no questions asked.

Top safe C/VC options: Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Jos Buttler, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh (bowling first)
Top risky C/VC options: Jamie Overton, Sanju Samson, Jofra Archer (bowling first)

I encourage you to build your own Fantasy XI using the insights provided in the article. Instead of giving you a ready-made team, I’ve offered a base team. Use it as a starting point to select the players you believe will lead you to victory!

(team is below)

IND vs ENG 4th T20 2025 Dream11 Prediction Today - Fantasy Cricket TIps, Possible XIs, Pune Chennai Pitch Report and Weather
IND vs ENG 4th T20 2025 Dream11 Prediction: Base Team

Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes, with the stats and writer’s views in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.

Reactions to Steve Smith reaching 10,000 Test runs – “Best Test batter from that land in 30 years”

Charbel Coorey
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Reactions to Steve Smith reaching 10,000 Test runs – “Best Test batter from that land in 30 years”

He had to wait an extra few weeks, but Steve Smith became the fourth Australian – and 15th overall – to notch up 10,000 Test runs, achieving the feat off his first delivery of the Sri Lanka series in Galle. It is confirmation of his greatness, proving that it is not essential to follow the textbook to have a successful career.

And it is a career no one could have expected, rising from a legspin prospect to the best batter of his generation.

Smith found a technique that worked for him. After notching up his first 1,000 Test runs at 35.71, Smith then went on a rampage, reaching 2,000 at an average of 50.000 and then maintained an average of 60+ between 5,000 and 8,000 runs.

Smith went on to reach his 35th Test century in the same innings, making Sri Lanka pay for dropping him second ball. In the process, he reminded one and all of why he has been so successful around the world especially in Asia, with his elite footwork on display on a spinning Galle pitch.

Australia’s number four was superb coming down the track, and was often quick to pounce off the backfoot when the spinners adjusted to a shorter length. When Sri Lanka then resorted to legside tactics to slow the scoring, Smith played the long game, displaying the kind of relentless approach and hunger for runs that has served him so well over the years.

He will start day two on 104* off 188 deliveries.

Steve Smith reaches 10,000 Test runs: The reactions

Smith’s average of 56.44 (when 104* in the first innings against Sri Lanka) is the second-highest among players with 10,000 runs. He is behind only Kumar Sangakkara’s 57.41.

“Steve Smith expressing himself while at work (batting) is box office” tweeted R Ashwin. Former England captain Michael Vaughan, who has heaped praise for Joe Root in the past, said “I would argue that Steve Smith is the best modern day Test match player.”

Here are some reactions to Steve Smith reaching 10,000 Test runs.

Smith’s century in Galle is his third in the past four Tests. He also struck tons against India in Brisbane and Melbourne. In the process, he has confirmed he has plenty left in the legs ahead of a big year for Australia which includes the World Test Championship Final and Ashes.

Alyssa Healy interview: Beth Mooney is “Miss Consistent”

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan
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Alyssa Healy interview: Beth Mooney is “Miss Consistent”

Australia’s magnificent Women’s team have been absolutely ruthless against England in the ongoing Ashes series. They whitewashed the visitors in both limited-overs series’, taking a 16-0 lead and securing the Women’s Ashes in the process.

Having said that, all eyes are on the upcoming day-night Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This is the first time a day-night Women’s Ashes Test match will be taking place at this iconic ground. Thus, both teams are rearing to get on the field and win this historic Test.

Despite the injury concerns, Australia Women’s captain Alyssa Healy is all set to feature in this one-off pink-ball game. The legendary cricketer expressed her excitement to feature in the historic day-night Test at the MCG.

During an exclusive conversation with Arvind Kalyana Krishnan ahead of the Test match, Alyssa Healy drew light on her teammates Annabel Sutherland and Beth Mooney. The Aussie skipper wasn’t too worried about Sutherland’s form in the ongoing Women’s Ashes. Despite not having scored a single fifty in the limited-overs games against England, the all-rounder has been nothing short of extraordinary in the recent past.

On the other hand, Beth Mooney has been sensational in the last few games. The keeper-batter did the glove-work during the T20Is in the absence of her skipper Healy, and is currently the highest run-getter in the 2025 Women’s Ashes.

While speaking to Arvind during the media presser at the MCG, Healy was hopeful of seeing her play well in the upcoming Test. She termed Mooney as “Miss Consistent”. As for Sutherland, Healy spoke about the high standards set by the all-rounder, and stated that this was a good opportunity for her to step up.

Alyssa Healy interview: Runs for Annabel Sutherland not far away

Below is the entire conversation between Arvind Kalyana Krishnan and Alyssa Healy – both audio and transcript.

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: Annabel Sutherland has set some very high standards. Despite that, she hasn’t scored a noteworthy knock so far, so have you managed to speak to her regarding that?

Alyssa Healy: I don’t need to speak to Bellsy about making runs. She makes runs for fun and yeah, she’s probably been a little more lean in this series than what she has been. I mean like you just summed it up, she sets pretty high standards for herself, so she loves batting. She’s shown that she loves Test cricket. So this is a real opportunity for her to come out and just enjoy her cricket and showcase her skills like she has over the last 12-18 months, and we know what quality she is, and I’m sure that ball will turn around very very quickly.

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: Yeah, and Beth Mooney has been in amazing form. So what are your expectations for this Test?

Alyssa Healy: “Miss Consistent” can stay “Miss Consistent” I hope. She’s done an amazing job…..And from a personal point of view to be able to you know, rely on one of your mates on the team to come in and fill your spot for you as well. It’s been really cool to watch and yeah, she’s been in great touch and hopefully she can replicate that here (MCG).

IND vs ENG 2nd T20 2025 Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Possible XIs, Pitch Report

Sparsh Telang
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0
IND vs ENG 2nd T20 2025 Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Possible XIs, Pitch Report

IND vs ENG 2nd T20 2025 Dream11 Prediction | Fantasy Cricket Tips, Possible XIs, Chepauk Chennai Pitch Report

The India-England five-match T20I showdown moves to Chepauk for take two. India brushed England aside with ultimate ease at Eden Gardens, with the spinners, particularly Varun Chakravarthy leaving the visitors in a web.

Harry Brook said the Kolkata smog made things difficult. However, truth be told, England must be better against the spinners in the middle order, where they’ll hope to be playing off a strong platform from the powerplay.

With regards to India’s batting, there is power right the way down the lineup. Abhishek Sharma continues to produce the goods, boasting a strike rate of 191.71 in T20 powerplays since the start of IPL 2024. For England to succeed, they need early inroads.

Match Details

  • England tour of India, 2025: 2nd T20I
  • Time: 7:00 PM IST
  • Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

IND vs. ENG 2nd T20 2025 Possible Playing XIs

India are likely to remain unchanged.

India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy

England have brought in Brydon Carse for Gus Atkinson. Jacob Bethell has been ill and could be replaced by Jamie Smith, who is in the 12-man squad for this match.

England: 1 Phil Salt (wk), 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Jos Buttler (c), 4 Harry Brook, 5 Liam Livingstone, 6 Jacob Bethell/Jamie Smith, 7 Jamie Overton, 8 Brydon Carse, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Mark Wood

IND vs ENG 2nd T20 2025 Dream11 Prediction Today - Fantasy Cricket TIps, Possible XIs, Chepauk Chennai Pitch Report and Weather
IND vs ENG 2nd T20 2025: Can England get things right with the ball?

MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai Pitch Report and Weather

Until 2017, Chepauk was primarily a bat-first venue in the IPL, with teams batting first winning 62.5% of the time. However, since 2018, the trend has levelled out. Teams chasing have won 51.4% of the time, while sides batting first have won 48.6%. This shift is due to improved batting decks in some seasons and the arrival of dew in others, which have made batting easier in the second innings.

In the 18 IPL matches played in Chennai over the last couple of seasons, 5,828 runs have been scored at a run rate of 8.43, compared to 5,179 runs at a rate of 7.40 in the 18 matches from 2019-21.

A humid evening is forecast with dew expected to play a role. The captain who wins the toss is likely to field.

IND vs ENG 2nd T20 2025 Dream11 Prediction Today - Fantasy Cricket TIps, Possible XIs, Chepauk Chennai Pitch Report and Weather
IND vs ENG 2nd T20 2025 – Chepauk In the IPL since 2023. Credit: Cricmetric

Spin still is the way to go at Chepauk.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for IND vs ENG 2nd T20 2025 – Top Dream11 Picks for the Match

Top wicket-keeper picks:

  1. Sanju Samson: In form, opening the innings and also keeping wickets, Samson is a must-pick for your team. With 462 runs at a strike rate of 177.01 since the T20 World Cup last year, including three centuries, he has been India’s highest run-scorer in this format.
  2. Phil Salt: The same applies to Salt, who will be keeping wickets for England. Since the start of 2023, among openers, only Faf du Plessis has scored more T20 runs than Salt’s 2741 runs (SR: 162.28). Despite his duck in Kolkata, you’d still want to back him in your team.
  3. Jos Buttler: Buttler enjoys batting in India, with 7 out of his 8 T20 centuries coming on Indian soil. Overall, he has scored 3807 runs in India at an average of 38.84 and a strike rate of 147.15. He’s in good T20 form, making him a top option for this match.

Top batter picks:

  1. Abhishek Sharma: After a lean patch, Abhishek has bounced back to form with scores of 50 (25), 36 (18), and 79 (34) in his last three T20I innings. Moreover, the pace at which he scores almost always ensures bonus fantasy points for boundaries and a high strike rate.

Top all-rounder picks:

  1. Hardik Pandya: In the combination India are playing, Hardik becomes the second pacer, significantly boosting his fantasy value and making him a safe captaincy option, regardless of the toss result.
  2. Jamie Overton: A 6’ 5’’ tall pacer who can hit the deck hard and is also a capable lower-order hitter, Overton offers immense fantasy value. With his low selection percentage, he could be a game-changer for your team.

Top bowler picks:

  1. Arshdeep Singh: Since the start of 2023, Arshdeep has taken 64 T20I wickets at a strike rate of 12.8, consistently claiming 2 wickets per game. His extremely high selection percentage means you can’t afford to leave him out, unless you’re a risk-taker and India are bowling second.
  2. Varun Chakravarthy: The Player of the Match in Kolkata, Chakravarthy has taken 76 T20 wickets at a strike rate of 13.8 since 2023, establishing himself as India’s lead spinner in this format. With his stump-to-stump line, LBW and bowled dismissals are always in play, making him a valuable source of extra fantasy points. However, he has only taken 6 wickets in 6 T20s at Chepauk, and if you enjoy taking risks, he can be excluded if India bowl first.
  3. Adil Rashid: Since the start of 2023, Rashid has taken 73 wickets in the middle overs (7-16) at an economy rate of 7.11. At Chepauk, his leg spin can be particularly effective, making him a fine differential pick for this match.
  4. Jofra Archer: Archer’s quality was never in doubt, but he bowled with excellent pace and rhythm in the 1st T20I, making him a top option for this match, especially when bowling first.

Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Team

  1. Suryakumar Yadav: Suryakumar seems to have lost some form recently. Since the T20 World Cup, he’s averaging just 23 after 10 T20I innings, and his recent domestic form has been far from promising. While it may still be a bit too risky to leave him out, especially with no frontline left-arm spinner in the opposition XI, he’s no longer a top pick.
  2. Liam Livingstone: While Livingstone’s batting may not inspire much confidence against India’s spin trio, the possibility of him being England’s second spinner at Chepauk enhances his fantasy value, making him an appealing option for this match.
  3. Ravi Bishnoi: He went wicketless in Kolkata, but that’s not something you’ll see every day. With his selection percentage dropping for this match, he could be a solid differential option. He too generally bowls a stump-to-stump line, keeping LBW and bowled dismissals very much in play.
  4. Ben Duckett: A fine player of spin who plays both the conventional sweep and the reverse sweep with great efficacy, Duckett could prove to be an excellent pick at Chepauk, provided he gets past Arshdeep’s new ball burst.
  5. Mark Wood: Wood clocked an average pace of nearly 147kph in Kolkata, and bowled 7 deliveries over 150kph. With the slightly larger square boundaries in Chennai and his ability to hit the deck hard at express pace, he could be among the wickets and prove to be a top differential pick for your side.
  6. Axar Patel: Left-arm orthodox has been an effective bowling type at Chepauk, and England have also struggled against finger spin in recent times, making Axar a decent option for this game.

Top safe C/VC options: Hardik Pandya, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh (bowling first)
Top risky C/VC options: Jamie Overton, Phil Salt, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav

IND vs ENG 2nd T20 2025 Dream11 Prediction: Base Team

I encourage you to build your own Fantasy XI using the insights provided in the article. Instead of giving you a ready-made team, I’ve offered a base team. Use it as a starting point to select the players you believe will lead you to victory!

Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes, with the stats and writer’s views in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.

Australia injury updates ahead of Sri Lanka Tests

Charbel Coorey
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0
Australia injury updates ahead of Sri Lanka Tests

Australia have some welcome news after injury worries ahead of their Test series in Sri Lanka. Captain and star batsman Steve Smith is progressing well after an elbow scare during the Big Bash League (BBL), while left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann has recovered well after surgery on his dislocated thumb last week.

Both players are key to Australia’s chances. Smith remains one of the team’s premier players against spin, and his recent good form against India is cause for optimism ahead of another big year. Kuhnemann is arguably one of the first picked in the XI given the importance and success of left-arm spin at Galle International Stadium.

Injury updates for Australia: Smith & Kuhnemann progressing well

Steve Smith

Smith, who will captain the team in the absence of Pat Cummins, was cleared to join Australia’s training camp in Dubai following a scare. He had feared significant damage to his elbow – the same he had ligament surgery on in 2019 – when he felt pain throwing the ball during the BBL.

Smith caught a ball hit by David Warner during the washed out Sydney Smash on January 17, and then threw it back in-field before he crossed the boundary. “Straight away I thought ‘oh jeez, that hurt’,” Smith said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. He then thought back to his 2019 injury, but fortunately there was no major injury.

“That was a similar sort of feeling to when I ruptured my ligament back in 2019, so I was a little bit worried for a little bit,” Smith said. “But scans showed fortunately my ligament is still intact, the one that I got repaired. I’ve got a little bit of muscle damage, and it’s a small millimetre of the ligament on the bone that’s doing something.”

Smith doesn’t think the issue will affect his batting too much as he seeks his 10,000th Test run. Also, it is not expected that he will do much throwing given he will be fielding at slip in spin-friendly conditions. “In terms of batting I’m pretty comfortable I’ll be able to get into it and play with some tape on it,” he said.

Matt Kuhnemann

Kuhnemann copped a nasty blow to his right thumb during Brisbane Heat’s BBL match against Hobart Hurricanes on January 16. He suffered a compound dislocation which required surgery the next day.

Thankfully, Kuhnemann was able to bat and bowl in training this week and has been given the all-clear to travel to Sri Lanka.

“I’m feeling really good, really grateful with how it sort of progressed in the last week,” Kuhnemann said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “It’s [thumb] healed really well, and the surgery went excellent. Very fortunate and lucky so far that I’m sort of in a position to be able to bowl and bat and catch a few balls. Everything’s gone to plan so far. There’s not much pain at all any more, and no pain bowling and batting.”

The make up of Australia’s team is an interesting talking point ahead of the first Test on January 29. A turning track could prompt them to play three specialist spinners, with Kuhnemann key on a ground where the likes of Rangana Herath and Prabath Jayasuriya have enjoyed success.

Cricket Australia discuss radical BBL rule changes for 2025/26 season

Charbel Coorey
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0
Cricket Australia discuss radical BBL rule changes for 2025/26 season

It doesn’t feel like the end of a Big Bash League (BBL) season without discussions about rule changes for the following campaign. According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald on Friday 24th January, Cricket Australia officials have begun brainstorming new innovations for the 2025/26 BBL season in an attempt to encourage more stars to participate in the tournament.

One of the rule changes in discussion is a designated hitter, as seen in baseball. Here, one player in the XI will be selected only as a batsman and doesn’t have to field. Thus, teams will also need to select a specialist fielder.

According to the report, the thinking behind this is to have fans watch a batsman who is fresh as well as encourage Australia’s Test stars to play more BBL without all the running in the field.

Other BBL rule changes being discussed are bowling back-to-back overs from the same end, optional 12-ball overs, and double play. These will be outlined in further detail below.

“CA is eager for higher scores and closer games and believes there are ways to make matches quicker and improve the quality of the competition by reducing the workload on the sport’s biggest names,” read the report.

Possible BBL 2025/26 rule changes summarised

Possible rule changeHow it works
Designated hitterOne player in the XI will only be required to bat (i.e. does not need to field)
Double play run-outsTwo batsmen could be dismissed off the same delivery
Back-to-back overs from the same endChange ends every two overs instead of every over
Optional 12-ball overA captain could choose to let one bowler send down 12 balls in a row over two overs

Double play run out

Two players could be dismissed in one delivery if both are out of their crease. At this stage, the proposal applies to only run outs. According to the report by Sydney Morning Herald, some officials believe it should even apply to a catch. However, this rule requires arguably the biggest buy-in from players and broadcasters.

Bowling back-to-back overs from the same end

If this rule is implemented, there will be half the number of changes of ends. The idea is to speed up the game and limit the amount of distances players need to travel between overs. According to the report, there needs to be buy-in from broadcasters given there will be fewer opportunities to show advertisements.

Optional 12-ball over by a single bowler

Here, a captain could choose to bowl one bowler across two consecutive overs. Sydney Sixers’ Jordan Silk says pace bowlers can do it but he expects it to be rare.

“They do it in the nets. It might be a rare occurrence where you’d see it happen,” said Silk, as quoted by Sydney Morning Herald.

Maidens more rewarding?

There is also the idea floated around about how to make maidens more rewarding for bowlers. There is a long way to go here, but there is an idea to give a bowler a fifth over should they bowl a maiden.

Or, even as far as a batsman being dismissed if they face a maiden over.

Initial fan reaction to possible BBL rule changes

Personally, most of these rules would interfere with the fabric of cricket too much. Fielding is an important part of the sport, and you wouldn’t want to have youngsters such as Jake Fraser-McGurk spending their time on the bench when their team is fielding. The risk is that if and when they play international cricket, their fielding may be below par.

The double play also is a step too far. The fabric of the game is one player is dismissed at a time. This rule could even arguably slow the game down even more due to the additional third umpire reviews that could need to take place.

Fans have been critical online about the possible BBL rule changes.

Cricket Australia officials are reportedly discussing BBL rule changes including a designated hitter like baseball.

If organisers want the BBL to be more successful off the back of a strong 2024/25 season, scheduling is the big agenda item they need to get right. Ultimately, an overseas star is unlikely to forgo more money in the SA20 or ILT20 because of a few new rules. More double headers and strategy around when the tournament starts and ends is key in ensuring star participation.

Matt Kuhnemann in major doubt for Sri Lanka tour after nasty thumb injury

Charbel Coorey
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Matt Kuhnemann in major doubt for Sri Lanka tour after nasty thumb injury

Australia have been dealt a blow with left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann in huge doubt for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. Kuhnemann was struck on his right thumb attempting to field a ball hit firmly by Matthew Wade off his own bowling in Brisbane Heat’s final-ball loss to Hobart Hurricanes on Thursday night.

Kuhnemann yelled in pain and ran off the field immediately with one ball remaining in the 17th over. Gruesome footage from the stump camera showed the bone had broken through the skin, confirmed by Sydney Morning Herald as a compound dislocation.

Matt Kuhnemann suffered a nasty thumb injury.

ALSO READ: Predicted Australia XI for first Test against Sri Lanka

Matt Kuhnemann to have surgery, placing him in major doubt for two-Test tour of Sri Lanka

Sydney Morning Herald also confirmed Kuhnemann is set to have surgery on his injured thumb today (Friday 17th January), which is likely to rule him out of the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka beginning January 29. SEN Cricket’s Tom Morris confirmed Kuhnemann went straight to hospital following the injury.

The Australia squad is due to depart for Dubai for a training camp before the series. According to reports, the team management will make a decision on Kuhnemann after surgery given the injury was suffered on his non-bowling hand.

Heat and Australia teammate Marnus Labuschagne was disappointed for Kuhnemann. He believes the left-arm spinner will be one of the first picked given how favourable conditions are for Kuhnemann in Galle.

“I just heard about Matt Kuhnemann, so that’s pretty bad,” Labuschagne told AAP after the Heat-Hurricanes match. “Thumb … it doesn’t look great. I really feel for him.”

“It’s someone I’m close to and he’s grown so much with his bowling and in Sri Lanka, he’s probably one of the first picked over there. I’m really gutted.”

If Kuhnemann is ruled out, Cooper Connolly’s chances of a Test debut rise sharply, while the likes of legspinner Mitchell Swepson or offspinner Corey Rocchicioli could come into the squad. Connolly is the only other left-arm spinner in the squad currently, which may tempt selectors to hand him a debut despite not yet taking a wicket in his four First Class matches.

Lisa Sthalekar interview – BCCI doing a great job with the Women’s Premier League

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan
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Lisa Sthalekar interview – BCCI doing a great job with the Women’s Premier League

Australia Women’s beat England Women’s by 21 runs in the second ODI as the fans in Melbourne’s Junction Oval witnessed an absolute thriller. It is safe to say that the ongoing Women’s Ashes is well and truly living up to the hype.

After being bundled for a sub-par total of 180, England had a good chance to chase the total and level the series. However, the Aussie bowlers were sensational as they regularly picked wickets to ensure that the Heather Knight-led side didn’t get ahead of the game.

In the end, the Alyssa Healy led-side dismissed England for just 159. It all changed in the 36th over when Kim Garth picked up the wicket of Alice Capsey, triggering a collapse. Lisa Sthalekar, who’s part of the commentary team for this series, was also thrilled with this match.

During an interview with Arvind Kalyana Krishnan for CricBlog right after the game, Lisa drew light on this thriller and summarized the same. The former Australian cricketer also spoke about Women’s cricket in general, and named some of the best players in the world. Further on, she also gave her thoughts on the “Aussie mentality” of winning games.

Also, Lisa Sthalekar gave a detailed explanation of how the  Australian player have a knack for performing under pressure. It is to be noted that the term ”clutch” has often been associated with Australian players and thus, Sthalekar spoke about the same. Lastly, the former cricketer had heaps of praises for the BCCI, and the growth of women’s cricket in India. She stated that women’s cricket in India is heading in the right direction.

Lisa Sthalekar interview – Australia have a habit of winning

Below is the audio and full transcript of CricBlog’s interview with Lisa Sthalekar.

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: My first question to you is that the match (second ODI between Australia Women’s and England Women’s) we just saw, I mean what is the best way to summarize this match?

Lisa Sthalekar: Yeah, it was an incredible 50-over game and sometimes you don’t need all the hard-hitting and the 250-300 runs, and sometimes the lower scores make it interesting. I thought England bowled exceptionally well, having lost the first one-day international….To bowl Australia out for 180, they (England) needed to get to a good start. Unfortunately that didn’t happen and Australia…..As soon as the Australians were able to open the door and they could sense that England were struggling with the pressure, the tensions, more dot balls. I didn’t think that we were even gonna get into the 45-over mark. I thought that the Australians needed to pick up 10 wickets before that and Amy Jones was excellent at the end to get them very close, but in the end, I think she probably miscalculated and could’ve come back for a single in that second-last over to be able to face that last over and the first ball. But not to be and Australia have done a wonderful job.

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: Yeah, and my next question to you is that Australian cricket as we know, be it men’s or women’s…..The world “Clutch” is always with them. They always play well under pressure. So what in your opinion is the formula behind Australians being so good under pressure?

Lisa Sthalekar: Yeah, I think because there’s a habit of winning. So they believe they can win from any situation. So even if there was 3 wickets required and 3 runs then there would still be a belief that they can win. So when you have that kind of belief and when you see the other team kind of falter, tense-up…..Those type of things…..That’s when the Australian team tends to jump over. We saw a prime example there! (Australia Women’s team)

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: Yeah, and my next question to you is that if you were to pick three or four best players in the world in women’s cricket at the moment, who would you pick?

Lisa Sthalekar: Yeah, it’s tough. There’s some amazing players from a lot of countries. Hayley Matthews has been pretty exceptional for the West Indies. Nat Sciver-Brunt….We know what she’s able to do, and then literally the GOAT Ellyse Perry, she got 60 in a low-scoring affair in the second ODI. So just shows you the class of her. But seriously, you can add probably another four or five players there so yeah, there’s some great players out there in the women’s game which is exciting to see.

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: Thank you, and my last question to you is that you have covered games in India and Australia and as we know right now the Women’s T20 League in India (WPL) is slowly gaining attention. So in your opinion, what do you think is the best way for WPL to be there like you know, like the way women’s cricket in Australia is rated so highly? What do you think the BCCI can do to ensure that?

Lisa Sthalekar: Yeah, the BCCI is doing a great job. The fact that they have got the Women’s Premier League. They’re looking to expand I think after this year maybe. So they’re building the foundations currently. In state cricket, there are a lot of females playing state cricket, obviously in the different zones and conferences. So more opportunities for those players and they’re more opportunities for an India A. Under-19 World Cup is about to start so everything’s moving in the right direction.

Usama Mir interview – Babar Azam needs just one good innings to get going

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan
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Usama Mir interview – Babar Azam needs just one good innings to get going

With four wins in a row, Melbourne Stars are back in the groove in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 2024/25. Despite losing their first five games of the season, the Marcus Stoinis-led side have slowly started to move up in the points table. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that Usama Mir has been one of their best performers in the ongoing season so far.

With seven wickets in six games at an economy rate of less than eight, the Pakistani bowler has been very impactful for the Stars. In fact, Mir has been a consistent performer for the Melbourne-based franchise since 2023. The leggie is also one of the best spinners in Pakistan at the moment, and is the second-highest wicket-taker for Multan Sultans in Pakistan Super League (PSL) history. It is to be noted that he made his international debut for Pakistan in 2023 against New Zealand, and is a regular face in several T20 leagues across the globe.

During an exclusive interview with Arvind Kalyana Krishnan for CricBlog, Usama Mir spoke about his childhood heroes and favourite bowlers. He spoke about how he grew up watching Shahid Afridi. Further on, the 29-year-old also revealed his personal favourite performance of his career so far.

Also, Mir gave his opinion on Babar Azam, and drew light on the standards set by the batting maestro. He felt that the high expectations from Azam is the reason behind people criticising him time and again. Further on, Mir didn’t seem to be too concerned about the Pakistani batter not scoring an international century in the last 12 months. Babar’s last international hundred came against Nepal in August 2023.

Having said that, the former Pakistan skipper has looked better in the last few games as he scored five fifties during the recently-concluded all-format tour to South Africa. With a few glimpses of his pre-2023 form, Mir, Pakistan, and Babar Azam fans would be hoping to see their star player get to the three-figure mark soon. As for the Stars spinner, he last played an international game in April 2024, and was hopeful of playing the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 for Pakistan.

Usama Mir interview – Shahid Afridi my childhood hero

Below is the audio and full transcript of our interview with Usama Mir.

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: My first question to you is that while growing up, you had a lot of bowlers that you saw and a lot of players that you’ve grown up watching. So do you have childhood heroes? Any favourites?

Usama Mir: Yeah, like Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik. I started watching cricket after looking at them and started playing cricket after looking at them. So you can say that Shahid Afridi is my childhood hero, and because of whom I started cricket.

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: Also you’ve played a lot of noteworthy games and you’ve played very well. So in your opinion, what do you think would be your best performance so far in your career?

Usama Mir: So far, you can say I guess last year, during the PSL…..Like I got six wickets against Lahore Qalandars…..Because my mother was there so that’s why that was like special.

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: So right now in the current generation, who are your favourite bowlers?

Usama Mir: So obviously Rashid Khan currently is the best bowler in the world, so he’s also my favourite bowler.

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: So my last question to you is that Pakistan cricket are playing at the moment and Babar Azam hasn’t scored a hundred in a long time and although no doubt he’s one of the best players in the world, but whenever anything goes wrong in Pakistan cricket, people blame Babar Azam. So regarding his form of late, what is your opinion on Babar Azam currently?

Usama Mir: No no, as such there’s nothing like that. Like basically, whenever there’s a lot of expectations from someone, these things come into play. I think in cricket, this in-form and out-form will come and go and are normal. (Regarding Babar Azam not scoring a hundred of late) And for the rest, I think he just needs one good innings Inshallah.

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