BBL 11 | Haris Rauf to join Melbourne Stars post Christmas

The Ashes | Gabba Test: England prefer Pope over Jonny Bairstow, replace Anderson with Woakes

England have zeroed in on Ollie Pope to occupy the only vacant spot in the middle order over Jonny Bairstow while Chris Woakes has been deemed as the best option to replace James Anderson, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) revealed via a press release. The Times had earlier reported that Anderson might be rested citing lack of preparation leading up the first Test and Woakes will offer his seam bowling quality to England in Brisbane where weather conditions are likely to aid his kind of bowlers. Pope winning a place over Bairstow comes as a reward for the Surrey batsman after excellent outings against India at home and Bairstow’s inability to capitalise on the opportunities in the four Tests against India earlier this year. As per reports, Bairstow was set to play the final Test of the series in Manchester before Covid-19 in the Indian camp postponed the game. England are also contemplating playing one among Jack Leach and Stuart Broad, the report said further. The convention suggests that pitches in Gabba offer turns in the end parts of the game and bounce in the initial stage, something that should prompt England to pick Leach as their only frontline spinner. Having said that, the weather conditions and green tinge on the surface have made selection calls complicated for the tourists. England will also be buoyed by the return of Ben Stokes, who will give the much-sought balance to the side and hence Leach could get to play his first Test for England after missing six Tests in a row due to team combination. England squad for the first Test Joe Root (c), Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Haseeb Hameed, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Australia Women suffer setback as all-rounder Sophie Molineux ruled out of Ashes series

In a massive setback to Australia Women’s chances, all-rounder Sophie Molineuxhas been ruled out of the upcoming multi-format Ashes series against England Women. She has been diagnosed with a foot injury while playing for the Melbourne Renegades Women in the ongoing edition of the Women Big Bash League. Now, Australia Women are hoping for a return to full fitness by the ODI World Cup scheduled to take place in March 2022 in New Zealand. "Sophie sustained a stress fracture to her right foot during the last week of the WBBL. She is currently offloading in a moon boot and a return to play plan has been developed in conjunction with Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia medical staff,” Australia team doctor Pip Inge said. "Sophie's focus now shifts to her rehabilitation plan which means she'll be unavailable for any upcoming domestic matches as well as the Ashes in January. At this stage, we are aiming to have Sophie available for the ICC Women’s World Cup in New Zealand in March." Her injury and unavailability for the Ashes series will dent Australia further as they are already without another spinner in Georgia Wareham, who ruptured her ligament in the early part of the WBBL. England Women are set to play a Test match, three-match ODI series and an equally longer T20 series on the tour starting January 27.

Ireland to tour West Indies for limited overs series as Windies prepare for Chris Gayle's farewell

Cricket West Indies is planning to give Chris Gayle farewell from the game as the West Indies are set to hots Ireland for a three-match long ODI series and a standalone T20I in early 2022, ESPNcricinfo reported. The T20I will be played at Sabina Park in Jamaica which has been Gayle’s home ground in the career spanning more than two decades at the top level. Gayle had confirmed his exit from the game after the elimination of West Indies from the T20 World Cup but had sought an opportunity from Cricket West Indies to be able to say “hey guys, thank you so much” to his fans at the home ground. "It's whether collectively we all feel that it's appropriate for him to have one last game at home to say farewell in a one-off game. That Ireland series would represent that opportunity. It would certainly be appropriate, as far as I can see it, to treat our players and give them the opportunity to bow out - especially players like Chris who have had unbelievable careers and won trophies for the West Indies,”," ESPNcricinfo quoted Johnny Grave, CWI's chief executive as saying to the Mason and Guest radio show in Barbados last month.

The Ashes | England decide to rest 'fit' James Anderson from Gabba Test

Continuing the trend of rest and rotation to manage his workload, England have taken a big call to omit James Anderson from the playing XI for the first Test at Gabba starting tomorrow, December 08. However, the tourists confirmed he is fit to play at Gabba and not carrying any injury. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said that the pacer has not had a great preparation leading up to the first Test and they are not willing to risk him for the entire series by rushing him to a Test match. England reflected on the proceedings of the last Ashes series at home where Anderson had broken down on the very first morning of the first Test to make up their mind over the big call. “Jimmy is fit to play, and is not carrying an injury. With five Tests in six weeks the plan was to get him ready for the second Test in Adelaide,” the ECB said. "With the limited build-up we have had so far on the tour, both him and the management didn't want to take the risk of him playing after what had happened in 2019 at Edgbaston when he broke down on the first morning.” "He bowled at full capacity yesterday for just short of an hour and was in a good place physically. He will do the same again today at practice. He will stay with the Test group this week and work with the coaches at the Gabba rather than playing for the Lions." In Anderson’s absence, Stuart Broad will lead the England bowling attack that may include the likes of Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood at the Gabba.