Steve Smith joins elite club

Dropping catches cost us the series: Misbah

Pakistan suffered a 0-2 loss to New Zealand in a two-match Test series away from home. Talking about the defeats, head coach Misbah-ul-Haq has said that the dropped catches were one of the major reasons for the team’s dismal show. “I think the biggest thing in front of us, that we have seen in the past with Pakistan cricket as well, is our dropped chances," the head coach said in a PCB podcast. "I think that has really affected our chances in this series. We missed a lot in both Tests, in which if we had grabbed them, we could have taken the Test further, but we missed them. We need to work on that." Misbah admitted that the Pakistan team created some chances for themselves but didn’t really capitalise on them. “On this tour we had opportunities, we created those by playing well but didn't cash in on them. We have to see why we are getting in positions where we can close Tests but are not being able to do it ultimately,” he further added. Pakistan lost the first match by 101 runs after New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson scored a fine hundred in the first innings. Williamson continued his form in the second match too and notched up a double ton as the home side etched a win by an innings and 176 runs. The Test series win handed New Zealand the top spot in the ICC Test rankings while captain Williamson has also moved up to the helm spot in the Test rankings for batsmen.

BCCI makes it clear to Cricket Australia; Brisbane Test not on under 'hard quarantine'

Putting an end to all the uncertainties around its stand on the issue of quarantine for Indian players in Queensland, the Board of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI) has written an email to Cricket Australia, stating that the team will not be travelling to Brisbane if the provisions of a ‘hard quarantine’ will be applied on them by the Queensland health officials, as per an ESPNcricnfo report. A second hard quarantine will be ‘immaterial,’ BCCI argues, as the Indian team has already been under hard isolation after arriving the country two months back, the report further stated. Earlier, Cricket Australia had sought clarifications from BCCIas the various reports started emerging from the touring Indian camp. Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane had said that although life under a strict bio bubble has been tough for the players, they were not looking too far ahead and were focusing on the SCG Test. This latest development of official communication to Cricket Australia from BCCI on the clear objection against travelling to Queensland put the Gabba as the venue of the fourth and final Test of the series under serious jeopardy. The CA had already put the SCG as a stand by to host the fourth Test, and it may well be the case come January 15 when the fourth Test is scheduled to begin.

England women’s team to make their first ever trip to Pakistan confirms ECB

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) along with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB0 have confirmed that the England women's team would be touring Pakistan in October 2021. The tour will begin simultaneously with the men’s team tour of Pakistan. This is going to be the first-ever tour of England women's team to Pakistan. Speaking on the historic announcement, ECB Managing Director of Women's Cricket, Clare Connor, said, “We are absolutely delighted to be making this historic announcement today. The England Women’s cricket team has never toured Pakistan before so this is another important step in our history and journey.” Emphasizing that the tour will not be a cricket tour that provides a valuable competitive opportunity to both teams, Clare said that it should also serve as another powerful and positive message for the fact that more women and girls can derive empowerment through the sport. While the men’s tour will have only two T20Is, Heather Knight’s team will play T20Is, on the same day as the men's game acting as the first match to doubleheaders. The women’s team will then also play three ODIs which will be part of the World Championship series. Reacting to the announcement, PCB Chief Executive, Wasim Khan, said, “World champions England accompanying their men’s side for their first-ever tour to Karachi is an extremely powerful and strong announcement for Pakistan, our women’s cricketers as well as for the global sport.” “Like the England men’s side, I am confident the women’s tour will open up opportunities for their future tours that will further contribute in promoting women’s cricket in Pakistan and helping our national side to narrow the gap with the leading nations,” he added. Series Schedule 14 October: 1st IT20, National Stadium, Karachi 15 October: 2nd IT20, National Stadium, Karachi 18 October: 1st ODI, National Stadium, Karachi 20 October: 2nd ODI, National Stadium, Karachi 22 October: 3rd ODI, National Stadium, Karachi

Match Report: Heat continue streak, beat Stars in rain marred, thrilling encounter

Brisbane Heat continued their newly found winning streak at home as they beat Melbourne Stars by 18 runs (D/L Method) at the Carrara Oval to claim their third victory in a row. With this win, the Heat have now reached the fifth p[osition, just one point shy of the fourth spot, currently occupied by the Adelaide Strikers with 17 points. For Stars, it was another day of 'couldn't have won but didn’t' as they came in a touching distance with the help of some insane hitting by Nick Larkin at the end of the innings. With this loss, they have now moved to 6th place in the points table. The brilliant last over Prior to the last over, Larkin had 23 of a Lewis Gregory over and in this too, teh team Stars required 23 and Larkin got onto the strike with 22 needed off five balls. But credit must go to Xavier Bartlett who did not alter his line and outfoxed the batter. If not outfoxed, at least bowled in the areas where the bowl could not travel past the fielder and gave away just five runs. Although Larkin and Seb Gotch Larkin’s partner would think that they missed out on at least three sixes as three bowls were perfectly in the slot for being hit out of the ground. But in a match, there are always could haves and should-haves. The Larkinsanity After the loss of Glenn Maxwell’s wicket and that of Marcus Stoinis, it was assumed that the match was done and dusted. But Larkin, 30, held onto what is commonly described as hope and kept on smoking boundaries to keep his team in the hunt even till the last over. The New South Wales born hit 35 off 16 with two sixes and four boundaries in his account. Had he had a little bit of support from those who went out ahead of him, a different result might have been on the cards. Fielding level- Heat The Brisbane team saved at least 20 runs in the field apart from taking two sensational catches and presenting to the BBL, probably the save of the tournament so far by Max Bryant, who saved a certain six off the bowling of Gregory. Apart from that, another certain six was saved when Sp[iceman Fletcher hit a ball straight as an arrow of Mujeeb but that intercepted just ahead of the boundary by Xavier Bartlett and him along with his fast bowling partner Mark Steketee teamed up to not only save the six but also in also getting Spiceman out. Englishman Gregory pulled off a brilliantly judged catch of Nicholas Pooran near the boundary ropes. Lynnsanity at display Earlier in the day, Stars after winning the toss, invited to Heat to bat first and the response that Heat gave was like a fresh shower of rain washing up all the disappointment that might have crept up into the Heat fans due to the rain which halted the start of play and converted the game into a 17 over a team at first. By the time the second wave of rainfall started, Heat were 68-2 in just the sixth over, The two wickets also fell in quick succession as both Bryant and Joe Denly were cleaned up by Zampa off successive deliveries. Lynn after coming back from the break hit Maxwell for three consecutive boundaries. Just after that, another passing shower stopped the proceedings. The match was reduced to 10 overs before it began again from the eighth over and Maxwell got the opposition captain out with the first ball after the resumption. But before getting out, the 30-year-old Lynn had smoked 48 off just 23 deliveries including three fours and four sixes. Those who came after him i.e. Joe Burns and Lewis Gregory too continued from where he had left, taking the total to 115 in 10 overs, which was then increased to 130 due to the Duckworth Lewis system. While Burns made 22 off 11, Gregory made nine of three. What's Next? Heat, on a roll, would aim to continue it when they face the Sixers on Monday, where the Sixers would be looking to exact revenge for the last game’s loss. On the other hand, Stars would take on Strikers on Monday in what could be an exciting battle of the mid-table.