Dean Jones’s Pakistan legacy will last for generations to come: Matthew Hayden

The Ashes | Australia looking to give Marcus Harris 'extended run' at the top with David Warner

The chairman of selectors of Australia, George Bailey has all but confirmed Australia’s opening pair for the first Test and considerable length of time in the upcoming Ashes series against England scheduled to start on December 08 in Brisbane. Bailey said that Marcus Harris has only got “limited opportunity” for Australia and that the hosts will be confident in giving him an “extended run” at the top of the order. Bailey took cognisance of Harris’s consistent run of form with the bat in Australian domestic circuit and his recent exploits in the English county circuit as well. Bailey’s public support all but confirms that Harris will walk out with David Warner to thwart the bowling attack of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood in his second Ashes series. "It gives you great confidence as a selector when you know your opening batters are locked away as far as a Test series goes. It's a hard spot to bat and to get those places settled, it's really important,” Bailey told RSN radio. "Harry's only had a limited opportunity in the past, and he's been in and out a bit, so we'd love nothing more than for him to hopefully get an opportunity to get in an extended run at it. What we have liked is his consistency. He's obviously been a prolific run-scorer at domestic level here, but also loves the fact he went overseas and had a great year for Leicester as well.” Harris made his debut two years ago in the 2018-19 summer against India after the first-choice opening pair of Warner and Cameron Bancroft was banned from international cricket. He showed signs and technique of a Test opener but lack of big runs made him lose his spot when both Warner and Bancroft returned for the 2019 Ashes series in England. However, he came back in the latter half of the series to replace an out-of-form Bancroft, but there were no piling up of runs from his bat either and hence he had to sit out of the first three Tests of the series against India as well.

T20 World Cup | Mohammad Rizwan, Malik declared fit for Semi-Final clash against Australia

Pakistan team can now heave a sigh of relief as its core members Mohammad Rizwan and Shoaib Malik have been declared fit by Pakistan's medical team for the all-important semi-final clash against Australia in the T20 World Cup. Both the players had been diagnosed with mild flu just the night before the big match and seemed doubtful to make it to the match as was reported across media channels on Wednesday, November 10. The Pakistan team which has been unbeaten till now in its World Cup campaign, face Australia in the semi-final on November 11 in Dubai. Both the players were advised by the medical team on Wednesday to remain inside the hotel and not accompany the rest of the team members to their pre-match practice at Duba Cricket Stadium. The team was also tested for the dreaded Covid-19, but all players tested negative for it. While Malik was the hero for the team in the last game against Scotland, Rizwan has been a pillar of strength with skipper Babar Azam at the top of the order and is one of the biggest reasons for Pakistan’s unbeaten run in this tournament. The winner of this game will face New Zealand in the final on November 14.

T20 World Cup | Jimmy Neesham explains lack of emotions after leading New Zealand's win over England

There are different shades of Jimmy Neesham and he shows all of that on different occasions and at different platforms. He has been one of the wittiest cricketers going around on social media while he has been a muted player on the field. With the bat, he has been known for hitting colossal sixes and a lot of that was evident on the night of the semi-final between New Zealand and England. He bats in the lower-middle order and doesn’t feature in the first-choice bowling attack as well and hence doesn’t quite attract a lot of limelight. However, he changed the course of the game against England by smashing England bowlers to all parts of the ground on his way to an 11-ball 27 that snatched the victory from the jaws of defeat. But, as soon as he was dismissed in the 18th over of the game off Adil Rashid, the game appeared to shift back to equilibrium before Daryl Mitchell woke up from a sluggish innings and plundered Chris Woakes to win the game for the Blackcaps. When Mitchell hit the final four of the game to seal the victory, the whole of the New Zealand dugout was up on its feet in celebration of an unprecedented achievement of reaching the T20 World Cup final, there were two faces who were muted and unmoved at their respective seats. While there should be no prize for guessing that the skipper Kane Williamson would be one of them, there can be a serious element of surprise in finding Neesham being the second person showing no emotion and sitting still on his seat. Social media users were quick to point out that and all of them had to offer a lot of words on that move by Neesham.

South Africa elevate Keshav Maharaj as captain, rest big players from Netherlands ODI series

After a grueling season where the players travelled across the world to play and prepare for the T20 World Cup, South Africa have rested their major players such as the skipper Temba Bavuma, senior batsmen such as Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen along with the pacer duo of Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada for the upcoming home series against Netherlands. Keshav Maharaj has been elevated as the captain of the Proteas side in absence of Bavuma. The likes of Janneman Malan, David Miller along with Daryn Dupavillon, Reeza Hendricks, Sisanda Magala form the batting core of the Proteas. There could be opportunities for Zubayr Hamza and Ryan Rickelton in the absence of senior players in the side. The Proteas have also reintroduced Wayne Parnell, who left the country to play county cricket as part of Kolpak deal in 2017. Now, as the United Kingdom has left the European Union and subsequently the Kolpak deals are not available for them anymore, players are returning to play cricket in South Africa. The responsibility of pace department will hinge on the shoulders of Lungi Ngidi, whose career has hit a sort of roadblock after the emergence of Nortje and his able partnership with Rabada. The skipper Maharaj will form the spin bowling partnership with Tabraiz Shamsi. Netherlands are set to play three ODIs in South Africa and all these games will be played at the Super Sport Park in Centurion. South Africa squad Keshav Maharaj (C), Daryn Dupavillon, Zubayr Hamza, Reeza Hendricks, Sisanda Magala, Andile Phehlukwayo, Wayne Parnell, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams, Khaya Zondo, Janneman Malan, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Dwaine Pretorius.