August 9, 2024

‘Want to Play for India in All Three Formats’ – Suryakumar Hopes to Make a Test Comeback.

Suryakumar Yadav, India’s T20I captain, remains determined to pursue his Test cricket ambitions despite having played only one Test match over a year ago. Initially, he was not part of Mumbai’s young squad for the pre-season Buchi Babu Invitational tournament in Tamil Nadu. However, Suryakumar has now made himself available for the second half of the competition, which runs until the end of August.

He will play under Sarfaraz Khan’s captaincy, as he requested the selectors keep the leadership the same. Suryakumar is expected to feature in Mumbai’s match against the TNCA President’s XI, starting on August 27 in Coimbatore.

“I want to play for India in all three formats,” Suryakumar was quoted as saying by the Times of India. “Playing in Buchi Babu will give me good practice for the red-ball tournaments this season.”

Suryakumar Yadav recently led India to a 3-0 series win over Sri Lanka in his first tour as the full-time T20I captain. However, he was not selected for the subsequent three-match ODI series, with selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar clearly stating that Suryakumar is not currently part of their ODI plans.

With no T20I matches scheduled for India until the series against Bangladesh in October, Suryakumar has an excellent opportunity to focus on red-ball cricket and push for a Test comeback. After the Buchi Babu Invitational tournament, the season-opening Duleep Trophy in Anantapur will follow, featuring four teams selected by the national selectors.

Suryakumar’s last first-class match was in the Duleep Trophy in July 2023. In his first-class career, he has played 82 games, scored 5,628 runs at an average of 43.62, and recorded 29 fifties and 14 hundreds.

CPL 2024: Nortje, Shamsi to Replace Thushara, Hasaranga at Patriots

Sri Lankan cricketers Wanindu Hasaranga and Nuwan Thushara will miss the 2024 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) due to injuries sustained during the recent white-ball series against India. As a result, St Kitts & Nevis Patriots have signed South African players Tabraiz Shamsi and Anrich Nortje as their replacements.

Thushara was sidelined for the entire series due to a finger injury. At the same time, Hasaranga played three T20Is and the first ODI before being ruled out with a hamstring injury. Nortje is set to make his CPL debut. At the same time, Shamsi is a familiar face in the league, having played 32 matches, including 27 for the Patriots, where he has taken 33 wickets at an economy rate of 7.06.

Shamsi and Nortje will join fellow South African Tristan Stubbs in the Patriots squad. The team will look to improve on its last-place finish in CPL 2023 when it won just one of its ten games.

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots squad for CPL 2024

Kyle Mayers, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rilee Rossouw, Evin Lewis, Sherfane Rutherford, Sikandar Raza, Anrich Nortje, Andre Fletcher, Tristan Stubbs, Dominic Drakes, Mikyle Louis, Odean Smith, Joshua da Silva, Veerasammy Permaul, Ryan John, Ashmead Nedd, Johann Layne

Colin Ackermann Keeps Durham Alive as Hampshire Thrashed

Hampshire defeated heavily as Durham secured a 144-run victory in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. Veteran Colin Ackermann led Durham’s recovery with a crucial 96, helping his team bounce back from 183 for 7 to post 257. Ackermann’s innings included five sixes off 98 balls. Former New Zealand fast bowler Neil Wagner, playing his first game since retiring from Test cricket, made a solid all-round contribution, scoring 33 runs and taking 2 for 18 in his six overs. Hampshire were bowled out for just 113.

Despite starting the day second in Group A with four wins from five matches, Hampshire’s batting faltered, leading to their second defeat. Seamer Paul Coughlin also played a key role, taking three wickets. Durham’s victory, their third in six games, keeps their hopes alive for a top-three finish and knockout qualification.

Hampshire had a good start with the ball, with young England quick Dom Kelly taking 3 for 48, including both Durham openers. However, Durham’s strong finish with the bat set them up for a decisive win on a challenging pitch at South Northumberland Cricket Club.

Durham captain Alex Lees was dismissed in the 16th over, caught behind off a top-edged sweep against Felix Organ’s off-spin, leaving the hosts at 56 for 3. Hampshire’s strong start was bolstered by sharp fielding, highlighted by Nick Gubbins’ catch and a run-out of Scott Borthwick, executed by Kyle Abbott’s direct throw from square leg after Borthwick hesitated to go for a single.

Hampshire tightened their grip as Bas de Leede, Hayden Mustard, and Paul Coughlin fell, leaving Durham struggling at 183 for 7 in the 42nd over. However, Durham mounted a comeback on a bright but windy day. Colin Ackermann and Neil Wagner added 62 runs for the eighth wicket in just eight overs. Wagner’s quick 27-ball contribution supported Ackermann, who paced his innings expertly, reaching his half-century in 50 balls. Ackermann struck five sixes, three lofted down the ground late in the innings, but narrowly missed a century. Abbott, who had initially bowled economically, conceded 23 runs in his final two overs as Durham fought back.

In response, Hampshire started well, with openers Nick Gubbins and Fletcha Middleton adding 40 runs inside eight overs. However, Wagner, known for his resilience throughout his career, turned the tide. After Coughlin dismissed Gubbins, Wagner removed Middleton and Tom Prest, both caught driving, reducing Hampshire to 45 for 3 by the 11th over.

Hampshire’s hopes faded as Coughlin struck again, dismissing Toby Albert and Felix Organ, while Ben Brown was caught at mid-off. Hampshire collapsed to 69 for 6 in the 17th over. Their task became insurmountable as off-spinner George Drissell took two more wickets, including Joseph Eckland, brilliantly caught at backward point by a diving Ben McKinney. De Leede wrapped up the match, bowling Brad Wheal in the 27th over, sealing a comprehensive win for Durham.