Six players of Sri Lanka women's team test positive for Covid-19

The Covid-19 has continued to affect the cricketing activities and the recent addition to this was the cancellation of the ICC World Cup qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe. Now, six Sri Lankan players of the team have tested positive for Covid-19. The news was confirmed by the Sri Lankan cricket Board (SLC).

“Steps will be taken to bring back the Sri Lanka women’s team from Zimbabwe," the Sri Lankan cricket board (SLC) said.

Earlier, the ICC had also expressed disappointment on the cancellation of the qualifiers which would have seen intense competition to secure World Cup spots between cricketing nations.

"We are incredibly disappointed to have to cancel the remainder of this event but with travel restrictions from a number of African countries being imposed at such short notice, there was a serious risk that teams would be unable to return home," said Chris Tetley, the ICC Head of Events.

Bangladesh, Pakistan and the West Indies will now march ahead and will feature in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in New Zealand based on their world rankings before coming into the tournament.

Sri Lanka on the other hand, have acquired the place for the 2022-25 cycle of the ICC Women's Championship along with Ireland.

Discover more

IND vs NZ | 1st Test: Wriddhiman Saha scores first Test fifty since 2017; India set 284 as target

India wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha played a crucial knock after he notched up a half-century against New Zealand in the second innings of the first Test in Kanpur. The right-handed batsman went past the 50-run mark for the first time since 2017. The hosts were in a spot of bother despite taking the first innings lead as they were reduced to 51/5 in the first session of the penultimate day of the Test. But Shreyas Iyer and R Ashwin steadied the ship for the side and stitched a stand of 52 runs for the sixth wicket. Ashwin was eventually undone for 32 by Kyle Jamieson. Iyer was then joined by Saha in the middle and the two batters put up an important partnership of 64 runs for the seventh wicket. Iyer who became the first Indian to score a century and a fifty on his debut match was sent back in the hut by Tim Southee while Saha went on to score a half-century and remained unbeaten at 61 as India declared the second innings at 234/7 handing a target of 284 runs to New Zealand. The contribution made by Saha holds a lot of importance as he was suffering with a stiff neck issue and didn’t keep wickets in the first innings. KS Bharat had replaced him in the middle

Watch: Gurinder Sandhu becomes first Australian to take two List A hat-tricks

Queensland Player Gurinder Sandhu became the first Australian in history to pick up two List-A hat-tricks. He achieved this feat while bowling in the Australian One-Day Cup, also known as Marsh Cup. Bowling against South Australia in his first year as a Queenslander, Sandhu finished with figures of 4-44 in his nine overs. Prior to this hat trick, Sandhu had also taken a hat-trick against Victoria in the Marsh Cup final of 2018 while he was playing for Tasmania. Sandhu, who came back for his last spell in the death, got the wicket of Thomas Kelly on the fifth ball of the 45th over with his slower one. On the next ball, he removed Nathan McSweeney with yet another off-cutter and he was caught at cover-mid-off by Marnus Labuschagne. Sandhu then came back in the 47th over and cleaned up Nathan McAndrew with a beautiful yorker. Earlier he had also gotten rid of Henry Hunt the opener. Apart from Sandhu’s feat, the match also saw the brilliance of Matt Renshaw who guided Queensland to victory with his brilliant 156 off just 109 balls. The knock was once again a statement f the fact that he is rightly being considered as one of the best going around in the Australian domestic set-up as was pointed out by Mark Waugh and Adam Gilchrist early this summer. Also making a strong case of his selection for the first Ashes Test as the Australian team’s first choice wicket-keeper batter was Alex Carey who hit a century in this game even as he ended up on the losing side. Carey scored 101 off 93 balls to give his team a great start. But the late batting order squandered it to finish the innings in the 48th over itself at 274.

R Ashwin surpasses Wasim Akram in number of wickets in Tests

India spinner R Ashwin surpassed former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram in the wickets tally in Test cricket. Ashwin returned with a three-for during the first innings of the first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur and now has 416 scalps in the format, two more than Akram. Ashwin dismissed Will Young, Kyle Jamieson and Somerville during the course of the innings. Akram on the other hand has 414 wickets to his name from 104 matches. The record of the highest number of wickets in Test cricket is held by Muttiah Muralitharan. The former Sri Lankan spinner picked up 800 wickets in 133 Tests while Shane Warne and James Anderson follow him at number two and three respectively. Warne has a total of 708 wickets in 145 Tests to his name. Anderson, on the other side, has dismissed 632 batsmen in his career so far in 166 matches. Former India captain Anil Kumble has 619 Test scalps to his name from 132 matches. Talking about the match, the hosts took a first innings lead of 49 runs after bundling out the Blackcaps for 296 in the first innings.

BBL 2021-22: Chris Jordan joins Sydney Sixers in place of Carlos Brathwaite

Sydney Sixers have roped in Chris Jordan in place of Carlos Brathwaite for the upcoming Big Bash League. Brathwaite was ruled out of the competition due to a shoulder injury. Jordan has been a part of the BBL previously having played for Adelaide Strikers, Sydney Thunder and Perth Scorchers. Cricket NSW Head of Male Cricket Michael Klinger, who oversees Sixers' list management, said that Jordan is a fantastic T20 player. "It's disappointing for Carlos and the group that he has succumbed to injury but Chris is a world-class T20 cricketer and will provide the Sixers with fantastic versatility and high-quality skills in all three aspects of the game," Klinger said. "His death bowling and changeups, as well as being one of the world's best fielders, will be a huge asset for the Sixers early in the BBL,” he added. The tournament is slated to begin on December 5, 2021 with Sydney Sixers taking on Melbourne Stars in the opening match in Sydney while the final of the tournament is scheduled to be played on January 28. Sydney Sixers squad: Moises Henriques (c), Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Daniel Christian, Tom Curran (Eng), Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Daniel Hughes, Chris Jordan (Eng), Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyon, Ben Manenti, Stephen O'Keefe, Josh Philippe, Lloyd Pope, Jordan Silk, James Vince (Eng)